AMIGOS IAS Current Affairs (21^st August 2024)

Lateral entry for government posts

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Lateral Entry

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently advertised 45 lateral entry positions for various Central Ministries, including roles such as joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary.
• These positions, intended to be filled by experts from outside the traditional civil services on a contract or deputation basis, were to be filled by September 17. However, the move sparked controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of undermining reservation policies.
• Following protests from the Opposition and the Lok Janshakti Party, an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), UPSC has canceled its lateral recruitment drive.

More about the news

• The advertisement seeks candidates for roles in fields such as emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and environmental policy, among others. For private sector candidates, appointments will be on a contract basis, while public sector employees will be appointed on deputation.
• Notably, current Central government employees are ineligible for these positions. The terms of appointment are initially three years, extendable up to five years based on performance. Further, the age and experience requirements vary by position.
• Lateral entry involves recruiting individuals from outside the conventional civil service framework for mid to senior-level roles.
• Although the concept was introduced by the Modi government in 2018, it was initially recommended by the Congress-led UPA government and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2005. The idea is to bring in domain experts for specialized roles not easily filled by traditional civil servants.
• To date, 63 appointments have been made through lateral entry, with a majority remaining in their positions. The practice is also aligned with recommendations from the Committee of Secretaries and NITI Aayog. Similar notifications have been issued since 2018, including a previous recruitment drive last July.
• Internationally, lateral entry is a common practice in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where it is often part of a “revolving door” model between government and private sectors. This model, however, has faced criticism for potential conflicts of interest and influence on policy decisions.
• In India, lateral entry has faced criticism for potentially bypassing reservation policies meant for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EWS.
• Critics argue that this recruitment process undermines constitutional rights and reservation principles. They have also highlighted recent issues with reservation-related recruitment in Uttar Pradesh as further evidence of systemic flaws.

On the ethanol blending programme

GS 3: Economy: Ethanol blending

Why is it in the news?

• India is advancing toward its goal of blending 20% ethanol with petrol by 2025-26, with progress evident in blending percentages and increased production capacity. However, the “food versus fuel” issue persists.
• For instance, maize imports have risen from April to June this year, as more maize is used for ethanol due to restrictions on sugarcane. Despite concerns, industry experts argue that India’s food stocks are sufficient, though large supplies could lead to wastage.

More about the news

• Currently, the focus is on first-generation (1G) ethanol from food grains and sugarcane. The government is advised to also pursue second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) ethanol to mitigate food security impacts.   

Status of ethanol production capacity:

• Achieving a 20% blending target requires producing about 1,000 crore litres of ethanol. Currently, the blending rates have increased from 8% in 2021 to 13-15%. Moreover, the sugar industry has invested ₹40,000 crore, adding 92 crore litres of capacity in two years.
• According to the Niti Aayog roadmap, sugarcane-based distilleries need to expand from 426 crore litres in 2021 to 760 crore litres by 2026, while grain-based distilleries should grow from 258 to 740 crore litres.
• As of December 2023, India’s total ethanol production capacity reached 1,380 crore litres, with a larger share from sugarcane. Interest subvention programs have supported this growth, but the industry seeks their extension and long-term contracts with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to stabilize the supply chain.
• The government had allowed the diversion of sugarcane juice and syrup to ethanol but imposed restrictions to prevent sugar shortages. Expanding sugarcane production will require significant additional water—about 400 billion litres for 50% of the 1,000 crore litres target, potentially affecting food crops.

• To address shortfalls, grain-based distilleries, particularly those using maize, are operating at full capacity. The government supports using maize, surplus rice, and damaged grains for ethanol production. 
• Moreover, India’s maize imports have increased from $39 million in 2023-24 to $103 million in early 2024. To meet the 20% target, an additional 4.8 million hectares of maize cultivation may be needed.
• Ethanol is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save $4 billion annually in foreign exchange, and support rural economies. However, existing vehicles may experience a 6% decrease in fuel efficiency with higher ethanol content.

States view about the policy:

• The evolving ethanol economy has varied effects across states.
• Although fuel ethanol pricing is uniform nationwide, states set their own rates for Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), which influences distilleries’ choice between producing pure fuel ethanol and ENA. This pricing disparity affects the production strategies of sugarcane-based distilleries.
• In Uttar Pradesh, 25% of ethanol is reserved for ENA, which is less profitable than ethanol from molasses. U.P. is a major contributor to the ethanol blending program, with multi-fuel distilleries expected to meet 55% of the national ethanol requirement from sugarcane and 45% from grains.
• In Tamil Nadu, where liquor is a significant revenue source, fuel ethanol has seen limited uptake. Water constraints hinder increased sugarcane cultivation, and political sensitivities prevent using broken rice for ethanol.
• In Maharashtra, producing ENA is more profitable due to strong demand in other sectors like manufacturing and medicine. However, stable procurement contracts for ethanol blending could make it a more attractive option if additional processing is minimized.
• Moreover, there is a call within the industry for an increase in ethanol pricing to sustain growth.

India and Malaysia raise strategic partnership

GS 2: International Relations: India-Malaysia

Why is it in the news?

• India and Malaysia have elevated their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” announced during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Delhi.
• This upgrade moves beyond the previous 2010 Strategic Partnership, which was enhanced in 2015, and includes several new agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoU’s).

More about the news

• India has agreed to support Malaysia’s request to join the BRICS grouping, a priority for Prime Minister Ibrahim. Further, the leaders also discussed geopolitical challenges, including tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Prime Minister Modi highlighted Malaysia’s role as a crucial partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Indo-Pacific regions, reaffirming India’s commitment to freedom of navigation and peaceful dispute resolution.
• At the Indian Council for World Affairs, Ibrahim praised India’s “unique, multi-aligned approach” and its strategic management of global challenges.
• Ibrahim’s visit is the first by a Malaysian Prime Minister since 2018, a period marked by strained relations due to Malaysia’s criticism of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act, Jammu and Kashmir reorganization, and the handling of the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Ibrahim called the past years of stagnant ties “unfortunate” and emphasized the shared multicultural aspects of both countries as a basis for renewed cooperation.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre

GS 3: Defence: Enhancing Maritime Rescue operation

Why is it in the news?

• The Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the new Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In addition, he virtually launched the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) in Chennai and the Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE) in Puducherry.

About the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)

• The MRCC is designed to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of maritime rescue operations, particularly for mariners and fishermen in distress.
• It features state-of-the-art distress monitoring systems, including terrestrial and satellite technologies, as well as advanced communication tools for managing real-time alerts.
• The Centre is staffed by highly trained ICG personnel specializing in Search and Rescue operations, ensuring swift responses during emergencies.

About the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC)

• The RMPRC, located at Chennai Port, is India’s first facility dedicated to managing responses to marine pollution, especially oil and chemical spills in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Announced by Shri Rajnath Singh at the Indo-ASEAN meeting in Cambodia on November 22, 2022, the Centre operates around the clock to monitor and respond to marine oil pollution incidents.
• It also serves as a training hub, providing practical instruction on pollution response techniques to various organizations and personnel from allied countries.

About the Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE)

• The CGAE enhances maritime security along the Puducherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.
• It is equipped with Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopter Squadrons, both of which are indigenously built.
• These helicopters support maritime patrols, Search and Rescue missions, and other operations from both land and sea.

Hayflick limit: Why immortality remains out of humans’ reach

GS 3: Science and Technology: Telomeres

Why is it in the news?

• Leonard Hayflick, who passed away on August 1 at age 98, revolutionized the understanding of aging with his discovery of the “Hayflick limit.”

More about the news

• In the 1960s, while at the University of Pennsylvania, Hayflick found that somatic (non-reproductive) cells could only divide approximately 40-60 times before ceasing to divide.
• This limit, which he proposed causes aging, indicates a built-in cellular clock that constrains human lifespan to around 125 years, regardless of external factors such as diet or genetic modifications.
• Hayflick’s discovery was further supported by the identification of telomeres in the 1970s. Telomeres, repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes, protect the DNA and shorten with each cell division. Once these telomeres become too short, cells stop dividing.
• However, the relationship between telomere length and lifespan is complex and not fully understood. For example, while lab mice have much longer telomeres than humans, they live significantly shorter lives.
• The discovery of telomerase, a protein that can regenerate telomeres, has led some researchers to believe that telomere loss and the Hayflick limit may be symptoms of aging rather than its primary cause.
• Though telomerase is present in all cells, it is active primarily in cancer cells, which is why cancer cells often bypass the Hayflick limit. While laboratory studies have shown that synthesizing telomerase can slow down telomere loss in human cells, practical applications remain a distant goal.

Addressing microplastic contamination in food

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Food Contamination

Why is it in the news?

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a significant project to tackle microplastic contamination in food.

More about the news

• Named “Micro-and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding the Prevalence in Different Food Matrices,” the project involves key institutions such as the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kochi), and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani).
• The main goals are to develop and validate methods for detecting micro and nano-plastics in food and to assess their prevalence and exposure levels in various food products across India.
• Microplastics, which arise from fragmented plastic debris, synthetic fibres, and microbeads in personal care products, have been found in common food items like sugar and salt, highlighting a significant gap in understanding their health impacts.
• In India, the issue is exacerbated by widespread plastic use and ineffective waste management. Both urban areas with high plastic consumption and rural regions with poor waste disposal practices contribute to the spread of microplastics.
• The environmental impact of microplastics is considerable, affecting diverse ecosystems from the Himalayas to coastal regions. They harm marine and freshwater life and potentially degrade water quality.
• For human health, microplastics can enter the body through contaminated food and water, with the potential to affect cells and tissues.
• To address these issues, India has implemented bans on single-use plastics and introduced waste management regulations. Despite these efforts, enforcement remains a challenge, and there is a need for stronger policies and increased public awareness.
• Hence, it is crucial to enhance regulatory measures, promote sustainable practices, and foster collaborative efforts between government agencies, businesses, and communities to mitigate the impact of microplastics and protect public health and the environment.