{"id":2074,"date":"2024-10-18T12:28:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T12:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2074"},"modified":"2024-10-23T11:56:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T11:56:41","slug":"current-affair-17-october-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affair &#8211; 17 October 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Supreme_Court_to_pronounce_verdict_on_constitutionality_of_Section_6A_of_the_Citizenship_Act\" >Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Reimagining_access_to_justice\" >Reimagining access to justice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Nobel_Prize_for_microRNA_find_underscores_RNAs_primacy_in_biology\" >Nobel Prize for microRNA find underscores RNA\u2019s primacy in biology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Inside_the_underground_lab_in_China_tasked_with_solving_a_physics_mystery\" >Inside the underground lab in China tasked with solving a physics mystery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#What_does_the_Global_Hunger_Index_2024_state_about_India_Explained\" >What does the Global Hunger Index 2024 state about India? | Explained<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Centre_increases_MSP_for_rabi_crops_for_2025-26_wheat_sees_6_hike\" >Centre increases MSP for rabi crops for 2025-26, wheat sees 6% hike<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Climate_change_impact_harsher_on_poorer_farmers_in_India_FAO_report\" >Climate change impact harsher on poorer farmers in India: FAO report<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Wildlife_Board_clears_5_key_road_stretches_in_Ladakh_including_one_to_Daulat_Beg_Oldie_near_LAC\" >Wildlife Board clears 5 key road stretches in Ladakh including one to Daulat Beg Oldie near LAC<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/#Abject_failure_On_Indias_Global_Hunger_Index_ranking\" >Abject failure: On India\u2019s Global Hunger Index ranking<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Supreme_Court_to_pronounce_verdict_on_constitutionality_of_Section_6A_of_the_Citizenship_Act\"><\/span><strong>Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The petitioners had questioned in court why Assam alone, among the border States, had been singled out to implement Section 6A<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context:<\/strong>The Supreme Court of India is set to pronounce its verdict on the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Section 6A, introduced in the aftermath of the Assam Accord, provides special provisions for immigrants who entered Assam from Bangladesh before certain cutoff dates. This judgment will have significant implications for Assam, as well as broader issues of migration, citizenship, and demographic change.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Legal and Political Implications:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The case examines whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act disproportionately affects Assam&#8217;s demographic makeup, cultural identity, and security compared to other northeastern states.<\/li>\n<li>The court\u2019s decision may impact similar immigration issues in other border states and fuel ongoing debates around the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Geopolitical Concerns:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Illegal Migration from Bangladesh: Assam shares a 263 km porous border with Bangladesh, making it a key entry point for migrants. Other states like West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura also face similar challenges.<\/li>\n<li>Border Fencing Issues: The government has struggled to fully secure the border due to natural and logistical challenges, with West Bengal\u2019s land acquisition policies cited as a major hurdle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s Focus:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The court made it clear that its ruling would be restricted to Section 6A, excluding the NRC.<\/li>\n<li>It sought evidence on how benefits given to migrants from Bangladesh between 1966 and 1971 impacted Assamese identity and led to demographic changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong> The Supreme Court&#8217;s verdict on Section 6A will address longstanding questions regarding the Assam Accord and its implications for citizenship and migration policies. The judgement will also set a precedent for how the country deals with immigration-related issues in the future.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reimagining_access_to_justice\"><\/span><strong>Reimagining access to justice<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a nation where \u2018justice for all\u2019 has long been a constitutional dream, Third-Party Litigation Funding might help turn it into reality<\/p>\n<p><strong>Introduction <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In India, where &#8220;justice for all&#8221; is enshrined as a constitutional dream, Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) is emerging as a potential game-changer.<\/li>\n<li>By allowing external investors to fund legal cases in exchange for a share of the winnings, TPLF could democratize access to justice, particularly for underprivileged groups unable to afford the high costs of litigation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Concepts <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Concepts Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF): A financing arrangement where a third-party investor provides funds for litigation in exchange for a percentage of the case&#8217;s eventual settlement or award.<\/li>\n<li>Landmark Judgment: The Supreme Court of India&#8217;s verdict in Bar Council of India v. A.K. Balaji approved TPLF, barring lawyers from funding such cases, and referred to it as a &#8220;potential equaliser in the courtroom.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benefits of TPLF <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to Justice for All: TPLF provides a lifeline for individuals and groups lacking financial resources, enabling them to pursue legal remedies. It could help: \u25cf Small shopkeepers fighting large corporations. \u25cf Tribal communities challenging polluting industries. \u25cf Workers taking legal action against unfair treatment.<\/li>\n<li>Revitalising Public Interest Litigation (PIL): TPLF could reinvigorate PILs, especially in areas like consumer rights, environmental protection, and social justice.<\/li>\n<li>Specialised Fields: TPLF may prove crucial in cases involving complex fields like medical malpractice and intellectual property rights (IPR), where expert testimonies are expensive but vital.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Concerns and Challenges <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cherry-picking Profitable Cases: Funders might prefer cases with higher monetary returns, potentially sidelining socially significant yet less lucrative cases.<\/li>\n<li>Funders\u2019 Influence on Case Strategy: The level of control that funders exert over litigation strategies may lead to ethical dilemmas, necessitating regulation to safeguard litigants&#8217; autonomy.<\/li>\n<li>Lack of Comprehensive National Framework: States like Maharashtra and Gujarat have recognized TPLF, but there is no nationwide regulation to ensure ethical and financial standards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong>TPLF can improve justice access in India, needing regulations to ensure balance and judicial integrity.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nobel_Prize_for_microRNA_find_underscores_RNAs_primacy_in_biology\"><\/span><strong>Nobel Prize for microRNA find underscores RNA\u2019s primacy in biology <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the Nobel Prize last week, 581 clinical trials involving miRNA had been registered in the U.S. alone<\/p>\n<p><strong>Introduction:<\/strong> The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 was pioneering discovery of microRNA (miRNA) and its critical role in gene regulation. This discovery has far-reaching implications for human health, particularly in cancer and genetic diseases, underscoring RNA&#8217;s increasing relevance in biology. Despite early setbacks in clinical applications, the discovery of miRNA has marked a paradigm shift in molecular biology.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inside_the_underground_lab_in_China_tasked_with_solving_a_physics_mystery\"><\/span><strong>Inside the underground lab in China tasked with solving a physics mystery <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>China\u2019s JUNO will soon start gathering data on neutrinos, a product of nuclear reactions, to help solve one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overview:<\/strong> China&#8217;s Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a key project that will explore the mysteries surrounding neutrinos\u2014subatomic particles that pass through matter effortlessly. Understanding the mass hierarchy of neutrinos is critical for unlocking secrets of the early universe. JUNO\u2019s development is in competition with other neutrino observatories, including the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) in the United States.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_the_Global_Hunger_Index_2024_state_about_India_Explained\"><\/span><strong>What does the Global Hunger Index 2024 state about India? | Explained <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Why has the Ministry of Women and Child Development raised concerns over the data collection method?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overview:<\/strong> The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 reveals a serious hunger situation in India, ranking it 105th among 127 countries with a score of 27.3. The GHI uses four primary indicators to assess hunger: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. The Ministry of Women and Child Development raised concerns regarding the data collection methodology, emphasizing the role of the Poshan Tracker.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Centre_increases_MSP_for_rabi_crops_for_2025-26_wheat_sees_6_hike\"><\/span><strong>Centre increases MSP for rabi crops for 2025-26, wheat sees 6% hike <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the current Rabi Marketing Season (2024-25), the government procured 26.6 million tonnes of wheat, benefitting 22 lakh farmers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Introduction:<\/strong> The Union Government has announced the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six key Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season. Wheat, being the country\u2019s second-largest crop in terms of area, witnessed a 6.59% increase in MSP, reflecting the government&#8217;s efforts to ensure fair prices for farmers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Climate_change_impact_harsher_on_poorer_farmers_in_India_FAO_report\"><\/span><strong> Climate change impact harsher on poorer farmers in India: FAO report <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>FAO recommends enhanced social security net for all, Niti Aayog member says India doing its best to deal with climate change.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Overview: <\/strong> The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released a report, &#8220;The Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth&#8221;, highlighting the disproportionate effects of climate change on poorer farmers, particularly in India. This analysis sheds light on how climate-induced events such as heat stress and floods intensify poverty and inequality in rural farming communities.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wildlife_Board_clears_5_key_road_stretches_in_Ladakh_including_one_to_Daulat_Beg_Oldie_near_LAC\"><\/span><strong> Wildlife Board clears 5 key road stretches in Ladakh including one to Daulat Beg Oldie near LAC <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Ministry has proposed to build culverts and bridges for the safe passage of wildlife crossing on these stretches, according to submissions made to the NBWL.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Introduction: <\/strong> The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved five critical road projects in Ladakh, focusing on improving strategic infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The roads, crucial for defense and civilian purposes, pass through ecologically sensitive areas, necessitating measures to protect local wildlife.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Abject_failure_On_Indias_Global_Hunger_Index_ranking\"><\/span><strong> Abject failure: On India\u2019s Global Hunger Index ranking <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>India\u2019s ranks 105 out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index, 2024<\/p>\n<p><strong> Overview: <\/strong> The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) reveals India\u2019s disconcerting ranking of 105 out of 127 countries, indicating serious levels of hunger. This assessment places India in the company of nations facing significant challenges in food security and nutrition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Read Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span> Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act The petitioners had questioned in court why Assam alone, among the border States, had been singled out to implement Section 6A Context:The Supreme Court of India is set to pronounce its verdict on the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/current-affair-17-october-2024\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Current Affair &#8211; 17 October 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2074"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2084,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074\/revisions\/2084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscmentorship.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}