Daily Prelims Notes 9 January 2025

January 9, 2025
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

9 January 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Iraqi archaeologists piece together ancient Assyrian treasures ravaged by IS

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

In 2014, when the Islamic State (IS) seized large parts of Iraq and Syria, Nimrud, along with many other ancient sites, was ruthlessly attacked.
The destruction was part of the group’s broader campaign to erase cultural symbols they deemed un-Islamic. Notably, they destroyed the 2,800-year-old Temple of Nabu, dedicated to the Mesopotamian god of wisdom and writing.

About Nimrud:

Nimrud, once the crown jewel of the ancient Assyrian Empire, is located near Mosul, Iraq.
The city, founded in the 13th century BCE as Kalhu, reached its peak in the 9th century BCE during the reign of king Ashurnasirpal and served as the second capital of the Assyrian Empire.
Nimrud was renowned for its palaces, temples, and monumental sculptures, showcasing the artistic and architectural achievements of the Assyrians.
The archaeological site contains significant historical monuments, including bas-reliefs, sculptures, and the famed lamassus – depictions of Assyrian deities with the body of a bull or lion, human head, and wings of a bird.

Restoration process:

The destruction by IS included the demolition of monuments with bulldozers, pickaxes, and explosives. The restoration process is highly meticulous, with archaeologists carefully reassembling the broken artefacts.
So far, more than 35,000 fragments have been recovered, including bas-reliefs, sculptures, and decorated slabs that date back nearly 3,000 years to the reign of Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II.

Temple of Nabu:

The Temple of Nabu was an important religious structure dedicated to Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom, writing, and scribes. Nabu was the son of the chief god Marduk, and he held a prominent position in Mesopotamian religion.
The temple at Nimrud was originally constructed by the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (ruled from 883–859 BC). It housed a library and was a centre of learning.

2. WHO sounds alarm over pandemic readiness as global disparities persist

Sub: IR

Sec: Int Org

Context:

Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the question remains whether the world is adequately prepared for the next pandemic.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s pandemic preparedness director, emphasized that the next outbreak is inevitable, but the world is still not fully prepared for a large-scale infectious disease crisis.

Key Challenges:

Inequality in Access: Disparities persist in access to funding, vaccines, and healthcare tools, especially in low-income countries.
Vaccine Hesitancy: The spread of misinformation has increased vaccine hesitancy, which could hinder responses to future pandemics.
Detection and Response Speed: Public health agencies still need 4-5 years to upgrade systems for faster detection and response.

Global Initiatives and Mitigation Efforts:

WHO’s Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Hub (Berlin): Focuses on collaborative surveillance to detect threats early and mitigate them.
World Bank’s Pandemic Fund: Issued $885 million in grants for pandemic-related projects since 2022, targeting 75 countries.
Technology Transfer Hubs: mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa and a bio-manufacturing training hub in South Korea to boost local production and responses.
Amendment of International Health Regulations (June 2023): WHO introduced a higher “pandemic emergency” level requiring quicker, coordinated actions by nations.
Drafting a Global Pandemic Accord (2021): Negotiations began for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response under WHO.

Identifying Future Pandemic Threats:

WHO’s Pathogen Evaluation: Over 200 scientists evaluated 1,652 pathogens, identifying 30+ priority threats, including COVID-19, Ebola, H5N1, and “Disease X” (a potential unknown pathogen).

3. Steep Revisions in India’s Import Data Spark Concerns

Sub : Eco

Sec: External sector

Why in the News?

The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) has significantly revised India’s import data for November 2024 and the cumulative tally from April-November 2024, leading to a downward adjustment of $14 billion in total imports.
This sharp revision, especially in gold and silver imports, has raised concerns among economists and experts regarding the accuracy and transparency of India’s trade statistics.

Context and Key Highlights

India’s gold import data for November 2024 and the April-November 2024 period saw significant downward revisions.
The initial estimate for November 2024 gold imports was $14.86 billion, which was later revised to $9.9 billion, marking a reduction of $5 billion.
Similarly, for the cumulative period of April-November 2024, gold imports were originally reported at $49.1 billion, reflecting a 49% year-on-year increase.
However, the revised figure stands at $37.39 billion, indicating only a 13.5% year-on-year rise and a reduction of $11.7 billion.
Similar revisions have been made in Silver import data and overall Import data.

Overall Trade Deficit Adjustments

The revisions in import data have also impacted India’s trade deficit figures.
For November 2024, the trade deficit was earlier estimated at $37.84 billion, which has now been revised to $31.8 billion.
Despite the revision, November 2024 still records the highest trade deficit to date.
The cumulative impact of these revisions suggests that India’s annual trade deficit will be approximately $14 billion lower than previously estimated.

Concerns raised by Experts

Global Trade Research Initiative:
- Called the revisions a potential “statistical harakiri.”
- Concern: Erodes credibility of India’s economic data among investors and financial markets.
Economists:
- Urged the government to explain the rationale behind these steep adjustments to uphold data transparency and trustworthiness.

Conclusion

The downward revision in import data, primarily driven by gold and silver imports, has lowered India’s trade deficit but raised questions about the reliability and transparency of trade statistics. The government must address concerns and provide clarity to maintain credibility in its economic data.

About Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS):

Mandate: The DGCIS is a key agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is responsible for collecting, compiling, analyzing, and disseminating trade-related statistics.
Established: It was set up in 1955 to ensure the availability of accurate and timely trade data for policy formulation and decision-making.

Key Functions:

Trade Data Collection:
- Gathers data on India’s imports, exports, and trade balance from various ports, customs offices, and other government agencies.
Compilation and Analysis:
- Compiles and processes trade data to provide monthly and annual reports on India’s trade performance.
- Monitors the trends in India’s international trade for informed policymaking.
Publication of Reports:
- Publishes critical documents such as the Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade in India and the Export Import Data Bank.

4. Supreme Court Criticizes Centre’s Delay in Implementing Dam Safety Act

Sub: Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Why in News

The Supreme Court has criticized the Union government for failing to fully implement the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which was enacted nearly five years ago to prevent dam-related disasters and ensure safe functioning. The issue has gained attention due to concerns over the Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety and permissible water levels.

Dam Safety Act, 2021:

To ensure the safety, operation, and maintenance of specified dams in India and prevent dam-related disasters.
Covers all dams with a height of more than 15 meters or between 10-15 meters if they meet specific structural or hazardous criteria.
National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS): Formulate dam safety policies, guidelines, and regulations.
Composition: Chaired by the Chairperson of the Central Water Commission (CWC). Members include representatives from state governments and dam-owning agencies.
National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): Implement dam safety policies formulated by the NCDS. Resolve disputes between states or dam-owning agencies. Located in Delhi.
State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO): Monitor and ensure the safety of dams within the respective states.
Responsibilities of Dam Owners:
- Maintain records of construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Carry out risk assessments and inspections at specified intervals.
- Prepare and implement Emergency Action Plans (EAP).
- Section 5 of the Act mandates the formation of a National Committee on Dam Safety within 60 days of the Act’s commencement. Despite this legal obligation, the State of Kerala highlighted that no significant action has been taken to fulfil these provisions between 2021 and 2025.

Mullaperiyar Dam:

The Mullaperiyar dam is located on the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers in Kerala’s Idukki district.
The dam stands at the height of 53.66 metres and 365.85 metres in length.
It is operated and maintained by the Tamil Nadu for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements of five of its southern districts.
- According to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British rule the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.
The dam intends to divert the waters of the west-flowing river Periyar eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu.

Periyar River:

The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala with a length of 244 km.
Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats and flows through the Periyar National Park.
It is also known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ as it is one of the few perennial rivers in the state.
The main tributaries of Periyar are:
- Muthirapuzha,
- Mullayar,
- Cheruthoni,
- Perinjankutti.

5. AnemiaPhone: Low-Cost Technology for Detecting Iron Deficiency Integrated into ICMR Programs

Sub : Sci

Sec :Health

Why in News

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has adopted AnemiaPhone, a low-cost, innovative technology developed by researchers at Cornell University, to strengthen its initiatives for combating anemia, especially among pregnant women, and enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.

AnemiaPhone Technology:

Detects iron deficiency quickly, accurately, and affordably.
Designed for use at the point of need, enabling rapid screening and diagnosis.
Requires a small finger prick and a drop of blood on a test strip, similar to at-home COVID-19 tests.
Results are analysed within minutes using a
Information is uploaded to a clinical database via mobile phones, tablets, or computers.
Enables healthcare workers to interpret results, provide guidance, and offer immediate interventions.

About Anaemia:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.
Haemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen and if there are too few red blood cells or not enough haemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath among others.
Cause: Anaemia, according to WHO, may be caused by several factors. The most common nutritional cause of anaemia is iron deficiency although deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A are also important causes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women in the reproductive age group and having haemoglobin levels lower than 12 grams per decilitre (g / dL), as well as children under five with haemoglobin levels lower than 0 g / dL are considered anaemic.

6. Appointment of CEC and ECs

Sub : Polity

Sec : Elections

Context:- The Supreme Court said it will consider hearing in February petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2023 law which deals with the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Appointment of CEC and ECs in India:-

Constitutional Provisions

Article 324 of the Constitution: – lays down that “the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.”

Supreme Court Ruling: –

Judgement of five-judge Constitution Bench of the court in March 2023 ruled that CECs and ECs shall be appointed on the advice of a committee comprising the :-

Prime Minister
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
The Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Legal Provisions :-

Parliament brought The Chief Election Commission and Other Election Commissions (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

The selection committee would consist of :-

Prime Minister
A Union Cabinet Minister
The Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

This law excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel.

Recent Developments :-

Supreme Court bench pointed out that the March 2023 ruling was only meant to be a stop-gap arrangement till Parliament came out with a new law.
However,The law was challenged before the apex court by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms.
The apex court has decided to consider hearing the petitions challenging the law’s constitutional validity in February 2025.