Highlights
- COP28: Negotiations intensified in Dubai around the first Global Stocktake text as 118 nations had already signed the renewables tripling pledge.
- Guyana-Venezuela: Venezuela held a referendum endorsing its claim over the oil-rich Essequibo region, raising regional tensions.
- J&K bills: Lok Sabha passed two bills reserving assembly seats for Kashmiri migrants, PoK-displaced persons, and Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Garba of Gujarat: Added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as the 15th Indian element.
1. Venezuela referendum on Essequibo: map and law
GS area: International Relations, Geography
Venezuela held a referendum in which voters endorsed the government's position that the oil-rich Essequibo region is Venezuelan territory:
- Essequibo: A region of about 1,60,000 square kilometres west of the Essequibo River, currently administered by Guyana.
- Background: Guyana's claim rests on the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award which fixed the boundary. Venezuela has disputed this award since 1962.
- Oil dimension: ExxonMobil discovered significant offshore oil reserves near the Guyana-Essequibo coast in 2015. Guyana's oil production has since made it one of the world's fastest-growing oil economies.
- International responses: India and the United States expressed support for Guyana's territorial integrity. China called for diplomatic resolution. Brazil expressed concern about destabilisation on its border.
- ICJ jurisdiction: Guyana took the dispute to the International Court of Justice, which has been hearing the case.
Static linkage: International Relations, international law, South American geography.
2. J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) and Reservation Bills
GS area: Polity
The Lok Sabha passed two bills amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 and the J&K Reservation Act:
- Kashmiri migrants: Assembly seats will be reserved for registered Kashmiri migrants displaced from the Kashmir Valley during militancy.
- PoK-displaced persons: Persons displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will be eligible for nomination to the assembly.
- Scheduled Tribes: The term "weak classes" in the 2019 Act is replaced with "Other Backward Classes."
- Context: These bills accompanied the Supreme Court's anticipated verdict on the Article 370 abrogation and were seen as part of the political normalisation of J&K.
Static linkage: Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation, reservation.
3. Garba of Gujarat on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list
GS area: Culture, Society
The Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO meeting in Botswana inscribed the Garba of Gujarat on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
- Garba: A ritualistic circular dance performed during Navaratri, the nine-night festival. It is associated with the worship of the feminine divine or Shakti. Performers move in concentric circles around a central lamp or image.
- India's count: Garba became India's 15th element on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Earlier inscriptions include Yoga (2016), Kumbh Mela (2017), Vedic chanting, Kutiyattam, Chhau dance, and others.
- The full list matters: Examiners ask which year a particular Indian element was inscribed. Keep the year and element linked.
Static linkage: Indian culture, UNESCO conventions, folk arts.
4. COP28: Global Stocktake negotiations and India
GS area: Environment, International Relations
The Global Stocktake text was under active negotiation at COP28:
- First Global Stocktake: Mandated by the Paris Agreement to assess collective progress every five years toward the 1.5°C goal. This is the first such assessment.
- Key divergence: Developed countries pushed for language on phasing out fossil fuels. India, China, and oil-producing nations resisted "phase out" and pushed instead for "transition away."
- India's argument: Equity must underpin any fossil fuel language. A blanket phase-out ignores historical emissions responsibility and development needs of emerging economies.
- Loss and Damage Fund: Already operationalised at COP28 opening but total commitments of $450 million far below the estimated annual need of $400-500 billion.
Static linkage: Climate change, Paris Agreement, UNFCCC.
5. NCRB 2022 report: cybercrime surges 24 per cent
GS area: Society, Governance
The National Crime Records Bureau released its Crime in India report for 2022:
- Total cognizable crimes: Over 58 lakh registered, a 4.5 per cent decline from 2021.
- Crime rate: 422 per lakh population, down from 446.
- Safest city: Kolkata retained the top ranking for the third consecutive year.
- Cybercrime: A 24 per cent surge to 65,893 cases recorded.
- Suicides: 1.7 lakh cases, up 4 per cent year-on-year.
- Crimes against women: 4,45,000 cases, up 4 per cent.
- Crimes against children: Up 8.7 per cent.
- UAPA cases: A 25 per cent increase. UAPA is the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Static linkage: Society, internal security, criminal justice.
6. Jamun genome sequencing by IISER Bhopal
GS area: Science and Technology
IISER Bhopal completed the first-ever genome sequencing of the Indian blackberry (jamun, Syzygium cumini):
- Significance: Jamun is known for anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Genome sequencing identifies the specific genes responsible.
- Technologies used: Oxford Nanopore sequencing and 10x Genomics.
- Application: Enables targeted breeding to enhance medicinal compounds and disease resistance in the fruit.
Static linkage: Biotechnology, biodiversity, agricultural science.
7. Briefly noted
- JT-60SA nuclear fusion reactor: The world's largest nuclear fusion experimental reactor, located at Naka in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, commenced operations. It is a joint EU-Japan project under the Broader Approach Agreement and is a precursor to the ITER reactor being built in France.
- IBM Condor quantum chip: IBM unveiled the Condor chip with 1,121 superconducting qubits, crossing the 1,000-qubit milestone for the first time and marking a step toward practical quantum advantage.
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