[UPSC World]

A Brief Overview

Why it started?

• Students are protesting against the government’s decision to reinstate a 30% job quota for freedom fighters and their descendants.
• The quota system was introduced in 1972, reserving 30% of government and semi-government posts for freedom fighters and 10% for women.
• The protesters believe the quota system limits merit-based opportunities and has been misused.

How it is going?

• The protests have turned violent, resulting in over 100 deaths and leading to a siege of Dhaka.
• The government has imposed a curfew and an internet shutdown.
• The situation has escalated, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina labeling protesters as “razakars” or traitors.
• The military has been deployed to control the unrest.

Key Issues

• The quota system has been criticized for being extended to broader categories over time, leading to concerns about fairness and effective utilization.
• There have been allegations of abuse, with reservations extended to party operatives and not just deserving freedom fighters’ descendants.
• The protesters demand a more balanced and inclusive quota system.

International Relations

• India has refrained from commenting, considering it an internal matter for Bangladesh.
• The Indian mission in Bangladesh has helped 978 Indians return home.
• India is the largest development partner for Bangladesh, having extended approximately $8 billion in Lines of Credit (LOC) over the past eight years.

Way forward

• The Bangladesh government should consider a transparent and balanced quota reform that addresses both merit-based and reservation needs.
• Establishing mechanisms to monitor the implementation of quotas and prevent misuse is crucial.

[UPSC World]

Wayanad landslides as ‘National Disaster’?

• Recently, Kerala has requested the Centre to declare the Wayanad landslide in Vythiri taluk a ‘National Disaster’. The Central government is considering the legality of declaring the landslide a national disaster.
• There is no official or defined category of ‘national disasters’, however, these are significant events that can cause widespread damage, loss of life, and disruption to communities.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) oversees the management of disasters.
• NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister and was established in 2005.
• The state government is primarily responsible for disaster management, but the Centre provides additional assistance if needed.
• The Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs monitors the utilization of funds.
• A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is set up with a corpus shared between the Centre and State.
• Additional assistance is considered from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) if CRF resources are inadequate.
• The annual Central contribution is released in two equal installments.
• A natural disaster includes natural events like earthquakes, floods, and landslides.
• Man-made disasters can include nuclear, biological, and chemical incidents.
• There is no provision under existing guidelines to declare any disaster as a national calamity.

[UPSC World]

A Web of Allies Poised to Strike Against Israel

• Recently, an airstrike in Tehran resulted in the assassination of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
• This incident has led experts to believe that Iran may retaliate by increasing attacks against Israel.
• However, Iran is likely to carry out these attacks through its allies, rather than directly.
• These allies are part of the “Axis of Resistance”, a network of organizations that oppose Israel and are supported by Iran.
• The “Axis of Resistance” includes groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
• Experts believe that Iran may use these allies to launch attacks against Israel, rather than taking direct action itself.
• This approach would allow Iran to maintain plausible deniability and avoid direct confrontation with Israel.

[UPSC World]

India’s Delicate Balancing Act in the Iran-Israel Conflict

• India’s silence on the Iran-Israel conflict reflects its dilemma in balancing ties with both countries.
• India has stakes in the region’s stability due to the presence of 18,000 Indians in Israel and 5,000-10,000 in Iran.
• The conflict poses a risk to the Indian community and could impact energy security, as the region contributes to 80% of India’s oil supplies.
• India has invested in strategic relationships with Arab countries, Iran, and Israel, and sees the region as its extended neighborhood.
• The conflict could impact India’s plans for the Chabahar port in Iran and the India-Israel-UAE-US I2U2 initiative.
• India has a deep strategic relationship with Israel, especially in defense and security partnership.
• India maintains a balanced stand, expecting both countries to avoid military actions that could trigger a wider war.
• India’s non-ideological engagement with the region is necessary for its expanding interests in the Middle East.
• India’s position is that there should be immediate de-escalation, a step back from violence, and a return to diplomacy, which is crucial to its national interest.

[UPSC World]

Assassination of Hamas Leader Escalates Middle East Tensions

• Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Iran on July 31, reportedly in an Israeli “strike” on his residence.
• The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.
• Haniyeh’s killing marks a defining moment in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
• Iran has vowed to avenge the killing, signaling that Hamas leaders are not safe in Iran.
• The assassination has the potential to trigger further hostilities and wider conflict in the Middle East.
• From Israel’s perspective, Haniyeh’s killing is a major victory in its mission to neutralize Hamas.
• However, for Hamas, it is a major provocation, and pressure will mount on Iran’s newly-elected President to respond in kind.

Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya) is a Palestinian Islamist political party and militant organization that has been the government of the Gaza Strip since 2007. Founded in 1987, Hamas is known for its armed resistance against Israel, which it views as an occupying power, and its commitment to establishing an Islamic state in Palestine.

[UPSC World]

The men’s triathlon event at the Paris Olympics 2024 has been postponed due to alarmingly high levels of pollution in the Seine River, which runs through the heart of Paris.

• The Seine River is the second longest river of France, after the Loire.
• It is approximately 777 kilometers (483 miles) long and flows through the heart of Paris, dividing the city into two parts.
• The river’s name “Seine” comes from the ancient Celtic word “Sicauna,” meaning “Sacred River.”
• The Seine River is home to over 100 bridges and footbridges, including the famous Pont des Arts and Pont Neuf.
• Despite its beauty, the Seine River faces environmental challenges like pollution, flooding, and habitat destruction, requiring ongoing conservation efforts to protect its ecosystem and water quality.

[UPSC World]

Russian Athletes Banned from 2024 Paris Olympics

• Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from competing under their national flags at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions.
• They can participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs), without representing their country or supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned Russia and Belarus for violating the Olympic Truce and politicizing sports.
• AINs will compete under a neutral flag and uniform, with a neutral song played if they win medals.
• The IOC’s decision aims to maintain political neutrality in sports, although critics argue that this concept is subjective and challenging to interpret consistently.
• The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended in October 2023 for declaring authority over Ukrainian sports organizations.
• This is not the first time athletes have competed as neutrals; in 2014, Indian athletes competed under the Olympic flag after the Indian Olympic Association was suspended.
• The Paris Summer Olympics are considered the most geopolitically charged Olympics in decades.

[UPSC World]

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will make history by having an equal number of men and women competitors, marking the largest gender-equal sporting event.

[UPSC World]

Paris 2024: A Greener Olympic Games

• The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris aim to be the greenest Games ever, stressing the urgent need to tackle climate change.
• The Earth’s rising temperatures and increasing uninhabitable areas make hosting mega events like the Olympics unsustainable.
• A recent report highlights rapid progress in sports and sustainability since Tokyo 2020, with almost every sports federation focusing on environmental sustainability.
• Paris 2024 targets reducing CO2 emissions by half, aiming for 1.75 million tonnes.
• The Games will use existing buildings for 95% of events, minimizing new construction and environmental impact.
• The Athletes’ Village will utilize geothermal and solar energy, while stadiums will rely on the public electricity grid.
• Paris 2024 will focus on recycling, reusing, and reducing materials, offering plant-based and local foods, and introducing cycle lanes to encourage low-carbon living.
• However, challenges include carbon emissions from air travel and adapting to climate realities, such as installing temporary cooling units due to extreme heat.
• The effectiveness of offsetting projects for air travel emissions is also a concern.
• Despite challenges, Paris 2024’s sustainability initiatives set a positive example for future Olympic Games.

[UPSC World]

Indian participation in Olympics

• India first participated in the Olympics in 1900, with Norman Pritchard being the first Indian athlete to compete.
• India has won a total of 28 Olympic medals, including 10 gold medals, as of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Recently, India is sent a strong contingent to the Paris Olympics, with a focus on sports like athletics, wrestling, shooting, and hockey.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is responsible for selecting and managing the Indian contingent for the Olympics.
• The Indian government provides support to Olympic athletes through various initiatives, including the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Khelo India program.
• Historic Moments: India has created history in the Olympics with moments like:
  • Abhinav Bindra’s gold medal in shooting in 2008.
  • Mary Kom’s bronze medal in boxing in 2012.
  • Sakshi Malik’s bronze medal in wrestling in 2016.
  • Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in javelin throw in 2020.