22 November 2023

• Governance: India recorded 4,61,312 road accidents in 2022 with 1,68,491 deaths, a 12 per cent increase from 2021. Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cases.
• Environment: An Oxfam report found the richest 1 per cent emitted carbon equivalent to the emissions of the poorest 66 per cent in 2019, causing 1.3 million heat-related deaths.
• Geography: Ghol (Protonibea diacanthus) was designated Gujarat's state fish; it is a rare Indo-Pacific marine species priced up to Rs 5 lakh per unit.
• Science: The International Space Station marked its 25th anniversary on 20 November 2023.
• Environment: Ice Stupas in Ladakh, artificial glaciers shaped like Buddhist stupas, store winter water for spring release, addressing local water scarcity.

GS area: Governance (Public Safety, Transport)

India recorded 4,61,312 road accidents in 2022 resulting in 1,68,491 deaths and 4,43,366 injuries. This represented a 12 per cent increase in fatalities from 2021. Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of incidents among states.

• WHO estimate: approximately 3,00,000 annual road deaths in India. The government's figure and the WHO estimate differ because of different counting methodologies.
• Leading causes: over-speeding caused 72 per cent of accidents. Dangerous driving caused over 42,000 deaths. Drunk driving accounted for 2 per cent.
• Unbelted occupants: 83 per cent of car fatalities involved unbelted occupants.
• Key legislation: Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 (higher penalties, faster compensation, vehicle recall provisions), Control of National Highways Act 2000, National Highways Authority Act 1998.
• International benchmark: Japan reduced road deaths from 16,765 in 1990 to 3,215 in 2019 through a combination of strict enforcement, road engineering and vehicle safety requirements.
• Netherlands Sustainable Safety vision: a holistic framework treating every road death as preventable through system design.

Static linkage: Governance (Public Safety, Transport Policy).

GS area: Environment (Climate Change, Social Justice)

Oxfam's "Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99%" report found that the richest 1 per cent of the global population emitted carbon equivalent to the emissions of the poorest 66 per cent in 2019, responsible for 16 per cent of global emissions.

• Heat deaths linked to super-rich emissions: the report estimated 1.3 million heat-related deaths attributed to the emissions of this 1 per cent.
• 2030 projection: the richest 1 per cent's emissions are projected at 22 times the safe level consistent with 1.5 degrees Celsius warming.
• Proposed solution: a 60 per cent tax on income of the richest 1 per cent could raise USD 6 trillion for renewable energy transition globally.
• Gender dimension: climate change disproportionately affects women with lower socio-economic status due to dependence on natural resources and higher vulnerability to climate shocks.
• Historical responsibility: countries least responsible for cumulative emissions suffer the worst consequences. This is the equity dimension of climate negotiations.

Static linkage: Environment (Climate Change, Social Justice).

GS area: Environment (Ecology, Indian States)

Ghol (Protonibea diacanthus) was designated as Gujarat's official state fish. It is a rare marine species found in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Profile: length up to 1.5 metres. Price up to Rs 5 lakh per unit.
• Nicknames: "Sea Gold" and "fisherman's lottery" because catching one transforms a fishing trip economically.
• Nutritional value: rich in iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, EPA, iron and taurine.
• Commercial uses: air bladder used in pharmaceutical applications; body used in beer and wine production as a clarifying agent.
• Conservation concern: over-exploitation of Ghol for its air bladder has declined populations along the Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts.

Static linkage: Environment (Ecology, Marine Biodiversity), Indian Geography.

GS area: Environment (Water Conservation, Climate Adaptation)

Engineer Sonam Wangchuk developed Ice Stupas: Buddhist stupa-shaped artificial glacier structures in Ladakh. They freeze water in winter and release it as meltwater in spring for agriculture.

• How they work: a pipe draws water from a higher-altitude glacier or stream, channelling it to a lower site. A fountain spray in winter freezes on a conical frame to build a large ice stupa. It melts in spring precisely when farmers need irrigation water.
• Problem addressed: glaciers in Ladakh are retreating. Spring water availability before the main glaciers melt in summer is the critical gap.
• Sonam Wangchuk's recognition: Magsaysay Award 2018. Also known for inspiring the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film "3 Idiots."
• Climate adaptation: Ice Stupas exemplify indigenous innovation addressing local climate impacts at low cost.

Static linkage: Environment (Climate Adaptation, Water Conservation).

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

The International Space Station (ISS) marked its 25th anniversary on 20 November 2023. The first module (Zarya, funded by the USA but built and launched by Russia) was launched in November 1998.

• Current status: Expedition 70 crew conducting space biology research.
• India and ISS: India is not a partner nation of the ISS but ISRO is developing its own Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
• ISS partnership nations: USA, Russia, Japan, Canada and 11 ESA members.
• Science conducted: microgravity research in materials science, biology and medicine.

Static linkage: Science and Technology (Space).

GS area: Environment (International Institutions)

The 59th session of the ITTO Council was recently concluded. ITTO focuses on sustainable tropical forest management and timber trade.

• Established: 1986. Headquarters: Yokohama, Japan.
• India: founding member.
• Members: tropical timber producer countries and consumer countries. India is both a major timber producer and consumer.
• ITTO's mandate: promote the development of national policies for sustainable use and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources; promote research and development for forest management.

Static linkage: Environment (International Institutions, Forests).

• Surjagarh Hill Range agitation: a 250-day anti-mining agitation by Adivasi communities in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, against six proposed iron ore mines in the Surjagarh hill range. Proposed by Jindal Steel and Lloyd Steel. The agitation raised questions about tribal land rights under the Forest Rights Act and PESA (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996).
• United Service Institution of India: established in 1870, India's oldest think-tank on defence and security. Its 2023 annual UN Forum theme was "International Humanitarian Law and Peacekeeping."