2023 05 30

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

Deep ocean currents in Antarctica are slowing

GS Paper 2:

Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

GS Paper 3:

Food Fortification: Benefits and associated risks

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Nature Education Centre
‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Gongadi Shawls
75 years of UN Peacekeeping Forces
NATO Plus
EU Code of practice against disinformation
IPEF Ministerial Meeting
‘Route to Development’
Carbon Capture Coalition
Policy on rare diseases
Foucault pendulum

Deep ocean currents in Antarctica are slowing

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Geography: Ocean Current

Source: TH

Context: The deep ocean currents (called ‘Overturning Circulations’) in Antarctica, which play a crucial role in redistributing heat, carbon, and nutrients around the globe, are slowing down earlier than predicted (as per the new research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change)

Finding:

Overturning circulation has slowed by almost a third (30%) and deep ocean oxygen levels are declining.
These changes were expected by 2050, but are already happening

What are the Overturning Circulations?

Overturning Circulations refers to the global network of ocean currents that redistribute heat, carbon, and nutrients. They play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, maintaining oxygen levels, and shaping ocean currents.

Why are the Overturning Circulations slowing?

The Overturning Circulations are slowing due to melting Antarctic ice, which freshens surface waters and reduces their density, hindering the sinking process and disrupting the circulation pattern.

Impact of ‘the Slowing’:

It can lead to reduced oxygen levels in the deep ocean, affecting marine organisms.
Disrupts the base of the food chain:As the Southern Ocean supports about three-quarters of global phytoplankton production → impacts the marine ecosystem.
It can also intensify global warming by reducing the ocean’s capacity to store carbon dioxide and heat.
It can contribute to rising sea levels due to the thermal expansion of warmer waters.

About Deep Water Circulations (DWC):


	Deep Water Circulation (DWC)
About	DWC refers to the movement of water in the deep ocean, driven by density differences caused by temperature and salinity variations.
Formation	In polar regions, sea ice formation causes surrounding seawater to become saltier and denser, leading to sinking. The process repeats as surface water is pulled in to replace sinking water. This circulation pattern is known as thermohaline circulation.
Significance	Heat Distribution; Carbon Dioxide Control; Shapes ocean currents and circulation patterns globally; Affects sea level by redistributing heat and influencing thermal expansion
Deep-Water Circulations in the Indian Ocean	The Indian Ocean does not produce its own deep water; it receives it from other sources like the North Atlantic and the Antarctic.

Insta Links:

Currents

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)

Consider the following statements:

In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
In the temperate Zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 and 2

Ans: 3

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Antarctica, Deep ocean currents, Today's Article

Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

GS Paper 2/3

Syllabus: Hunger/Food security

Source: DTE

Context: According to a new UN report – Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity – India’s neighbours (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar) are among the hunger hotspots in the world.

Highlights of the report:

Many hotspots [Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and the Sahel (Burkina Faso and Mali)] are facing growing hunger crises.
Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks continue to drive more and more communities into crisis.
The spillover from the crisis in Sudan is driving massive population displacement and hunger among people in search of refuge.

Risks ahead:

Deepening economic shocks and a likely El Nino climatic phenomenon is raising fears of climate extremes in vulnerable countries around the globe.
Acute food insecurity can potentially increase in magnitude and severity.


Recommendations
Anticipatory actions	Emergency response	Other actions
Support the upcoming cultivation with harvesting packages.	Sustain humanitarian assistance, including food assistance and agricultural inputs.	Establish a local nutrition surveillance system to monitor the deterioration of the nutrition situation, especially in high-risk areas.
Supporting the establishment of green corridors between rural and urban centres to encourage safe spaces to sell produce.	Nutrition-related and agricultural livelihoods programmes.	Build the capacity of national and provincial disaster-management authorities on the inclusion of forecast-based financing and risk insurance.
Implement cash-for-work activities by supporting harvesting activities, to provide income sources for farmers.	Maintain prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition activities integrated with the food security, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) package of services.	Advocate for the return of female staff to work across the countries to reach populations in need.

Case of India:

The Global Hunger Index 2022 ranks India 107 (out of 121 countries), and the level of hunger and undernutrition in the country is now at “serious” levels.
India’s rank on this index has been worsening since 2020 – 94 in 2020 and 101 in 2021.
With 19.3%, India has the highest rate of child wasting (among under 5 children) in the world.
About 16.3% of Indians are undernourished, and about one in every three children is stunted.

Real problem:

India is the largest producer of milk, pulses, bananas, and the 2nd-largest producer of wheat, rice, and vegetables in the world.
Therefore, poor hunger indices can be attributed mainly to food losses and wastage in India.
Crops lost between post-harvest and the retailer (due to poor storage, handling, and transportation) are referred to as losses. Food wastage is the loss of food at the consumer’s end.
Anywhere between 1% (in the case of milk) to 16% (guava) of the agricultural produce is lost by the time it reaches the retailer.

Way ahead for India:

By providing farmers with a mechanism to access real-time prices, processing to absorb ‘excess’ production and scientific storages like silos and logistical support.
Innovations and investments, both public and private, are key to addressing the food loss and waste challenges. For example,
- GreenPod Labs is innovating in the packaging and storing of produce to augment their shelf life.
- Dehaat provides an online marketplace to farmers and buyers that reduces the number of hands the food trades in.

Insta Links:

Food security in India

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, 30 May CA, GS 2/3, Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, Hunger in India, Today's Article, Today’s article

Food Fortification: Benefits and associated risks

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Food Security; Technology Missions

Source: ET

Context: According to a UN report, India’s pilot studies on rice fortification showed a significant drop in the prevalence of anaemia among schoolchildren.

Food Fortification:

Meaning:

It is defined as the practice of adding vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods during processing to increase their nutritional value.
Food fortification has been identified as the strategy by the WHO and FAO for decreasing the incidence of nutrient deficiencies at the global level.

The scenario in India:

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 placed India at 107th position (out of 121 nations) and the undernourished population is one of the primary reasons for this poor performance of India.
In 2016, the FSSAI established standards for the fortification of rice, wheat flour, edible oil, double-fortified salt (DFS) and milk. It developed the ‘+F’ logo and helped build capacity for food producers.
The pilot – public food fortification programme, was launched in 2019 by the FSSAI in partnership with external non-profits, who are also associated with the nutraceutical industry.
Fortified foods are now being included in public food schemes like PDS, ICDS, and Mid-Day Meal Scheme/Poshan, helping to address the challenge of malnutrition.

Impact: Fortification may contribute to the prevention, reduction and control of micronutrient deficiencies through mass fortification or targeted fortification.

Major issues with food fortification:

The one-sided portrayal of fortification as a ‘cure-all’: Without any significant scientific perspective and evidence on fortification.
No independent risk analysis: FSSAI’s statutory regulations caution against consuming iron-fortified food by patients with thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.
Conflict of interest: The studies which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are sponsored by private food companies.
Evaluation studies are still not publicly available.

Case of treating iron deficiency anaemia in India:

Iron is an essential mineral required for many bodily functions, including the formation of haemoglobin, but can be harmful when taken in excess (tolerable upper limit – 40 mg/day).
One of the methods suggested for the treatment of iron deficiency is fortification of food with iron.
As men cannot ‘excrete’ iron from the body (unlike women), they are particularly vulnerable to excess iron intake.
Studies have shown that unabsorbed iron can lead to constipation, and diarrhoea and has been closely linked to many chronic comorbidities like diabetes, and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.
It can impair the absorption of other minerals such as zinc and copper, which are also essential for the body and lead to other deficiencies.

Way ahead:

Fortification should be pushed in a transparent manner.
To treat undernutrition in India, all three – dietary diversity, higher protein consumption and fortification, are essential.
It is imperative to develop individualised strategies and ensure thorough monitoring to detect any adverse events at the earliest.

Insta Links:

Report alleges conflict of interest behind India’s fortified food programme

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, 30 May CA, Food fortification, FSSAI, GS 3, Today's Article, Today’s article

Nature Education Centre

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TH

A group of environmentalists and nature conservationists have come together to establish a nature education centre on a two-acre land at Kottemcherry Hills in Kasaragod district. It aims to create awareness and educate students about the importance of nature and the environment.

The trust, an extension of the Society for Environmental Education in Kerala (SEEK), seeks to establish an alternative non-conventional ecological school that cultivates interest and skills in biological and environmental studies among students, teachers, and the public.

Usage: Such an example can be quoted to highlight the work of NGOs/CSOs for creating awareness about nature conservation.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Nature Education Centre, Society for Environmental Education in Kerala, Today's Article

‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives

Source: TH

Odisha has launched the ‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives, to enhance digital literacy and familiarize the masses with cutting-edge AI technology. The initiative also seeks to create an ecosystem that encourages research, innovation, and application across various sectors.

The ‘Odisha for AI’ initiative offers a free 4-hour course on AI by Intel through their app/site.

Usage: Such initiatives can be quoted as examples of government schemes for the promotion of AI in India.

May 30, 2023 /'Artificial Intelligence for Youth' initiatives, 'Odisha for Artificial Intelligence', 30 May 2023, Artificial Intelligence, Odisha, Today's Article

Gongadi Shawls

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: A group of alumni from the National Institute of Design has repurposed Telangana’s woollen gongadi shawls into all-weather shoes for farmers.

About Gongadi Shawls:


	Details
About	Gongadi is a traditional woollen blanket woven by the indigenous Kuruma and Kuruba pastoralist communities.
Material	It is made using the coarse wool of the Deccani sheep, known locally as Nalla gorrae. It is produced organically without using any dyes.
Durability	Gongadi shawls are famous for their durability and versatility. They are known for their ability to withstand all weather conditions and remain intact for a long time. The shawls do not fade but grow darker in colour over time.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Gongadi Shawls

75 years of UN Peacekeeping Forces

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: India has suffered the highest number of casualties among its peacekeepers in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations over the past 75 years.

Also, three Indian U.N. peacekeepers were honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal

About UN Peacekeeping Forces:


Information	Details
Establishment	The UN Peacekeeping Forces were established when the UN Security Council approved the deployment of UN military observers to the Middle East in 1948 ( this year is the 75th anniversary).
Purpose	UN peacekeeping forces assist nations in transitioning from war to peace, carrying out missions approved by the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the UN General Assembly.
Guiding Principles	Consent of the parties; Impartiality; Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
Composition	It deploys soldiers, police, and civilian peacekeepers from around the world to carry out peacekeeping missions.
International Day of UN Peacekeepers	Celebrated on May 29th every year; 2023 Theme: “Peace begins with me”
India’s Contribution	India has deployed more than 2,75,000 troops, including a significant number of women peacekeepers, in over 51 U.N. peacekeeping missions. It has also deployed significant civilian and police personnel, including an all-women contingent ( since 2007).
Fatalities	Fatalities occur due to worsening political and security situations in the areas where peacekeeping operations take place, engagement with criminal or terrorist organizations, and challenges in maintaining stability and security.
Measures to Control Fatalities	Maintain geographical equilibrium and diversify the nations contributing forces; Implement India’s 10-point formula to address security and operational challenges; Build confidence and cooperation with the host state; Determine the mission agenda.
About Dag Hammarskjold Medal	The medal is a posthumous award and the highest honour awarded to U.N. Peacekeepers who have distinguished themselves by exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and sacrifice in the cause of peace. It was established in 1997 and named after Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations,

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Dag Hammarskjold Medal, Today's Article, UN Peacekeeping forces

NATO Plus

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ET

Context: China Select Committee of the US House recommends making India part of NATO Plus.

Benefits for India:

Bringing India on board would facilitate seamless intelligence sharing between these countries and India would access the latest military technology without much of a time lag.

Benefits for the USA:

Including India in NATO Plus, security arrangements would build upon the US and India’s close partnership to strengthen global security and deter the aggression of the CCP across the Indo-Pacific region

NATO Plus, currently NATO Plus 5, is a security arrangement that brings together NATO and five aligned nations – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea – to boost global defence cooperation.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, GS2, International Relations, NATO Plus, Today's Article

EU Code of practice against disinformation

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Business Standard

Context: Twitter has decided to leave the EU’s disinformation code, a voluntary pact that groups together the major social platforms.

A new law the Digital Services Act (DSA) is set to take effect – which establishes requirements for monitoring and flagging disinformation, which would make the now voluntary agreement mandatory for large social media sites.

Reason:

Twitter wants to avoid certain legal liabilities that come with being part of the code. By leaving the code, Twitter may be able to operate more independently and on its own terms.

About DSA:

The DSA, an expansion of the current voluntary agreement, will require large digital platforms like Twitter to monitor and demonetize disinformation and bot farms on their sites, offer transparent warnings about political advertising, and empower fact-checking.
It does not require the site to remove content but does require offering users ways to report illicit content

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, EU's disinformation code, GS2, International Relations, Today's Article

IPEF Ministerial Meeting

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting concluded with successful negotiations under the Supply Chains (Pillar II) and good progress in the other pillars.

About IPEF:


IPEF Dimensions	Details
About	IPEF is a US-led framework for 14 participating countries to solidify their relationships and engage in crucial economic and trade matters that concern the region.
Launch	Launched by US President Joe Biden in May 2022
Founding Members	14 participating founding member nations in the Indo-Pacific region (with an open invitation for other countries to join): The United States, India, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Significance	IPEF members represent 40% of the global GDP and 28% of the world’s trade
Pillars of IPEF
Pillar I (Trade)	Enhancing economic engagement, trade agreements, and market access among IPEF member countries.
Pillar II (Supply Chains)	Making supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated through crisis response measures, cooperation, logistics and connectivity, and promotion of investments.
Pillar III (Clean Economy)	Advancing cooperation on research, development, commercialization, availability, and deployment of clean energy, regional hydrogen initiatives, and climate-friendly technologies.
Pillar IV (Fair Economy)	Strengthening implementation of effective anti-corruption and tax measures to boost commerce, trade, and investment among IPEF economies.
India’s Participation	Joined Pillars II to IV; Undecided on joining the trade pillar
Comparison to TPP	TPP is a trade agreement negotiated among 12 Pacific Rim countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and others, with the aim to establish a comprehensive trade and investment framework. US withdrew from TPP in 2017.
Comparison with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)	RCEP is the trade deal between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. India participated in RCEP discussions but chose to opt out.
Issues with IPEF	Dependence of participating countries on China, Centrality of SEA, Potential non-starter, Taxation issues, Lack of common grounds for countries
Reasons for India’s Participation	Being part of a multilateral forum, the Advantages of China
Recommendations	Learn from Japan, Establish Common Standards, Streamline Taxation Issues, Address Tech-related Issues, Simplify Trade Negotiations

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, IPEF, Today's Article

Carbon Capture Coalition

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Reuters

Context: Carbon Capture Coalition have challenged a United Nations (UN) document that questions the effectiveness of carbon removal technologies in combatting global warming.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognizes the need to remove billions of tonnes of carbon annually to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But some environmental campaigners criticize carbon removal for allowing continued fossil fuel production.

About the Coalition:

The Carbon Capture Coalition is a collaborative group consisting of more than 100 companies, unions, NGOs, conservation and environmental policy organizations. Their goal is to promote policy support for the widespread deployment of carbon management technologies, including carbon capture, removal, transport, reuse, and storage. The Great Plains Institute convenes the Coalition, which includes members from various industries, labour unions, and policy organizations.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Carbon Capture Coalition, Today's Article

Policy on rare diseases

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ET

Context: The Delhi HC constituted a five-member ‘National Rare Diseases Committee’ to implement the National Rare Disease Policy-2021 efficiently and to “ensure that the benefits of the policy reach the ultimate patients of rare disease”.

Rare Diseases

A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.
There are 6,000-8,000 classified rare diseases, but less than 5% have therapies available to treat them.
Examples: Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD), Pompe disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, haemophilia
About 95% of rare diseases have no approved treatment and less than 1 in 10 patients receive disease-specific treatment.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, GS3, health, Rare Disease, Today's Article

Foucault pendulum

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: A Foucault pendulum has been installed inside the new Parliament which is designed by the National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata.

Invented by French physicist Léon Foucault in the mid-19th Century, the pendulum provided the first laboratory demonstration in history to show that the Earth spins on its axis. The pendulum in the new Parliament is meant to symbolise the ‘integration of the idea of India with that of the universe’.

About Foucault Pendulum:

The pendulum consists of a heavy bob suspended at the end of a long, strong wire from a fixed point in the ceiling. As the pendulum swings, the imaginary surface across which the wire and the bob swipe is called the plane of the swing.

Why is it important:

It helped us understand that the Earth is rotating or spinning. As it swings back and forth, it seems to change its direction over time.
This happens because while the pendulum swings, the Earth is spinning beneath making it look like the pendulum is changing its direction. This effect is called the Coriolis effect. Depending on where you are on Earth, the pendulum will appear to rotate in different ways.
For example, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere (like in Europe or North America), the pendulum will rotate clockwise. But if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere (like in Australia or South America), it will rotate counterclockwise.
By observing this rotation, scientists like Foucault were able to prove that the Earth is spinning on its axis.

May 30, 2023 /30 May 2023, Foucault pendulum, GS3, SCIENCE, Today's Article