1. NOBEL PRIZE 2023 FOR PHYSICS
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Nobel Prize 2023 for Physics was awarded to the three scientists Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier for their experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
EXPLANATION:
- The laureates have been awarded the Prize for experiments to produce ultra-short pulses of light, with which they can finally see directly into the super-fast world of electrons.
- “Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons.
Why weren’t electrons ‘seen’ before?
- Electrons are the negatively charged particles of an atom. They zoom around the denser nucleus.
- Before being able to study them directly, scientists understood their properties through averages.
- The rapid movement of electrons would seem to blur together in the eyes of a camera that couldn’t lower its exposure time to the order of attoseconds.
How fast is electron dynamics?
- The movement of an atom in a molecule can be studied with the very shortest pulses produced by a laser.
- These movements and changes in the atoms occur on the order of femtoseconds—a millionth of a billionth of a second.
- But electrons are lighter and interact faster, in the attosecond realm. An attosecond if a billionth of a billionth of a second.
- All light consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy.
- Each wave has a sinusoidal shape starting from a point, going up to a peak, dipping into a trough, and finally getting back to the same level as the starting point.
- By the 1980s, physicists had found ways to produce light pulses whose duration was a few femtoseconds.
- The technology used to produce these pulses couldn’t be refined any further, so physicists believed the femtosecond to be the hard lower limit Yet ‘seeing’ electrons required an even shorter flash of light.
What are the applications of attosecond physics?
- Materials science: Attosecond pulses can be used to create new materials with unique properties, such as ultrafast conductors and optical switches.
- Medical diagnostics: Attosecond pulses can be used to image biological molecules in unprecedented detail, which could lead to new methods for early cancer detection and treatment.
- Quantum computing: Attosecond pulses could be used to control qubits, the basic units of information in quantum computers.
NOBEL PRIZES:
- Alfred Nobel was an inventor, entrepreneur, scientist and businessman who also wrote poetry and drama.
- His varied interests are reflected in the prize he established and which he lay the foundation for in 1895 when he wrote his last will, leaving much of his wealth to the establishment of the prize.
- Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been honoring men and women from around the world for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for work in peace.
- The prizes consist of a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary award.
- In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) established the Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize.
- The prize is based on a donation received by the Nobel Foundation in 1968 from Sveriges Riksbank on the occasion of the bank’s 300th anniversary.
- The first prize in economic sciences was awarded to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen in 1969.
- The prize in economic sciences is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden, according to the same principles as for the Nobel Prizes that have been awarded since 1901.
2. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)
TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE CONTEXT: Recently, Armenia’s Parliament voted to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
EXPLANATION:
- Armenia’s decision to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a significant development but it is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the country’s relations with Russia.
BACKGROUND:
- Armenia has been a close ally of Russia for decades.
- The two countries are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of former Soviet republics.
- Russia has also been Armenia’s main supplier of arms and military assistance.
- However, Armenia’s relations with Russia have become increasingly strained in recent years.
- This is due to a number of factors, including Russia’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its invasion of Ukraine, and its economic decline.
THE ICC WARRANT FOR PUTIN:
- In May 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
- The warrant is based on the ICC’s investigation into alleged atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.
ARMENIA’S DECISION TO JOIN THE ICC:
- The ICC ratification by Armenia is mainly motivated by its desire to prepare legal challenges against Azerbaijan. But it also sends a clear message to Moscow.
- Armenia’s decision to join the ICC is a signal that the country is distancing itself from Russia.
- By joining the ICC, Armenia is committing to upholding international law and prosecuting those who commit serious crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
IMPLICATIONS FOR ARMENIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS:
- Armenia’s decision to join the ICC is likely to have a significant impact on Armenia-Russia relations.
- Russia has already warned Armenia that its decision to join the ICC is a “hostile step.”
- It is possible that Russia could retaliate against Armenia by reducing its economic and military assistance.
- However, it is also possible that Armenia’s decision to join the ICC could lead to a closer relationship between Armenia and the West.
- The United States and other Western countries have praised Armenia’s decision to join the ICC.
- It is possible that these countries could provide Armenia with increased economic and military assistance in the future.
WAY FORWARD:
- Armenia’s decision to join the ICC is a significant development with far-reaching implications for the country’s relations with Russia and the West.
- It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to Armenia’s decision, but it is clear that Armenia is charting a new course in its foreign policy.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC):
- It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal.
- It was created by the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (its founding and governing document), and began functioning on 1 July 2002 when the Statute came into force.
- 123 nations are States Parties to the Rome Statute and recognize the ICC’s authority; the notable exceptions being the US, China, Russia, and India.
3. IEA CRITICAL MINERALS AND CLEAN ENERGY SUMMIT
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The International Energy Agency (IEA) hosted the first ever International Summit on critical minerals and their role in clean energy transitions on 28 September 2023 in Paris.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMIT:
- The meeting was attended by ministers, industry leaders, investors, international organisations and civil societies from 50 countries, who agreed on six main actions to assure sustainable, long-term and ethical supply chains of vital minerals.
- The actions include:
- Advancing the goal of diversified mineral supplies;
- Maximising the potential of technology and recycling;
- Fostering market transparency;
- Improving the accessibility of trustworthy information;
- Establishing incentives for sustainable and responsible production; and
- Stepping up efforts to foster international cooperation.
- The summit was built on the ministerial directive issued to the IEA in 2022 to advance its work on:
- vital minerals,
- the constituents of solar panels,
- wind turbines, and
- electric vehicles, among other important clean energy technologies.
- Between 2017 and 2022, demand from the energy sector for lithium tripled.
- There was a 70 per cent increase in cobalt demand and a rise of 40 per cent in nickel demand too, as per the IEA estimates.
- The momentum is expected to continue through 2023 and beyond, the IEA said in its review.
HOW CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITIONS ARE DRIVING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MINERAL DEMAND?
- From 2017 to 2022, demand from the energy sector was the main factor behind a tripling in overall demand for lithium, a 70% jump in demand for cobalt, and a 40% rise in demand for nickel.
- Propelled by rising demand and high prices, the market size of key energy transition minerals doubled over the past five years, reaching USD 320 billion in 2022.
- This rapid growth is set to continue.
- In the IEA’s Announced Pledges Scenario, demand for critical minerals more than doubles by 2030.
- In the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, it grows three and a half times to 2030, topping 30 million tonnes.
- Given this trajectory, the development of diverse, resilient and sustainable clean energy supply chains for critical minerals is an essential task.
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
- Supply concentration:
- The supply of critical minerals is concentrated in a few countries, which makes the market vulnerable to disruptions.
- For example, China produces more than 80% of the world’s lithium and cobalt.
- Environmental and social impacts:
- The mining and processing of critical minerals can be environmentally and socially harmful.
- For example, the mining of lithium can pollute water supplies and the processing of cobalt can expose workers to harmful chemicals.
- Demand growth:
- Demand for critical minerals is growing rapidly, driven by the clean energy transition.
- This is putting a strain on the supply of minerals and driving up prices.
OPPORTUNITIES:
- New technologies:
- There are a number of new technologies in development that could reduce demand for critical minerals or make mining and processing more sustainable.
- For example, new battery chemistries could reduce the need for cobalt.
- Recycling:
- Recycling critical minerals can help to reduce demand for virgin minerals.
- However, recycling rates for critical minerals are currently low.
- Collaboration:
- Governments, businesses, investors, and civil society organizations can work together to secure a sustainable supply of critical minerals.
- For example, governments can provide financial support for new mines and processing facilities, businesses can develop new technologies, and investors can invest in sustainable mining projects.
- By addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities, the world can secure a sustainable supply of critical minerals for the clean energy transition.
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY (IEA):
- The IEA was founded in 1974 to ensure the security of oil supplies.
- Energy security remains a central part of our mission but today’s IEA has a wider mandate to focus on a full range of energy issues, including climate change and decarbonisation, energy access etc.
- The IEA was created in response to the 1973-1974 oil crisis when an oil embargo by major producers pushed prices to historic levels, and exposed the vulnerability of industrialised countries to dependency on oil imports.
- The IEA’s founding members were Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States.
- The Agency’s “open door” policy has since allowed the IEA to deepen its collaboration with 11 new countries through the Association programme: Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, and most recently, Ukraine, which joined in 2022.
- This IEA family of member and association countries now represents over 80% of global energy consumption, up from 40% in 2015.
4. THE UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT (UAPA), 1967
TAG: GS 3: INTERNAL SECURITY, GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
THE CONTEXT: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been invoked against the news portal NewsClick.
EXPLANATION:
- On 3RD October, the Delhi police has raided the office of the news portal NewsClick and the residence of its editor and other staff.
- Some of them have been arrested and charged under UAPA which has resulted into huge concern for press freedom in India.
- The main allegation in the FIR against NewsClick is that the news portal allegedly received illegal funding from China routed through the United States.
- The FIR has been registered under various Sections of the UAPA.
- The other provisions invoked against NewsClick include Section 13 (unlawful activities), 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (conspiracy), and 22 (C) (offences by companies, trusts) of the UAPA, along with IPC sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different group) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
PROVISIONS UNDER UAPA:
- Among the key provisions invoked is Section 16, which prescribes punishment for terrorist acts.
- Section 15 of the UAPA defines “terrorist act”.
- It is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least five years to life.
- In case the terrorist act results in death, the punishment is death or imprisonment for life.
- This is an offence that describes violent acts that are serious in nature.
- The provision describes the terrorist acts as:
- The use of bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances;
- causing death or loss/ damage/ destruction of property;
- disruption of any supplies or services essential to the life of the community in India;
- damage to the monetary stability of India by way of production or smuggling or circulation of high-quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or of any other material.
- Section 43D (5) of UAPA places very stringent conditions for obtaining bail.
UAPA:
- The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been enacted in 1967 that allows the government to designate individuals and organizations as “terrorists” and to detain them without trial for up to 180 days.
- The law has been criticized for its vague and overbroad definitions, which allow the government to target anyone it deems to be a threat to national security.
- The UAPA has been used to suppress dissent and silence critical voices in India.
- The law has been used against journalists, activists, students, and religious minorities. The UAPA has also been used to target political opponents of the government.
- The UAPA has been challenged in court on a number of occasions. However, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the constitutionality of the law.
CRITICISMS OF THE UAPA:
- The definition of “terrorist” is vague and overbroad, allowing the government to target anyone it deems to be a threat to national security.
- The UAPA allows the government to detain people without trial for up to 180 days. This is a serious infringement on the right to liberty.
- The UAPA does not provide adequate safeguards for the rights of the accused. For example, it is difficult for accused persons to challenge their detention or to obtain bail.
- The UAPA has been used to target journalists, activists, students, and religious minorities. This has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech and expression.
- The use of the UAPA against NewsClick is just one example of how the law is being used to suppress dissent and silence critical voices in India.
- The UAPA is a serious threat to press freedom and democracy in India. It is important to defend press freedom and to stand up for the right of journalists to report freely and without fear of reprisal.
5. SWACHH BHARAT MISSION
TAG: GS 1: SOCIETY, GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE
THE CONTEXT: A departmental working paper by the World Bank on the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) has found that regular toilet use is declining in rural India from 2018-19 onwards.
EXPLANATION:
- These findings came amid concerns over the government’s claims that practices such as open defecation and manual scavenging no longer continue in India.
- These findings were solely based on the fact that toilet access had improved after the building of over 100 million toilets.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAPER:
- The paper reconciles data from a variety of sources, including the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), National Sample Surveys (NSS), and National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS).
- It found out that the largest drop in regular toilet use is most pronounced in states with high Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe socio-economic groups.
- States where there has been a sustained decline in regular use of toilets since 2018 were Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh
- Whereas seven other States like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal have been seeing an uneven decline in toilet use since 2018.
- There are a number of possible explanations for this decline.
- One possibility is that the toilets that were built under the SBM-G are not well-maintained, making them unusable or unsafe.
- Another possibility is that people are not using the toilets because they are inconvenient or uncomfortable.
- It is also possible that people are returning to open defecation because they believe it is more hygienic or because they have been forced to do so by social pressure.
- The decline in regular toilet use is a serious concern, as it could undermine the gains that have been made in reducing open defecation in rural India.
- Open defecation is a major public health problem, as it can lead to the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid.
The World Bank paper makes a number of recommendations for addressing the decline in regular toilet use. These recommendations include:
- Investing in the maintenance of toilets.
- Making toilets more convenient and comfortable to use.
- Addressing social norms that discourage the use of toilets.
- Providing education and awareness about the importance of using toilets.
STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT:
- The government of India has also taken some steps to address the decline in regular toilet use.
- For example, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has launched a program to provide subsidies for the repair and maintenance of toilets.
- The government has also launched a campaign to promote the use of toilets and to address social norms that discourage it.
- It is important to monitor the progress of these efforts and to make sure that they are effective in reversing the decline in regular toilet use.
- Open defecation is a major public health problem, and it is essential to ensure that everyone in India has access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities.
SPECIFIC CONCERNS FOR SC/ST HOUSEHOLDS:
- The decline in regular toilet use is particularly concerning for SC/ST households, as they are more likely to live in poverty and to have limited access to sanitation facilities.
- SC/ST households are also more likely to be socially marginalized, and they may face pressure to return to open defecation.
- The government needs to take specific steps to address the needs of SC/ST households in its efforts to reverse the decline in regular toilet use.
- These steps could include:
- Providing targeted subsidies for the construction and maintenance of toilets in SC/ST communities.
- Working with community leaders to address social norms that discourage the use of toilets.
- Providing education and awareness about the importance of using toilets in SC/ST languages.
SWACHH BHARAT MISSION:
- To accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put the focus on sanitation, the Prime Minister had launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October 2014.
- Under the mission, all villages, Gram Panchayats, Districts, States and Union Territories in India declared themselves “open-defecation free” (ODF) by 2 October 2019, by constructing over 100 million toilets in rural India.
- To ensure that the open defecation free behaviours are sustained, no one is left behind, and that solid and liquid waste management facilities are accessible.
- The Mission is moving towards the next Phase II of SBMG i.e ODF-Plus.
- ODF Plus activities under Phase II of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) will reinforce ODF behaviours and focus on providing interventions for the safe management of solid and liquid waste in villages.
