29 November 2024

• International: Undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, with suspicion falling on deliberate sabotage amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions.
• Neighbourhood: India expressed concern about the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh on sedition charges.
• Heritage: Lothal in Gujarat, the Harappan-era site with the world's earliest dockyard, is the proposed site of a National Maritime Heritage Complex.
• Defence: The new Pamban vertical-lift railway bridge connects Rameswaram Island to the mainland.

GS area: International Relations, Internal Security

Two undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, disrupting internet connectivity and raising suspicion of deliberate sabotage.

• Baltic Sea: Located in Northern Europe, bordered by Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden.
• Average depth: 55 metres (shallow). Deepest point: 459 metres. Receives water from over 250 rivers.
• Undersea cables: The global internet runs overwhelmingly on undersea fibre optic cables. Over 95 per cent of international data traffic uses them.
• The incident: Cables linking Finland-Germany and Sweden-Lithuania were cut within hours of each other. A Chinese vessel was identified near the route. China denied involvement.
• Context: Russia has repeatedly threatened and allegedly tested the vulnerability of Baltic undersea infrastructure. Following NATO expansion, the Baltic is a flashpoint.
• Critical infrastructure protection: Undersea cables are now classified as critical infrastructure by major nations. The EU and NATO are developing monitoring and response frameworks.

Static linkage: International security, critical infrastructure, geopolitics.

GS area: International Relations, Internal Security

India raised concerns with Bangladesh about the safety of Hindu minorities following the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

• Chinmoy Krishna Das: A Hindu religious figure arrested in Bangladesh on sedition charges in November 2024. His arrest triggered protests from Hindu communities in Bangladesh and concern in India.
• India-Bangladesh ties:
  • Bilateral trade: 18.2 billion dollars in 2021-22.
  • India extended 8 billion dollars in Lines of Credit for infrastructure.
  • Joint exercises: CORPAT (navy) and Bangosagar naval drills.
• Background: Bangladesh underwent political change in August 2024 when PM Sheikh Hasina resigned following mass protests. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has been dealing with reports of minority harassment.
• India's interest: Bangladesh is India's largest South Asian trade partner and a key transit corridor. Security and minority welfare are now part of the bilateral agenda.

Static linkage: India-Bangladesh relations, minority rights, neighbourhood policy.

GS area: Governance, Infrastructure

The role of the Commissioner of Railway Safety came into focus amid rail safety discussions.

• Role: Ensures rail travel and railway operations are safe under the Railways Act, 1989.
• Reports to: Ministry of Civil Aviation. This unusual arrangement is deliberate: reporting to Civil Aviation (not Railways) preserves independence from the railway operator.
• Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• Leadership: Headed by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety.
• Powers: Investigates railway accidents. Can prohibit the opening of a new railway line without a Commissioner's sanction.

Static linkage: Railways governance, safety regulation, institutional design.

GS area: Defence, Internal Security

The 11th edition of SAREX (Search and Rescue Exercise) was held in Kochi.

• Theme: "Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities through Regional Collaboration."
• Location: Kochi, Kerala.
• Participants: Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Air Force, Cochin Port Authority and Customs.
• Purpose: Tests coordination among agencies for search and rescue at sea. Evaluates operational efficiency.
• Indian Coast Guard: Established 1977 under the Coast Guard Act. Operates under the Ministry of Defence. Mandated to protect maritime territory, maritime environment and assist in search and rescue at sea.

Static linkage: Maritime security, Coast Guard, disaster management.

GS area: Society, Government Schemes

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (Child Marriage Free India) Campaign.

• Target: Reduce child marriage rates below 5 per cent by 2029.
• Current rate: 23.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before 18 (2019-21 NFHS-5 data). Down from 47.4 per cent in 2006.
• High-burden states: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam and Andhra Pradesh.
• Tool: Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal for awareness and complaint filing.
• Implementation: Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) at the district level under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Static linkage: Women's rights, child welfare, government schemes.

• ISKCON: International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Founded in New York by C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism (rooted in 16th-century Bengal). Central practice: Hare Krishna Mahamantra chanting. Runs food distribution programmes and educational institutions globally. In news because of the Bangladesh government's stance on Hindu organisations.
• Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS): Established during the Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969-70). Under the central animal husbandry department. Prevents entry of exotic livestock diseases. Implements the Livestock Importation Act. First pet import cleared via AQCS at Cochin International Airport in November 2024.
• Dark Tourism: Visiting sites associated with death, tragedy or suffering. Examples: Auschwitz, Chernobyl, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Ground Zero. War-torn Ukraine sites now emerging as destinations. Raises ethical questions about commodifying tragedy.