News In Short – 02-09-2024

Munich Agreement

Syllabus: GS1/World History

Context

• On September 1st, 1939  German troops marched into Poland, triggering the beginning of World War II, that exposed to the world the folly of the Munich Agreement that was signed less than a year previously.

About the Munich Agreement

• On September 29-30, 1938, in Munich, an agreement was reached—one that would have far-reaching consequences for Europe and the world.
• It emerged against the backdrop of rising tensions in Europe. 
• Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, had set his sights on the Sudetenland—a region in Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population. 
• The Sudeten Germans, who found themselves part of Czechoslovakia after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, yearned to be part of a ‘Greater Germany’.

Key Players

• Nazi Germany: Led by Hitler, Germany sought territorial expansion.
• United Kingdom: Represented by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who believed in appeasement as a means to prevent war.
• France: French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier participated in the negotiations.
• Italy: Benito Mussolini, Italy’s Prime Minister, also had a seat at the table.

Deal

• The Munich Agreement allowed for the German annexation of the Sudetenland, where over three million ethnic Germans lived.
• Appeasement Diplomacy: Chamberlain, eager to avoid conflict, met Hitler in Munich.
  • The agreement was based on an Italian proposal: Germany would gain control of Sudetenland, and in return, Hitler promised not to pursue further territorial expansion.
• Czechoslovakia’s Dilemma: The Czechoslovak government was not officially part of the negotiations.
  • Under pressure from Britain and France, they reluctantly agreed to the deal.

Fallout and Lessons

• False Security: The Munich Agreement was hailed as a triumph for peace, but it proved illusory. Hitler’s ambitions went beyond Sudetenland.
• War Looms: Within a year, Nazi Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, and World War II began in earnest.
• Historical Judgement: The Munich Agreement remains a stark lesson in the dangers of appeasement. Placating expansionist regimes rarely leads to lasting peace.

Source: IE

Namibia

Syllabus :GS 1/Places

In News

• Namibia is experiencing its worst drought in a century, exacerbated by El Niño.

Status 

• Food availability is critically low; staple crops and livestock have perished.
• Approximately 1.2 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity.
• Therefore ,The government plans to cull 723 wild animals (including elephants, hippos, buffaloes, impalas, blue wildebeests, zebras, and elands) to provide meat.

About Namibia

 

• The Republic of Namibia is situated on the southwestern coast of Africa and borders Angola and Zambia in the north, the Republic of South Africa in the south and Botswana in the east.
• The Namibian landscape consists generally of five geographical areas, each with characteristic abiotic conditions and vegetation with some variation within and overlap between them: the Central Plateau, the Namib Desert, the Escarpment, the Bushveld, and the Kalahari Desert. 
• Mountains – Brandberg (with the height of 2,573 m), Spitzkoppe, Molteblick, Gamsberg.
• Rivers – Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi.

Source:IE

India recorded its Warmest August Since 1901

Syllabus: GS1/Climate

Context

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that India recorded its warmest August since 1901.

About

• The all-India average monthly minimum temperature rose to an all-time record of 24.29 degrees Celsius for August. The normal is 23.68 degrees Celsius.
• As good rainfall activity was recorded during August, the persistent cloudy conditions pushed the minimum temperatures above normal.
• The all-India rainfall for August ended with a surplus of 15.3 per cent.
  • This was the second highest August rainfall over the country since 2019.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) – It was established in 1875.  – It is the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. – It is under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Source: IE

Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Department of Telecommunication, notified ‘Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024’, the first set of rules under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 .

About

• The Universal Service Obligation Fund created under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 has rechristened as Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2024.
• It stipulates that funds from the Digital Bharat Nidhi will be allocated to projects aimed at improving telecommunication services in underserved and remote areas and for underserved groups of the society.

Telecommunications Rules, 2024

• The rules provide for powers and functions of administrator, who will be responsible for overseeing the implementation and administration of the Digital Bharat Nidhi. 
• The Implementer, receiving funding from the Digital Bharat Nidhi for operating telecommunication network, shall make available such network/services on an open and non-discriminatory basis.
• The rules also provide for criteria for undertaking schemes and projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi and selection process for implementers.

Criteria for undertaking schemes and project 

• These include projects for provision of telecommunication services, including mobile and broadband services and telecommunication equipment required for delivery of telecommunication services;
• Introduction of next generation telecommunication technologies in underserved rural, remote and urban areas;

• Promoting innovation, research and development; and commercialisation of indigenous technology development and associated intellectual property including creation of regulatory sandboxes, 
• Developing and establishing relevant standards to meet national and international requirements;
• To create a bridge between academia, research institutes, start-ups and industry for capacity building and development; and 
• To promote sustainable and green technologies in the telecommunications sector.

Source: PIB

Vadhvan Port

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy 

In News

• Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Vadhvan Port project in Palghar, Maharashtra

About the port 

• JNPA, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra Maritime Board, proposed the development of Vadhvan Port.
• It will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports. The project is estimated to cost around ₹76,000 crore.
• The port will be developed based on the Landlord Port.  In the landlord model, private players take over the operational aspects, while the port authority acts as a regulator and landlord.
• Capacity: Expected to be among the top 10 ports globally, with a handling capacity of 23.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
• Functionality: Designed to handle large container vessels, offer deeper drafts, and accommodate ultra-large cargo ships.

Significance

• This will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports and will significantly reduce the transit times and costs by providing direct connectivity to international shipping routes like: International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• Further, the port is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses, and contribute to the overall economic development of the region.

Source:TH

India Post Payments Bank

Syllabus: GS3/Economy; Financial Inclusion

Context

• Recently, India Post Payments Bank has established many new dimensions in its journey of 6 years by promoting ‘Aapka Bank, Aapke Dwar’.

About the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

• It is an undertaking of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication & Technology, launched nationwide in 2018.
• It was established with a mission to promote financial inclusion and contribute to Digital India, and has become a vital player in rural areas.

Empowering the Last Mile

• IPPB targets some of the most financially excluded and vulnerable sections of society.
• Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks act as mobile banks, delivering various services like Aadhaar enrollment for children up to 5 years old; Mobile updates through CELC service; Digital life certificates; Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT); Aadhaar-enabled payment system; Bill payments; Insurance services (vehicle, health, accident, and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana); Online deposits in Sukanya, RD, PPF, and Postal Life Insurance.
• Women Empowerment: A remarkable 44% of IPPB customers are women, highlighting its crucial role in empowering women through financial services.

Source: PIB

Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The Supreme Court pulled up the AYUSH ministry for its notification asking state licensing authorities “not to initiate/take any action under” Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

About

• In 2018, the government brought in Rule 170 to govern the manufacture, storage, and sale of medicines in the country, specifically for controlling inappropriate advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines.
• The rule prohibits AYUSH drug manufacturers from advertising their products without approval and allotment of a unique identification number from the state licensing authority. 
  • The manufacturers have to submit textual references and rationale for the medicine from authoritative books, indication for use, evidence of safety, effectiveness, and quality of drugs.
• The rule was introduced after a parliamentary standing committee highlighted the problem of misleading claims, and the need for the AYUSH ministry to proactively pursue the issue.

Source: IE