August 11

TOPICS COVERED

1. SEBI chief had stake in funds tied to Adani report: Hindenburg Research
2. Neelakurinji that blooms once in 12 years included in Red List of threatened species (GS Paper-III: Environment)
3. Veteran IAS officer T.V. Somanathan appointed next Cabinet Secretary (GS Paper-II: Bureaucracy)
4. Glacial lakes multiply in Himachal and Tibet, poses threat to lives and infra downstream (GS Paper-III: Environment)
5. Through the channel of fear
6. Will Saudi’s new law aid migrant workers?
7. How will Sheikh Hasina’s exit impact India?
8. Why are India’s ‘Gaganyatris’ going to the ISS?
9. The mainstream Democrat
10. Wrestler emeritus
11. The banker who became ruler
12. Record temperatures in Great Barrier Reef seen in last decade
13. 1Hidden dangers of irrational use of antibiotics on microbiome
14. New mpox clade Ib disproportionately affects children
15. Directional swimming
16. FM urges banks to raise small sums from many savers
17. New reporting norms for banks will bolster informed policy making: Sitharaman

 

SEBI chief had stake in funds tied to Adani report: Hindenburg Research (11 August)

• About 18 months after Hindenburg Research raised concerns about misconduct and stock price manipulation at the Adani group, they made new allegations.
• The U.S.-based short seller accused the Chairperson of India's stock market regulator, SEBI, of being involved in the Adani money siphoning scandal.
• Hindenburg Research claimed that SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had stakes in offshore entities in Bermuda and Mauritius.
• They cited documents from a whistleblower, suggesting that Mr. Buch had arranged to be the sole person authorized to manage accounts in a Mauritius fund weeks before Madhabi Puri Buch's appointment as a SEBI member in 2017.

Account statement

• Hindenburg Research cited an account statement from February 26, 2018, which they alleged was sent to SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch’s private email account.
• The statement showed that their stake in a fund called “GDOF Cell 90 (IPEplus Fund 1)” was valued at over $872,000.
• They alleged that Buch had sent a request from this email account to redeem all units in the GDOF fund.
• Hindenburg claimed that GDOF Cell 90 was part of a complex structure used by Vinod Adani, the brother of Gautam Adani.
• The report connected these allegations to the Supreme Court’s finding that SEBI had failed to investigate the funding of Adani’s offshore shareholders.
• Hindenburg noted that it was not surprising SEBI might avoid investigating these links, given that it could lead to its own chairperson.

Neelakurinji that blooms once in 12 years included in Red List of threatened species (11 August)

• The Neelakurinji shrub, which blooms once every 12 years, is now included on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
• This is the first global assessment for this species, confirming its status as "Vulnerable" under the IUCN criteria.
• The flower's mass blooming is a significant tourist attraction, with recent blooms reported in Peerumade, Idukki.
• The assessment was done by researchers from the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation and reviewed by an expert from the Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group.
• The species was considered threatened before, but it hadn't been evaluated against global standards until now.
• Challenges in its assessment included its limited distribution, rare blooming cycle, and a lack of ecological studies.
• Scientists studying the ecology and conservation of Western Ghats species were involved in the Global Red List assessment for Neelakurinji.
• Strobilanthes kunthiana, also known as Neelakurinji, is an endemic shrub that grows up to 3 meters tall and is found only in high-altitude shola grasslands in five mountain landscapes of southwest India at elevations between 1,340–2,600 meters.
• Neelakurinji is famous for its massive blooming, which occurs every 12 years, giving the mountain grasslands a purplish-blue color. This has been documented since 1832.
• The shrub is semelparous, meaning it blooms and fruits only once at the end of its life cycle.
• Neelakurinji is mainly threatened by habitat loss due to the conversion of montane grasslands for tea and softwood plantations, as well as urbanization.
• Approximately 40% of its habitat has already been lost, and the remaining areas are under threat from invasive species like eucalyptus and black wattle, infrastructure development, afforestation programs, and climate change.
• Due to these threats, the species has been assessed as Vulnerable (A2c) on the IUCN Red List.

 

Veteran IAS officer T.V. Somanathan appointed next Cabinet Secretary (11 August)

• The Union government announced IAS officer T.V. Somanathan as the Cabinet Secretary-designate by appointing him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat.
• He will take over as Cabinet Secretary on August 30, after the current Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, completes his extended tenure.
• T.V. Somanathan is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre and previously served as Finance Secretary.
• He has been moved from the Finance Ministry to the Cabinet Secretariat for two years.
• Somanathan is known as a low-profile, old-style bureaucrat with a Ph.D. in economics and extensive experience in key positions both at the State and Central levels.
• He was considered the natural choice for the Cabinet Secretary position, which is a top bureaucratic role in the Central administration.
• Somanathan has worked in the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance.
• His roles included being the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes and leading the Chennai Metro Rail project, where he achieved financial closure for the project.
• Dr. Somanathan began his career in civil service and joined the World Bank in Washington in 1996 through the Young Professionals Program as a Financial Economist.
• By 2000, he had become one of the World Bank’s youngest Sector Managers, working with the Budget Policy Group.
• He returned to the World Bank as a Director from 2011 to 2015.
• Dr. Somanathan ranked second in the 1987 IAS batch and is also a qualified chartered accountant, cost accountant, and company secretary.
• He has experience in preparing Budgets at both the State and Central levels.
• He is a prolific writer, having published many papers and articles on economics, and is the author of two books and contributors to other works.
• Milan Vaishnav, Director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, praised Dr. Somanathan as a brilliant officer and scholar with notable contributions to civil services and public policy.
• Dr. Somanathan played a crucial role in steering the economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when the Union government’s revenues were severely impacted.
• He was appointed as the Expenditure Secretary in December 2019 and implemented expenditure controls on various Ministries and departments during the pandemic.
• He was instrumental in executing key government schemes like ‘PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ both of which were launched during the pandemic.
• Due to his strong background in economics and expertise in public finance and policy, he was considered a frontrunner to succeed Shaktikanta Das as RBI Governor and was also seen as a potential Cabinet Secretary in Delhi.
• A serving Secretary described Dr. Somanathan as a straightforward and professional bureaucrat who focuses on his job and avoids groupism or politicking.

 

 

Glacial lakes multiply in Himachal and Tibet, poses threat to lives and infra downstream (11 August)

• Glacier sizes in Himachal Pradesh and the Trans Himalayan Region of Tibet are shrinking due to changing weather patterns, leading to a rise in moraine-dammed lakes.
• The number of glacial lakes in the Satluj river catchment area has almost doubled from 562 in 2019 to 1,048 in 2023, as shown by satellite data from a study by the Centre on Climate Change at HIMCOSTE.
• The study covered the Satluj basin from upstream of Jhakri to Mansarover Lake in Tibet, where the river originates.
• Of the 1,048 lakes mapped in 2023, 900 are small, each covering an area of less than five hectares, while 89 lakes are between 5 to 10 hectares, and 59 lakes are over 10 hectares in size.
• The increase in smaller lakes indicates more significant climate warming effects in the higher Himalayan region, likely due to rapid glacier melting and reduced snowfall in winter.
• The number of lakes is higher in the Upper Satluj basin (Tibetan Himalayan Region) compared to the Spiti and Lower Satluj basins, suggesting that the Upper Satluj basin is more vulnerable to glacial lake formations.
• The faster rise in average temperature at higher altitudes contributes to this increased formation of lakes in the upper region, indicating a stronger climate change impact there.

Downstream danger

• A study using multi-spectral satellite images suggests that the increase in glacial lakes in Himachal Pradesh’s river basins could be disastrous if these lakes burst.
• Climate change has affected the health of glaciers across the Himalayan region, leading to a reduction in the cryospheric cover (frozen water) over the Himalayan terrain.
• One consequence of this is the formation of high-altitude glacial lakes.
• The number of these lakes has grown over the years, and they have become unstable due to the increase in water volume or the calving (breaking off) of nearby glaciers.
• These unstable lakes could potentially burst, and depending on the water volume, speed, and spread of the outburst, they could threaten downstream habitations and infrastructure.

Glacial lakes multiply The phrase "Glacial lakes multiply" refers to the increasing number of lakes formed by melting glaciers. As global temperatures rise, glaciers around the world are retreating and melting at an accelerated pace. This melting leads to the formation of new lakes and the expansion of existing ones. Glacial Melt and Lake Formation: As glaciers melt, the meltwater accumulates in depressions or valleys left behind by the glacier. Over time, these depressions fill up to form glacial lakes. This process is observed in many glaciated regions, including the Himalayas, the Andes, and the Arctic. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) explains that "glacial lakes form when meltwater from glaciers accumulates in depressions or valleys. These lakes can be temporary or long-lasting depending on the rate of glacier melt and local topography"

 

 

Will Saudi’s new law aid migrant workers? (11 August)

Does the upcoming migrant domestic workers law address the gaps in protection benefits? What are some of the features? What is the Kafala system and how does it marginalise workers further? How many Indians work in Saudi Arabia? What are some of the problems they face?

• Saudi Arabia is one of the largest employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in the world.
• In September 2024, Saudi Arabia will introduce a new law for domestic workers.
• The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain) collectively employ around 5.5 million migrant domestic workers.
• These countries exclude MDWs from general labor laws, with only four of them having specific laws for domestic workers.
• As of the first quarter of 2024, Saudi Arabia had 3,913,925 migrant domestic workers, comprising 2,732,344 males and 1,181,581 females.
• MDWs make up 25% of Saudi Arabia's total workforce.
• The exclusion of MDWs from labor laws means they lack protection, such as labor inspections, complaint mechanisms, and the Wages Protection System.
• The Kafala system ties workers' visas to their employers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
• The current and upcoming MDW laws in Saudi Arabia do not adequately address these protection gaps.
• Female MDWs often face severe abuse from employers and officials, with little access to justice.
• Saudi Arabia's regulations have not effectively addressed these issues, and the broader justice system is indifferent to the plight of MDWs.
• Saudi Arabia does not have a minimum wage, and mandatory referral wages are only set when agreed upon in bilateral agreements with workers' home countries.
• Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are often paid poorly, with no clear guidelines for overtime pay, despite being frequently overworked.
• MDWs are employed by individuals to perform services in their households.
• The combination of exclusion from labor laws and the control imposed by the Kafala system gives employers complete control over domestic workers.
• Saudi Arabia has 14 categories of domestic work, some of which require specialized skills beyond typical household tasks.
• According to official data, there are over 2 million workers categorized as "servants and house cleaners," with nearly 60% being female.
• The second-largest category is drivers, with 1,817,120 workers, almost all of whom are male.
• Saudi Arabia is unique among GCC states in that male domestic workers make up nearly 70% of the sector.

How does the Kafala system work?

• GCC citizens are wealthy and can afford machines designed to reduce domestic labor, but in patriarchal cultures, this hasn't reduced the reliance on women's labor at home.
• Even though women are active in the workforce, large families living together still require many unpaid services, which were once performed by women.
• With increased wealth, these tasks are now delegated to paid migrant domestic workers (MDWs), but their work is undervalued.
• Saudi Arabia has systems, like the Musaned recruitment platform, that are biased in favor of employers, leading to extreme exploitation of MDWs.
• The combination of the Kafala system and the exclusion of MDWs from labor laws creates a form of bonded labor, where employers often feel they have "bought" the worker.
• Recruitment costs for MDWs, excluding wages, range between $2,000 and $5,000, reinforcing the idea that the worker is "owned" by the employer.

New MDW Law:

• The new law introduces a maximum of 10 working hours per day and guarantees a weekly day off.
• Employers are prohibited from confiscating workers' identity documents.
• The law emphasizes workers' right to communication and allows them to terminate contracts without losing entitlements under certain conditions.
• Workers are entitled to compensation for unjust termination, one month of paid leave annually, and the employer must cover the cost of the annual ticket home.
• Saudi Arabia has introduced insurance for all new MDW contracts, with the cost included in recruitment fees.
• Starting July 2024, all new MDWs are included in the Wages Protection System (WPS), with plans to cover all existing MDWs by the end of 2025.

What are the persisting concerns?

• Saudi Arabia has a poor record of enforcing laws that protect migrant workers' rights, with issues like wage theft and labor exploitation being common.
• Employers are rarely held accountable, and female migrant domestic workers (MDWs) face additional challenges, such as not being able to leave their employer's household without permission.
• If MDWs leave without permission, they risk being reported as "absconding" (huroob), which can lead to severe consequences.
• Although the absconding system has been reformed to make it harder to file false charges, it can still be misused by abusive employers.
• The lack of labor inspections, limited access to communication, and language barriers make it hard for the state to monitor the impact of reforms and for workers to report violations.

Status of Indian MDWs:

• There are 2.65 million Indians in Saudi Arabia, making them the largest migrant population in the country.
• Although Saudi Arabia does not provide data by nationality, many Indian MDWs work as drivers and in other domestic roles.
• Indian MDWs must be recruited through the eMigrate system, with a minimum referral wage set at SAR 1,500 (₹33,400).
• Special rules for female Indian MDWs include a minimum age of 30 and a financial bank guarantee of $2,500 in favor of the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
• The work contract must be attested at an Indian mission in Saudi Arabia.
• Despite these regulations, many distressed workers report that consular support is often limited to repatriation, with little effort to help them access justice or secure their entitlements before deportation.
• The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are not adequately equipped to handle the needs of the large Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional organization that comprises six member states: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The GCC was established in 1981 with the primary aim of fostering economic, political, and military cooperation among its member countries. Purpose The GCC was formed to promote coordination, integration, and interconnection among member states in various fields including economy, security, and social policies. It also seeks to strengthen relations between these countries and to build strong ties with the broader international community.

 

How will Sheikh Hasina’s exit impact India? (11 August)

What was the state of ties between Delhi and Dhaka during Prime Minister Hasina’s reign? What were the main areas of cooperation between the two countries? How were things different in Begum Khaleda Zia’s term? Has India reached out to the new dispensation?

• Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after protests in Bangladesh escalated, leading to her ousting.
• India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has provided her shelter but is also engaging with the new regime that replaced her government.
• Sheikh Hasina's removal is a significant setback for India, as both countries made considerable progress in their relationship over the past decade and a half.
• There are concerns that this progress in areas like the economy, border security, defense, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties could be reversed.

Transformation During Sheikh Hasina’s Reign:

• Since returning to office in 2009, Sheikh Hasina prioritized strong ties with India.
• She launched a nationwide crackdown to shut down terror camps, fought against religious radicalization, and extradited over 20 wanted criminals and terrorists to India.
• Unlike her predecessor, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Hasina worked to reduce border tensions, particularly those caused by illegal immigration into India.
• Notable achievements during her tenure include several border patrolling agreements and the signing of the historic 2015 land boundary agreement with India.
• The Manmohan Singh and Modi governments in India provided Bangladesh with trade concessions and low-interest Lines of Credit to support Sheikh Hasina's efforts in transforming Bangladesh from a struggling economy to a developing country with strong human development indices.
• India and Bangladesh enhanced trade through improved connectivity, border markets (haats), and transportation links via rail, road, and rivers.
• This year, Sheikh Hasina and Modi even explored new defense cooperation.
• Despite Hasina’s government becoming more authoritarian, with actions like banning and arresting opposition leaders, tightening media controls, and targeting civil society groups, India continued to support her.
• In return, Hasina supported India on key issues, such as boycotting SAARC due to terrorism concerns from Pakistan and backing the Citizenship Amendment Act, which sparked protests in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh has become crucial to India’s regional connectivity plans to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific and is an important buyer of Indian energy.
• There are concerns that many agreements, including a recent power agreement with the Adani group, may now be reviewed under the new government.

Ties with the New Government:

• New Delhi is engaging with the new interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, and any future elected government.
• The Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new interim government.
• However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India is viewed with suspicion in Dhaka.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar mentioned in Parliament that Sheikh Hasina is in India "for the moment," indicating that India might prefer her to stay elsewhere until anti-Hasina sentiments in Bangladesh decrease.
• The situation could become complicated if the new Bangladeshi government demands her extradition.
• If elections in Bangladesh result in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) winning, it could be concerning for India, as the last time the BNP was in power (2001-2006), Bangladesh became a haven for anti-India separatist groups, and China and Pakistan increased their influence there.
• It is unclear if a new BNP government would be different from the past.
• Prime Minister Modi’s appeal for the safety of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh, along with the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs setting up a committee to ensure their safety, is seen as partisan in Dhaka and could complicate India-Bangladesh relations.
• The changes in Dhaka will likely affect Bangladesh's ties with other countries:

• The U.S. had a strained relationship with the Hasina government and was accused of contributing to her downfall. With the new government, U.S.-Bangladesh ties may improve.
• Bangladesh's ties with Pakistan were tense during Hasina's tenure, but that could change under the new government.
• Hasina had close ties with China, joining the Belt and Road Initiative and meeting President Xi Jinping. China will likely establish strong ties with the new government as well.

 

2024_08_11                   MAINS ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE   GS Paper II: International relations   Question: Evaluate the progress made in India-Bangladesh relations during Sheikh Hasina's tenure.       (250 Words/15 Marks)   Briefly introduce the answer with Sheikh Hasina's tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and its significance for India-Bangladesh relations. Then highlight major treaties and agreements signed during her tenure, such as the Land Boundary Agreement (2015) and cooperation on trade and connectivity. Further discuss improvements in economic ties, including trade growth, Indian investments in Bangladesh, and infrastructure projects like the Padma Bridge. Then mention collaborative efforts in addressing security concerns, including joint operations against terrorism and smuggling. Finally summarize the overall impact of Sheikh Hasina's leadership on strengthening India-Bangladesh relations and the recent political changes in Bangladesh as a challenges to the continuity of these achievements   ANSWER        During Sheikh Hasina's tenure as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the relationship between India and Bangladesh underwent significant transformation, marked by progress on various fronts. Her time in office, starting from 2009, was characterized by a proactive approach to deepening ties with India, which had a profound impact on the bilateral relationship.   Strengthening Security and Border Management:   One of the most notable aspects of Hasina's tenure was her commitment to enhancing security cooperation with India. She initiated a nationwide crackdown on terror camps in Bangladesh, which had been a longstanding concern for India. This effort led to the dismantling of several such camps and a campaign against religious radicalization. Furthermore, Sheikh Hasina extradited over 20 individuals accused of terrorism and other serious crimes to India, a move that significantly bolstered mutual trust between the two nations. In addition to counterterrorism efforts, Hasina worked on resolving border tensions, particularly those stemming from illegal immigration. The historic 2015 Land Boundary Agreement, which resolved long-standing border disputes, was a major milestone in this regard. Her administration also facilitated several border patrolling agreements, further strengthening border security.   Economic Cooperation and Connectivity:   Economically, Hasina's government played a crucial role in transforming Bangladesh from a "basket case" to a developing country with impressive human development indices. India supported this transformation through trade concessions and low-interest Lines of Credit, helping to foster economic growth in Bangladesh. The cooperation extended to enhancing trade through improved connectivity, including the establishment of border haats (local markets), and the development of rail, road, and river links between the two countries. Under her leadership, India and Bangladesh also explored new avenues of defense cooperation, reflecting a broadening of ties beyond traditional areas of collaboration. This multifaceted relationship was further solidified through joint efforts in the energy sector, with Bangladesh becoming a significant buyer of Indian energy, contributing to the regional connectivity plans of India in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Challenges and Criticisms:   However, Hasina's tenure was not without challenges. Her government faced criticism for becoming increasingly authoritarian, with crackdowns on the opposition, tighter media controls, and legal actions against civil society groups that criticized her. Despite these concerns, India remained a steadfast ally, supporting her on various international platforms, including her stance on boycotting SAARC due to terrorism from Pakistan and the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in India.             Thus, Sheikh Hasina's tenure saw a significant deepening of India-Bangladesh relations across multiple domains, including security, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity. Her efforts to align Bangladesh more closely with India's strategic interests resulted in a relationship that was mutually beneficial. However, the recent political changes in Bangladesh pose challenges to the continuity of these achievements, making the future of India-Bangladesh relations uncertain.

Why are India’s ‘Gaganyatris’ going to the ISS? (11 August)

What will they do on board the International Space Station? How will it help Gaganyaan mission?

• On August 2, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that two astronauts selected for India's first human spaceflight mission, ‘Gaganyaan,’ will train in the U.S. for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the ISS, and Group Captain Prashanth Nair will be his backup. Both have already started their training in the U.S.
• On June 22, 2023, during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden, a joint statement was issued mentioning a collaborative mission to the ISS in 2024.
• The two Indian astronauts, referred to as "Gaganyatris" by ISRO, are participating in this mission.
• ISRO stated that during the mission, the Gaganyatris will conduct scientific research, demonstrate technology, and participate in space outreach activities on board the ISS. The experience will benefit the Gaganyaan mission and enhance cooperation between ISRO and NASA in human spaceflight.
• On February 27, Prime Minister Modi announced the names of four astronaut candidates for the Gaganyaan mission: Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Angad Pratap.
• These astronauts have undergone training in India and Russia.
• According to the India-U.S. joint statement, NASA will provide advanced training to Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Nair at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
• ISRO’s "National Mission Assignment Board" selected Shukla and Nair for the joint mission, but their flight to the ISS still needs approval from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel.
• ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre has signed an agreement with Axiom Space, Inc. for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• The Ax-4 mission is the fourth crewed mission to the ISS organized by Axiom Space, a private company based in Houston.
• The mission's cost for India will be in the hundreds of crores of rupees.
• Axiom Space plans to operate the world’s first commercial space station and currently offers human spaceflight services.
• Either Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla or Group Captain Prashanth Nair will fly to the ISS with three others:
  • Peggy Whitson (U.S.) as mission commander
  • Sławosz Uznański (Poland) as mission specialist
  • Tibor Kapu (Hungary) as mission specialist.
• SpaceX will provide the launch vehicle, and the crew will be housed in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
• NASA has stated that the mission will last 14 days, and the mission is expected to fly no sooner than November. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath mentioned that the mission could happen sometime between mid to late next year.
• The main purpose of this joint mission is to give the Indian astronauts (‘Gaganyatris’) experience in organizing and conducting a spaceflight mission.
• If Shubhanshu Shukla flies to the ISS, he will be the mission pilot, giving him significant responsibilities during the mission.
• The two Gaganyatris will also conduct five different experiments on board the ISS, with some experiments originating in India and others being international collaborations.
• Regarding the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO has completed several key tests, including pad abort, high-altitude abort tests, and testing of the crew escape system.
• The LVM-3 launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission is nearly ready to carry humans, and the crew module is under development.
• ISRO is working on the capsule's Environmental Control and Life Support System and the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System.
• The next milestones for Gaganyaan include a series of uncrewed suborbital and orbital test flights, with the final one expected in mid-2025, though this date could change.

The mainstream Democrat (11 August)

If Kamala Harris is seen as a tough former prosecutor who speaks out strongly on core Democratic issues such as reproductive rights, her running mate has a reputation for flipping Republican districts in favour of Democrats by reaching out to independent and undecided voters

• Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, was unexpectedly chosen as Kamala Harris's running mate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
• Walz, known for his "folksy" demeanor, had criticized Donald Trump’s policies as “weird.”
• He complements Kamala Harris, offering gender and racial balance to the Democratic campaign.
• Harris is known for her strong stance on Democratic issues like reproductive rights, while Walz has a reputation for winning over Republican districts by appealing to independent and undecided voters.
• Although Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, was considered a strong contender, Harris's choice of Walz highlights his personality and broad appeal over regional political strategy.

 

Small-town childhood

• Tim Walz was born into a middle-class family in West Point, Nebraska. His father was a school teacher.
• He grew up in small towns and has said that his rural upbringing influenced his values.
• Walz graduated with a degree in social science education from Chadron State College and earned an MSc in educational leadership from Minnesota State University in 2001.
• Following in his father’s footsteps, who was an Army veteran, Walz served in the Army National Guard after high school and served a total of 24 years, retiring as a command sergeant major in 2005.
• After completing his education, he spent a year teaching in China, as one of the first American educators authorized by the U.S. government to teach in Chinese high schools, and he still speaks Mandarin.

Democratic representation

• Despite his rich experience in education, Tim Walz did not continue in the teaching profession.
• During the 2004 presidential election, while teaching, Walz took his class to a George W. Bush campaign event.
• His students were ejected from the rally for wearing clothing supporting Bush’s opponent, John Kerry, which angered Walz and motivated him to enter politics.
• He began as a local campaign manager for John Kerry and later decided to run for Congress in Minnesota’s 1st district in 2006.
• Despite the district being heavily rural and historically Republican, Walz won the election with 53% of the vote.
• He was re-elected to Congress every two years until 2018, when he decided to run for Governor of Minnesota.
• Walz won the gubernatorial election in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, making him the current Governor of Minnesota.
• Tim Walz's career in the House of Representatives highlights his strong credentials as a progressive leader within the Democratic Party.
• His previous careers as a school teacher and army veteran earned him respect among peers and constituents.
• Walz's voting record aligns with mainstream Democratic values, such as raising the minimum wage, supporting stem cell research, giving Medicare more power to negotiate for affordable medicines, lowering university tuition costs, and backing reproductive rights.
• He has faced personal and political controversies, including a 1995 conviction for driving under the influence, after which he became a teetotaler.
• Politically, after being chosen as Kamala Harris's running mate, Walz was criticized by Republicans, with some labeling him as "pro-China" and calling him "Marxist Walz."
• Tim Walz values his experience teaching in China and has organized educational trips there with his wife, but he is critical of China's human rights violations.
• As a Congressman, he met with the Dalai Lama and Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and served on the Executive Commission on China, focusing on human rights abuses.
• The Harris-Walz team is expected to present a strong Democratic policy agenda, but it's uncertain if they have the broad voter recognition to rival Trump.
• The outcome of the election will influence whether the U.S. sees continued political polarization or efforts toward unity.

Wrestler emeritus

The Asian Games gold medallist, who had beaten career-threatening injuries and stood up against alleged sexual harassment by former WFI chief, remains a symbol of resilience

• Vinesh Phogat, from Balali village in Haryana, started making a name for herself as a promising wrestler at 18.
• She won a National title during her rookie year at the National championships in Nandini Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Although many thought she was one of the Phogat sisters, she is actually their cousin.
• Vinesh wanted to establish her own identity and has done so successfully over the years.
• She showed her potential by winning a bronze medal in the 51kg category at the Asian championships shortly after her initial success.
• Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold medals at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
• She also won two bronze medals at the World championships.
• Despite her achievements, she faced setbacks at the Olympics.
• In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, she dislocated her knee during a quarter-final match and had to be taken off the mat on a stretcher.
• Her injury was severe, and there were doubts about her return to competitive wrestling, but she made a remarkable recovery.
• Vinesh Phogat had a disappointing performance in the Tokyo Olympics in the 53kg category.
• After the Tokyo Olympics, she was suspended by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for "indiscipline," though the suspension was later revoked.
• In the Paris Olympics, she lost her chance to win a medal in the 50kg category because she was disqualified for being just 100 grams overweight before the final match. This was a shocking and unprecedented situation for an Indian wrestler in the Olympics.
• Vinesh had recently undergone knee surgery and wanted to compete in the 53kg category.
• She aimed to challenge Antim Panghal, who had already secured a quota place in the 53kg weight category.
• Due to confusion surrounding the Wrestling Federation of India's status and the handling of trials by an ad-hoc body, it was unclear if there would be a trial between the quota place winner and a challenger before the Olympics.
• Given the uncertainty, Vinesh decided to compete in the 50kg selection trials, where she secured a quota place.
• However, dropping down to the 50kg category was a risky move for Vinesh, as it required her to lose almost seven kilograms from her normal body weight, which potentially weakened her.
• Vinesh Phogat's decision to drop to the 50kg category ultimately did not pay off.
• She managed to defeat Japan's World and Olympic champion Yui Susaki on her way to the final.
• However, the next morning, things took an unexpected turn, leading to her disqualification.
• Emotionally devastated by the disqualification, Vinesh decided to retire from wrestling.
• Vinesh's life has not been limited to wrestling alone; she has faced and overcome several challenges off the mat as well.
• She has battled and recovered from career-threatening injuries.
• Vinesh is known for speaking out and stood up against alleged sexual harassment by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
• She was supported by other top athletes, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.
• Vinesh took her fight to the streets of New Delhi, literally confronting the police, drawing significant media attention.
• The coverage sparked a national debate on the safety of women athletes.
• Throughout her battle for justice, her wrestler husband Somvir Rathee was a steadfast supporter.
• Vinesh has emerged as a symbol of female empowerment and resilience due to her struggles both on and off the mat.

The banker who became ruler (11 August)

The Nobel Laureate, who faced arrest when Sheikh Hasina was in power, is now tasked with stabilising Bangladesh and restoring democracy

• Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer, expressed his willingness to take action for his country, Bangladesh, if needed.
• On August 6, after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and left Bangladesh, there were calls for Mr. Yunus to lead an interim government.
• The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led the anti-government protests, urged Mr. Yunus to head the interim administration.
• With the military's approval, Mr. Yunus, 84, was sworn in as the head of the interim government on August 8.
• Asif Mahmud, a key leader of the student movement, expressed trust in Dr. Yunus in a Facebook post, reflecting the widespread support he has in Bangladesh's divided political landscape.
• Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940, in Chittagong, East Bengal (now Bangladesh), as the third of nine children.
• He completed his primary and college education in Bangladesh and later earned a PhD in the United States.
• In 1969, Mr. Yunus began teaching economics at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, U.S.
• During Bangladesh's struggle for liberation from Pakistan, Mr. Yunus lobbied the U.S. Congress to stop military aid to Pakistan.
• He also supported the Liberation movement by running a Bangladesh Information Center in Washington DC, a Citizen’s Committee in Nashville, Tennessee, and publishing the Bangladesh Newsletter.
• After the birth of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus returned home and joined the Economics Department at the University of Chittagong in 1972.
• In 1974, as Bangladesh faced a severe famine, Mr. Yunus shifted his focus to rural economics, studying the economic aspects of poverty.
• During his visits to farming households in Chittagong’s Jobra region, he observed the struggles of women bamboo furniture makers who were trapped in debt by loan sharks.
• Realizing the potential impact of small loans, Mr. Yunus initiated his first "small loan" by lending $27 to 42 families in Jobra to help them produce and sell their goods.
• This experiment led to the birth of microfinance in 1976. Mr. Yunus offered himself as a guarantor and secured a credit line from Janata Bank to provide small loans to residents of Jobra.
• In 1983, he established Grameen Bank, which specialized in offering small loans to the poor.
• The Grameen Bank model has been replicated in over 100 countries, including India.
• As of 2024, Grameen Bank operates 2,568 branches across 81,678 villages, serving 10.61 million borrowers.
• Muhammad Yunus's groundbreaking work in microfinance earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Political entry

• In February 2007, while both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were in jail, Muhammad Yunus announced the formation of the Nagorik Shakti party and planned to contest elections.
• However, he abandoned the idea within a few months due to a lack of public support.
• When Sheikh Hasina's government came to power in 2009, they began investigating Mr. Yunus and Grameen Bank.
• In 2011, Mr. Yunus was removed as the managing director of Grameen Bank because he had passed the retirement age of 60. He challenged his removal but lost in court, accusing Sheikh Hasina of targeting him.
• The microfinance model itself faced criticism when Mr. Yunus admitted that some organizations might have exploited the system for profit. The lack of collateral in these loans led to high-interest rates by some banks, causing borrowers to fall deeper into debt.
• In 2019, an arrest warrant was issued against Mr. Yunus for alleged violations of the Labour Act.
• In May 2023, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission accused Mr. Yunus and others of misusing funds from the workers' welfare fund.
• After a lengthy trial, Mr. Yunus and his colleagues were convicted in January 2024, shortly after Sheikh Hasina began her fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister.
• Within six months, chaos and violence erupted in Bangladesh, leading to significant political developments.
• Now, with Sheikh Hasina out of power and out of the country, Muhammad Yunus is heading an interim government responsible for overseeing a peaceful political transition.

Coral bleaching   Coral bleaching is a phenomenon where corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white. This occurs when the symbiotic relationship between the coral and the zooxanthellae algae that live within their tissues is disrupted. Zooxanthellae provide corals with nutrients through photosynthesis, and in return, corals offer them a protected environment and the compounds they need for photosynthesis. Causes of Coral Bleaching: Increased Sea Temperatures: The primary cause of coral bleaching is the rise in sea temperatures due to global warming. Even a small increase in temperature can cause the coral to expel the algae. Ocean Acidification: Higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere lead to increased CO2 absorption by the oceans, causing ocean acidification. This can weaken corals and make them more susceptible to bleaching. Pollution: Runoff from agriculture, sewage, and industrial activities can lead to the accumulation of harmful substances in the ocean, affecting coral health. Overexposure to Sunlight: Increased water temperatures can cause corals to become stressed and more susceptible to damage from excessive sunlight. Extreme Low Tides: Corals exposed to the air during low tides can experience bleaching due to sudden temperature changes and UV radiation. Impacts of Coral Bleaching: Loss of Biodiversity: Corals provide a habitat for a wide variety of marine life. When corals bleach and die, the ecosystems they support also suffer. Economic Consequences: Many coastal communities rely on coral reefs for tourism, fishing, and protection from storms. Coral bleaching can have devastating economic impacts. Erosion: Coral reefs act as barriers that protect coastlines from erosion. The loss of coral reefs can lead to increased coastal erosion.

 

Directional swimming (11 August)

Are jellyfish randomly moving organisms?

• Although there is some evidence that jellyfish can actively control their movement, this behavior is not fully understood, leading to the assumption that jellyfish mostly drift passively or move randomly.
• A study using drone videos tracked multiple jellyfish at once.
• The analysis revealed that jellyfish swim in specific, directional patterns, usually away from the coast and against surface gravity waves.
• Individual jellyfish behavior leads to a synchronized, group movement in the same direction.
• Researchers conducted numerical simulations showing that this counter-wave swimming behavior results in a movement pattern that reduces the risk of jellyfish being stranded on shore.
• This swimming strategy is important for the survival of jellyfish.

FM urges banks to raise small sums from many savers (11 August)

Sitharaman voices concern over slower growth in deposits in relation to lending; says bankers need to focus on deposit mobilisation as core work

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed concern about the slower growth in bank deposits compared to the increase in lending.
• She urged banks to find new ways to attract deposits, suggesting a return to the traditional method of gathering small amounts from many savers instead of relying on large corporate deposits, which she referred to as "lazy" banking.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das noted a 300-400 basis points gap between deposit growth and credit growth over the past few months, with deposits lagging behind.
• Although there is no immediate crisis, the RBI is cautioning banks that if this issue is not addressed, it could lead to potential liquidity management problems in the future.
• Both the RBI and the government have been advising banks to focus more on their core business activities of deposit mobilization and lending.
• Sitharaman emphasized that banks should prioritize raising deposits and lending, as these are the essential functions of banking.
• She warned that if one of these core activities is not working effectively, it needs to be addressed before banks focus on adding other services to their portfolio.

‘Old-fashioned way’

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman plans to urge bank chiefs to return to the traditional method of collecting deposits from a wide range of people, emphasizing the flexibility they have in managing interest rates.
• She criticized the practice of relying on large, bulk deposits, calling it a "lazy" approach for bankers.
• Sitharaman noted that smaller, consistent deposits are essential for banks to maintain regular lending, referring to these smaller deposits as "bread-and-butter money."
• She observed that banks have shifted their focus to securing large deposits to meet targets, neglecting the importance of small deposits.
• While collecting small deposits might be monotonous, Sitharaman stressed that it is a crucial job for banks.
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted that large deposits can be withdrawn quickly, posing a risk to banks.
• He noted that the share of low-cost CASA (Current Account and Savings Account) deposits in overall deposits has decreased from 43% to about 39% in the past year.
• Das emphasized the need for banks to focus on all types of deposits, not just large ones.

New reporting norms for banks will bolster informed policy making: Sitharaman (11 August)

• The most significant aspect of the recent banking law amendments is the change in reporting requirements for banks.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that this change will ensure that the data used for policy-making is more accurate and reflective of reality.
• The amendments include provisions in the Banking Regulation (BR) Act for account holders and depositors to make simultaneous and successive nominations.
• Sitharaman described this as a customer-friendly step, giving customers more choices in their nominations and helping nominees avoid difficulties in claiming what is rightfully theirs.
• The proposed changes in the banking law have been long-awaited.
• Among the most critical shifts are amendments to the Banking Regulation Act and Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, which revise the reporting dates for banks to submit statutory reports to the regulator.
• Instead of the old method of reporting by the last Friday of each month, the new system requires banks to report on the 15th and 30th of each month.
• This change allows for more frequent and predictable updates, avoiding large, last-minute adjustments at the end of the year.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that this new reporting schedule will ensure that data used for policy-making is more accurate and up-to-date.
• Financial sector experts believe these amendments will help banks and regulators respond more quickly to economic changes.
• Uniform reporting standards will enable faster responses to sectoral risks and economic challenges, according to Gayathri Parthasarathy, a financial services expert.