Permanent status
Palestine should be granted full-member status of the UN for a start
- Palestine deserves full membership in the UN, as highlighted by a recent Security Council resolution that went unnoticed amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, and was subsequently vetoed by the United States.
- Proposed by Algeria, the resolution seeks to uphold the original UN General Assembly decision to divide the then-mandated Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.
- Since 1949, Israel has been the sole state from the region with full membership status at the UN.
Status of Palestine
- Even though Palestine attained permanent observer status in 2012 and temporary full member privileges during its leadership of the G-77, it hasn’t been granted full recognition as a member state thus far.
- Israel contends that granting Palestine full membership, particularly in the aftermath of terror attacks by Hamas on October 7, would be an inappropriate response to heinous crimes.
- Full membership for Palestine in the UN would ensure that the new state is subject to the same obligations as all other UN members.
- Amidst increasing global instability, the U.S. should prioritize consensus-building rather than favoring individual countries, considering its role as a global leader.
Scientists and a wish list for the incoming government
Scientists are advocating for urgent attention from the new government on five critical issues that require resolution.
Increase spending and infrastructure
- Initially, there’s a pressing need to elevate the country’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development, currently falling short of 0.7% of GDP, both from public funds and private entities.
- Government investment in research and development should see an annual increase of at least 50% over the next five years.
- Accompanying this heightened funding is the necessity to bolster the skilled scientific workforce to ensure effective allocation of resources, which involves both recruiting new talent and nurturing existing personnel.
- Secondly, enhancements are imperative for the physical and intellectual infrastructure of public sector entities like universities and research institutions.
Focus on merit
- Thirdly, there’s a need to adopt internationally recognized standards for hiring in educational and research institutions, ensuring a transparent, expedited process devoid of any external influence.
- Selection criteria must strictly adhere to merit-based principles, ensuring the selection of the most qualified candidates for respective positions, unaffected by external pressures.
- Fourthly, establishing a dependable science grant management system is essential to streamline research processes.
- Effective utilization of funds entails scientists acquiring necessary research materials based on quality rather than opting for the cheapest available options.
Ensure freedom
- Lastly, the most crucial aspect is ensuring scientists have the freedom to express themselves and publish their findings based on evidence without any interference.
- To achieve India’s goal of becoming the second-largest economy by 2050, the government needs to enhance the environment for scientific endeavors by granting scientists complete autonomy in thinking and implementing their ideas, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles and administrative burdens.
Forests a national asset and major contributor to financial wealth: SC
In a ruling, the Supreme Court has emphasized that forests in India are a valuable national resource and play a significant role in contributing to the country’s economic prosperity.
News context
- The ruling was issued following an appeal by the State of Telangana against a High Court decision that had granted forest land to a private individual.
- The Supreme Court mandated a fine of ₹5 lakh each from both the state government and the private individuals involved, and directed the state to conduct a transparent investigation.
- This judgment arrives at a crucial juncture, coinciding with the ongoing controversy surrounding the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act (FCAA) 2023, which has faced extensive public scrutiny and criticism.
FCAA, 2023
- Critics argue that the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act (FCAA) grants states excessive authority to legalize encroachments in protected forests and decide on the diversion of forestlands.
- The Act has faced condemnation for facilitating the commercialization of forests.
- The court emphasized the emergence of concepts like carbon credit and green accounting as legitimate means to assess a nation’s wealth.
- In this system, a country with surplus forest cover could sell its extra carbon credits to nations facing deficits.
A major sink
- India’s forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2), with carbon stocks in our forests and trees increasing from 6,245 million tonnes (mt) to 6,662 mt.
- By 2050, the economy could suffer a loss equivalent to 2.8% of its GDP, potentially affecting the livelihoods of nearly half of the population.
- According to a report by the RBI, India faces the prospect of annual GDP losses ranging from 3% to 10% by the year 2100 due to climate change.
- The report underscores the significant potential impact of climate change on society, highlighting the likelihood of widespread job losses across all sectors.
India delivers first batch of BrahMos supersonic missiles to Philippines
News Context:
- India has supplied the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking India as the missile’s inaugural export customer.
- In January 2022, the Philippines finalized a $375-million agreement with India for three batteries of a shore-based, anti-ship version of the BrahMos.
- The acquisition by the Philippines is part of the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
Issue amid Relations:
- The delivery coincides with escalating tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, bolstering the defensive capabilities of the Philippines.
- The Philippine Marines’ coastal defense regiment will primarily utilize these missile systems.
- BrahMos, named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, is a collaborative effort between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
- The missile is versatile, capable of being deployed from land, sea, underwater, and air platforms to target both surface and sea-based forces.
Fossils of huge prehistoric snake found in Kutch mine
Old Fossil Discovery:
- Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, have announced the unearthing of fossils belonging to one of the largest snakes in history.
- These fossils are estimated to be around 47 million years old, dating back to the Middle Eocene period.
- Discovered in Kutch, Gujarat, the reptile, named Vasuki Indicus, is believed to have measured between 10 to 15 meters in length.
- While it belonged to the now-extinct Madtsoiidae snake family, Vasuki Indicus represents a distinct lineage unique to India, according to the researchers.
Significance:
- The substantial size of Vasuki Indicus is attributed to the high temperatures prevalent in the tropical climate during its era.
- Vasuki Indicus inhabited a vastly different Earth, where Africa, India, and South America were a single, interconnected landmass.
- Possessing a cylindrical body and robust build, Vasuki Indicus rivaled the massive Titanoboa in size, purportedly making it one of the longest snakes known to have existed.
- This discovery holds significance not only in shedding light on ancient Indian ecosystems but also in unraveling the evolutionary journey of snakes across the Indian subcontinent.