DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (SEPTEMBER 27, 2022)

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. NEURODIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the experts have been talking about the benefits of Neurodiversity in the workplace which can give a competitive edge from increased diversity in skills, ways of thinking, and approaches to problem-solving.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Neurodiversity?

  • Neurodiversity in the workplace refers to people with neurodivergent conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Major Challenges faced by them

Denial in Job

  • It is unjust that even with all the necessary skill sets and degrees, these persons are denied a job because they may react to situations differently from non-neurodiverse persons.

Lack of awareness

  • While part of the problem could be a lack of awareness about neurodivergent conditions, organisations must create a more accommodating environment.

 Discrimination

  • The stigmas attached to cognitive disabilities cloud the judgment of existing employees and lead to direct discrimination.

 Unsuitable work environment

  • Workplaces are typically designed to suit and benefit neurotypical employees without considering the special needs of neurodiverse people. This hinders the productivity of differently-abled staff members.

 The assumption of “one-size-fits-all”

  • Most companies rely on a “one-size-fits-all” mentality regarding neurodiverse employees. However, this approach is ineffective in creating a positive work environment, and it often leads employees to become distressed at work.

 Neurodiversity and mental health

  • There is a prevalent misconception that neurodiverse people are mentally “disabled.” In truth, neurodivergent people simply function, learn and process information differently than others.

SIGNIFICANCE

  • Nearly 2 million people in India suffer from this neurological and developmental disorder and are therefore identified as autistic.
  • A study by Deloitte estimates that nearly 20% of the world is neurodiverse.
  • In the U.S: it is estimated that 85% of people on the autism spectrum are unemployed compared with 4.2% of the overall population.

 2. OPERATION MEGH CHAKRA

THE CONTEXT: The CBI launched Operation Megh Chakra to combat the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Materials online.

THE EXPLANATION:

  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched Operation Megh Chakra on September 24, 2022 to conduct searches at 56 locations across India as part of a nationwide drive against the circulation and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
  • This operation was launched after the CBI received intelligence from Interpol’s Singapore special unit based on the information received from authorities in New Zealand.
  • The CBI has filed two cases accusing that large number of Indian nationals of being involved in online circulation, downloading and transmission of CSAM using cloud-based storage.
  • The searches were conducted in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and others.
  • The raids witnessed the seizure of electronic devices, like mobile phones and laptops, that belonged to suspects.
  • Through these raids, a large quantity of child pornography material was found.
  • 50 suspects are currently being questioned about the identity of child victims and the abusers.
  • Similar exercise was launched by CBI last year under the code name Operation Carbon.
  • 13 states and 1 Union Territory were raided and the CBI filed 24 cases involving more than 80 people.
  • The raids under Operation Carbon was conducted in 76 locations across India.
  • Cases were filed against the suspects under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, for allegedly being part of the syndicate involved in uploading, circulation, selling and viewing of CSAM through various social media platforms and online groups.
  • Based on the investigations under the operation, the CBI has urged countries to share and gather information about these syndicates under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs).
  • Apart from Indian nationals, suspects also included individuals from countries like Pakistan, Canada, US, UK, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia etc.

 THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. RHINO MEMORIAL IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

THE CONTEXT: A memorial made of ashes collected from rhino horns were unveiled recently at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

THE EXPLANATION:

  • The memorial having three rhino sculptures was named “Abode of the Unicorns”.
  • It has one male rhino, a female rhino and a calf.
  • It also has three statutes of forest guards, created using different materials.
  • The male rhino is 10.5 feet long and 6 feet tall, the female is 11 feet long and 5.6 feet tall and the calf is 3.5 feet long and 1.5 feet tall.
  • The rhino statues were created using ashes collected from around 2,500 rhino horns that burnt to flames by the Assam Government.
  • On the occasion of World Rhino Day (September 22) last year, rhino horns were burnt cinders remotely using drones at the Kaziranga National Park.
  • They were collected or seized over the past 40 years.
  • The statues were made using around 128 kg of ash obtained from these burnt horns.
  • They were created by sculptors Biju Das.
  • The statues of the forest guards were sculpted by Biren Singha.
  • It took four months to create these statues.
  • The memorial was unveiled by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
  • The estimated cost of this project is Rs.10 to 12 lakh.

About Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park in Assam hosts the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos. It is situated at the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon districts. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1985. According to the latest State of Rhino Report, the national park hosts 2,613 rhinos – the highest in India.

VALUE ADDITION:

State of Rhino Report

According to the State of Rhino Report 2022, released by the International Rhino Foundation, one-horned rhinos’ population in India, Nepal and Bhutan has increased while the population of rhinos in Africa and Indonesia either fell or saw only a slight rise. The estimated population of one-horned rhinos is 4,014. The population is surging mainly because of efforts of governments of India and Nepal towards expanding the natural habitats and anti-poaching activities.

4. NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister virtually inaugurated the National Conference of Environment Ministers held in Gujarat.

THE EXPLANATION:

  • National Conference of Environment Ministers of all States is a two-day event held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on September 23 and 24 this year.
  • This conference aims to promote cooperative federalism through the synergized working of central and state governments on issues pertaining to the environment and climate change.
  • The conference will include 6 thematic sessions with topics focusing on LiFE, Combating Climate Change (Updating State Action Plans on Climate Change for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate Impacts); PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances); Forestry Management; Prevention and Control of Pollution; Wildlife Management; Plastics and Waste Management.

What is LiFE?

  • LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment) was launched on June 5, 2022 on the occasion of World Environment Day to harness the power of individual and collective action to address the global climate crisis. It was introduced by Prime Minister at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. This concept advocates for a mindful and deliberate utilization of resources as opposed to “mindful and wasteful consumption”.
  • It aims to create a global movement towards the adoption of simple and specific climate-friendly behaviours in daily life. The LiFE seeks to make such daily actions an integral part of collective social norms and promote sustainable development of the overall global community. It will deploy behavioural techniques like nudges, social and behaviour change communication to achieve its goals.

What is PARIVESH?

PARIVESH (Pro Active Responsive facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single window Hub) is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. It provides a single window clearance mechanism for those seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ Clearances from Central, State and District authorities. It enables citizens to interact with scrutiny officers, generate online clearance letters, online mailers and alerts to state government officials in case of delays in the processing of applications.

Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan

Guidelines for ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ was released during the National Conference of Environment Ministers. The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan ranks 131 cities across India for the implementation of City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for the reduction of air pollution up to 40 per cent by 2025-26. The cities are categorized into three groups based on population. The first group has cities with population more than 10 lakh, the second has population between 3 to 10 lakh and the third has population less than 3 lakh. The ranking is based on the annual self-assessment of the cities based on the framework provided in the government portal.

VALUE ADDITION

About National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

The NCAP is a long-term strategy that aims to achieve 20-30% reduction in Particulate Matter Concentration by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison of the concentration. Specific plans were created for each city. These plans include strengthening of monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, awareness creation etc. The implementation of these plans are regularly monitored by Committees at Central and State levels.

 THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

5. MAKE IN INDIA COMPLETES 8 YEARS

THE CONTEXT: Make in India, the flagship program of the Government of India that aspires to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure, completes 8 years of path-breaking reforms.

THE EXPLANATION:

  • The government’s flagship initiative has helped 27 sectors to make significant progress, including manufacturing and services sectors.
  • It has doubled the annual foreign direct investment to 83 billion USD. With this, India is expected to attract 100 billion USD in FDI this fiscal. 101 countries have made investments across 31 states and union territories in 57 sectors.
  • With this initiative, the Indian manufacturing sector is witnessing an increase in domestic value addition and local sourcing, increased focus on research and development, innovation and sustainability measures.
  • The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes were launched under the Make in India initiative across 14 key manufacturing sectors. Under these schemes, incentives are provided to strengthen domestic manufacturing sector, improve resilience of supply chains and make Indian companies more competitive and have export potential.
  • The flagship initiative has been complemented with minimising compliance burdens through amendment of laws, liberalization of guidelines and regulations and ensuring ease of doing business in the country.
  • The National Single Window System (NSWS) was launched to provide a single digital platform for investors requiring approvals and clearances. This portal has been integrated with existing clearance systems of various government entities. This has boosted investment inflow into the country.
  • The PM Gati Shakti Programme has improved the logistical efficiency in the country, enabling an increased access to Indian markets, hubs and job opportunities at a reduced logistical cost.
  • The One District One Product initiative, created based on the vision of the Make in India initiative, boosted the production of indigenous products from each district in India, increasing exposure of artisans and manufacturers of handlooms, handicrafts, textiles, agricultural processed products and other products.

About Make in India initiative

The Make in India initiative was launched on September 25, 2014 to make India a global manufacturing hub by promoting investments, innovation, enhanced skill development, intellectual property rights and infrastructure development. It is being implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

 THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. WORLD TOURISM DAY: SEPTEMBER 27

THE CONTEXT: The World Tourism Day is observed every year to promote tourism and spread awareness about its importance.

THE EXPLANATION:

  • The theme for this year is “Rethinking Tourism”.
  • It focuses on the post-pandemic initiatives and developments concerning tourism sector.
  • It aims to put people and the planet first and promote the shared vision for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector.
  • It seeks to make people understand the joy of exploring the world.
  • Indonesia is the host country for the 2022 celebrations. The events were kicked off in Bali and across the globe.

Background

  • The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) initiated the World Tourism Day in the year 1979. The official celebrations of this international day commenced in 1980. It commemorates the adoption of the Statutes of UNWTO. The UNWTO has decided in 1997 that events concerning the World Tourism Day would be celebrated in different host countries each year.
  • The day comes at the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the start of the season in the southern hemisphere. The theme for the inaugural edition of the World Tourism Day in 1980 was “Tourism’s contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding”. India hosted the 2019 celebrations with the theme “Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all”.

About UNWTO

UNWTO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism across the world. Headquartered in Madrid, it acts as a global forum for international collaboration in the tourism sector and a source of knowledge on tourism related topics.

VALUE ADDITION

India’s tourism sector

The latest edition of the Economic Impact Report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the tourism sector’s contribution to the overall growth of the Indian economy could be higher than the pre-pandemic levels, with year-on-year growth at 20.7 per cent. The report expects the sector’s contribution to reach around 215 billion USD. This is 1 per cent higher than the 2019 levels. Jobs in this sector is also expected to grow to almost 35 million, which is 8.3 per cent higher than the previous year.

 




Ethics Through Current Development (27-09-2022)

  1. Be like an immovable rock in the midst of chaos READ MORE
  2. Shed gloomy thoughts READ MORE



Today’s Important Articles for Geography (27-09-2022)

  1. Repeated multi-year droughts hit India over last 1,000 years, water policies need reassessment: Study READ MORE  
  2. 3 reasons Hurricane Ian poses a major flooding hazard for Florida — a meteorologist explains READ MORE



Today’s Important Articles for Sociology (27-09-2022)

  1. Break chains of inequality, historical injustice READ MORE
  2. SOCIAL MEDIA SPURS SUICIDAL TENDENCIES READ MORE



Today’s Important Articles for Pub Ad (27-09-2022)

  1. Putting power back in the hands of the people: With a crisis of representation, tottering democracies can be brought to life with the crucial role of referendum or direct democracy READ MORE
  2. Death penalty: Deciding the rarest of the rare READ MORE
  3. Lawless policing an abomination in a free society READ MORE
  4. Governor vs Govt: The spat between the Kerala Governor and the Chief Minister is most unfortunate READ MORE



WSDP Bulletin (27-09-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

  1. India’s push for home-grown navigation system jolts smartphone giants READ MORE
  2. Seven years which saw the Supreme Court embrace live-streaming, online RTI portal READ MORE
  3. I&B Ministry blocks 45 videos from 10 YouTube channels READ MORE
  4. The case to decide on excommunication within Dawoodi Bohras READ MORE
  5. Growth in credit offtake at 9-yr high, with retail driving demand READ MORE
  6. Inflation to stay above 6% until 2022-end: S&P READ MORE
  7. 60 years after they were last seen, tigers to come back to Madhya Pradesh’s Madhav National Park READ MORE
  8. Union minister Giriraj Singh launches ‘Jaldoot’ app to check water levels of selected wells READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

  1. Repeated multi-year droughts hit India over last 1,000 years, water policies need reassessment: Study READ MORE  
  2. 3 reasons Hurricane Ian poses a major flooding hazard for Florida — a meteorologist explains READ MORE
  3. Break chains of inequality, historical injustice READ MORE
  4. SOCIAL MEDIA SPURS SUICIDAL TENDENCIES READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

  1. Putting power back in the hands of the people: With a crisis of representation, tottering democracies can be brought to life with the crucial role of referendum or direct democracy READ MORE
  2. Death penalty: Deciding the rarest of the rare READ MORE
  3. Lawless policing an abomination in a free society READ MORE
  4. Governor vs Govt: The spat between the Kerala Governor and the Chief Minister is most unfortunate READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

  1. Digitised healthcare depends on faster connectivity READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

  1. Modi’s vishwa guru quest continues. Australia visit will help India wean Canberra away from China READ MORE

 GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  1. Why PLI is worth doing: Critiques are missing both the immediate economic logic & its longer term strategic benefit READ MORE
  2. The RBI’s rupee headache READ MORE
  3. Food Security Dwindles: Increasing foodgrain prices will be a big blow to country’s food security which is already strained READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT

  1. Waste mismanagement: NGT applies ‘polluter pays’ principle for lapses READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

  1. How this cyclone intensity estimation technique saved millions of lives across continents READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

  1. Be like an immovable rock in the midst of chaos READ MORE
  2. Shed gloomy thoughts READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

  1. ‘Caste-based discrimination continues to stalk the political landscape of independent India’. Comment with examples.
  2. ‘In a democratic society, the law vests vast powers in the hands of the police to curb lawlessness by anti-social elements, but also keeps provisions to ensure that these powers are not used to imperil the rights of citizens’. With the help of relevant examples discuss how the cases of police brutality can be minimized?
  3. The tussle between state government and the office of Governor set many bad examples and ultimately affects the working of state government. Discuss what India can learn British monarch to address the issue between state government and governor overreach?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • History never looks like history when you are living through it.
  • With a crisis of representation, tottering democracies can be brought to life with the crucial role of referendum or direct democracy.
  • The draft telecom act, which replaces a colonial law, does well to put in technological, regulatory changes but falls short on some aspects.
  • The country’s efforts so far in tackling water and air pollution as well as ensuring garbage and e-waste disposal have suffered due to misgovernance.
  • Within redistributive justice, special provision has to be made for those who have suffered historical injustice. Dalits and Scheduled Tribes are doubly disadvantaged. They are socially discriminated on the basis of birth and also denied opportunities. Caste-based discrimination continues to stalk the political landscape of independent India.
  • Despite facing myriad personal and official issues, the Queen remained a cool customer and a role model for other heads of State.
  • Digital health delivery is gaining popularity, but its expansion in rural India will bank on connectivity.

50-WORD TALK

  • The Supreme Court has done well to acknowledge that capital punishment needs closer scrutiny and referring the matter to a five-judge bench. The problem that the Supreme Court’s reference to a Constitution Bench seeks to remedy is the need to achieve consistency on the requirements of a fair, meaningful and effective sentencing hearing.
  • In a democratic society, the law vests vast powers in the hands of the police to curb lawlessness by anti-social elements, but also keeps provisions to ensure that these powers are not used to imperil the rights of citizens. The conviction of criminals is important, but more important is the fact that the police must function in a way that promotes the values of a liberal, democratic society. Illegal means ultimately undermine the ends. This approach damages the credibility of the police.

Things to Remember:

  • For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
  • Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
  • For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
  • For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
  • Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.



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