Current Affairs 23rd December 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Fragile Five

Context: India’s remarkable rise from “Fragile Five” status to the world’s fifth-largest economy inspires global optimism and positions it as a key player in driving future prosperity.

About Fragile Five

• Term and Origin:
  • Coined in 2013 by a Morgan Stanley analyst.
  • Describes emerging market economies with risky foreign investment dependence.
• Original Members:
  • India
  • Brazil
  • Turkey
  • South Africa
  • Indonesia
• Vulnerability Factors:
  • Heavily impacted by the 2008 global financial crisis.
  • Sudden capital outflows caused financing difficulties.
  • Challenges in managing current account deficits and foreign debt.
  • Economic vulnerabilities and growth slowdown as consequences.

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Namdapha flying squirrel

Context: The Namdapha flying squirrel has been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Namdapha Squirrel

• Status: Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List,
• Habitat: Found only in Namdapha National Park, a protected area in the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot (Arunachal Pradesh, India).
• Park Established: Namdapha National Park was established in 1983, covering nearly 2000 square kilometres.
• Species Rarity: The Namdapha flying squirrel is known for its rarity, with only a single confirmed specimen collected in 1981.
• Specialised Habitat: Requires specific conditions within the park’s ecosystem, including tall Mesua ferrea jungles and possibly specific valleys.
• Conservation Concern: The rarity, specialised habitat, and potential threats like habitat loss and poaching highlight the need for conservation efforts to protect this unique species.

International Year of Camelids

Context: The United Nations has declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids to emphasise the significant importance of camelids.

About Camelids

• Diverse Group:
  • Includes Bactrian camels, dromedaries, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos.
  • Tall, long-necked, thin-legged animals, some with humps.
• Unique Traits:
  • Strict herbivores.
  • Tripartite stomachs for efficient plant digestion.
  • Split upper lips for precise grazing.
  • Oval-shaped red blood cells for improved blood flow in dehydration.
  • Primarily social creatures.
• Global Significance:
  • Crucial for food security, nutrition, and economic development in over 90 countries.
  • Particularly beneficial for indigenous and local communities.
• Contributions to Sustainability:
  • Provide milk and meat (combating hunger) for Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Offer fibre for textiles and shelter.
  • Utilised for transportation.
  • Waste acts as natural fertilizer, boosting agricultural productivity.
• Essential in Harsh Environments:
  • Vital to livelihoods in Andean mountains, African and Asian arid/semi-arid zones.
  • Thrive in extremes, showcasing resilience and adaptability.
• Climate Change Symbol:
  • Camelid endurance exemplifies adaptation to challenging conditions.
  • Can serve as an emblem for climate change awareness.

Himalayan phenomenon

Context: A new study in Nature Geoscience reveals a surprising phenomenon in the Himalayas that may offer a way to mitigate the effects of climate change.

About the Phenomenon

• Cold Air Winds in the Himalayas:
  • When high temperatures hit Himalayan ice, it triggers “katabatic winds” that rush cold air down slopes.
  • These winds are like rivers of cold air flowing from high peaks to lower valleys.
• Temperature Gap Triggers the Flow: Warm mountain air and cool ice air create a temperature difference, causing turbulent heat exchange.
• Downhill Rush of Dense Air: The cooled, heavy air sinks down the slopes, creating katabatic winds.
• A Possible Ally against Climate Change: These cold winds might help counteract global warming in some areas.

New EU Pact on migration and asylum

Context: The European Union and Member states have reached an agreement to reform the bloc’s migration policy through ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’.

About New Pact on Migration and Asylum

• Faster Processing: This aims to speed up asylum claims through a pre-entry screening process that gathers basic information like nationality, age, fingerprints, and facial images.
• Centralised Database: Creates a large-scale database to store biometric data collected during screening, facilitating identification and tracking.
• Two-Track System: Introduces two pathways for migrants:
  • Traditional asylum procedure for thorough case evaluation (several months).
  • Fast-tracked border procedure for quicker decisions (max. 12 weeks).
• Mandatory Solidarity: Ensures EU member states share responsibility through “mandatory solidarity.” Countries have three options:
  • Relocate a set number of asylum seekers.
  • Pay a financial contribution for each refused relocation.
  • Provide operational support for migration management.
• Emergency Measures: Allows for stricter measures in extraordinary situations involving sudden mass arrivals, like during the COVID-19 pandemic. These may include longer detention periods.

Ennore Creek

Context: Recently, massive oil spillage occurred due to flood water from cyclone Michaung from the state-run Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) refinery in Chennai.

About Ennore Creek

• Located on the Coromandel Coast, Ennore Creek acts as a vital buffer between the sea and the aquifers of the Araniyar-Kosasthalaiyar Basin.
• The creek is situated in the floodplains of three rivers.
• With Chennai’s location on a coastline vulnerable to disasters, Ennore Creek’s wetlands serve as natural safeguards.
• These wetlands absorb the impact of natural disasters, helping to mitigate their effects on the city.

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