UPSC GS 2
U.S. Presidential Election and Electoral College System
- News: The US presidential election will take place on 5 November 2024.ย
- Electoral College Structure:
-
- Composition: The electoral college includes 538 electors, a number based on the total seats in Congress (435 Representatives and 100 Senators) plus three electors for the District of Columbia.
- State Representation: Each state has a number of electors equivalent to its Congressional representation. For instance, California has the highest with 54 electors, while smaller states like Delaware have three.
-
- Voting Process:
-
- Popular Vote and Elector Appointment: On election day, citizens cast their votes for their preferred candidate. The party winning the popular vote in each state appoints its electors.
- Casting of Votes: In December, the electors meet to cast their votes following their stateโs popular vote. Most states follow a “winner-takes-all” approach, except for Maine and Nebraska.
- Faithless Electors: Electors who vote against their stateโs popular vote outcome are termed “faithless electors.” Some states penalize faithless electors, though their influence on the election result has historically been minimal.
-
- Procedure in Case of a Tie:
-
- Historical Instances: Presidential election ties have occurred twice, in 1800 and 1824, resolved by the House of Representatives.
- House Vote: If a tie arises, each state delegation in the House casts one vote to decide the President, with 26 votes required for a candidate to win.
- Inauguration Contingency: If no President is chosen by inauguration day, the Vice-President, selected by the Senate, serves as acting President until a decision is reached.
-
- Comparison: U.S. vs. Indian Presidential Election Systems:
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
- News: Brazil has become the second BRICS country after India not to join China’s BRI.
- Brazilโs Position on the BRI
-
- Brazil is set to become the second BRICS nation, after India, not to endorse the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Recently, Italy and the Philippines also declared their withdrawal from the BRI.
-
Read also: Passive Euthanasia in India: Legal and Ethical Perspectives | UPSC
- Overview of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI):
-
- Origin: Launched in 2013 as the “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) initiative, BRI aims to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through extensive land and maritime networks.
- Objective: Enhance regional integration, promote trade, and drive economic growth.
-
- Components:
-
- Silk Road Economic Belt: A transcontinental passage over land.
- Maritime Silk Road: A sea-based trade route.
- Investments: The initiative heavily invests in infrastructure, including major projects like ports and highways.
-
- Indiaโs Key Concerns with BRI:
-
- Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: India opposes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a BRI project that crosses the Gilgit-Baltistan area in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, considering it a violation of its territorial sovereignty.
- Strategic Competition: BRIโs financial incentives, including low-interest loans, risk undercutting Indian influence in South Asia by appealing to regional partners.
- Debt Trap Diplomacy: China’s extensive lending to BRI partner countries raises concerns of unsustainable debt, increasing these countries’ susceptibility to Chinese influence.
- Security Issues: The growth of Chinaโs presence in the Indian Ocean region (often referred to as the “String of Pearls” strategy) is seen by India as a potential security threat.
-
UPSC GS 3
Tiger Translocation for Genetic Diversity
- News: Recently, the Odisha government moved a tigress named Jamuna from Maharashtra’s Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve to Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). This translocation aims to boost genetic diversity within Similipal’s tiger population, where there is concern over inbreeding due to the limited number of individuals.
- Key Facts About the Translocation:
-
- Previous Translocation Efforts: In 2018, another tigress, Sundari, was relocated to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha.
- Approval: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) granted approval for this translocation initiative.
-
- Translocation of Black Tigers:
-
- Population: According to the 2024 Odisha Tiger Estimation, Similipal has 24 adult tigers, including a significant population of pseudo-melanistic or “black” tigers.
- Unique Habitat: Similipal is the only natural habitat globally for these black tigers.
- Inbreeding Concerns: With 13 out of the 24 adult tigers displaying pseudo-melanistic traits, there are worries about inbreeding and limited genetic diversity, emphasizing the need for external genetic input.
- Future Plans: A melanistic tiger safari is proposed in Similipal, potentially the first of its kind worldwide.
-
- Key Facts About Similipal Tiger Reserve:
-
- Location: Situated in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
- Project Tiger: Declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1973.
- UNESCO Recognition: Similipal National Park was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2009.
- Geographic Features: Notable landmarks include the Joranda and Barehipani waterfalls, as well as the peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini. The reserve is intersected by rivers such as Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Khairi, and Deo.
- Name Origin: Named after the Simul tree, also known as the Silk Cotton tree.
-
- Biodiversity:
-
- Flora: Primarily tropical moist deciduous forests.
- Mammals: Includes tigers, leopards, sambar deer, barking deer, gaurs, jungle cats, wild boars, four-horned antelopes, giant squirrels, and common langurs.
- Bird Species: Features species like grey hornbills, Indian pied hornbills, and Malabar pied hornbills.
- Reptiles: Mugger crocodiles inhabit the Khairi and Deo Rivers.
- Tribal Inhabitants: The reserve is home to indigenous tribes like Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara.
- Cultural Practices: These tribes venerate sacred groves known as Jharia.
-
- Key Facts About Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve:
-
- Location: Located in Maharashtra, it is the stateโs oldest and largest national park.
- Etymology: Named after Tadoba or Taru, a local deity worshiped by the tribal population. “Andhari” derives from the Andhari River flowing through the reserve.
-
- Geographic Features:
-
- Lakes and River: Contains Tadoba Lake, Kolsa Lake, and the Tadoba River.
-
- Biodiversity:
-
- Flora: Encompasses teak, semal, tendu, beheda, karaya gum, mahua madhuca, arjun, bamboo, and other vegetation.
- Fauna: Includes tigers, Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, nilgai, dholes, small Indian civets, sambars, spotted deer, barking deer, and chital.
-
Unpaid Labour
- News: ย The research paper titled โValuation of Unpaid Household Activities in Indiaโ by Sahoo, Sarkar, and Kumar emphasizes the economic importance of unpaid household labor, especially focusing on the unequal burden faced by women.
- Unpaid Work and Indiaโs Status:
-
- High Burden on Women: In India, women dedicate an average of 36 hours weekly to unpaid domestic responsibilities, while men contribute about 16 hours.
- Major Contributor to Economy: Unpaid work significantly impacts the economy, with contributions estimated at approximately โน22.7 lakh crore, which accounts for roughly 7.5% of the country’s GDP.
- Labor Force Gap: Women who are not part of the labor force engage in over seven hours of unpaid work each day, which restricts their opportunities for participation in paid employment.
-
- Comparison with Global Trends:
-
- Global Perspective: Worldwide, unpaid work contributes between 10% and 60% to GDP, with significant variation across different nations.
- Examples:
- APEC member economies estimate that unpaid work constitutes about 9% of GDP.
- In Australia, this figure is as high as 41.3%, while Thailand reports only 5.5%.
- SDG Integration: Recognizing the value of unpaid labor aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on promoting gender equality and valuing unpaid care and domestic work.
-
- Economic Value of Unpaid Work in India:
-
- Monetary Valuation: The economic worth of unpaid work is estimated at โน49.5 lakh crore (24.6% of GDP) when calculated using the Gross Opportunity Cost (GOC) method, and โน65.1 lakh crore (32.4% of GDP) when using the Replacement Cost method for the fiscal year 2019-20.
- Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in the economic valuation of unpaid work, reaching 27.2% (GOC) and 42.3% (RCM) of GDP, highlighting the increased contributions from households during this period.
-
Gold Reserves
- News:ย The RBI held about 60% of its gold reserves in safe custody in India as at September-end 2024 against about 50 per cent as at March-end 2024.
- Indiaโs Gold Reserve Status:
-
- Total Gold Reserves: India holds a total of 854.73 metric tonnes of gold, which includes 510.46 metric tonnes kept domestically and 324.01 metric tonnes stored at the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
- Goldโs Share in Total Reserves: As of September 2024, gold constitutes 9.32% of India’s foreign exchange reserves, up from 8.15% in March.
- Import Cover: By June 2024, the countryโs forex reserves were sufficient to cover 11.2 months of imports, a slight decline from the 11.3 months reported in March.
- World Ranking: As of September 2024, India ranks 8th in the global standings for gold reserves. The leading countries are the United States, Germany, and Italy. The United States has the largest gold reserves, nearly matching the combined totals of Germany, Italy, and France.
-
- About Forex Reserves:
-
- Definition: Forex reserves consist of assets held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in various foreign currencies, including gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and Reserve Tranche Position (RTP) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- Purpose: These reserves are crucial for supporting the Indian rupee, stabilizing exchange rates, and facilitating monetary policy changes. They also back the countryโs liabilities and provide a safety net during currency devaluation.
- Importance: A robust level of forex reserves enhances Indiaโs ability to attract foreign trade and investment, bolstering its international standing and economic resilience.
-
Kanda Express
- News: The Second train with 840 metric tonnes of onion arrived in Delhi by Kanda express recently.ย
- Cargo: The Kanda Express specializes in transporting large quantities of onions to satisfy regional demand.
- Recent Arrival: It has recently delivered 840 metric tonnes of onions to Kishanganj Railway Station in Delhi, originating from Nashik.
- Second Bulk Shipment: This delivery follows a prior shipment of 1,600 metric tonnes of onions to the Delhi-NCR region.
- National Impact: This initiative plays a significant role in stabilizing onion prices, with similar shipments supporting markets in Northeast India and other major states.
- Buffer Stock Utilization: The operation is part of the government’s strategy for price stabilization, utilizing its buffer stock of 4.7 lakh tonnes of rabi onions to mitigate price fluctuations.
Read also: BRICS Plus: Global Influence and Economic Collaboration | UPSC
Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park
- News: Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park would become Indiaโs first zoo to receive certification fromย Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for its sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives.
-
- Location: The park is located in the Bankhandi area of Kangra’s Dehra assembly constituency in Himachal Pradesh.
- Unique Attractions: Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park will comprise 34 enclosures along the Van Vaibhav Path and Biodiversity Court, featuring 73 species, including Asiatic lions, crocodiles, gharials, and various indigenous birds.
- Sustainability: With an allocated budget of โน619 crore, the park is designed with eco-friendly principles and is set to be the first zoo in India to receive certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
- Tourism and Employment Impact: The park aims to draw in tourists, generate employment opportunities, and foster eco-tourism in Kangra, further establishing its reputation as the โTourism Capitalโ of Himachal Pradesh.
-
- About the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC):
-
- Established: The IGBC was founded in 2001 as part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
- Headquarters: Its main office is located in Hyderabad, India.
- Role: The IGBC is the foremost organization in India for green building certification, offering programs aimed at promoting sustainable architectural practices.
- Services: It provides certification services, develops rating systems for eco-friendly buildings, and offers training in green construction methodologies.
- Global Representation: The council represents India as one of five countries on the World Green Building Council board, participating in international sustainability discussions at events such as COP.
- Rating Criteria: Projects are assessed based on various categories, including energy and water efficiency, hygiene, innovation, and sustainable practices.
-