Daily Current Affairs 23rd and 24th September 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. NIA 
2. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Conflict 
3. Aliva Programme 
4. HADR Partnership 
5. Facts for Prelims

1 . National Investigation Agency

Context: In a nationwide crackdown, 109 leaders and activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police during searches conducted across 15 States. 

Key Highlights 

• The NIA searched 93 places in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur. 
• Most of the arrests have been made in Kerala (22), followed by Karnataka (20) and Maharashtra (20), Tamil Nadu (10), Assam (10) and Uttar Pradesh (8). 
• The houses of top PFI leaders and members were covered in connection with five cases registered by the NIA. 
• The clampdown was based on inputs that the accused were funding terror acts, organising weapon training camps and radicalising people to join banned outfits. 

About National Investigation Agency (NIA) 

• It is a central agency mandated to investigate all the offences affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states, and the offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.  
• These include terror acts and their possible links with crimes like smuggling of arms, drugs and fake Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders. The agency has the power to search, seize, arrest and prosecute those involved in such offences. 
• Headquartered in Delhi, the NIA has its branches in Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur, Jammu, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Chennai, Imphal, Bengaluru and Patna. 

When did the NIA come into being? 

• In the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, which shocked the entire world, the then United Progressive Alliance government decided to establish the NIA.  
• In December 2008, former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram introduced the National Investigation Agency Bill. 
• The Home Minister had then said the agency would deal with only eight laws mentioned in the schedule and that a balance had been struck between the right of the State and duties of the Central government to investigate the more important cases. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 
• The agency came into existence on December 31, 2008 and started its functioning in 2009. 

How wide is NIA’s jurisdiction? 

• The law under which the agency operates extends to the whole of India and applies to Indian citizens outside the country; persons in the service of the government wherever they are posted; persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be; persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian citizen or affecting the interest of India. 

 How does the NIA take up a probe? 

• As provided under Section 6 of the Act, State governments can refer the cases pertaining to the scheduled offences registered at any police station to the Central government (Union Home Ministry) for NIA investigation.  
• After assessing the details made available, the Centre can then direct the agency to take over the case.  
• State governments are required to extend all assistance to the NIA. Even when the Central government is of the opinion that a scheduled offence has been committed which is required to be investigated under the Act, it may, suo motu, direct the agency to take up/over the probe. 
• Where the Central government finds that a scheduled offence has been committed at any place outside India to which this Act extends, it can also direct the NIA to register the case and take up investigation. While investigating any scheduled offence, the agency can also investigate any other offence which the accused is alleged to have committed if the offence is connected to the scheduled offence. 

2 . Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Conflict 

Context: Nearly 100 people have been killed and scores injured in violent border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the last week. A ceasefire, brokered by Russia, was agreed on Friday. The two landlocked countries share a 1,000-km long border, a large part of which is disputed. There have been flare-ups in the past as well over sharing water and land resources. 

What is happening at the border? 

• The last few weeks have seen constant shelling, violent confrontations by local communities, and active engagement by security forces on either side.  
• The Batken region of Kyrgyzstan is seeing families being moved out and getting relocated. 
• According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, close to 1,50,000 people out of the 5,50,000 odd population of the Batken region have either fled the area or have been relocated by the state.  
• The situation in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, is no different. The highly militarised borders also add to tensions. 
• The clashes are replaying old pre- and post-Soviet era legacies. The borders of the two republics were demarcated under Joseph Stalin’s leadership.  

Historical Background

• Historically, the Kyrgyz and Tajik populations enjoyed common rights over natural resources. The issue of the delimitation of the border is a relic of the Soviet era.
• While regular talks have tried to resolve the issue, one of the crucial points of disagreement remains over the map which should be used for demarcation purposes. Almost half of its close to a 1000 km border is disputed. 
• The creation of the Soviet Union saw the large-scale redistribution of livestock to collective and state farms, which upset the existing status quo.  
• Unfortunately, there was only so much land to go around. The Tajik territory saw their livestock increase, and with scarce grazing land, agreements were signed between the two populations over the utilisation of Kyrgyz territory by the Tajiks’ livestock. 

 What led to the current flare-up? 

• The ideological basis of the current set of clashes is reinforced by developmental issues, thus providing fertile ground for the entire geopolitical space to become a hotbed of multiple minor conflicts and clashes.  
• The environmental trajectory of the conflict can be further highlighted by incidents which saw groups from either side planting trees in disputed areas and engaging in a physical confrontation using agricultural equipment as weapons. 
• Ferghana valley continues to be a site of struggle and frequent violent outbursts, with the location consisting primarily of Tajiks, Kyrgyz, and Uzbeks, who have historically shared common sociological specificities, economic activities, and religious practices. 
• The collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent dissolution of the then-existing water and land agreements saw the creation of multiple smaller independent farms, which led to a marked increase in water consumption patterns among the farmers.  
• Both countries share multiple water channels with undulating trajectories and flow, which upset equitable access to water on both sides. As a result, small-scale conflicts occur practically every year during the crucial irrigation period. 
• Both countries, while sharing a closely intertwined historical past, have had differing internal dynamics since coming into statehood. One can trace their instability to transnational challenges and internal ethnic strife.  
• Leaders of both countries have contributed in one way or the other to the continuation of the conflict through the imagination of a particular type of development project, hoping to stabilise the internal dynamics of their respective countries and legitimise their power.  
• This ‘development project’ is similar to how the Soviet Union looked at modernisation — which resulted in the large-scale displacement of nomadic communities, eventually contributing to the ‘environment driver’ of the current conflict. 

 What is the road ahead? 

• The path to resolution of the conflict will require groups to agree upon a common map.  
• The international community will have to make efforts to solve the dispute by involving elders in the communities, as historically, elders have been used to resolve conflicts.  
• The informal small-scale governance mechanisms would also have to be further strengthened through a concerted effort by the respective countries to stabilise the geopolitical dynamics. 

3 . Aliva Programme 

Context: With the aim of eradicating child marriage, Nayagarh, a district in Odisha has adopted a unique initiative by scrupulously recording information on all adolescent girls in the district. 

Need for the programme 

• Nayagarh has a skewed sex ratio at 855. Child marriages in isolated locations of the district are still considered a part of their social life.   
• Observing that child marriages are solemnized in the age group of 14-19 and dropouts among girls’ students continued to be high, the district administration launched the Aliva programme in January this year.  
• Anganwadi workers had been asked to identify every adolescent girl in their jurisdiction and keep tabs on them. There are 1,584 registers available in 1,584 Anganwadi centres of the district. 

About Aliva programme 

• From birth registration date to Aadhaar number and from family details to skill training, information of 48,642 adolescent girls can be found in registers named – Aliva. 
• The 100-page register maintains a record of the girl along with the name of her father.  
• From the third page onwards, each page contains data of the adolescent girl including, address, education status, birth registration date, Aadhaar Card Number, contact details and family details.  
  • The age of the girl is approved by the local school headmaster, father, supervisor and child marriage prohibition officer (CMPO). 
• Towards the end of the register, information about child marriage, educational progress, skill training status and health issues of the adolescent girls.  
• Nayagarh district has decided to maintain the record for a period of 10 years – 2020 to 2030. As per Odisha’s child marriage prevention strategy, the State aims to eradicate child marriage by 2030. 
• As of now, the district has registered information of 48,642 adolescent girls while Ranapur block alone has about 9,421 girls aged between 10 and 19.  

Significance of the initiative 

• The register has been useful for law enforcement agencies, as parents attempt to lie about the age of their girls to escape punishment. 
• When tipped off about child marriages, district administration and the police these days refer to registers for ascertaining proof of girls’ age. 
• In the past eight months, the district administration has managed to prevent 61 child marriages. Though the register was conceptualised to prevent child marriages, it has been very useful for tracking the health of girls especially if they are anemic 
• Though different districts have come up with innovative ideas to prevent child marriages, the Aliva registers are by far the most comprehensive ones that keep tabs on girls’ lives for 10 years. Ganjam district maintains a register of every marriage to prevent child marriages. 

4 . HADR Partnership 

Context: Foreign Ministers of the Quad group of countries – India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan – met on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to sign a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) partnership into effect. 

Key Highlights 

• India said that the world is going through a difficult period – the Ukraine conflict and climate events and it is especially important for the Quad to further the “constructive agenda” it had set up for itself and work together to deliver public goods. 
• Australia’s Foreign Minister said the Quad was about ensuring the region is “peaceful, stable, prosperous and in which sovereignty is respected”. 
• Japan’s Foreign Minister said the world was witnessing “direct attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force” and that the international order based on the rule of law was under threat. 

About Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) partnership 

• The signing of these Guidelines marks a significant moment in Quad cooperation, which traces its origin from the 2004 ad hoc Tsunami Core Group which catalyzed international response efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated many countries in the region. 
• The Partnership has been designed to respond to the vulnerabilities of the Indo-Pacific region and will serve as a dedicated framework for Quad partners to coordinate their disaster response operations in the region.  
• The mechanism will augment their capacity and capability, interoperability and operational synergy to undertake HADR operations. 
• Response operations will be guided by the core principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality as outlined in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/182 on the provisions of humanitarian assistance. 
• A request for international assistance is needed before Quad partners may act in coordination under the Partnership. Quad partners may provide joint or coordinated individual assistance in crisis preparation or alert, crisis-response or post crisis review phases of disaster response.
• Any humanitarian action will be carried out with respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of the affected state. 
• Under the partnership, Quad partners will promote inclusion by advancing gender equality and women’s and girl’s empowerment, ensuring persons with disabilities are agents and beneficiaries of humanitarian action, and by ensuring indigenous people, minority groups and persons in vulnerable situations are not left behind.  
• The guidelines call for zero tolerance for inaction on tackling Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH). 
• Quad partners will meet twice a year to share lessons and operational updates and will conduct at least one scenario-based table-top exercise to improve preparedness, coordination and interoperability. 
• The Partnership will coordinate HADR operations with the UN and other international agencies and donors, regional and local governments, public and private organizations, and non-government organizations where appropriate and in the best interest of humanity. 

5 . Facts for Prelims  

ESPO Crude 

• ESPO crude oil is a light variant crude, produced by Russia’s Rosneft.  
• It is shipped through the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline system and sold to the east Asian and the US’s west coast markets. 
• Russia’s Urals grade, on the other hand, is mostly sold to European countries. 
• Indian refiners may skip buying Russia’s ESPO blend of crude oil , apparently due to high freight charges. 
• India imports a mix of crude grades from Russia, namely the Urals, Siberian Light, CPC blend, and ESPO crude. However, the share of ESPO crude is smaller in the mix. 

Infrasonic soundwaves 

• Infrasonics, vibrational or stress waves in elastic media, having a frequency below those of sound waves that can be detected by the human ear—i.e., below 20 hertz.  
• The range of frequencies extends down to geologic vibrations that complete one cycle in 100 seconds or longer. 
• In nature such waves occur in earthquakes, waterfalls, ocean waves, volcanoes, and a variety of atmospheric phenomena such as wind, thunder, and weather patterns.  
• Calculating the motion of these waves and predicting the weather using these calculations, among other information, is one of the great challenges for modern high-speed computers. 

Ambedkar Tourist circuit 

• The Central government has announced a special tourist circuit encompassing five key sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.  
• The five cities in the tourist circuit as announced by the government are Mhow (his birthplace), London (where he resided and studied), Nagpur (also studied here), Delhi (where he passed away) and finally Mumbai (where he was cremated). 
• These sites are already visited by Dalits as pilgrimage spots; the idea is to attract members of the public from outside the Dalit community. 

G4 

• The G4 nations, comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, are four countries which support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.  
• Its primary aim is the permanent member seats on the Security Council.  
• Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment.  
• Their economic and political influence has grown significantly in the last decades, reaching a scope comparable to the permanent members (P5).  
• However, the G4’s bids are often opposed by the Uniting for Consensus movement, and particularly their economic competitors or political rivals.[ 

Maharaja Hari Singh 

• Maharaja Hari Singh inherited the vast state of Jammu Kashmir comprising of the Jammu Province, Jägirs of Poonch and Chenani, Province of Kashmir and Frontier Provinces of Ladakh, Baltistan and Gilgit.  
• The credit of consolidating a vast territory and the founding of the state rests upon the vision of the warrior and statesman, Maharaja Gulab Singh, the great-grandfather of Maharaja Hari Singh. 
• Maharaja Hari Singh was the fourth and the last Dogra monarch of the state. His rule from 1925 to 1947, saw a series of tumultuous historical events which would have shaken a mere mortal but saw him rising to the occasion stoically.  
• His reign heralded a sea of reforms and people-friendly policies which endeared him to all his subjects, irrespective of class, religion and gender. 
• Maharaja Hari Singh had inherited the highest role in a monarchy at a time when the very institution was being questioned. Despite having absolute power vested upon him by virtue of his royal position, Maharaja Hari Singh was sensitive to the changing times and made efforts to gradually democratise the administration.  
• His Kingship was rooted in the concepts of social justice.  
• He was a modern ruler devoted to the idea of eradicating illiteracy, social evils and inequality from the state.  
• Maharaja Hari Singh had already won the confidence of the people of the Valley, due to his effective handling of the acute food shortage in 1921-22. His efforts had successfully averted a  famine. His communal impartiality continued to earn him the goodwill of the people. 
• To bring about socio-economic equality Maharaja Hari Singh put in concerted efforts in the drive against illiteracy.  
  • Progress in the field of education was across regions and the Maharaja particularly introduced Urdu as a medium of instruction to make it more attractive to his Muslim subjects.
• Modern education and exposure made Maharaja Hari Singh committed to the cause of social equality which included women. He took many steps to remove gender-biased practices and elevated the status of women in the society.  
• To prevent Kashmir from becoming a British Colony, Maharaja Hari Singh introduced the Act of Hereditary State Subject in 1927 but the fact that he made no distinction in the definition and rights of the Permanent Residents of the state based on gender, is purposefully overlooked in the current debate on the subject.  
• Maharaja Hari Singh was everybody’s king. He eradicated untouchability and opened the doors of the Temples to the Dalits. Like the Dogra Maharajas before him, he regarded all religions equal. 
• The Maharaja introduced small animal rearing schemes and a sheep breeding department was established in 1937 for the welfare of the nomadic tribes of the state like Gaddis, Gujjars, Bakerwals, Changpas and Chopans. 
• A progressive ruler, he believed in press freedom.  
• The state was leading in health infrastructure due to his reforms in the health sector.  
• Post and telegraph and the development of roads and communication encouraged tourism and bolstered interstate trade. 
• His contributions to the state are many but his commitment to India even as a ruler of a vast independent Princely state even more noteworthy and inspiring.  
  • He was the first amongst 560 rulers, who supported the cause of India’s Independence at the Round Table Conference in the House of Lords in London in 1931.