31 October 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. One of the world’s most delicate ecosystems in terms of geology and ecology is the Himalayan Mountains. Analyse the current threats to the Himalayan ecology as well as any possible effects.

GS III – Geography related issues

Introduction:

• One of the most crucial geographical elements for human survival on Earth is the Himalayas. It is a source of rivers with 500 gigawatts (GW) of hydroelectric potential that support over 200 crore people in twelve countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam. The survival of humans and all other living things would be catastrophically threatened by any threat to such an environment.

Today’s risks to the Himalayan ecology include:

• Deforestation and Monoculture: The Himalayan area of Asia is said to have some of the most severely reduced forests. The Himalayan Oak and Rhododendron woods have been supplanted over time by Chir Pine plantations.
• Land use and urbanisation: The topography of the Himalayas has seen significant change, moving from forest cover to farming to built landscape.
• Projects involving hydropower: The Indian Himalayas are said to hold the world’s greatest potential for hydropower. According to one estimate, the Indian Himalayas will have one dam for every 32 km if the government plan to build dams in 28 river valleys in the highlands is carried out in a few decades. But in addition to destroying a large amount of species, this would clog the channel, preventing silt from entering it and producing micro-seismicity.
• Connectivity projects: Over time, there has been a rise in construction activities in the Himalayas, including the Char Dham Highway projects and the NH1 expansion. These initiatives are frequently required by strategic and financial requirements. But it also damages the ecosystem.
• Climate Change: The glaciers in the Himalayan ecosystem may be under risk due to climate change. By 2060, half of the Himalayan region’s current glaciers are predicted to disappear.
• Danger to natural wealth: The Indo-Burma hotspot and the Eastern Himalayan hotspot are two biodiversity hotspots in the Himalayan region. Four biosphere reserves, numerous national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries are located here. These protected heritages are under risk from any changes in the climate or landscape.

These dangers’ effects are:

• Increased seismicity: There has been a lot of warning about the potential hazard posed by dam-induced micro-seismicity, especially in the wake of the devastating 2013 floods that decimated Kedarnath and the mild earthquake that struck the area where the Tehri dam was constructed in 1991.
• Risks of landslides have increased steadily as a result of destabilisation of slopes brought on by development and a decrease in vegetation cover.

An increase in flash flood incidences can be attributed to a number of factors:

• Glacial lakes are growing as a result of the Himalayan glaciers melting, which presents a serious risk to downstream infrastructure and life.
• Faster rate of glacier melting, which could cause glaciers to move.
• Biodiversity loss: The coming years will see a loss in biodiversity due to a number of factors, including changing climate conditions, shifting natural areas, and conflicts between humans and animals.
• Habitat Fragmentation: The species’ migratory paths become fractured as a result of several development projects, which puts them at risk.
• Reduced river supplies: It is anticipated that, with the current rate of climate change, the Himalayan glaciers would be lost in significant amounts, significantly diminishing the supply of Indian rivers, which are a major source of power and drinking water for northern India.
• Drought risk in North India: Seasonal drought conditions could arise in North India due to significant river volume reduction brought on by glacier retreat.
• Loss of livelihood: A large number of pastoralists, such the Bhotias, Gaddis, and Van Gujjars, rely on the Himalayas for their living. Loss of forest will result in decreased productivity of small-scale forest products as well as lost revenue from the travel and tourist sector.
• For India’s economy, culture, and geography to survive, the Himalayan ecology is essential. It means that protecting the geology and such ecosystems is essential. Because of this, it’s critical that development efforts continue to be sustainable and that environmental impact assessments be carefully completed to minimise negative effects.

Q2. What are the fundamental components that keep a terror outfit going? What action should India take to address the terror coming from Pakistani soil?

GS III – Terrorism related issues

Introduction:

• In contrast to assassination, terrorism is a fear-inducing technique of repeated violent action used by covert individual, group, or state actors for unique, illegal, or political purposes. The immediate human victims of terrorism are typically chosen at random or with selection from a target population, and they also function as message bearers.

Important components shared by all acts of terror:

• Terrorising or Trying to Have a Moral Impact: The primary goal of a terrorist group is to make an impression on people’s thoughts in order to either sow discord in society or instill fear, which will lower trust in the established order.
• Illegal financing mechanisms include a variety of activities like prostitution and illegal immigration, money laundering, contract killings, smuggling of weapons, drug and gold trafficking, cybercrime, extortion, and maritime piracy. It is the most crucial pillar because it sets up logistical support and followership.
• An ideology’s propagation (as in the case of Jihadi terrorism), financial gain (as in the case of narco-terrorism), or inflicting suffering on a country (as in the case of state-sponsored terrorism) can all be the motivations behind terrorism.
• Supply chains for the smuggling of weapons: A network for the supply of weapons is required. For instance, left-wing extremism frequently receives its arms from Nepal; in the case of the Taliban, Pakistan served as the primary supplier, and funding came from the trade in opium.
• Channels of communication: Electronic methods are frequently traceable. Consequently, there are sophisticated ways to communicate, such as through text messages, ads in newspapers, etc.
• Shielding Mechanism: Terrorists frequently dress indistinguishably, making them difficult to identify and essentially using regular people as shields.

Through Pakistan, the “external state sponsored terrorism” is maintained by the financial, logistical, technological, and ideological support that it provides to terrorists. In India, it takes two forms:

• The state of Pakistan and the Indian Security Agency (ISI) have a direct influence on terrorism in Kashmir; on the other hand, the Indian Mujahideen (SIMI) receive indirect support from the ISI and the Pakistani government.
• These groups are supported by a network of money laundering, smuggling of drugs and weapons, and counterfeit currency centred in Pakistan.

Actions India should do to combat this terrorism:

• Reducing the funding of terrorism in India: For instance, large amounts of drugs that are used to fund terrorism in India are brought into India through Punjab and Kashmir.
• Dedicated Cyber Cell: To thwart the propaganda supporting jihadi movements coming from Pakistan into Indian cyberspace.
• Cooperation inside UNSC: By obstructing Pakistan, the UN Security Council can promote increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
• Urge the passage of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a treaty that offers a thorough international legal framework for combating terrorism.
• India’s membership in the Global Financial Action Task Force, which seeks to combat the financing of terrorism, is exerting pressure on Pakistan. For example, Pakistan has remained on the FATF’s Grey List because the government has not complied with the timeline set forth for the prosecution and punishment of terrorist financing.
• Information sharing with friendly nations: The US-India Homeland Security Dialogue was established in 2011, and there are similar arrangements with Israel.
• Improved Collaboration with Central Asia: Given that the Chinese have been persecuting the genetically similar Uighurs, India is seen as a positive alternative to the Chinese influence in the region and enjoys strong ties with the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation).
• Using terrorism as a weapon against Pakistan: India has the financial means to provide financial support to terrorist organisations. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are two such examples.
• The Integrated Intelligence Grid, or NATGRID, would house data from eleven different categories of government agencies and private financial institutions. As quickly as possible, these processes need to be activated.
• In conclusion, the Taliban’s return to Kabul would give their fellow passengers, handlers, and supporters in the area more confidence. The Taliban is unlikely to intentionally export terror to other nations, unless it is necessary for them to do so tactically—for example, in order to use Pakistan against India. Nonetheless, it can incite resentful factions inside the area.
• The region’s terror ecosystem was somewhat moderated by the US presence in Afghanistan, international pressure on the Taliban, and FATF concerns in Pakistan. India needs to put more pressure on Pakistan to give up its ambition of delivering India thousand cuts, and one way to do this is by imposing economic penalties.