theIASHub | 13 May, 2025 | 177
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Untouchability in India: Recently, the Madras High Court held that denying temple festival donations based on caste amounts to untouchability, which is abolished under Article 17 of the Constitution.
o Amendment of the Act: In 1976, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was amended and renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, broadening its scope and strengthening penalties.
o Civil Rights Definition: The act defines civil rights as those derived from the abolition of untouchability under Article 17.
o Mysore High Court Clarification: 'Untouchability' is not defined constitutionally or statutorily, but the Mysore High Court clarified it refers to social disabilities based on caste, excluding practices like social boycott or exclusion from religious services.
Supreme Court Affirmation: The Supreme Court confirmed that Article 17 rights apply against private individuals, and the State has a duty to prevent violationsZero Waste Himalaya Alliance : Recently, a report by the Zero Waste Himalaya Alliance raised alarm over the growing scale of plastic pollution threatening the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
o Key Findings: The audit revealed that food and beverage packaging alone makes up over 84% of plastic litter collected across the Himalayas.
o Nearly 70% of all plastics collected were non-recyclable, with no market value, making them practically invisible to existing waste management systems.
o Sikkim recorded the highest volume of trash, followed by Darjeeling (West Bengal), Ladakh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand (THC2024).
o It was initiated by: Zero Waste Himalaya, based in Gangtok, Sikkim and Integrated Mountain Initiative, based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
o The alliance also lead The Himalayan Cleanup (THC) campaign.
Germanium: Recently, India formally raised concerns with the Chinese government over export restrictions on germanium, a critical material used in semiconductors, fiber optic cables, and solar panels.
o Position in the Periodic Table: Located in Group 14, between silicon and tin.
o Uses: Vital for semiconductors, fiber-optic cables, infrared imaging devices, and solar cells.
-Enhances heat resistance and energy conversion efficiency in solar panels.
-Improves the performance of weapon systems under harsh conditions.
o Stable in air and water; resistant to most alkalis and acids, except nitric acid.
o Not found in its free form due to high reactivity. It is sourced primarily from minerals like renierite and germanite.
o Additional Sources: Trace quantities of germanium can also be found in zinc-blende ores, sulfidic ores of arsenic and copper, and certain coals.
Marine Environment Protection Committee: Recently, the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC-83) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) focused on decarbonizing the global shipping industry.
o The session explored a Market-Based Measure (MBM) to impose emissions charges on the shipping sector, balancing environmental goals with economic fairness.
o The IMO’s GHG Strategy (2023) targets a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, 70% by 2040, and net-zero by 2050.
o Shipping is one of the few industries with binding international climate goals, unlike aviation, which lacks interim targets.
Ranthambore National Park: recently Tiger kills seven-year-old boy at Ranthambore National Park The forest officials launched a rescue operation and located the tiger with the corpse deep inside the forest.
o Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1955.
o Became part of Project Tiger in 1973.
o Declared a National Park in 1980.
o Adjacent areas like Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary act as buffers.
o The IUCN Red List categorizes the Bengal tiger as Endangered.
Most Favoured Nation: Recently US most favoured nation” (MFN) policy increase pressure on India to hike drug prices.
o Special treatment to developing countries: Under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), developed countries can give duty-free or low-duty access to imports from developing countries.
oIt Covers Copyrights Trademarks Patents Industrial designs Geographical indications (e.g., Darjeeling Tea) Trade secrets.
oNational treatment: Members must treat foreign IP holders the same as domestic ones.
oEnforcement: Includes provisions on enforcement of IP rights through courts and administrative bodies.
oDispute settlement: TRIPS violations can be challenged under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
River Bhadar: Recently NGT directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to file a fresh action taken report within four weeks on remedial action taken for abatement of pollution of River Bhadar near Ahmedabad.
o It flows from the mountain range near Hingolgadh, taluka Jasdan, Junagadh, and empties into the Arabian Sea near Navi Bandargam.
o The river's catchment area is approximately 7953 sq. km, and it is roughly 190 km long.
o Bhadar Dam (constructed in 1965) is a major reservoir on the river, located near Jetpur.
o (NGT) is a specialized judicial body in India established to handle cases related to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources
o It was created to ensure expeditious and effective disposal of environmental cases,
o NGT does not deal with issues under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927.
o Decisions of the NGT are binding and enforceable as decrees of a civil court.
o Any appeal against the NGT’s decision lies with the Supreme Court of India within 90 days.
Ethenol blending: Recently Center approves additional 2.8 million tonnes of FCI rice for ethanol production, By Achieving 15% ethanol blending in 2024, now India targets 20% by 2025.
o Ethanol is produced in both sugar-based and grain-based distilleries.
o Reduce Import Dependency: India imports ~85% of its crude oil.
o Environmental Benefits: Ethanol burns cleaner than petrol, reducing CO₂ and particulate matter.
o Boost to Agriculture: Ensures remunerative prices for sugarcane and surplus grains.
Waste to Wealth: Uses damaged food grains and agricultural residueYala Glacier: Recently International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD) to commemorate vanishing Yala glacier in high-altitude ceremony.
o It is locatated at Langtang National Park, Rasuwa District, Nepal Mountain Range.
o It serves as a platform for regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and scientific research on mountain ecosystems.
o ICIMOD serves eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH): Afghanistan, Bangladesh ,Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.
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