Daily Content

March 01, 2024

Important Articles of the Day

(English)

Table of Contents

1. Impact of La Niña on Air Quality in India 2

2. Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) by World Health Organisation 3
3. Mission Aspides- In Red Sea 3
4. Supreme Court's Stand on Forest Definition 4
 Impact of La Niña on Air Quality in India

Why in News?
y A new study establishes the first connection between air quality in Indian cities and La Niña
events, suggesting climate change exacerbates these weather phenomena, affecting air quality.

About La Nina:
y La Niña is a weather pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. In this pattern, strong winds blow
warm water at the ocean's surface from South America to Indonesia.
y As the warm water moves west, cold water from the deep rises to the surface near the coast
of South America.

La Niña's Influence on Indian Air Quality:

y Usually, northern Indian cities face high PM2.5 levels in winter, affected by agricultural waste
burning. In contrast, western and southern cities usually have lower pollution due to ocean
proximity.
y La Niña's Influence: Northern cities like Delhi experienced cleaner air, while Mumbai, Bengaluru,
and Chennai saw deteriorated air quality.
o PM 2.5 concentrations dropped significantly in northern cities but increased in Mumbai and
Bengaluru, attributed to La Niña-induced wind pattern changes.
y Wind circulated north-south, directing pollutants from northern states towards Rajasthan,
Gujarat, and further south, affecting air quality in Mumbai and other southern cities.

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Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) by World Health Organisation

Purpose of GIDH:
y The initiative aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of digital health products
among countries.
y It will make digital health technologies more accessible, particularly for countries in the Global
South.

Components of GIDH:
y Country Needs Tracker: Helps identify the specific needs of each country in terms of digital
health resources.
y Country Resource Portal: Provides a map of available resources in each country.
y Transformation Toolbox: Shares quality-assured digital tools for healthcare.
y Knowledge Exchange: A platform for sharing insights and best practices in digital health.

Network Structure:
y GIDH will function as a network of networks, connecting countries and organizations involved
in digital health initiatives.

Why in news?
y WHO launches digital health platform agreed upon in India’s G20 presidency.

Mission Aspides- In Red Sea

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 Need for the mission:
y The Iran-backed Houthis have been disrupting the vital shipping lane in the Red Sea region
since November 2023.
y Recently, a Greek-flagged cargo ship owned by the U.S. was attacked twice in the Gulf of Aden,
near the Red Sea.
y It is initially set for one year and aimed at safeguarding civilian shipping in the Red Sea.
y EU assures that no attacks will be conducted on Yemeni soil.

About Houthis:
y They are a rebel group in Yemen, fighting a civil war with the Yemen government.
y They hold important regions in northern Yemen, including the official capital Sanaa.
y The official government is operating from Aden.
y They are supported by Iran.
y Yemen government is backed by Saudi Arabia and Western countries.

Why in news?
y The European Union has recently launched a Red Sea mission named Mission Aspides, which
aims to protect shipping in the Red Sea region from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Supreme Court's Stand on Forest Definition

Why in News?
y The Supreme Court has emphasized that forests should be defined based on its 1996 judgment,
challenging the government's argument for amending the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) in
2023.

Forest Conservation Act 2023 Amendments:

y Amendment Reason: Aimed to narrow the FCA's scope as expanded by the Supreme Court's
1996 decision, making the act applicable to areas resembling 'forests' by dictionary meaning.
y Government's Objective: Sought to clarify ambiguities and make FCA applicable only to notified
forests and lands recorded as 'forest' in government records.

Supreme Court's Forest Definition:

y 1996 Ruling: Declared FCA applies to lands either recorded as 'forest' or fitting the dictionary
definition, emphasizing comprehensive protection.

Impact of 1996 Judgment on FCA's Scope:

y Perceived Expansion: The 2023 amendments aimed to correct the expansion of FCA applicability
due to the Supreme Court's interpretation.
y Legal Framework: FCA's Section 2 highlights the law's broad scope, not limited to "reserved
forests," applying to any forest land, reinforcing the Supreme Court's wide definition.

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Government's Justification and Challenges:
y Development vs. Conservation: Amendments argued to facilitate development for forest-
dwelling tribes, though the Forest Rights Act 2006 already addresses basic development needs
without needing FCA amendments.
y Legal Challenges: Amendments contested by retired forest officers and NGOs, fearing exclusion
of significant forest areas from FCA protection.

Next Steps Following Supreme Court's Order:

y Consolidated Forest Records: States and UTs must submit records of forests as per the 1996
judgment by March 31, with the Ministry to publish these records by April 15.
y Experts Recommendations: Experts have encouraged to expand protection to worthy forest
lands, continuing the efforts to define and protect forests comprehensively.

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