AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (9^th Sept 2024)

Responsible use of AI in the Military Domain (REAIM)

GS 3: Sc& Tech/ Defence: Applications of AI

Why is it in the news?

• The second summit on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) will be held in Seoul, South Korea, on September 9.
• The summit aims to establish global norms for AI in warfare, amidst growing international efforts to regulate military AI usage.

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• With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza acting as practical tests for AI in warfare, there is an urgent push for diplomatic measures to mitigate risks.
• India has largely remained passive in this debate, observing rather than participating. As new AI arms control frameworks take shape, it is crucial for India to engage more actively.
• REAIM, co-hosted by Kenya, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the UK, follows a 2023 summit in The Hague. While the first summit broadened the discussion on military AI, including issues beyond lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), the focus has now expanded.
• Major militaries are utilizing AI for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and operational efficiency. The REAIM summit seeks to address these broader applications and develop norms for the responsible use of military AI.
• The REAIM process emphasizes responsible use over banning AI applications in warfare. The US has been at the forefront, issuing a draft political declaration on responsible AI use at the Hague summit, formalized in November 2023, and encouraging NATO allies to adopt similar guidelines.
• The US also engages in bilateral dialogues with China on AI’s implications for nuclear deterrence. Meanwhile, the US introduced a resolution on responsible AI use at the UN General Assembly, gaining broad support.
• India, in contrast, has been passive, not endorsing the Hague summit’s “call to action” and remaining cautious about the new global norms expected from the Seoul summit. Its approach mirrors past indecisiveness in nuclear arms control.
• Beijing, however, has been proactive, issuing a White Paper on military AI regulation and supporting the Hague summit’s initiatives, positioning itself as a key player in shaping global standards for military AI.

Uncommon Cyclones in the Arabian Sea

GS 1: Geography: Cyclones

Why is it in the news?

• The North Indian Ocean is unique for having two cyclone seasons annually, unlike other cyclogenesis regions that typically have only one. This distinctive pattern is influenced by the region’s climate and oceanic conditions.
• The North Indian Ocean provides substantial moisture for the summer monsoon, necessitating warm seas for evaporation. Despite these conditions favouring cyclogenesis, it remains the least active cyclone region globally due to a mix of inhibiting and promoting factors.

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Uniqueness of the Indian Ocean

• The Indian Ocean is renowned for its monsoonal circulation and dramatic seasonal wind reversals north of the equator. Its uniqueness extends beyond these features due to its ‘oceanic tunnels’ that connect it to the Pacific and Southern Oceans.
• The Pacific tunnel supplies a significant influx of warm water in the upper 500 meters, while the Southern Ocean tunnel introduces cooler waters below about 1 kilometre.
• During the pre-monsoon season, the Arabian Sea heats up rapidly as the Sun shifts to the northern hemisphere. Although the Bay of Bengal is generally warmer than the Arabian Sea, it warms further and triggers atmospheric convection and rainfall.
• The monsoon onset, which starts in mid-May over the Bay of Bengal, leads to significant rainfall across India. The post-monsoon season, known as the northeast monsoon, also brings considerable precipitation to various states.
• These wind patterns and variations in sea surface temperatures play a crucial role in cyclogenesis throughout the year in the North Indian Ocean. They help explain the marked differences in cyclone activity between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Impact of Climate Change

• Climate change exacerbates the uniqueness of the Indian Ocean by increasing warming from the Pacific and Southern Oceans. The Indian Ocean’s rapid warming affects heat uptake by the Pacific and sinking of heavy waters in the North Atlantic.
• This region is essentially acting as a clearinghouse for ocean warming, influencing cyclone formation and responses to climate change.

Cyclone frequency and patterns

• Cyclones are relatively rare in the Arabian Sea compared to the Bay of Bengal. During the monsoon, strong winds and evaporation mix cold subsurface waters with surface waters, cooling the Arabian Sea. Strong vertical wind shear further suppresses cyclone development.
• Consequently, cyclones in the Arabian Sea are mainly formed in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, with the number of cyclones being about half that of the Bay of Bengal.
• Recent years have seen a decrease in cyclone frequency, despite a general upward trend since 2010.

The Case of Cyclone Asna

• Cyclone Asna, which formed in August 2023, was particularly notable as the first August cyclone in the North Indian Ocean since 1981. It originated from a powerful land-based depression transitioning to the warm Arabian Sea, which is unusual for such cyclones.
• Typically, low-pressure systems develop over the Bay of Bengal and traverse the monsoon zone. Asna’s development was fuelled by soil moisture from prior rainfall and the warm waters of the northern Arabian Sea.
• Despite causing nearly 50 deaths and significant damage, Asna dissipated due to the intrusion of dry desert air. This rare cyclone exemplifies the surprising and extreme weather patterns influenced by global warming and shifting climatic conditions.

Study: Changes in level of Arctic Sea ice influence monsoon patterns in India

GS 1: Geography: Influencing Monsoon patterns in India

Why is it in the news?

• Erratic rainfall patterns have become increasingly common in India, with recent research indicating that changes in Arctic Sea ice levels play a significant role in altering the Indian monsoon.

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• According to a study published in Remote Sensing of Environment, declining sea ice in the central Arctic leads to reduced rainfall in western and peninsular India but increases precipitation in central and northern India. Conversely, reduced sea ice in the Barents-Kara Sea region affects the timing and predictability of the monsoon.
• The Indian summer monsoon, spanning from July to September, is influenced by the differential heating of the Indian landmass and surrounding oceans.
• This creates a low-pressure zone at the Tropic of Cancer, drawing moist air from the southwest across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
• These winds bring significant rainfall to India, with the monsoon splitting into two arms: one that affects the west coast and another that impacts the east and northeastern regions.
• The study highlights how variations in Arctic Sea ice affect atmospheric circulations and, consequently, the Indian monsoon.
• Lower sea ice levels in the central Arctic lead to reduced rainfall in some parts of India, while high sea ice levels can enhance Rossby waves—large-scale air currents that influence weather patterns. These enhanced waves can disrupt atmospheric stability, leading to increased rainfall in certain regions.
• In contrast, lower sea ice levels in the Barents-Kara Sea region create an anticyclonic circulation over northwest Europe, affecting the atmospheric conditions over subtropical Asia. This disruption contributes to increased rainfall in northeastern India while leaving central and northwest regions drier.
• Moreover, Climate change exacerbates these effects by accelerating the reduction of Arctic Sea ice, leading to greater variability in the monsoon. According to the study, this variability can result in more frequent and severe droughts in some areas and excessive rainfall and flooding in others.
• Further, the study underscores the need for continued research into climate dynamics to improve monsoon forecasts and manage the impacts of these changing patterns.

Study: India generates highest plastic pollution in world

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Tackling Plastic Pollution

Why is it in the news?

• India has been identified as the leading contributor to global plastic pollution, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature.
• The research reveals that India generates a staggering 9.3 million tonnes (mt) of plastic pollution annually, accounting for a fifth of the world’s total.
• This figure includes 5.8 mt of plastic burned each year and 3.5 mt of plastic waste that ends up as debris in the environment—land, air, and water. This places India significantly ahead of other top polluting countries like Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and China (2.8 mt).

More about the news

• The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds, highlights a critical issue: around 251 mt of plastic waste is produced globally each year, enough to fill approximately 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• Of this, 52.1 mt is deemed “unmanaged,” meaning it is either littered as debris or burned in uncontrolled fires, which releases harmful particulates and toxic gases linked to severe health problems, including heart disease and cancer.
• A notable trend identified is the disparity between the Global North and Global South in terms of plastic pollution. The study points out that countries in Southern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeastern Asia contribute the most to plastic waste emissions. These regions together are responsible for about 69% of the global plastic pollution, with none of these countries classified as High-Income Countries (HICs).
• In contrast, HICs—mostly in the Global North—have better waste management systems, which significantly reduce their plastic pollution footprint.
• The study comes amid ongoing treaty negotiations for a global agreement on plastic pollution, which the UN Environmental Assembly aims to finalize by the end of 2024.
• The discussions are divided, with fossil-fuel-producing countries and industry groups favouring a focus on waste management, while EU and African nations advocate for reducing single-use plastics and curbing production.
• However, critics argue that the current research might reinforce the narrative that plastic pollution is solely a waste management issue, potentially overshadowing the need to address the root causes of plastic production and pollution.
• While plastics industry groups have praised the findings for highlighting the issue of unmanaged waste, environmental advocates caution that focusing only on waste management could detract from the necessary efforts to reduce plastic production itself.

The Significance of the first clear images of Mercury’s South Pole

GS 3: Science and Technology: Exploring Mercury

Why is it in the news?

• On 5^th September, BepiColombo, a spacecraft from the European Space Agency and Japan, captured its closest and clearest images of Mercury’s south pole, revealing the planet’s surface in high detail.
• These black-and-white images also showcased several craters with distinctive peak rings.

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• Launched in 2018, BepiColombo aims to study Mercury, the least-explored rocky planet in our solar system. The mission will provide insights into Mercury’s composition, geology, and magnetic field.
• Due to its proximity to the Sun, the spacecraft uses a series of flybys around Earth, Venus, and Mercury to slow down and manoeuvre into orbit. The recent (5^th September) flyby was the fourth of six planned close encounters, bringing BepiColombo within 103 miles of Mercury’s surface.
• The spacecraft’s upcoming scientific observations, including higher-resolution images and data, will start when it enters orbit around Mercury in 2026.
• Current images are a preview of the detailed information expected to surpass that of NASA’s Messenger mission, which ended in 2015.
• Mercury’s unusual characteristics, such as its large core, surface ice, and rich volatile elements, suggest it might have moved from a different part of the solar system.
• BepiColombo’s remaining flybys are scheduled for December and January, after which the spacecraft will spend nearly two years in solar orbit before settling into Mercury’s orbit by late 2026.

India’s Military Diplomacy

GS 3: Defence: Defence exercises

Why is it in the news?

• India’s military diplomacy is in high gear with a series of back-to-back exercises involving countries from across the globe.

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• The India-U.S. bilateral Army exercise, Yudh Abhyas, is set to begin at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan on 9^th September.
• Concurrently, the Indian Air Force’s largest multilateral exercise, Tarang Shakti, is underway at Jodhpur, featuring eight participating countries and 17 others as observers.
• This exercise includes the U.S. deployment of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and F-16 jets for the first time in Indian airspace, alongside aircraft from Australia, Greece, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and the U.S. Bangladesh has withdrawn its participation due to recent domestic issues.
• The Malabar naval exercise, involving India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S., is scheduled to take place off the Visakhapatnam coast in early October. Following this, an Indian Army mechanized infantry unit will head to Russia for the bilateral exercise Indra.
• This year’s Yudh Abhyas will feature one of the largest U.S. contingents to date, including around 600 personnel and Stryker infantry vehicles, along with the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).
• India is also considering procuring Stryker vehicles, including variants mounted with Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), though talks for their license-manufacture are still in the early stages.
• The U.S. has previously demonstrated both the Stryker vehicles and Javelin ATGMs to the Indian Army. Despite extensive evaluations, the deal for Javelin ATGMs did not materialize.
• Currently, India conducts more military exercises with the U.S. than with any other nation. In addition, the Indian Army recently held the 10th edition of the bilateral exercise Mitra Shakti with Sri Lanka from August 12-25 at the Army Training School in Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka.

The Law and the ground realities of passive euthanasia in India

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Euthanasia

Why is it in the news?

• The recent rejection by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of a plea for passive euthanasia in the case of 30-year-old Harish Rana has reignited the debate on the ethics and legality of withdrawing life-supporting treatment to allow natural death.
• Rana’s case highlights the complexities surrounding passive euthanasia, particularly when life support is not deemed necessary, as the courts found in this instance.

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• The legal framework for passive euthanasia in India was first addressed by the Supreme Court in 2011, in the landmark case of Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug v Union of India.
• Shanbaug, who had been in a persistent vegetative state since a 1973 assault, became the focal point of a debate over the right to die.
• While the court did not grant passive euthanasia in her case, it recognized the legality of the practice, stipulating that it could only proceed with High Court approval.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court further clarified the legality of passive euthanasia, affirming that the “right to die with dignity” is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
• Detailed guidelines were established, requiring an advance directive or living will to be signed in the presence of two witnesses and a Judicial Magistrate, alongside approvals from multiple medical boards. For patients without a living will, family consent is necessary.
• Despite these guidelines, concerns over their practicality led to modifications in 2023, including streamlined decision-making processes and reduced judicial involvement.

Paris Paralympics 2024

GS 3: Miscellaneous

About the news

• The Paris Paralympics concluded with India achieving a historic best of 29 medals, including 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze landing in 18th place. This surpasses their previous record of 19 medals and 5 golds from Tokyo 2020, where they placed 24th.

• Indian women made a notable impact, winning 11 medals, including one in mixed team events. Track events, traditionally a weak area, saw significant progress with Preethi Pal earning bronze in the 100m and 200m T35 sprints, and Deepthi Jeevanji and Simran also securing bronze in the 400m T20 and 200m T12.
• Kapil Parmar added a new sport to India’s medal list with a bronze in blind judo.
• China continued its Paralympic dominance, securing 220 medals in total, comprising 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze. This marks their sixth consecutive top finish since Athens 2004. Their success was particularly evident in Para Swimming and Para Athletics, where they won 103 medals.
• France finished 8th in the medal tally with 19 golds and a total of 75 medals, up from their 14th place in Tokyo with 11 golds and 55 medals.
• The strong home support played a crucial role, especially in events like blind football and badminton, where the enthusiastic French crowd significantly boosted their athletes.
• Nearly 2.5 million tickets were sold, with over 90% bought by French residents, reflecting strong local engagement with the Games.

PresVu Eye Drops

GS 3: Miscellaneous

Why is it in the news?

• Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has introduced a new eye drop called PresVu, which has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to help reduce dependency on reading glasses for people with presbyopia.

More about the news

• According to Entod, PresVu is the first product of its kind in India, and the company has applied for a patent covering both its formulation and the production process.
• Presbyopia is an age-related condition where the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on close objects, typically starting around age 40. Spectacles are commonly used to manage this condition effectively.
• PresVu contains pilocarpine, a compound known for its ability to contract the iris muscles, which helps improve focus on nearby objects. The eye drop also incorporates “advanced dynamic buffer technology,” which adapts to the pH level of tears to ensure consistent efficacy and safety over long-term use.
• However, it is important to note that PresVu is a prescription-only medicine and its effects generally last between four to six hours. It is not recommended for individuals with iris inflammation and may cause side effects like itching, redness, eyebrow pain, and muscle spasms in the eyes with regular use.
• While Entod promotes PresVu as a novel therapy, pilocarpine itself has been used for decades in India, primarily for cataract treatment. The temporary improvement in focus offered by pilocarpine for presbyopia has been recognized for some time.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a pilocarpine eye drop for presbyopia in 2021. In India, the government regulates the price of pilocarpine in 2% and 4% concentrations, whereas PresVu contains pilocarpine at a 1.25% concentration.