18th October 2024

Article: 18^th October, 2024

Topic: SCO Summit 2024

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – International Relations

Source: The Diplomat  

Context

• India, Pakistan, China, Russia, and six other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) attended the heads of government summit.
• For the first time in nine years, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar traveled to Islamabad for the meeting.
  
  

Key Takeaways

• India is still the only SCO member to oppose China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) because of concerns over territorial sovereignty.

• Support for China’s BRI was reiterated in the SCO’s unified communique.
• Western sanctions on Russia and Iran, which were thought to be detrimental to global trade and economic ties, were criticized throughout the summit.
• Although it is still early, talks between India and Pakistan suggested that cricket links would resume.
• “If cross-border activities are characterized by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges in parallel,” the External Affairs Minister stated, referring to Pakistan.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

• Four former USSR republics and China engaged in a series of boundary demarcation and demilitarization negotiations that resulted in the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Shanghai Five in 1996.
• The Shanghai Five were Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.
• The Shanghai Five were renamed the SCO after Uzbekistan joined the alliance in 2001.

• The goal is to strengthen regional collaboration in the fight against extremism, terrorism, and separatism in Central Asia.
• China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and the four Central Asian nations of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are members.
• Afghanistan and Mongolia are observers.

• Language: Chinese and Russian are the official languages of the SCO.
• Structure: The Council of Heads of States (CHS), which convenes once a year, is the SCO’s highest decision-making body.
• The Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent are the organization’s two permanent bodies.
  
  

Importance to India

• Regional Security: Given India’s geographic and political circumstances, the SCO provides a forum for discussing security challenges such as terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
• Economic Cooperation: By promoting economic cooperation among its members, the organization helps India’s trade and investment prospects, especially with Central Asian nations.
• Geopolitical Influence: India’s SCO membership balances the presence of China and Pakistan in the region and increases its influence in Central Asia.
• Central Asia: The SCO is particularly significant to India because of its membership and emphasis on Central Asia, an area where India is eager to strengthen ties but is constrained in its ability to do so.

Challenges

• China-Pakistan Axis: India’s strategic orientation is complicated by the close ties between China and Pakistan inside the SCO, which occasionally restrict India’s influence in regional security negotiations.
• Geopolitical Tensions: India finds it challenging to participate positively in SCO talks due to ongoing border disputes and geopolitical tensions with China and Pakistan.
• Prioritize Security above Economic Development: India’s regional interests depend heavily on economic and developmental cooperation, but the SCO’s major focus on security matters occasionally obscures these efforts.
  
  

Conclusion

• India must keep a careful balance because the SCO’s dynamics are shifting.
• The External Affairs Minister’s visit was not meant to deepen relations with Pakistan, but rather to demonstrate India’s commitment to the SCO.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Shanghai Cooperation body (SCO).

1. It is an international intergovernmental body that is permanent.
2. The SCO’s highest decision-making body is the Heads of State Council.
3. One of its member states is Afghanistan.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

Ans: c

Explanation

A permanent intergovernmental international body is the Shanghai Cooperation body (SCO).
The SCO’s highest decision-making body is the Heads of State Council.
Mongolia, Belarus, and Afghanistan are SCO observer nations.

Mains Model Questions Q. Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What Importance does it hold for India? (UPSC PYQ 2021)

Introduction:

An intergovernmental organization called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was established in 2001 with the goal of fostering political, economic, and security cooperation among its member countries. In 2017, India was admitted as a permanent member of the SCO.

Body:

SCO’s goals and objectives:

• Building Relationships: Strengthening political, security, and economic cooperation among its member states is the SCO’s main goal.
• Fighting risks: To combat the risks posed by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, the group aims for members to work together. Developing a coordinated response to these dangers is the goal of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS).
• A democratic and equitable worldwide political order that is non-aligned, non-confrontational, and non-targeted against other nations and regions is what the SCO seeks to establish.
• Preserving Peace and Stability in the Region: The SCO seeks to guarantee cooperative efforts to preserve peace, security, and stability in the region, especially in Central Asia.
  
  

Analyzing SCO’s Goals and Objectives Critically

• Conflicting Interests: Relationships between China, Russia, India, and Pakistan provide a complicated web of competing interests. For instance, divergent viewpoints on the Taliban-Afghanistan conflict.
• China’s Disrespect for International Order: China has demonstrated a lack of regard for the global order based on rules. Its human rights abuses, “cheque-book” and “wolf warrior” diplomacy, and activities in Hong Kong cast doubt on its dedication to the goals and objectives of SCO.
• BRI Project: China has pushed its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects through the SCO under the pretense of economic cooperation, which has raised fears about regional power struggles and debt-trap diplomacy.
• Backing for Terrorist Organizations: The efficacy of the RATS process is called into doubt due to Pakistan and China’s documented backing for terrorist and separatist groups.
• Absence of Broad-based Engagement: The SCO countries’ limited developmental cooperation during COVID-19 waves demonstrates a lack of broad-based engagement.
  
  

The significance of the SCO for India

• Strategic Reach in Central Asia: Through Bollywood films and Buddhist ties, India already has significant soft power potential in Central Asia, which the SCO enables it to expand.
• Increasing Energy Security: By granting access to natural resources, India’s SCO membership can increase energy resources of the Central Asian countries.
• Increasing Connectivity: By connecting to Europe and the wider Eurasian region through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), India’s membership in the SCO will contribute to an increase in regional connectivity.
• Increasing People-to-People Engagement: Through collaboration in the areas of tourism, education, and medicine, among other areas, SCO may significantly contribute to increasing people-to-people engagement.

Conclusion: The SCO is very important to India because it gives it a chance to become a major pan-Asian power, increase energy security, and expand its geopolitical reach in Central Asia. However, because of China and Pakistan’s involvement in the SCO, India’s advantages are restricted. The success of Indian diplomacy would rely on how it handles its adversaries, and India’s SECURE approach should be used to make the SCO more effective in regional growth and stability.

Article: 18^th October, 2024

Topic: AI into critical defence operations

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Defence

Source: PIB

Context

• The Evaluating Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (ETAI) Framework and Guidelines for the Armed Forces were introduced by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff.
  
  

About

• The five main tenets of the ETAI Framework are
• Robustness and reliability,
• Safety and Security,
• Transparency,
• Fairness and
• Privacy.
• The principles and methodology provide developers and evaluators with a methodical way to create and evaluate reliable AI.
  
  

The use of AI in the defense industry

• Intelligence and Surveillance: Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables military analysts to analyze enormous volumes of data collected by satellites, drones, and other sources in order to identify trends, identify risks, and make prompt, well-informed choices.
• Autonomous Weapon weapons: By operating independently, AI-powered weapons such as missile systems, drones, and unmanned combat vehicles minimize the need for human intervention in combat situations.
• Supply Chain Management: By anticipating equipment breakdowns, automating inventory control, and guaranteeing the prompt delivery of essential supplies, artificial intelligence (AI) improves logistics.
• Cybersecurity: AI aids in vulnerability identification, real-time cyberattack detection, and automated damage mitigation. Predictive capabilities offered by AI-driven systems protect critical military infrastructure.
• AI Decision-Making Support: By modeling and forecasting different combat situations, AI improves military decision-making.
  
  

In today’s warfare, trustworthy AI is essential.

• When AI systems mistake non-combatants for threats, ethical quandaries occur that could result in transgressions of international humanitarian law.
• Cybersecurity Risks: AI systems are susceptible to cyberattacks, in which adversaries could take control of autonomous systems or alter the algorithms to produce inaccurate results.
• Accountability: It becomes difficult to place blame when an autonomous system driven by AI violates the laws of war or causes collateral harm.
• Accountability discussions have been triggered by autonomous military weapons such as LAWS (Lethal Autonomous Weapon weapons).
• AI Decision-Making Bias: Some AI systems shown racial bias during the development of facial recognition technologies, incorrectly identifying members of particular ethnic groups.
  
  

The Way Ahead

• AI has the ability to completely transform defense capabilities, but integrating it into military operations is difficult.
• To overcome these obstacles and guarantee that AI in defense is applied sensibly and without endangering security, strict ethical standards, global collaboration, strong technological protections, and accountability frameworks are needed.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements

1. By combining AI with geospatial analysis, it is possible to detect illicit or suspect activity by extracting crucial knowledge from equipment such as radars and automatic identification systems.
2. AI-powered drones and robots for border patrols increase surveillance coverage and reduce the need for human intervention in dangerous situations.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

Ans: c

Explanation

By combining AI with geospatial analysis, it is possible to detect illicit or suspect activity by extracting crucial knowledge from equipment such as radars and automatic identification systems.
AI-powered drones and robots for border patrols increase surveillance coverage and reduce the need for human intervention in dangerous situations.

Mains Model Questions Q. Without thorough testing, deploying emerging technology like AI-enabled weaponry endangers both military personnel and civilians. Do you concur? Provide evidence to support your statement.

Introduction:

The ability of machines to perform tasks that have traditionally needed human intelligence is referred to as artificial intelligence. It encompasses technologies such as neural networks, self-algorithms, big data, pattern recognition, and machine learning. Deep learning, data analytics, and cloud computing-driven AI has the ability to transform the maritime battlefield and spark a revolution in Indian military affairs.

Body:

Advantages of AI-powered weapons:

• The military’s supply chain and logistics management might greatly benefit from AI-backed technologies that boost productivity, cut waste, and lower overall expenses.
• Cyber-operations: In order to safeguard the military’s own resources and communication channels as well as to target comparable resources of other forces, offensive and defensive cyber-war capabilities must be developed as cyberwar grows more rapid, complex, and hazardous.
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR): These “intelligent” unmanned devices could be employed for harbor defense, patrolling in hostile terrain and weather, and enabling the deploying force to scout the battlefield or conflict zone without endangering human soldiers.
  
  

Issues:

• Ethical conundrum: AI increases the potential of shared culpability among networked systems and jeopardizes the control, safety, and accountability of weapon systems, especially when weapon algorithms are imported.
• Because military doctrine is based on a conventional concept of combat, it presents a challenge for policymakers. For instance, it is currently unclear whether unmanned maritime systems are considered “ships” for the purposes of the UN convention on the laws of the sea;
• Limitation of capacity: there is still a significant lag in the development of vital technologies, such as weapon systems, aerial and undersea sensors, system engineering, and high-tech components.

Conclusion:
However, in order to reach their full potential, the Indian military must establish strong working ties with the country’s thriving private technology industry, particularly with start-ups engaged in innovative AI projects.

Article: 18^th October, 2024

Topic: “Samarth” (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector)

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Economy

Source: PIB

Context

• With a budget of Rs. 495 crore, the Union government extended the Samarth Scheme for two years (FY 2024–25 and 2025–26) in order to train 3 lakh people in skills connected to textiles.
  
  

Samarth Scheme

• Samarth is the Ministry of Textiles’ demand-driven, placement-focused umbrella skilling program.
• The scheme covers the whole textile value chain, with the exception of spinning and weaving, and attempts to promote and encourage the industry in producing jobs in organized textile and associated areas.
• To increase the productivity of current employees in the apparel and garmenting industries, the program also offers upskilling and reskilling initiatives.
• Achievement: 2.6 lakh (79.5%) of the 3.27 lakh (88.3% female) participants who received training under the scheme have found employment.

India’s Textile Industry

• Share in Domestic Trade: India’s domestic textile and apparel sector accounts for 12% of exports, 13% of industrial production, and 2.3% of the nation’s GDP.
  – Share in Global Trade: India accounts for 4% of the world’s textile and clothing trade.
  – Export: With a 5.4% market share in FY22, India ranked third in the world for textile exports.

• Raw Material Production: India ranks among the world’s top producers of jute and cotton. 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric is produced in India, which is also the world’s second-largest producer of silk.

– Employment Creation: The sector directly employs 45 million and 100 million people, making it the nation’s second-largest employer.

• Regions: India’s leading producers of textiles and apparel include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
• Additional initiatives in the textile industry include PM-MITRA, which aims to increase job creation by establishing 7 PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in brownfield and greenfield locations with top-notch infrastructure.

• The purpose of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles is to encourage the nation’s manufacturing of technical textile products, MMF fabrics, and clothing made of manmade fiber (MMF).

• The Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) was established in 2016 to offer credit-linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) in order to fulfill the goals of creating jobs and fostering exports through “Make in India” with “Zero effect and Zero defect” in manufacturing.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding SAMARTH Scheme

1. It is a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive designed to give people with disabilities the chance to become independent.
2. The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises launched it.

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

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

Ans: a

Explanation

In honor of International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises introduced it. It is a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women to give them the chance to pursue self-employment prospects and become independent and self-sufficient. Aspiring and current female entrepreneurs will be eligible for a number of perks under this program, such as 20% of seats in free skill development programs designated for women.

Mains Model Questions Q. Analyze the factor for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India. (UPSC PYQ 2013)

Introduction:

India was the world’s third-largest exporter of raw cotton in 2022, making up around 10.2% of total exports. According to the COCPC Report, India is expected to export 4 million bales of cotton overall in 2021–2022. The cotton textile sector in India is extremely fragmented, with several small-scale businesses dispersed throughout the nation.

Body:

Some of the major causes of the industry’s decentralized structure:

• Historical Legacy: India’s cotton textile sector has a lengthy history that dates back thousands of years. Handloom weaving has always been a decentralized industry, with small workshops and houses across the nation practicing the craft. For instance, Varanasi’s handloom weaving sector.
• Availability of Raw Materials: The vast and varied cotton-growing region of India makes it simple to obtain raw materials for the manufacturing of textiles. This has made it possible for small-scale textile businesses to flourish across the nation. For example India’s cotton-growing states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Punjab make it simple to obtain raw materials for the manufacture of textiles.
• Cheap Labor: Another important contributing element to the decentralized structure of the cotton textile industry is the availability of inexpensive labor. Small-scale businesses can function profitably because labor-intensive processes like spinning, weaving, and dying can be completed with comparatively little capital expenditure. For example The knitwear business in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupur city is well-known and employs a sizable workforce.
• Government Policies: To support small-scale enterprises, such as the cotton textile sector, the Indian government has put policies into place. As a result, numerous small-scale units have been established around the nation. For instance, the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) offers financial aid and subsidies for textile plants’ modernization and technological advancements.
• Market Dynamics: The Indian textile industry is extremely fragmented, with several small businesses serving various market niches. Small businesses now have the chance to prosper in specialized market niches thanks to this. For example The Gujarati city of Surat is well-known for its synthetic textile sector, whereas the Rajasthani city of Bhilwara is well-known for its handloom textile manufacturing.

Conclusion: The availability of raw resources, the minimal capital investment needed, and the popularity of traditional textile techniques all have an impact on the decentralization of India’s cotton textile sector. poses difficulties including insufficient infrastructure and a lack of economies of scale.

Article: 18^th October, 2024

Topic: Marine Heat waves

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Environment

Source: Indian Express

Context

• Researchers discovered that ocean currents may be the origin of Marine Heat Waves (MHWs), which are largely unreported in deep waters.
• But global warming is also having an effect on them.
  About
• Global warming has increased the frequency and intensity of MHWs in recent years, but the current study shows that this phenomenon is seen well below the surface.
• Since many fish species and plankton live in the twilight zone, extreme temperature fluctuations are also a cause for concern.
• There is still some visibility in the ocean’s twilight zone, which is between 200 and 1,000 meters.
• Small fish eat planktons, which are at the base of the oceanic food chain.
  
  
• What are Marine Heat Waves?
• It happens when the sea surface temperature in a specific area of the ocean rises by three or four degrees Celsius over the mean temperature for a minimum of five days. Weeks, months, or even years may pass between MHWs.
• They are characterized by variations from the typical temperatures for the area and season, and they can happen in either the summer or the winter.
  
  

Reasons for MHWs

• Climate Change: Heat waves become more common and powerful as ocean temperatures rise in tandem with atmospheric temperatures.
• Ocean Currents: Local temperatures are influenced by variations in ocean currents. Sea surface temperatures may rise, for instance, if warm water is brought to a particular area.
• Ocean temperatures are drastically changed by El Niño and La Niña events.
• While La Niña can have complicated impacts, occasionally resulting in colder temperatures in some areas, El Niño usually causes warmer ocean conditions, which can cause MHWs.
• Local Environmental Changes: Human activities that affect local ecosystems and raise temperatures include pollution, overfishing, and coastal development.
  
  

Marine Heat Waves’ Effects

• Deaths of Several Marine Species: In the summer of 2010 and 2011, MHWs around the Western Australian coast resulted in some “devastating” fish fatalities.
• Destruction of kelp forests: Many marine animals rely on kelps for food and habitat, and they often grow in cooler seas. MHWs alter the coastal ecology and cause its devastation.
• Distribution of Species: Many marine species move to cooler seas, which has an impact on local fisheries and ecosystems.
• Effect on Fisheries: Fish populations are impacted by altered species distributions and health, which has an effect on both commercial and recreational fishing.
• Economic Repercussions: The diminishing health of marine ecosystems and changes in fish availability have a negative impact on the fishing industry, tourism, and coastal economies.
  
  

The Way Ahead

• Climate Action: It’s critical to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
  – Climate change and its effects on marine ecosystems can be lessened by switching to renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.
• Enhanced Monitoring: We can learn more about MHWs by investing in ocean monitoring equipment.
• Research and Modeling: It’s critical to support studies on the origins and effects of MHWs.
• Community Involvement: Promoting stewardship of marine resources can be achieved by including local communities in conservation and management initiatives.
• Support for Vulnerable Communities: Communities that depend on marine resources for their livelihoods can benefit from aid in adapting to shifting environmental conditions.
• Innovative Solutions: Investigating cutting-edge techniques and technologies, such seaweed farming and aquaculture, can help reduce the effects of MHWs while supplying sustainable food sources.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Marine Heat Waves

1. They are brought on by the oceans’ rising heat content, particularly in their higher layers.
2. Compared to the Western Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal has seen more MHWs over time.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

Ans: a

Explanation

An increase in ocean heat, particularly in the higher layers, is what causes marineheat waves. They are among the main effects of human-caused global warming on a global scale.
Between 1982 and 2018, the number of MHWs in the west Indian Ocean rose by about 1.5 incidents every ten years. In the same time frame, the number of incidents in the north Bay of Bengal increased by about 0.5 events every ten years.

Mains Model Questions Q. What are “Marine heatwaves”? Discuss about the causes of these waves and their effects on the environment.

Introduction:

A consistent region of exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures that lasts for several days to several months is commonly referred to as a marine heat wave. When sea temperatures are consistently higher than average, it is known as a marine heatwave. Over the past ten years, MHWs have been seen in all of the main ocean basins. Marine ecosystems have suffered greatly as a result of these heat waves. Predicting the future evolution of marine systems and the products and services they offer requires significant advancements in our knowledge of past and future changes in marine heat waves and the threats they pose to marine ecosystems.

Body:

Why do heatwaves occur in the ocean?

• Ocean currents, which can accumulate warm water patches and air-sea heat flux, or warming through the ocean surface from the atmosphere, are the most frequent cause of marine heat waves.
• Normally, sunlight heats the ocean’s surface as it travels through the atmosphere. This warm water doesn’t mix with the colder seas below when the breezes are weak. Marine heat waves are caused by it sitting on top and continuing to heat up.
• According to a recent UN assessment, the world’s oceans’ surface temperatures are rising at a startling rate, resulting in marine “heatwaves” and accelerating sea levels that endanger fishing economies.
  
  

Effects of increasing maritime heatwaves on the environment:

• By promoting some species and repressing others, marine heat waves have an impact on the structure of ecosystems. For instance, fish communities in Western Australia shifted from kelp forests to seaweed turfs following the 2011 maritime heatwave, becoming far more “tropical” in nature than before.
• Certain species’ habitat ranges can be altered by marine heatwaves. For example, the spiny sea urchin off the southeast coast of Australia has been moving southward into Tasmania at the expense of the kelp forests it feeds on. A marine heatwave’s warm seas can also lead rogue creatures to venture far outside their typical habitat.
• Due to their effects on aquaculture and fisheries, marine heatwaves can result in financial losses.
  Marine heatwaves can have a significant impact on biodiversity. Northern Australian marine heatwaves in 2016 led to severe bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Hazardous algal blooms and marine heat waves are related. There was also some proof that marine creatures were getting poisoned from eating tainted seafood and other items.

Conclusion: According to satellite studies, the frequency of marine heatwaves has doubled between 1982 and 2016, and they have also gotten longer, more powerful, and more widespread. In addition to the marine heat waves, the Indian Ocean’s temperature, sea level, and acidity are rising while its oxygen content is falling. The Indian Ocean has been unique in that its surface generation of oxygen is rather significant, but its subsurface oxygen content is relatively low.