Daily Prelims Notes 7 August 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

7 August 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Judicious use of sucralose as sugar substitute has benefits for diabetics, says study
2. Trade with Bangladesh Suspended; BSF on ‘High Alert’ at Border
3. Aftershocks of Carry Trade Could Still Have Reverberations
4. India’s Sovereign Credit Rating and Fiscal Deficit
5. Bangladesh Crisis: Potential Shift in Garment Orders to India
6. U.K. changed its stance on ICC arrest warrants
7. Bill to amend Waqf law proposes sweeping changes, rename Act
8. PMLA can commence only if predicate offence is established, SC tells ED in Senthil Balaji case hearing
9. Earthquake 2500 years ago abruptly changed Ganga river’s course
10. Artificial night light toughens tree leaves, threatens urban ecosystems
11. Violent clash with Mascho Piro leaves 3 loggers wounded in Peruvian Amazon

1. Judicious use of sucralose as sugar substitute has benefits for diabetics, says study

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

• A recent study from India examining the effects of replacing sucrose or table sugar with an artificial sweetener, sucralose, in coffee and tea, found no adverse impact on glucose or HbA1c levels.
• Sucralose consumption also indicated a slight improvement in body weight, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI).

What is Sucralose?

• Sucralose, an artificial sweetener discovered in 1976, was granted FDA approval in 1998 for use as a sugar substitute in 15 food and beverage categories.
• Sucralose is a no-calorie sweetener that can be used to lower one’s intake of added sugars while still providing satisfaction from enjoying the taste of something sweet.
• It is about 600 times sweeter than sugar and can be used as an ingredient in any type of food or beverage. 
• Sucralose is exceptionally stable and is able to retain its sweetness when subjected to high heat and acidity.
• Sucralose is made from sugar in a multistep chemical process in which three hydroxyl groups are replaced with chlorine atoms.
• Sucralose  is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate due to being poorly absorbed during the digestion process and thus  passes through the body relatively unchanged with insignificant amounts being absorbed in the Gastro Intestinal tract.
• Therefore Sucralose can be immensely beneficial in controlling diabetes.

What is diabetes?

• Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin, or the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces.
• Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
• It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.

What is Type 1 diabetes?

• Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition where the pancreas makes little or no insulin.
• Different factors, such as genetics and some viruses, may cause type 1 diabetes. 
• Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

• Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin that it produces.
• This type of diabetes is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.
• Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can begin during childhood and adulthood.

2. Trade with Bangladesh Suspended; BSF on ‘High Alert’ at Border

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

• Suspension of Trade:
  • Amidst ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, trade between India and Bangladesh remains suspended.
• BSF on High Alert:
  • Director-General Visit: Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF), along with senior officials, visited the integrated checkpoint at Petrapole and the border outpost Ranaghat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
  • Objective: The visit aimed to assess the tactical and operational preparedness and deployment strategies of the BSF at these key locations.
• BSF’s Announcement:
  • High Alert: The border guarding forces have declared a “high alert” along the border.
  • Discussions: BSF officials discussed strategies to combat illegal infiltration and smuggling and held coordination meetings with West Bengal government officials and border village residents.
• Impact on Trade:
  • Affected Ports: Trade has been affected not only at Petrapole but also at land custom stations in Ghojadanga, Mahadipur, and Fulbari in West Bengal.
  • Passenger Movement: There has been some passenger movement, particularly along the integrated checkpoint (ICP), including people returning to India and crossing over to Bangladesh.
• Challenges Faced by Traders:
  • Non-Clearance of Goods: Experts highlighted that trade through land ports has been disrupted due to the non-clearance of goods.
  • Stationed Trucks: Hundreds of trucks are stationed in parking lots due to the irregular trade since the protests began.
  • Engineering Exporters: Expressed significant concern for Indian engineering exporters. Stability in Bangladesh is crucial for maintaining and expanding trade relations, as Bangladesh is a top destination for Indian engineering products and India’s largest trading partner in South Asia.
• Impact on Rail Connectivity:
  • Agartala-Akhaura Link: The turmoil in Bangladesh has affected the inter-country rail connectivity along the crucial Agartala-Akhaura link, which connects Tripura to Kolkata, cutting across Bangladesh.
  • Project Delays: Talks for the long-pending link were revived earlier this year, but the current situation has delayed the project.
  • Indian Railways Update: Of the 12.24-km dual-gauge line, 5.46 km from Agartala to Nischintapur (leading to the Bangladesh border entering Akhaura) has been completed. The remaining 6.78 km on the Bangladeshi side is delayed due to the turmoil.

Agartala – Akhaura Rail Link

• Significance of the Rail Link:
  • First Train Connection: The rail line between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh will enable the first train service from the north-eastern region to Bangladesh.
• Route:

1. Gangasagar to Nischintapur: The railway link will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India.
2. Nischintapur to Agartala: From Nischintapur, the rail line will extend to Agartala railway station in India.

• Funding and Construction:
• Indian Side:
  • Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): Responsible for bearing the cost of laying the 5.46 km track on the Indian side.
• Bangladesh Side:
  • Ministry of External Affairs: Bearing the cost of laying the 10.6 km track on the Bangladesh side.

3. Aftershocks of Carry Trade Could Still Have Reverberations

Sub: Eco

Sec: External Sector

• Continued Unwinding Risks:
  • Investors noted that the aftershocks of a massive carry trade impacting global financial markets were not yet over.
  • Further unwinding in the coming days could increase the risk of shakeouts in other assets.
• Triggering Factors:
  • The sell-offs were triggered by a higher-than-expected U.S. unemployment rate on Friday, raising concerns about a potential U.S. recession.
  • The situation was worsened by investors unwinding yen-funded trades used for stock acquisitions after a surprise Bank of Japan rate hike.
• Carry Trade Explanation:
  • The carry trade involves borrowing money from economies with low interest rates (e.g., Japan or Switzerland) to fund investments in higher-yielding assets elsewhere.
• Expected Volatility:
  • Investors anticipate continued volatility and expects the sell-off to continue for a few more days due to the large size of these trades.
  • Investors are still assessing the size of these trades and the extent of the cheap funding deployed in equities.
  • Hedge fund strategies most affected by a yen rally are global macro quantitative and managed futures, as they have short exposure to the Japanese currency.
  • Some money managers had already been reducing risk in the past few days and noted the unwinding of momentum across multiple asset classes.
• Opportunistic Buying:
  • Despite the downturn, some investors are looking to buy at lower valuations.

Understanding the Yen Carry Trade and its impact on Global Markets

Overview: –

The yen carry trade involves borrowing money in Japan, where interest rates are exceptionally low, and investing that money in countries with higher interest rates to earn a profit from the difference. This strategy is commonly used by global investors seeking higher returns.

• Low Interest Rates in Japan:
  • The Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintained interest rates at zero percent between 2011 and 2016 to stimulate the economy.
  • Since 2016, the BoJ even pushed interest rates below zero (-0.10%).
  • This policy created a large supply of cheap money, encouraging investors to borrow in yen and invest in higher-yielding assets elsewhere.
• Global Impact:
  • The yen carry trade became popular because Japan’s low interest rates persisted even when other central banks raised rates following the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Investors used the borrowed yen to invest in countries like Brazil, Mexico, India, and the US, fueling investments globally.
• Recent Changes in BoJ Policy:
  • Between mid-March and July-end 2024, the BoJ raised interest rates by 35 basis points to 0.25%, marking a significant shift.
  • On July 31st, a further 25 basis point increase was announced, causing a sharp reversal in monetary policy.
• Unwinding of the Yen Carry Trade:
  • The increase in Japanese interest rates led to the strengthening of the yen against the dollar and other currencies.
  • Assets held in currencies like the Brazilian real, Mexican peso, Indian rupee, etc., became less valuable when converted back to yen.
  • The narrowing returns differential and the prospect of further rate increases prompted investors to unwind their yen carry trades, selling off assets bought with cheap yen.
• Market Impact:
  • The unwinding of yen carry trades caused a massive sell-off in global markets on August 5, 2024, leading to one of the sharpest declines in decades.
  • Higher interest rates in Japan made yen investments more attractive, increasing the opportunity cost of continuing with the carry trade.
  • The uncertainty and rapid market changes led to jittery investor sentiment, exacerbating the decline.

The yen carry trade was a popular investment strategy due to Japan’s prolonged low-interest-rate policy. Recent increases in Japanese interest rates triggered the unwinding of these trades, causing a significant sell-off in global markets.

4. India’s Sovereign Credit Rating and Fiscal Deficit

Sub: Eco

Sec: Fiscal Policy

S&P Global Ratings Outlook

• Current Rating Outlook:
  • S&P Global raised India’s rating outlook to ‘positive‘ earlier this year.
  • This decision was based on policy stability, economic reforms, and infrastructure investments promising sustained growth.
• Criteria for Rating Upgrade:
  • A key criterion for upgrading India’s sovereign credit rating is the reduction of the overall general government deficit to below 7% of GDP.
  • This includes both central and state government deficits.

Fiscal Deficit Goals

• Central Government Target:
  • The central government has set a fiscal deficit target of 4.9% of GDP for the fiscal year 2024-25.
  • This target is seen as “good news at the margin.”
• Overall Government Deficit:
  • Despite the central government’s target, the combined general government deficit (central and state) is projected to remain above 7% of GDP for the current year.
  • Future projections of this metric are critical for potential rating changes.

Key Insights from S&P Official 

• Economic Growth Prospects:
  • Andrew Wood, director of sovereigns and international public finance for Asia-Pacific at S&P, expressed optimism about India’s economic growth.
• Importance of Deficit Reduction:
  • The focus on narrowing fiscal deficits is crucial for any potential upgrade in India’s sovereign credit rating.
  • Structural reduction in the deficit would enhance India’s creditworthiness.

Implications

• Economic Reforms and Investments:
  • Continued economic reforms and infrastructure investments are vital for sustaining growth and reducing deficits.
• Policy Stability:
  • Maintaining policy stability is essential for achieving fiscal targets and improving credit ratings.
• State Government Deficits:
  • Addressing state government deficits is as important as managing the central government’s fiscal deficit to achieve the overall target.

Conclusion

• India’s sovereign credit rating could see an upgrade if significant progress is made in reducing the overall fiscal deficit to below 7% of GDP.
• This requires concerted efforts in fiscal management, economic reforms, and policy stability to ensure sustainable growth and fiscal discipline.

5. Bangladesh Crisis: Potential Shift in Garment Orders to India

Sub: Eco

Sec: Fiscal Policy

• Impact on Indian Textile and Apparel Sector:
  • The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh is expected to impact the Indian textile and apparel sector in the short term.
• Statistics:
  • India exported $1.7 billion worth of cotton, cotton yarn, and fabrics to Bangladesh last fiscal, accounting for 17% of India’s cotton textile exports.
  • Bangladesh exported $1 billion worth of cotton garments in FY23.
  • Bangladesh exports $3.8 billion worth of garments monthly, compared to $1.3 billion by India.
• Current Situation:
  • Reports indicate trucks stranded on either side of the border with textile and garment goods.
  • Nearly 30 Indian textile companies have facilities in Bangladesh.
• Short-term Shifts in Orders:
  • According to the Apparel Export Promotion Council, it is likely that garment orders may shift to India in the short term.
  • The Indian apparel industry may be asked to fill the gap caused by the disruption in Bangladesh.
• Factories Reopening in Bangladesh:
  • Factories in Bangladesh have been asked to reopen next week.
  • While Indian garment units may gain in the short term, normalcy should return to Bangladesh as it is a significant buyer of Indian yarn and fabrics.
• Concerns and Hopes:
  • The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry expressed concerns about the impact on the supply chain and potential delays and disruptions and are hopeful that the situation will improve soon.

6. U.K. changed its stance on ICC arrest warrants

Subject: IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

Britain abandoned its intent to challenge the prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The latest move signals a second policy shift by the Labour government, from the previous Conservative government, after it restored funding for the UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Dispute:

• The pre-trial chamber to serve arrest warrants against Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif (since killed).
• The move was consequent to the brutal fallout from Hamas’s Operation al-Aqsa flood and Israel’s Operation Iron Swords in retaliation.
• One pointed reference in Mr. Khan’s application was to Tel Aviv’s alleged intentional starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

What was the U.K.’s previous stance?

• The Conservative government opposed the ICC’s application for arrest warrants on Israeli leaders.
• K. lawyers maintained that the question of the Court’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens had to be ascertained before arrest warrants could be served to Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant.
• The state of Palestine was not allowed to exercise criminal jurisdiction over Israeli citizens under the 1993 Oslo Accords, which has been superseded by the 1998 Rome Statute.

ICC jurisdiction issue:

• The ICC’s jurisdiction in Palestine since it was an occupied territory rather than a sovereign state.
• The Hague Court ruled that it could exercise criminal jurisdiction in occupied Palestinian territories, and that its reach extended to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
• The Court also made it categorical that its jurisdiction covered crimes committed by nationals of states-parties and by nationals of non-states-parties on the territory of a country.
• Thus, Israel’s refusal to ratify the Rome Statute is not directly relevant since the ICC prosecutes individuals and not countries, including citizens from states that are not signatories to the treaty.

Implications for Israel from U.K.’s current stance:

• Removal of Britain’s objections to the prosecutor’s actions, it may be a matter of time before the ICC issues arrest warrants against the five leaders.
• In that event, Prime Minister Netanyahu would earn the dubious distinction of becoming the first head of government backed by western countries to be indicted by the ICC.
• Such a scenario would expose Israel’s allies, especially the U.S., to immense domestic opposition against the supply of arms to that country.
• Tel Aviv already faces charges of genocide in the International Court of Justice.
• Conversely, the Hague Court, already under attack for its narrow focus on investigating impunities among African countries, faces the risk of undermining its relevance should the judges decide not to proceed against Israel.

International Criminal Court:

• It is the world’s first permanent international criminal court governed by an international treaty called ‘The Rome Statute’.
• In 1998, the Rome Statute was adopted by 120 States.
• In 2002, Rome Statute took effect upon ratification by 60 states, officially establishing the ICC. Since it has no retroactive jurisdiction, the ICC deals with crimes committed on or after this date.
• India is not a party to the Rome Statute along with the US and China.
• 124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court with Malaysia being the last one.

Jurisdiction and Working:

• It investigates and, wherever warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression. Also:
• The crimes are committed by a State Party national, in the territory of a State party, or in a State that has accepted the jurisdiction of the court.
• The crimes are referred to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pursuant to a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
• The ICC is intended to complement, not to replace, national criminal systems.
• It prosecutes cases only when States are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.
• ICC is not a UN organisation but it has a cooperation agreement with the UN.
• When a situation is not within the Court’s jurisdiction, the UNSC can refer the situation to the International Criminal Court granting it jurisdiction.
• Several countries like Israel, the US, Russia and China don’t accept the court’s jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and other crimes.

War Crime:

• Serious violations of humanitarian laws during a conflict; the taking of hostages, willful killings, torture or inhuman treatment of prisoners of war, and forcing children to fight are some of the more obvious examples.
• Individuals can be held liable for the actions of a state or its military.

War Crime vs Crime Against Humanity:

• The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (or Genocide Convention) separates war crimes from genocide and crimes against humanity.
• War crimes are defined as occurring in a domestic conflict or a war between two states.
• While genocide and crimes against humanity can happen in peacetime or during the unilateral aggression of a military towards a group of unarmed people.

Geneva Conventions on War Crime:

• The Geneva Conventions (1949)and their Protocols are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war.
• They protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who can no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).
• The first Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
• The second Geneva Convention protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war.
• The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners of war.
• The fourth Geneva Convention affords protection to civilians, including in occupied territory.
• India is a party to all the four Geneva Conventions.

7. Bill to amend Waqf law proposes sweeping changes, rename Act

Subject: Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Context:

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, set for introduction in the Lok Sabha, also aims at renaming the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. A bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards has proposed far-reaching changes in the present Act, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

About New Bill:

• Introduced the ‘district collector’ in the Act and has given the post some powers to resolve disputes related to the Waqf Act.
• The draft Bill says that the word “Waqf” will be substituted with “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development” in the principal act enacted in 1995.
• “Any government property identified or declared as Waqf property, before or after the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be a Waqf property.
• The new Bill has also given powers to the district collectors to settle any disputes between the Waqf Board and the government and says: “If any question arises as to whether any such (identified as Waqf) property is a Government property, the same shall be referred to the Collector having jurisdiction who shall make such inquiry as he deems fit, and determine whether such property is a Government property or not and submit his report to the State Government.”
• In case the Collector determines the property to be a Government property, he shall make necessary corrections in revenue records and submit a report in this regard to the State Government.

Waqf Board Act:

• The Waqf Board Act was first enacted in 1954 and was later replaced by the Waqf Act of 1995.
• Legislative framework that regulates Waqf properties in India.
• Waqf properties are those that are donated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. 
• The Waqf Boards Act provides provisions to manage and designate properties as Waqf and establish a Central Waqf Council for oversight. The act aims to protect the interests of the Muslim community by ensuring that Waqf properties are used for charitable and religious purposes. 
• The Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to introduce necessary changes to enhance its effectiveness while making the composition of boards more inclusive through revisions to Sections 9 and 14. 

8. PMLA can commence only if predicate offence is established, SC tells ED in Senthil Balaji case hearing

Subject: Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Context:

• The Supreme Court asked the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) about the prospects of trial commencing in the money laundering case against former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji without first establishing the predicate offence (cash for jobs).

More on News:

• The Bench is hearing a plea for regular bail filed by Mr. Balaji, who said he had been in custody for over 300 days.
• “But you will have to still address on whether there were any prospects of the PMLA trial commencing; if not, other considerations would come into play while dealing with the bail application,” the Bench weighed in.
• The ED has accused Mr. Balaji of playing a “central and pivotal role” in the “job racket scam” during the period of 2014-2015. The case involves kickbacks for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation of Chennai and Tamil Nadu State Corporation when Balaji was the Transport Minister.
• The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) was based on three FIRs and a chargesheet filed by the Law Enforcement Agency of the Central Crime Branch of Chennai.

The Concept of Predicate Offence – The Supreme Court Clarifies:

• The offence of money laundering, as per the definition in Black’s Law Dictionary is “the act of transferring illegally obtained money through legitimate people or accounts so that its original source cannot be traced”.
• Assume that the money, if illegally obtained, must be obtained in relation to the commission of an underlying criminal offence.
• The commission and requirement of this underlying offence, commonly known as a predicate offence, has been a point of debate since the introduction of the Prevention and Money Laundering Act, 2002.
• The SC PMLA judgment lies in its categorical confirmation that if the predicate offence fails, then the prosecution under the Act cannot be continued by the Enforcement Directorate.
• In fact, just ten days after the SC PMLA judgment , on August 8, 2022, an order was passed by a special Court under the Act granting interim bail to individuals in a money laundering case. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the judgment in the present matter specifically in relation to the concept of ‘predicate offence’ is a welcome move that will pave the way for the closure of many ongoing cases under the Act.

Ruling of the Supreme Court Regarding PMLA:

• An accused could apply for bail under the regular provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and if so, whether such a bail plea would also have to satisfy the twin conditions under Section 45 of the
• The court also deliberated on whether an accused not arrested during the PMLA investigation would have to meet the stringent PMLA bail conditions if they appear before the court after being summoned or having a warrant issued for their failure to appear.

• SC Observations:
  • Status of Accused Appearing on Summons: If an accused appears before a designated special court pursuant to a summons, they cannot be treated as being in custody, and hence, they need not apply for bail under the stringent conditions posed by the PMLA.
    • The ED will have to separately apply for the custody of an accused after they appear in court, showing specific grounds necessitating custodial interrogation.
    • This presumption of liberty is a crucial step towards protecting the fundamental right of personal liberty.
  • Nature of Bonds/Sureties: The special court can direct the accused to provide a surety/guarantee (bonds)as per Section 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
    • However, this surety is not the same as granting bail and does not require satisfying the stringent twin conditions of Section 45 of the PMLA.
  • Graded Arrest Procedure: If the accused fails to appear before the court despite being summoned, the special court can first issue a bailable warrant (where bail can be obtained).
    • If the accused still does not appear, the court can then issue a non-bailable warrant (arrest without bail).
  • Arresting Non-Accused Parties: The ED can still arrest an individual who is not named as an accused in the initial PMLA complaint.
    • However, to do so, the ED must follow the proper arrest procedures outlined in Section 19 of the PMLA.

Key Provisions of PMLA:

• Offences and Penalties: PMLA defines money laundering offences and imposes penalties for such activities. It includes rigorous imprisonment and fines for offenders.
  • Money laundering is the process of converting illegally earned money into seemingly legal money.
• Attachment and Confiscation of Property: The Act allows for the attachment and confiscation of property involved in money laundering. It provides for the establishment of an Adjudicating Authority to oversee these proceedings.
• Reporting Requirements: PMLA mandates certain entities, such as banks and financial institutions, to maintain records of transactions and report suspicious transactions to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
• Appellate Tribunal: Section 25 of PMLA provides for the establishment of an Appellate Tribunal, which is vested with power to hear appeals against orders passed by the Adjudicating Authority.

9. Earthquake 2500 years ago abruptly changed Ganga river’s course

Sub: Geo

Sec: Geomorphology

Context:

• In 2018, geochronologist Elizabeth Chamberlain and her team from Wageningen University studied the movement of river channels in the Ganga delta, focusing on a 2-km-wide “paleochannel” 45 km south of the modern Ganga, now a rice cultivation area.
• Geological measures revealed the Ganga avulsed about 2,500 years ago, leaving behind the paleochannel.

Discovery of Sand Dikes:

• The team found two large sand dikes east of the paleochannel, indicating liquefaction due to an ancient earthquake.
• These dikes provided evidence that earthquakes can move rivers, confirmed by an earthquake of magnitude 7 to 8 causing the Ganga’s course shift over two millennia ago.
• The study emphasizes the need for forecasting major earthquakes to prevent river avulsion.

How Earthquakes Move Rivers?

• The earthquake likely originated from the Indo-Burma mountain ranges or the hills of Shillong, with a significant impact irrespective of the exact location.
• The composition of sand dikes showed conclusive evidence of a major ancient earthquake.
• Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, Dr. Chamberlain’s team determined the avulsion and the earthquake occurred around 2,500 years ago.
• OSL dating method relies on estimating how long a mineral grain (i.e. a mineral particle less than a few millimetres in size, like quartz grains in sand or mud) has been buried by measuring the amount of natural radiation stored in it.
• Samples from the paleochannel and sand dikes indicated the same time frame, supporting the hypothesis that the earthquake caused the avulsion.

Future Hazards and Research

• Large earthquakes potentially triggering river avulsions can lead to devastating floods, especially in densely populated regions like the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra delta.
• Human activities and climate change increase the risk of avulsion, with rapid subsidence and extreme weather events contributing factors.

Source: DTE

10. Artificial night light toughens tree leaves, threatens urban ecosystems

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Impact of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on Urban Trees and Insects:

• High levels of ALAN make tree leaves tougher and harder for insects to eat, threatening urban food chains.
• Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that ALAN increases leaf toughness and reduces herbivory in common street trees in Beijing.
• Light pollution disrupts migrating birds, sea turtles, wilderness experiences, landscape beauty, and human health.

Study Findings on Leaf Toughness:

• ALAN has species-specific effects on leaf nutrients, size, and defence substances.
• Plants under high ALAN prioritize defence, producing tougher leaves with more chemical compounds, which are less appealing to insects.
• In Beijing, ALAN increased leaf toughness and reduced herbivory in the Japanese pagoda tree and green ash.
• For Styphnolobium japonicum, increased leaf carbon and toughness correlated with decreased herbivory, while higher leaf nitrogen increased herbivory.
• For Fraxinus pennsylvanica, herbivory decreased with increased leaf toughness.

Ecological Implications:

• Higher leaf toughness hinders herbivore feeding, resulting in lower herbivory levels and slower leaf decomposition, affecting nutrient cycling.
• ALAN can reshape herbivorous insects’ feeding preferences and negatively impact energy flow and biodiversity in urban ecosystems.

Light Pollution and Global Trends

• The 2016 New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness found that over 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies, hiding the Milky Way from many.
• A 2023 study in Science reported the night sky is rapidly getting brighter, reducing star visibility.

Dark-Sky Movement:

• The growing movement to establish dark-sky places aims to minimize light pollution and protect the night sky.
• In January 2024, the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra was designated as India’s first International Dark Sky Park, promoting night sky conservation and astronomy.

Source: DTE

11. Violent clash with Mascho Piro leaves 3 loggers wounded in Peruvian Amazon

Sub: Geo

Sec: Human Geo

context:

• The Mascho Piro clashed with loggers, reportedly injuring at least three with arrows, according to Survival International and the indigenous organisation FENAMAD.

Details:

• The loggers were allegedly stealing timber from the Mascho Piro territory along the Pariamanu River, an area recognized but not formally protected by the Peruvian government.
• Indigenous organisations demand the site be added to the Madre de Dios Territorial Reserve.

Mashco Piro- Uncontacted Tribe:

• The Mashco Piro, numbering over 750, are nomadic hunter-gatherers living in the Amazon jungles near Peru’s borders with Brazil and Bolivia.
• Peru’s government forbids contact with them to prevent disease spread, and most information about them comes from the Yine people.

Source: DTE