Daily Prelims Notes 6 October 2024

October 6, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

6 October 2024

Table Of Contents

1. India’s energy demand to triple by 2050

Sub: Eco

Sec: Infrastructure

Context:

India’s GDP growth is 7%, and power demand has risen by over 8% this year.
India is now the third-largest power market globally.
Energy demand in India is expected to triple by 2050, making the country a crucial investment destination.

India’s Growing Role in Global Energy Transition:

India’s economy has surpassed the UK and France and is on track to overtake Germany and Japan within the next 5–10 years.
By 2030, India is expected to have over 200 GW of solar and wind capacity.
India has emerged as the second-largest solar module manufacturer, exporting to key global markets.

Coal and Nuclear in India’s Energy Mix

Despite rapid growth in renewables, 70% of India’s power still comes from coal.
By 2030, India will have 50 GW of coal and 10 GW of nuclear capacity.
In a net-zero scenario, electrification would need to exceed 50%, balancing fossil fuel and electric economies.

Challenges in Energy Transition

Key challenges include energy storage, grid infrastructure, and renewable energy deployment.
Leveraging domestic market strength and global partnerships is critical for driving a low-carbon future.

Global Climate Milestone

A major climate milestone in 2023: for the first time, global surface temperatures exceeded 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Greenhouse gas emissions have not peaked, indicating continued temperature rise.
India is a key player in the global energy transition, with more solar and wind projects than coal plants expected by 2030.

Battery Energy Storage & Electrification:

The intermittency of renewable energy poses challenges, making Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) essential for grid stability.
Global energy demand is expected to triple by 2050, driven by advancements in storage technology.
Batteries are crucial for both the power sector and electric mobility.

India’s Electric Mobility Sector:

India’s electric vehicle market is growing rapidly, with major automakers setting up battery assembly plants.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme is helping create 50 gigawatt hours of battery manufacturing capacity.
Lithium-ion battery demand is expected to rise from 10 GWh today to 200 GWh by 2035.
In India, the production capacity of Lithium-ion battery is expected to reach 150 GWh by 2030, covering 13% of total cell demand.

Government initiative:

Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), in June, 2021 launched a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the manufacturing of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage of 50 GWh capacity, which includes more than 10 GWh grid-scale battery storage.
- The PLI-ACC scheme has an outlay of Rs 18,100 Crores.
The Government has approved the scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a capacity of 4,000 megawatts hours (MWh) by 2030-31.
- By offering VGF support, the scheme targets achieving a Levelized Cost of Storage (LCoS) ranging from Rs. 5.50-6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), making stored renewable energy a viable option for managing peak power demand across the country.

Source: TH

2. Brains and brawn

Sub: Env

Sec: Species in news

Halari Donkeys

The Halari donkey is a beautiful and endangered breed found in the Halar region of Gujarat.
Fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remain, making them a rare and important part of the semi-arid landscapes of Jamnagar and Dwarka districts in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.
These donkeys are typically white, larger, and more resilient than other breeds.
Donkeys are intelligent, social animals that form close bonds with humans, often supporting transport needs.

Uses:

Locals recount stories of Halari donkeys being used to build dams, forts, hilltop temples, and rest houses. Their strength allows them to carry heavy loads of stone and sand.
The Bharwad and Rabari pastoralists are the main communities that use this donkey as a pack animal to carry luggage during migration with small ruminants.
The Kumbhar (potter) community also uses this animal for pottery work in the Jamnagar region.

Economic Value:

The price of a Halari donkey exceeds ₹1 lakh today, with rising demand across India for Halari donkey dairies.
Halari donkey milk is prized for its sweetness. Its powdered form sells for more than ₹7,000 per kg in international markets, particularly for cosmetic use.

Conservation Efforts

The Sahjeevan Trust, in collaboration with Gujarat’s Animal Husbandry Department and the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, is working to conserve the Halari breed.
Pure-bred male and female Halari donkeys have been identified for breeding, resulting in an increase in their numbers.
They call for establishing breeding farms for Halari donkeys in their native Halar region, requiring more substantial resources from the State government.

Source: TH

3. Shompen Tribe of Nicobar

Sub: Geo

Sec: Human geo

Why in News

The Shompen tribe of the Nicobar Islands has recently come into the spotlight due to concerns over a major infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island, which threatens their forest home. The project includes plans for a transshipment container terminal, port, and solar power plant, raising environmental and anthropological concerns.

About Shompen Tribe:

The Shompen tribe is a semi-nomadic, forest-dwelling community that has inhabited the Great Nicobar Island for over 60,000 years. Unlike the coastal Nicobarese tribe, the Shompen live in the island’s interior, relying heavily on the forest for their sustenance and survival.
The Shompenare one of the most isolated tribes on Earth. They reside in the dense tropical rainforest of the Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands.
They are one of the least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)in India.
Though according to the Census (2011),the estimated population of Shompen is 229, the exact population of Shompen is unknown till today.
Most of them are uncontacted, refusing all interactions with outsiders.
They live insmall groups, whose territories are identified by the rivers that criss-cross the rainforest.
They are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers,and their main sources of livelihood are hunting, gathering, fishing, and a little bit of horticultural activities in a rudimentary form.
Primarily, they used to hunt wild pig, python, monitor Lizard, crocodile, see turtle etc.
They collect a wide variety of forest plants, but theirstaple food is the pandanus fruit, which they call
Shompenspeak their own language, which has many Members of one band do not understand the dialect of the other.
They are of short to medium stature,have a round or nearly broad head shape, narrow nose, a broad facial profile, and distinctly exhibit Mongoloid features such as light brown to yellow-brown skin and oblique eye features.
Shompenhave nuclear families comprising husband, wife, and their unmarried children.
A Shompen familyis controlled by the eldest male member, who controls all activities of the women and kids. Monogamy is the general rule, although polygamy is allowed too.

About Great Nicobar:

Great Nicobaris the southernmost tip of India, part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago with over 600 islands.
It is hilly, covered with lush rainforests, and receives about 3,500 mm of annual rainfall.
The islandhosts endangered and endemic species like the giant leatherback turtle, Nicobar megapode, Great Nicobar crake, Nicobar crab-eating macaque, and Nicobar tree shrew.
It has an area of 910 sq km with mangroves and Pandan forests along its coast.

About the Great Nicobar Development Project:

A “greenfield city” has been proposed, including

An International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT),
A Greenfield International Airport,
A power plant, and
A township for the personnel who will implement the project.

A total of 166.1 sq km along the island’s southeastern and southern coasts have been identified for the project along a coastal strip of width between 2 km and 4 km.

Some 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for diversion, and 9.64 lakh trees are likely to be felled.

The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the airport will have dual military-civilian functions and will cater to tourism as well.

Roads, public transport, water supply and waste management facilities, and several hotels have been planned to cater to tourists.

4. Use of Salt Pan Land for Housing: Ecological and Urban Planning Concerns in Mumbai

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco geo

Why in News

The Maharashtra government has recently allocated 255.9 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs for the construction of rental housing as part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. This decision has sparked controversy among urban planners and environmentalists, who emphasize the ecological importance of salt pans as natural flood defences and the potential environmental impact of their use for intensive development activities.

What are Salt Pan Lands?

Salt pans are low-lying lands where seawater flows during certain times and evaporates, leaving behind salt and minerals.

Ecosystem Role: Salt pans, alongside mangroves, play a crucial role in protecting Mumbai from flooding.

National Distribution: Across India, 60,000 acres of land are classified as salt pans, spread across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh holds the largest share with 20,716 acres, followed by Tamil Nadu (17,095 acres) and Maharashtra (12,662 acres).

Regulation: As per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, these ecologically sensitive areas fall under the CRZ-1B category, where economic activities are restricted, except for salt extraction and natural gas exploration.

Distribution of Salt Pan Lands in Mumbai: Mumbai has 5,378 acres designated as salt pan lands, which is nine times the size of the Dharavi slum.

Why Are Mumbai’s Salt Pans at Risk?

High Land Demand: Mumbai’s limited land drives development into salt pans.

Housing Projects: Salt pans are being used for affordable housing under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

Regulatory Evasion: Attempts are being made to bypass Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions.

Flood Risk: Salt pans help prevent flooding; their destruction increases flood risks.

Ecosystem Threat: Salt pans support biodiversity and flood control, making their loss impactful.

Policy Contradiction: Development projects conflict with climate action plans aimed at flood prevention.

The Maharashtra government has allocated 255.9 acres of salt pan land for housing under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

These land parcels are divided into three major tracts:

120.5 acres at Arthur Salt Works, Kanjur
76.9 acres at Jenkins Salt Works, Kanjur and Bhandup
58.5 acres at Jamasp Salt Works, Mulund

What is Dharavi Redevelopment Project:

The state had envisaged this sprawl be transformed into a cluster of high-rises with improved urban infrastructure. It entailed resettling 68,000 people, including slum dwellers and those with commercial establishments.

The state was to provide 300-sqft houses for free to residents with proof that their slum structure was in existence before January 1, 2000. The project was initially mooted in 2004, but never got off the ground due to various reasons.

More about Dharavi:

Dharavi is famous as one of the world’s largest slums and is located in the heart of India’s financial capital Mumbai.

The Dharavi slum came into being in 1884.

It was originally inhabited by fisherfolk when the area was still creeks and swamps.

It became attractive to migrant workers from South Mumbai and others when the swamp began to fill in due to natural and artificial causes.

5. Revitalization of the Six-Decade-Old Canal System of Hirakud Dam

Sub: Geo

Sec: India Physical geo

Why in News

The Odisha government has allocated ₹855 crore for the renovation of the six-decade-old canal system connected to the Hirakud Dam. The renovation is expected to significantly benefit farmers in districts like Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Bargarh, and Balangir by improving irrigation efficiency and reducing water wastage.

About Hirakud Dam

Hirakud Dam is situated around 15 km from Sambalpur in Odisha, across the Mahanadi River.

World’s Longest Earthen Dam: It spans 26 km (16 miles), making it the longest earthen dam globally.

Hirakud Reservoir: The dam creates Asia’s largest man-made lake, also known as Hirakud Lake.

The main dam extends 4.8 km, connecting Laxmidungri on the left and Chandili Dunguri on the right.

One of India’s First Multipurpose Projects: Built post-independence, construction started in 1948 and completed in 1953.

Designed to regulate Mahanadi River’s flow and mitigate flooding.

Opened by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.

Irrigation: Provides irrigation to 436,000 hectares in the Mahanadi delta.

Supports irrigation of 1,08,385 hectares of Rabi crops and 1,55,635 hectares of Kharif crops in Bolangir, Subarnapur, Bargarh, and Sambalpur districts.

Power Generation: The dam has an installed capacity of 359.8 MW.

Flood Protection: Safeguards 9,500 sq km in Cuttack and Puri districts from floods.

Renovation of Key Canals:

The project will focus on revamping the Bargarh main canal and Sasan main canal, which are currently in a dilapidated state. In addition to the main canals, various distributaries will also be repaired to make them functional again, ensuring smooth water flow throughout the network.

Mahanadi river:

The Mahanadi River is a major river in East Central India.

Mahanadi is also known for the Hirakud Dam which was the first major multipurpose river valley project after India’s independence in 1947.

The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and before finally ending in the Bay of Bengal.

Origin: Nagri-Sihawa, Dhamtari, Dandakaranya, Chhattisgarh, India.

Mouth: False Point, Jagatsinghpur, Delta, Odisha, India

Tributaries:

Left- Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Kelo

Right- Ong, parry, Jonk, Telen

6. Anti-cancer drugs to sport QR codes to check fakes

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Due to concerns over counterfeit anti-cancer drugs, the government is considering to make it mandatory to attach quick response (QR) codes to every vial and strip of medication sold in India.

Details:

The proposal came at a recent meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
This is aimed at ensuring a rigorous track-and-trace mechanism.
An amendment to Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 was also proposed, to include all anti-cancer medicines.
This would make it mandatory to print or affix bar codes or quick response codes in the labels of these medicines.

Issue of counterfeit drugs:

Criminals, in collusion with hospital pharmacies are refilling empty vials of expensive anti-cancer medications with counterfeit drugs.
These fake drugs are mixed with genuine stocks and sold to patients, jeopardizing their health.

Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945:

Schedule H2 includes specific categories of drugs that are considered higher risk, often related to critical conditions like cancer.
Under Schedule H2, the chemist cannot dispense the medicine unless he keeps a copy of the prescription with themselves, keeping proof of dispensing the drug.
This puts an onus on the retailer that the drug dispensed is genuine.

Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB):

Advisory body to the Indian government on technical matters related to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
It advises the central government on matters related to the approval, quality control, and safety of pharmaceuticals.
Part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Health Ministry.

7. What’s behind Israel’s ban on the UN chief?

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Israel announced that it had banned United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres from entering the country.

Reasons for the ban:

Israel has accused him of backing Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.
Alleged failure to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile strikes on Israel and Hamas attack on October 7, 2022.
The ban is part of a broader Israeli argument that the UN is influenced by an anti-Israel bloc of Arab and Islamic nations, along with affiliated organizations like UNRWA, which Israel alleges has connections to Hamas.

Historical Precedent:

Israel has in the past banned UN Special Rapporteurs and other senior officials accusing them of bias against Israel and in favour of the Palestinian side.
However, the ban on UNSG is
The closest instance of such an action occurred in 1950, when the USSR accused UNSG Trygve Lie of bias during the Korean crisis and threatened to veto his re-election.

UN Charter:

Article 100, Paragraph 2 of UN Charter says that each UN member must respect the international nature of the Secretary-General’s and staff’s responsibilities and refrain from attempting to influence their work.

UN Secretary-General (UNSG):

The UNSG is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and plays a crucial role in promoting peace, security, and international cooperation.
The UNSG is appointed by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the UN Security Council.
The UNSG operates under the principles of neutrality and impartiality, as outlined in the UN Charter, ensuring that decisions and actions are not influenced by member states.

8. World Bank mulls 27 of 30 ideas on MDBs by G20 Independent Group

Sub: IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the World Bank for considering 27 of the 30 recommendations from the G20 Independent Expert Group aimed at strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs).

Independent Expert Group (IEG):

Appointed under the 2023 Indian G20 Presidency.
Its primary focus is on strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs).
The group recommended a triple agenda of reforms for multilateral development banks (MDBs) aimed at tripling sustainable lending levels by 2030.
- Eliminate extreme poverty.
- Boost shared prosperity.
- Contribute to global public goods.

What are Multilateral Development Banks:

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are international financial institutions created by multiple countries to provide financial and technical assistance for development projects in developing countries.
MDBs include the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) etc.

About World Bank:

World Bank Group is a specialised agency of the United Nations, established in 1944.
It is headquartered in Washington DC.
It consists of five development institutions:
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- International Development Association (IDA)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
- International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
India is not a member of the ICSID because it claims that the ICSID’s functioning and structure are biased towards the developed countries.
To join the World Bank Group, a country must first become a member of the IMF.
It provides loans, guarantees, advisory services, and risk management products to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries.

9. Two months on, Meghalaya polio case shrouded in secrecy

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Background:

In 2017, the Indian government faced criticism for covering up Zika virus cases.
Recently, there has been hesitance in disclosing details about a polio case detected in Meghalaya.
Also, officials have gave conflicting statements about the case, raising concerns about the management and reporting of public health information in India.

Vaccine-derived polio:

Vaccine-derived poliovirus is a strain of poliovirus mutated from the strain originally contained in Oral Polio vaccine.
OPV contains a live, weakened form of poliovirus that replicates in the intestine for a limited period, thereby developing immunity by building up antibodies.
In rare cases, when replicating in the gastrointestinal tract, OPV strains can genetically change and may spread in communities that are not fully vaccinated against polio, especially in areas where there is poor hygiene, poor sanitation, or overcrowding.

Type of Vaccine-derived polio:

Immunodeficiency related vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPV):
- In the case of iVDPV, polio is caused in an immune deficient individual.
- Unlike the general population, these individuals can shed the weakened virus for extended periods, creating a risk for transmission.
Circulating vaccine-derived polio (cVDVP):
- cVDPV is a strain of poliovirus that arises from the weakened virus used in the OPV.
- It has mutated and regained the ability to cause disease and can circulate among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations.