1. OVERTURNING CIRCULATION

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

CONTEXT: Antarctica sets the stage for the world’s greatest waterfall. The action takes place beneath the surface of the ocean. Here, trillions of tonnes of cold, dense, oxygen-rich water cascade off the continental shelf and sink to great depths. This Antarctic “bottom water” then spreads north along the sea floor in deep ocean currents, before slowly rising, thousands of kilometres away. Antarctica drives a global network of ocean currents called the “overturning circulation” that redistributes heat, carbon and nutrients around the globe.

EXPLANATION:

What is Overturning circulation?

• The ocean’s water is constantly circulated by currents.
• Tidal currents occur close to shore and are influenced by the sun and moon. Surface currents are influenced by the wind. However, other, much slower currents that occur from the surface to the seafloor are driven by changes in the saltiness and ocean temperature.
• The overturning is crucial to keep the earth’s climate stable.
• It is also the main way oxygen reaches the deep ocean.

Effects of overturning circulation:

• Melting of Antarctic ice is disrupting the formation of Antarctic bottom water. As the flow of bottom water slows, the supply of oxygen to the deep ocean declines. The shrinking oxygen-rich bottom water layer is then replaced by warmer waters that are lower in oxygen, further reducing oxygen levels.
• Ocean animals, large and small, respond to even small changes in oxygen. Deep-ocean animals are adapted to low oxygen conditions but still have to breathe. Losses of oxygen may cause them to seek refuge in other regions or adapt their behaviour.
• Slowdown of the overturning may also intensify global warming. The overturning circulation carries carbon dioxide and heat to the deep ocean, where it is stored and hidden from the atmosphere. As the ocean storage capacity is reduced, more carbon dioxide and heat are left in the atmosphere. This feedback accelerates global warming.
• Reductions in the amount of Antarctic bottom water reaching the ocean floor also increases sea levels because the warmer water that replaces it takes up more space (thermal expansion).

How is this happening?

• Overturning circulation has slowed by almost a third (30%) and deep ocean oxygen levels are declining.
• This slowdown has the potential to disrupt the connection between the Antarctic coasts and the deep ocean.
• Melting of Antarctic ice is disrupting the formation of Antarctic bottom water. The meltwater makes Antarctic surface waters fresher, less dense, and therefore less likely to sink. This puts the brakes on the overturning circulation.

How was it measured?

• The full-depth measurements collected by ships provide snapshots of ocean density but are usually repeated about once a decade.
• Moored instruments, on the other hand, provide continuous measurements of density and speed, but only for a limited time at a particular location.
• A new approach that combines ship data, mooring records, and a high resolution numerical simulation to calculate the strength of Antarctic bottom water flow and how much oxygen it transports to the deep ocean.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC):

• The AMOC circulates water from north to south and back in a long cycle within the Atlantic Ocean. This circulation brings warmth to various parts of the globe and also carries nutrients necessary to sustain ocean life.
• The circulation process begins as warm water near the surface moves toward the poles (such as the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic), where it cools and forms sea ice. As this ice forms, salt is left behind in the ocean water.
• Due to the large amount of salt in the water, it becomes denser, sinks down, and is carried southwards in the depths below. Eventually, the water gets pulled back up towards the surface and warms up in a process called upwelling, completing the cycle.
• The entire circulation cycle of the AMOC, and the global conveyor belt, is quite slow. It takes an estimated 1,000 years for a parcel (any given cubic meter) of water to complete its journey along the belt.
• Even though the whole process is slow on its own, there is some evidence that the AMOC is slowing down further. NOAA funds research to better understand this potential slowing, as well as to investigate the AMOC’s role in coastal sea level changes and its relationship to extreme events.

2. CHEETAH

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

CONTEXT: Almost 70 years after the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) went extinct in India, eight cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were introduced into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in September 2022 and February 2023, respectively. The intent was to establish a free-ranging population of cheetahs belonging to the subspecies, Acinonyx jubatus. Recent Study states that Cheetahs introduced without considering spatial ecology. Ideally, just one cheetah is present in 100 sq. km. of an unfenced area, whereas the density of Cheetahs in the Kuno national park stands at three per 100 sq. km.

EXPLANATION:

• Cheetahs fulfil a unique ecological role within the carnivore hierarchy and their restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem health in India.
• As a charismatic species, the cheetah can also benefit India’s broader conservation goals by improving general protection and ecotourism in areas that have been previously neglected.

Project Cheetah:

• The Union environment ministry’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) implements Project Cheetah.
• The project hopes to benefit global cheetah conservation efforts by providing up to 100 000 km2 of habitat in legally protected areas and an additional 600 000 km2 of habitable landscape for the species.

Body characteristics:

• The cheetah is a sexually dimorphic species though it is difficult to identify cheetahs’ sex by appearance alone. Male cheetahs are slightly bigger than females and they have larger heads, but they do not display the same degree of physical difference between the sexes of other big cat species like lions.
• Cheetahs have a thin frame with a narrow waist and deep chest. They have large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake. Cheetahs have a large lungs and hearts connected to a circulatory system with strong arteries and adrenals that work in tandem to circulate oxygen through their blood very efficiently.
• With its long legs and very slender body, the cheetah is quite different from all other cats and is the only member of its genus, Acinonyx. The cheetah’s unique morphology and physiology allow it to attain the extreme speeds for which it’s famous.
• The gestation (pregnancy) period for the cheetah is 93 days, and litters range in size from one or two up to six cubs (the occasional litter of eight cubs has been recorded, but it is rare).
• Cheetahs prey includes: gazelles (especially Thomson’s gazelles), impalas and other small to medium-sized antelopes, hares, birds, and rodents. Cheetahs will also prey on the calves of larger herd animals.

Species of Cheetah:

• Widely regarded as the fastest animal on land, cheetahs are divided into four subspecies; the Southeast African cheetah, the Northeast African cheetah, the Northwest African cheetah, and the rare Asiatic cheetah.

Asiatic and African cheetah:

• The Asiatic cheetah is slightly smaller and slender than the African cheetah. The neck is much smaller and longer.
• The Asiatic cheetah has a buff to light fawn color bordering on pale yellow skin, and it has more fur on the body, especially under the belly and the back of the neck. The African cheetah has a light brown to golden brown fur color that is thicker than the Asiatic ones. The spots are more pronounced on the face and are more densely distributed on the body compared to Asiatic cheetahs.

         African cheetah                               Asiatic cheetah

• Asiatic Cheetahs are only found in a small region between Iran and Pakistan. Asiatic cheetahs once roamed the whole expanse of the central Asian continent from India to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but with their numbers reduced, it is hard for them to be sighted outside Iran. On the other hand, The African cheetah is spread out across Africa from Northwest Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa. With a bigger territory, the African cheetahs have the highest populations compared to their Asiatic counterparts.
• Asiatic cheetah has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red while African cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Most of the reasons for the cheetah’s endangerment can be grouped into three overarching categories:

• human-wildlife conflict,
• loss of habitat and loss of prey,
• poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking, with cubs being taken from the Horn of Africa and smuggled into the exotic pet trade, primarily in the Gulf States.

3. GRAVITATIONAL WAVES

TAGS: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTEXT: Since time immemorial, humans have looked up at the universe and pondered its secrets. In the past few centuries, many of these secrets have started to unravel. One such mystery we began to pry apart very recently is the gravitational wave. Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time produced by some of the most intense phenomena in our universe.

EXPLANATION:

• A century ago, Albert Einstein hypothesized the existence of gravitational waves, small ripples in space-time that dash across the universe at the speed of light.
• But scientists have been able to find only indirect evidence of their existence.
• Recently, a news conference called by the U.S. National Science Foundation, researchers announced at long last direct observations of the elusive waves.
• The discovery would represent a scientific landmark, opening the door to an entirely new way to observe the cosmos and unlock secrets about the early universe and mysterious objects like black holes and neutron stars.

What are gravitational waves?

• Gravitational waves are small ripples in space-time that are believed to travel across the universe at the speed of light.
• These waves contain information about the events that emitted them, so studying them can give scientists a glimpse of distant cosmic affairs.

What does Einstein say about gravity?

• In 1915, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity predicted the existence of gravitational waves.
• According to this theory, celestial objects such as black holes and neutron stars could send gravitational energy thrumming through the fabric of space-time in every direction, moving off at the speed of light.
• While Sir Isaac Newton visualised gravitational force as a pulling force between objects, Albert Einstein opined it to be a pushing force due to the curvature of four dimensional spacetime fabric.

How are these waves detected?

• Scientists have been trying to detect them using two large laser instruments in the United States, known together as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), as well as another in Italy.
• The twin LIGO installations are located roughly 3,000 km apart in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington. Having two detectors is a way to sift out terrestrial rumblings, such as traffic and earthquakes, from the faint ripples of space itself.
• The LIGO work is funded by the National Science Foundation, an independent agency of the U.S. government.

What is Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories (LIGO)?

• The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves.
• They directly observed gravitational waves for the first time in 2015, proving Einstein’s theory.
• LIGO operates two gravitational wave observatories in unison: the LIGO Livingston Observatory in Livingston, Louisiana, and the LIGO Hanford Observatory, on the DOE Hanford Site, located near Richland, Washington.
• These sites are separated by 3,002 kilometers. Since gravitational waves are expected to travel at the speed of light, this distance corresponds to a difference in gravitational wave arrival times of up to ten milliseconds. A third LIGO will be built in India this decade.

Why is the study important?

• Discovery of gravitational waves would represent a scientific landmark, opening the door to an entirely new way to observe the cosmos and unlock secrets about the early universe and mysterious objects like black holes and neutron stars.

4. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTEXT: Genetically modified crops remains controversial, especially in Europe, but for some experts it is the best science-based method for a sustainable global food system amidst biodiversity loss and a rising population. According to the online scientific publication Our World in Data, agriculture is responsible for a quarter of the carbon emissions in the atmosphere and the vast majority of world’s biodiversity losses.

EXPLANATION:

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
• The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”.
• It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species.
• GMOs were first introduced in the US in 1994, with modified tomato plants that ripened more slowly to prolong their shelf life. Since then, a wide range of crops, such as soybeans, wheat and rice have been approved for agricultural use, along with GM bacteria grown to produce large amounts of protein.
• Scientists in India have also developed strains of Sub-1 rice, which are much more resistant to flooding. Flooding is a major issue in rice-growing regions of northern India and Bangladesh, set to become worse as the climate crises develops, and now 6 million farmers in the region are using Sub-1 rice to safeguard their crops against inundation.
• Golden rice, on the other hand, is a GM strain modified to contain vitamin A, designed to combat the shortage of dietary vitamin A in parts of Asia and Africa.

GM Crops:

• Crops produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM crops.
• Genetically modified crops can improve yield, build resistances to pests, frost or drought, or add nutrients.
• Crops can also be modified to reduce carbon emissions and boost the sustainability of food production.
• While widespread, GM crop productionuses only about 10% of the land non-GM crop production uses.

Benefits:

• GM crops are developed and marketed because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both.
• One of the objectives for developing plants based on GM organisms is to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.
• Resistance against insects is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption.
• Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of the herbicides used.

What are the main issues of concern for human health?

• Allergenicity: As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic organisms to non-allergic organisms is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic.
• Gene transfer: Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health.
• Outcrossing: The migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security.

5. IRON FORTIFICATION: HEALTH RISKS OF EXCESSIVE IRON INTAKE

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

CONTEXT: Iron is an essential mineral required for many bodily functions, including the formation of hemoglobin, but can be harmful when taken in excess. The net effect of iron provision through fortification on haemoglobin formation is likely to be lower than thought.

EXPLANATION:

• It is used for the treatment of iron deficiency or anemia.
• Typically, a chosen food staple like wheat or rice or even salt is fortified to provide up to two thirds (10 mg/day) of the iron requirement of adult women, and almost the entire daily requirement of men.

How excess consumption occurs:

• Excess consumption of iron can occur if one habitually consumes a balanced quality diet to begin with or exceeds limits for consumption of the fortified food as can occur with staples like rice or wheat or if two fortified foods are simultaneously consumed.
• When combined with additional iron supplemental interventions like weekly iron folic acid supplements (such as in the National Iron Plus Initiative programme), this can lead to an excess of iron intake for women. There is a defined level of iron intake beyond which the risk of adverse events begins to increase. This is called the ‘tolerable upper limit’ of intake, and is set at 40 mg/day.
• Once iron is absorbed, it is thought that its excretion is steady and very small, except when bleeding takes place, as with menstrual bleeding. Thus, women can ‘excrete’ iron from the body, but men cannot, unless they have some form of pathological or abnormal bleeding. This makes men particularly vulnerable to excess iron intake.

Negative consequences of excess iron:

• Unabsorbed iron can lead to inflammation in the gastrointestinal lining and disrupt the colonic microbiota with long term consequences.
• This irritation of the lining may present itself clinically as abdominal cramps, constipation, or diarrhoea.
• The irritation of mucosa can also lead to gastrointestinal blood loss.
• An excess of iron in the gastrointestinal tract can impair absorption of other minerals such as zinc and copper, which are also essential for the body and lead to other deficiencies.
• Excess iron has been closely linked to many chronic comorbidities like diabetes.

It can be especially deleterious for populations who have iron overload states like patients with thalassemia and other hemolytic anemias, hemochromatosis, and chronic liver disease, which have impaired iron excretion mechanisms. 

[WpProQuiz 474]

1. Lying fallow can make creative life possible READ MORE
2. To be, or not to be READ MORE
3. Why happiness is a journey and not a destination READ MORE

1. IMD retains its normal outlook for monsoon READ MORE
2. Explained | Why is the 1.5 degree Celsius target critical? READ MORE
3. Sowing climate resilience READ MORE

1. Anger and Aspiration in Caste Society READ MORE  
2. Menstrual health is a public health issue READ MORE

1. Institutions: Cooperation, Compliance, Confrontation? READ MORE
2. Don’t subvert RTI, by intent or neglect READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Explained | Will facial recognition AI tools help detect telecom fraud? READ MORE  
2. Explained | How can citizens file Census details online? READ MORE
3. Explained | Why are cheetah cubs dying in Kuno reserve? READ MORE
4. Iron fortification: health risks of excessive iron intake READ MORE
5. Cheetahs introduced without considering spatial ecology: study READ MORE
6. Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins historic Turkey runoff vote READ MORE
7. Antarctic alarm bells over slowing down of ‘overturning circulation’ READ MORE
8. Gravitational waves: ripples in space-time produced by the universe’s celestial phenomena READ MORE
9. A Foucault pendulum swings inside the new Parliament READ MORE
10. Kerala’s Kudumbashree programme to empower poor women is at a crossroads READ MORE
11. ISRO’s new NavIC satellite launches successfully: Why a regional navigation system matters to India READ MORE
12. What is the Model Prisons Act announced by the MHA? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. IMD retains its normal outlook for monsoon READ MORE
2. India’s hill states need sustainable cooling solutions to beat warming READ MORE
3. 2023 hurricane forecast: Get ready for a busy Pacific storm season, quieter Atlantic than recent years thanks to El Niño READ MORE
4. Anger and Aspiration in Caste Society READ MORE  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Institutions: Cooperation, Compliance, Confrontation? READ MORE
2. Don’t subvert RTI, by intent or neglect READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Menstrual health is a public health issue READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A belligerence towards Beijing that is unsettling READ MORE  
2. India is missing Hindu Kush for the Pacific: Trade with Central Asian region remains low despite episodic bursts of enthusiasm READ MORE
3. Beijing’s BRICS? READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Workforce must have employable skills READ MORE  
2. Cash, no Cash READ MORE
3. Dipping FDI inflows READ MORE
4. Modern Slavery In The Gig Economy READ MORE
5. Digital-only banks are a great idea, but India is not yet there READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Explained | Why is the 1.5 degree Celsius target critical? READ MORE
2. Sowing climate resilience READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cybercrime is a worry with a very wide reach READ MORE
2. Ever increasing threat of transnational terrorism READ MORE

SCIENCE

1. India can be a world leader in science READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. India’s G20 presidency can show the way on disaster management READ MORE
2. How the World Health Organization could fight future pandemics READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Lying fallow can make creative life possible READ MORE
2. To be, or not to be READ MORE
3. Why happiness is a journey and not a destination READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The decision to holding the G20 meeting in Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh shows Indian government commitment for a unite India but it may create many new challenges in its neighbourhood. Discuss the statement.
2. The NITI Aayog acts as the quintessential platform for the Government of India to bring states together as ‘Team India’, to work towards the national development agenda. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Strategy is not the consequence of planning, but the opposite: its starting point.
• While the courts are examining the validity of the law of sedition, its defining logic has already transplanted itself into several different provisions of law that criminalise speech.
• The inauguration of a new Parliament building presents an opportunity for us to seriously introspect on our parliamentary conduct.
• Articles 264 to 293 deal with financial relations between the Union and the states. Because India is a federal country, it adheres to division of powers when it comes to taxation, and it is the responsibility of the Union to allocate funds to the states.
• Strengthening the federal system is critical for meeting the demands of the people governed by state governments, while also preserving India’s unity. As a result, centre-state relations, or agreements between the Union government and the states regarding their respective powers, functions, and responsibilities, have always been crucial.
• The Indian Constitution requires that no government, whatever be its hue, at the Union will discriminate against or in favour of any state government on the basis of political dissonance.
• India’s thriving startup ecosystem is a testament to the country’s digital infrastructure, which has provided entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to innovate and disrupt traditional business models.
• Democracy demands dialogue as the primary medium of achieving equilibrium among citizens who have entered into this social contract with the state.
• If India is to tackle the climate crisis, it is essential for governments to recognise the value of the role of citizens in the decision-making process and to prioritise public consultations while drafting environmental and climate policies.
• Midday meals provide a nutritional safety net for children and improve their learning outcomes and attendance.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

50-WORD TALK

• The decision to hold the G20 tourism meet in Kashmir and another in Arunachal Pradesh shows the clever geopolitical messaging by the Modi government. It also shows that the government is not shying away from being firm to reject any claims by Pakistan and China over status of these states.
• First Karnataka, now Tamil Nadu – the opposition by two states to the entry of Amul into their milk cooperative market is, at its core, an anti-competition, anti-consumer, anti-choice position. More than that, this argument doesn’t serve the milk producers either. They should have the freedom to decide where they sell.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY

TAGS: GS 2: JUDICIARY

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court has held that the independence of district judiciary is part of the basic structure of the Constitution and judicial independence from the executive and the legislature requires the judiciary to have a say in matters of finances.

EXPLANATION:

• In India, there is a parliamentary form of government which do not make a clear demarcation between legislature and executive but maintain a clear distinction between them and the judiciary.
• The Indian Constitution specifically directs the state to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.
• As such Indian constitution does not explicitly states the independence of the judiciary but in keshavanada Bharti’s case this is considered a part of the Basic Structure of the Indian constitution.
• Rule of law and independence of the judiciary is the basic feature of the constitution, and one cannot separate them even not through a constitutional amendment.

Cases where the principle of independence of the judiciary is laid down:

• In the case of Supreme court Advocate on Record Association and other vs Union of India

(1993), the court observe that the independence of the judiciary is important to have efficient democracy and could able to function in a good way. And stated that the powers and rights of the legislature and executive should not hamper the functioning of the judiciary.

• In the case of SP Gupta vs Union of India (1982), the court held the judges who are sitting to uphold the law must be working in a fearless way which is the basic feature of the independence of the judiciary.

The Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court of India comprises the chief justice and thirty other judges.
• These judges are appointed by the President of India after consultation with judges of the supreme court and of the high courts of the state.
• For the appointment of judges, the chief justice is the person who is consulted.
• The retirement period for judges starts after 65 years of age. They can be removed earlier also the process of removal can be possible on the grounds of misconduct or incapacity of the Judge by the order of the president with a special majority in the Parliament.
• Administrative expenses of the court such as salaries and pensions of the judges and other staff are taken from the consolidated fund of India and can be altered by the Parliament.

The High courts

• The constitution provides for a High Court for each State, though Parliament is also authorized to establish a common High Court for two or more States or two or more States and a Union Territory.
• High court judges are appointed by President after consultation with the chief justice of India, the governor of the state and the chief justice of the high court.
• The high court judges can function till the age of 62. They hold this tenure on basis of good behaviour and can be removed in the same manner in which the Supreme Court Judge can be removed.
• The salaries and pensions of high court judges are mentioned in the Constitution and can be altered by Parliament. High court judges may be transferred from one high court to another.
• The high court has original and appellate jurisdiction and can issue writs if fundamental rights are violated. Same to the Supreme Court.
• The administrative expenses like salaries, and pensions of judges of the high court are taken from the consolidated fund of the Indian state.

District Court:

• The Governor of the state in consultation with the high court appoints District Court Judge.
• Only a person who is either already in the legal service of the Union or of the State or has been an advocate for at least seven years and is recommended by the High Court can be appointed a district judge.
• These courts dispense justice at the district level. These courts are under the control of high courts present in the states.
• Decision by District Court is subject to appeal and the appeal went to the high court. The control of the District Court and courts below it, like the position and promotion of judges vested in the hands of the high court. The Governor of a State may apply these provisions even to the magistrates in that State.[18]
  Article 233[19] of the constitution deals with the appointment of district judges.

Basic Structure of Constitution:

• In 1973, a 13-judge Constitution Bench ruled in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala that Article 368 of the Constitution does not enable Parliament to amend the basic framework of the document.
• The historic ruling came to be known as the “basic structure” doctrine a judicial principle that the Constitution has certain basic features that cannot be altered or destroyed by amendments by Parliament.
• Over the years, various facets of the basic structure doctrine have evolved, forming the basis for judicial review of Constitutional amendments.

Kesavananda judgement listed some basic structures of the constitution as:

• Supremacy of the Constitution
• Unity and sovereignty of India
• Democratic and republican form of government
• Federal character of the Constitution
• Secular character of the Constitution
• Separation of power
• Individual freedom

Over time, many other features have also been added to this list of basic structural features. Some of them are:

• Rule of law
• Judicial review
• Parliamentary system
• Rule of equality
• Harmony and balance between the Fundamental Rights and DPSP
• Free and fair elections
• Limited power of the parliament to amend the Constitution
• Power of the Supreme Court of India under Articles 32, 136, 142 and 147
• Power of the High Court under Articles 226 and 227

2. X-RAY POLARIMETER SATELLITE (XPoSat) MISSION

TAGS: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Space Research Organisation is collaborating with the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous research institute, to build the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)

EXPLANATION:

What is the XPoSat mission?

• It is India’s first, and only the world’s second polarimetry mission that is meant to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
• By measuring the polarisation of these X-rays, it can be studied where the light came from and understand the geometry and inner workings of the light source.

XPoSat’s payloads:

• The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.
• POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays)
• It is primary payload and it will measure the polarimetry parameters i.e degree and angle of polarization in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.
• The payload is being developed by RRI in collaboration with ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru.
• POLIX is expected to observe about 40 bright astronomical sources of different categories during the planned lifetime of XPoSat mission of about 5 years. This is the first payload in the medium X-ray energy band dedicated for polarimetry measurements.
• XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload
• It is secondary payload and it will give spectroscopic information on how light is absorbed and emitted by objects) in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
• It would observe several types of sources, such as X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron star, etc.

Aims of the mission:

• The emission mechanism from various astronomical sources such as blackhole, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, pulsar wind nebulae etc. originates from complex physical processes and are challenging to understand.
• While the spectroscopic and timing information by various space based observatories provide a wealth of information, the exact nature of the emission from such sources still poses deeper challenges to astronomers.
• The polarimetry measurements add two more dimension to our understanding, the degree of polarization and the angle of polarization and thus is an excellent diagnostic tool to understand the emission processes from astronomical sources.
• The polarimetric observations along with spectroscopic measurements are expected to break the degeneracy of various theoretical models of astronomical emission processes. This would be the major direction of research from XPoSat by Indian science community.

NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE):

• The other such major mission is NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) that was launched in 2021.
• IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes. Each of the three identical telescopes hosts one light-weight X-ray mirror and one detector unit.
• These will help observe polarized X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.

How are X-Rays witnessed in space?

• X-rays have much higher energy and much shorter wavelengths, between 0.03 and 3 nanometers, so small that some x-rays are no bigger than a single atom of many elements.
• The physical temperature of an object determines the wavelength of the radiation it emits.
• The hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of peak emission.
• X-rays come from objects that are millions of degrees Celsius such as pulsars, galactic supernova remnants, and black holes.
• Like all forms of light, X-rays consist of moving electric and magnetic waves.
• Usually, peaks and valleys of these waves move in random directions. Polarised light is more organised with two types of waves vibrating in the same direction. It adds that fishermen use polarised lenses to reduce glare from sunlight when they are near water.
• The field of polarimetry studies the measurement of the angle of rotation of the plane of polarised light that is, a beam of light in which the vibrations of the electromagnetic waves are confined to one plane that results upon its passage through certain transparent materials.

3. ORGANIC PRODUCT CERTIFICATION IN INDIA

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: A European Union (EU) audit has found “many weaknesses” in the certification of Indian organic products for exports to the EU, including farmers who are part of organic producer groups (PGs) knowing nothing about organic farming. An audit, carried out by the EU’s DG Health and Food Safety during November 14-25 in 2022, found the weaknesses in the supervision and implementation of the controls at various levels.

EXPLANATION:

Two types of organic certifications systems have been developed for quality assurance of organic products in country:

• Third Party Certification by Accredited Certification Agency under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry for development of export market.
• Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) under Ministry of Agriculture and farmers Welfare for meeting the demand of domestic market.

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP):

• NPOP was launched during 2001 by the Government of India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• The programme involves the accreditation of Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing etc.
• NPOP is third party certification programme where the production and handling of activities at all stages such as production, processing, trading and export requirements for organic products is covered.  Also, the system for grading and quality control of organic products is equivalent to conventional products.
• It also ensures that the system effectively works and is monitored on regular basis.
• The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission and Switzerland for unprocessed plant products as equivalent to their country standards.
• With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries.

PGS-India programme

• Under PGS-India programme, Government is implementing Participatory Guarantee System of India (PGS-India) as a quality assurance initiative for certification of organic produce that is locally relevant, emphasizing the participation of stakeholders, including producers or farmers and consumers and operate outside the frame of third-party certification.
• In the operation of PGS-India, stakeholders including farmers or producers are involved in decision making and essential decisions about the operation of the PGS-India certification itself by assessing, inspecting and verifying the production practices of each other and collectively declare produce as organic.
• Food Safety Regulation has made it mandatory for organic products to be certified under NPOP or PGS for being sold in the domestic market under Jaivik Bharat logo.
• To ensure end-to-end traceability as per the requirements of regulatory framework under Food Safety Standard (FSS [Organic Foods] Regulation 2017, PGS-India programme also provides uninterrupted chain of custody, starting from producer groups till the products are processed and finally packed into retail packs.

4. GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (GANHRI)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: For the second time in a decade, the U.N.-recognised Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred the accreditation of National Human Rights Commission, India (NHRC-India) citing objections like political interference in appointments, involving the police in probes into human rights violations, and poor cooperation with civil society.

EXPLANATION:

• As reported, GANHRI’s letter to the NHRC cited lack of diversity in staff and leadership, and insufficient action to protect marginalised groups, as reasons for the deferment of the accreditation.
• This came two months after seven human rights watchers/institutions wrote to GANHRI objecting to NHRC India’s ‘A’ rank.
• They also raised concerns regarding the commission’s lack of independence, pluralism, diversity and accountability that are contrary to the U.N.’s principles on the status of national institutions the ‘Paris Principles’.

Paris Principles:

• The United Nations Paris Principles, adopted in 1993 by the U.N. General Assembly, provide the international benchmarks against which National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) can be accredited.
• The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs are required to meet. These are: mandate and competence; autonomy from government; independence guaranteed by a statute or Constitution; pluralism; adequate resources; and adequate powers of investigation.

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

• At the International Conference held in Tunis in 1993, NHRIs established the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC) with the aim to coordinate the activities of the NHRI network. In 2016, the ICC changed its name into Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
• It is a representative body of national human rights institutions from all parts of the globe.
• The organisation is incorporated as a non-profit organisation under Swiss law. Its Statute, adopted in March 2009, sets out its objectives and how it operates.
• Its aim is to assist in establishing and strengthening independent and effective NHRIs, which meet the international standards set out in the Paris Principles.
• The positions of GANHRI Chairperson and Secretary are served on a rotational basis by representatives nominated by the four regional coordinating committees: Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific.
• The National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Unit of OHCHR acts as GANHRI secretariat.
• GANHRI has a permanent representative in Geneva to support and facilitate the participation of NHRIs in the UN Human Rights Council and its human rights mechanisms.
• GANHRI encourages joint activities and cooperation among NHRIs; organises international conferences; liaises with the United Nations and other international organisations; assists NHRIs under threat; and, where requested, assists governments to establish NHRIs.
• The operations of GANHRI are managed by its Bureau, which is comprised of representatives from each of the four regional groupings: Africa, Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific.
• Each regional grouping is represented by elected representatives from four ‘A status’ NHRIs.
• A key role of the Bureau is to assess applications for membership of the ICC. It also reviews and determines the accreditation status of NHRIs, following a recommendation from the Sub-Committee on Accreditation.
• In addition, the Bureau collaborates with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in particular the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Unit, to facilitate the participation of NHRIs in the United Nations Human Rights Council.
• Bureau meetings are usually held twice a year; the first in conjunction with the first quarter session of the UN Human Rights Council and the second in conjunction with one of the NHRI regional network’s meetings.
• The GANHRI consists of sixteen, ‘A’ status NHRIs, four from each region, namely, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. ‘A’ status accreditation also grants participation in the work and decision-making of the GANHRI, as well as the work of the Human Rights Council and other U.N. mechanisms.
• The NHRC-India has been set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament in 1993. It has been accredited as an ‘A’ Status NHRI since the beginning of the accreditation process for NHRIs in 1999, which it retained in 2006, 2011, and in 2017 also after a deferment.
• NHRC-India said that the GANHRI, through the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) is responsible for reviewing and accrediting NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles every five years. As part of this process, the review of the NHRC-India was due in March 2023 for its reaccreditation, which has been deferred for a year, meaning thereby no final decision has been taken as yet.

National Human Rights Commission:

• National Human Rights Commission is a public body which is constituted in 1993 after a thorough assessment of needs for establishing such bodies in order to address the human rights related issues and by keeping in consideration the ways and measures to apply for their protection.
• It was given complete statutory basis by The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (TPHRA).

Composition of NHRC:

• A Chairperson who is a retired Chief Justice of India
• One Member who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court
• One Member who is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court
• Two persons having knowledge or practical experience in matters relating to Human Rights.
• The President appoints the chairperson and the members of National Human Rights Commission, for which a committee nominates the names. This committee consists of Chairperson, the Prime Minister and the members including Home Minister, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.
• Further in addition to this, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the National Commission for Women are deemed to be members of the National Human Rights Commission for the discharge of specific functions laid down.

Functions of NHRC:

• Inquire, on its own initiative or on a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his behalf, into complaint of Violation of human rights or abetment or negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant
• Intervene in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court with the approval of such court
• Review the safeguards by or under the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation
• Review the factors, including acts of terrorism that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and further recommend appropriate remedial measures on the same
• Study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation
• Spread human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means
• Encourage the efforts of non – Governmental organizations and institutions working in the field of human rights
• Undertake and promote research in the field of human rights
• Other functions considered necessary for promotion of human rights

5. OPEN RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS

TAGS:  PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The Quad leaders, at their Summit in Hiroshima made a significant announcement to strengthen security architecture for open Radio Access Networks or RAN beginning with Palau in the Pacific Region.

EXPLANATION:

• Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) is a new approach to building mobile networks that are needed to connect smartphones and devices to the internet and other users.
• An Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) is a nonproprietary version of the Radio Access Network (RAN) system that allows interoperation between cellular network equipment provided by different vendors.

How is it better than RAN?

• In the traditional set-up, Radio Access Network is provided as an integrated platform of both hardware and software. Therefore, it is difficult to mix vendors for the radio and baseband unit, and in most cases, they come from the same supplier.
• The idea of Open RAN is to change this and enable operators to mix and match components. It goes a step further by opening the interfaces inside the base station. The Open RAN architecture allows for the separation or disaggregation between hardware and software with open interfaces.
• RAN has been based on proprietary technologies of original equipment makers such as Ericsson, Nokia, etc. With Open RAN, telecom players would have the flexibility to use in-house solutions or solutions from multiple vendors for RAN services.
• This would allow telecom operators to look beyond traditional vendors, thus creating opportunities for lesser-known vendors from abroad as well as from home to be part of the growing 5G ecosystem, based on their innovation competence.
• Network flexibility is another advantage of the Open RAN architecture. Being software-centric, it is scalable, agile and best of networks with improved network performance using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

How it works?

• Open Radio Access Network or Open RAN is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network.
• It comprises antennae which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices.
• The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.

Issues:

• Latency issues
• operations and maintenance
• servicing and maintaining a multi-vendor architecture

1. DANCING GIRL OF MOHENJODARO

TAGS: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE

THE CONTEXT: On the occasion of International Museum Day (May 18), Prime Minister inaugurated the International Museum Expo in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. During the ceremony, PM Modi also unveiled the Expo’s mascot a “contemporised” version of the famous Dancing Girl of Mohenjodaro. “

EXPLANATION:

Dancing Girl of Mohenjodaro

• The figurine is a naturalistic free-standing sculpture of a nude woman, with small breasts, narrow hips, long legs and arms compared to her torso, and a short torso and wears a stack of 25 bangles on her left arm and her head is tilted slightly backward and her left leg is bent at the knee.
• It was made about 2500 BC, the statuette was found in the remains of a small house in the southwestern quarter of Mohenjo Daro by Indian archaeologist D. R. Sahni [1879-1939] during his 1926-1927 field season at the site.
• Vast majority of figurines at IVC sites are terracotta, made from fired clay. Only a handful of Harappan figurines are carved from stone such as the famous priest-king figure or dancing lady which is made of lost-wax copper bronze.
• Human figurines can give insight into concepts of sex, gender, sexuality and other aspects of social identity.

Lost wax (cire perdue) method:

• The lost wax method used by Harappan metallurgists involved first carving the object out of wax, then covering it in wet clay.
• Once the clay was dried, holes were bored into the mold and the mold was heated, melting the wax. The empty mold was then filled with a melted mixture of copper and tin. After that cooled, the mold was broken, revealing the copper-bronze object.

City of Mohenjodaro:

• The ruins of the huge city of Moenjodaro discovered in 1921 built entirely of unbaked brick in the 3rd millennium B.C. lie in the Indus valley.
• The archaeological ruins are located on the right bank of the Indus River, 510 km north-east from Karachi, and 28 km from Larkana city, Larkana District in Pakistan’s Sindh Province.
• The well planned city mostly built with baked bricks and having public baths; a college of priests; an elaborate drainage system; wells, soak pits for disposal of sewage, and a large granary, bears testimony that it was a metropolis of great importance, enjoying a well organized civic, economic, social and cultural system.
• Mohenjodaro comprises two sectors:

1. a citadel area in the west where the Buddhist stupa was constructed with unbaked brick over the ruins of Moenjodaro in the 2nd century AD
2. the lower city ruins lies to the east spread out along the banks of the Indus where buildings are laid out along streets intersecting each other at right angles, in a highly orderly form of city planning that also incorporated systems of sanitation and drainage.

Major archaeological findings of Mohenjo Daro

• The great bath
• Citadel
• Bronze statue of dancing girl
• Bronze buffalo
• Steatite statue of a bearded priest
• Seal of Pashupati
• The great granary
• Assembly hall
• 3 cylindrical-shaped seals similar to Mesopotamian ones.
• Terracotta toys
• A piece of woven cloth

2. KRISHNA RIVER WATER SHARING DISPUTE

TAGS: GS 2: INTER STATE WATER DISPUTE

THE CONTEXT: The nagging dispute over the water share of the Krishna river between Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) and Telangana remains unresolved, even nine years after the bifurcation of the combined State.

EXPLANATION:

Current mechanism of Krishna river dispute:

• There is no mention of water shares in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
• At a meeting convened by the then Ministry of Water Resources in 2015, the two States had agreed for sharing water in the 34:66 (Telangana:A.P.) ratio as an ad hoc arrangement with the minutes clearly specifying that it has to be reviewed every year.
• The arrangement in the Act was only for the management of water resources by setting up two Boards, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB).
• The KRMB, however, continued the same ratio year after year in spite of the opposition by Telangana.
• In October 2020, Telangana raised its voice for an equal share, till water shares are finalized and refused to continue the existing arrangement.
• Unable to convince the member States, the river Board has referred the matter to the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).

Constitutional provisions

• As water comes under state list. According to Entry 17 of State List, states can legislate with respect to rivers.
• However, Entry 56 of the Union List gives the Central government the power to regulate and develop inter-state rivers and river valleys.
• Article 262 empowers Parliament to provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
• As per Article 262, the Parliament has enacted the following:

1. River Board Act, 1956: This empowered the GOI to establish Boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments. Till date, no river board has been created.
2. Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956: Under this act, if a state government or governments approach the Centre for the constitution of a tribunal, the government may form a tribunal after trying to resolve the dispute through consultations.

Features of River Boards Act 1956

• It provides for the establishment of River Boards, for the regulationand development of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
• Central Government may establish a Board on a request received from a State Government or otherwise for “advising the Government interested” in relation to such matters concerningthe regulation or development of an inter-State river or river valley (or any specified part) as maybe notified by the Central Government.
• Different Boards may be established for different inter-State rivers or river valleys.
• The Board is to consist of the Chairman and such other members as the Central Governmentthinks fit to appoint. They must be persons having special knowledge and experience in irrigation,electrical engineering, flood control, navigation, water conservation, soil conservation,administration or finance.
• Functions of the Board are set out in detail in section 13 of the Act as covering conservation of the water resources of the inter-State river, schemes for irrigationand drainage, development of hydro-electric power, schemes for flood control, promotion ofnavigation, control of soil erosion and prevention of pollution.
• But the functions of the Board are advisory and not adjudicatory.
• By section 14(3), the Board is directed to consult all the Governments concerned and to securetheir agreement, as far as possible.

Features of Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956

• A State Government which has a water dispute with another State Government may request theCentral Government to refer the dispute to a tribunal for adjudication.
• The Central Government, if it is of opinion that the dispute cannot be settled by negotiation, shallrefer the dispute to a Tribunal.
• The Tribunal’s composition is laid down in the Act. It consists of a Chairman and two other members, nominated by the Chief Justice of India from among persons who, at the time of such nomination, are Judges of the Supreme Court. The Tribunal can appoint assessors to advise it in the proceedings before it.
• On the reference being made by the Central Government, the Tribunal investigates the matterand makes its report, embodying its decision. The decision is to be published and is to be finaland binding on the parties.
• Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts in respect of the dispute referred to the
  Tribunal is barred.
• The Central Government may frame a scheme, providing for all matters necessary to give effectto the decision of the Tribunal. The scheme may, inter alia, provide for establishing an authorityfor implementing (section 6A).

Water Dispute Tribunals in India:

3. NARCO TEST AND ARTICLE 20(3)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar said they were willing to undergo a narco analysis test provided it was monitored by the Supreme Court. Taking into consideration the international norms on human rights, the right to a fair trial, and the right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution, the court said, “We must recognise that a forcible intrusion into a person’s mental processes is also an affront to human dignity and liberty, often with grave and long-lasting consequences.

EXPLANATION:

Narco test:

• In a ‘narco’ or narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised. In this hypnotic state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to divulge information that is true.
• Sodium pentothal or sodium thiopental, is a fast-acting, short-duration anaesthetic used in larger doses to sedate patients during surgery. It belongs to the barbiturate class of drugs that act on the central nervous system as depressants.
• Because the drug is believed to weaken the subject’s resolve to lie, it is sometimes referred to as a “truth serum”.

Polygraph test:

• A polygraph test is carried out on the assumption that physiological responses triggered when one is lying are different from what they otherwise would be.
• Rather than injecting drugs into the body, polygraph tests attach instruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes to the suspect and measure variables such as blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, change in sweat gland activity, blood flow, etc., while the suspect is being questioned.

Article 20(3) of the Constitution:

• Indian Constitution provides immunity to an accused against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) which states ‘No person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself’.
• This privilege is only available to a person accused of an offence i.e. “person against whom a formal accusation relating to the commission of an offence has been levelled, which may result in prosecution”.
• In India, a formal accusation can be made by lodging of an F.I.R. or a formal complaint against a person accusing him of committing a crime, it is not necessary that the trial or enquiry should have commenced before a court.
• Article 20 (3) does not apply to departmental inquiries into allegations against a government servant since there is no accusation of any offence.
• The privilege against self-incrimination is available at both trial and pre-trial stage i.e. when the police investigation is going on and the person is regarded as an accused, or even if his name is not mentioned in the FIR as an accused.

4. NITI AYOG HEALTH INDEX

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The three southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana emerged as the top performers among the ‘larger states’ in the NITI Aayog’s annual ‘health index’ for the Covid year of 2020-21. While Tripura was the best among the ‘smaller states’, Delhi ranked at the bottom of the Union territories’ list.

EXPLANATION:

Outcomes of fifth health index report:

• Among the 19 ‘larger states’, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have emerged as the top three performers, occupying first, second and third place respectively, in terms of overall performance. Bihar (19th), Uttar Pradesh (18th) and Madhya Pradesh (17th) are at the bottom of the list.
• In terms of incremental performance, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Odisha emerged as the top three performers in 2020-21, as compared to their performance in 2019-20.
• Among the eight smaller states, Tripura has recorded the best overall performance, followed by Sikkim and Goa; Arunachal Pradesh (6th), Nagaland (7th) and Manipur (8th) are at the bottom.
• And among the eight UTs, Lakshadweep has been ranked as the top performer in terms of overall performance, while Delhi ranked at the bottom.

Health Index:

• It is an “annual tool to assess the performance” of states and UTs.
• It is divided in three parts – larger states, smaller states and union territories.
• Niti Aayog brings out the index in collaboration with the Union Health Ministry and World Bank.
• It is a weighted composite index based on 24 indicators grouped under the domains of ‘health outcomes’, ‘governance and information’, and ‘key inputs/ processes’ and each domain has been assigned weight based on its importance with higher score for outcome indicators.
• The ‘health outcomes’ domain include indicators like neonatal mortality rate, total fertility rate, sex ratio at birth, immunisation coverage, proportion of institutional deliveries, total case notification rate of tuberculosis, and proportion of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
• The ‘governance and information’ domain includes indicators like proportion of institutional deliveries, average occupancy (in months) of three key posts at state level, average occupancy (in months) of the chief medical officer, and days taken for fund transfer.
• The ‘key inputs/ processes’ domain is a measure of health infrastructure available, including proportion of functional 24X7 primary healthcare centres, districts with functional cardiac care units, and vacancies in healthcare provider positions.

5. CENSUS AND NATIONAL POPULATION REGISTER

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: If citizens want to exercise the right to fill the Census form on their own rather than through government enumerators, they will have to first update their National Population Register (NPR) details online. The NPR, first put together in 2010 and updated in 2015, already has the details of 119 crore people. Census 2021, which has been postponed indefinitely, will be the first digital Census giving citizens an opportunity to “self-enumerate” as and when it is conducted.

EXPLANATION:

• The Office of the Registrar of General of India (ORGI), which conducts the Census, has developed a “Self-Enumeration (SE)” portal which allows the respondents to view and update the information of their households members.
• The yet-to-be-launched mobile-friendly portal will allow users to register the mobile number in the NPR database, self-enumerate and fill the details under Houselisting Operations.
• Respondents can update the details of their family members online without the help of an enumerator for privacy and to reduce financial and administrative burden incurred in collection of field data.
• The portal accessible to “respondents of India” will offer secure and controlled access to the respondent’s family information and authentication based on pre-filled information available with ORGI and One Time Password (OTP) sent to registered mobile number.

Census:

• The Indian Census is the largest collection of statistical information of Indian citizens to study its society, demography, economics, anthropology, sociology, statistics etc.
• It is done every 10 years, the census was first conducted in 1872 during the British rule and the first complete census was done in 1881.
• It is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
• The last census was done in 2011 and the in 16^th census instead of forms, every individual can fill the required details on an app. No document will be required to be shown as proof and self-declaration will suffice.
• It mentions name of person, relationship to head, sex, date of birth and age, current marital status, religion, mother tongue, literacy status are some of the fundamental questions one can find in almost all census questionnaires.

The Census is conducted in two phases:

• The first phase the Houselisting Operations (HLO) and Housing Census is to be conducted with simultaneous updating of NPR.
• Population enumeration is the second and the main phase, which collects details on key social and economic parameters.

Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (ORGI):

• It is established in the Ministry of Home Affairs under Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, India.
• This organisation is responsible for generating data on population statistics including vital statistics and census.

Functions of ORGI:

(i) Housing & Population Census: The Census Commissioner, India is the statutory authority vested with the responsibility of conducting the Housing & Population Census in India under Census Act, 1948 and the Rules framed thereunder. Planning, coordination and supervision of the field activities; data processing; compilation, tabulation and dissemination of Census results are the primary duties of this office.

(ii) Civil Registration System (CRS): The Census Commissioner, India is also designated as Registrar General, India under the Registration of Births & Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which provides for the compulsory registration of births and deaths. In this role, the RGI coordinates the functioning of the civil registration and vital statistics system in the country through all States and UTs.

(iii) Sample Registration System (SRS): Implementation of Sample Registration System, wherein large scale sample survey of vital events is conducted on a half-yearly basis, is also the responsibility of the ORG&CCI. SRS is an important source of vital rates like Birth Rate, Death Rate, Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate at the State level in the country.

(iv) National Population Register (NPR): In pursuance to provisions contained in Citizenship Rules, 2003 framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the National Population Register is prepared by collecting information relating to all persons who are usually residing in the country.

(v) Mother Tongue Survey: The project surveys the mother tongues, which are returned consistently across two and more Census decades. The research programme documents the linguistic features of the selected mother tongues.

National Population Register:

• The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area within a ward in a town or urban area.
• According to the Citizenship Rules 2003, the NPR is the first step towards compilation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC/NRC).
• NPR was first prepared in 2010 and updated in 2015 under Sub-rule (4) of Rule 3 of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive database of usual residents in the country. No document will be collected during this exercise.
• While similar data is collected through the Census, according to Section 15 of the Census Act, 1948, individual data are confidential and “only aggregated data are released at various administrative levels.” The Home Ministry said that data collected under the NPR are shared with States and used by the Central government for various welfare schemes at the individual level.