18th FEBRUARY, 2025 A.) U.S. Policy Shift on Taiwan Why in News? The U.S. State Department recently removed a statement from its Taiwan page that previously mentioned not supporting Taiwan’s independence, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy. Background • The United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but remains its strongest international backer. • The One-China policy recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China, though the U.S. provides Taiwan with military support and maintains unofficial relations. About Taiwan • Geography: Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (RoC), is an island in the western Pacific Ocean, separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait. • Neighbors: Japan (northeast), the Philippines (south), and mainland China (west). • Seismic Activity: Lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to earthquakes. History of Taiwan • 1600s: Briefly controlled by the Dutch and Spanish. • 1684: Incorporated into China’s Qing dynasty as part of Fujian province. • 1895: Became a Japanese colony after China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. • 1945: Returned to the Republic of China after Japan’s defeat in WWII. • 1949: The Republic of China (RoC) government fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong’s Communist forces, which established the People’s Republic of China (PRC). • 1971: The UN recognized the PRC as the sole representative of China, expelling Taiwan (RoC). Current Status of Taiwan • Taiwan operates as a de facto independent state with its own government, military, passport, and currency, though not widely recognized as an independent country. • Only 12 countries have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, mostly small developing nations. • U.S. Relations: The U.S. maintains unofficial ties and supports Taiwan militarily. • India-Taiwan Relations: India does not officially recognize Taiwan but maintains unofficial relations through: o India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei. o Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi. B.) Delhi Earthquake and In-Situ Material Heterogeneity Why in News? A recent earthquake in Delhi was classified as an intra-plate event, unlike the usual Himalayan quakes caused by plate tectonics. It resulted from in-situ material heterogeneity and had a shallow depth of 5 km, making the tremors more intense. Earthquakes Due to In-Situ Material Heterogeneity • Definition: Seismic activity caused by natural variations in the physical properties of the Earth's crust, such as rock type and fluid presence in rock pores. • Formation: These heterogeneities create stress concentrations, increasing the likelihood of earthquakes. • Influence on Faults: Stress buildup in fault zones due to in-situ heterogeneity raises earthquake risks. Why is Delhi Earthquake-Prone? • Seismic Zone: Delhi falls under Seismic Zone IV, the second-highest in India. • Plate Movement: Delhi is close to the Indian-Eurasian Plate collision zone, with the Indian Plate moving northward at 5 cm/year, creating stress along fault lines. • Fault Systems: o Delhi-Haridwar Ridge (an extension of the Indian Plate) o Aravalli Fault System (a deep-seated geological structure) • Soil Type: The soft alluvial soil of the Indo-Gangetic Plain amplifies seismic waves, increasing damage potential. About Shallow Earthquakes • Definition: Earthquakes occurring at a depth of 0 to 70 km within the Earth's crust. • Comparison: o Intermediate earthquakes: Depth of 70 to 300 km. o Deep earthquakes: Depth of 300 to 700 km. • Impact: Shallow earthquakes cause more destruction due to their proximity to the Earth's surface.   C.) Haryana’s Aravali Safari Park Project Why in News? The Haryana government’s 3,858-hectare Aravali Safari Park project in Gurugram and Nuh is planned to be the world’s largest safari park. However, it has faced strong opposition from environmentalists and retired forest officers. Background • A group of 37 retired Indian Forest Service officers have written to the Prime Minister seeking to scrap the project, arguing that it aims to increase tourism rather than conserve the Aravali mountain range. Key Takeaways • The Aravali hills in Gurugram and Nuh are part of the oldest fold mountain range in the world. • The Aravali range extends from Champaner in Gujarat to Delhi, covering approximately 690 km. • Ecological significance: o Prevents desertification by stopping the spread of the Thar Desert eastward. o Acts as an aquifer, allowing water percolation and groundwater recharge due to its fractured rock formations. Laws Protecting Aravali 1. Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 o Sections 4 and 5 restrict deforestation and non-agricultural land use in the hills. 2. Indian Forest Act o 24,000 hectares of Aravali land has been declared Protected Forest, offsetting forest land diversion in the Nicobar Islands. 3. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad Judgment (1996) o Provides legal protection to forest lands based on their dictionary definition, covering areas not notified as forests. 4. Regional Plan-2021 (National Capital Region) o Designates Aravali and forest areas as Natural Conservation Zones (NCZ). o Limits construction to 0.5% of the total land.   D.) MCGS-MSME Scheme Why in News? The MCGS-MSME Scheme facilitates term loans up to Rs. 100 crore for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Eligible Lending Institutions (ELIs), aiming to enhance credit access and support economic growth. Salient Features of MCGS-MSME • Trust/Fund: o The Mutual Credit Guarantee Fund-MSME (MCGF-MSME) manages the scheme, formed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, and is managed by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC). • Guarantee Coverage: o Provides 60% guarantee coverage by NCGTC to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for loans sanctioned under MCGS-MSME. • Member Lending Institutions (MLIs): o Includes financial institutions such as commercial banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) registered with NCGTC under the scheme. • Eligible Borrower: o Must be an MSME with valid Udyam Registration. o Should not be a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) with any lender. o Minimum 75% of project cost must be for equipment/machinery. • Duration of the Scheme: o Available for 4 years or until Rs. 7 lakh crore in guarantees are issued, whichever comes first. Impact of MCGS-MSME • Boost to Manufacturing: o Enhances credit access for MSMEs, allowing them to expand and upgrade equipment. • Support for Make in India: o Strengthens domestic manufacturing, increasing its GDP share towards 25%. • Global Competitiveness: o Helps MSMEs scale up operations, positioning India as a key player in the global supply chain. E.) Chinese Scientists Achieve Plasma at 100 Million Degrees C Why in News? Chinese scientists reported successfully maintaining plasma at a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius for approximately 1,066 seconds in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), marking a significant step towards nuclear fusion. Background Nuclear fusion, unlike nuclear fission, does not produce harmful radioactive waste, making it a crucial technological goal globally. The development of a sustainable nuclear fusion reactor could provide a clean and virtually limitless energy source. Challenges of Nuclear Fusion 1. The Tritium Problem: o The main challenge in initiating and sustaining fusion reactions is the energy requirement. o Hydrogen, the lightest nucleus, exists in isotopes: deuterium (one proton, one neutron) and tritium (one proton, two neutrons). o Deuterium-deuterium fusion requires higher temperatures than deuterium-tritium fusion, as the additional neutron in tritium aids in overcoming proton repulsion. o Fusion of deuterium and tritium produces non-radioactive helium-4, a neutron, and 17.6 MeV of energy. o While deuterium is abundant in seawater, tritium is scarce and difficult to produce, primarily generated as a by-product in heavy-water fission reactors. 2. The Temperature Problem: o For nuclei to fuse, they must overcome repulsion due to their positive charges and come within about 1 femtometre (fm) of each other. o High temperatures are required to provide sufficient energy for overcoming this repulsion, enabling nuclei to get close enough for the strong nuclear force to bond them. o Tokamaks, like EAST, are designed as donut-shaped vessels that confine and heat the plasma, facilitating fusion. Importance of EAST • Currently, EAST is not producing electricity and has yet to achieve the milestone known as ignition, where the reactor produces enough heat to sustain fusion reactions independently. • EAST serves as a testbed for ITER, an international megaproject involving six countries and the EU aimed at building a tokamak that can achieve self-sustaining nuclear fusion. • The successes of EAST are critical for ITER's future, especially given concerns over ITER's delayed timelines and significant cost overruns, making it potentially the most expensive science experiment in history. F.) Fair Trial: Importance and Principles Why in News The Supreme Court recently identified significant lapses in a trial, particularly highlighting the failure to ensure competent legal representation for the appellant. This situation raised concerns about the denial of a fair trial and the necessity for effective legal aid, as emphasized in the case Anokhilal v. State of M.P. (2019). Background A fair trial is recognized as a fundamental human right that safeguards individuals within the legal system. The Supreme Court asserted that legal aid must be "effective and meaningful," not merely a formality, in line with the protections guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Details What is a Fair Trial? A fair trial ensures that individuals are treated justly within the legal framework, protecting against unlawful deprivation of human rights and safeguarding fundamental freedoms. Principles of Fair Trial: 1. Presumption of Innocence o State of U.P. v. Naresh: Every accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, placing the burden of proof on the prosecution. 2. Independent Judiciary o Shyam Singh v. State of Rajasthan; Article 50: Judges must operate free from executive influence to ensure impartiality in the judiciary. 3. Speedy Trial o Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar; Article 21: Delays in trial proceedings violate the right to life and liberty, emphasizing the need for timely justice. 4. Protection Against Double Jeopardy o Article 20(2): No individual can be tried or punished twice for the same offense, ensuring legal certainty and protection from repeated prosecution. International Human Rights Law on Fair Trial: 1. Equality Before Tribunal o Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 10: Everyone has the right to a fair, public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal. 2. Right to Appeal o International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 14: Individuals convicted have the right to seek a review of their conviction by a higher court. 3. Rome Statute (2002): o Ensures that those accused of serious crimes against humanity are entitled to basic legal protections, reinforcing the significance of a fair trial internationally. Conclusion The principles of a fair trial are crucial for upholding justice and the rule of law. The Supreme Court's recent observations underscore the importance of effective legal representation to ensure every individual's right to a fair hearing is protected.