Current Affairs 22 January 2025
Content: Trump declares end to U.S. citizenship by birth Undocumented migrants in U.S.: vital workforce, low criminality PM internship scheme: companies to absorb 10% of the interns’ What do draft data protection rules state? What is the status of the Smart Cities Mission? Why are antivenoms not easily accessible in India? Competent’ to judge Indus Water Treaty dispute, says World Bank Neutral Expert Top court asks if poll ban on persons charged with crimes will cause irreversible damage DRDO holds key test for hypersonic missiles Trump declares end to U.S. citizenship by birth Context : Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order canceling the provision of jus soli (citizenship by birth). Relevance : GS 2(international Relations) Implications: Directly affects thousands of Indian professionals working in the U.S. on temporary visas (H-1B, etc.).Families planning to raise children in the U.S. will face significant challenges.Potential long-term impact on global mobility trends and U.S. workforce demographics. Impact on BRICS Nations: President Trump threatened a 100% tariff on BRICS countries for exploring “non-dollar” transactions. Criticism of his remarks:Incorrectly included Spain as a BRICS member.Risk of straining relations with emerging economies, including India. Immigration Crackdown: Targeting undocumented immigrants: Estimated 7.25 lakh Indians could be affected. Approximately 18,000 Indian nationals are already on a “final list for removal.” Broader enforcement against illegal immigration could disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. Global and Bilateral Reactions: India’s Diplomatic Engagement: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Agenda: Discuss the India-U.S. bilateral relationship and challenges arising from new U.S. policies. Address the Quad’s strategic priorities amidst growing concerns over U.S. immigration and trade policies. Global Economic Concerns: The proposed 100% tariffs on BRICS countries could: Escalate trade tensions. Undermine global efforts for a multipolar currency system. India and other emerging economies may seek alternative strategies to address potential U.S. trade sanctions. Implications for Indian Diaspora: Fear of instability among Indian expatriates due to potential deportations and restrictions. Increased uncertainty for families planning long-term U.S. settlement. Broader Context: Domestic Political Implications: Trump’s policy decisions align with his broader anti-immigration and “America First” agenda. Legal challenges could dominate political discourse in the U.S., influencing upcoming elections. Geopolitical Dynamics: Heightened trade and diplomatic tensions with BRICS nations. Possible realignment of global partnerships, as countries assess the long-term viability of dollar-based transactions. Way Forward: Legal Resolution: The U.S. judicial system’s interpretation of the Constitution will determine the fate of the Executive Order. Monitoring the lawsuit in Boston for its implications on U.S. immigration law. Diplomatic Engagement: Strengthening India-U.S. ties to mitigate challenges arising from the new policies. Leveraging platforms like Quad to address broader economic and security concerns. Strategic Adjustments: Indian professionals and policymakers must explore alternative avenues for immigration, education, and trade to reduce dependence on the U.S. Undocumented migrants in U.S.: vital workforce, low criminality Background on Immigration Policies President Donald Trump’s administration introduced aggressive immigration policies targeting undocumented migrants. Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) Key pledge: Deport millions of “criminal aliens” (undocumented migrants), often overstating numbers (15-20 million). Official estimates: ~11 million undocumented migrants, with some estimates rising to 13-14 million. 2.1 lakh Indians included in 2022 estimates. Duration of Stay 80% of the estimated 11 million undocumented migrants have lived in the U.S. for over a decade. 1.5 million entered between 1980-1990, many of whom have established long-term residency. Impact of Policy Changes Trump’s administration dismissed key immigration court officials, affecting asylum decision-making. Asylum applications facing delays: 3.5 million pending cases as of 2024, up from 2.4 million in Q4 of 2023. Closure of the CBP One mobile app, a key tool for asylum requests. Surge in Indian Migrants Surge in illegal migration from India: 1,500 Indian migrants apprehended a decade ago, rising sharply to 96,917 in 2023 and 90,415 in 2024. Similar increase in Indian asylum seekers, reflecting broader immigration patterns. Criminality and Crime Data Trump’s claims of undocumented migrants fueling violent crime contradict data: Violent crime rate among undocumented migrants in Texas (2012-2018) was half of that of U.S.-born citizens and lower than documented immigrants. Misrepresentation of migrant criminality undermines broader policy claims. Workforce Contribution Undocumented migrants play a vital role in sectors like construction, agriculture, and essential services. 2018 study: 5.5 million undocumented migrants contribute to the U.S. workforce. Key sectors: construction, agriculture, landscaping, laundry, auto repair, and sanitation. Mass deportation could severely disrupt these sectors, impacting economic stability. Potential Impact of Deportation Mass deportation risks harming essential services that depend on undocumented migrant labor. Immediate sectors affected: construction sites, farms, restaurants, and essential services like landscaping and sanitation. ‘PM internship scheme: companies to absorb 10% of the interns’ Objective of the Scheme: Aimed at bridging skill gaps and enhancing employability for India’s youth. Launched in the Union Budget 2024-25, it mandates the top 500 companies to offer internships to 1 crore youth over the next five years. Relevance : GS 2(Schemes , Education ) Survey Insights: 81% of India Inc. Backing the Scheme: Positive feedback from 932 surveyed companies, emphasizing the increasing role of internships in enhancing youth employability. 10% Absorption Rate: 73% of companies plan to absorb at least 10% of their interns as full-time employees after the internship. Focus on Tech Roles: 76% of companies are prioritizing tech-based roles, underscoring the demand for digitally skilled professionals. CSR Allocation: Over 30% of companies intend to allocate up to 20% of their CSR budgets to internship programmes, highlighting corporate commitment to social responsibility and skill development. Company Preferences for Internships: Internship Duration: More than 70% of companies prefer short-to-medium-term internships (1-6 months), considering it ideal for skill development without long-term commitments. Collaborative Approach: 32% of companies prefer partnerships with universities and corporates for internships to maximize impact and increase outreach. Financial Aspects: Interns will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, with companies able to use CSR funds to cover a part of the stipend and training costs. Expansion Support: Support for Scheme Extension: 81% of companies advocate for extending the internship scheme to all corporations, suggesting a broader impact. Social Return on Investment (SROI): 54% of companies expect measurable SROI from CSR-driven internships within 1-2 years, indicating potential long-term value. Future Implications: The scheme presents a potential model for expanding internships to smaller companies, which could further enhance youth employability and skill development across industries. What do draft data protection rules state? Background: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, on January 3, 2025. Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the existing legislation in creating a comprehensive data privacy framework. Relevance : GS 2(Governance) Data Localisation Mandate: Definition: Data localisation involves restricting the transfer of data across borders, ensuring that data related to a country’s citizens is stored within its own borders. Expansion Beyond DPDP Act: The draft rules extend the localisation mandate, which previously applied only to specific notified countries under the DPDP Act. New Government Committee: A government-appointed committee will decide which types of data cannot be exported from India. This could affect major tech companies like Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, classified as significant data fiduciaries (SDFs) due to their high volume and sensitive data processing. Challenges for Tech Companies: Operational difficulties in segmenting and storing data in different locations. Increased operational costs and restrictions on business activities. Two-Year Compliance Timeline: Companies are expected to comply with localisation requirements within two years, with support from a central committee to streamline the process and prevent fragmented mandates from different departments. Concerns on Executive Overreach: Section 36 of the DPDP Act & Rule 22: These provisions grant the Union government extensive discretionary powers to demand any information from data fiduciaries or intermediaries for national security or sovereignty reasons. This power could potentially be misused for surveillance. Impact on End-to-End Encryption: Rule 22 could require social media companies like WhatsApp to compromise end-to-end encryption for compliance with government demands. Meta previously raised concerns about this potential breach of privacy in their challenge to the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines. Lack of Oversight: The government could requisition data without checks, bypassing judicial scrutiny, and without notifying affected individuals (in violation of the 2012 expert committee’s recommendation). Critics argue this could lead to abuses of power, particularly in politically sensitive situations. Potential Impact on Businesses and Individuals: For Tech Companies: High costs and operational hurdles to ensure compliance. Risk of affecting business operations due to restrictive data handling. For Citizens: Greater vulnerability to surveillance. Lack of transparency in government access to personal data. Concerns about the erosion of privacy rights with inadequate safeguards. Expert Opinions: Aparajita Bharti (Tech Compliance Expert): The localisation mandate will cause significant operational challenges, especially for start-ups and smaller companies. Apar Gupta (Internet Freedom Foundation): The lack of adequate restrictions on government access to data could lead to misuse, harming privacy rights and political freedoms. Amar Patnaik (Advocate): Calls for more scrutiny of the rules, suggesting they be reviewed by a parliamentary standing committee to ensure accountability. What is the status of the Smart Cities Mission? Concept Introduction: Launched in June 2015 with the goal of developing 100 smart cities across India as models of urban development. The mission was meant to incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) and technology to make cities more efficient in services like mobility, waste management, and water management. Relevance : GS 3(Infrastructure) The Smart City Framework: Focused on two components:Pan-city proposals: IT-enabled services like mobility, waste management, and environmental monitoring. Area-Based Development (ABD): Focus on retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield projects in specific zones. Issues and Setbacks: Failed to address the fundamental urban needs of many cities. Smart cities concept assumes a base level of infrastructure that India lacks, leading to a misalignment between goals and ground realities. Local governance was bypassed in favor of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), which were designed like private companies to manage projects. Why Smart Cities Bypassed Local Government: Dependence on SPVs: SPVs were set up under the Companies Act, with the rationale that private company-like structures would bring better efficiency and results. City councils and local governments were sidelined, as it was assumed that the technical and managerial expertise of SPVs would outperform public administration. Challenges with the Model: Local governance systems, often politically charged, were perceived as slow and inefficient for urban planning and management. The exclusion of local stakeholders led to a disconnect between the projects and the communities they aimed to serve, impacting the relevance and sustainability of the initiatives. What Happened to the Mission in Shimla? Inclusion in the Smart Cities List: Shimla, initially excluded, was added to the list following legal challenges in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Shimla’s Smart City Plan: The plan included both pan-city initiatives and ABD projects: Retrofit Projects: Pedestrian crossings, improved vehicular mobility, transport corridors, underground ducting, and parking facilities. Redevelopment Projects: Focused on dilapidated areas such as Lower Bazar, Ganj Bazar, and Krishnanagar, aiming to replace unsafe buildings with modern, earthquake-safe structures. Other initiatives like eco-adventure tourism and water security through stormwater and spring water management. Budget and Funding: Total investment: ₹2,906 crore. Sources: ₹897.80 crore from Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). ₹101.77 crore through municipal bonds. ₹205.57 crore from external borrowings. ₹348.49 crore from State and Union government schemes. Remaining funds from other sources. Current Status: As of the latest update, only 24% of the total budget (₹707 crore) has been spent: ₹53 crore on completed projects. ₹654 crore on ongoing projects. PPP funding has yet to materialize. Project Failures:None of the redevelopment projects (e.g., Lower Bazar, Krishnanagar) have been completed.Traffic congestion has worsened, and non-motorised mobility initiatives have been neglected.Funds were used for decorative flower pots worth ₹2 crore instead of meaningful infrastructure.Large, intrusive escalator structures were erected but remain non-operational, disrupting Shimla’s scenic valley views. Outcome of the Smart City Mission: Ineffective Governance and Accountability: The lack of public involvement and ownership resulted in misaligned priorities and poor execution of projects. Lack of accountability for the failures of the mission has led to disillusionment, especially in cities like Shimla. Lessons Learned: Urban development initiatives require meaningful urban governance, local participation, and a commitment to solving ground-level issues, rather than just relying on high-tech solutions. The smart city vision has largely faded, with projects failing to deliver on their initial promises, especially due to top-down implementation without adequate local involvement. Why are antivenoms not easily accessible in India? High Snakebite Mortality: India has the highest number of snakebite deaths in the world, with an estimated 58,000 fatalities annually. A 2020 study revealed 1.2 million snakebite deaths and a threefold increase in disabilities between 2001-2014. Rural areas, especially agricultural zones, face the highest risks, exacerbated during the monsoon when snakes are more active. Relevance : GS 2(Health) Challenges in Antivenom Accessibility: Geographic Barriers: Remote rural locations lack proper medical infrastructure and access to antivenoms. Delayed Treatment: Snakebite victims often face long delays in reaching healthcare facilities, contributing to fatalities. Cold Chain Issues: Antivenoms require cold storage during transportation, but many rural areas lack the necessary infrastructure, leading to degradation of antivenoms. Antivenom Production and Efficacy: Antivenoms are made by injecting venom into animals (typically horses) to produce antibodies, which are then purified for human use. Polyvalent Antivenoms (PVAs): These treat bites from common species (Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper). However, they have limited effectiveness against less common species like the king cobra, banded krait, and others. The variation in venom composition between different species and geographical regions complicates the production of a universally effective antivenom. Cultural and Social Factors: Superstition and Misconceptions: In many rural regions, superstitions delay the use of proper medical treatment, with some opting for traditional or ineffective remedies. Logistical Challenges: Healthcare facilities often face difficulties in stockpiling antivenoms due to high costs, lack of cold storage, and inconsistent supply chains. Challenges in Antivenom Production: Cost and Availability: The high cost of manufacturing antivenoms makes them inaccessible to many, particularly the economically disadvantaged. Dependency on Irula Tribe: The Irula tribe in Tamil Nadu plays a crucial role in venom extraction. Any disruption in their activities could significantly impact antivenom supply. Emerging Solutions: Recombinant DNA Technology: Researchers are working on synthetic antivenoms produced using recombinant DNA, eliminating the need for animal-derived proteins and enhancing safety and efficacy. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Antivenom Design: In 2024, AI-assisted research led by Nobel laureate David Baker promises to improve the design of synthetic antivenoms, potentially offering more effective treatments. Region-Specific Antivenoms: Researchers like Karthik Sunagar are focusing on mapping venom compositions to create targeted, region-specific antivenoms. Portable Diagnostic Tools: New diagnostic tools could help determine the type of venom more quickly, leading to faster and more accurate administration of antivenoms. Systemic Issues: The lack of investment in research and infrastructure remains a significant obstacle to tackling the snakebite crisis. The need for a comprehensive approach, including public awareness campaigns and improved medical facilities, is critical to reducing snakebite fatalities. Hope for the Future: Ongoing research into synthetic antivenoms, improved diagnostic technologies, and region-specific solutions offer promise for better accessibility and effectiveness of treatments. With increased funding and focus on infrastructure, the snakebite crisis in India may be alleviated, reducing fatalities like that of Mayuri. ‘Competent’ to judge Indus Water Treaty dispute, says World Bank Neutral Expert Background: The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960 governs water sharing between India and Pakistan. The Neutral Expert (NE), appointed by the World Bank, resolves technical disputes under the treaty, particularly on hydroelectric project designs. Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) Key Development (January 7): Michel Lino, the NE, declared himself “competent” to resolve technical differences on the design of hydroelectric projects on the Indus. India welcomed this decision, supporting the use of the IWT’s existing dispute resolution framework. Current Dispute: India’s Position: Seeks renegotiation of the IWT for future water security, citing geopolitical and resource concerns. Requests for renegotiation made in January 2023 remain unanswered. Pakistan’s Position: Insists on adhering to the existing treaty and dispute resolution mechanisms. Dispute Resolution under IWT: Permanent Indus Commission (PIC): Initial dispute resolution step. Neutral Expert (NE): If PIC fails, the NE adjudicates technical disputes. Court of Arbitration: If both previous steps fail, the issue moves here for final resolution. India: Believes all steps must be exhausted before moving to the next stage. Pakistan: Seeks a Court of Arbitration despite India’s objections, arguing for parallel dispute mechanisms. Recent Developments: India: Halted PIC meetings in September 2022, requested treaty revisions four times since January 2023, but received no formal response. Neutral Expert’s Role: Michel Lino’s role is to adjudicate on whether the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects comply with the IWT. His decision focuses on technical aspects of the projects’ design. World Bank’s Role: The World Bank facilitates the dispute resolution process, though its involvement has led to conflicting outcomes. Looking Ahead: Lino will hear both countries before deciding on the compliance of the Kishenganga and Ratle projects. His decision could impact ongoing tensions over water rights and hydroelectric development. Top court asks if poll ban on persons charged with crimes will cause irreversible damage Case Overview: The Supreme Court of India is hearing a petition on whether individuals charged with heinous crimes (e.g., murder, rape) should be barred from contesting elections, or if such a ban could unjustly affect those later acquitted. Relevance : GS 2(Polity , Judiciary) Key Arguments: Petitioner’s Argument (Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay): Right to contest elections is not a fundamental right. India’s large population ensures a sufficient pool of honest candidates, so limiting eligibility won’t harm the system. Criticized the current electoral system for discouraging honest candidates. Court’s Inquiry: Justice Surya Kant raised concerns about the irreversible damage to individuals who may be barred from elections but later acquitted. Focus on whether a ban on candidates charged with crimes undermines fairness and justice. Questioned the feasibility of finding enough “honest” candidates in the current political environment. 2020 Supreme Court Judgment: Ordered political parties to disclose the criminal history of candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and explain why candidates with criminal charges were selected. Aimed to reduce criminal influence in politics by enhancing transparency through publication in newspapers and on social media. Current Legal Implications: The case raises a balance between preventing criminals in politics and protecting individuals’ legal rights if later acquitted. The decision could influence candidate selection processes, transparency rules, and electoral reforms. Next Steps: Further hearings scheduled for January 27 to discuss the case in greater detail. DRDO holds key test for hypersonic missiles Event Overview: DRDO successfully conducted a ground test for an active cooled scramjet combustor, a key component in hypersonic missile technology. Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology ) Test Significance: This marks India’s first demonstration of an active cooled scramjet combustor, advancing hypersonic vehicle development. Technology Focus: The test centers on supersonic combustion scramjet (SCS) technology, enabling combustion at speeds >Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). Scramjet Functionality: Air-Breathing Engines: Scramjets mix compressed air with fuel and ignite it at supersonic speeds, enabling efficient high-speed travel. Sustained Combustion: Successful ignition and stable combustion are crucial for hypersonic systems. Test Achievements: Demonstrated stable combustion under high-speed conditions. Enhanced potential for hypersonic missiles and defense vehicles. Strategic Importance: Hypersonic technology offers high-speed strike capabilities and reduced reaction times, making it critical for modern defense. Future Implications: Boosts India’s self-reliance in defense (Atmanirbhar Bharat). Strengthens India’s position in hypersonic tech, reducing dependence on foreign technology. Challenges: Technological Complexity: Overcoming issues like material resistance, heat management, and engine stability. Testing: Ongoing ground and flight tests are necessary to validate technology Broader Context: India joins an exclusive group of nations (U.S., Russia, China) advancing in hypersonic tech, aligning with its strategic defense goals.