2024

Current Affairs

Gotipua Dancers: traditional dance in Odisha

Context: In the rural landscapes of Odisha, the centuries-old tradition of Gotipua, where young boys are trained to perform intricate dances dressed as girls in homage to Hindu deities, is facing a grave crisis. While these boys, once celebrated on international stages, dedicate their early years to rigorous training, their futures after puberty often paint a starkly different picture.

About Gotipua Dance

The Gotipua dance, a centuries-old tradition from Odisha, India, is a mesmerizing form of folk dance performed by young boys dressed as females.
Sculptures of dancers on bas-reliefs in temples in Orissa (like the Konark Sun and Jagannath Temples in Puri) demonstrate this ancient tradition.
These boys, often starting their training at a tender age, embody the grace and spirituality of Radha and Krishna through acrobatic and expressive dance forms.

History:

The origins of Gotipua dance can be traced back to the decline of the Mahari dance tradition around the 16th century.
During this period, the Mahari dancers, who were female temple dancers dedicated to Lord Jagannath, saw their influence wane.
To preserve this sacred dance tradition, young boys were introduced to perform in the same devotional context. This shift occurred during the reign of Bhoi dynasty king Rama Chandra Dev, who played a pivotal role in fostering this unique dance form in Odisha.
Akhadas and Physical culture:
- King Rama Chandra Dev established gymnasiums known as Akhadas in each street of Puri to encourage physical culture and protect the temple from intruders.
- These Akhadas also served as cultural centres where Gotipua dancers, known as ‘Akhada Pilas’, were trained.

Influence of Sri Chaitanya and Vaishnavism:

The arrival of Sri Chaitanya to Puri in the early 16th century significantly impacted the socio-religious and cultural life of Odisha.
He popularized the Bhakti movement, emphasizing devotion to Krishna through Madhura Rasa Upasana, a mode of worship.
The Vaishnavites, influenced by Sri Chaitanya, promoted Sakhi Bhava-offering oneself to Krishna as a female attendant.
The Vaishnava maths of Odisha often patronized these dancers, with some even maintaining their own troupes.

Features:

The dance form is characterized by two basic postures: ‘Tribhangi,’ where the body is held with three bends (head, torso, and knees), and ‘Chouka,’ a square-like stance symbolizing Lord Jagannath.
It is also characterized by distinctive poses, movements, gestures, and postures, known in Odia terms as Chhai, Chhataka, and Chhapaka.
Essential elements a Gotipua must learn includes: Utha, Baitha, Thia, Chali, Buda, Bhasa, Bhaunri, and Pali. These terms describe specific movements, such as rising from a sitting pose, dancing while standing, and various forms of body bending and spinning.
The traditional costume includes a ‘Kanchula’ (a brightly coloured blouse) and ‘Nibibandha’ (an apron-like cloth tied around the waist). The costume also includes ‘Pattasari’.
Musical instruments: Tabla, Odissi Mardala (a two-headed drum), Gini (small cymbals), Harmonium, Violin, and Bansuri (flute).
Vocalists also play a crucial role in narrating the stories through song, adding to the dance's emotive power.

Bandha Nrutya:

One of the most captivating aspects of Gotipua is the ‘Bandha Nrutya,’ where the boys perform intricate acrobatic poses.
These postures, known as ‘Bandhas,’ are deeply rooted in ancient texts like the ‘Abhinaya Chandrika’ and ‘Sangita Darpana.’
The Bandhas include a variety of poses such as: Padmasana (Lotus Pose); Hansa (Swan Pose); Mayura (Peacock Pose); Garuda (Eagle Pose); Kandarpa Ratha (Chariot of the God of Love).
These poses not only showcase the dancers' physical prowess but also bring to life the mythological narratives of Krishna's adventures.

Folk dances of Odisha

1. Chhau:

Chhau is an ancient dance form that originated from the mock fights of the Oriya Paikas (warriors), who performed rhythmic movements to the accompaniment of indigenous musical instruments.
The Chhau dance of today adheres to the basic principles of the Natya Shastra by Bharat Muni and the Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikeswara.
The dance form is closely linked with religion, where Chhau dancers worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the presiding deities of the Tandava and Lasya styles, respectively.
Chhau was once performed exclusively by male dancers, who also took on female roles as needed. Today, female dancers have also mastered this art form.
In the Saraikela School of Chhau, dancers wear masks representing the characters they depict, while in the Mayurbhanj School, the face is left uncovered.

2. Dalkhai:

Dalkhai dance is a prominent Sambalpuri folk dance associated with the Dussehra festival.
This dance is primarily performed by young women from the Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha, Sama, and other tribes of Odisha.
The dance is accompanied by a rich orchestra of folk music played on instruments such as Dhol, Nisan, Tamki, Tasa, and Mahuri.

3. Karma Naach:

It is a pastoral Sambalpuri folk dance performed during the worship of the deity of fate.
This dance, popular among scheduled tribes such as the Binjhal, Kharia, Kisan, and Kol in various districts of Odisha, is believed to influence good and bad fortune.
The dance follows a ritualistic puja, after which participants sing and dance accompanied by drums (maandal), cymbals, and other instruments.
The young boys often perform with mirrors in hand, symbolizing traditional courtship during the dance.

4. Ghumura:

Ghumura Dance, a prominent folk dance from the Kalahandi district, is believed to have been a war dance in ancient India.
Depicted in the Sun Temple of Konark, this dance has evolved from a war dance to a form of social and cultural expression.
The dance is accompanied by instruments such as Ghumura, Nishan, Dhol, Taal, and Madal.
The dance is still performed in village settings in South Western Odisha and parts of bordering Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

5. Paiki/Paika:

It is a martial folk dance that originates from the Chotanagpur plateau region, encompassing parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
This dance form is deeply rooted in the region's history and cultural identity.
Participants carry a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left, performing to the rhythmic beats of musical instruments such as the Nagara, Dhak, Shehnai, and Narsingh.
Historically, it was performed by the Rautia community, who served as soldiers during the reign of the Nagvanshi dynasty in Chotanagpur.

Ballast water convention

Context : The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has informed the National Green Tribunal that it has sought ₹160 crore from the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu, to facilitate the removing of invasive Mytella strigata, or charru mussel.

What is Ballast water and how does it introduce invasive species?

Ballast water is fresh, or saltwater held in the ballast tanks and cargo holds of ships.
It is used to provide stability and maneuverability during a voyage when ships are not carrying cargo, not carrying heavy enough cargo, or when more stability is required due to rough seas.
Ballast water may also be used to add weight so that a ship sinks low enough in the water to pass under bridges and other structures.
Usually, ballast water is pumped into ballast tanks when a ship has delivered cargo to a port and is departing with less cargo or no cargo. Ballast water is then transported and released at the next port-of-call where the ship picks up more cargo. In such cases, the shipís ballast water contains a mix of waters from multiple ports.
The release of ballast water may introduce non-native organisms into the port of discharge. These introduced species, or bioinvaders, are also referred to as exotic species, alien species, and nonindigenous species.

Are there any global regulations in this regard?

The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came into force in 2017 to help prevent the spread of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water.
The convention applies to ships registered under contracting Parties to the BWM Convention, which take up and use ballast water during international voyages.
According to this, the ships must manage their ballast water.
Recently constructed ship have the ballas waster management system in which they dose the water with some chemicals in order to remove invasive species.
The earlier ships which do not have such systems are required to exchange the ballast water they took in a port with “neutral” water from the middle of the oceans enroute to the loading port.

Note - The BWM convention does not apply to warships and hence there are no implications for the navies.

What is India’s position?

India acceded to the BWM convention in 2015.
as of July 2, 97 countries have signed on to the BWM as contracting states. India is not on the list of countries. This means that there is no obligation on the part of ships calling on Indian ports to enforce the BWM convention.
In any case, ports are only a facilitator of ship traffic and cannot be held liable in such cases. If there is any evidence that a vessel has pumped out the ballast water that led to the invasive species, then the vessel owner can be held liable if a law is in force.

Dilemma for India

Context: India's continued silence on the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, underscores its diplomatic ‘dilemma’ in maintaining balanced relationships with both nations. Mr. Haniyeh was accused of orchestrating the October 7 terror attacks on Israel and served as Hamas' political chief.

Dilemma

The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a travel advisory for Indians in Israel and Lebanon and plans to update advisories for other regions.
No statement has been made regarding the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. The assassination is significant for India due to its proximity to the country's neighbourhood.
The Indian government faces a dilemma in responding, given its strong ties with both Iran and Israel.
India condemned the October 7 attacks in Israel as acts of terrorism but has not classified Hamas as a terrorist organization despite Israeli requests.
Additionally, India has facilitated the transfer of 5,000 construction workers and plans to send 5,000 caregivers to Israel following the termination of Palestinian workers after the October 7 attacks.
India will carefully consider the implications for its relations with Israel, crucial for security and military cooperation, and with Iran, where India has significant economic interests.

Israel-Iran conflict:

In 2024, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict escalated to a brief period of direct confrontation.
On April 1, Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus, Syria, killing multiple senior Iranian officials.
In retaliation, Iran and its proxies seized the Israeli-linked ship MSC Aries and launched strikes inside Israel on April 13. Israel responded with retaliatory strikes in Iran and Syria.
The Israeli strikes were limited, signalling a desire to de-escalate, and Iran did not respond further, leading to a reduction in tensions back to the proxy conflict level.
Other actors, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Jordan, intercepted Iranian drones to defend Israel.

Concerns about a wider regional conflict in the Middle East have been raised since the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis, placing Iran and Israel at the centre of these tensions.

However, the Iran-Israel relationship was not always as fraught. Iran was one of the first countries in the region to recognize Israel after its formation in 1948, with diplomatic ties ending only after 1979.

Pre-1979 Iran-Israel ties:

In 1948, the Arab states' opposition to the newly established State of Israel culminated in the first Arab-Israeli war.
Iran, which did not participate in this conflict, recognized Israel following its victory, making it the second Muslim-majority country to do so after Turkey.
According to the Brookings Institute's analysis, Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, developed the ‘periphery doctrine’ to counter Arab hostility.
This strategy involved forming alliances with non-Arab, predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East, notably Turkey and pre-revolution Iran, both of which had Western orientations and felt isolated in the region.
During this period, Iran was under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty, led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and enjoyed strong US support. Similarly, Israel was a US ally.
The two nations maintained amicable relations, with Iran supplying oil to Israel despite the economic boycott imposed by the Arab states.

The 1979 Revolution:

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which overthrew the Shah, led to the establishment of a religious state with a fundamentally different stance towards Israel.
The new regime viewed Israel as an occupier of Palestinian land.
Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian Supreme Leader, labelled Israel the ‘Little Satan’ and the United States the ‘Great Satan,’ accusing both of regional interference.
Post-revolution Iran sought to expand its regional influence, directly challenging US allies Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Egypt's leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, had promoted ‘pan-Arabism,’ advocating for Arab unity based on cultural commonalities, which placed non-Arab Iran at odds with this ideology.
However, following Nasser’s death in 1970, Iran’s relations with Arab countries like Egypt improved.
The 1975 Iran-Iraq accord, where Iran agreed to cease arming Kurdish separatists, temporarily ceased hostilities between the two countries, reducing Israel's strategic value to Iran.

Shadow War-post 1979:

Following the revolution, Iran-Israel relations deteriorated significantly, leading to a shadow war characterized by proxy conflicts and strategic attacks rather than direct military confrontation.
Israel has periodically targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, including a series of attacks in the early 2010s aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear weapons development.
The 2010 Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, believed to be a joint US-Israel operation, was the first known cyberattack on industrial machinery.
Conversely, Iran has funded and supported anti-Israel and anti-US militant groups in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These actions have fuelled concerns about escalating conflicts.
US President Joe Biden has largely backed Israel's right to self-defence, despite facing criticism over the high civilian casualties in Gaza. This delicate balance of support, especially in an election year, contributes to the ongoing regional uncertainty.

India’s stakes in Iran-Israel conflict

India’s adeptness at maintaining balanced relationships with both Israel and Iran has been a notable aspect of its foreign policy.

However, the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East poses significant challenges that could impact India in multiple ways.

1. Impact on Indian citizens:

India’s large expatriate community in the region is at risk if the conflict intensifies.
With approximately 18,000 Indians residing in Israel and 5,000-10,000 in Iran, and around 9 million Indians living across the Gulf and West Asia, any escalation would endanger these individuals.

2. Economic interests;

India’s energy security is intricately linked to the West Asian region, which supplies about 80% of its oil.
The potential disruption of oil supplies due to conflict could lead to increased energy prices, impacting India’s economy.
Although India has mitigated some of the effects of global oil price volatility through discounted Russian oil, a new conflict could negate these efforts and exacerbate economic challenges.
New Delhi is also concerned about the impact of these tensions on recent initiatives like the 10-year India-Iran MoU for the development of Chabahar port.
Any conflict or US sanctions could affect India's plans for Chabahar port and connectivity projects with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

3. Strategic needs:

India’s strategic interests in the region are substantial.
The country has cultivated significant ties with major Arab nations, Iran, and Israel, and is invested in initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). This corridor is crucial for economic integration and strategic positioning.
The ongoing West Asian tensions have hindered meetings of the IMEEC steering committee.
Additionally, the India-Israel-UAE-US I2U2 initiative and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking Indian cargo routes to Russia could be jeopardized.
An expanded conflict could unravel the regional consensus necessary for stability and cooperation.

4. Diplomatic dilemma and challenges of maintaining balance:

India’s strategic relationship with Israel, particularly in defence and security, has been robust, highlighted by support during critical moments such as the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
Conversely, India’s ties with Iran are also significant, especially considering Tehran’s role as a major crude supplier and its alignment with India’s counter-terrorism objectives.
Balancing relations with both Israel and Iran have historically been challenging for India. Notable incidents include diplomatic confrontations between Israeli and Iranian representatives in New Delhi, underscoring the delicate nature of India’s position.

India’s stance on de-escalation and return to diplomacy is crucial for preserving its national interests amidst the volatile regional dynamics.

As the situation evolves, India’s diplomatic manoeuvres will be essential in safeguarding its people, economic interests, and strategic objectives while navigating the complex web of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Heightened tensions in West Asia

Context: The targeted killings of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders have increased the possibility of all-out war in West Asia to perhaps its highest level since the October 7 attacks on Israel.

Overview:

Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s response with air strikes and ground operations is estimated to have killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza so far.
Yet, the recent deaths of three key figures may have more profound implications.

Key figures and assassinations:

Fuad Shukr: A senior Hezbollah commander, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel claimed Shukr was responsible for a rocket attack on Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Ismail Haniyeh: The head of Hamas' political bureau, was killed in Tehran. This act was particularly provocative, occurring on Iranian soil.
Mohammed Deif: He was reportedly killed in Gaza

Objectives of Israel

1. Demonstration of intent:

These targeted killings are seen as a huge victory for Israel, which had vowed revenge for the October 7 attacks, a catastrophic failure of its intelligence, operations, and response mechanisms.
Its Swords of Iron military offensive in Gaza had the twin objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
By killing key figures, Israel can claim to have substantially achieved the target of neutralising Hamas.
Israel seeks to restore its strategic credibility and reputational damage of Mossad.

2. Message to Iran:

By targeting the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, both groups are part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ sponsored by Iran, Israel has redrawn the red lines of the conflict in West Asia.
The possibility of all-out war in the region is perhaps the highest now since the October 7 attacks.
In April, Israel had previously targeted Iranian military officials in Syria, leading to a retaliatory aerial attack from Tehran. The latest strikes against Iranian-affiliated leaders further illustrate Israel’s readiness to confront Iranian interests directly, even within Iranian territory.
Israel aims to expose the vulnerabilities of Iran’s intelligence and security establishment in much the same way as the Hamas attack had exposed and embarrassed the Israelis.
Israel has sent the message that Iran’s security umbrella cannot protect the leaders of Hamas.

Potential Iranian responses

While the three targeted assassinations and Israel’s military response in Gaza is intended to re-establish its deterrence against Iran and its proxies, Tehran cannot be expected to take it lying down.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Pezeshkian have vowed revenge. There are three scenarios on the possible Iranian response.

1. Direct retaliation:

Iran may opt to strike Israeli targets within Israeli territory, similar to the aerial attacks of April. Such a response would heighten regional tensions and could escalate the conflict further.

2. Coordinated attacks:

Tehran might collaborate with its allies, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to launch coordinated assaults on Israeli targets. This strategy could increase the scope and scale of the conflict, potentially drawing in more regional actors.

3. Indirect targeting:

Another possibility is for Iran to target Israeli officials in third countries, similar to the 2012 attack on an Israeli diplomat’s wife in New Delhi. This approach could complicate diplomatic relations and pose security challenges internationally.

Implications for India

1. Impact on regional stability:

About 9 million Indian nationals live and work in the region. They are the largest source of remittances to India. The first two scenarios could trigger a broader conflict, affecting the safety of Indians in West Asia.
The potential disruption of energy supplies, given that two-thirds of India’s crude oil and natural gas imports come from this region, would also have significant economic implications.

2. Diplomatic and security challenges:

India faces a difficult diplomatic balancing act. India has so far made no statements on the volatile situation. New Delhi, which has friends across the region, does not want to get drawn into regional rivalries.
The country has issued travel advisories for Israel and Lebanon, and airlines have adjusted their routes to avoid the region.
Other countries in the region have launched efforts to de-escalate the situation. Efforts of these regional players, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, to mediate could influence India’s strategy.

How Tungabhadra dam gate was swept away, why farmers are fearful

Context: A flood alert has been sounded downstream of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka’s Koppal district after one of the 33 crest gates of the massive stone masonry dam across the Tungabhadra river was washed away

Important key facts related to Tungabhadra river and Dam:

The Tungabhadra is formed at the confluence near Shimoga of two streams, Tunga and Bhadra, that rise in the Western Ghats.
It flows into the Krishna at Sangameshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.

It is influenced chiefly by the South-West monsoon.
The river forms part of the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
TungaBhadra Dam (TB Dam) is a multipurpose dam built across TungaBhadra River in Hosapete, Ballari district.

It is one of the major reservoirs in South India that supplies water for irrigation and industrial use, as well as drinking water to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The wedge of land that lies north of the Tungabhadra, between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna, is known as the Raichur Doab.

Google Monopoly Antitrust Case

Context: On August 5, 2024, Google lost a major antitrust case brought against it by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought to establish that the tech giant had a monopoly in the web search and advertising sectors.

What is the Google 'monopoly' antitrust case: Major Highlights

The lawsuit accused Google of using its dominant position in the search engine market to push out rivals and maintain monopoly.
- Google’s search dominance was majorly achieved through a strategy of exclusive distribution agreements, or default distribution, i.e., Google entered into lucrative contracts with “browser developers, mobile device manufacturers, and wireless carriers” so that it was the first or default search engine that users of such services or new phones were given.
- Its exclusive deals with handset makers were brought before the court as evidence.
In the end, the U.S. District Judge ruled that Google was a monopolist. As per the court, Google used its monopoly power in two markets: general search services and general search text advertisements. Essentially, the court found that Google has abused its monopoly power by engaging in anti-competitive practices to maintain its dominance in both markets.

Impact of monopolistic practices on consumers

Monopolistic practices harm consumers by reducing competition, leading to higher prices, lower quality, and less innovation.

Higher prices: With fewer or no competitors, a monopolistic company can set higher prices for its products or services without the risk of losing customers. A monopoly can control the supply of a product or service, creating artificial scarcity or flooding the market to manipulate prices and demand.
Lack of diversity/ Less incentive to improve quality: The lack of competition can lead to a homogenisation of products, with fewer unique or diverse options available to consumers. With fewer alternatives, consumers might be stuck with lower quality services, as monopolies have less incentive to improve.
Privacy concerns/data exploitation: In digital monopolies, like Google, consumers may have less control over their personal data, which can be exploited for profit without adequate alternatives or competition to offer better privacy options.

Competition Act, 2002

The Competition Act, 2002 is a key legislation in India concerned for preventing practices that have an adverse effect on competition. It replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) to ensure the regulation standards are in line with the international standards.
Rationale: To prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few entities and ensure healthy competition in the market segment.
The Act establishes the Competition Commission of India (CCI) as the national competition regulator to enforce its provisions. The CCI has the power to investigate anti-competitive practices, impose penalties, and issue orders to ensure compliance.
Key Objectives:
- Prevent Anti-Competitive Practices: The Act prohibits agreements that have the potential to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. This includes cartels, collusion, price-fixing, and other practices that limit market competition.
- Regulate Combinations: It governs mergers, acquisitions, and amalgamations that could lead to an adverse effect on competition. CCI has the authority to approve, modify, or block combinations that may harm competition.
- Prohibit Abuse of Dominant Position: The Act seeks to prevent entities with significant market power from engaging in practices that could exploit consumers or stifle competition, which includes predatory pricing and restrictive trade practices like limiting production or technical development, denying market access etc.
- Promote Fair Competition: It aims to create a level playing field for businesses in the market, encouraging innovation and efficiency while ensuring that consumers have access to a wide variety of goods and services at competitive prices.

Draft Digital Competition Bill, 2024

In February 2023, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs constituted a Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets.
The CDCL concluded that there was a need to supplement the current ex-post framework under the Competition Act, 2002 with an ex-ante framework. It laid out this ex-ante framework in the draft Digital Competition Bill.
The Draft Digital Competition Bill, 2024 is a proposed legislation aimed at addressing the unique challenges posed by digital markets and ensuring fair competition in the rapidly evolving digital economy. The Bill has driven its inspiration from the European Union's Digital Market Act 2022.
It seeks to put in place several obligations for large digital enterprises (Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises/SSDEs), including news aggregators, in efforts to ensure a level playing field and fair competition in the digital space.

Ex-Post vs. Ex-Ante Competition Regulation

# Ex-Post regulation: The Competition Act, 2002 operates on an ex-post framework. This means that CCI can use its powers of enforcement only after the anti-competitive conduct has occurred. E.g., CCI has fined many MNCs in India who had abused their dominant position.
- In October 2022, Google was fined Rs. 1337 crores by the CCI as it had engaged in anti-competitive practices by abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile ecosystem. Google was found to have imposed unfair and discriminatory conditions on mobile phone manufacturers, particularly in the form of agreements that required these manufacturers to pre-install Google’s proprietary apps (such as Google Search, Chrome, and YouTube) on their devices. These conditions created a dependency on Google’s ecosystem, stifled competition and limited consumer choice.

# Ex-Ante Regulation: The rapid pace of innovation and growth in digital markets has highlighted the limitations of the ex-post approach which is time consuming and allows offending actors to escape timely scrutiny. The ex-ante regulatory framework would empower the CCI to proactively identify and regulate large digital platformsbefore they engage in anti-competitive behaviour. By intervening early, the CCI can prevent market failures and promote fair competition.

Japan issues its first-ever ‘megaquake advisory’: What does it mean?

Context – After a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook southern Japan on Thursday (August 8), the country’s meteorological agency issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory”

What is Megaquake?

Earthquakes having magnitude larger than 8 are known as ‘Megaquakes’.

What is the Nankai Trough?

The Nankai Trough is an underwater subduction zone (nearly 900 km long) where the Eurasian Plate collides with the Philippine Sea Plate, pushing the latter under the former and into the Earth’s mantle.
This accumulates tectonic stress which can cause a megaquake — an earthquake with a magnitude larger than 8.
The trough has produced large earthquakes roughly every 100 to 150 years.
These tremors usually come in pairs, with the second often rupturing in the subsequent two years — the most recent “twin” earthquakes took place in 1944 and 1946.

What is a Richter scale?

The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.
The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase on the scale corresponds to a tenfold increase in the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs. For instance, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 has seismic waves with amplitudes 10 times larger than those of a 4.0 earthquake.
The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which is the total energy released at the source. This differs from intensity, which describes the effects of an earthquake at specific locations, often measured by the Mercalli intensity scale.
In theory, the Richter scale has no upper limit, though the largest recorded earthquakes have magnitudes of around 9.0. However, the scale is less commonly used for very large earthquakes, as more advanced scales like the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) provide better accuracy for these events.

Earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger:

Earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. That is, the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake. A fault is a break in the rocks that make up the Earth's crust, along which rocks on either side have moved past each other. No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet.

The largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 on May 22, 1960 in Chile on a fault that is almost 1,000 miles long…a “megaquake” in its own right.

Can we predict Earthquakes?

An earthquake prediction must define 3 elements: 1) the date and time, 2) the location, and 3) the magnitude.

No definite pattern: scientists have attempted to link multiple natural factors that have preceded earthquakes in the past with the earthquake itself, including increased amounts of radon in local water sources, rising levels of ground water, changes in electromagnetic activity and even odd animal behavior. For example, before the main rupture that ultimately causes a quake, smaller breaks called micro-fissures will form in subsurface rock. These smaller cracks change the rock’s permeability, or, in other words, they allow water to more easily pass through the rock. The more permeable rock might then lead to changes in ground water levels. This same change in permeability could also lead to the escape of radon which forms by radioactive decay of elements in certain minerals.
Sometimes these events occur without an ensuing earthquake, and other times earthquakes occur without any of these precursor events.
Huge depths: Earthquakes originate several miles below the Earth’s surface so it is of course possible that other early indicators occur, but we can’t readily detect them here on the surface, especially when we are not sure what it is we are looking for.
Similar beginning: small and large quakes are thought to start in similar ways: ruptures often occur suddenly.
Lack of data: More recently, researchers have turned to machine learning to develop nowcasting models by taking advantage of large amounts of data, such as seismology readings and data on Earth’s surface deformation. But challenges include a lack of data on the early warning signs to feed into the machine learning pipelines — given that these warning signs are not yet entirely understood

World distribution of Earthquakes:

Circum-Pacific Belt: Coastal Margins of North and South America and East Asia representing the margins of Pacific. 65% of the global Earthquakes occur in this region. It has ideal conditions of (i)C-O convergence and subduction zones, (ii)zone of young folded mountains and (iii) zone of active volcanoes.

Mid-Atlantic Belt: Epicentres located along mid Atlantic ridge. Earthquakes are because of transform faults and fractures because of splitting of plates

Mid-Continental Belt: Alpine-Himalayan belt representing collision of continental plates. 21% of the global earthquakes occur in this region. They represent weaker zones of folded mountains and fault induced earthquakes.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Context - A dead elephant, a cover up, and a probe that exposed Forest dept officials at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Key facts related to Bandhavgarh tiger reserve

The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges of Madhya Pradesh.
The habitat is characterized by valleys, hills and plains, with the Bandhavgarh fort prominently seen as a major landmark.
The habitat consists of tropical moist, deciduous forests with sal, mixed forest and grasslands.
The habitat also has several archaeological monuments.
- Fauna - Bandhavgarh is famous for its tigers. Dense forests interspersed with grasslands and perennial streams provide an ideal habitat for this predator. The other wild animals include: leopard, wild dog, wolf, Indian fox, Jungle cat, chital, sambar, nilgai, chousingha and chinkara. The Gaur, which became locally extinct since 1998, have been successfully reintroduced from Kanha. Bandhavgarh has a rich avifauna which include: vultures, hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers. The Sarus cranes is seen during monsoon.
- Flora - The tropical moist deciduous forest type is dominated by sal trees. Lofty Saja and Arjun, Mahua (Madhuca species.) and the like contribute to the floral diversity. The habitat also has large number of Palash trees. The lowlands and river flood plains form grasslands during dry months and marshes in the rains. The open marshy grasslands or ‘Vahs’ have abundance of many species of grasses.

Notes: List of Tiger Reserves in India

India to roll out new treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB

Context: Tuberculosis (TB) is a silent crisis that impacts the physical as well as mental health of millions of people in India. India needs to scale up investment and formulate new strategies to meet its goal of Tuberculosis eradication by 2025.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about Tuberculosis; National TB Elimination Programme; Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Mains: Challenges associated with TB control and new strategies required.

Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is an airborne communicable disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Typically, the bacteria grow in the body where oxygen and blood are in high amounts.
- As a result, 80% of TB cases are pulmonary which infect the lungs and 20% of cases are extra-pulmonary which infect the brain, uterus, stomach, mouth, kidneys and bones.
Mode of transmission: Airborne- through coughing, sneezing or spitting.
High-risk groups: People with weak immunity like those infected with HIV, Under-nutrition, Diabetes, Smoking and Alcohol consumption.

Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB):

DR-TB refers to various forms of TB where the bacteria have developed resistance to at least one of the anti-TB drugs, which makes the infection harder to treat.

Types of Drug-Resistant TB: There are two main categories:

1. Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB):

Resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin (the two most powerful first-line drugs).
Treatment is longer, more expensive, and has more side effects.

2. Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB):

A severe form of MDR-TB.
Resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, at least one fluoroquinolone, and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs.
Extremely difficult to treat and has a high mortality rate.

Causes of Drug Resistance:

Improper or incomplete treatment: Not taking all prescribed medication or stopping treatment prematurely.
Poor-quality medicines: Counterfeit or substandard drugs.
Overuse of antibiotics: Contributing to the development of drug resistant bacteria.

Present Status of TB:

India tops the list of 20 TB high-burden countries in the world. India accounts for 27% of the total TB patients in the world. In 2022, 2.42 million Indians were diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Target for TB elimination:
- The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals has a target to ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
- India aims to eliminate TB in the country by 2025.
WHO has acknowledged India’s success on two major fronts:
- In reducing TB incidence by 16% from 2015 to 2022 (close to double the pace at which global TB incidence is declining).
- In reducing TB mortality by 18% during the same period, keeping in line with the global trend.

Prevention and Treatment:

Prevention:
- BCG vaccine for children.
- Currently no effective vaccine for adults.
Diagnosis:
- Early diagnosis is extremely important in fighting TB.
- Widely followed diagnosis methods include- Sputum smear microscopy which studies the phenotype of the pathogen from the sputum sample of infected patients.
Treatment:
- Strategy: DOTS strategy (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) is a WHO-recommended cost-effective strategy to reduce the disease burden of TB.
- Antibiotics: Administering commonly used antibiotics like rifampin.
Challenge: Mycobacterium tuberculosis has developed drug resistance.

Existing challenges associated with TB:

High-prevalence of TB: The reasons include-
- Lack of widespread awareness about the disease, lack of access to quality care, under-reportion of cases.
  - The National TB Prevalence Survey (in India) found that 64% of people with infectious TB did not seek care. This results in under-reporting of TB incidences and hence, widespread TB prevalence.
- Excessive focus on affected patients only, while ignoring the ‘potential’ patient who might be in contact with the patients.
Non-compliance to Follow-up period: Premature treatment cessation fosters the development of drug-resistant strains like multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB).
Mental Health crisis: TB is associated with a deep stigma, and those affected are still ostracised and mistreated by families, communities, and even the health system. All of this has a significant impact on their mental health.
Gendered issue: There is a significant difference in how males, females and transgenders receive such health care services. Females and transgenders have greater risk of discontinuing treatments, facing greater stigma from society and apathy of healthcare systems.
Re-lapse of TB: The healthcare crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the previous gains and increased the TB burden.

Efforts towards eradicating TB:

Global initiatives:

End TB Strategy: Global strategy developed by WHO that aims to reduce TB deaths by 90% and to cut new cases by 80% by 2030..
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (2003): Single largest channel of additional money for global TB control.
Stop TB Partnership: Global partnership of organisations, governments, and individuals working to eliminate TB advocating political commitment & technical assistance.

India’s Initiatives:

National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP):
- Adopted in 1997 after WHO declared TB as a global epidemic in 1993.
- Previously known as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme or RNTCP.
- RNTCP focuses on Early Diagnosis and Treatment in accordance with DOTS strategy.
- Under RNTCP about 4 lakh DOTS centres have been established so far. Patients are supported with free diagnostics and medicines.

NTEP implements key activities as under:

-State and District Specific Strategic plan for targeted interventions in high-burden areas.
-Provision of free drugs and diagnostics to TB patients including for drug-resistant TB.
-Active TB case-finding campaign in key vulnerable and co-morbid populations.
-Integration with Ayushman Bharat - Health & Wellness Centres to decentralise screening and treatment services closer to the community.
-Private sector engagement including incentives for notification and management of TB cases.
-Scale-up of molecular diagnostic laboratories to sub-district levels.
-Intensified IEC campaigns to reduce stigma, raise community awareness and improve health-seeking behaviour.
-Multi-sectoral response with involvement of line ministries.
-Scale up TB preventive therapy to contacts of pulmonary TB.
-Tracking of notified TB cases through a case-based web-based portal namely Ni-kshay. Nikshay Portal [Ni-Kshay-(Ni=End, Kshay=TB)] is the web enabled patient management system for TB control under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
-Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana for nutritional support to TB patients. It has been implemented from April 2018, wherein 500 rupees per month is being provided to All TB patients towards nutritional support for the duration of their treatment.

National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017-2025:
- Adopted in 2018 in line with the TB Elimination Strategy of the WHO and SDG of the UN. (India has set ambitious targets for reducing TB incidence, prevalence and mortality rates by 2025).
- Includes 4 strategic pillars: "Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build".
- Specific targets include:
  - 80% reduction in TB incidence
  - 90% reduction in TB mortality
  - 0% patients having catastrophic expenditure due to TB.
Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan:
- Launched in September 2022 where the community is encouraged to adopt TB patients and support them.
- Support can be provided in the form of nutritional support, nutritional supplements, additional investigations, and vocational support for a minimum period of six months or maximum period of up to three years.
Establishment of Centres of Excellence:
- Facilitates collaboration between Indian Council of Medical Research laboratories and the private sector to strengthen and expand research and development efforts for TB.

Way Forward:

Prioritise TB vaccine trials: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for TB does not adequately protect adolescents and adults who are at the highest risk for developing and spreading TB. Streamline clinical trials for over 15 TB vaccine candidates in the pipeline.
Leveraging technology and innovation:
- Diagnosing TB needs to become more accessible and affordable: E.g.,
  - New innovations such as nasal and tongue swab-based tests for TB can reduce diagnostic delays. E.g., Scaling up Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) coverage.
  - Handheld digital X-ray machines (with artificial intelligence-based software) can offer mobility to test risk-risk individuals in villages.
- Develop new therapeutic models: Invest more in drug discovery, introduction and development of new therapeutic molecules which have short time-periods.
- Adoption of AI and digital health solutions for TB diagnosis, adherence and surveillance.
Regulatory frameworks: Need to create regulatory and policy frameworks for strict enforcement of drug control and non-compliance with treatment regimens to tackle antibiotic resistance.
Address socio-economic determinants of TB: Multi-sectoral approach is needed like poverty alleviation, improvement in nutritional status, well-ventilated housing and better air quality.

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As in Kerala, local climate processes can worsen climate extremes

Context – Wayanad landslides

Post-facto analyses of deadly disasters — like the landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, reminds us of the fact that broad warnings of risks can hardly be translated to specific actions.

For example, declaring whole of the western ghats to be landslide vulnerable won’t get rid of extreme events induced by climate change anytime soon.

Some landslides will occur anyway even if the Ghats enjoy the fullest protections from human perturbations because the risk is never zero.

Therefore predictions of disaster management and mitigation becomes important.

Need for long-term climate risk outlooks: extending up to a decade or more.
Improving accuracy of predictive models by understanding local factors that exacerbate climate effects. The relationship between local events and global warming complicates predictions. Local amplifiers often intensify the effects of distant climate drivers.
- Case Study - Coastal Influence on heavy rain in Wayanad: Coastal sea surface temperatures significantly influence heavy rain along India’s west coast. As monsoon winds approach the Western Ghats, coastal waters warm up, leading to increased rainfall.
Importance of Location-Specific Measures: such as preserving biodiversity, can help mitigate disaster risks.
Role of Governments and Monitoring: National and local governments must collaborate to monitor, report, and verify risks, and these efforts must be reflected in budgetary provisions.
Weather-Proofing the Country: Disaster mitigation is essential to making the country more resilient to climate change. Establishing a robust data network to map local extreme event amplifiers is urgently needed.

No clinical trial for drugs approved in select nations

Context: The Union government has authorised the exemption of local clinical trials for approval of new drugs under Rule 101 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019.

Major highlights

Under the Rule 101 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019, the CDSCO, with Union government approval, can issue orders specifying the name of the countries for considering waiver of local clinical trials for approval of new drugs.
The government has decided to waive the requirement for clinical trials in India if the drugs are approved in the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Australia, Canada, or the European Union.
A set of five categories for new drugs has been specified that will be considered for waiver in the Indian market. They include:
- Drugs for rare diseases: These often lack sufficient patient populations for local trials. (https://compass.rauias.com/current-affairs/indias-fight-against-rare-diseases/)
- Gene and cellular therapy products: Cutting-edge treatments that require speedy approval.
- New drugs for pandemic situations: To address urgent public health crises.
- New drugs for special defence purposes: For military personnel.
- Drugs with significant therapeutic advancements: To provide patients with better treatment options faster.

Significance:

Enhanced drug accessibility for patients and for research.
Drugs manufactured outside India will be more accessible and affordable in the local market.
Address the critical and unmet medical needs and accelerate access to innovative therapies to the patients in India.
By aligning with approvals from established regulatory bodies in other countries, India is moving towards global harmonisation in drug approval processes.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is the Central Drug Authority in India.
CDSCO is responsible for many functions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, including:
- Approving new drugs and clinical trials
- Setting standards for drugs
- Controlling the quality of imported drugs
- Coordinating the activities of state drug control organisations
- Granting licences for certain specialised categories of critical drugs, such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines etc.

Why Himalayan towns need a different kind of development

Context: The Indian Himalayan Range (IHR), comprising 11 States and two Union Territories, had a decadal urban growth rate of more than 40% from 2011 to 2021. Towns have expanded, and more urban settlements are developing. However, Himalayan towns require a different definition of urbanisation.

Why Himalayan ecosystem is unique?

These systems, with their steep slopes and sharp gradients, are heterogeneous and exhibit sharp and most often systemic changes in climatic variables over very short distances.
These features consequently result into enhanced changes in hydrological processes, with accelerated direct runoff and erosion.
Major rivers of the region have their origin from these mountains and are the source of water for a large proportion of the human population within and outside the mountain region.
Many of the world’s crops originate in mountains, a crucial resource that should be conserved for sustaining modern agriculture.
Natural wealth in the region, including geological assets, forms an important part of the Himalayan eco-system.
All this has contributed to a whole range of diversity in indigenous human habitations, cultures and knowledge systems. The region is largely inhabited by indigenous societies.

What is happening to the Himalayan towns?

Huge civic issues - For example, cities like Srinagar, Guwahati, Shillong, and Shimla, as well as smaller towns, face significant challenges in managing sanitation, solid and liquid waste, and water.
Lack of institutional strength - Planning institutions in these States often fail because they use models copied from the plains and have only limited capacities to implement these plans. City governments are short of human resources by almost 75%.
Unchecked expansion and consequent land use change - Cities continue to expand into the peripheries, encroaching on the commons of villages. Srinagar and Guwahati are examples of such expansion, leading to the plundering of open spaces, forest land, and watersheds. In Srinagar, land use changes between 2000 and 2020 showed a 75.58% increase. Water bodies have eroded by almost 25%.
Complex mix of other factors - The IHR faces increasing pressure from urbanization and development, compounded by high-intensity tourism, unsustainable infrastructure, and resource use (land and water), further aggravated by climatic variations like changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures. This has led to water scarcity, deforestation, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and increased pollution, including plastics. These pressures have the potential to disrupt lives and livelihoods, impacting the socio-ecological fabric of the Himalayas.

How Infrastructure is affecting the Himalayan region?

Infrastructure like dams, roads, hotels, industries etc are increasing the vulnerability of the Himalayan ecosystem in multiple ways. Joshimath crisis is one such example.

Following are the various impacts:

Slope destabilization - Large scale construction of roads, hotels, powerhouses etc. involves blasting, quarrying, deforestation and muck disposal which loosens slopes and destabilizes them.
Floods - Altered river flows reduce flood absorption, risks flash floods downstream (Uttarakhand disaster, 2013).
Landslides - By disrupting underground streams and aquifers, tunnels can weaken slope stability leading to landslides (Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh 2022)
Earthquakes – Huge pressure is exerted by the large structures of the dams which in turn create fractures and faults in the rocks below generating earthquakes. For e.g – Koyna dam.
Erosion and desertification - Siltation in dams devoid the rivers of natural sediments. Soil downstream does not get enough nutrients and thus issues of soil erosion, desertification etc rises.
Forced displacement - This destroys livelihood sources of indigenous communities further increasing their vulnerabilities.

What needs to be done?

Continuous Monitoring of the Eco-system and Data Generation - Every town needs to be mapped, with layers identifying vulnerabilities from geological and hydrological perspectives.
Ecological modelling and predicting climate change scenarios - Climate-induced disasters annually erode infrastructures built without such mapping and hence requires vulnerability assessment.
Financial strengthening - none of the cities in the IHR can generate capital for their infrastructure needs. The Finance Commission must include a separate chapter on urban financing for the IHR.
Promoting sustainable forestry, sustainable agriculture and food security.
Promoting regional cooperation involving domestic states as well as neighbouring countries.
Sustainable urbanization by waste management, traffic control, town planning and regulating tourism.
Building environmental awareness among the citizens.