Current Affairs 08 April 2024

CONTENTS

1. Extension of AFSPA in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
2. RBI Monetary Policy Update
3. Severe Water Crisis Grips Southern States of India
4. Green Credit Programme
5. India’s Abstention on Human Rights Council’s Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire
6. World Anti-Doping Agency
7. Arrokoth 

Extension of AFSPA in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh

Context:

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in certain regions of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for an additional six months. In Nagaland, the AFSPA extension encompasses eight districts and 21 police stations. Similarly, specific areas in Arunachal Pradesh will also come under the purview of this extended act. The decision to prolong the AFSPA in these regions aims to maintain security and address ongoing concerns related to insurgency and internal disturbances.

Relevance:

GS III- Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
2. AFSPA Acts in force
3. Powers Given to an officer of the Armed Forces in a “disturbed” area under AFSPA
4. Why was AFSPA imposed on the Northeast in the first place?
5. Arguments Against AFSPA
6. Arguments in Favour of AFSPA
7. Important Criticisms of AFSPA and commissions regarding AFSPA
8. Supreme Court judgment on AFSPA

Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)

• Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grant special powers to the Indian Armed Forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
• AFSPA is invoked when a case of militancy or insurgency takes place and the territorial integrity of India is at risk.
• Security forces can “arrest a person without warrant”, who has committed or even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even based on “reasonable suspicion”.
• It also provides security forces with legal immunity for their actions in disturbed areas.
• While the armed forces and the government justify its need in order to combat militancy and insurgency, critics have pointed out cases of possible human rights violations linked to the act.
• According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months.
• The Acts have received criticism from several sections for alleged concerns about human rights violations in the regions of its enforcement alleged to have happened.

AFSPA Acts in force

It is effective in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

History of AFSPA Acts

• An AFSPA Act passed in 1958 was applicable to the Naga Hills, then part of Assam.
• In the following decades it spread, one by one, to the other Seven Sister States in India’s northeast (at present, it is in force in the States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of the eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State of Assam).
• Another one passed in 1983 and applicable to Punjab and Chandigarh was withdrawn in 1997, roughly 14 years after it came to force.
• An Act passed in 1990 was applied to Jammu and Kashmir and has been in force since.

Powers Given to an officer of the Armed Forces in a “disturbed” area under AFSPA

• After giving such due warning, Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it causes death, against the person who is acting against law or order in the disturbed area for the maintenance of public order,
• Destroy any arms dump, hide-outs, prepared or fortified position or shelter or training camp from which armed attacks are made by the armed volunteers or armed gangs or absconders wanted for any offence.
• To arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offences or is reasonably suspected of having done so and may use force if needed for the arrest.
• To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests, or to recover any person wrongfully restrained or any arms, ammunition or explosive substances and seize it.
• Stop and search any vehicle or vessel reasonably suspected to be carrying such person or weapons.
• Any person arrested and taken into custody under this Act shall be made present over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station with least possible delay, together with a report of the circumstances occasioning the arrest.
• Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. Nor is the government’s judgment on why an area is found to be disturbed subject to judicial review.
• Protection of persons acting in good faith under this Act from prosecution, suit or other legal proceedings, except with the sanction of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act.

Why was AFSPA imposed on the Northeast in the first place?

• When the Naga nationalist movement kicked off in the  1950s with the setting up of the Naga National Council — the predecessor of the NSCN — Assam police forces allegedly used force to quell the movement.
• As an armed movement took root in Nagaland, AFSPA was passed in Parliament, and subsequently imposed on the entire state.
• In Manipur, too, it was imposed in 1958 in the three Naga-dominated districts of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul, where the NNC was active.
• It was imposed in the 1960s in the Kuki-Zomi dominated Manipur district of Churachandpur, which was under the sway of the Mizo insurgent movement, and extended to the rest of the state in 1979, when groups in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley groups began an armed insurgency.
• As secessionist and nationalist movements started sprouting in other Northeastern states, AFSPA started being extended and imposed.

Arguments Against AFSPA

• Symbol of Hatred: The Jeevan Reddy Committee, which was founded in 2004, criticised AFSPA as a symbol of hatred, persecution, and a tool of oppression.
• Immunity to Security Forces: AFSPA has been dubbed a “draconian Act” for the unrestricted authority it grants the military forces and the impunity that security officers have for their acts performed under the law. Under AFSPA, the “armed forces” have the authority to shoot to kill or demolish a structure based solely on suspicion.
• Human Rights Issue: The AFSPA’s activities have been criticised because people have died as a result of them. It’s been a contentious issue, with human rights organisations condemning it as being too forceful.
• Prolonged continuation: Despite a nearly 25-year ceasefire accord, the Union Government has been chastised for renewing the “disturbed region” tag on Nagaland every year to keep the AFSPA alive.
• Concerns of AFSPA in Manipur: Many protests over suspected extrajudicial executions by the security forces have taken place in Manipur throughout the years. The bullet-riddled body of Thangjam Manorama, who was reportedly raped and killed by a group of Assam Rifles troops in 2004 sparked outrage across the state. Irom Sharmila, often known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, is a towering figure who is well-known for her 16-year hunger strike in protest of AFSPA atrocities.

Arguments in Favour of AFSPA

• The AFSPA is described as a law that takes a straightforward approach to control criminal activity in disturbed areas.
• Fascist techniques and all groups, private and public, that engage in violence and attempt to pressure the government by organised violence must be controlled. As a result, the AFSPA is vital.

Important Criticisms of AFSPA and commissions regarding AFSPA

• When India presented its second periodic report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 1991, members of the UNHRC asked numerous questions about the validity of the AFSPA.
• They questioned the constitutionality of the AFSPA under Indian law and asked how it could be justified in light of Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR.
• In 2012, the UN asked India to revoke AFSPA saying it had no place in Indian democracy.
• The Act has been criticized by Human Rights Watch as a “tool of state abuse, oppression and discrimination”.

Supreme Court judgment on AFSPA

1997 judgment on AFSPA

• In Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights vs Union of India 1997, a Constitution Bench ruled that the ability to use deadly force under Section 4(a) of the AFSPA should only be used in “certain circumstances.”
• A 1997 Supreme Court judgment advocated “caution and use of minimum force against our own people” in AFSPA regions.

Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM) case 2017

• The Supreme Court addressed the extrajudicial executions in 2016, clarifying that the bar under Section 6 of the AFSPA does not offer officers “complete immunity” from any investigation into their alleged misconduct.
• The government received severe criticism from the Supreme Court in 2016 for the continuance of AFSPA.

Reactions to the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in Nagaland

• Lok Sabha members condemned the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in Nagaland with some Opposition MPs calling for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) as well.
• Nagaland Chief Minister has also called for scrapping the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
• Human rights bodies in India and beyond are debating the contentious AFSPA that gives unbridled powers to the security forces.
• Nagaland Chief Minister also criticised the Centre for extending the “disturbed area” tag on Nagaland every year to prolong the AFSPA despite a ceasefire agreement for almost 25 years.
• In the northeast, the AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and areas falling within the jurisdiction of eight police stations of the State bordering Assam.
• For Jammu and Kashmir, the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990, is in force.

-Source: The Hindu

RBI Monetary Policy Update

Context:

The recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the RBI Friday kept the repo rate unchanged for the seventh consecutive time at 6.5 per cent.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Recent Monetary Policy and RBI Decisions
2. Instruments of Monetary Policy
3. About Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

Key Highlights of the MPC Meeting

Repo Rate Status

• The repo rate remains unchanged at 6.5%.
• The repo rate signifies the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Policy Stance Retention

• The RBI maintains its policy stance as the “withdrawal of accommodation,” despite recent liquidity deficits.
• “Withdrawal of accommodation” implies reducing the money supply to manage inflation.

GDP Growth and Inflation Forecast

• GDP growth projection for fiscal 2024-25 is maintained at 7%.
• Retail inflation is projected at 4.5% for the same period.
• February’s CPI inflation was recorded at 5.09%, slightly lower than January’s 5.1%.
• Food inflation continues to be volatile, hindering the disinflation process.

Investment Activity Outlook

• Prospects for investment activity appear promising due to:
  • A rising private capex cycle.
  • Consistent and robust government capital expenditure.
  • Healthy financial positions of banks and corporates.
  • Increasing capacity utilization.
• However, geopolitical tensions and trade route disruptions present potential risks.

Rupee Performance

• The rupee exhibited stability against currencies from both emerging markets and certain advanced economies throughout 2023-24.
• This stability indicates India’s economy is robust, financially sound, and has strengthened its position in the global market.

Instruments of Monetary Policy

There are several direct and indirect instruments that are used for implementing monetary policy.

• Repo Rate: The (fixed) interest rate at which the Reserve Bank provides overnight liquidity to banks against the collateral of government and other approved securities under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF).
• Reverse Repo Rate: The (fixed) interest rate at which the Reserve Bank absorbs liquidity, on an overnight basis, from banks against the collateral of eligible government securities under the LAF.
• Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): The LAF consists of overnight as well as term repo auctions. Progressively, the Reserve Bank has increased the proportion of liquidity injected under fine-tuning variable rate repo auctions of range of tenors. The aim of term repo is to help develop the inter-bank term money market, which in turn can set market based benchmarks for pricing of loans and deposits, and hence improve transmission of monetary policy. The Reserve Bank also conducts variable interest rate reverse repo auctions, as necessitated under the market conditions.
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): A facility under which scheduled commercial banks can borrow additional amount of overnight money from the Reserve Bank by dipping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) portfolio up to a limit at a penal rate of interest. This provides a safety valve against unanticipated liquidity shocks to the banking system.
• Corridor: The MSF rate and reverse repo rate determine the corridor for the daily movement in the weighted average call money rate.
• Bank Rate: It is the rate at which the Reserve Bank is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial papers. The Bank Rate is published under Section 49 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. This rate has been aligned to the MSF rate and, therefore, changes automatically as and when the MSF rate changes alongside policy repo rate changes.
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The average daily balance that a bank is required to maintain with the Reserve Bank as a share of such per cent of its Net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) that the Reserve Bank may notify from time to time in the Gazette of India.
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): The share of NDTL that a bank is required to maintain in safe and liquid assets, such as, unencumbered government securities, cash and gold. Changes in SLR often influence the availability of resources in the banking system for lending to the private sector.
• Open Market Operations (OMOs): These include both, outright purchase and sale of government securities, for injection and absorption of durable liquidity, respectively.
• Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS): This instrument for monetary management was introduced in 2004. Surplus liquidity of a more enduring nature arising from large capital inflows is absorbed through sale of short-dated government securities and treasury bills. The cash so mobilised is held in a separate government account with the Reserve Bank.

About Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the body of the RBI, headed by the Governor, responsible for taking the important monetary policy decisions about setting the repo rate.
• Repo rate is ‘the policy instrument’ in monetary policy that helps to realize the set inflation target by the RBI (at present 4%).

Membership of the MPC

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is formed under the RBI with six members.
• Three of the members are from the RBI while the other three members are appointed by the government.
• Members from the RBI are the Governor who is the chairman of the MPC, a Deputy Governor and one officer of the RBI.
• The government members are appointed by the Centre on the recommendations of a search-cum-selection committee which is to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary.

Objectives of the MPC

Monetary Policy was implemented with an initiative to provide reasonable price stability, high employment, and a faster economic growth rate.

The major four objectives of the Monetary Policy are mentioned below:

• To stabilize the business cycle.
• To provide reasonable price stability.
• To provide faster economic growth.
• Exchange Rate Stability.

-Source: Indian Express

Severe Water Crisis Grips Southern States of India

Context:

The southern states of India, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, are currently grappling with a severe water crisis. This situation has arisen due to alarmingly low water levels in major reservoirs across these regions. The dwindling water reserves pose serious challenges for agricultural activities, drinking water supply, and overall livelihoods of the residents. Urgent measures and sustainable water management strategies are crucially needed to address this pressing issue and ensure water security for the affected states.

Relevance:

GS I: Water Resources

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Current Water Crisis Situation in Southern States
2. Reasons for Water Crisis in South India
3. Implications of the Water Crisis in India

Current Water Crisis Situation in Southern States

Reservoir Levels

• Central Water Commission reports:
  • Most major reservoirs in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are filled to 25% or less of capacity.
  • Dams like Tungabhadra and Nagarjuna Sagar are at 5% or less.
  • Mettur dam and Srisailam are below 30% capacity.
• Southern region specifics:
  • Overall reservoirs are at 23% capacity.
  • This is notably lower than last year and the 10-year average.
• Exception in Kerala:
  • Major dams in Kerala are at least 50% filled.
  • Reservoirs like Idukki, Idamalayar, Kallada, and Kakki have better water levels.

Reasons for Water Crisis in South India

Rainfall Deficiency and El Niño Effect

• El Niño Impact:
  • Warming of Pacific Ocean disrupts weather globally.
  • Leads to reduced rainfall in specific regions.
• Monsoon and Post-Monsoon:
  • Lower rainfall, delayed onset of monsoon.
  • Post-monsoon (Oct-Dec 2023): Over 50% of regions had rainfall deficiency.

Global Warming and Temperature Rise

• Accelerates water evaporation rates.
• Increases drought conditions, raising water demand for various uses.

Groundwater Extraction

• Excessive use for irrigation in regions lacking surface water sources.
• Crops like rice, sugarcane, and cotton require high water amounts.

Water Pollution

• Industrial discharge, sewage, and waste dumping contaminate water sources.
• EMPRI study findings:
  • 85% of Bengaluru’s water bodies are polluted by industrial and waste contaminants.

Inefficient Water Management

• Practices such as wastage, leakage, and unequal distribution worsen water scarcity.

Implications of the Water Crisis in India

Health Consequences

• Lack of safe drinking water leads to health issues like dehydration, infections, and diseases.
• Approximately 2 lakh people in India die annually due to insufficient water supply, as reported by NITI Aayog.

Population and Water Resources

• India comprises 18% of the global population but possesses water resources adequate for only 4% of its people, according to the World Bank.
• By 2023, an estimated 91 million Indians will lack access to safe water.

Environmental Impact

• Water scarcity threatens wildlife and disrupts natural habitats, impacting biodiversity and ecological balance.
• Wild animals often encroach upon human settlements seeking water, leading to conflicts and endangerment.

Agricultural Sector

• Agriculture, consuming about 80% of India’s water, faces challenges due to water scarcity.
• Reduced crop yields, compromised food security, and increased poverty among farmers are consequences.

Industrial and Economic Ramifications

• Water scarcity hampers industrial production, diminishes energy generation, and escalates water supply and treatment costs.
• Tourism, trade, and social welfare can also be negatively impacted.
• The World Bank’s 2016 report, ‘Climate Change, Water and Economy’, suggests that water-deficient countries could experience significant economic growth setbacks by 2050.

-Source: The Hindu

Green Credit Programme

Context:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently issued the Green Credit Rules 2023, which formally established the Green Credit Programme (GCP) for India.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Green Credit Programme
2. Green Credit Rules, 2023: Overview
3. Compensatory Afforestation: Overview

Green Credit Programme:

• The Green Credit Programme introduces a system of incentives, known as “Green Credits,” for activities that have a positive impact on the environment.
• It complements the domestic Carbon Market in India, expanding beyond CO2 emission reductions to incentivize a wider range of sustainable actions.

Objectives:

• The Green Credit System aims to meet various environmental obligations, encouraging companies, individuals, and local bodies to undertake sustainable initiatives.
• Unlike the carbon market’s focus on CO2 emissions, the Green Credit Programme promotes broader environmental goals.

Tradable Credits:

• Green credits earned through sustainable activities will be tradable, allowing participants to sell them on a proposed domestic market platform.
• This creates a market-based approach to incentivize and reward environmentally beneficial actions.

Program Administrator:

• The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) will serve as the administrator of the Green Credit Programme.
• ICFRE will develop guidelines, processes, and procedures for the implementation of the programme, ensuring its effectiveness and integrity.

Green Credit Activities:

The programme promotes a range of activities that contribute to environmental sustainability, including:

• Increasing Green Cover: Promoting tree plantation and related activities to enhance the green cover across the country.
• Water Conservation: Encouraging water conservation, water harvesting, and efficient water use, including the treatment and reuse of wastewater.
• Regenerative Agriculture: Promoting natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration to improve productivity, soil health, and the nutritional value of food produced.
• Waste Management: Supporting sustainable waste management practices, including collection, segregation, and treatment.
• Air Pollution Reduction: Encouraging measures to reduce air pollution and other pollution abatement activities.
• Mangrove Conservation: Promoting the conservation and restoration of mangroves, important ecosystems for coastal areas.
• Ecomark Label: Encouraging manufacturers to obtain the “Ecomark” label for their goods and services, signifying their environmental sustainability.
• Sustainable Infrastructure: Encouraging the construction of buildings and infrastructure using sustainable technologies and materials.
• Setting Thresholds and Benchmarks: The Green Credit Programme will establish thresholds and benchmarks for each specific Green Credit activity, ensuring clear standards and targets for participants to achieve.

Green Credit Rules, 2023: Overview

Notification and Legal Basis

• Introduced on 12th October 2023 under the Environment Protection Act of 1986.

Objective

• Establish a mechanism promoting voluntary environmental actions leading to the issuance of green credits.
• Initial focus on voluntary tree plantation on degraded land, waste land, watershed areas, etc., managed by Forest departments.

Implementation of the Green Credit Program (GCP)

Afforestation Financing

• Registered and approved entities can finance afforestation projects in designated degraded forest and wasteland areas.
• Afforestation activities will be executed by State Forest departments.

Green Credit Valuation

• Two years post-planting, each tree undergoes evaluation by the International Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
• Each planted tree can potentially earn one ‘green credit’.

Utilization of Green Credits

• Companies that have converted forest land for non-forest uses and removed numerous trees can use green credits to fulfill obligations under India’s compensatory afforestation laws.

Available Land for Green Credit Projects

• 10 States have identified approximately 3,853 hectares of degraded forest land for individuals, groups, and public/private sector units to earn and potentially trade green credits.
  • Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh (MP) together represent about 40% of the available forest land.

Compensatory Afforestation: Overview

Definition

• Compensatory afforestation mandates industries or institutions, permitted to clear forest land for non-forestry purposes,
  • Provide equivalent non-forest land to forest authorities, and
  • Fund afforestation on the provided land.
• Land must ideally be near the cleared forest tracts.
• If unavailable, twice the amount of ‘degraded’ forest land can be used for afforestation.

Additional Compensation

• Companies must compensate for the lost forest ecosystem’s value, known as the ‘net present value’, due to land diversion.

Issues with Compensatory Afforestation and the Green Credit Program (GCP)

Challenges

• Obtaining contiguous non-forest land for compensatory afforestation, particularly in States like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh with historical land diversions for mining.
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund, funded by environmental compensation from companies, has substantial unspent funds due to land availability issues.

Green Credit Challenges

• Assigning a monetary value to green credits is problematic.
• Linking green credits to compensatory afforestation activities is complex.

-Source: The Hindu

India’s Abstention on Human Rights Council’s Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

Context:

India opted to abstain from voting on a resolution at the Human Rights Council that urged Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and encouraged states to impose an arms embargo. The resolution was ultimately adopted by the 47-member Human Rights Council. India’s decision to abstain signifies a balanced approach to the complex and sensitive issue, reflecting its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy while maintaining its strategic relationships with both Israel and Palestine.

Relevance:

GS II- International Relations (Bilateral Groupings & Agreements)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About UN Human Rights Council
2. India’s Voting Behaviour at UNHRC on the Issue of Israel

About UN Human Rights Council:

• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
• It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.
• It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.

Working of the Council

• The Human Rights Council replaced the former UN Commission on Human Rights.
• It was created by the UNGA on March 15, 2006, and the body met in its first session from June 19-30, 2006.
• In 2007, the Council adopted an “institution-building package” to set up its procedures and mechanisms.
• Among these were the mechanism of Universal Periodic Review to assess the human rights situations in all UN Member States, the Advisory Committee that serves as the Council’s think tank providing it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues, and the Complaint Procedure, which allows individuals and organisations to bring human rights violations to the Council’s attention.
• The Council also works with the UN Special Procedures established by the former Commission on Human Rights, consisting of special rapporteurs, special representatives, independent experts, and working groups that monitor, examine, advise and report on thematic issues or human rights situations in specific countries.

Membership

• The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot.
• The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.

The Council’s Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:

• African States: 13 seats
• Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
• Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
• Western European and other States: 7 seats
• Eastern European States: 6 seats

Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

Issues:

• A key concern for some critics has been the composition of Council membership, which sometimes includes countries widely perceived as human rights abusers.
• China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia and Venezuela, all of which have been accused of human rights abuses.
• US pulled out of the Agency in 2018 due to its disproportionate focus on Israel, which has received by far the largest number of critical council resolutions against any country.
• The US has joined the organization again.

India’s Voting Behaviour at UNHRC on the Issue of Israel

India’s Supportive Votes

• India previously voted in favour of three resolutions critical of Israel for:
  • Human rights violations against Palestinians,
  • Israel’s occupation of Syrian Golan, and
  • Advocating for Palestinian right to self-determination.

Abstention from Fourth Resolution

• Recent Context:
  • Following the killing of seven international aid workers in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes and a military strike by Israel on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, which India expressed concerns about.
• UNHRC Resolution Vote:
  • India abstained from voting on a UNHRC resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
  • The resolution also sought an arms embargo on Israel, marking the first time such a call was made.
• Reason for Abstention:
  • The HRC resolution did not condemn Hamas while criticizing Israel.
  • India believes in condemning both parties and holding them accountable based on their actions.

-Source: The Hindu

World Anti-Doping Agency

Context:

India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

About World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Establishment and Purpose

• Founded in 1999 as an independent international agency.
• Aims to spearhead a global movement promoting doping-free sports.

Governance and Funding

• Operates on an equal partnership model between the global sports movement and governments.

Primary Role

• Develops, harmonizes, and coordinates anti-doping rules and policies globally across sports and countries.

Key Activities

• Conducts scientific research.
• Offers education initiatives.
• Develops anti-doping capacities.
• Monitors the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), which standardizes anti-doping policies worldwide.

Formation Background

• Triggered by doping scandals in cycling in 1998.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened the First World Conference on Doping in Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, from February 2-4, 1999.
• This conference led to the Lausanne Declaration on Doping in Sport, which paved the way for WADA’s creation.
• WADA was officially established on November 10, 1999, in Lausanne, in preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Legal Structure and Location

• Operates as a Swiss private law, not-for-profit foundation.
• Headquarters located in Montreal, Canada, with its seat in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Governance Structure

• Foundation Board (Board):
  • Comprises 42 members.
  • Represents the Olympic Movement (IOC, National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, and athletes) and government representatives from five continents.
• Executive Committee (ExCo):
  • Consists of 16 members.
  • Responsible for the management, activities, and asset administration of WADA, acting on behalf of the Board.

-Source: Business Standards

Arrokoth 

Context:

Recently, scientists proposed a model to explain Arrokoth’s ice core.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About Arrokoth

Location and Name

• Arrokoth is located in the Kuiper Belt, the outer region of the solar system beyond Neptune.
• Its name originates from the Powhatan tribe’s language, meaning “sky.”

Discovery and Exploration

• Discovered in 2014 using the Hubble Space Telescope.
• It holds the distinction of being the farthest object in space explored by a human spacecraft.

Physical Characteristics

• Arrokoth has a unique double-lobed shape, resembling a snowman.
• It is believed to contain ancient “gaseous ice” from its formation billions of years ago.

Key Facts about Kuiper Belt

Name and Origin

• Also known as the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt, named after Gerard Kuiper, a Dutch-American astronomer who proposed its existence in the 1950s.

Size and Population

• The Kuiper Belt contains millions of icy objects, collectively known as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) or trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).

Composition

• Primarily consists of small icy bodies, including dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets, orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune’s orbit.

-Source: The Hindu