(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Ae Watan Mere Watan: The story of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio READ MORE

2. India to generate 600 kilotonnes of solar waste by 2030: What a new study says READ MORE

3. What is Nvidia’s Project GR00T, designed to create AI-powered humanoid robots READ MORE

4. ‘Lianas threaten Earth’s carbon sinks’ READ MORE

5. India was third-most polluted country globally in 2023, right behind top-ranking Bangladesh and Pakistan READ MORE

6. Centre Notifies PIB As Official Fact Checker For Online Content READ MORE

7. India’s top 1% income, wealth shares have reached historical highs: World Inequality Lab READ MORE

8. GRID-INDIA is now a Miniratna Company READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Politics of positive discrimination for the idea of India READ MORE

2. Violence, homelessness, and women’s mental health READ MORE

3. The depth of India’s water crisis, explained in charts READ MORE

4. One solution for challenges to India’s agrifood systems — safeguard forests better READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Electoral bonds: Amit Shah is right about return of black money; judicial activism has made perfect the enemy of good READ MORE

2. Global rights body must hold NHRC accountable for its silence on key human rights issues in India READ MORE

3. SC judgement on electoral bond brings transparency, but unqualified brouhaha is meaningless READ MORE

4. How global indices miss India’s chuckle READ MORE

5. The real question in the electoral bonds issue is – will cash make a comeback? READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Skill India Mission: Short Courses, No Employable Skills and a Lack of Jobs READ MORE

2. How Maharashtra’s amendment to the Right to Education Act will foster ghettoization READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India shows the world how to deal with hegemonistic China READ MORE

2. Changing contours of international relations READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Construction Workers’ Welfare: Anatomy of a Fall READ MORE

2. The return of high global oil prices READ MORE

3. Global supply chains make atmanirbharta take a back seat READ MORE

4. Why Punjab’s farmers are unlikely to diversify their produce despite MSP guarantee READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate Change: WMO’s Report Confirms 2023 Was Hottest Year READ MORE

2. World on the verge READ MORE

3. Poor air quality: India must take urgent mitigation measures READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The mission outlines plans to build a strong AI ecosystem in the country READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Why India’s defence deals with the Global South matter READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Mitigating risks in infrastructure development READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. India’s voters deserve a bond — of probity READ MORE

2. Shame at Gujarat University READ MORE

3. The Enigma of Karma READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. In recent years, the National Human Rights Commission of India has largely abdicated its role, but the institution cannot be given a free pass to continue to abuse its mandate by its partisan silence. Comment.

2. While amending the law pertaining to political funding, India needs to ensure that it doesn’t revert to the old system of cash receipts, which will allow the return of corruption and muscle power to public life. In the light of recent Supreme Court Judgement, critically analyse the statement.

3. Fostering inclusive and equitable growth is paramount in addressing the root causes of global instability and conflict. In this regard, the role of technology and innovation cannot be overlooked in shaping the future trajectory of global affairs. Comment.

4. At the heart of Mission Karmayogi lies a profound philosophical ethos inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, advocating for duty and action without attachment to outcomes. Comment.

5. In an era where the dynamics of governance and public service are evolving rapidly, India has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform its civil service with the launch of the Mission Karmayogi scheme. Discuss.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Mutual tolerance is a necessity for all time and for all races.
• In recent years, the National Human Rights Commission of India has largely abdicated its role.
• In India, the constituency which has mounted the strongest defence of human rights is civil society. There have been strong protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) as well as by farmers against the farm laws.
• The NHRC must not be given a free pass to continue to abuse its mandate by its partisan silence.
• We, as a democracy, have managed to cross the hurdles and provide full transparency to our citizens with regards to political financial contributions. This should be celebrated and not just used as a weapon for political mudslinging.
• India’s quest to become a key player in the defence export arena represents a pivotal shift in its foreign policy and economic strategy.
• It’s high time we recognised these indices for what they are: Not definitive markers of joy or despair but rather limited snapshots tainted by methodological biases and cultural myopia.
• India has reiterated that it remains unconcerned about China’s objections, protests and criticism. It will not normalise ties till the situation reverts to pre-April 2020.
• The failing social welfare boards, sitting on crores of unutilised funds, must reignite their efforts to serve building and construction workers.
• The best way to handle political donations is a modified version of electoral bonds. Going back to the old system with huge amounts of cash collection would be a retrograde step.
• While the Supreme Court’s ruling on electoral bonds is to be respected, it must be understood that the scheme has been a progressive step toward eliminating the use of black money in elections.
• While amending the law pertaining to political funding, we need to ensure that we don’t revert to the old system of cash receipts. This would allow the return of corruption and muscle power to public life and encourage the use of illicit money to make political donations.
• Despite repeated warnings from scientists and environmental experts, global efforts to curb emissions have fallen short of what is required to mitigate climate change effectively.
• In a world fraught with geopolitical tensions and environmental concerns, the imperative for collaborative diplomacy has never been more pressing.
• Fostering inclusive and equitable growth is paramount in addressing the root causes of global instability and conflict. In this regard, the role of technology and innovation cannot be overlooked in shaping the future trajectory of global affairs.
• Embracing a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge-sharing is essential in harnessing the transformative potential of technology for the collective good.
• Rising consumption expenditure will lead to greater capacity utilisation in factories and prompt businesses to create fresh capacity.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Mutual tolerance is a necessity for all time and for all races.

50-WORD TALK

• Formidable industry chambers undermine themselves when they say releasing electoral bond details will undermine ease of doing business. Is it even a suggestion that secrecy aids ‘ease of doing business’? If so, it’s shocking and shameful. The claim that disclosures are retrospective is weak. SC’s 2019 order was ample warning.
• Zomato’s new plan for a pure vegetarian fleet is tone-deaf. It shows start-up founders come up with ideas without understanding their social realities, fallout. Adding ‘pure’ prefix to vegetarianism is loaded. Segregation measures reflect a mindset. How are tech start-ups any different from RWAs who issue notices against non-vegetarian residents?

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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THE CONTEXT: The Paris-based World Inequality Lab has released a paper titled “Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj” that analyzes data on income and wealth inequality in India over the past century. The paper finds that income and wealth inequality in India have reached their highest historical levels, with the top 1% owning 40.1% of the country’s wealth.

THE ISSUES:

• Income and Wealth Inequality: The income and wealth inequality in India have been rising sharply since the 1980s, with a particularly pronounced increase in wealth concentration between 2014-15 and 2022-23. The top 1% of the population now holds 22.6% of income and 40.1% of wealth, which are the highest historical levels for the country. This level of inequality is among the highest in the world, surpassing even South Africa, Brazil, and the United States.
• Regressive Nature of Income Tax: When it is viewed from the perspective of net wealth, the Indian income tax system may be regressive. This implies that the tax system could be placing a disproportionate burden on those with lower net wealth, as opposed to being progressive where tax rates increase with income.
• Poor Quality of Economic Data: The quality of economic data in India is notably poor and has declined recently. This raises concerns about the reliability of official statistics, including GDP figures, and the estimates of inequality might be understating the actual levels.
• Tax Code Restructuring: There is a strong and assertive argument for restructuring of the tax code to account for both income and wealth. This is proposed as a measure to address inequality and to ensure that the benefits of globalization are shared more broadly across the Indian population, rather than being concentrated among the elites.
• Public Investments in Health, Education, and Nutrition: The broad-based public investments in health, education, and nutrition are essential for enabling the average Indian to benefit from economic growth. Suggestion is that such investments could be funded by a “super tax” of 2% on the net wealth of the wealthiest families, which would create fiscal space for these investments.
• Contested GDP Data and Official Statistics: India’s GDP data is highly contested, with former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian expressing surprise at the reported growth rates. This issue is part of a broader concern about the credibility of official economic statistics in India.
• Government’s Response to Global Assessments: The Indian government has been refuting global assessments that point to negative economic indicators, such as hunger and malnutrition. It also highlights the government’s reluctance to make data available regularly, which has historically been the norm.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Challenging Flawed Notions of Growth: The prevalent ‘growth at all costs’ agenda and rhetoric of ‘inclusive growth’ needs to be challenged as they hide structural inequities. The focus should be on equitable development for all groups.
• Ensuring Access to Basic Services: The stark disparity in access to quality privatized education, healthcare, housing, sanitation, technology for those who can afford it versus the poor public services for the rest needs to be addressed by improving public provisions.
• Building Assets for Working Families: Policies to encourage higher savings rates, provide retirement plans, offer savings credits/matches, enable access to fair financial services and home ownership can help working families build wealth.
• Making Taxation Progressive: The tax code needs to be restructured to be more progressive – increasing taxes on the wealthy, inheritance, capital gains, and corporations while providing benefits to low-income groups through EITC expansion, savings incentives, etc.
• Building Assets for Working Families: Policies to encourage higher savings rates, provide retirement plans, offer savings credits/matches, enable access to fair financial services and home ownership can help working families build wealth.
• Investing in Women and Agriculture: Investing in women’s participation in the workforce and in agriculture, where a large portion of the poor work, can significantly reduce poverty and inequality. Providing women with family-friendly policies and men taking equal responsibility at home is important. For agriculture, providing farmers access to services, climate-smart practices, and risk mitigation is key.
• Reforming Workplace Laws: Reforms like raising minimum wages with inflation adjustment, providing universal basic income, strengthening collective bargaining and labour standards like paid leave and overtime rules can help reduce the income gap.

THE CONCLUSION:

There is urgent need for the government to prioritize improving the transparency and reliability of economic data, as this is crucial for informed policymaking and addressing the pressing issue of inequality. Going forward, it will be important for policymakers, researchers, and the public to closely monitor the trends in income and wealth inequality in India, and to work towards implementing evidence-based policies that can effectively reduce the growing divide and ensure more equitable and inclusive economic development.

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:

Q.1) Despite Consistent experience of High growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive. 2019

Q.2) Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. 2021

Q.3) Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development. 2020

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.1) Discuss the key findings of the World Inequality Lab report on income and wealth inequality in India from 1922 to 2023. Analyze the implications of the rising “billionaire raj” and the concentration of wealth at the top. Suggest policy measures that the government can implement to address the growing income and wealth disparities in the country.

SOURCE:

https://m.thewire.in/article/uncategorised/indias-inequality-at-historic-high-wealth-concentration-shot-up-sharpest-between-2014-5-and-2022-3/amp

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court of India issued directives to all states and Union Territories to expedite the issuance of ration cards to 80 million migrant and unorganized workers within the next two months.

EXPLANATION:

• This directive addresses the failure of the Centre and states to comply with previous court orders and aims to ensure food security for vulnerable populations.

Directives:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the urgent need to issue ration cards to migrant and unorganized workers, irrespective of the quotas defined in Section 3 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• This directive aims to provide timely access to food grains under the Act to those in need.
• The court expressed concern over the failure of governments to comply with its previous directive issued in April 2023, which mandated the issuance of ration cards to 80 million individuals registered on the eShram portal.
• Delays were attributed to bureaucratic hurdles such as the requirement for eKYC updates for existing ration cardholders.
• The directive highlighted the exclusion of over 100 million people from the food security net due to outdated census data used for determining ration card coverage.
• As a result, states have exhausted their quotas under the NFSA, hindering the issuance of new ration cards.

Implications and Significance:

• By directing the issuance of ration cards irrespective of NFSA quotas, the Supreme Court underscores the importance of inclusive welfare policies that prioritize equitable access to essential commodities for vulnerable populations, such as migrant and unorganized workers.
• The court’s intervention serves as a legal mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of social welfare schemes and holds governments accountable for fulfilling their obligations towards marginalized communities.
• This proactive approach reinforces the judiciary’s role in safeguarding citizens’ rights to food security.
• Legal advocacy by counsels represents the concerted efforts of civil society organizations and activists to address systemic challenges faced by migrant workers.
• Their representation amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and advocates for policy reforms to address their needs.

Challenges and Limitations:

• Bureaucratic hurdles, including delays in updating eKYC data and reliance on outdated census figures, pose challenges to the timely issuance of ration cards.
• Overcoming administrative bottlenecks requires coordinated efforts from multiple stakeholders and streamlined administrative processes.
• The limitations of existing data systems, such as the eShram portal and One Nation, One Ration Card scheme, highlight the need for improved data integration and governance mechanisms to accurately identify and cater to the needs of migrant workers.
• A comprehensive database capturing relevant demographic and socio-economic information is essential for targeted policy interventions.

National Food Security Act (NFSA):

• According to the National Food Security Act- NFSA, up to 75% of the rural and half of the urban populations are entitled to subsidized food grains.
• This is legally provided through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• The TDPS covers 50% of the urban and 75% of the rural populations, with a uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.
• However, under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the poorest of the poor households will be receiving 35 kg of food grains per household per month. Therefore, almost two-thirds of the population is covered by this act.
• Up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban populations are covered by NFSA through the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme and the priority households. The entitlements under the National Food Security Act include:
  • Priority homes are entitled to 5 kilograms of food per person per month.
  • While AAY households represent the lowest of the poor or are entitled to 35 kilograms per family per month.
  • The former Planning Commission (now Niti Aayog) used the NSS household consumption survey data for 2011-2012 to estimate the state-wise coverage under the NSSA. This corresponded to the coverage rates of all of India, of 75% and 50% in rural and urban regions, respectively.
  • The task of identifying potential households within the scope under TPDS established for each state is to be completed by states/UTs.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/right-to-food-give-ration-cards-to-80-million-unorganised-and-migrant-workers-within-2-months-directs-sc-95113

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The Election Commission of India (ECI) plays a pivotal role in organizing and overseeing electoral processes across the country. This includes determining the schedules for elections to legislative bodies such as state assemblies and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

EXPLANATION:

• Understanding how these schedules are decided and how the terms of legislative bodies are regulated provides insights into the constitutional framework and operational aspects of the electoral process.

Constitutional Framework:

• As per the Constitution of India, both state assemblies and the Lok Sabha have fixed terms of five years from their first sitting.
• Article 172(1) specifies the duration of state legislative assemblies, while Article 83(2) outlines the tenure of the Lok Sabha.
• In exceptional circumstances such as a Proclamation of Emergency, the term of legislative bodies may be extended by Parliament, but such extensions cannot exceed one year at a time and cannot extend beyond six months after the Emergency ceases.

Application to Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim:

• The existing assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim convened their first sittings on June 3, 2019.
• Therefore, their terms are scheduled to end on June 2, 2024, as per the constitutional provisions.
• The Election Commission adjusted the date of counting for assembly elections in these states from June 4 to June 2 to ensure that the electoral process concludes before the expiry of the assembly terms.
• This adjustment aligns with the constitutional mandate to complete elections before the dissolution of the legislative bodies.

Factors Considered by the ECI in Fixing Election Schedules:

• The primary consideration for the ECI is the date of expiry of the term of the legislature.
• The commission aims to complete the election process at least one day before the term ends, ensuring a smooth transition to the new assembly or parliament.
• The ECI takes into account various logistical factors such as weather conditions, festivals, and the availability of infrastructure (e.g., school buildings for polling stations) and personnel (e.g., teachers for election duty).
• These considerations ensure efficient conduct of elections across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.
• Understanding the historical and geographic landscape of the region is crucial for planning election schedules.
• Factors such as historical voting patterns, regional festivals, and security requirements influence the timing and logistics of elections.

Previous Instances and Flexibility:

• While adjustments to election schedules are uncommon, the ECI has occasionally made changes to accommodate specific circumstances.
• For example, in 2004, the counting date for elections in Andhra Pradesh was rescheduled to May 11 to avoid coinciding with the end of the assembly term on May 13.
• The ECI demonstrates flexibility in addressing local sensitivities and preferences.
• For instance, in Mizoram, the counting date was shifted from December 3 to December 4, respecting the significance of Sundays for the predominantly Christian population.

Model Code of Conduct:

• The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set of guidelines established by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to regulate the behavior of political parties and candidates during elections.
• It serves to ensure fair and ethical practices in electoral processes and prevent the misuse of government resources for partisan gains.
• The MCC comprises a comprehensive set of provisions covering various aspects of electioneering:
  • General Conduct: Political parties and candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the integrity of the electoral process and fosters a fair and level playing field.
  • Campaign Activities: Restrictions are imposed on activities such as rallies, processions, and public meetings to maintain order and prevent disruptions.
  • Use of Government Resources: The MCC prohibits the use of official government machinery, resources, and media for election campaigning to prevent undue advantage to the ruling party.
  • Advertisement and Publicity: Parties are barred from advertising at the expense of public funds and using government-sponsored advertisements to influence voter behavior.
  • Equitable Treatment: The MCC mandates equitable treatment of political parties in terms of access to public facilities and resources for campaign purposes.
  • Content of Campaigns: Campaigns should focus on the performance and record of political parties and candidates, without resorting to divisive tactics based on caste, religion, or other communal sentiments.
  • Election Silence: A 48-hour ‘election silence’ period is enforced before polling day to allow voters a campaign-free environment for reflection.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-house-terms-and-poll-schedules-are-decided-9223451/

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has achieved a significant milestone by raising over ₹16,000 crore in its largest-ever InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust) monetisation round.

EXPLANATION:

• This substantial fundraising effort underscores NHAI’s commitment to leveraging private investment to fund the development and maintenance of national highway infrastructure.

Monetisation:

• NHAI’s Infrastructure Investment Trust, NHIT, has successfully raised funds in its third round of monetisation, securing a total of ₹16,000 crore.
• This round represents one of the largest transactions in the history of Indian roads, highlighting the scale and significance of NHAI’s fundraising efforts.
• NHIT raised ₹7,272 crore through unit capital from domestic and international investors, and an additional ₹9,000 crore in debt from Indian lenders.
• These funds will be utilized to acquire 889 kilometers of national highway stretches, demonstrating NHAI’s strategic approach to financing infrastructure development through a mix of equity and debt.

Investor Participation:

• The success of NHAI’s InvIT monetisation round is attributed to the participation of a diverse investor base, including both domestic and international investors.
• Marquee investors from various sectors, such as pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, and banks, demonstrated confidence in NHIT’s investment potential by subscribing to its units.
• Foreign pension funds, including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, showcased strong interest in NHIT’s offering, subscribing to the upper limit of 25% each.
• This international participation reflects the attractiveness of Indian infrastructure assets to global investors.

Realised Value and Portfolio Composition:

• With the completion of the third monetisation round, NHAI’s total realised value from all three rounds stands at ₹26,125 crore.
• This significant sum underscores the success of NHAI’s monetisation strategy in unlocking value from its portfolio of operating toll roads.
• NHIT’s portfolio comprises 15 operating toll roads with a combined length of approximately 1,525 kilometers.
• These toll roads are spread across multiple states in India, including Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
• The diversified nature of the portfolio enhances risk mitigation and investment attractiveness.

Government Support and Role of NHIT:

• Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model:
  • NHIT exemplifies a successful public-private partnership model, playing a crucial role in supporting the National Monetisation Pipeline.
  • By channelizing private investment into the development of national highway infrastructure, NHIT contributes to the government’s broader objectives of enhancing infrastructure quality and connectivity.
• Ministry’s Acknowledgment:
  • Secretary at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways lauds NHIT’s contribution to the National Monetisation Pipeline and its establishment as a leading player in the InvIT space.
  • This recognition highlights the significance of NHIT’s role in mobilizing financial capital for infrastructure development.

InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust:

• Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) are mutual fund like institutions that enable investments into the infrastructure sector by pooling small sums of money from multitude of individual investors for directly investing in infrastructure so as to return a portion of the income (after deducting expenditures) to unit holders of InvITs, who pooled in the money.
• For these purposes, Infrastructure is as defined by Ministry of Finance vide its notification dated October 07, 2013 and would include any amendments/additions made thereof.
• InvITs can invest in infrastructure projects, either directly or through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). In case of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, such investments can only be through SPV.
• InvITs are regulated by the securities market regulator in India- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/industry/infrastructure/nhai-raises-more-than-16-000-crore-in-its-largest-invit-monetisation-round/amp-11710854193042.html

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of the Global Climate 2023 report reveals a disturbing trend of multiple climate records being shattered in the year.

EXPLANATION:

• From greenhouse gas levels to ocean heat content, various indicators have reached alarming highs, signaling the accelerating pace of climate change.

Temperature Records:

• Global Mean Temperature:
  • 2023 marked the warmest year on record, with the global mean near-surface temperature surpassing the previous record holders by a significant margin.
  • The temperature anomaly of 1.45 ± 0.12°C above the 1850-1900 average underscores the urgency of addressing climate change.
• La Nina to El Nino Transition:
  • The rapid temperature rise from 2022 to 2023 can be attributed in part to the transition from La Nina to El Nino conditions.
  • This shift in the Pacific climate pattern influenced global temperature dynamics, contributing to the record warmth observed in 2023.

Greenhouse Gas Levels:

• Record High Concentrations:
  • Greenhouse gas concentrations, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, reached unprecedented levels in 2022.
  • The concentrations of these gases exceeded pre-industrial levels by significant margins, with methane and nitrous oxide experiencing notable increases, highlighting the intensification of anthropogenic activities contributing to climate change.

Oceanic Changes:

• Ocean Heat Content:
  • The total amount of heat stored by the oceans reached record levels in 2023.
  • Ocean warming trends, particularly in the top 2000 m layer, have accelerated over the past two decades, emphasizing the profound impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and global weather patterns.
• Sea Level Rise:
  • The rate of sea-level rise surged to a record high since 1993, attributed to ongoing ocean warming and melting glaciers and ice sheets.
  • Satellite observations reveal a doubling of the sea-level rise rate, underscoring the urgent need for mitigative measures to address the impacts of rising sea levels on coastal communities and ecosystems.
• Marine Heatwaves:
  • Marine heatwaves, characterized by persistently warm ocean temperatures, affected a significant portion of the global ocean in 2023.
  • The increased frequency and intensity of these events pose serious threats to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystem health.
• Ocean Acidification:
  • The acidification of the ocean, driven by the absorption of anthropogenic carbon dioxide, has reached alarming levels.
  • The decrease in pH levels poses risks to marine organisms and ecosystem services, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate change impacts across various domains.

Polar Ice Dynamics:

• Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice:
  • Both the Arctic and Antarctic regions experienced notable changes in sea ice extent in 2023.
  • The Arctic Sea ice extent remained below normal, while the Antarctic sea ice extent reached a record low.
  • These trends underscore the vulnerability of polar regions to the impacts of climate change.

Glacier Retreat:

• Global Glacier Mass Balance:
  • Preliminary data indicate a significant loss in glacier mass in 2023, with negative mass balances observed across various regions.
  • Glaciers in western North America and Europe experienced particularly severe losses, highlighting the accelerating pace of glacier retreat and its implications for water resources and sea-level rise.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO):

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
• It is the UN system’s authoritative voice on the state and behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
• Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
• Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Greenhouse gas:

• A greenhouse gas (GHG) is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy at thermal infrared wavelengths, causing the greenhouse effect.
• The primary GHGs in Earth’s atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3).

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/the-year-2023-smashed-several-climate-records-with-some-being-chart-busting-wmo-report-95115

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: NVIDIA, a leader in AI computing, has introduced Project GR00T, aimed at revolutionizing humanoid robotics through advanced AI technologies.

EXPLANATION:

• This initiative encompasses the development of a comprehensive foundation model, Jetson Thor computing system, and enhancements to the Isaac robotics platform.

Project Generalist Robot 00 Technology (GR00T):

• This initiative is centered around creating a versatile foundation model for humanoid robots.
• Named GR00T, this platform is envisioned to empower robots with the ability to comprehend natural language and replicate human movements through observational learning.
• Robots built on the GR00T platform are expected to rapidly acquire skills such as coordination, dexterity, and adaptability, enabling them to effectively navigate, interact, and operate in real-world scenarios.
• NVIDIA has collaborated with leading humanoid robot companies including Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Figure AI, Fourier Intelligence, Sanctuary AI, Unitree Robotics, and XPENG Robotics to co-develop this AI platform.
• These partnerships aim to leverage expertise across various domains to accelerate the integration of AI into humanoid robots.

Examples of Humanoid Robots:

• AMECA (ENGINEERED ARTS): Engineered Arts’ latest and most advanced humanoid robot is Ameca, which the company bills as a development platform where AI and machine learning systems can be tested.
• ALTER 3 (OSAKA UNIVERSITY AND MIXI): Dubbed Alter 3, the latest humanoid robot from Osaka University and mixi is powered by an artificial neural network and has an ear for music. Earlier iterations of Alter sang in an opera.

Jetson Thor Computing System:

• NVIDIA has introduced the Jetson Thor, a specialized computing system designed specifically for humanoid robots.
• It is based on the Thor system-on-a-chip architecture, offering optimized performance, power efficiency, and compact form factor.
• Jetson Thor is engineered to execute complex tasks while ensuring safe and natural interactions with both humans and other machines.
• Its modular architecture facilitates seamless integration into diverse robotic applications, enhancing overall performance and usability.

Upgrades to Isaac Robotics Platform:

• Isaac Platform Enhancements:
  • NVIDIA has announced significant enhancements to its Isaac robotics platform, which serves as the backbone for Project GR00T.
• Toolset:
  • The Isaac platform offers a suite of tools including Isaac Lab for reinforcement learning and OSMO, an orchestration service, enabling developers to create new foundation models tailored to specific robotic applications.
• Pretrained Models:
  • NVIDIA has introduced Isaac Manipulator and Isaac Perceptor, which are pretrained models, libraries, and reference hardware aimed at enhancing robotic manipulation and perception capabilities.
  • These resources provide a foundation for robots to perform tasks with greater efficiency and accuracy.

Industry Perspectives:

• Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer at Agility Robotics, emphasizes the transformative potential of humanoid robots in revolutionizing labor practices.
• He acknowledges NVIDIA’s role in providing essential computing infrastructure to accelerate the development and deployment of human-centric robots like Digit.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/nvidia-project-gr00t-humanoid-robot-9222206/