INSIGHTS

DAILY
CURRENT
AFFAIRS + PIB
SUMMARY

13 JULY 2023

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 GS Paper 1
Table of Contents
ANTHROPOCENE EPOCH: WHAT
GS Paper 1
• Anthropocene epoch: What it means, significance2 IT MEANS, SIGNIFICANCE
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Geomorphology
• Tenure extension system: SC asks ED chief to quit 3
Context: According to the Anthropocene Working Group
(AWG), sediments at Crawford Lake in Canada’s Ontario have
GS Paper 4
provided evidence of the beginning of the Anthropocene ep-
• Moral atonement 4 och.

Content for Mains Enrichment AWG:

• Musk calls Zuck a ‘cuck’ 5 ● It is an interdisciplinary research group dedicated
• Human-Stray Dog conflict 5 to the study of the Anthropocene as a geological
time unit.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) ● It was established in 2009 as part of the Subcom-
mission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS), a constit-
• Kui language 5
uent body of the International Commission on Stra-
• Sangam literature 5 tigraphy (ICS).
• Shelf cloud 6
• Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) 6 Earth’s geological timeline:
• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) 6
• UPI QR codes for CBDC transactions 7
• Change in colour of world’s Ocean 7
• Brucellosis 7
• Guillain-Barre syndrome 7
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 8

Mapping
• Ecuador8

● The geologic time scale is the calendar for events in

Earth’s history.
● It subdivides all time into units of abstract time called
(in descending order of duration) - eons (about a bil-
lion years), eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
● Each of these categories is further divided into
sub-categories. For instance, Earth’s history is char-
acterised by four eons, including -
○ Hadeon (oldest),

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 ○ Archean,
○ Proterozoic, and
○ Phanerozoic (youngest).
● The enumeration of these geologic time units is
based on stratigraphy, which is the correlation and
classification of rock strata - which contains differ-
ent kinds of fossils characterising different intervals
of time.
● Officially, we’re in the Phanerozoic eon, Cenozoic
era, Quaternary period, Holocene epoch and the
Meghalayan age.
The Holocene epoch:
● The Holocene is the current geological epoch, which
began approximately 11,700 years ago.
● It follows the Last Glacial Period and the Holocene
along with the preceding Pleistocene forms the Qua-
ternary period.
● The Holocene, which has been identified with the
current warm period, corresponds with the rapid
proliferation, growth and impacts of the human
species worldwide.
What is the Anthropocene epoch?
The term was first Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul
coined by Crutzen and biology professor Eu-
gene Stoermer in 2000
Denotes The present geological time inter-
val, in which the Earth’s ecosystem
has gone through radical changes
due to human impact, especially
since the onset of the Industrial
Revolution.
Phenomena associ- Such as global warming, sea-lev-
ated with this epoch el rise, ocean acidification, mass-
scale soil erosion, the advent of
deadly heat waves, deterioration
of the biosphere and other det-
rimental changes in the environ-
ment.
Impact Many of these changes will persist
for millennia or longer and are al-
tering the trajectory of the Earth
System, some with permanent ef-
fects.
What have the geol- In a major development that could
ogists found? change the Earth’s official geolog-
ical timeline, distinct and multiple
signals show the start of the An-
thropocene epoch around 1950,
when human activity started to
have a significant impact on the
Earth.
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Evidence The presence of plutonium (due
to the detonation of nuclear
weapons) gives us a stark indica-
tor of when humanity became
such a dominant force that it could
leave a unique global ‘fingerprint’
on planet Earth. But these find-
ings don’t mean that they have
proved the advent of the Anthro-
pocene epoch.
Insta Links: Geological time scale
Mains Links:
Q. The scale of geologic time is vast, currently estimated at
nearly 4.6 billion years. During that time, life evolved into
the familiar forms we see today. Elaborate upon the impor-
tance of studying geologic time scale (GTS).
GS Paper 2
TENURE EXTENSION SYSTEM: SC
ASKS ED CHIEF TO QUIT
Syllabus: Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-ju-
dicial Bodies
Context: The SC asked the ED Director to quit (4 months
before his third extension ends) even as it upheld statutory
amendments which facilitate the tenures of Directors of the
CBI and the ED to be stretched.
The timeline which leads to the recent verdict:
● The current Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director
(Mr SK Mishra) was appointed for a two-year term
in 2018.
○ In 2020, the original appointment was retro-
spectively amended to make it a three-year
tenure.
● In 2021, the SC directed the government to stop giv-
ing extensions to the ED Director.
● In order to tweak the above verdict, amendments
were enacted in 2021 to the Central Vigilance Com-
mission Act, the Delhi Special Police Establishment
Act.
○ This allows a maximum of 3 annual exten-
sions (taking a total term of 5 years) to the
Directors of CBI and ED on the recommen-
dation of High-Level Committees.
○ Earlier, CBI and ED chiefs have fixed tenures
of two years.
● He was given two annual extensions in 2021 and
2022, despite crossing the age of superannuation.
The High-Level Committees:
● A five-member panel composed of the Central Vig-
ilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners
had to recommend if an ED Director was worthy of
an extension in service.
● In the case of the CBI Director, a High-Level Commit-
tee of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the
Chief Justice of India had to recommend.
● These committees were required to record reasons
in writing in support of their recommendations.
The recent verdict:
● The back-to-back service extensions given to the ED
Director in 2021 and 2022 were illegal, as they were
not as per the recommendations of the High-Level
Committees.
● By upholding the 2021 amendments, the court dis-
agreed with the argument that the Centre could use
the service extensions as a ‘carrot and stick’ policy
- against the principle of insulating these agencies
from government pressure.
Takeaways from the SC’s verdict:
● A setback to the cause of protecting institutional
independence.
○ While the part of the judgement quashing
the extensions given to the ED Director, may
be welcomed, the rest of it is a free pass to
the government to undermine the autono-
my of these agencies.
● Even though Parliament can remove the basis for
any judgement through legislation, it cannot nullify
a court direction.
○ The Court’s earlier observation that such ex-
tension should be given to those who have
attained superannuation only in “rare and
exceptional cases”, was ignored by the gov-
ernment.
Conclusion:
At a time when there is a cloud of suspicion over the mis-
use of government agencies against political opponents, the
Court’s endorsement of a tenure extension system designed
to undermine their independence is not conducive to the
rule of law.
4 www.insightsonindia.com
Insta Links: Parliamentary panel recommends new law to
define power, functions of CBI
Mains Links:
Q. What is a quasi-judicial body? Explain with the help of
concrete examples. (UPSC 2016)
GS4
MORAL ATONEMENT
Syllabus: Ethics
Context: In the editorial article, Shashi Tharoor discusses
the issue of colonial-era artefacts and the need for moral
atonement alongside financial reparations.
What is Moral atonement?
It refers to the act of acknowledging and taking responsi-
bility for one’s moral wrongdoings or harmful actions and
seeking to make amends or seek forgiveness. It involves a
sincere effort to make things right on a moral level.
Recent Example: Netherlands will return hundreds of co-
lonial-era artefacts — including a bejewelled, ceremonial
cannon—to Sri Lanka. Also, British and German museums
returned the so-called Benin Bronzes stolen from Nigeria
during a large-scale 1897 British military expedition.
Other examples:
• Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 apol-
ogised on behalf of Canada for denying permission
for the Indian immigrants on the Komagata Maru to
land in Vancouver (in 1914), thereby sending most
of them to their deaths.
• Willy Brandt (Chancellor of Germany) sank to his
knees at the Warsaw Ghetto in 1970 to apologise to
Polish Jews for the Holocaust.
Example from daily life:
Imagine you accidentally break your friend’s favourite mug
while visiting their house. You feel guilty and understand
that you have caused them distress.
To make moral atonement, you would take the following
steps:
• Acknowledge your mistake: Admit that you broke
your friend’s mug and understand that it was your
fault.
• Apologize: Express sincere remorse for your actions
and apologize to your friend for the damage caused.
• Take responsibility: Offer to replace the mug or
compensate your friend for its value as a way of tak-
ing responsibility for your actions.
• Learn from the experience: Reflect on what hap-
pened and learn from your mistake. Promise to be
more careful and considerate in the future.
 Other ethical words involved:
Restitution refers to the act of returning or restoring
something that was taken, stolen, or lost to its rightful
owner. It involves making amends or compensating for
past injustices or wrongdoings.
• For example, returning cultural artefacts or artworks to
their country of origin, which were acquired through
colonialism or looting, can be seen as a form of resti-
tution.
Reparation refers to the act of making amends or provid-
ing compensation for harm or injustice caused. It involves
acknowledging and addressing past wrongs to achieve
justice.
• For example, providing financial compensation or sup-
port to individuals or communities who were victims
of slavery or other forms of historical oppression can
be considered reparations.
Insta Links:
Essence Determinants and Consequences of Ethics
Content for Mains Enrichment
MUSK CALLS ZUCK A ‘CUCK’
The launch of Meta’s social media platform Threads led to
heightened tensions between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon
Musk. Musk called Zuckerberg a “cuck” in a tweet, follow-
ing a screenshot of a conversation between Zuckerberg and
Wendy’s.
Ethical Issues: The ethical issues involved in Musk calling
Zuckerberg a “cuck” include the use of derogatory language,
perpetuating misogyny, and engaging in online harassment.
This behaviour promotes a toxic online environment and
undermines respectful communication.
Usage: The example can be used to show how leaders/Ce-
lebrities should not behave in public spaces.
HUMAN-STRAY DOG CONFLICT
Context: The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear dif-
ferent perspectives to find a humane and long-lasting solu-
tion to conflicts between humans and stray dogs, particular-
ly in the state of Kerala.
• The court was responding to a plea by the Kannur dis-
trict panchayat to euthanize stray dogs deemed to be
“suspected rabid” and “extremely dangerous.”
Two views:
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• View 1: Advocates representing the district panchayat
highlighted the case of an 11-year-old boy who was fa-
tally attacked by stray dogs. Several such cases of dog
attacks have come across throughout India.
• View 2: Animal rights activists emphasized that local au-
thorities should strictly implement animal birth control
rules and prevent cruelty towards stray dogs. Instances
of hanging, poisoning, and drowning of stray dogs have
been reported, and activists are advocating for their pro-
tection
The ethical issues involved in the human-stray dog conflict
include the treatment of animals, the balance between hu-
man safety and animal rights, and the implementation of ef-
fective and humane solutions.
Use: The issue can be taken as a case study from the ethical
point of view and dilemmas involved in finding a humane
solution.
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
KUI LANGUAGE
Context: The state cabinet of Odisha has approved the rec-
ommendation to include the Kui language in the eighth
schedule of the Constitution of India.
Kui Language
• Kui language is a vernacular tribal language of Odi-
sha.
• It is also referred to as Kandh, Khondi, Kanda, Kodu,
Kuinga.
• It is a South-Eastern Dravidian language mainly spo-
ken by the Kandhas or Kondhs.
• It is written in the Odia script.
According to information available on the UNESCO site, the
Koi language status situation is potentially vulnerable.
Significance of inclusion in the 8th schedule
• The inclusion of the Kui language in the 8th schedule
will help in the preservation, promotion and propa-
gation of this language and associated culture.
SANGAM LITERATURE
Context: The Tamil Nadu Text Book and Education Services
Corporation has published a collection of ten idylls called
Patthuppattu, one of the earliest Sangam poetry collections.
• The publication pays tribute to U.Ve. Swaminatha
Iyer, dedicated himself to finding ancient palm leaf
manuscripts containing Tamil literary works.
About Sangam Period:
• The Sangam period or age, particularly referring to
the third Sangam period, is the period of the his-
tory of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri
Lanka (then known as Tamilakam), spanning from
c. 6th century BCE to c. 3rd century CE.
• Historians and Ideologists regard the Sangam period
as the ‘classical age’ of the Tamils analogous to the
age of the classics in Greece and Rome and to that
of the Renaissance of later period in Europe.
• The term ‘Sangam’ literally means ‘confluence’
SHELF CLOUD
Context: A viral video on social media shows the formation
of spectacular clouds known as shelf clouds or Arcus clouds
during heavy monsoon rains in Haridwar, India.
• The video, shared on Twitter, depicts a towering
wall of clouds with a horizontal rotation. The au-
thenticity of the video has not been independently
confirmed.
About Shelf Clouds:
Shelf clouds are wedge-shaped formations that appear
on the leading edge of storms. They occur when cold and
dense air is forcefully driven into a warmer air mass during
the downdraft of a thunderstorm.
How it is formed?
Shelf clouds form when warm, moist air is lifted rapidly by
an advancing thunderstorm or cold front. As the warm air
rises, it cools and condenses, forming a cloud. The rising air
creates a boundary between the cool, downdraft air from
the storm and the warm, updraft air ahead of it. The shelf
cloud is usually dark and ominous-looking due to the con-
densation and the presence of rain or hail within the storm.
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ASSOCIATION OF WORLD ELEC-
TION BODIES (A-WEB)
Context: Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar led
a delegation from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to
attend the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the As-
sociation of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) in Cartagena,
Colombia.
About The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)
(founded 2012; HQ: Seoul, South Korea):
• It is the largest association of Election Manage-
ment Bodies (EMBs) worldwide and aims to foster
efficiency and effectiveness in conducting free, fair,
transparent and participative elections worldwide.
• Composition: Membership currently consists of 118
EMBs as members and 20 Regional associations as
associate members.
India has been closely associated with A-WEB since its incep-
tion and has actively participated in capacity-building pro-
grams and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The India A-WEB
Centre has been established in New Delhi to document and
research best practices and provide training and capacity
building for A-WEB members.
ATAL VAYO ABHYUDAY YOJANA
(AVYAY)
Context: The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is a scheme
launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empower-
ment in India to empower senior citizens and ensure their
well-being and social inclusion.
About AVYAY:
Aspect Details
Scheme Name Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana
Scheme Type Central Sector Scheme
Former Name National Action Plan for Senior Citizens
Aim The scheme aims to address the finan-
cial, healthcare, and social needs of el-
derly citizens, recognizing their valuable
contributions to society.
Vision To create a society where senior citi-
zens, live a healthy, happy, and empow-
ered life
Components 1. Integrated Program for Senior Citizens
(IPSrC) 2. State Action Plan for Senior Cit-
izens (SAPSrC)
 1. IPSrC Establishing homes for improv-
• CHANGE IN COLOUR OF WORLD’S
ing the quality of life of senior
citizens, especially indigent ones
• Providing basic amenities and
entertainment opportunities -
Encouraging productive and ac-
tive ageing
2. SAPSrC Each state/union territory is expected
to formulate its own action plan for the
welfare of senior citizens
Grant-in-Aid Provided to NGOs/Voluntary Organiza-
tions (VOs) for running and maintain-
ing old age homes and Continuous Care
Homes
Five Schemes 1. Poshan Abhiyan for the elderly
under the Um- 2. Livelihood and skilling initiatives for
brella Scheme senior citizens
3. Scheme on promoting the silver econ-
omy
4. Awareness generation and capacity
building for the welfare of senior citizens
5. Channelizing CSR funds for elderly
care
Nodal Agency Ministry of Social Justice and Empower-
ment
Other compo- The scheme also includes the Rashtriya
nents: Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), which provides
assisted living devices to senior citizens
suffering from age-related disabilities.
A national helpline called Elderline of-
fers free information, guidance, emo-
tional support, and intervention in cases
of abuse or rescue for senior citizens
UPI QR CODES FOR CBDC TRANS-
ACTIONS
Context: RBI announced that customers will soon be able
to use QR codes of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) net-
work for transactions using digital currency.
Advantages: The interoperability of QR codes will facili-
tate more transactions using central bank digital currency
(CBDC). Previously, merchants had to go through a separate
onboarding process and have a specific QR code for CBDC,
causing delays.
In 2022, RBI launched CBDC, known as the Digital Rupee.
It is a digital form of currency issued and regulated by RBI,
representing a digitized version of India’s official currency. It
is based on blockchain technology. It is being issued in the
same denominations as paper currency and coins.
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OCEAN
Context: A new study published in Nature reveals that cli-
mate change has caused a change in the colour of 56 per
cent of the world’s oceans.
• The study found that waters in the tropics, partic-
ularly the southern Indian Ocean, have turned
green. Green-coloured water indicates an increase
in phytoplankton, microscopic plant-like organisms
that are crucial for marine life and carbon dioxide
absorption.
Phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like or-
ganisms that live in the ocean. Phytoplankton contains
chlorophyll, a pigment that gives them a green colour.
The change in ocean colour is an indicator of alterations
in the phytoplankton communities.
The researchers analysed data from the Moderate Resolu-
tion Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua
satellite, which has been monitoring ocean colour for two
decades. They observed long-term trends and used mod-
els to simulate scenarios with and without greenhouse gas
emissions.
BRUCELLOSIS
Context: A seven-year-old student from Kollam, India, has
tested positive for Brucellosis, a bacterial infection that can
spread from animals to humans.
• The girl was admitted to the hospital with symptoms
including severe fever, increased platelet count,
and a swollen face.
About Brucellosis:
Brucellosis is commonly found in cattle, and humans can
contract the infection through close contact with animals
or animal products. If not treated promptly, the infection
can be life-threatening.
GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME
Context: Peru has declared a state of national emergency
due to a surge in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neuro-
logical disorder that can lead to paralysis.
• The country has witnessed an “unusual increase”
in cases, prompting concerns about the strain on
health services.
The health minister expressed concerns about a potential
shortage of immunoglobulin, a standard treatment for
Guillain-Barré syndrome.
About Guillain-Barré syndrome:
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder where the im-
mune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous
system. It can range from mild weakness to severe paral-
ysis. The causes are still unknown. Also, there is no known
cure. However, treatments can help alleviate symptoms and
complications.
DUDHWA TIGER RESERVE
Context: Four tigers died within two months in the Dudhwa
Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve:
• The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Ut-
tar Pradesh located on the India-Nepal border.
• It stretches mainly across the Lakhimpur Kheri and
Bahraich districts.
• It is the only place in Uttar Pradesh where both Ti-
gers and Rhinos can be spotted together.
• It is one of the finest examples of exceedingly di-
verse and productive Terai ecosystems.
Mapping
ECUADOR
The port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador (a route for cocaine
trafficking from neighbouring Colombia to the United
States and Europe) is grappling with a devastating battle for
control among criminal gangs, leaving the country broken.
The violence has escalated dramatically in recent years, mak-
ing Ecuador the fourth most violent country in Latin Amer-
ica, surpassed only by Venezuela, Honduras, and Colombia.
Ecuador is on South America’s west coast. Its diverse land-
scape encompasses the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands
and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands. Ecuador’s role in
the drug trade dates back to the 1980s, when it was a transit
route for Peruvian coca base trafficked into Colombia.

Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is composed of 14 Indian and

Nepalese trans-border protected ecosystems of the Terai
and nearby foothills of the Himalayas and encompasses 14
protected areas of Nepal and India.

8 www.insightsonindia.com