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Today in History (December 17th,1982)
December 17th is celebrated as Pensioners Day in India to honor the landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in 1982. The judgment guaranteed dignity and decency to retired officials.
Let’s Revise
1) When was the Schengen Area established?
a) 1985
b) 1990
c) 1995
d) 2000
Answer: c)
Explanation: The Schengen Area was established on March 26, 1995, to abolish border controls at mutual borders of member countries.
2) How many European countries comprise the Schengen Area?
a) 25
b) 27
c) 29
d) 31
Answer: c)
Explanation: The Schengen Area is a zone comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders.
3) Which of the following is NOT a member country of the Schengen Area?
a) Iceland
b) Liechtenstein
c) Norway
d) United Kingdom
Answer: d)
Explanation: The United Kingdom is not a member country of the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area includes 25 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
4) What is a key feature of the Schengen Area?
a) Unified currency
b) Free movement without passport checks
c) Common language
d) Single government
Answer: b)
Explanation: One of the key features of the Schengen Area is that citizens of Schengen countries can travel freely within the area without needing to show a passport or go through border checks.
5. Which countries are set to become full members of the Schengen Area from next month?
a) Croatia and Slovenia
b) Greece and Cyprus
c) Romania and Bulgaria
d) Portugal and Spain
Answer: c)
Explanation: Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of Europe’s Schengen free-travel area from next month.
Summary of Today’s News
Modi Takes Up Regional Security with Dissanayake
Context
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.
Key Discussions
• Security Assurance: President Dissanayake assured that Sri Lanka would not allow its territory to be used against India.
• Economic Assistance: India promised to continue grants assistance to Sri Lanka to help it overcome economic challenges.
Major Announcements
• Conversion of Loans to Grants: India announced the conversion of project loans to grants for railway signalling systems and Kankesanthurai Port.
• Energy and Digital Cooperation: Both leaders agreed to expedite cooperation in energy and digital infrastructure projects.
Specific Projects
• Energy Projects: Continued partnership on energy projects, including connecting to a common grid, an India-Sri Lanka multi-product pipeline, LNG supplies, and the Sampur coal power project.
• Grant Extension: India extended a $20.66 million grant to settle payments for completed projects initially signed under a ‘Letter of Credit’ or loan.
Regional Security
• Maritime Security: India highlighted its role in maritime security and research, indicating potential research offers for Sri Lanka.
• Chinese Ships: Concerns over Chinese ships berthing in Sri Lankan ports were discussed, with Sri Lanka completing a one-year moratorium on foreign research vessels docking in January.
Other Issues
• Adani Group Projects: No progress on Adani Group projects under review in Sri Lanka, with potential holds on a 500 MW wind power project.
• Fishermen’s Rights: Discussions on dealing with Indian fishermen accused of trespassing into Sri Lankan waters in a humanitarian manner. President Dissanayake called for curtailing the use of bottom trawlers.
Tamil Reconciliation
• Tamil Aspirations: Modi discussed Tamil reconciliation, expressing hope that the new Sri Lankan government would fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people.
Ustad Zakir Hussain Passes Away at 73
Ustad Zakir Hussain, a renowned tabla virtuoso and one of India’s greatest cultural ambassadors, passed away at 73 in a San Francisco hospital after a brief illness. His untimely demise sent shock waves worldwide.
Contributions and Legacy
• Transformation of the Tabla: Hussain elevated the modest instrument to a powerful voice for universal peace and humanity, known for his speed, dexterity, and creativity.
• Syncretic Soul: Growing up in a syncretic cultural environment in Mumbai, Hussain embodied India’s composite culture, singing devotional hymns, reciting verses of the Koran, and hymns of the Bible.
Family Statement
• Cause of Death: Hussain passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. He had been hospitalized for over two weeks.
• Legacy: His work as a teacher, mentor, and educator left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He inspired the next generation to go further, leaving an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians.
Tributes
• Prime Minister’s Tribute: Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Hussain as a “true genius” who revolutionized Indian classical music and brought the tabla to the global stage.
• Awards and Recognition: Hussain was a four-time Grammy Award winner and received the Padma Vibhushan.
La Niña and Its Impact on India’s Climate
The Story So Far
• Expected Arrival: While the La Niña was anticipated to emerge by July this year, it has not yet materialized. The India Meteorological Department now predicts its onset by late 2024 or early 2025, resulting in a milder winter due to this delay.
What is La Niña?
• La Niña is a phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) characterized by cooler-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures between Indonesia and South America.
• Its counterpart, El Niño, represents warmer temperatures in the same region.
• Influence: These phases significantly affect global atmospheric circulation and weather patterns.
• La Niña: Brings normal or above-normal rainfall in India during the monsoon season but causes droughts in Africa and intensifies hurricanes over the Atlantic.
• El Niño: Causes extreme summers and droughts in India, with increased rainfall in the southern U.S.
Triple Dip La Niña and Climate Change
• Triple Dip La Niña: The decade began with three consecutive La Niña events (2020-2022), followed by an El Niño in 2023.
• Climate Change Impact: Rising sea and land temperatures may increase the frequency and intensity of La Niña and El Niño events, leading to more extreme weather patterns.
Current Winter and Meteorology
• Current Status: La Niña has not emerged as expected, with only a 57% chance of forming in December 2024. It will likely be weak if it does form.
• Meteorological Parameters: Cities in southern India like Bengaluru and Hyderabad are experiencing a colder winter, while north India experiencing above-normal temperatures.
• Air Quality Impact: Higher wind speeds during La Niña winters help reduce air pollution, but lower temperatures in north India may lead to more biomass burning for heating, worsening air pollution.
La Niña and Monsoons
• El Niño Impact: El Niño summers are harsher, as seen in April this year with intense heat waves in India. El Niño often disrupts monsoons, leading to below-average rainfall in India.
• La Niña Impact: La Niña promotes robust monsoons, bringing normal or above-normal rainfall, as seen in the La Niña years of 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Conclusion
• Future Outlook: A La Niña forming now or early next year and continuing until the monsoon season would be a welcome development, providing relief from high heat and promoting robust monsoons.
