Civil Service Bites

UPSC Current Affairs for 19th December 2024

UPSC Current Affairs for 19th December 2024

UPSC Current Affairs for 19th December 2024 to simplify your preparation. Get detailed insights on key topics to stay ahead in your Civil Services Exam journey! We have already published the current affairs for 18th December 2024 here.”

Current Affairs Bite -1

  1. Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

Relevance: GS 2 (Polity & Governance)

Context:

The Union Home Minister recently reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across India. This announcement comes after the successful implementation of UCC in Uttarakhand, sparking debates on its feasibility and implications for a diverse country like India.

Key Provisions:

  1. Definition of UCC:
    • A common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, applicable to all citizens irrespective of religion.
    • Aims to replace personal laws based on religious scriptures and customs.
  2. Constitutional Backing:
    • Article 44: Part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which directs the state to strive for a UCC to ensure uniformity in personal laws.
    • Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.
    • Article 25: Protects the right to freedom of religion, raising concerns about balancing religious practices with legal uniformity.
  3. Significance of UCC:
    • Gender Equality: Eliminates discriminatory practices in personal laws (e.g., unequal inheritance rights).
    • National Integration: Promotes unity by reducing legal fragmentation.
    • Simplification of Legal Processes: Reduces the complexity of multiple personal laws.
  4. Challenges:
    • Religious Opposition: Concerns over interference in religious practices.
    • Diversity of Customs: India’s pluralistic society has varied traditions and practices.
    • Political Sensitivities: Implementation could lead to polarization.










Current Affairs Bite – 2





2. Inland Waterways Policy: ‘Jalvahak’





Relevance: GS 2 (Governance) & GS 3 (Infrastructure Development)





Context:





The government launched the ‘Jalvahak’ policy to promote the use of inland waterways for long-haul cargo movement. This initiative focuses on rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak to reduce logistics costs and improve connectivity, especially in the Northeast.





Key Provisions:





    

  1. Significance of Inland Waterways:

      

    • Cost-Effective Transport: Cheaper than road and rail transport.
      • 




    • Eco-Friendly: Reduces carbon emissions and fuel consumption.
      • 




    • Connectivity for the Northeast: Enhances trade and development in remote regions.
      • 

    

    2. 




  2. Major Inland Waterways:

      

    • National Waterway 1 (NW-1): River Ganga (Haldia to Allahabad).
      • 




    • National Waterway 2 (NW-2): River Brahmaputra (Dhubri to Sadiya).
      • 




    • National Waterway 16 (NW-16): River Barak.
      • 

    

    3. 




  3. Challenges:

      

    • Siltation: High sedimentation in rivers like the Ganga affects navigation.
      • 




    • Infrastructure Deficit: Lack of modern terminals and night navigation facilities.
      • 




    • Environmental Concerns: Impact on river ecosystems and biodiversity.
      • 

    

    4. 











Current Affairs Bite – 3





3. India’s Smartphone Export Boom





Relevance: GS 3 (Economy)





Context:





India has emerged as the third-largest smartphone exporter globally, with exports crossing ₹20,000 crore in November 2024. This growth is attributed to government policies and increased domestic manufacturing capacity.





Key Provisions:





    

  1. Factors Driving Growth:

      

    • Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes: Encourages domestic manufacturing by providing financial incentives.
      • 




    • Strategic Trade Partnerships: Collaborations with countries like the US and EU.
      • 




    • Rising Domestic Capacity: Expansion of manufacturing hubs in states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
      • 

    

    2. 




  2. Significance:

      

    • Boost to Economy: Contributes to GDP growth and foreign exchange reserves.
      • 




    • Employment Generation: Creates jobs in manufacturing and allied sectors.
      • 




    • Global Supply Chain Integration: Enhances India’s position as a reliable manufacturing hub.
      • 

    

    3. 




  3. Challenges:

      

    • Dependence on Imports: High reliance on imported components like semiconductors.
      • 




    • Global Competition: Competing with established players like China and Vietnam.
      • 

    

    4. 






Chart: India’s Smartphone Export Growth (2019-2024)





YearExport RankExport Value (₹ crore)
201923rd5,000
20243rd20,000










Current Affairs Bite – 4





4. AI-Powered Surveillance in India





Relevance: GS 2 (Governance) & GS 3 (Technology)





Context:





India is rapidly expanding its AI-powered surveillance infrastructure, including facial recognition systems, to enhance security and governance. However, this raises concerns about privacy and constitutional safeguards.





Key Provisions:





    

  1. Current Developments:

      

    • Deployment of facial recognition systems in airports, railway stations, and public spaces.
      • 




    • Integration with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023.
      • 

    

    2. 




  2. Concerns:

      

    • Privacy Violations: Lack of proportional safeguards for data protection.
      • 




    • Government Exemptions: Broad exemptions under the DPDPA for state surveillance.
      • 




    • Potential Misuse: Risk of mass surveillance and profiling.
      • 

    

    3. 




  3. Global Comparisons:

      

    • EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act: Prohibits high-risk practices like real-time biometric identification.
      • 




    • China: Extensive use of AI surveillance but criticized for human rights violations.
      • 

    

    4. 




  4. Recommendations:

      

    • Transparent data collection and usage policies.
      • 




    • Judicial oversight for AI-powered surveillance systems.
      • 




    • Public awareness and accountability mechanisms.
      • 

    

    5. 






Flowchart: AI Surveillance Concerns





plaintextCopy +-------------------+  
| AI Surveillance   |  
+-------------------+  
| Privacy Concerns  |  
+-------------------+  
| Government Exemptions |  
+-------------------+  
| Risk of Profiling |  
+-------------------+  










Current Affairs Bite – 5





5. Arctic Tundra Emissions





Relevance: GS 3 (Environment)





Context:





The Arctic tundra, once a carbon sink, is now emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane due to rising temperatures and wildfires. This shift has significant implications for global climate change.





Key Provisions:





    

  1. Causes of Emissions:

      

    • Thawing Permafrost: Releases trapped greenhouse gases.
      • 




    • Increased Wildfires: Accelerates the release of CO2 and methane.
      • 

    

    2. 




  2. Impact on Climate:

      

    • Global Warming: Amplifies the greenhouse effect, leading to higher global temperatures.
      • 




    • Ecosystem Disruption: Affects Arctic flora and fauna.
      • 




    • Feedback Loop: Warming leads to more emissions, creating a vicious cycle.
      • 

    

    3. 




  3. Global Cooperation Needed:

      

    • Paris Agreement Goals: Strengthen commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
      • 




    • Research and Monitoring: Invest in technologies to monitor Arctic emissions.
      • 




    • Mitigation Strategies: Reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to offset Arctic contributions.
      • 

    

    4. 






Diagram: Carbon Cycle in the Arctic Tundra





plaintextCopy +-------------------+  
| Thawing Permafrost|  
+-------------------+  
| CO2 & Methane     |  
+-------------------+  
| Global Warming    |  
+-------------------+  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_methane_emissions 










Current Affairs Bite – 6





6. Challenges to Constitutional Ideals





Relevance: GS 2 (Polity & Governance)





Context:





Recent debates on constitutionalism in India highlight the growing tension between individual rights and group rights, as well as the challenges posed by identity-based politics.





Key Provisions:





    

  1. Core Principles of Constitutionalism:

      

    • Individual Rights: Protection of fundamental rights under Part III of the Constitution.
      • 




    • Equality Before Law: Article 14 ensures equal treatment of all citizens.
      • 




    • Checks and Balances: Separation of powers among the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
      • 

    

    2. 




  2. Challenges:

      

    • Identity-Based Politics: Undermines the principle of equality and fosters division.
      • 




    • Subversion of Checks and Balances: Weakening of institutions like the judiciary and Election Commission.
      • 




    • Populist Policies: Often prioritize short-term gains over constitutional ideals.
      • 

    

    3. 




  3. Way Forward:

      

    • Strengthen institutions to uphold constitutional values.
      • 




    • Promote civic education to foster awareness of constitutional principles.
      • 




    • Encourage dialogue to balance individual and group rights.
      • 

    

    4. 






Diagram: Challenges to Constitutional Ideals





plaintextCopy +-------------------+  
| Identity Politics |  
+-------------------+  
| Weak Institutions |  
+-------------------+  
| Populist Policies |  
+-------------------+  





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