29 December 2024 UPSC Current Affairs PDF

29 December 2024 INDEX 01 International Relations World’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River 02 Economy Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 03 Environment...

29 December 2024 INDEX 01 International Relations World’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River 02 Economy Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 03 Environment Marine heatwave killed 4 million Alaska Seabirds  01: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS World’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River IN NEWS : China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibetan name for Brahmaputra), near the Indian border. The $137 billion project, located in a tectonically active region, has raised concerns in India and Bangladesh over its impact on downstream water flow and ecology. Brahmaputra River: The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in the world, originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier in the Kailash Range near Mansarovar Lake, Tibet. Known as the Tsangpo in Tibet, it flows eastward for 1,200 km before carving the world’s deepest canyon near Namcha Barwa (7,755 m). After entering India near Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh, it is called Siang/Dihang, and upon merging with the Dibang and Lohit rivers, it becomes the Brahmaputra. Tributaries of the Brahmaputra: Left-Bank Tributaries: Dibang Lohit Burhi Dihing Dhansari Right-Bank Tributaries: Subansiri Kameng Manas Sankosh What is China’s Hydropower Project on the Brahmaputra? Location: On the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, near the Indian border. Scale: Planned to surpass the Three Gorges Dam, becoming the largest hydropower project globally. Past Projects: Zangmu Dam (operational since 2015). Ongoing projects: Dagu, Jiexu, and Jiacha Dams. Why is the Brahmaputra Dam Controversial? Water Flow Control: China could regulate water flow, causing floods or reduced flow in downstream areas. Ecological Risks: The dam is in a seismically active region, raising fears of earthquakes and environmental damage. Key Challenges associated with the Brahmaputra: Floods and Erosion: Frequent due to high rainfall and sedimentation in the catchment area. Water-sharing Disputes: Tensions with China and Bangladesh over control and usage rights. Environmental Concerns: Heavy sediment loads and deforestation exacerbate instability. Significance of the Brahmaputra: Agriculture: Fertile floodplains support agriculture in Assam and Bangladesh. Hydropower Potential: A key source for renewable energy development. Biodiversity: Home to unique ecosystems and rare species. Cultural Value: Integral to the socio-economic and cultural fabric of the Northeast. Way Forward for India-China Trans-Border River Cooperation: Strengthen Data Sharing: Enhance the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to ensure timely and accurate hydrological data exchange during flood seasons. Promote Sustainable Hydropower Projects: Develop India’s Brahmaputra hydropower projects with minimal environmental impact. Foster Joint Research: Initiate collaborative studies on river management and flood mitigation. Advance Water Sharing Dialogue: Engage in high-level talks to establish formal agreements on equitable resource distribution  02: ECONOMY Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 IN NEWS : The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2023- 24, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), provides key insights into India’s household spending trends. The survey, carried out from August 2023 to July 2024, highlights a 3.5% rise in per capita consumption expenditure compared to 2022-23. What is HCES? HCES is conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to track household spending on goods and services. Its main objectives are: Economic Assessment: Understand consumption trends to gauge economic well-being. Policy Formulation: Aid in poverty estimation and targeting of social welfare programs. CPI Updates: Revise the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket for accurate inflation measurement. Inequality Measurement: Study disparities in consumption across different economic classes and regions. The Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) is the key indicator derived from this survey, reflecting average monthly spending per individual.  Key Findings of HCES 2023-24: 1. Rise in Consumption: MPCE (2023-24): Rural: ₹4,122 Urban: ₹6,996 Compared to 2022-23, consumption rose by 9% in rural areas and 8% in urban areas, reflecting improving incomes and access to goods and services. 2. Narrowing Urban-Rural Gap: The rural-urban consumption gap declined to 70% in 2023-24, down from 71% in 2022-23 and 84% in 2011-12. Faster growth in rural spending highlights improved rural incomes and infrastructure development due to government interventions like PMAY, Ujjwala Yojana, and MGNREGA. 3. Decline in Consumption Inequality: Gini Coefficient (measuring inequality): Rural: Declined from 0.266 (2022-23) to 0.237 (2023-24). Urban: Declined from 0.314 (2022-23) to 0.284 (2023-24). This reduction reflects the benefits of inclusive economic growth and targeted welfare schemes. 4. Class-wise Spending Trends: The bottom 5% of rural households saw a 22% rise in spending, while the corresponding urban group experienced a 19% increase. This reflects effective targeting of welfare measures for lower-income groups. 5. Regional Variations: Highest MPCE: State: Sikkim (Rural ₹9,377; Urban ₹13,927). UT: Chandigarh (Rural ₹8,857; Urban ₹13,425). Lowest MPCE: State: Chhattisgarh (Rural ₹2,739; Urban ₹4,927). Meghalaya shows the largest rural-urban gap in MPCE (104%), followed by Jharkhand (83%) and Chhattisgarh (80%). 6. Shifting Consumption Patterns: Non-Food Items: Account for 53% of rural spending and 60% of urban spending. Major components: Transportation, clothing, durable goods, and rent (7% in urban households). Food Items: Beverages, processed foods, and dairy dominate food expenditure. A decline in edible oil spending reflects dietary changes. What is the Gini Coefficient? The Gini Coefficient is a measure of inequality within a population. Scale: Ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality). Implications: A declining Gini coefficient indicates narrowing inequality, as seen in both rural (0.237) and urban (0.284) India for 2023-24. Implications for the Economy: 1. Strengthened Rural Growth: The narrowing rural-urban gap indicates rising rural consumption, driven by rural infrastructure investments and schemes like PM-KISAN and Ujjwala Yojana. 2. Reduced Inequality: The decline in the Gini Coefficient highlights the success of welfare programs in addressing disparities and improving access to basic goods and services for marginalized sections. 3. Insights for Inflation Measurement: HCES findings refine the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket, capturing changes like increased spending on processed foods and non-food items. 4. Regional Development Needs: States with low MPCE, like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, need targeted policies to reduce disparities, such as investments in healthcare, education, and job creation. 5. Inclusive Growth Indicators: Higher consumption growth among lower-income groups reflects progress in ensuring that economic growth benefits all sections of society.  03: ENVIRONMENT Marine heatwave killed 4 million Alaska Seabirds IN NEWS : A study revealed that the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave caused the death of approximately four million common murre seabirds in Alaska, marking the largest vertebrate die-off linked to ocean warming. What is a Marine Heatwave? A marine heatwave (MHW) is an intense, prolonged, and expansive warming event in the ocean. Key Features: Duration: Can last weeks to years. Intensity: Ocean temperatures rise above average for an extended period. Scale: Covers vast areas, significantly impacting marine ecosystems. Causes of Marine Heatwaves: Climate Change: Rising greenhouse gas emissions are driving global ocean warming. Atmospheric Patterns: Changes in wind patterns and ocean currents, such as El Niño events, exacerbate warming. Reduced Ocean Mixing: Weaker winds and stratification limit cooler, nutrient-rich waters from reaching the surface.  Impacts of Marine Heatwaves: 1. Ecosystem Disruption: Mass Mortality of Key Species: Habitat-forming organisms like kelps and corals are devastated, affecting entire ecosystems. Trophic Cascades: Disruption in lower trophic levels (e.g., plankton) causes food shortages for predators. 2. Species Declines: Seabirds, fish, and marine mammals experience reduced reproductive success and increased mortality. Example: Alaska’s common murre population declined by 52-78% across 13 colonies during the 2014-2016 heatwave. 3. Long-Term Ecosystem Changes: Potential permanent shifts in ecosystems, diminishing their capacity to support historical biodiversity. 4. Global Patterns: Frequency and Severity: The number of marine heatwaves has doubled since 1982 and is expected to increase further. Impacts of Marine Heatwaves: Species Affected: Common murre seabirds (Uria aalge) in Alaska. Impact: Mortality: 4 million seabirds died, representing over half of the population. Population Decline: A 52-78% drop across 13 colonies.  Key Findings: No evidence of population recovery since 2016. Indications of a threshold response to global warming, signaling potentially irreversible ecosystem changes. Significance: This is the largest documented vertebrate die-off due to ocean warming, highlighting the acute risks posed by climate change. Way Forward: Mitigation of Climate Change: Global Action: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming. Strengthen international agreements like the Paris Accord to address ocean health. Monitoring and Research: Expand studies on marine heatwaves' ecosystem-wide impacts. Track species recovery and ecosystem resilience over time. Conservation Efforts: Protect critical habitats such as breeding colonies and feeding grounds. Promote restoration projects for vulnerable species like corals and kelps. Public Awareness: Highlight the role of oceans in supporting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Sustainable Policies: Implement stricter regulations on activities that exacerbate ocean stress, such as overfishing and pollution.