WILL THE MONSOON BE SAVED BY THE INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE?

GS Paper-I

Indian Geography: The Monsoon

 

Despite the probability of an El Nino event, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates a typical monsoon.

What are El Nino and the monsoon?

Factors That Affect the Monsoon

El Nino and La Nina: La Nina can strengthen the monsoons, while El Nino can make them weaker.

Although a dateline or Central Pacific El Nino is thought to have a greater detrimental effect on the monsoon, the 2005 El Nino was an exception.

The east-west anomaly trend in the tropical Atlantic Ocean is known as the “Atlantic Nino.” It affects the monsoon as well.

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can either strengthen or diminish the monsoon depending on its strength.

Sea Surface Temperatures: The monsoon can be strengthened or weakened depending on the sea surface temperature.

Changes in atmospheric pressure patterns can have an impact on the circulation of the monsoon and the timing of rainfall.

Greater differences in land and sea temperatures can have an impact on the strength and spread of the monsoon.

Himalayan Mountain Range: The Himalayas’ presence might affect the Indian subcontinent’s monsoon winds and rainfall patterns.

Topography: Local wind patterns and rainfall distribution can be influenced by the shape and height of landforms.

Tropical Cyclones: The presence and path of tropical cyclones, particularly in coastal areas, can affect monsoon rainfall.

Monsoon dynamics may be impacted by changes in global climate patterns, such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).

Local factors: The regional monsoon conditions can also be affected by local factors as vegetation, soil moisture, and land use changes.

  • Monsoon: A seasonal wind system that reverses direction and provides heavy rain, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian summer monsoon affects a wide area that spans 25 nations and extends 18,000 kilometres (one way) from east to west and 6,000 kilometres (the other way) from south to north.
  • El Nino: A climate phenomenon that causes the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean to experience sea surface temperatures that are warmer than normal. El Nino can have a significant impact on global weather patterns.

Potential influences on the monsoon rains include:

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is what, exactly?

Impact on the Monsoon of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) Phase Example

Over the Indian subcontinent, a positive IOD in 1997 reduced the effects of El Nino and increased monsoon rainfall, which was above average.

A negative IOD reduces the amount of rain that falls during the monsoon over the Indian subcontinent in 2019. This was especially true during the first month of the monsoon season.

Minimal or no impact of a neutral IOD on the monsoon: A neutral IOD does not have a big impact on the monsoon and lets other elements to take centre stage.

IOD is a climate phenomenon in the Indian Ocean that is characterised by changes in air pressure and sea surface temperatures between its eastern and western regions. The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean shares characteristics with the IOD, however on a smaller scale.

How the monsoon may be impacted by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD):

Every year in April, the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) and the IMD make predictions regarding the monsoon based on five factors.

1) Conditions between December of the previous year and January of the current year for the North Atlantic and North Pacific’s gradient in sea surface temperature (SST).

2) SST for the south Indian Ocean in equatorial latitudes (conditions in February and March of the current year)

3) East Asia’s Mean Sea Level Pressure (conditions in February and March of this year)

4) The temperature of the surface air across northwest Europe in January of the current year

5) The equatorial Pacific Ocean’s warm water volume (conditions in February and March of the current year)

What are the drawbacks of El Nino and IOD forecasting?

  • At this time, forecasting models cannot reliably predict the occurrence and behaviour of the IOD and the Atlantic Nino. As a result, it is unclear exactly how they affect the monsoon patterns in a given season.
  • Models have difficulty accurately predicting the location and severity of warming during the early stages of El Nino episodes.

 

Links for Prelims: (UPSC 2017)

Which of the following claims about the “Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD),” which is occasionally referenced in the news while forecasting the Indian monsoon, is true?

  1. The tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean have different sea surface temperatures, which is what defines the IOD phenomena.
  2. El Nino’s effect on the monsoon can be influenced by an IOD phenomena.

Using the code below, choose the right response:

(a) 1 alone

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 2 together

None of 1 or 2 (d)

Ans: 2

Sources: IE, TOI

 

 

PROBLEMS WITH INDIA’S BIOECONOMY

GS Paper-III

Curriculum: Biotechnology

India’s bioeconomy is growing, but not at the rate that would be ideal in terms of finance and policy support.

The term “bioeconomy” refers to the economic activity that uses biomass and biotechnology to produce commodities, services, or energy.

The bioeconomy of India

  • The DBT’s ‘Bioeconomy research 2022’ research estimates that India’s bioeconomy currently contributes 2.6% to GDP and will do so by 2030, when it will account for 5% of GDP.
  • To achieve this ambitious growth of $220 billion in eight years, strong investment and legislative assistance are necessary.

Concerns:

  • The DBT’s recent policies and funding do not indicate any sincere efforts to improve this industry.
  • As an example

o The DBT now receives barely 0.0001% of India’s GDP in budgetary funding.

o Policies that encourage Indian scientists to take calculated risks in order to build an environment conducive to innovation and industrial action are also lacking.

o There is also a misalignment of economic objectives and biotechnology policies.

Case Study: Issues with Genetically Engineered (GE) Insect Guidelines

  • Ambiguity in goals

o The recommendations stress that GE insects provide applications in a variety of industries (such as crop management, animal health, and others), raising the standard of living by

Reducing the burden of sickness,

Promoting food safety and

preserving the natural world.

The guidelines do not, however, outline the uses that GE insects may be approved for in India.

o The guidelines only outline regulatory practises for insect-related R&D that has some positive uses.

  • Researchers’ uncertainty

o The recommendations only apply to research; they do not apply to deployment or restricted testing.

o Following the creation and testing of the insects in the lab, researchers may use them in experiments with the permission of the MoEFCC’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

o Unlike GM foods, GE insects cannot be recalled after they have been released and are not subject to individual consumer preference.

  • Ambiguity of ambit

o The recommendations provide standard operating procedures for crop pests, GE mosquitoes, and beneficial insects; however, it is unclear what is meant by the term “beneficial” in the context of GE insects.

o Funders and scientists will be less likely to support this research due to the lack of clarity.

Very soon:

  • More work needs to be done to bring in private money for biotechnology R&D.

If biotechnology is to have any meaningful impact on the economy, policies need to be significantly changed.

  • Considering the significance of biotechnology to any pandemic preparedness efforts, both of the aforementioned are crucial.

 

Limitations Description Example

Limited ability to anticipate how people will react to drugs Because of variations in biological processes, genetics, and other factors, animals may react to medications differently than people. Tragically, the medicine thalidomide did not have the same effects on animals as it did on people, causing catastrophic birth deformities.

Animal welfare and ethical concerns Animal testing uses sentient beings, which raises ethical questions about the pain and harm it causes to animals. This covers practises include euthanasia, injections, and forced feeding. The Draize test, which includes putting things in animals’ eyes, has drawn criticism for severely inflicting pain and suffering.

The high failure rate of translating to human efficacy Many medications succeed in animal research but fall short in human clinical trials, wasting money and perhaps endangering test subjects. According to a study that was published in the British Medical Journal, for instance, over 90% of medications that are tested on animals do not convert into treatments that are both safe and effective for humans.

Insufficient representation of human diversity When it comes to age, sex, genetic differences, and underlying health issues, testing animals may not fully reflect the diversity of human populations. A good illustration of the need for more precise models is the medication Ximelagatran, which showed promise in animal research but led to liver damage in people.

Regulation and legal issues The use of animals in testing is governed by legal and ethical issues, which can cause delays, higher expenses, and difficulties in gaining permissions. Animal testing on humans for cosmetics has been outlawed by the European Union.

Origin: TH

 

CLINICAL TRIAL REGULATIONS AND NEW DRUGS (2023)

GS-IV AND GS-II

Curriculum: Ethics Application, Government Policies, and Related Topics

The New pharmaceuticals and Clinical Trial Rules (2023) were recently amended by the Indian government to allow for the use of non-animal and human-relevant methodologies for testing the efficacy and safety of new pharmaceuticals.

  • The 2019 Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules will be modified.

Alternative approaches including organs-on-chip, 3D organoids, and 3D bioprinters have been proposed.

There are restrictions on using animals for drug testing:

 

Ethical Problems in Using Animals for Drug Testing:

Ethics Conundrum Description

Animal Suffering: The fact that many animal experiments include inflicting pain, misery, or harm on the animals raises questions regarding their wellbeing and the morality of doing so.

Animal Rights and Moral Status: The moral standing and rights of animals are at the focus of the discussion. While some contend that animals have inherent value and shouldn’t be used in experiments, others are of the opinion that doing so is beneficial to humans.

Balancing possible Benefits to Human Health and Well-Being Against Harm to Animals: The challenge emerges when weighing the possible benefits to human health and well-being. Determining whether the advantages are great enough to warrant using animals in investigations is a task for ethical considerations.

Animals lack the agency or capacity to willingly participate in tests, which raises ethical concerns about putting them to testing without their consent. This is in contrast to human clinical trials, in which participants can give informed consent.

Other nations’ initiatives:

  • The European Union issued a resolution in 2021 outlining an action plan to speed up the transition to technologies that don’t use animals for testing, research, or education. In December 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 was approved in the United States, enabling researchers to evaluate the efficacy and safety of brand-new medications using these devices.
  • Another bill, titled “Vitalization of Development, Dissemination, and Use of Alternatives to Animal Testing Methods,” was submitted in South Korea in 2022.
  • Canada revised the Environmental Protection Act in June 2023 to eliminate, scale back, or otherwise improve the use of vertebrate animals in toxicity testing.

Conclusion:

Thus, using non-animal procedures is crucial for avoiding these moral conundrums. However, India encounters difficulties with regard to multidisciplinary knowledge and the accessibility of resources for this kind of research. In India, initiatives are being made to set up centres of excellence and create an ecosystem from top to bottom to support the adoption of these new technologies.

Sources: BBC, TH

 

INCLUSION OF MINORITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Enrichment for Mains Content

Affirmative action in higher education has been abolished following a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate racial discrimination policies in college admissions. Affirmative action is a term used to describe admissions practises that seek to boost the number of minority students—like Black and Hispanic students—on college campuses.

In order to encourage diversity and improve the educational experience, many colleges and universities take into account race as part of a comprehensive approach to admissions, along with other considerations like grades and extracurricular activities.

The US Supreme Court narrowly prioritised individual rights and equal treatment over factors of historical adversity or cultural variety as the basis for such a ruling.

Impact: This decision will force universities to consider fresh approaches to ensuring diversity in their student bodies. Indian students would also be impacted.

Application: The case can be used to refute arguments in favour of affirmative action programmes in India.

Origin: TH

 

RAPID CURRENT AFFAIRS

 

WHITE ROOF PAINTING

For Mains Content

Women’s health and productivity are being badly impacted by the extreme heat in Indian slums. The Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), a nonprofit organisation, has proposed a straightforward remedy to this problem: painting rooftops with white solar-reflective paint. Women, children, and the elderly benefit from the reflective paint’s reduction of heat infiltration into the homes. It brings down the temperature inside, promoting greater health, longer working hours, and more conducive learning environments.

Application: The example can be utilised in a paper on social justice, governance, or the environment.

Source: BBC

 

PINTER AWARD, PEN

Preliminary

The PEN Pinter Prize 2023 has been given to British children’s author and performance poet Michael Rosen.

  • A writer from the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth who is dedicated to the honest portrayal of the truth about modern life is awarded the prize.

Work of Michael Rosen

  • Rosen is renowned for producing poetry that is easy for kids to understand, and many of his subjects deal with social, political, and ethical issues.
  • He has authored more than 140 books and promoted a writing style that captures children’s real-world experiences and supports their creative thinking.

PEN Pinter Prize information

The PEN Pinter Prize, a prominent prize presented to a writer who demonstrates a “fierce intellectual determination (to) define the real truth of our lives and our societies,” is named in honour of and in memory of English writer Harold Pinter.

  • Since its inception in 2009, the PEN Pinter Prize has been awarded to authors such Lemn Sissay (2019), Salman Rushdie (2014), and Hanif Kureishi (2010).

Origin: IE

 

IMPACT OF ARMED VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

Preliminary Facts

The United Nations (UN) cited steps taken by the Indian government to better protect children in its decision to remove India from its yearly list of nations afflicted by armed conflict.

  • India was previously on the list as a result of reports that separatist militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir recruited young boys and that Indian security forces imprisoned young boys.

More information

  • According to the UN Secretary-General’s report, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Yemen had the most child abuse incidents.

Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Myanmar all saw the worst worsening of the situation.

  • The research also identified an increase in attacks on hospitals and schools, as well as a notable increase in armed forces and other groups using schools for military purposes.

The report emphasised the need for expanded measures to protect children affected by armed conflict and noted the persistent difficulties in monitoring and verifying violations, including access restrictions and underreporting.

Source: DTE

 

PLANS TO ENCOURAGE THE WISE USE OF FERTILISERS

Preliminary Facts

A special package of cutting-edge programmes for farmers was authorised by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which is led by the prime minister.

Schemes Objectives/announcements

The PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PMPRANAM), which was announced in the Budget for 2023–24, will be implemented to encourage States and UTs to encourage the use of alternative fertilisers and judicious amounts of chemical fertilisers.

Promote Organic Fertilisers from Gobardhan Plants under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) programme.

To address the sulphur deficit of the soil and reduce input costs for the farmers, sulphur-coated urea (Urea Gold) has been introduced.

Farm inputs are offered as a one-stop shop for all of the needs of farmers at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) for their convenience. In the nation, there are already almost one lakh PMKSKs.

Significance:

  • The authorised programmes will aid in the wise application of chemical fertilisers, lowering the farmers’ input costs for farming.
  • The programmes will increase farmers’ incomes, support natural/organic farming, revive soil productivity, and guarantee food security.

Source: PIB

 

HALOGENS WITH SHORT LIVES

Preliminary Facts

A recent study shows that oceans release short-lived halogens like chlorine, bromine, and iodine, which are essential for cooling the globe.

  • By 2100, it is anticipated that these halogens will contribute 18-31% of cooling, up from their current contribution of 8–10%.

Concerning short-lived halogens:

Chlorine, bromine, and iodine compounds are referred to as short-lived halogens because they typically last fewer than six months in the atmosphere. Through their influence on cooling and warming effects, these halogens contribute to the Earth’s climate system.

Source: DTE

 

RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURE OF ANTIBIOTICS CERTIFICATE

Preliminary Facts

An innovative certification programme (first of its type) has been introduced in India to encourage ethical antibiotic manufacture.

Regarding the Plan:

  • Created by the AMR Industry Alliance, one of the largest private sector coalitions that offers long-term solutions to antimicrobial resistance, and the British Standards Institute (BSI), a corporation that specialises in business improvement and standards.
  • Objective: Reduce the amount of antibiotic residues released into waterways through industrial waste, therefore addressing environmental concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • Process:

o The certification procedure entails independent verification to keep an eye on environmental standards all through the manufacturing process.

o To be certified, manufacturers must show they have efficient wastewater treatment and environmental management systems.

o To stop the establishment of AMR in the environment, the concentration of antibiotics in waste streams must be below a predetermined level.

  • Duration: The certification is good for three years, and annual inspections are conducted to guarantee continued compliance.

Antibiotic Manufacturing Standards were developed by The AMR Industry Alliance and BSI in 2022, and certification was introduced to ensure their adoption. The programme is a part of initiatives to support ethical and sustainable medicine manufacture while reducing antibiotic manufacturing’s negative environmental effects.

Source: DTE

 

ALGAE BLOOM AND SEA LIONS

Preliminary Facts

Context: Off the coast of California, US, a recent algae bloom known as red tide has infected and killed an undetermined number of sea lions and dolphins.

(IUCN Status: Endangered) Sea lions

  • They are pinnipeds with lengthy fore flippers, external ear flaps, the capacity to walk on all fours, short and thick hair, and a large chest and belly.
  • With the exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean, their distribution encompasses subarctic to tropical waters throughout the world’s oceans in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Red tides and algal bloom:

Algae overgrowth that results in a water body being discoloured is referred to as a “algal bloom.”

o Human-caused factors like climate change and an overabundance of nitrates washed out to sea can cause blooms to multiply.

Red tides are caused by the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax and cause saltwater to turn red.

Impact:

  • Algal blooms result in the formation of the neurotoxic domoic acid, which kills fish and other aquatic life.
  • The toxin is ingested by little fish, who then carry it up the food chain. If humans don’t consume sick shellfish, they won’t be harmed.

Source: TH