Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 8 December 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2022

Q) Recently seen in news, the term ‘Gasht-e-Ershad’ is best related to which one of the following?

1. The South Sudanese rebel group fighting for government autonomy
2. An Islamic group of Sunni-populated countries around the Persian Gulf.
3. A group of combined navies from piracy-affected countries in the Red Sea.
4. The morality police that strictly enforce the dress code prescribed by the state.

Explanation:

• Option (4) is correct: “Gasht-e-Ershad,” which translates as “guidance patrols,” and is widely known as the “morality police”. Iran has abolished its ‘morality police’ after months of protests following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. The group oversees the enforcement of Iran’s restrictions on behavior and clothing in public. The aim is to “spread the culture of modesty and hijab”, the mandatory female head covering. The morality police also ban tight trousers, ripped jeans, brightly coloured outfits and clothes exposing knees for women. Both men and women officials are part of the morality police. The Gasht-e Ershad patrols in a van with both a male and a chador-clad female crew.Their job is to stand and observe people in busy public places, after which they detain women for not wearing hijabs in a “proper” manner and other dress code violations. The detained women are then taken if not to the police station, then to a “correctional facility or a “re-education centre where they are told how to dress.

Q) With reference to Bamboo in India, consider the following statements:

1. Bamboo is found throughout the country except in the Kashmir region.
2. As per the Indian State Forest Report, 2021, Arunachal Pradesh has the largest area under bamboo forests.
3. The Indian Forest Act, 1927, restricts the commercial use of bamboo grown in the forest areas.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Bamboo in India grows naturally throughout the country except in the Kashmir region. India is home to about 125 indigenous and 11 exotic species of bamboo from 23 genera. Bamboo contributes significantly to the social, economic & ecological development of any region. Due to its versatile nature and multiple uses, it is also called ‘poor man’s timber’. Though it grows tall like a tree, it belongs to the grass family. It can withstand drought as well as flood. India is second only to China in terms of bamboo diversity.
• Statement 2 is incorrect:As per Indian State Forest Report, 2021, Madhya Pradesh is the state with maximum Bamboo bearing area, Arunachal Pradesh comes second. Bamboo is grown on 15 million hectares in India and covers almost 13 per cent of the total forest area. The total production of bamboo is five million tonnes per year. It helps to reduce the effect of climate change by releasing more Oxygen than trees and sequencing more Carbon on soil. It can improve water holding capacity of the watershed areas by 20% to 25%.
• Statement 3 is correct:The Central government had through an amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927 exempted bamboo grown in non-forest areas from definition of tree, thereby dispensing with the requirement of felling/transit permit for its economic use. Bamboo was earlier legally defined as a ‘tree’ under the IFA. So, the felling and transit of bamboo grown on forest as well non-forest land attracted provisions (permit and penalty) under the law before the amendment. This was a major impediment for bamboo cultivation by farmers on non-forest land. The bamboo grown in the forest areas, however, continues to be governed by the provisions of the 1927 Act.

Q) With reference to mudfalts, consider the following statements:

1. They usually occur in sheltered areas of the coast regularly flooded by rivers.
2. They act as a barrier to the eroding effect of waves in coastal areas.
3. Etimoga mudflat is a migratory bird hotspot on the western coast of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct:Mudflats refer to land near a water body that is regularly flooded by tides and is usually barren (without any vegetation). Also known as tidal flats, mudflats are formed upon the deposition of mud by tides or rivers. This coastal landform usually occurs in sheltered areas of the coast like bays, coves, lagoons, estuaries, etc. Since most of the sedimented area of a mudflat is within the intertidal zone, the mudflat experiences submersion under water and exposure twice daily.
• Statement 2 is correct:Mudflats protect the inland landforms from erosion. They act as a barrier to waves from eroding land in the interior. However, mudflats across the world are in danger of destruction and under extreme threat from coastal developmental activities. Dredging for navigational needs, chemical pollution, etc., are threatening the mudflat habitats. Also, global warming-triggered sea level rise is submerging significant sections of mudflats. The loss of these tidal flats will make coastal areas vulnerable to the forces of erosion and also floods.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Mudflats, mangroves, and salt marshes together constitute an important ecosystem. Mudflats attract a large number of migratory shorebirds. These intertidal areas also house a number of species of crabs, fish, and mollusks which form the food base for the migratory birds. Thus, mudflats are often significant bird-watching spots.Etimoga mudflat in Andhra Pradesh is becoming an ideal ‘winter stopover’ for 34 migrant bird species in Central Asian It is one of the last surviving mudflats on the eastern coastline of India. It is spread over an estimated 500 hectares adjacent to the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Kakinada bay of Andhra Pradesh. It is a continuation of the Kumbabhishekam mudflat. Etimoga mudflat has emerged as India’s prime destination for the ‘Great Knot’ (IUCN: Endangered).

Q) With reference to ‘e-Sanjeevani’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a web-based comprehensive telemedicine solution.
2. It can be used to provide medical education to interns and people in Common Services Centres.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: ‘e-Sanjeevani’, is a web-based comprehensive telemedicine solution. It extends the reach of specialized healthcare services to masses in rural areas and isolated communities. It is a national telemedicine service that strives to provide an alternative to the conventional physical consultations via digital platform. It was launched in 2019. It is modeled on ‘Sanjeevani’ C-DAC Mohali’s’ flagship integrated telemedicine solution. The first state to launch this service was Andhra Pradesh. In June 2022, the National Health Authority (NHA) announced the successful integration of eSanjeevani with its flagship scheme – Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• Statement 2 is correct: It also aims to make healthcare services equitable by bridging the digital divide that exists between the urban vs. rural; rich vs. poor etc. e-Sanjeevani can also be used to provide medical education to interns, people across various Common Service Centers (CSCs), etc. There are two verticals of eSanjeevani: eSanjeevani OPD: It leverages technology via smartphones, tablets, and laptops enabling doctor consultations to be accessible from the patient’s residence regardless of location. It caters to citizens in both rural and urban areas. e-sanjeevani -Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) Programme: It ensures that e-beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Scheme are able to avail of the benefits they are entitled to. This vertical operates on a Hub-and-Spoke model wherein the AB-HWCs set up at state level, act as spokes, are mapped with the hub (comprising MBBS/ Specialty/Super-Specialty doctors) at zonal level.

Q) With reference to the Global South, consider the following statements:

1. All the countries south of the equator are part of the Global South.
2. It consists of the countries that were former colonies of various European countries.
3. These countries are underrepresented in various global forums.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect:  The Global South has traditionally been used to refer to underdeveloped or economically disadvantaged nations. The term “Global South” is often misused and misunderstood. Although the majority of Global South countries are indeed located in the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere, the term itself is strictly economic (hence the fact that Australia is “down under” but not part of the Global south). ‘Global North’ loosely refers to countries like the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, while ‘Global South’ includes countries in Asia, Africa and South America.
• Statement 2 is correct: Another common factor between the South countries is that most have a history of colonization, largely at the hands of European powers. These countries are those who tend to have unstable democracy, are in the process of industrializing, and have historically frequently faced colonization by Global North countries (especially by European countries). The second definition uses the Global South to address populations that are negatively affected by capitalist Based on either of these definitions, the Global South is not the same as the geographical south. Still, to avoid confusion, inaccuracy, and possible offense, many scholars prefer to use the terms “developing countries” or low-income economies.
• Statement 3 is correct: Despite having the higher population, Global South is under-represented in global forum. The term is used to highlight the region’s historical exclusion from prominent international organizations, such as from the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. The exclusion from global politics is seen by these countries as contributing to their slower growth

Sharing is caring!