Today in History (June 24^th, 1961)

On this day in 1961, India’s first indigenous HF 24 supersonic fighter aircraft took off on this day.

Let’s revise

A) On _______the Government of India revoked the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of Indian Constitution.

1. August 5, 2019,
2. August 5, 2020
3. August 5, 2021
4. None of the above

Ans. (1)

B) Article 370 was drafted by________, a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, and was added to the constitution as a ‘temporary provision’ in 1949.

1. N Gopalaswami Ayyangar
2. B. R. Ambedkar
3. M.N. Roy
4. Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Ans. (1)

C) Find correct statement among the following

1. Russia is a member of G-7
2. Russia was expelled from 2014
3. India is not a member of G-7 but invited for its recent summit
4. India has been invited first time in G-7 summit

Ans. (2 & 3)

D) Recently Russia has signed a security pact with ____

1. North Korea
2. South Korea
3. Japan
4. USA

Ans. (1)

E) Who is the current head of North Korea?

1. Kim Jong Un
2. Kim Jong Ul
3. Kim Jong Il
4. Kim Jong Sil

Ans. (1)

F) Public Examinations (Prevention Of Unfair Means) Act 2024 was passed by the Parliament in _____

1. February 2024
2. June 2024
3. May 2024
4. It’s not an Act but a Presidential Ordinance

Ans. (1)

G) Recently which nation has become the latest after Spain, Ireland, Norway to recognise Palestine as a nation?

1. Armenia
2. USA
3. Israel
4. France

Ans. (1)

Summary of Today’s News

Have green heart to save environment

General Overview
• The government needs to prioritize environmental concerns.
• Historically, governments have not focused on environmental issues.
• The last government prioritized development over environmental protection.
• Urgent green policies are necessary to combat environmental degradation as India aims to become a middle-income economy.
Specific Areas of Concern
1) Greater Vulnerability to Climate Change
• India’s leadership talks about climate change but lacks action.
• Essential remediatory actions, such as building resilience and food security, are neglected.
• Contingency plans for floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters are needed.

2) Forest Cover
• India has one of the lowest levels of green cover per capita.
• Only 28 trees per headcount of the populace, in contrast with Canada’s 8953 or even China’s 130.
• Forest cover has decreased significantly over the past 20 years.
• Recent legislation, such as the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, needs to be repealed and replaced with stronger protections.

3) Unliveable Cities
• Major cities like Delhi and Mumbai suffer from severe air pollution and water shortages.
• Bengaluru and Delhi are running out of water, and the poor have to queue for hours to have access to the bare minimum.
• The rivers that brought life to cities, such as the Adyar in Chennai or the Yamuna in Delhi, have become open sewers.
• Only 28% of sewage in Indian cities is treated, necessitating a major overhaul
• Urban rivers have become polluted, and green spaces are disappearing.
• Smaller cities face growing environmental problems that need timely intervention.

4) Destruction in the Himalayas
• Climate change is severely impacting the Himalayas, with glaciers receding rapidly.
• Changes in rainfall and temperature patterns threaten water and food security in the region.
• Government inaction, despite protests from affected populations, exacerbates these issues.

5) Public Participation
• The government often ignores stakeholders and affected communities.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes have become formalities.
• Significant projects like the Char Dham Highway have caused environmental damage.
• EIA mechanisms need to be strengthened and given statutory status.

6) Greenwashing
• Policies driven by commercial interests, like green credits and compensatory afforestation, overshadow genuine conservation efforts.
• Enforcement mechanisms for environmental laws need to be strengthened.

Call to Action of way forward

• Environmental issues impact the survival and health of millions.
• Major political parties did not address these issues in their election manifestos.
• The government must prioritize environmental health to truly serve the people.

Hooch tragedy-ethanol and methanol.

1) Kallakurichi Incident: The Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy, claiming over 50 lives, is a recurring issue in India, with methanol consumption identified as the cause in postmortem reports.

2) Production of Ethanol and Methanol:
• Ethanol, used in legal liquor, is produced biologically from molasses, a by-product of sugar production.
• Methanol, produced from coal and fossil fuels, is toxic and used in various industries, such as paint manufacturing.

3) Methanol Control and Procurement:
• Both ethanol and methanol are highly regulated substances.
• In Tamil Nadu, methanol’s manufacturing, transportation, and storage are monitored and licensed.
• Reports suggest a methanol pilferage racket in northern Tamil Nadu, indicating possible illegal procurement and distribution.

4) Methanol Usage in Illicit Liquor:
• Methanol contamination in liquor is a common cause of hooch tragedies in India.
• Diluted methanol might be used to create a cheap intoxicant, despite its high toxicity.

5) Past Incidents and Legal Outcomes:
• The 2015 Malvani, Mumbai hooch tragedy had similar circumstances, with methanol poisoning causing over 100 deaths.
• In the Malvani case, a few accused were convicted of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, highlighting the complexity of legal accountability.

6) Need for Strong Legislation:
• The frequent methanol poisoning incidents underscore the need for robust central legislation in conjunction with state laws.
• Effective implementation of existing laws is crucial, especially with plans to increase ethanol and methanol production for eco-friendly fuels.
• National priorities should include strict separation and prevention of pilferage of methanol and ethanol.