1. DANCING FROGS OF WESTERN GHAT

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Dancing frogs of Western Ghat are among the most threatened amphibians globally.

EXPLANATION:

• According to the Wildlife Trust of India, Dancing frogs are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.
• The world is facing a critical Amphibian crisis with 41 percent of species on the brink of extinction.
• The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is rich in amphibian diversity.
• About Dancing frogs: 
  • Dancing frogs belong to the Micrixalus genus and there are about 24 frog species in this family. It is also known as the Kottigehar dancing frog.
  • The dancing frogs are endemic to the Western Ghats
  • IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
  • Only the males dance.
• Habitats: Their preferred habitats are shola grasslands, myristica swamps and evergreen forests within the Western Ghats, where they mainly reside near slow-moving perennial streams.
• Breeding:
  • The males stretch up their hind legs one at a time and wave their webbed toes in the air in a rapid motion akin to a dance.
  • This is to attract mates as well as ward off competition, probably preferred because their mating calls are drowned out by the gurgling of the streams.
  • This act is called “foot flagging” and gives the species their name.
• Threats: They are threatened by invasive species like the mosquito fish, land use change, variation in temperature and humidity, extreme weather events such as floods and excess rainfall, infectious diseases, water pollution, light pollution, and infrastructure projects such as dams.

Source:(https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/dancing-frogs-of-western-ghats-among-most-threatened-amphibians-globally-92226)

2. ELECTORAL BOND 

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT:  The Supreme Court fixed October 31 for hearing a slew of petitions challenging the electoral bonds scheme.

EXPLANATION:

• A petition filed in the Supreme Court against the legality and transparency of Electoral bonds.
• The petition is filed on the basis of two main issues concerning the electoral bonds scheme:
  • The legalisation of anonymous donations to political parties.
  • The violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of political parties, promoting corruption.
  • The above two issues are violating Articles 19, 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

Electoral bond: 

• An electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India.
• The bonds are similar to bank notes that are payable to the bearer on demand and are free of interest.
• An individual or party will be allowed to purchase these bonds digitally or through cheque.
• The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days.

When was the electoral bond introduced?

• The electoral bond scheme was first announced during the 2017 budget session.
• It was notified in January 2018 as a source of political funding by way of money bills introducing amendments in the Finance Act and the Representation of the People Act.

Use of electoral bond: 

• Using electoral bonds is quite simple.
• The bonds will be issued in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 1 crore (the range of a bond is between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore).
• A donor with a KYC-compliant account can purchase the bonds and can then donate them to the party or individual of their choice.
• Now, the receiver can encash the bonds through the party’s verified account.

Eligibility for foreigners:  

• The Finance Act, 2016 was amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010, to allow foreign companies with subsidiaries in India to fund political parties in India.

Tax exemption: 

• Donations made under an electoral bond scheme by companies and even foreign entities enjoy 100% tax exemption, while identities of the donors are kept confidential both by the bank as well as the recipient political parties.

Benefits:

• Electoral bonds are a more transparent tool than cash because the contributor acquires them after providing the bank with their KYC information.
• The short 15-day life of these bonds limits the potential for abuse.
• Political parties must provide the Election Commission with information about contributions made through electoral bonds. As a result, the bonds contribute to the improvement of India’s electoral financing system.

Challenges: 

• It is an obscure funding system which is unchecked by any authority.
• There is no cap on how much a company or individual can donate to a political party.
• Anonymity of donors under the scheme makes the process opaque instead of meeting its aim of bringing about transparency.
• The bonds are sold via a government-owned bank (SBI), leaving the door open for the government to know exactly who is funding its opponents.
• It violates the Right to Information of Citizens.
• By allowing foreign companies it effectively exposing Indian politics and democracy to international lobbyists.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-to-hear-final-arguments-in-electoral-bonds-case-on-october-31/article67402901.ece)

3. PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION FRAMEWORK

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY 

THE CONTEXT: RBI extends prompt corrective action framework to government NBFCs.

EXPLANATION:

• The Reserve Bank of India has decided to extend the ‘prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)‘ to government NBFCs.
• The PCA Framework for NBFCs came into effect from October , 2022.

Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework:

Reserve Bank of India had introduced a Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCA) for Scheduled Commercial Banks in 2002 and the same has been reviewed from time to time based on the experience gained and developments in the banking system.

Objective:

• The objective of the PCA Framework is to enable supervisory intervention at appropriate time and require the supervised entity to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner, so as to restore its financial health.
• The framework is also intended to act as a tool for effective market discipline. It does not preclude the apex bank from taking any other action as it deems fit at any time in addition to the corrective actions prescribed in the Framework.

 PCA framework for NBFCs: 

• NBFCs have been growing in size and have substantial interconnectedness with other segments of the financial system.
• Accordingly, it has now been decided to put in place a PCA Framework for NBFCs to further strengthen the supervisory tools applicable to NBFCs.
• The PCA Framework for NBFCs, as contained in the enclosed Annex, comes into effect from October 1, 2022, based on the financial position of NBFCs.

Actions taken under PCA framework:

source:(https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/pca-regime-to-cover-psu-nbfcs-from-october-2024/articleshow/104324374.cms)

4. PM CARES FUND 

TAG: GS 2: POLITY, GOVERNANCE, SOCIAL JUSTICE.

THE CONTEXT: State of Rajasthan alleged that there is discrimination in the treatment of the CM Relief Fund as compared to the PM CARES Fund in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

EXPLANATION:

• The State of Rajasthan had raised concerns over excluding the CM Cares Fund as a CSR activity under Schedule 7 of the Companies Act, 2013, while the PM Cares Fund enjoys such recognition.
• An original suit filed by the State of Rajasthan under Art 131 of the Constitution challenging the Union of India challenging the exclusion of CM Relief Fund from CSR Activity.
• State of Rajasthan formed a separate Rajasthan CMRF COVID-19 Mitigation Fund (CMRF). This fund functioned as a specialized account within the Chief Minister Relief Fund, with a clear focus on addressing the negative consequences of COVID-19.
• However, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs did not include in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 and therefore any contribution to such funds shall not qualify as admissible CSR Expenditure.

About PM CARES fund:

• The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM-CARES) Fund has been set up to provide relief to those affected by any kind of emergency or distress situation.
• PM CARES Fund has been registered as a Public Charitable Trust. The trust deed of PM CARES Fund has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908 at New Delhi on 27th March, 2020.
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
• The fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organizations and does not get any budgetary support. The fund will be utilized in meeting the objectives as stated above.
• Donations to PM CARES Fund would qualify for 80G benefits for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Donations to PM CARES Fund will also qualify to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013
• PM CARES Fund has also got exemption under the FCRA and a separate account for receiving foreign donations has been opened. This enables PM CARES Fund to accept donations and contributions from individuals and organizations based in foreign countries.

Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR):

• Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept whereby  companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business  operations and interactions with their stakeholders.
• All businesses that have a net worth of at least Rs 500 crore, a revenue of at least Rs 1 billion, or a net profit of at least Rs 5 crore are expected to devote 2% of their annual profits, on average, to CSR initiatives.
• According to the updated CSR regulations, businesses may put aside CSR expenses that exceed the minimum 2% requirement in any fiscal year against mandatory expenses for up to three financial years.

Chief Minister’s relief fund: 

• The Chief Minister’s relief fund aims at providing immediate relief to the people in distress in the State as well as in the country.
• The Chief Minister Relief fund provides financial assistance to the people affected by the major natural calamities like flood, drought, fire accident etc.
• It also provides financial assistance to the economically weaker citizens for treatment of some of the major diseases.
• This fund was specifically designed to counter the adverse impacts of COVID-19 and had a separate account for funds.

Source:(https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-cm-relief-fund-vs-pm-cares-fund-csr-discrimination-rajasthan-government-plea-article-131-constitution-239799?infinitescroll=1)

5. MULTINATIONAL SECURITY MISSION OF UNITED NATION

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Context:  Haiti approached the United Nations seeking urgent help to combat deadly gang violence.

Explanation:

• Haiti has experienced a surge in violence over the past year as armed groups (G-9) took control of large parts of the country, including the capital Port-au-Prince.
• Haiti has approached the United Nations seeking urgent help to combat deadly gang violence in the country.
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved international intervention in the form of multi-national security mission (MSS) to restore security, protect critical infrastructure and control spiralling violence in the country.
• The multi-national security mission (MSS) will not be operated by the United Nations.
• However, Kenya has volunteered to lead the force. Other countries like the Bahamas, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have also offered support.

Multinational security mission:

• A multinational security mission is a military or police operation that is conducted by two or more countries.
• Multinational security missions are often carried out under the auspices of an international organization, such as the United Nations or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• Multinational security missions can be used for a variety of purposes:
  • Maintaining or restoring peace and security in a conflict zone.
  • Protecting civilians from harm.
  • Promoting democracy and human rights.
  • Combating terrorism and other transnational crimes.
  • Providing humanitarian assistance.
• Multinational security missions can be complex and challenging. Multinational missions must coordinate the efforts of different countries, which can be a challenge.
• However, multinational security missions can be an effective way to address global security challenges. By working together, countries can bring more resources and expertise to bear on a problem.

Examples of multinational security missions:

• The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)
• The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
• The European Union-led Operation Atalanta to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia
• The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)

About “G9 and Family”:

• The “G9 and Family” (G9 fanmi e alye) is a criminal federation of over a dozen gangs based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• It was founded in June 2020 by former police officer turned gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue.”
• The G9 has emerged as one of the most powerful gangs in Haiti, and controls large swaths of territory in the capital city.
• The group has been accused of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking.
• The G9 has also been linked to Haitian politics and has been accused of carrying out assassinations and other attacks on behalf of politicians. The group has also been accused of manipulating elections.

What is the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)?

• The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was a peacekeeping operation established by the United Nations Security Council on April 30, 2004, to help Haiti recover from a rebellion and coup that had ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
• The mission was authorized to use all necessary means to protect civilians and promote political stability.
• MINUSTAH was deployed to Haiti on June 1, 2004, and remained in the country for over 13 years. During its time in Haiti, MINUSTAH played a significant role in helping to stabilize the country and support the democratic process.
• The mission also helped to improve security conditions and provide humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.

Source: (https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/haiti-crisis-explain-kenya-united-nations-international-mission-security-force-support-international-affairs/article67388970.ece)

1. Caste census: Why the liberal intelligentsia’s opposition is misplaced READ MORE
2. Stop being vindictive’: SC directive to ED welcome READ MORE
3. DC Edit | SC’s relook at PMLA provisions welcome READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Competition Commission of India to host 8th BRICS International Competition Conference during October 11-13, 2023 in New Delhi READ MORE
2. SC to hear pleas challenging electoral bond scheme on October 31 READ MORE
3. Net direct tax collections up 21.8% to ₹9.57 lakh crore READ MORE  
4. PCA regime to cover PSU NBFCs from October 2024 READ MORE
5. IMF raises India growth forecast to 6.3% for FY24 READ MORE
6. India, Italy sign defence cooperation agreement READ MORE
7. SC to hear petition challenging electoral bonds: What is the scheme and its criticisms? READ MORE  
8. Dancing frogs of Western Ghats among most threatened amphibians globally READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental disorders 10 times more likely following detention among asylum-seeking children: Report READ MORE
2. Women want change, society needs change READ MORE
3. DC Edit | Caste census to address inequity READ MORE
4. Something changed about cyclone formation in the 1990s | Explained READ MORE  
5. What the hottest September ever reveals about climate change READ MORE
6. India can reap the demographic dividend – but there’s a deadline READ MORE
7. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes, what causes seismic activity in region? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Caste census: Why the liberal intelligentsia’s opposition is misplaced READ MORE
2. Stop being vindictive’: SC directive to ED welcome READ MORE
3. DC Edit | SC’s relook at PMLA provisions welcome READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Learning for the future READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. BRICS: The mortar of competition in a globalised world READ MORE
2. ‘West is hypocritical’ is now India’s go-to foreign policy response. Delhi not exempt either READ MORE
3. India and the Israel-Palestine War: Choices, challenges and trade-offs READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The impact of Claudia Goldin’s work READ MORE  
2. Achieving the green energy goal READ MRE
3. Centre’s push on infra is transforming India READ MORE
4. West Asia crisis can hit global economy READ MORE
5. Claudia Goldin’s Nobel is a Wake-up Call for India’s Disjointed Labour Markets READ MORE
6. DC Edit | RBI keeps its focus on inflation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Deregulation of biodiversity regime to impact environment READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. We need evidence-based traditional medicine READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Gita unfolds the true essence of sanatan dharma READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes? What causes seismic activity in this region?
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.
• India must carefully weigh the situation, its long-term trajectory, and fall outs and find sensible geopolitical choices and security measures to deal with future challenges.
• The growing perception of Canada being a sanctuary for global offenders not only tarnishes its international reputation but also poses a threat to its societal fabric.
• It is difficult to fathom how a pause in policy rates or controlling liquidity could bring down food inflation, which was caused mainly because of supply shortages.
• Inclusion does not happen on its own in a society beset with inequalities which have a history of thousands of years; it takes deliberate and forceful attempts.
• While the apex court puts its imprimatur on the law finding it an effective tool to take on international terror rackets, its use on the ground does not share that confidence.
• It may be a paradox that a country which runs per a democratic Constitution and vouches by the rule of law has for all these years let an investigating agency infringe on the fundamental right to liberty of citizens without offering them a reason.
• Future-ready education is one that will help students adapt to ever-changing circumstances, prepare them for the drastic fallouts of climate change, teach them the importance of maintaining a balanced ecology and help them to be genuine global citizens.
• Generative AI’s impact on military warfare can be both revolutionary and riddled with ethical and legal considerations. It has significant implications for defence strategies, intelligence gathering, and training simulations.
• The fall in prices and the strengthening of international financial linkages will allow India to attain a current account surplus.
• The United Nations’ report on ageing in India serves as a reminder that the country’s opportunity to reap the demographic dividend is not perpetual.
• Russia’s increasing involvement in Africa is about its geopolitics, economics, and intricate security concerns.
• Reservation is the most effective form of affirmative action and equity is the first step to equality.

50-WORD TALK

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is complaining about India to a growing list of global leaders from the UK, the UAE, and now Jordan. If Trudeau has concrete evidence of Indian wrong-doing, he should present it. Else, he’ll have to get used to the eye-rolling all whiny children eventually get.
• Awarding the Economics Nobel to economic historian Claudia Goldin is entirely appropriate. She’s greatly enhanced our understanding of women’s pay and labour participation, and historical issues therein. That she’s only the third woman to win this Nobel, and the first to do it solo, highlights how vital her research is.

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.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Harvard professor Claudia Goldin wins Nobel Economics Prize for gender gap research READ MORE
2. Scientists untangle mystery about the universe’s earliest galaxies READ MORE
3. Sri Lanka to take over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association READ MORE  
4. Ahead of Bima Vistaar rollout, IRDAI issues guidelines on Bima Vahaks READ MORE
5. ICMR to set up study to develop solutions to remedy childhood undernutrition READ MORE
6. What is multimodal artificial intelligence and why is it important? READ MORE
7. Joint Statement during the State Visit of the President of Tanzania to India and launch of Strategic Partnership between India and Tanzania (8-10 October 2023) READ MORE  
8. Appointment of Manipur HC CJ to be notified soon, Centre tells apex court READ MORE
9. Unemployment rate drops to 6.6% in urban areas in Q1 READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental health and the floundering informal worker READ MORE
2. Socio-economic takeaways from Bihar caste survey READ MORE
3. Does India need a caste census? READ MORE
4. Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE  
5. How climate crisis will trigger more water wars in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The state of India’s Scheduled Areas READ MORE
2. Uncertain timing, Census and delimitation hurdles cast shadow over women’s reservation READ MORE
3. Law Commission age of consent recommendations threaten to criminalise the young READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The ‘invisible’ disability of mental illness: Challenges of social security access READ MORE
2. Fundamental health services for women: Analysing gender disparities READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The end of the two-state solution: Hamas’s spectacular terrorism will push back Palestinian statehood by a generation READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. With food inflation limited to dal roti, why govt policy may need changes READ MORE  
2. Economics Nobel 2023: How Claudia Goldin shed light on the status of women in the workforce READ MORE
3. Is RBI heading in the right direction? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Why India is launching a national framework for climate services Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE
2. Natural disasters occur due to our apathy towards environment READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Back to square one on theatre commands READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. It’s okay to be not okay READ MORE
2. Only we can reform our society READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Empowering women with the right to a safe and inclusive online environment is a crucial step toward a more equitable and just society in the digital age. Comment.
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection are failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Palestine is the cement that holds the Arab world together, or it is the explosive that blows it apart.
• The disturbing trends seen in women’s mental health call for immediate gender mainstreaming action in mental health policies.
• Policy neglect, uncertain job market, and increased contractualisation are making labourers’ economic condition worse. Inflation is negating purchasing power too.
• Wages of informal labourers neither become an election issue nor do they count as a measure of poverty.
• ]The only way to protect the Indian rupee is through price stability. Assured stability through firmer anti-inflationary measures sends an effective message to overseas investors.
• We need to enhance our responsibility and responsiveness towards climate cure and healing; we must investment in climate-pro solutions.
• Enhance cooperation for mitigation efforts, and develop sustainable and viable ecosystems for a crisis-free society.
• A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights for all. Besides, opinions are sharply divided on its impact.
• The release of the socio-economic profile of various SRCs can bring back the lost focus on the ‘economic’ aspect of social justice.
• The promise of a caste census could influence outcomes in the upcoming assembly elections but not do much for the cause of universal welfarism.
• India and South Korea, guided by universal values, should build beyond bilateralism as they refuse to be bystanders amid global disorder.
• Law Commission recommendations on age of consent sidestep key question of how to protect the young from sexual abuse, while ensuring they are not punished for consensual sexual activity with peers.
• Informal workers, despite their significant contribution to national income, are perennially exposed to economic, physical, and, in turn, mental vulnerabilities.
• The only way forward is for a Palestinian leadership that can credibly signal to the Israeli people that it will not use the freedoms it gains from any peace deal to hurt Israel. The prospects for that seem dim.

50-WORD TALK

• The shocking failure of Israel’s security services to preempt Hamas’ brutal strikes illustrates the damage caused when elected dictators operate without scrutiny and the perils of emulating Erdogan-style rule. PM Netanyahu’s politics undermined Jerusalem’s military and intelligence leadership. Israel will prevail—but at a price that need not have been paid.
• Army signing contracts worth Rs 18,000 crore under emergency procurement and asking it be institutionalised shows how convoluted military procurement has become. It is a shame that Services have to use EP to fill up critical gaps. This piecemeal approach should be stopped and procurement systems decluttered for faster procurement.

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.

REFERENCE TO UPSC SYLLABUS: GS 2: DIGITAL INDIA, INTERNET SHUTDOWNS, GS 3: INTERNAL SECURITY

THE CONTEXT

The internet shutdown in Manipur was reimposed on September 26, 2023.  The internet had been back in place for barely three days after the 143-day-long shutdown that began on May 3, 2023 before it was shut down again as the conflict intensified.

MORE ON THE NEWS

• There is a cycle of internet shutdowns happening in the state of Manipur as it is trapped in ethnic conflict, marked by frequent loss of life and property. It underpins a lack of confidence in the state as a recurring theme for protests in Imphal, regardless of internet access.
• Violence and brutality from Manipur reflect a deep-seated social discord and a breakdown in public trust. The term “cycle of violence,” is aptly used here. It was coined by Lenore Walker to describe situations of domestic abuse, and is no longer used in this context.
• However, it captures the toxic relationship that can develop between the state and its citizens. Those in power persist in depriving citizens of digital access to essential aspects of life, all to evade accountability. Cycles do not stop by themselves. To end, they require political leadership, not the continued use of “limited internet shutdowns” in Manipur.

WHAT IS INTERNET SHUTDOWN?

• Internet shutdowns are an absolute restriction placed on the use of internet services due to an order issued by a government body.
• It may be limited to a specific place and to specific period, time or number of days. Sometimes it can even extend indefinitely.
• An internet shutdown may be limited to mobile internet that you use on smartphones, or the wired broadband that usually connects a desktop – or both at the same time.

INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN INDIA

• Data compiled by global digital rights group Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition reveals that India implemented at least 84 shutdowns in 2022, the highest number of shutdowns in the by any country in 2022.
• Since 2016, India has accounted for approximately 58% of all shutdowns documented in the Shutdown Tracker Optimization Project (STOP database).

REGULATION RELATED TO INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN INDIA

• Till the year 2017, shutdowns were imposed largely under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• However, in 2017 the law was amended and the Government promulgated the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017 under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• The 2017 Rules provide for temporary shutdown of telecom services in a region on grounds of public emergency and give senior bureaucrats from the Home Ministry at the central and state levels the power to order shutdowns.
• The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 grants the central government the power to disconnect or intercept communication services in the interest of case including:  Public safety, sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order.
• Section 69 of the IT Act allows the government to issue content-blocking orders to online intermediaries such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom service providers, web hosting services, search engines, online marketplaces, etc. However, the Section requires the information or content being blocked to be deemed a threat to India’s national security, sovereignty, or public order.

ISSUES RELATED TO INTERNET SHUTDOWNS

• Economic impact: Internet shutdown has vast economic implication due to disruptions in communication as businesses and startups mostly rely on internet to operate.
• Suppress dissent: Internet shutdowns are tend to often used by governments to suppress dissent and limit political opposition.
• Affects day to day life: Shutdowns tend to disturb day-to-day life as online transactions, delivery and essential services came to a standstill. Students preparing for their boards, patients unable to reach their doctors and candidates struggling to commute to their job interviews were.
• Affects international reputation: India is seen as democratic nation and frequent internet shutdowns have a negative impact on India’s international reputation as a democratic nation.
• Not effective steps by regulators: As, the Department of Telecom refuses to maintain a centralised database and has proposed a Telecom Bill that retains unchecked power to implement internet shutdowns. Also, a recently concluded Telecom Regulatory Authority of India consultation ignored internet shutdown issue. Thus, institutions which serve as checks on a state government are either offering tacit support or adopting wilful ignorance towards internet shutdowns.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Need of political leadership: The Cycles of shutdowns do not stop by themselves. To end, they require political leadership, not the continued use of ‘limited internet shutdowns’ for long term solutions.
• Reforming the Legal Framework: Existing legal framework seems to be inadequate in limiting the internet shutdowns, government should repeal or amend the outdated laws.The state also needs to follow the Anuradha Bhasin judgement of the SC in letter and spirit.
• Alternative solution: There can be alternative solution by engaging civil society for peace and communication. Also, instead of complete shutdown, there can be blocking of specific content or websites.
• Action by private players: There is need of cautionary approach by private players. OTT platforms must exercise due caution and discretion when featuring the activities, beliefs, practices, or views of any racial or religious group. For example, Major telecom players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone are advocating for service-level blocks by internet companies, a move that could not only increase compliance burdens but also risk government-dictated “essential” internet services.

THE CONCLUSION

A proportionality and necessity test analysis to determine the proper course of action are essential at this juncture. For better internet governance and government and the Indian civil society needs to push for a transparent and accountable system.

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

1. Has digital literacy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. (2021).
2. Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace. (2020).

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. India has accounted for one of the highest internet shutdowns in recent years. In this respect, discuss the laws for internet shutdown regulation and issues arising out of frequent shutdown in India.
2. Is internet shutdown provides an effective solution for maintaining public order or it is used as a tool to evade accountability? Discuss.

 SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/apar-gupta-writes-in-manipur-another-internet-shutdown-a-conflict-intensified-8970390/

REFERENCE TO UPSC SYLLABUS: GS1: WOMEN EMPOWERMENT; GS 2: ELECTORAL RRFORMS.

THE CONTEXT

The landmark Women’s Reservation Bill now the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act that reserves one-third of the total seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women received presidential assent recently.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL

• Reservation for women: The Bill reserves, one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.  This will also apply to the seats reserved for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and states legislatures.
• Commencement of reservation: The reservation will be effective after the census conducted after the commencement of this Bill has been published.   Based on the census, delimitation will be undertaken to reserve seats for women.  The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years.  However, it shall continue till such date as determined by a law made by Parliament.
• Rotation of seats:Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation, as determined by a law made by Parliament.
• Ratification of bill: The Bill needs ratification from a minimum of 50 per cent of the states. The constitutional reasoning for requiring ratification by states is the potential impact of the Bill on the rights of states.

SIGNIFICANCE 

• Increase political representation of women: According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, India ranks 148th out of 193 countries in terms of women’s representation while the global average is 26.5 per cent. Similarly, women’s representation in state assemblies is also dismal, ranging from 3.1 per cent in Nagaland to 23.1 per cent in Bihar. The Bill aims to increase the number of women MPs to 181 from the current 82 and women MLAs to more than 2,000 from the current 740.
• Gender equality: The Bill aims to empower women and promote gender equality in society. The Bill hopes to create a conducive environment for women to voice their concerns and demand their rights. It also hopes to inspire more women to enter public life, take on leadership roles and challenge the patriarchal norms and stereotypes that limit their potential.
• Enhance governance: The Bill will improve the quality and effectiveness of governance and policymaking in India. Studies have shown that women legislators tend to be more responsive, accountable, honest, and collaborative than their male counterparts. They also tend to focus more on issues related to health, education, welfare, environment, and social justice, which are crucial for human development.

WOMEN’S RESERVATION IN PANCHAYATS

• The Bill marked a new chapter in India’s democratic journey and it comes on the 30th anniversary of the constitutional reforms that reserved one-third of seats in panchayats and municipalities for women.
• The Parliament enacted the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments that sought to make panchayats and municipalities “institutions of self-government”.
• It mandated a minimum of one-third of seats and office of chairpersons in panchayats and municipalities to be reserved for women.
• It also mandated reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Schedules Tribes (STs) based on their percentage population and enabled States to reserve seats for Backward Classes.
• This has created a system with over 3 million elected panchayat representatives, out of which almost half are women.
• While the Union government’s 2009 constitutional amendment to increase women’s reservation in local governments from 33% to 50% failed, many States have enacted laws that reserve 50% seats for women.
• Hence, presently in panchayats and municipalities, there is, at one level, vertical reservation of seats for SCs, STs, and OBCs and a horizontal category of reservation for women that applies across all categories general, SC, ST, and OBC.
• However, unlike the case of the 73rd and 74th amendments, the present law does not enable reservation for OBC women.

IMPACT OF WOMEN’S RESERVATION IN PANCHAYATS

• Strengthening democracy: With 30 years of women’s reservation in local government, it has ensured to strengthen democracy at grass root level which can be lesson for upper democracy. It led to expansion and diversification of the representative base of Indian democracy which is the most successful element of these constitutional reforms.
• Holistic address of disadvantaged section: Because of Such a mix of vertical and horizontal reservations the issue of disadvantaged section of people are recognized due to their location in the intersection of their caste and gender identities. The present women’s reservation law, adopts a similar model of intersectional reservation for women.
• Efficiency of Women leaders: Women leaders tends to be more efficient and women’s reservation in local governments yielded substantive benefits.

Differing impacts:

• More efficient: A 2004 paper by Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay on panchayats in West Bengal and Rajasthan found that women leaders invest more in public goods and ensure increased women’s participation in panchayat meetings. A more expansive study in 2011 across 11 States by Ms. Duflo and others reaffirmed the finding that women-led panchayats made higher investments in public services like drinking water, education, and roads.
• Worse impact: However, a 2010 paper by Pranab Bardhan and others found that women’s reservations worsened the targeting of welfare programmes for SC/ST households and provided no improvement for female-headed households. Also, A 2020 paper by Alexander Lee and Varun Karekurve-Ramachandra examining reservations in Delhi found that constituencies reserved for women are less likely to elect OBC women and more likely to elect upper-caste women.
• Not much difference: Meanwhile, a 2008 paper by Vijayendra Rao and Radu Ban found that women leaders perform no differently than their male counterparts in south India and instead institutional factors such as the maturity of the State’s panchayat system were more relevant.

Evidently, the impact of women’s reservation is not straightforward. Since the role that women play in local governments is different from their role in Parliament, the impact of reservation may play out differently, it needs more effective studies to analyse the impacts at parliament level.

CONCERNS

• Can create division among women: The Bill will create divisions among women based on caste, religion, region, and class. Some parties have demanded that within the 33 per cent reservation for women, there should be a sub-quota for women from backward classes and minorities. Without such a provision, the Bill will benefit only upper-caste and urban women at the expense of lower-caste and rural women.
• Restrict choice of voters: Reservation of seats in Parliament restricts choice of voters to women candidates. Therefore, some experts have suggested alternate methods such as reservation in political parties and dual member constituencies.
• Issue in rotation provision of the bill: By reserving seats for women by rotation, the Bill may create instability and uncertainty in the electoral process. Rotation of reserved constituencies in every election may reduce the incentive for an MP to work for his constituency as he may be ineligible to seek re-election from that constituency.
• Issue regarding merit of legislators: Another point of criticism is that it may reduce the merit and competence of legislators. By reserving seats for women based on gender alone, the Bill may compromise the quality and efficiency of governance.
• Can repeat trend of local bodies: One of the major concern is repetition of trend of local bodies where in name of women candidate, male members (Sarpanch Patis) tends to enjoy the political privileges overshadowing women’s political rights.
• Not proper discussion and consultation: There is no such proper stakeholder consultation. However, something as vital as a constitutional amendment for women’s reservation should have been introduced after widespread discussion and analysis of its experience, instead of being introduced through a “supplementary list” in a hastily organised Parliament session.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Immediate implementation: The reservation is proposed to be implemented after a new Census is published and the delimitation exercise is completed which may take time longer than expected. In this case there is need to have immediate implementation for its effective result.
• More inclusivity: There should be sub quota for reservation of OBC as well to have inclusive political representation of women from marginalized strata of society.
• Extend reservation to Rajya Sabha: The report examining the 1996 women’s reservation Bill recommended reservation be extended to the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Councils as well to have an overall holistic growth.
• Reforms in the Electoral Process: Reforms such as introducing proportional representation and preferential voting systems can help to increase women’s representation in politics.

THE CONCLUSION

Overall, the reservation to women is a significant step forward for engendering political system.  There is need to ensure commitment of each political party towards empowerment of women within the political sphere by giving more tickets to them in the interregnum .

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

1. Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2017)
2. Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing developmental projects? (2018)
3. The reservation of seats for women in the institution of local self-government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian political process”. Comment. (2019)

 MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. The Women Reservation Bill, 2023 is a new step in electoral reforms. Examine the concerns regarding its feasibility, desirability, and implications.
2. How far the Women Reservation Bill, 2023 can address the under representation of women in the Indian Political System?

 SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/womens-quota-panchayats-to-parliament/article67381623.ece

1. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT (ED)

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: In Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India Case 2023, the Supreme Court has held that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) must furnish the reasons of arrest to the accused.

EXPLANATION:

• The judgement came on a plea by Pankaj Bansal and Basant Bansal, Directors of M3M real estate group.
• They challenged an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which declined to set aside their arrest by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• the Supreme Court ruled on 3^rd October 2023 that it is necessary a copy of the grounds of arrest to the arrested person as a matter of course and without exception.
• The arrest was held illegal by the bench, as arrest does not fulfil the mandate of Article 22 (1) of Constitution and Section 19 (1) of the PMLA.
• It underlined that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is not expected to be vindictive in its conduct.

SUPREME COURT RULINGS:

• In recent years, the ED has been under increasing scrutiny from the Supreme Court.
• The court has issued a number of rulings that have limited the ED’s powers and strengthened the rights of the accused.

Vijay Madanlal Choudhary & Ors v. Union of India 2022:

• • The Supreme Court court dealt with confiscation proceedings under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 [PMLA].
  • It limited the application of Section 8(4) of PMLA concerning interim possession by authorities before conclusion of the final trial to exceptional cases.
  • The Supreme Court in 2022 upheld the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) right to make arrests and seize assets, while rejecting multiple challenges to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
  • A bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said ED should put more information in the public domain.
  • It said the lack of judicial officers dealing with PMLA cases is a serious issue, asking the government to address the problem.
  • Confiscation of the property based on the provisional order as mentioned under Section 8(4) should be an exception and not a rule.

In Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India Case 2023:

• The Supreme Court has held that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) must furnish the reasons of arrest to the accused.
• Mere non-cooperation of a witness in response to the summons issued under Section 50 of the (PMLA) Act of 2002 would not be enough to render him/her liable to be arrested under Section 19.

ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE (ED):

• ED is a Multi-Disciplinary Organisation under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• It is mandated with the task of enforcing the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
• The ED headquartered in New Delhi is headed by the Director of Enforcement.
• There are five Regional offices and other such zonal and subzonal offices in various parts of the country.
• It was formed in 1956 in the Department of Economic Affairs, to investigate cases of foreign exchange-related violations, a civil provision.
• But in 2002, after the introduction of the PMLA, it started taking up cases of financial fraud and money laundering, which were of criminal nature.
• Recently, its functioning has been under a cloud of suspicion as they are alleged to be used against the opposition leaders, the media and the critics of the Central Government.
• The state governments also allege that the agency violates the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution.

CRITICISM OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE:

• The PMLA has been misused for targeting dissident voices and thereby preventing free speech and expression.
• This has become a routine affair especially in the case of NGOs.
• For instance, all bank accounts of Amnesty International India were completely frozen by the Enforcement Directorate in September 2020 on the charge of the alleged violation of PMLA.
• The division of power under the Schedule 7 of the Constitution places the responsibility for police and public order in the State List.
• But the power of ED to investigate cases without states consent especially in ordinary crimes is against federal principles.
• The ED has been accused of selective application of the PMLA provisions and the major money laundering scams are either not investigated or not followed up by ED.
• For instance, The Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam in Odisha, the NARADA scam in West Bengal etc.
• Unlike the CrPC which provides for a proper procedure to commence an investigation, in the PMLA there is no procedure prescribed.
• This is a direct violation of Art 20(3) which protects individuals from self-incrimination.
• Section 120 B dealing with criminal conspiracy is part of PMLA. The section can be applied to any offence and requires only a mere allegation.

SOURCE: https://www.livelaw.in/supreme-court/why-ed-must-furnish-grounds-of-arrest-to-accused-in-writing-supreme-court-explains-239308

2. PM STREET VENDOR’S ATMANIRBHAR NIDHI (PM SVANidhi) SCHEME

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE, GS 1: SOCIETY

THE CONTEXT: Onboarding of 50 lakh beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Scheme.

EXPLANATION:

• As per Govt. of India PM SVANidhi has not only made the lives of street vendors easier but has also given them an opportunity to live with dignity.

PM STREET VENDOR’S ATMANIRBHAR NIDHI (PM SVANidhi) SCHEME:

• The PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on June 01, 2020.
• It aims to for provide affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
• The duration of the scheme initially was until March 2022.
• It has been extended till December 2024.
• It has enhanced the focus on collateral free affordable loan corpus, increased adoption of digital transactions and holistic socio-economic development of the Street Vendors and their families.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the implementing agency of the scheme.

TARGET BENEFICIARIES:

• This scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh Street Vendors.
• A vendor, according to the scheme guidelines is any person engaged in vending of articles, goods, wares, food items or merchandise of daily use or offering services to the public in a street, footpath, pavement etc., from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place.
• The goods supplied by them include vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat street food, tea, pakodas, breads, eggs, textile, apparel, artisan products, books/ stationary etc.
• The services include barber shops, cobblers, pan shops, laundry services etc.

SCHEME BENEFITS:

• Vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.
• On timely/ early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @ 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis.
• There will be no penalty on early repayment of loan.
• The scheme promotes digital transactions through cash back incentives up to an amount of Rs. 100 per month.
• The vendors can avail the facility of escalation of the credit limit on timely/ early repayment of loan.

SOURCE: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1964005

3. NOBEL PRIZE 2023 IN CHEMISTRY

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.

BACKGROUND:

• Physicists had long known that in theory size-dependent quantum effects could arise in nanoparticles.
• But at that time it was almost impossible to sculpt in nanodimensions.
• Few people believed that this knowledge would be put to practical use.
• In the early 1980s, Alexei Ekimov succeeded in creating size-dependent quantum effects in coloured glass.
• The colour came from nanoparticles of copper chloride and Ekimov demonstrated that the particle size affected the colour of the glass via quantum effects.
• A few years later, Louis Brus was the first scientist in the world to prove size-dependent quantum effects in particles floating freely in a fluid.
• In 1993, Moungi Bawendi revolutionised the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in almost perfect particles.
• This high quality was necessary for them to be utilised in applications.

QUANTUM DOTS AND ITS APPLICATIONS:

• Quantum dots have unique properties and spread their light from television screens and LED lamps.
• They catalyse chemical reactions, and their clear light can illuminate tumour tissue for a surgeon.
• Quantum dots have primarily been utilised to create coloured light.
• It is believed that in the future quantum dots can contribute to flexible electronics, miniscule sensors, slimmer solar cells and perhaps encrypted quantum communication.
• Today quantum dots are an important part of nanotechnology’s toolbox. The 2023 Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry have all been pioneers in the exploration of the nanoworld.
• Quantum dots now illuminate computer monitors and television screens based on QLED technology.
• They also add nuance to the light of some LED lamps, and biochemists and doctors use them to map biological tissue.
• Quantum dots are thus bringing the greatest benefit to humankind.
• Researchers believe that in the future they could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication – so we have just started exploring the potential of these tiny particles.

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.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/2023-nobel-prize-chemistry/article67377618.ece

4. GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF)

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The South Lhonak Lake burst, causing recent flash floods in north Sikkim.

EXPLANATION:

• Ten casualties have been confirmed, and many more are missing due to the Teesta River’s rising flood level and nonstop rain.
• The South Lhonak Lake had drawn criticism for its quick growth and vulnerability to GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods).

WHAT IS GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF)?

• Glacial lakes, like South Lhonak Lake, form in front of, on, or beneath melting glaciers.
• As they grow, they become more dangerous, often dammed by unstable ice or sediment.
• If the dam breaks, massive volumes of water rush downstream, causing floods known as GLOF.
• GLOF can be triggered by earthquakes, heavy rains, ice avalanches, or landslides.

HOW DID SOUTH LHONAK LAKE BECOME SUSCEPTIBLE TO GLOF?

• Glacial lakes are common in steep, mountainous regions, making them vulnerable to landslides or ice avalanches that displace water.
• The impact of climate change leads to rapid glacier melting, resulting in the formation and expansion of glacial lakes.
• In Sikkim Himalayan, rising temperatures have caused glacier melt, leading to the proliferation of glacial lakes, including the South Lhonak Lake.
• There are over 300 glacial lakes in Sikkim Himalayan, with 10 identified as vulnerable to GLOF.
• South Lhonak Lake had shown significant growth over the past five decades.
• An earthquake in 1991 and another in 2011, along with future seismic events, were identified as potential triggers for GLOF.
• Government authorities had been monitoring the lake’s expansion and susceptibility to GLOF.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE SIKKIM GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE THE EXPANDING SOUTH LHONAK LAKE?

• In 2016, authorities, including the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, initiated measures to address the expanding South Lhonak Lake.
• Innovator Sonam Wangchuk supervised the implementation of a technique involving the syphoning off of lake water.
• Three eight-inch wide and 130-140 meters long High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes were installed in the lake to remove water at a rate of 150 liters per second.

LHONAK LAKE:

• Lhonak Lake is a glacial lake situated in the pristine landscapes of North Sikkim, at a staggering altitude of approximately 17,000 feet above sea level.
• Its formation is attributed to the melting glaciers of the region, a process accelerated by rising global temperatures.
• South Lhonak Lake is a glacial-moraine-dammed lake, located in Sikkim’s far northwestern region.
• It is one of the fastest expanding lakes in the Sikkim Himalaya region, and one of the 14 potentially dangerous lakes susceptible to Glacial lake outburst flood (GLOFs).
• It plays a role in the hydrological cycle, releasing water downstream, ultimately benefiting the Teesta River basin.

WAY FORWARD: MITIGATION

• Regular lake monitoring is necessary to evaluate changes in water levels and the strength of natural dams in glacial lakes.
• Implementing early warning systems that can identify and alert areas downstream of potential GLOFs.
• Building protective infrastructure to control floodwaters, such as dams or diversion channels.
• Implementing zoning and land-use planning to prevent construction in high-risk locations.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/glacial-lake-outburst-flood-glof-sikkim-8968562/

5. DYNAMIC INJUNCTION

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The Delhi HC has passed dynamic injunction against illegal ICC World Cup broadcasting.

EXPLANATION:

• A plea has been filed by Star India which stated that given the exclusive rights they had acquired from ICC, they enjoyed broadcast reproduction rights.
• But these rights are contemplated under Section 37 of the 1957 Copyright Act.
• Recently, the Delhi High Court restrained nine websites from illegally broadcasting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 matches.

WHAT IS SECTION 37 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT?

• Section 37 deals with a “special right” extended to every broadcasting organisation.
• Section 37 (2) proceeds to enlist what constitutes an infringement of this right.
• It states that “during the continuance of a broadcast reproduction right” any person who:
  • without the licence of the right’s owner engages in re-broadcasting the broadcast; or
  • causes the broadcast to be heard or seen by the public on payment of charges; or
  • makes any sound or visual recording of the broadcast; or
  • makes any reproduction of such sound or visual recording where the initial recording was done without licence or was licensed, for any purpose not envisaged by the licence; or
  • sells or hires to the public, or
  • offers for such sale or hire, any such sound recording or visual recording,

will be deemed to have infringed this right, subject to the provisions of Section 39.

• Section 39 provides exceptions when the reproduction of such content can be considered as ‘fair dealing; and not copyright infringement.

WHAT IS A DYNAMIC INJUNCTION?

• A dynamic injunction is passed to protect copyrighted works even before they are publicly released, distributed, or created.
  • An injunction is an official order given by a law court, usually to stop someone from doing something.
• It ensures that no irreparable loss is caused to its authors and owner.
• It restricts the imminent possibility of works being uploaded on rogue websites or their newer versions immediately after their creation or release, given the challenges posed by online piracy.
• In August, the court has observed that given the nature of the illegalities that rogue websites indulge in.
• It concluded that there is a need to pass injunctions which are also dynamic as once a film or series is released, it might be immediately uploaded on the rogue websites, causing severe and instant monetary loss to its creators.

What are the other cases where such injunctions have been passed?

• Star India Pvt. Ltd. said that since 2021, the Delhi HC had granted similar dynamic injunctions against several such rogue websites in Star India’s favour, which led to them ultimately being taken down.
• The Delhi HC in its 2019 ruling in “UTV vs. 1337x.to” introduced the concept of dynamic injunctions for the first time.
• Star India had come across almost all major sporting events being illegally communicated and disseminated on the internet, Star approached the court seeking an injunction restraining the defendant websites.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/delhi-hc-what-is-dynamic-injunction-8968692/

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM hails landmark of 50 lakh beneficiaries of PMSVANidhi Scheme READ MORE
2.  2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Three share prize for discovery of quantum dots, now used in LEDs READ MORE  
3. National Action Plan for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices: DG of Shipping READ MORE
4. U.S. keeps distance on Muizzu’s plan to end Indian military presence in Maldives READ MORE
5. New defence indigenisation list has futuristic weapons, systems READ MORE
6. In first polls post-370, Kargil hill council elections sees over 78% turnout READ MORE
7. Glacial lake outburst flood kills 14 in Sikkim, 102 people missing: What is GLOF, and why does it happen? READ MORE
8. Delhi HC passes ‘dynamic injunction’ against illegal ICC World Cup broadcast: What this means, what was the case READ MORE
9. Latest Nipah Virus Outbreak reports 33% case fatality rate, all bat samples tested negative: WHO READ MORE
10. India, Japan launch sustainability fund worth $600 million for low carbon emission projects READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Hugh and Colleen Gantzer write: Women’s Bill, through our travels READ MORE
2. Missing in the caste survey READ MORE
3. Economic and social reform constitute a radical agenda of eradicating caste READ MORE
4. Cause and Effect | Did an underwater volcanic eruption add to rising temperatures? READ MORE
5. Monsoon woes READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Women’s quota, panchayats to Parliament READ MORE
2. Retribution for the south, accolade for the north READ MORE
3. Drawing lines in Cauvery waters READ MORE
4. Court’s Sweeping Powers Under Article 142 Can’t Be Used to Override Substantive Law: SC READ MORE
5. Age of Consent: Law Panel Report Simply Diagnoses, Doesn’t Solve the Problem READ MORE
6. “One Nation-One Election” is vital for good governance READ MORE
7. Dynamics of women’s empowerment in Indian politics READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Making menstrual health a welfare priority: Insights from three states READ MORE
2. NEP 2020 centralises education, worsens existing maladies READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Development partnerships for food security: India in the Indo-Pacific READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Driving mobility to a sustainable future READ MORE  
2. Advancing women’s role in India’s economic progress READ MORE
3. It is a global recession with economic growth among lowest in four decades READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Keeping tabs on carbon with an accounting system READ MORE
2. Tackle climate risk firmly to minimise economic losses READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Let there be light: On the 2023 physics Nobel READ MORE
2. Don’t deprive scientists of funds, incentives READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. As Sikkim Reels From Disastrous Floods, Concerns Over Warning Signs and Enormous Impact READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Mizoram National Front and the politics of cross-border kinship READ MORE
2. Why the Five Eyes remain blind to India’s security concerns READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Is mortality subjective? READ MORE
2. God and his many forms READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ONOE would be a great help in substantially minimizing the effects of using polarisation based on socio-economic toxicity to win elections. How far do you agree with this statement? Analyse your viewpoint.
2. Discuss the issue of climate migrants. Suggest ways to address the challenges related to climate migration.
3. By collaborating with neighbouring countries, India can serve as a catalyst for positive change and promote food security and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific. Comment.
4. India’s female workforce participation remains paltry and calls for an urgent review of India’s policies and schemes related to women’s empowerment. Argue.
5. While legislative representation is a critical aspect, it must be complemented by measures that empower women at the grassroots level. Comment on the statement in the light of the recent Women’s Reservation Act

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Don’t hit at all if it is honourably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft!
• ONOE would be a great help in substantially minimizing the effects of using polarisation based on socio-economic toxicity to win elections.
• An election should mark the celebration of a vibrant democracy. It should not degenerate into an exercise maximising polarisation based on socio-economic toxicity. ONOE would be a great help in substantially minimising this adverse impact.
• Being a multilateral forum of international economic cooperation, the G20 can serve as a suitable platform for creating a dedicated fund for climate migrants.
• By collaborating with neighbouring countries, India can serve as a catalyst for positive change and promote food security and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific.
• India’s female workforce participation remains paltry and calls for an urgent review of India’s policies and schemes related to women’s empowerment.
• While legislative representation is a critical aspect, it must be complemented by measures that empower women at the grassroots level.
• Achieving gender equity and true empowerment requires a deeper understanding of the complexities involved and a commitment to addressing them effectively.
• True empowerment necessitates a sociopolitical transformation at the grassroots level, characterised by women’s access to education, equal opportunities, economic independence, and, most importantly, political independence.
• Consent is pivotal as it respects individual autonomy, fosters safety, maintains ethical standards, and promotes healthy, respectful relationships.
• A good plan of action is being implemented by the Integrated Development Project implemented by the Himachal Forest Department with the assistance of the World Bank. It seeks to improve upstream water management and water productivity of selected gram panchayats.
• Resolution of dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu can pave the way for addressing interstate river water conflicts.
• The five southern States have effectively controlled their population and should not be penalised through reduced political representation.

ESSAY TOPIC

• India to awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened
• What we sow we reap.

50-WORD TALK

• Canada should have first pursued private diplomatic talks with New Delhi before it decided to go to parliament with Nijjar killing allegations and collect a mohalla-style panchayat of its global allies. The onus of privileging its domestic politics over diplomacy is on Ottawa. Justin Trudeau can’t have it both ways.
• The journey to gender equality in India’s workforce is long and challenging. Yet, the potential benefits of women’s economic empowerment are enormous and transformative, both for women and society. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the women workforce in India gets their due.
• India can serve as a catalyst for positive change, promoting food security and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific for the benefit of the entire region. Regional cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among nations in the region are vital for developing and implementing effective strategies to overcome these challenges.

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. 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.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/2023-nobel-prize-in-physics-seeing-electrons-through-brief-pulses-of-light-explained/article67376832.ece

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.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/armenias-parliament-votes-to-join-the-international-criminal-court-straining-ties-with-ally-russia/article67376736.ece/amp/

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.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/renewable-energy/iea-summit-on-clean-energy-minerals-actions-for-sustainable-ethical-supply-chains-agreed-upon-92076

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 3^RD 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.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/what-uapa-sections-have-been-invoked-against-newsclick-8967236/

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.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/despite-early-gains-of-swachh-bharat-mission-toilet-use-declining-since-2018-19-world-bank paper/article67376731.ece

1. REPORT ON ELDERLY POPULATION OF INDIA

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT:  Elderly population of India will make up 20% of the total population by 2050.

EXPLANATION:

Growth rate of the elderly population:

• The decadal growth rate of the elderly population of India is estimated to be at 41 percent.
• The percentage of elderly population in the India is projected to double to over 20% of total population by 2050.
• According to the India Ageing Report by the United Nations Population Fund, India (UNFPA), elderly population of India will surpass the population of children (aged 0 to 15 years) by 2046.

Life expectancy of women as compared to men: 

• The life expectancy of women at the age of 60 and at the 80 is higher as compared to men.
• For example, in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, women at 60 years have a life expectancy of 23 and 22 years, respectively, which is four years greater than men at 60 years.

Economic Problem:

• According to the India Ageing Report, poverty may affect their quality of life and healthcare utilization because more than 40% of the elderly in India are in the poorest wealth quintile and out of 40%, about 18.7% are living without an income.

Regional Differences:

• The absolute numbers and growth of the aged population vary significantly by location.
• The proportion of the old population in southern states and a few northern states, including Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, is higher than the national average.
• States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which have greater fertility rates and slower demographic shifts, will experience an increase in the proportion of the senior population, although at a lesser rate than the national average.

Elderly Population Feminization and Ruralization:

• According to the report, two key issues affecting India’s aging population are the country’s feminization (with a higher proportion of old women) and ruralization (with a concentration of the elderly in rural areas).
• This necessitates the development of policies that are specifically geared toward the requirements of older women, who are more likely to be widowed, live alone, and rely on family support.

Sex Ratio Among the Elderly:

• The sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) among the elderly population has been growing steadily since 1991, with the ratio in the general population stagnating.
• In central India, where the sex ratio went from 973 in 2011 to 1,053 in 2021, implying that the women caught up with and outperformed the men in survival after 60 years over the decade.
• However, In the northeast and the east, while the sex ratio of the elderly increased, it remained below 1,000 in both years, indicating that men still outnumber the women in these regions even at 60-plus years.

Future prospect: The report projected that the population of people aged 80+ years will grow at a rate of around 279% between 2022 and 2050 with a predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/share-of-elderly-projected-to-double-to-20-by-2050-india-ageing-report/article67353547.ece)

2. ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT (AFSPA)

TAG: GS 3: INTERNAL SECURITY

THE CONTEXT:  Manipur government extends AFSPA in hill districts for 6 months.

EXPLANATION:

• The “disturbed area” status under the Act will remain applicable in all the hill districts, which are dominated by tribal communities.

Article 355 of the Indian Constitution provides that the Central Government is under an obligation to protect the States from “external aggression and internal disturbance“. The AFSPA enables the Central Government to discharge its Constitutional obligation.

AFSPA:

• The AFSPA grants unrestricted authority to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police forces stationed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting against the law, to arrest and search any location without a warrant, and to do so while being shielded from legal action and prosecution.
• In order to address the Naga revolt, the law was originally implemented in 1958.
• When the Act was revised in 1972, the Central government and the States got the authority to designate a region as “disturbed” at the same time.
• Meghalaya was subject to the AFSPA for 27 years before the MHA abolished it on April 1st, 2018, after Tripura had revoked the Act in 2015.
• Parts of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh currently have AFSFA.

Criticism of AFSPA:

• The Act gives unfettered powers to the armed forces and the Central armed police forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone who is acting in a way to create disharmony in the society.
• It  empowers armed forces to search any place without a warrant and also gives them insulation from prosecution and legal rights.
• The use of these extraordinary powers by the armed forces has frequently sparked accusations of fake encounters and other human rights abuses by security forces in unrest areas, raising concerns about the permanent installation of the AFSPA in some states, including Nagaland, Manipur and J&K.

AFSPA withdrawal:

• Since 1981, AFSPA has been applicable in Manipur, a former Union Territory which attained Statehood in 1972. AFSPA also existed in the Naga-dominated areas of the erstwhile UT of Manipur since 1958.
• However, the provisions of the Act were withdrawn from the Imphal Municipality area in 2004.
• In April 2022, AFSPA was removed from 15 police station areas in six districts, and from April 1, 2023, the disturbed area notification was withdrawn from four other police stations.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afspa-extended-in-manipur-for-6-months-from-october-1-barring-19-police-stations-of-valley/article67352570.ece)

3. RISE AND FALL OF INSECT

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:  Climate change influences rise and fall of insect populations.

EXPLANATION:

• It is observed that numbers of insects decrease during unfavorable conditions and a spike in normal periods.
• The weather in 2022 was consistently favorable for insects, as was the summer of 2021.
• Temperatures and precipitation affect insect populations at various stages of their life cycle.
• For example, the insect’s survival depends on winter conditions and the last weather conditions such as spring or summer.

About Climate change influences the rise and fall of insect populations:

• Insects are cold-blooded animals, meaning that their body temperature is regulated by the environment.
• This makes them particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature.
• Insect populations are widely influenced by weather anomalies. Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise, and this is having a negative impact on many insect populations.
• Some insects are able to tolerate a wider range of temperatures than others, but many species are struggling to adapt to the rapid warming that is happening now.
• Climate change is causing other changes to the environment, such as changes in precipitation patterns, more extreme weather events, and the spread of invasive species.
• The decline of insect populations is a serious problem because insects play a vital role in ecosystems. They are pollinators, predators, and decomposers. Without insects, many plants and animals would not be able to survive.

Some specific things that help protect insect populations:

• Plant native plants in your yard or garden.
• Provide water and shelter for insects.
• Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals in your yard or garden.
• Support organizations that are working to protect insects and their habitats.

Source:(https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/climate-change-influences-rise-and-fall-of-insect-populations-study-92003)

4. CABOMBA FURCUTA

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Cabomba furcuta, an invasive alien species has spread in the water canals and threatening the Kole fields of Kerala.

EXPLANATION:

• Many parts of the water canals, crisscrossing the vast Kole fields, have turned pink now because of its Pink Bloom.
• It is repeating its presence for the third year in a row in the Kole fields.
• It is a native of central and south America and it was brought to Kerala as an aquarium plant.
• But it has posed major threat to the biodiversity both in the terrestrial system as well as the aquatic landscape.
• The Pink bloom had emerged as a tourist attraction a few years ago during the COVID period near Perambra in Kozhikode.
• It attracted people due to the massive flowering, which turns the entire water body pink.

CABOMBA FURCUTA:

• It is a red stem plant with finely divided leaves.
• It is popularly called as Pink Bloom due its massive flowering.
• It can be found in nature in Central and South America.
• It has attractive reddish foliage when grown well but isn’t a popular plant due to its high demands.
• In sub-optimal conditions the plant is greenish rather than red, with more elongated internodes.
• The plant needs an aggressive amount of light to show good coloration and shorter internodes. Greening of the top leaves coupled with elongated internodes are a sign lighting is insufficient.
• Though this plant is known to originate from soft-water, it seems to tolerate some hardness and can grow well.

Key factors for the growth:

• Aggressively high light levels.
• Regular, all-round fertilization.
• CO2 injection brings out coloration.
• Cooler temperatures, higher light levels give shorter internodes.

KOLE WETLANDS:

• It is an internationally important Ramsar site of high value biodiversity.
• They are a large brackish wetland ecosystem located in the Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala, India.
• They cover an area of about 13,632 hectares (33,690 acres) and are fed by 10 rivers.
• The wetlands are home to a variety of plants and animals, including over 250 species of birds.

Here are some of the ways that the Kole wetlands are important:

• They provide food and livelihoods for thousands of people, through agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
• They help to control flooding and protect coastal areas from erosion.
• They are home to a variety of plants and animals.
• They are a popular tourist destination, known for their scenic beauty and unique biodiversity.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kole-wetlands-face-threat-of-alien-plants/article67341793.ece

5. BENNU

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Bennu asteroid sample has been dropped off by the NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft which contains a lot for the scientists to study.

EXPLANATION:

• Study of Bennu include significant commercial components such as opportunities for space-mining and impact mitigation technologies.
• They also participate in a more timeless quest to find out where life came from and what its fate could be.
• With OSIRIS’s capsule, humankind virtually gets to hold infinity in the palm of the hand.

BENNU:

• Bennu – discovered in 1999 – is a small, near-Earth asteroid that passes close to Earth about every six years.
• Bennu is an asteroid orbiting the sun (with a period of 436 days) such that it comes relatively close to the earth once every six years or so.
• It is a carbonaceous asteroid with characteristics that suggest it settled into its present form and composition within 10 million years after the solar system’s formation, surviving the last 4.5 billion years nearly intact.
• Such ‘leftover’ pieces of debris are expected to reveal the system’s ingredients and the signatures of the processes that combined them in different ways.
• Many scientists also believe that when rocks such as Bennu crashed into the earth, they delivered the compounds required for the formation of life.
• Also, as Bennu could smash into the earth between 2178 and 2290, studying it could inform ways to prevent this collision.

OSIRIS-Rex MISSION:

• The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is a NASA mission to study and collect a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
• In 2016, NASA launched the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to study Bennu.
• The spacecraft arrived at Bennu in 2018 and began to study the asteroid.
• In 2020, the spacecraft collected a sample of Bennu’s surface material.
• The sample is scheduled to return to Earth in 2023.
• It is equipped with a variety of instruments to study Bennu, including cameras, spectrometers, and a laser altimeter.
• The spacecraft has also been equipped with a robotic arm that will be used to collect the sample from Bennu’s surface.
• The OSIRIS-REx mission is expected to provide scientists with valuable insights into the formation and evolution of asteroids.
• The sample of Bennu’s surface material is expected to contain organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life.

Here are some of the key objectives of the OSIRIS-REx mission:

• To study the global and local characteristics of Bennu.
• To collect a sample of Bennu’s surface material and return it to Earth.
• To investigate Bennu’s potential hazard to Earth.
• To contribute to our understanding of the origins and evolution of the solar system.
• The OSIRIS-REx mission is a complex and challenging undertaking, but it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of asteroids and their role in the formation of the solar system.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/timeless-quest-on-nasas-osiris-rex-and-the-bennu-asteroid-sample/article67352430.ece

1. APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: According to the Supreme Court the judiciary is losing fresh talent like never before as prospective candidates shortlisted for judgeships in High Courts give up as months tick by without a decision from the government.

EXPLANATION: 

• The Supreme Court of India has set a deadline for the government to take action on pending recommendations for judgeships, transfers of high court judges, and the appointment of a chief justice.
• The recommendation for judgeships was made by the High Court Collegiums, which have been pending with the government for over 10 months, since November 2022.

What is the Collegium system?

• It is a system under which appointments and transfers of judges are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. It has no place in the Indian Constitution.
• The word Collegium is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution, it has come in force as per Judicial Pronouncement.
• The origin of the concept for establishment of the system may be traced by the recommendations of the Bar Council of India made on 17 October 1981, during a national seminar of the lawyers at Ahmedabad.

• The Collegium consists of:
  • The Chief Justice of India
  • Four senior Judges of the Supreme Court
  • Two representatives who would be representing the Bar Council of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

• The collegium recommendations to the President regarding appointment of a Supreme Court or High Court Judge.

Criticism of Collegium system:

• The Collegium System has been criticized for its opacity and lack of openness.
• There is scope of nepotism in collegium system.
• The judiciary has total authority over the nomination process under the collegium system, which functions without any external checks and balances.
• The collegium system has also come under criticism for being ineffective at handling transfers and appointments, which causes vacancies in the judiciary and delays in the administration of justice.

Strength and Composition of the Supreme Court: 

• The Supreme Court was initially composed of eight justices, including one chief justice.
• The number of judges has grown throughout time due to the Parliament.
• Currently, there are 34 judges on the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice.

Constitutional provision regarding appointment of Judges:

• Article 124 deals with the appointment of Supreme Court judges. It says the appointment should be made by the President after consultation with such judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court as the President may deem necessary. The CJI is to be consulted in all appointments, except his or her own.
• Article 217 deals with the appointment of High Court judges. It says a judge should be appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI and the Governor of the state. The Chief Justice of the High Court concerned too should be consulted.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/judiciary-losing-fresh-talent-to-govts-silence-segregation-of-names-sc-tells-centre/article67347939.ece)

2. BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

THE CONTEXT: Disruption in Black Sea Grain Initiative can worsen food security across the Middle East, North Africa.

EXPLANATION: 

• Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa regions are experiencing severe food crises due to inability to afford food and exposure to the negative effects of conflict and trade dynamics in the Black Sea.
• The expanding population and growing demand for important food items, these countries were faced with food insecurity for decades.
• India also banned rice export to protect local supply.
• The combined shocks of above issues may result in the beginning of an era of unprecedented food inflation in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Black Sea Grain initiative:

• The Black Sea Grain initiative aims to address rising food costs brought on by supply chain interruptions as a result of Russian actions in the “breadbasket” of the globe.
• The agreement, which was mediated by the UN and Turkey, was signed in Istanbul in July 2022.

Objective:

• The agreement, which was initially set up for a duration of 120 days, was intended to give Ukrainian exports (especially those of food grains) a secure maritime humanitarian corridor.
• The main goal was to control market volatility by assuring a sufficient supply of grains and preventing an increase in food prices.

Why is the Black Sea Grain Initiative Important?

• Ukraine is one of the world’s top exporters of rapeseed, sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, and wheat.
• It may directly contact grain importers from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Russia and Europe, due to its access to the deep-sea ports in the Black Sea.
• The initiave has also been praised for making a significant difference in the world’s affordability dilemma.
• Since the initiative started, almost 9.8 million tonnes of grains have been transported.
• The occupied Palestinian Territories, Tunisia and Egypt have a historical dependence on grain exports from Russia and Ukraine.
• Due to the shortage of supplies, those who had been stockpiling grain in the hopes of selling it for a significant profit were suddenly forced to do so.

Source:(https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/food/disruption-in-black-sea-grain-initiative-can-worsen-food-security-across-middle-east-north-africa-report-91981)

3. ANGEL TAX

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT:  The Income Tax Department has notified new angel tax rules that comprise a mechanism to evaluate the shares issued by unlisted startups to investors. Rule 11UA for valuation of shares for the purposes of section 56 of the Act has been modified via a notification.

THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CHANGES IN RULE 11 UA ARE:

• The Finance Act, 2023 amended the Income Tax Act 1961 which provided for payment of income tax by unlisted companies.
• The tax needs to be paid on the difference between the fair market value(FMV) of shares and the consideration received for shares.
• The notification adds that the tax needs to be paid only when the consideration exceeds the fair market value.
• The introduction of five alternative valuation methods for equity shares will give merchant bankers more flexibility to value a company.
• Under Rule 11UA, five more valuation methods have been made available for non-resident investors, namely;

a) Comparable Company Multiple Method,

b) Probability Weighted Expected Return Method,

c) Option Pricing Method,

d) Milestone Analysis Method,

e) Replacement Cost Method.

• FMV of the equity shares for resident and non-resident investors, subject to the following:

(i) To the extent the consideration from such FMV does not exceed the aggregate consideration that is received from the notified entity, and

(ii) The consideration has been received by the company from the notified entity within a period of ninety days before or after the date of issue of shares which are the subject matter of valuation.

• The government has also offered a 10% tolerance for deviations from the accepted share valuations. This means that a startup can be valued at up to 10% more than its fair market value without being liable for angel tax.

Angel tax:

• Angel tax, introduced in 2012, refers to tax levied on capital raised by unlisted companies.
• Objective was to deter generation and use of unaccounted money through subscription of shares of a closely held company, at a value which is higher than fair market value.
• Prior to 2023 Budget proposal, angel tax provisions were applicable only for investments received from resident investors.
• However, Finance Bill 2023 has now extended its applicability to non-resident investors as well.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/business/amid-startups-funding-winter-centre-seeks-to-soften-angel-tax/article67349609.ece

4. WELFARE OF TRANSGENDER PERSONS

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on September 26. 2023 issued an advisory to the Centre, State governments and Union Territory Administrations to ensure the welfare of transgender persons.

EXPLANATION:

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an advisory on the welfare of transgender persons, calling for a number of measures to protect their rights and ensure their welfare.
• Some of the key recommendations of the NHRC include:
  • Separate toilets: Provision of separate toilets for transgender persons in all public places.
  • Free sex reassignment surgery: Ensuring that transgender persons have access to free sex reassignment surgery.
  • Pension rights and Inheritance rights: Granting transgender persons pension rights. Allowing transgender persons to inherit ancestral agricultural land.
  • Multi-purpose identity card and Insurance: Providing a multi-purpose identity card to transgender persons to help them access government schemes and other benefits. Advising insurance companies to consider and accept the Transgender Certificate issued by the appropriate authority for document verification purposes.
  • Transgender Welfare Board and Transgender Protection Cell: Setting up a Transgender Welfare Board under Section 10(1) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020. Establishing a Transgender Protection Cell under the Director General of Police or his/ her nominee in the State to monitor cases of offences against transpersons.
  • Respect and dignity: Ensuring that transpersons are treated with respect and dignity so that they do not face hurdles in education and growth. Taking steps to tackle the sexual harassment of transgender persons and prevent violence or discrimination.
  • Medical boards: Setting up medical boards at the district level to assist transpersons in medical consultation, besides making provisions in every district civil hospital for consultation, treatment and counselling for sex reassignment surgery.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Advising the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to consider incorporating welfare activities of Transgender Persons explicitly in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which provides the list of activities that can be included for making expenditures for CSR activities.
• These recommendations are a welcome step towards ensuring the welfare of transgender persons in India.
• Transgender persons are often marginalized and discriminated against, and these measures will help to protect their rights and ensure that they have access to the same opportunities as everyone else.
• The NHRC’s advisory is a significant step in raising awareness of the challenges faced by transgender persons and promoting their rights.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:

• The Act calls for establishing a National Council for Transgender persons (NCT).
• No transgender person shall be separated from parents or immediate family on the ground of being a transgender.
• The Act also seeks to provide rights of health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
• The Bill prohibits discrimination of transgenders in relation to opportunities for education, job, health care services, and access to services etc.
• Every person has a right to be recognized as a transgender.
• A certificate of identity has to be obtained from the District Magistrate, who will issue the certificate based on the District Screening Committee.
• Penal Provisions: it criminalizes: (i) begging, forced or bonded labor (ii) denial of use of a public place; (iii) denial of residence in the household, village, etc.; (iv) physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nhrc-advisory-for-transpersons-pushes-for-separate-toilets-pension-rights-free-sex-reassignment-surgery/article67349098.ece

5. “ciTRAN” A SPECIFIC CIRCULAR RNA

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISER Bhopal) identified a specific circular RNA (circRNA) called ‘ciTRAN’, which plays a crucial role in the multiplication of the AIDS-causing HIV-1 virus within the human body.

EXPLANATION:

• The research shows how ciTRAN helps the process of copying genetic information from the virus, essentially helping the virus multiply more efficiently.
• HIV-1 infects human cells by binding to a protein called CD4.
• Once the virus has entered the cell, it releases its genetic material, which is RNA.
• The virus then uses the cell’s machinery to copy its RNA and produce new viruses.
• ciTRAN helps HIV-1 to copy its RNA by stabilizing a protein called Rev.
  • Rev is a protein that is essential for the transport of HIV-1 RNA from the nucleus of the cell to the cytoplasm, where the virus assembles and buds from the cell membrane.
• ciTRAN binds to Rev and prevents it from being degraded. This helps to ensure that Rev is available to transport HIV-1 RNA to the cytoplasm, which is essential for the virus to multiply.

CIRCULAR RNA:

• Ribonucleic acid is a molecule in living cells that carries genetic information and helps in the production of proteins.
• RNAs are in general straight-chain, free-end structures but these circular RNA (‘circRNA’) forms a closed-loop.
• The circRNA plays a pivotal role in regulating gene expression and is essential for various biological processes.
• Its role in HIV-1 replication has remained unclear for a long time.
• Characterizing circular RNA can be tricky because it usually is less abundant, making it further challenging to detect in the native form.
• During viral infections, there’s so much information from the virus that it can make it hard to find the less common ones like circular RNA.

HIV AND AIDS:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s immune system.
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of the disease.
• HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers.
• HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It can also spread from a mother to her baby.
• HIV can be treated and prevented with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.
• WHO now defines Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) as CD4 cell count less than 200cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents. All children with HIV younger than 5 years of age are considered to have advanced HIV disease.

PRESENT SITUATION REGARDING HIV AND AIDS:

• The present situation on HIV is that it is a global pandemic that continues to affect millions of people around the world.
• In 2022, there were an estimated 39.0 million people living with HIV, and 1.5 million new HIV infections.
• However, there has been significant progress in the fight against HIV in recent years.
• The number of new HIV infections has declined by 59% since 2001, and the number of AIDS-related deaths has declined by 69% since 2004.
• This progress is due in part to the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which can suppress HIV replication and allow people with HIV to live long and healthy lives.
• However, there are still significant challenges to overcome in the fight against HIV.

SOURCE: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/indian-researchers-identify-circular-rna-that-can-lead-to-treatment-strategies-against-aids/articleshow/103928375.cms?from=mdr

1. PM VISHWAKARMA SCHEME.

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT:  The PM Vishwakarma scheme has an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore, aimed at the skill up-gradation and income-boost of carpenters, washermen, cobblers, coir weavers, etc.

EXPLANATION:

• The scheme will be fully funded by the central government.
• Under the scheme, beneficiaries will also be provided Rs 15,000 each as toolkit incentives through e-vouchers or e-RUPI. It will be a purpose-specific voucher issued by banks on behalf of the central government. This means the voucher can be utilized only for the purpose of purchase of toolkits.
• The minimum age of the beneficiary should be 18 years on the date of registration.

About the scheme:

• The name of the scheme is kept in honor of the divine builder and craftsman lord Vishwakarma. The PM Vishwakarma scheme is a central sector scheme.
• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) will handle the scheme.
• It would be open to traditional artists and crafters from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
• Eighteen(18) traditional trades such as carpenter, boat maker, armorer, blacksmith, hammer and tool kit maker, locksmith, goldsmith, potter, sculptor, stone breaker, cobbler, ma son, basket/mat/broom maker/coir weaver, traditional doll and toy maker, barber, garland maker, washerman, tailor and fishing net maker will be covered under the Scheme.

Aim of the scheme:

• The scheme aims to support and preserve the “Guru-Shishya parampara” (teacher-student tradition), or the family-based practice of ancient skills by artisans and craftspeople using their hands and tools.
• The scheme also aims to improve the quality and reach of the artisans’ and craft-people’s products and services as well as to make sure that the Vishwa karmas are integrated with the domestic and international value chains.

Benefits of the scheme:

• Training and Skill Development: A comprehensive 6-day training program will provide traditional artists with an invaluable opportunity to develop their talents. By equipping them with cutting-edge skills and knowledge, this program is specifically designed to meet the demands of carpenters, tailors, basket weavers, barbers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, potters, confectioners, cobblers, and others.
• Financial Support: The PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, as well as credit support up to Rs. 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs. 2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5% without any collateral, would be given to artisans and craftspeople.
• Opportunities for Employment: The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is a catalyst for opening doors for employment. It aims to promote economic stability and prosperity by creating jobs for about 15,000 people each year.

Challenges:

• DMK and its allies have opposed the scheme saying it promoted traditional businesses and lured students with its eligibility age of 18, thus discouraging them from entering colleges.
• Lack of Awareness: Many artisans and craftsmen are frequently not aware of the different government programs, financial assistance, and training possibilities available to them. They are unable to use the resources that could assist them advance their knowledge and enterprises due to their ignorance.
• Economic viability: Due to poor demand, insufficient price, and a lack of effective marketing channels, some craftsmen find it difficult to make a reasonable living from their crafts. Younger generations may become less interested in pursuing traditional crafts as a result of this.
• Infrastructure and Training: For artisans to improve their trade, they need access to specialized training facilities, adequate infrastructure, and raw materials. The enhancement of product quality and skill development may be hampered by a lack of these facilities.

Source:(https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-launches-rs-13000-crore-pm-vishwakarma-scheme-for-traditional-workers-2689848)

2. OVER THE TOP PLATFORM REGULATIONS (OTT)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT:  The telecom regulatory authority of India asking for opinions on selectively banning OTT services such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X etc.

EXPLANATION:

• Authority of India (TRAI) invited responses to a consultation paper it released on a regulatory mechanism for over-the-top (OTT) communication services.
• Telecom Service Providers are of the opinion that OTTs should be regulated and charged because they use and thrive on the infrastructure built by operators over the years.

OTT Services:

• A company that offers streaming media as a stand-alone product is known as an “over-the-top” media service. OTT communication services like WhatsApp, Signal, Meta, Google Meet, Zoom, X, etc. Audio streaming, messaging services, or internet-based voice calling solutions also come under the OTT communication services.
• In India, there is currently no formal regulatory structure in place for OTT communication services.
• Since 2015, TRAI has published a number of consultation papers on this subject, but no recommendations or regulations have been finalized.

Banning of OTT service: Banning of OTT service is a set of service rules that the operator applies to the specific set of BTSs (Base Stations) that it intends to block. Through this rule, the targeted BTSs can be set for zero or very low data rates, so that all kinds of data services emanating or targeted towards them get throttled — making them useless.

Selective Blocking (OTT level): Selective blocking of OTT applications can get executed either at the OTT player level or at the telecom operator level. Now for the OTT player to block services in a specific geography it will need the location information of all the users. The location information can be at the GPS level or at the Cell ID level.

Why is there a need for a regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) communication services?

• OTT communications services have led to erosion of revenues for the telcos.
• These platforms offer users an array of services, sending of Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS), instant messaging to voice and video calls, delivered over the internet.
• This circumvents the need for traditional telecom services, particularly voice calls and text messages, leading to a significant reduction in the revenue streams of telecom companies, responded the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing telecom players like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
• OTT communication service providers neither contribute to the exchequer nor make investments like the TSPs in the spread of network infrastructure in the country.
• The OTT communication service providers take a free ride on TSP funded networks without contributing to the setting up and maintaining digital infrastructure for access networks.

What is the argument for banning OTT services?

For:

• OTTs obtain the location of the customers and can easily bar access. Once the OTT communication services are under license this barring will be much easier to implement.
• Telecom service providers in India are regulated by several laws, including the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, and have to adhere to requirements such as lawful interception. Such requirements are not applicable to OTT services currently.
• According to the Internet Service Providers Association of India, if OTT services are a substitutable service offered by licensed service providers, then such OTT services should be considered as the same services offered under the telecom licence granted by the Government.

Against:

• According to COAI, the Government should consider source-level blocking so that the desired outcome may be achieved without any significant difficulties.
• The IAMAI believes that there is no need to implement additional regulations governing OTT services, or even a regulatory framework for the selective banning of OTT services.
• The Broadband India Forum (BIF) firmly opposed any selective ban on OTT services as they are adequately regulated under the existing IT Act, 2000, Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and other associated Acts and Rules.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/explained-why-is-the-government-pushing-for-regulatory-mechanisms-for-ott-services/article67319360.ece#:~:text=Telecom%20Service%20Providers%20are%20of,of%20revenues%20for%20the%20telcos.)

3. ANAMUDI SHOLA NATIONAL PARK

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:  Anamudi Shola National Park, near Munnar has transformed into a green heaven teeming with life, through an initiative by the Forest department.

EXPLANATION:

• Munnar Wildlife Division converted a park filled with exotic species of trees into 50 hectares of forest land. The project was implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was started in 2019 and completed in 2022.

About Anamudi shola National Park:

• The Anamudi shola National Park is located in the western Ghats.
• The Park is surrounded by Eravikulam National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary, Mathikettan Shola National Park.
• Anamudi shola National Park consists of three Shola Reserve Forests namely Pannavan shola, Pullaradi shola and Indivara shola together occupying an area of 42068 Sq.Km.
• The area is drained by small streams and they finally join Pambar river, which flows east and joins Amaravathi reservoir.

Forest:

• Anamudi Shola consists of southern subtropical hill forests, southern montane wet temperate forests and moist deciduous forests. The unique things are the dense shola woods that houses a dense patch of stunted trees and the luxurious presence of lichen, mosses, and climbers, which are all hallmarks of the pure air in such high altitudes.

Fauna:

• The park provides safe and comfortable habitat to the wild species of flora and fauna. The rich wildlife includes Elephant, Tiger, Panther, Indian Bison, Nigiri Tahr, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Giant Grizzled Squirrel, Hanuman Langur, Sloth Bear, Flying Squirrels etc.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/eco-restoration-project-covers-anamudi-shola-national-park-area-in-munnar-with-natural-grasslands/article67318532.ece#:~:text=The%20project%20was%20implemented%20through,converted%20into%20a%20natural%20grassland.)

4. THE SCRUB TYPHUS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Odisha has been hit by a deadly disease called scrub typhus.

THE SCRUB TYPHUS:

• Scrub typhus is also referred to as bush typhus.
• It is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• Scrub typhus is transmitted to humans by bites from tiny, infected mites.
• The transmission to humans mostly occurs through the bites of chiggers, which are infected larval mites.
• Chiggers are also called berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs or scrub-itch mites.
• The disease is predominantly seen in the rural locales of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and northern Australia.
• The symptoms of scrub typhus typically begin within 10 days of being bitten.
• Some of the symptoms of the scrub typhus: Fever and chills Headache, Body aches and muscle pain, Mental changes: ranging from confusion to coma.
• One-third of patients develop a severe disease that affects multiple organs in the body and leads to lethally low blood pressure.

SCRUB TYPHUS: TREATMENT

• In March 2023, a team of Indian scientists has identified a significantly more effective treatment for severe scrub typhus.
• The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), showed that treating patients with a combination of intravenous antibiotics doxycycline and azithromycin is more effective than the current monotherapy of using either drug alone.
• The study found that when both azithromycin and doxycycline were administered together to patients with severe scrub typhus, the bacteria were cleared away quicker and patients improved faster.
• This could be because doxycycline and azithromycin stop the bacteria from producing proteins through different, but complementary, mechanisms.

SOURCE: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/46-scrub-typhus-cases-in-kumaon-since-aug/articleshow/103723769.cms?from=mdr

5. GROWTH IN THE BASMATI RICE EXPORTS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Approximately $5 billion export of basmati rice from India is testimony of what can be accomplished with effective public sector breeding and industry collaboration.

EXPLANATION:

• Basmati rice annual exports from India have soared from 0.3-0.35 million tonnes valued at $200-250 million to 4.5-4.6 million tonnes (mt) worth $4.7-4.8 billion, in the past three decades.
• Much of this has been courtesy of scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi.

BASMATI RICE:

• Basmati rice is known for its fragrance and unique flavour. It is popularly known as ‘Queen of Rice’ and ‘Pearl of Rice’.
• India is the largest cultivator, consumer, and exporter of basmati rice.
• India enjoys monopoly over basmati in the world markets.
• Basmati rice is exported to more than 80 countries mainly to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Kuwait and others Gulf and European Countries United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy.
• Half the quantity of basmati exported from the country is sela (parboiled) basmati mainly to the gulf countries.

Origin:

• Basmati rice originated in India.

Distribution:

• Basmati rice is grown in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

Climate:

• The rainfall requirement is 700 mm to 1100 mm.
• The mean temperature ranges from 16.4 to 32.1 ° C.
• Relative humidity ranges from 65 to 92%.

Soil:

• Basmati type rice is mostly cultivated in alluvial and Tarai soils.
• The soils are neutral to slightly alkaline and calcareous.
• Soils are loam to clay loam.

Now, let’s see revolution of basmati rice in India with passage of time.

THE FIRST REVOLUTION (PB-1):

• Till the late 1980s, Indian farmers grew traditional basmati varieties having tall plants (150-160 cm) which were prone to lodging (bending over when heavy with well-filled grains) and yielding barely 10 quintals of paddy an acre over 155-160 days from nursery sowing to harvesting.
• These included Taraori (also called Karnal Local or HBC-19) and Dehraduni (Type-3).
• The breakthrough happened with Pusa Basmati-1 (PB-1); an improved variety released in 1989.
• It was a cross between Karnal Local and Pusa-150, a high-yielding non-basmati line.
• With a plant height of 100-105 cm, PB-1 didn’t lodge, yielded 25-26 quintals grain per acre, and matured in 135-140 days.
• PB-1 was bred by a team of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) scientists.
• At the turn of the century, India was exporting 0.6-0.7 mt of basmati rice fetching $400-450 million annually, with PB-1’s share at roughly 60%.

THE SECOND REVOLUTION (PB-1121):

• PB-1 delivered a yield revolution and helped double India’s basmati exports. But the real revolution came in 2003, with the release of Pusa Basmati-1121 (PB-1121).
• PB-1121 yielded less (20-21 quintals/acre) with a slightly longer maturity of 140-145 days with the good quality of grain.
• Between 2001-02 and 2013-14, India basmati rice exports surged from 0.7 mt to 3.7 mt, and from $390 million to $4.9 billion in value terms.
• Over 70% of that was from PB-1121.

THE THIRD REVOLUTION (PB-1509):

• In 2013, the IARI released Pusa Basmati-1509 (PB-1509).
• It yielded just as much as PB-1, with the milled rice length before and after cooking comparable to PB-1121’s.
• PB-1509’s seed-to-grain duration was just 115-120 days.
• Being an early-maturing high-yielding variety made PB-1509 advantageous for farmers, as they could now take an extra crop.
• Crop combinations being adopted by farmers after harvesting of PB-1509 include planting of a three-month potato crop in the first week of October, followed by sunflower, sweet corn or onion in early-January and maturing in 90-100 days.

BREEDING FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE:

• In the last few years, IARI scientists have focused on preserving the yield gains from their improved basmati varieties by incorporating genes for disease resistance.
• PB-1121, for instance, has become susceptible to bacterial leaf blight.
• To control it, the scientists have sought to transfer genes from landrace cultivars and wild relatives of paddy that are resistant to this bacterial disease.
• Such genes have been identified through a technique called marker-assisted selection.
• In 2021, IARI released Pusa Basmati-1885 and Pusa Basmati-1847.
• These were basically PB-1121 and PB-1509 having “in-built resistance” against bacterial blight as well as rice blast fungal disease.
• Both incorporated two bacterial blight resistant genes Xa21 and xa13, derived from a wild rice species (Oryza longistaminata) and a traditional indica landrace (BJ1) respectively.
• They also carried two other genes Pi2 and Pi54 against blast, similarly, sourced and transferred from an indica rice cultivar (5173) and landrace (Tetep).
• In-built resistance to bacterial blight and blast through such marker-assisted backcross breeding means farmers no longer have to use streptomycin or tetracycline combinations and fungicides such as tricyclazole, azoxystrobin and picoxystrobin.
• Minimising the spraying of crop protection chemical also helps protect the premium value of Indian basmati in the global market.

RISK FACTORS:

• There’s no minimum support price (MSP) for basmati paddy. Also, its rice is mostly exported with only a limited domestic market.
• Farmers are also exposed to the vagaries of the market and government policy with regard to exports.
• The recent restrictions not allowing basmati shipments priced below $1,200 per tonne is only a pointer to that.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/how-basmati-in-india-is-reaping-the-rewards-of-research-8944481/V

1. PRADHAN MANTRI MATSYA SAMPADA YOJANA

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT:  PMMSY: bridging gaps in the fisheries sector

EXPLANATION:

• PMMSY began to bridge the gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity, and quality to technology, post­harvest infrastructure and marketing.
• The PMMSY has successfully pulled inland fisheries from traditional waters, and infused technology, inspiring many talented and enterprising youth to venture into fisheries.
• The PMMSY has empowered fisher women to explore remunerative options and alternative livelihoods, such as ornamental fisheries, pearl culture, and seaweed cultivation.
• India is now counted among the world’s top three countries in fish and aquaculture production and is also the biggest shrimp exporter in the world.

About PMMSY: 

• Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on September 2020.
• PMMSY has brought the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India at a total investment of ₹ 20,050 crore for holistic development of the fisheries sector including the welfare of fishers.
• PMMSY will be implemented in all the States and Union Territories for a period of 5(five) years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
• Fishermen are given insurance protection, financial aid, and the option of a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) in order to make access to institutional credit easier.

Objectives of PMMSY:

1. Harness the potential of the fisheries sector in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive, and equitable manner.
2. Enhance fish production and productivity through expansion, intensification, diversification, and productive utilization of land and water.
3. Modernize and strengthen the value chain including post-harvest management and quality improvement.
4. Double fishers and fish farmers’ incomes and generate meaningful employment.
5. Enhance the contribution of the fisheries sector to Agricultural GVA and exports.

Benefits

• Financial assistance for fishing infrastructure: The scheme provides financial assistance to develop fishing infrastructure like fishing harbors, fish landing centers, fish markets, fish feed plants, fish seed farms, and fish processing units.
• Financial assistance for fish farmers: The scheme provides financial assistance to fish farmers for various activities like the construction of ponds, cages, hatcheries, and nurseries, and for the installation of aeration systems and other equipment.
• Assistance for fisheries management: The scheme provides financial assistance for the management of fishery resources through the adoption of scientific methods, setting up of fishery management plans, and developing fishery information systems.
• Credit-linked subsidy for fish farmers: The scheme provides a credit-linked subsidy for fish farmers to encourage them to take up fish farming as a business.
• Assistance for marketing and export of fish products: The scheme provides assistance for the development of cold chains, fish processing units, and packaging facilities to promote the export of fish products.

Source:(https://epaper.thehindu.com/reader?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TH_ePaper_BrandSearchExact&tpcc=THEPGS&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwgZCoBhBnEiwAz35RwlVuIGxRhaHq8ISbr4c4gbxKlrYc6htj17YZRxceUd6wimjWPFRK6hoCkeEQAvD_BwE)

2. RUBBER BOARD OF INDIA

TAG: GS 1:  GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT:  Rubber Board to increase area under rubber in Northeast.

EXPLANATION: 

• In a move to expand the area in non-traditional States, the Rubber Board is implementing a project to bring 2 lakh hectares under natural rubber in the Northeastern States, except Sikkim, but including West Bengal.
• The northeastern states, particularly Tripura and Assam, account for over 16 percent of the total production, up from around 10 per cent a few years ago. The share of Kerala has come down from around 90 percent to 78 percent. The non-traditional regions of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra have a combined share of 6 percent in the total output.
• “The current rise in production has come more from higher output in northeastern states than from Kerala. Low prices and high production costs have reduced tapping in Kerala.

Rubber board of India:

• The  Rubber  Board  is  a  statutory  body  constituted  by  the  Government  of  India,  under  the Rubber Act 1947, for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country.
• ​The Rubber Board functions under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Government of India. The Board is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government and has 28 members representing various interests of the natural rubber industry. The Board’s headquarters is located at Kottayam in Kerala. 

About Rubber: Rubber is made up of latex of a tree known as Hevea Brasiliensis. It is an equatorial crop.

• Climate: Rubber plants are native to tropical areas, so they don’t like to be hit with cold blasts of air from doors or drafty windows and may begin to drop some leaves if they are.
• Temperature: It requires high temperature throughout the year – ranging between 20°-35°C or average monthly mean of 27°C. Less than 20°C temperature is detrimental. Similarly, rubber also requires heavy rainfall(200cm).
• Soil: Rubber will do well on a wide variety of soils, some of which would be too poor for many crops. Deep, friable, well-drained soils are ideal as they promote root devel­opment, and acidic soils are also suitable.

Production and Consumption in India:

• India is currently the sixth largest producer of NR in the world with one of the highest productivities. The production capacity in India is around 900,000 tonnes, of which around 75% is tapped. Traditional rubber-growing states comprising Kerala and Tamil Nadu account for 81% of production. Major non-traditional rubber growing regions are the North Eastern states of Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
• India is the 2nd largest consumer of NR globally with current consumption of around 1.1 million tonnes.. Around 40% of the total NR consumption in India is at present met from import of rubber.

Challenges faced by Rubber industry:

• The sector also faces many challenges, some of which are sub-optimal agro-climatic conditions and adverse impact of climate change, saturation of area for new planting in traditional regions, agro-climatic, topographic, social, cultural, institutional and infrastructure constraints in non-traditional regions, global price volatility and low-price situations, and its repercussions on production, lack of competitiveness, stagnation in the growth of Non-Tyre Rubber manufacturing sector etc.

Government Initiative: 

• National Rubber policy,2019.
• Rubber plantation development scheme.
• 100% FDI in Plantation of Rubber.
• The Rubber Board, in association with major tyre companies, is implementing the NE Mitra scheme in northeastern states that contemplates fresh cultivation of rubber in 200,000 hectares in five years.

Top Rubber producing state in India: 1. Kerala, 2.Tamil Nadu, 3.Tripura, 4.Assam

Largest Rubber producing countries in the world: Thailand, Indonesia , Vietnam ,Ivory Coast , China, India.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/business/rubber-board-to-increase-area-under-rubber-in-northeast/article67307179.ece#:~:text=In%20a%20move%20to%20expand,Sikkim%2C%20but%20including%20West%20Bengal.)

3. KALAIGNAR MAGALIR URIMAI THITTAM SCHEME

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT:  Tamil Nadu CM Stalin launches Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam in Kancheepuram.

EXPLANATION: 

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam in Kancheepuram on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founder C.N. Annadurai.

• About Scheme:
  • Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam is a  basic income scheme.
  • The main objective behind launching this scheme is to empower women financially so that their livelihood and standard of living will improve.
  • Women Head of a Family whose Age is 21 Years and above are eligible for monthly financial assistance under this scheme.
  • Registration for Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam is started by Tamil Nadu Government.

Universal Basic Income (UBI):

• It is a guaranteed, ongoing cash distribution from the government to all residents, regardless of their financial situation or level of income. UBI will serve as a universal safety net for all people, regardless of their income or age.
• The Universal Basic Income (UBI) comprises three components, namely universality, unconditionality, and agency, according to the Economic Survey (2016–17).
  • Universal: All citizens will be covered by UBI.
  • Unconditional: The beneficiaries of UBI are not chosen based on any criteria.
  • Agency: Providing financial assistance in order to respect rather than impose the recipients’ preferences.
• UBI is intended to be distributed to individuals, not families, on a regular basis, in the form of money (rather than vouchers or coupons).

Benefits of UBI:

• Combating Extreme Events: By providing a basic income to everyone, the general public will be better able to withstand shocks like the COVID-19 Pandemic and other shocks like natural disasters (floods, tsunami, earthquakes, etc.). According to numerous reports, the majority of rural poor people have become financially vulnerable, while the lowest of the poor are essentially going hungry as a result of the pandemic’s effects.
• Economic Recovery: The current economic condition has forced the closure of numerous businesses and led to significant job losses. Due to this, the economy’s demand for goods and services has decreased. UBI can assist ignite the demand and boost the economy.
• Ensuring Dignity: A guaranteed quarterly financial transfer would make it possible for everyone to live a more dignified life, honoring everyone’s right to life as guaranteed by Article 21.
• Social justice: A society will not pass the justice test if it does not ensure that every citizen receives a respectable minimum income. As a result, UBI advances social justice by ensuring a minimum, unconditional income.

Challenges:

• The problem in the scheme comes when cut-offs are set and benefits are targeted at certain groups.
• Fiscal issues also surface when, rather than having a fixed budget for the scheme covering all citizens, cut-offs for various segments have to be worked out.
• A targeted scheme cannot be called universal and this will also require another round of Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) to get updated data on beneficiaries as the 2012 data is now outdated and does not provide the correct picture.
• Recipients may abuse the funds they receive and defeat the goals of social security. UBI will further discourage individuals from working or cause them to work less.

Way forward:

• First, since the wealthy can be excluded from cash transfer programs, the government can reconsider real universality. specific classes of residents may be automatically excluded (for example, if they possess specific assets).
• Second, the government should exploit the potential of the JAM(short for Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity (biometric identification, financial inclusion, and mobile penetration) for direct cash transfers to household bank accounts after agreeing on the quasi-basic income criterion.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-cm-stalin-launches-kalaignar-magalir-urimai-thittam-in-kancheepuram/article67310529.ece)

4. THE POST OFFICE BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The Post Office Bill 2023 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to repeal the Indian Post Office Act 1898.

PROVISIONS OF THE POST OFFICE BILL 2023 AND POST OFFICE ACT 1898

Post Office Act 1898

The Act provides for the issuance of postage stamps as per the Rules prescribed by the central government.

The Act provides that wherever the central government establishes posts, it will have the exclusive privilege of conveying letters by post, as well as incidental services such as receiving, collecting etc.

The Act specifies the services provided by the Post Office to include: (i) the delivery of postal articles including letters, postcards, and parcels, and (ii) money orders.

The Act allows for the interception of a shipment being transmitted through the post on certain grounds.  An interception may be carried out on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety or tranquillity.  Such interceptions may be carried out by the central government, state governments, or any officer specially authorised by them.

Under the Act, the Director General has powers to decide the time and manner of delivery of postal services. Under the Act, the central government can notify charges for postal services through notifications.

The Act specifies various offences and penalties.  For instance, theft, misappropriation etc.

The Act exempts the government from any liability related to the loss, mis delivery, delay or damage to a postal article.  This does not apply where the liability is undertaken by the central government in express terms.  Officers are also exempt from such liability unless they have acted fraudulently or wilfully.

Post Office Bill 2023

The Bill also states that the Post Office will have the exclusive privilege of issuing postage stamps.

The Bill does not contain such privileges.

The Bill provides that the Post Office will provide services prescribed by the central government.

The Bill instead provides that the interception of a shipment being transmitted through post may be carried out on the following grounds: (i) security of the state, (ii) friendly relations with foreign states, etc.  An officer empowered by the central government through a notification may carry out an interception.

As per the Bill, the Director General may make regulations to specify charges.  The Director General may also make regulations on supply and sale of postage stamps and postal stationery.

The Bill does not provide for any offences or consequences, except one.  Amounts not paid or neglected by a user will be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.

The Bill retains these provisions.  However, it provides that instead of the central government, the Post Office may prescribe the liability regarding its services.

WHY THERE IS NEED TO REPEAL THE ACT?

• The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 was enacted in 1898 with a view to govern the functioning of the Post Office in India which was primarily related to mail services provided through the Post Office.
• With time the services available through the Post Office have diversified beyond mails and the Post Office network has become a vehicle for delivery of a variety of citizen centric services. Further with India Post Payments Bank the postal department has entered banking too.
• All this necessitated the repeal of the said Act and enactment of new law in its place.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/changing-the-way-the-postman-knocks/article67308498.ece

5. K2-18B EXOPLANET

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: A new investigation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide.

EXPLANATION:

• Webb’s discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.

K2-18B EXOPLANET:

• K2-18b is an interesting exoplanet, a planet that orbits another star.
• It is discovered in 2015 by the Kepler Space Telescope’s K2 mission. It is a type of planet called a sub-Neptune. These are smaller than Neptune in our own Solar System.
• The primary science objective of the Kepler mission was transit-driven exoplanet detection with an emphasis on terrestrial planets located within the habitable zones of Sun-like stars.
• The planet is about eight and a half times heavier than Earth and orbits a type of star called a red dwarf, which is much cooler than our Sun.
• However, K2-18b orbits much closer to its star than Neptune does in the habitable zone.
• This is the area that is not too hot and not too cold, where liquid water can exist (instead of freezing to ice or boiling into steam).
• Earth is called a rocky planet, but sub-Neptunes are gas planets, with much larger atmospheres containing lots of hydrogen and helium. Their atmosphere can also contain other elements.

NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope: NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope is an observatory in space dedicated to finding planets outside our solar system, with a particular focus on finding planets that might resemble Earth. The observatory was in commission for just under nine years, from its launch in March 2009 to its decommission on Nov. 15, 2018.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY:

• The new study found a lot of carbon dioxide and methane.
• It also found a small amount of dimethyl sulfide. Dimethyl sulfide is an molecule, made up of carbon, hydrogen and sulfur.
• On Earth, dimethyl sulfide is linked to life, on other planets it may somehow be related to geological or chemical processes.
• On Earth, it’s generally a bit smelly. But it’s also closely linked to life.
• Marine life and plankton emit it in the form of flatulence(gas).

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/science-technology/signs-of-life-why-astronomers-are-excited-about-carbon-dioxide-methane-in-atmosphere-of-alien-world-91741

1. Delay in MGNREGA wages.

TAG: GS 2: Social justice

THE CONTEXT:  There are approximately 25,000 MGNREGA workers in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur with their wages pending despite having completed the work assigned to them.

EXPLANATION:

• Delays in the disbursement of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme wages in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur have led to severe financial stress, with some being forced to borrow money from private lenders at high interest rates. Some workers say they haven’t been paid for as many as five months, making it difficult to afford two square meals daily.
• While a government official in the district admitted that the Rural Development Department in Patna had not received funds from the Centre for some time, leading to delays in the disbursement of the wages under the rural job guarantee scheme, he said the Centre has released the funds and the wages of 93% of the district’s workers have been released.
• However, as per MGNREGA Watch, an NGO based in Muzaffarpur, around 25,000 workers in several blocks of the district, including Gaighat, Bochaha and Kurhani, are yet to receive their wages.

ABOUT MGNREGA:

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA was launched in 200 select districts on 2.2.2006 and was extended to 130 additional districts during 2007-08. All the remaining rural areas in the country have been covered under the Act w.e.f. 1.4.2008. Presently, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is being implemented in all the notified rural areas of the country.

VISION: Mahatma Gandhi NREGA seeks to enhance the livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

OBJECTIVE:

The objectives of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) are:

• Providing at least one hundred days of unskilled manual work in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability;
• Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor;
• Proactively ensuring social inclusion; and
• Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal Ministry for the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. It is responsible for ensuring timely and adequate resource support to the States and to the Central Council. It has to undertake regular review, monitoring and evaluation of processes and outcomes. MORD will support innovations that help in improving processes towards the achievement of the objectives of the Act.

Eligibility Criteria of MNREGA:

• The person must be an Indian national. The MGNREGA scheme requires applicants to be at least 18 years old to be eligible for enrollment.
• The person needs to be prepared to perform unskilled labor.
• The person who wants to enroll in the MGNREGA program must reside in a nearby household.

Problems in Scheme:

• Low wage rate: Currently, MGNREGA wage rates of 17 states are less than the corresponding state minimum wages. Various judgements have upheld that the MGNREGA wage rate cannot be less than the minimum agricultural wage rate of the state. The ridiculously low wage rates have resulted in lack of interest among workers in working for MGNREGA schemes, making way for contractors and middle men to take control, locally.
• Insufficient budget allocation: MGNREGA’s success at the ground level is subject to proper and uninterrupted fund flow to the states. Thrice in the last year and once this year, funds have dried up in states due to lack of “mother sanctions” from the Central government which hampers the work in peak season. Almost every year, more than 80 per cent of funds get exhausted within the first six months. Thus, the government’s claim of “record allocation” does not hold true in real terms. It has rather decreased as pending liabilities of the last year are also included in the current budget. Moreover, the fund allocation is insufficient to ensure proper implementation on the ground.
• Regular payment delays: The Union Ministry of Rural Development considers wages paid once the FTO (Fund Transfer Order) is signed by the second signatory. However, delays take place even in the processing of signed FTOs, for which the Management Information System (MIS) does not calculate compensation.
• Too much centralisation weakening local governance: A real-time MIS-based implementation and a centralised payment system has further left the  representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions with literally no role in implementation, monitoring and grievance redress of MGNREGA schemes.
• Numerous incomplete projects: The MGNREGA-funded projects have taken longer than expected to finish, and project inspections have been inconsistent. Additionally, there is a problem with the MGNREGA’s asset development and work quality.
• Fabrication of Job Cards: There are a number of problems associated with fabricating Job Cards, including the availability of Fake Job Cards, the inclusion of Fake Names, Missing Entries, and Delays in Entries.

Way forward:

• Better coordination is required between the many government agencies and the system used to distribute and evaluate the work.
• There are certain differences in the payouts that also need to be handled. On average, women in the industry make 22.24% less money than males.
• Every community must begin public work, and state administrations must see to it that this happens. Workers who arrive at the job site should be given work as soon as possible.
• Local authorities must actively engage with quarantined and repatriated migrant workers and assist those who require it in obtaining job cards.
• In order to prevent payment delays, gram panchayats must be given sufficient resources, authority, and duties to approve projects, deliver work on demand, and allow salary payments.

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/workers-suffer-penury-with-delay-in-mgnrega-wages/article67301825.ece)

2. Disasters in North Africa

TAG: GS 3: Disaster and disaster management.

THE CONTEXT: 

• More than 5,300 are feared dead, thousands more are missing as eastern Libya is devastated by floods.
• Powerful quake in Morocco kills more than 2,000 people and damages historic buildings in Marrakech.

EXPLANATION: 

• The death toll in the city of Derna alone has exceeded 5,300.
• Storm Daniel, which wrought devastation across the Mediterranean in the past week, killed 15 people in central Greece where it dumped more rain than previously recorded before sweeping across to Libya where over 2,500 died in a huge flood.
• Flooding often happens in Libya during the rainy season, but rarely with this much destruction. A key question was how the rains were able to burst through two dams outside Derna – whether because of poor maintenance or sheer volume of rain.

Flood: An overflow of water onto normally dry land. The inundation of a normally dry area caused by rising water in an existing waterway, such as a river, stream, or drainage ditch. Ponding of water at or near the point where the rain fell. Flooding is a longer term event than flash flooding: it may last days or weeks.

Flash flood: A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them. They can occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall. They can also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance after a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by a debris or ice jam.

Causes of Flood: Floods are caused by many factors:

• Heavy precipitation,
• Severe winds over water,
• Unusual high tides,
• Tsunamis, or
• Failure of dams, levels, retention ponds, or other structures that contained the water.

Flood Control: Some of the common techniques used for flood control are installation of rock berms, rock rip-raps, sandbags, maintaining normal slopes with vegetation or application of soil cements on steeper slopes and construction or expansion of drainage channels. Other methods include levees, dikes, dams, retention or detention basins.

Flood management:

• Organizations in charge of flood management must routinely do flood mapping.
• Pre- and post-monsoon examination of structural measures will enhance the preparation.
• Global best practices must be considered as the capacity of the disaster response force is developed.
• Urban flooding is a significant problem nowadays. The smart cities program needs to take this danger into account.
• The effects of climate change have been largely to blame for the regular flooding. Urgent action must be taken to implement the adoption and mitigation methods.
• Geopolitical circumstances shouldn’t be a barrier to cross-border cooperation in the exchange of hydrological data.

Powerful quake in Morocco:

• A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco in which more than 2,000 people were killed, and the toll was expected to rise.
• The magnitude 6.8 quake is the biggest to hit the North African country in 120 years.
• The epicenter of the tremor was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, roughly 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of Marrakech. Al Haouz is known for scenic villages and valleys tucked in the High Atlas Mountains.
• In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck near the Moroccan city of Agadir and caused thousands of deaths. That quake prompted changes in construction rules in Morocco, but many buildings, especially rural homes, are not built to withstand such tremors.
•  Earthquakes in the magnitude 6 range are more common in the northern part of Morocco near the Mediterranean Sea. . For example, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in February 2004 and a magnitude 6.3 in January 2016 rocked the region.
• Such quakes occur due to the “northward convergence of the African plate with respect to the Eurasian plate along a complex plate boundary.”
•  As per experts, the “oblique-reverse faulting at shallow depth within the Moroccan High Atlas Mountain range” resulted into the current earthquake.

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other, causing earthquakes if the movement occurs rapidly. During a quake, the rock on one side of the fault suddenly slips with respect to the other.
Scientists use the angle of the fault with respect to the surface (known as the dip) and the direction of the slip along the fault to classify faults.

Faults which move along the direction of the dip plane are dip-slip faults, whereas faults which move horizontally are known as strike-slip faults. Oblique-slip faults show characteristics of both dip-slip and strike-slip faults. The term ‘reverse’ refers to a situation where the upper block, above the fault plane, moves up and over the lower block. This type of faulting is common in areas of compression — when one tectonic plate is converging into another.

Here the movement occurs, in two directions. Horizontal movement along the slip plane and vertical movement along the dip plane.

Earthquake: An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.

Why does the earth shake? 

• The release of energy occurs along a fault. A fault is a sharp break in the crustal rocks. Rocks along a fault tend to move in opposite directions. As the overlying rock strata press them, the friction locks them together. However, their tendency to move apart at some point of time overcomes the friction. As a result, the blocks get deformed and eventually, they slide past one another abruptly.
• This causes a release of energy, and the energy waves travel in all directions. The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake, alternatively, it is called the hypocentre. The energy waves travelling in different directions reach the surface. The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicentre. It is the first one to experience the waves. It is a point directly above the focus.

Earthquake Waves:

• All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere.Earthquake waves are basically of two types — body waves and surface waves. Body waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth. Hence, the name body waves. The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new set of waves called surface waves. These waves move along the surface. The velocity of waves changes as they travel through materials with different densities. The denser the material, the higher is the velocity. Their direction also changes as they reflect or refract when coming across materials with different densities.
• There are two types of body waves. They are called P and S-waves. P-waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface. These are also called ‘primary waves’. The P-waves are similar to sound waves. They travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials. S-waves arrive at the surface with some time lag. These are called secondary waves.

Earthquake management in india:

• Awareness among various stakeholders
• Structural mitigation measures
• Monitoring and enforcement of earthquake-resistant building codes and appropriate town planning.
• Proper earthquake response planning
• System of decentralized response
• Trained manpower to deal with the disaster
• Building back better

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/libyan-city-buries-several-people-killed-in-devastating-floods-as-thousands-of-people-reported-missing/article67299175.ece)

Source:(https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/earthquake-in-morocco-kills-several-people-government-reports/article67287719.ece)

3. India and Saudi Arabia build on corridor, strategic ties

TAG: GS 2: International relations

THE CONTEXT:  The Prime Minister of India  held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, after the conclusion of the G20 Summit.

EXPLANATION: 

• Days after the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), an ambitious infrastructure project to connect India to Europe via West Asia, was unveiled at the G20 Summit, India and Saudi Arabia  signed eight agreements to boost cooperation in a range of areas — from energy to interconnectivity, digitalisation and electronic manufacturing to finance and security.
• Modi and MBS — as the Saudi Crown Prince is popularly referred to — co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council which was set up in 2019.
• The two sides signed eight agreements, including on upgrading their hydrocarbon energy partnership to a comprehensive energy partnership for renewable, petroleum and strategic reserves.
• The two sides also agreed to create a joint task force for US$ 100 billion in Saudi investment, half of which is earmarked for a delayed refinery project along India’s western coast.
• India will be connected by railroad under the multinational IMEC that was announced on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. The proposed rail and ports plan, with the US, Saudi Arabia, India, European Union, United Arab Emirates as members, is being perceived as a counter to China’s Belt-and-Road Initiative.
• The agreements include cooperation between India’s Central Vigilance Commission and Saudi’s anti-corruption unit, between investment entities, small and medium enterprises banks, between the National Archives of the two countries, and on desalination and renewable energy.
• The two sides also discussed the possibility of trading in local currencies and expediting the negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council of which Saudi Arabia is a member.
• Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in payment systems, including the acceptance of RuPAY cards in Saudi Arabia for the benefit of the Indian community in general and more particularly the Haj/ Umrah pilgrims.
• The importance of trade in the bilateral relationship was recognised. Both sides praised the burgeoning trade ties and noted that bilateral trade has increased to more than US$ 52 billion in 2022-23, marking a growth of more than 23%. Both sides also noted that India is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest trade partner of India,”
•  India thanked Saudi Arabia for taking excellent care of over 2.4 million Indians residing there, extending support for evacuating Indian nationals stranded in Sudan through Jeddah under Operation Kaveri, and for facilitating Indian Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

Source:(https://indianexpress.com/article/india/neet-aspirant-from-jharkhand-kills-self-in-kota-8937706/)

4. NIPAH VIRUS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Kerala government is on high alert after two deaths due to Nipah virus occurred at a private hospital in Kozhikode. The Health Ministry has also directed for an isolation facility to be set up.

NIPAH VIRUS (NiV):

• Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus as it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
• It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and directly from human-to-human.
• The case fatality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%.
• This rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management.
• In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic  infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
• The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
• Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people, making it a public health concern.
• Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus.
• There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE NIPAH VIRUS?

• The NiV genome consists of a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA of approximately 18.2 kb, encoding six structural proteins:
• nucleoprotein (N),
• phosphoprotein (P),
• matrix protein (M),
• fusion protein (F),
• attachment glycoprotein (G), and
• the large protein or RNA polymerase protein (L).
• In addition, the P gene encodes three non-structural proteins by RNA editing (V and W proteins) or an alternative open reading frame (C protein)

Structure of Nipah virus.

PAST OUTBREAKS OF THE VIRUS:

• Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia. No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since 1999.
• It was also recognized in Bangladesh in 2001, and nearly annual outbreaks have occurred in that country since.
• The disease has also been identified periodically in eastern India.
• Other regions may be at risk for infection, as evidence of the virus has been found in the known natural reservoir (Pteropus bat species) and several other bat species in a number of countries, including Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Thailand.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/nipah-virus-kerala-signs-symptoms-prevention-8936345/

5. THE PALPIMANUS GODAWAN AND THE PALPIMANUS MALDHOK

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Two new spider species, the Palpimanus Godawan and Palpimanus Maldhok, have been found in the conservation sites of the Rajasthan Desert National Park and Solapur, which is home to the critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

THE PALPIMANUS GODAWAN AND THE PALPIMANUS MALDHOK:

• Godawan and Maldhok are named in honour of the local name of the GIB.
• The spiders are particularly shy, hiding under rocks or in crevices when disturbed.
• They are maroon in colour and belongs to the genus Palpimanidae.
• They are ground species and have heavier bodies so their ability to disperse as spiders do by ballooning, shooting their web, and traipsing from one place to another is limited.
• These two new species owe their continued existence to the protection awarded to the habitats of the GIB.
• If the GIB was not there, these areas would not have been protected, and these spiders would not have survived as commented by an arachnologist
• They stay confined to an area. More research on these spider species will continue. These discoveries signify that there are new species to be found in these areas, and so they are worth protecting.

Great Indian Bustard:

• It is mainly found in the Indian subcontinent, is the flagship grassland species of India.
• It is one of the largest flying birds in the world, and India’s heaviest flying bird.
• Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.
• They are mainly in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, including the Desert National Park which is the natural habitat of the species.
• Grasslands of Kutch in Gujarat which is home to second-largest bustard population in India.
• Arid regions of Maharashtra (Solapur), Karnataka (Bellary and Haveri) and Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool)
• It is the State bird of Rajasthan.

Conservation status:

• IUCN: Critically Endangered.
• CITES: Appendix I
• The Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972: Schedule I

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/two-new-shy-spider-species-found-named-after-great-indian-bustard-101694459064975.html

1. UPI QR CODE-CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY INTEROPERABILITY

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: A few banks, including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and IDFC First Bank, have introduced UPI interoperability on their digital rupee application.

EXPLANATION:

• Banks enabled the interoperability of Unified Payments Interface’s (UPI) Quick Response (QR) code with their central bank digital currency (CBDC) or e₹ application.
• Users of retail digital rupee will now be able to make transactions by scanning any UPI QR at a merchant outlet. Merchants can also accept digital rupee payments through their existing UPI QR codes.
• This integration of UPI and CBDC is part of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) ongoing pilot project on pushing the retail digital rupee (e₹-R).

What is interoperability?

• According to RBI, Interoperability is the technical compatibility that enables a payment system to be used in conjunction with other payment systems.
• Interoperability allows system providers and participants in different systems to undertake, clear and settle payment transactions across systems without participating in multiple systems.

And what is UPI QR code-CBDC interoperability?

• Interoperability of UPI with the digital rupee means all UPI QR codes are compatible with CBDC apps. Initially, when the pilot for the retail digital rupee was launched, the e₹-R users had to scan a specific QR code to undertake transactions.However, with the interoperability of the two, payments can be made using a single QR code.
• The digital rupee issued by the RBI, or the CBDC, is a tokenised digital version of the rupee. The e₹ is held in a digital wallet, which is linked to a customer’s existing savings bank account. UPI is directly linked to a customer’s account.

How will it benefit customers and merchants?

• The interoperability of UPI and CBDC will ensure seamless transactions between a customer and merchant without having the need to switch between multiple digital platforms.
• Even merchants are not required to keep a separate QR code to accept the digital rupee payments. They can accept CBDC payments on their existing QR code.
• The seamless integration of CBDC with UPI will enhance the acceptance and utilization of digital currencies in everyday transactions.

What is a QR code?

• A Quick Response (QR) code consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device such as a camera.
• It contains information about the item to which it is attached, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• QR code is an alternate contactless channel of payments. It allows merchants or businesses to accept payments from their customers directly into their bank accounts.

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)

• Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are a form of digital currency issued by a country’s central bank. They are similar to cryptocurrencies, except that their value is fixed by the central bank and equivalent to the country’s fiat currency.
• The main goal of CBDCs is to provide businesses and consumers with privacy, transferability, convenience, accessibility, and financial security.
• CBDCs also decrease the cost of maintenance that a complex financial system requires, reduce cross-border transaction costs, and provide those who currently use alternative money-transfer methods with lower-cost options.
• CBDCs also reduce the risks associated with using digital currencies, or cryptocurrencies, in their current form.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/upi-qr-code-cdbc-banks-explained-e-rupee-8925038/

2. DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR KNOWLEDGE SHARING (DIKSHA) PLATFORM

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: The National eGovernance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is set to integrate Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) into its existing Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) platform.

EXPLANATION:

• PAL’s software-based approach will allow each student to have an individualised learning experience over the course of the curriculum based on their unique needs and abilities.
• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has sought the MeitY’s expertise in facilitating PAL for DIKSHA.
• In an example of how PAL works, if a student of Class 9 is learning the Pythagoras theorem and makes a calculation mistake, the AI learning system flags it and loops the student back to a basic video of how to make the calculation.
• In some States, private players are already administering PAL, which works on AI or Artificial Intelligence, but budget constraints have been an obstacle.
• The NeGD will float an Expression of Interest to assess the market for edtech companies that can help launch PAL and possibly integrate it with DIKSHA 2.0.

Personalized adaptive learning

• Personalized adaptive learning is a software platform approach that provides each student with an individualized learning experience by allowing them to progress along their unique learning path through the course content.
• Adaptive learning systems customize the presentation of the content or present new concepts to the student based on their individual activities and responses.

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR KNOWLEDGE SHARING (DIKSHA) PLATFORM

• DIKSHA portal comes under the Ministry of Education and provides e-content for schools via an online portal and a mobile application.
• DIKSHA portal serves as National Digital Infrastructure for teachers and enable, accelerate and amplify solutions in realm of teacher education.
• It aids teachers to learn and train themselves for available assessment resources. It helps teachers to create training content, profile, in-class resources, assessment aids, news and announcement and connect with teacher community.
• It is built considering the whole teacher’s life cycle – from the time student teachers enroll in Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) to after they retire as teachers.
• States, government bodies and even private organisations, can integrate DIKSHA into their respective teacher initiatives based on their goals, needs and capabilities.
• It also has embedded assistive technologies for learners with visual or hearing impairments.
• DIKSHA features digitised National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks used national and State Boards.
• Apart from this, DIKSHA hosts 2.43 lakh contributions by 11,624 academicians by way of teaching videos, explainers, and practice questions. Currently, all these contributions are scattered across the platform.

They can use DIKSHA’s features to create:

• In-class resources
• Teacher training content
• Assessment aids
• Teacher profile
• News and announcement
• Teacher community

It envisages to provide:

• Teacher training courses (example – training on learning outcomes, CCE, etc.)
• Teaching resources such as lesson plans, concept videos, worksheets, mapped to curriculum
• Assessments for teachers, to find out their strengths and areas of improvement

It contains the following features:

• Courses for teachers to enable continuous learning
• Resources for use in classroom
• Dashboards for progress and assessment
• Communities for collaboration and discussions
• Announcements, notifications and circulars

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/education/centres-digital-infrastructure-for-knowledge-sharing-education-platform-to-offer-ai-help/article67263862.ece

3. GREEN RATING FOR INTEGRATED HABITAT ASSESSMENT (GRIHA)

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army’s new Thal Sena Bhawan (TSB), coming up on a sprawling 39 acre site with a built-up area of 143,450 sq. m., boasts of several green measures conforming with GRIHA-IV (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) norms.

EXPLANATION:

• The top soil of the entire 39 acre site will be preserved; the plan includes transplantation of 476 trees and compensatory planting of over 5,000 trees. It has been designed for a building life of about 100 years, and is earthquake-resistant.
• Some of the measures would include grid interactive solar photo-voltaic system, sensor-based LED lighting, and chargers for electric vehicles in parking areas.
• A building management system will be in place for energy monitoring, temperature control and ventilation, with high efficiency chillers.

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)

• Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment also known as GRIHA was jointly established as an autonomous, not-for-profit organization by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It is a rating tool that evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a ‘green building’.
• The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles, will seek to strike a balance between the established practices and emerging concepts, both national and international.
• Human Habitats (buildings) interact with the environment in various ways. Throughout their life cycles, from construction to demolition, they consume resources in the form of energy, water, materials, etc. and emit wastes either directly in the form of municipal wastes or indirectly as emissions from electricity generation.
• GRIHA attempts to minimize a building’s resource consumption, waste generation, and overall ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits / benchmarks.
• The GRIHA rating system consists of 34 criteria divided into four categories. They are:

1. Site selection and planning
2. Resource conservation and efficient utilisation
3. Building operation and maintenance
4. Innovation points

The basic features of GRIHA

• Pre-construction stage: (intra- and inter-site issues like proximity to public transport, type of soil, kind of land, where the property is located, the flora and fauna on the land before construction activity starts, the natural landscape and land features).
• Building planning and construction stages: (issues of resource conservation and reduction in resource demand, resource utilization efficiency, resource recovery and reuse, and provisions for occupant health and well-being). The prime resources that are considered in this section are land, water, energy, air, and green cover.
• Building operation and maintenance stage: (issues of operation and maintenance of building systems and processes, monitoring and recording of energy consumption, and occupant health and well-being, and also issues that affect the global and local environment).

The benefits

• Reduced energy consumption without sacrificing the comfort levels
• Reduced destruction of natural areas, habitats, and biodiversity, and reduced soil loss from erosion etc.
• Reduced air and water pollution (with direct health benefits)
• Reduced water consumption
• Limited waste generation due to recycling and reuse
• Reduced pollution loads
• Increased user productivity
• Enhanced image and marketability

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-armys-new-thal-sena-bhawan-will-conform-to-griha-iv-green-norms/article67266990.ece

4. ALIEN SPECIES

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has released its new publication named “Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control”.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:

• The report has found that there are 37,000 alien species including plants and animals that have been introduced in the regions and biomes around the world.
• These invasive alien species have played a key role in 60% of global plant and animal extinctions.
• It is reported that invasive alien species are one of the five major direct drivers of biodiversity loss globally, climate change etc.
• About 6% of alien plants, 22% of alien invertebrates, 14% of alien vertebrates, and 11% of alien microbes are found to be invasive, posing major risks to nature and to people.
• 85% of the impacts of biological invasions on native species are negative.
• The annual costs of invasive alien species have at least quadrupled every decade since 1970, as global trade and human travel increased.
• The report has warned that warming temperatures and climate change could favour the expansion of invasive species.
• Invasive alien species can also amplify the impacts of climate change.

EXAMPLES AND IMPACTS OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES:

• The water hyacinth is the world’s most widespread invasive alien species on land. Lantana, a flowering shrub, and the black rat are the second and third most widespread globally.
• The brown rat and the house mouse are also widespread invasive alien species.
• The reduction of food supply has been cited by the report as the most common impact of alien invasive species.
• For example, the European shore crab impacting commercial shellfish beds in New England.
• The Caribbean false mussel damaging locally important fishery resources in Kerala, by wiping out native clams and oysters.
• Invasive alien species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegyptii spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and West Nile Fever.
• The water hyacinth in Lake Victoria in East Africa led to the depletion of tilapia, impacting local fisheries.
• Invasive alien plants especially trees and grasses can sometimes be highly flammable and promote more intense fires.

Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES):

• It is established in 2012.
• It is an independent intergovernmental body established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, working in a similar way to the IPCC, which is the UN’s climate science body.
• India is a member of the IPBES.

Functions of IPBES is to:

• respond to government requests for information on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• identify and prioritize key scientific information needed for policymakers.
• perform regular and timely, scientifically credible, independent, and peer-reviewed assessments of knowledge on biodiversity etc.
• support policy formation and implementation by identifying relevant tools and methodologies.
• identify and create key capacity-building tools to support the use of science in policy.

Projects Status

• IPBES projects fall under four main objectives.
• Capacity and Knowledge Foundations
• Regional and Global Assessments
• Thematic and Methodological Issues
• Communication and Evaluation

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/biodiversity-loss-37000-alien-species-introduced-by-human-activities-says-report-8924756/

5. DYNAMICS OF THE SUN

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Studying deeper into the variability, functioning and purpose with reference to the sun with the launch of the Aditya L 1 mission by ISRO.

EXPLANATION:

• Aditya L1 will function as a space weather station. Understanding space weather is an international issue, and the data from the spacecraft will help in making models and predicting storms in advance.
• Observations from Adtiya L1 will help us understand the dynamics of the Sun and how solar variability impacts the climate on Earth and affects the space weather.
• It becomes important to develop an understanding about sun, space weather and related phenomenon.

How are Lagrange Points beneficial for the Aditya L1 mission?

• Aditya L1 mission will be placed at lagrangian point 1. Let’s understand what are lagrangian points.
• Lagrange points are positions in space where objects sent there tend to stay put. At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.
• These points in space can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
• There are five special points where a small mass can orbit in a constant pattern with two larger masses.
• Of the five Lagrange points, three are unstable and two are stable.
• The unstable Lagrange points are L1, L2 and L3, lie along the line connecting the two large masses.
• The stable Lagrange points are L4 and L5 form the apex of two equilateral triangles that have the large masses at their vertices.
• L4 leads the orbit of earth and L5 follows.
• The L1 point of the Earth-Sun system affords an uninterrupted view of the sun and is currently home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite SOHO.

Understanding the climate variability of the sun:

Solar activity is measured in terms of the number of sunspots.

Sunspots:

• Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun. They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface. The temperature of a sunspot is still very hot though—around 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Why are sunspots relatively cool? It’s because they form at areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong. These magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from reaching the surface.

• Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips switching the Sun’s north and south poles. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.
• When the Sun is active, the number of sunspots is in the hundreds, and at solar minimum, the numbers are nearly zero.

Solar flares:

• The magnetic field lines near sunspots often tangle, cross, and reorganize. This can cause a sudden explosion of energy called a solar flare.
• Solar flares release a lot of radiation into space. If a solar flare is very intense, the radiation it releases can interfere with our radio communications here on Earth.
• Solar flares are sometimes accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME for short). CMEs are huge bubbles of radiation and particles from the Sun.
• They explode into space at very high speed when the Sun’s magnetic field lines suddenly reorganize.

Effects of Solar Activity on Earth:

• When charged particles from a CME reach areas near Earth, they can trigger intense lights in the sky, called auroras.
• When particularly strong, a CME can also interfere in power utility grids, which at their worst can cause electricity shortages and power outages.
• Solar flares and CMEs are the most powerful explosions in our solar system.

Features of the payloads of the Aditya L1:

• The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) of the Aditya L1 will observe the UV radiation from different zones of the solar atmosphere.
• The onboard intelligence system will detect any sudden appearance of bright spots, such as solar flares (a sudden burst of high energy visible light, UV rays, X rays and Gamma rays) on the disc.
• The automated system will trigger the rapid imaging of different layers, and thus, we will obtain a 3D tomographic view of the Sun.
• With this system in place, the event’s progression through the layers of the solar atmosphere can be imaged.
• Combining the data from the Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) will help us gain insights into the emergence, progression, and energetics of transient events on the surface of the Sun in the UV region”.
• Observing the Sun using the SUIT will enable us to better understand climate variation on Earth.
• Earth’s climate has changed. Global warming is real. The data from SUIT and other papers of Aditya L1 will help us resolve the contribution of natural and anthropogenic factors driving climate change.

THE SPACE WEATHER:

• The solar wind along with other explosive/ eruptive solar events like Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) affects the nature of space. During such events, the nature of magnetic field and charge particle environment near to the planet change.
• In case of the Earth, the interaction of Earth magnetic field with the field carried by CME can trigger a magnetic disturbance near the Earth. Such events can affect the functioning of space assets.
• Space weather refers to changing environmental conditions in space in the vicinity of Earth and other planets. We use more and more technology in space, as understanding space weather is very important.
• Also, understanding near Earth space weather sheds light on the behaviour of space weather of other planets.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/aditya-l1-its-functioning-and-purpose/article67269560.ece

1. BASIC STRUCTURE DOCTRINE

TAG: GS 1: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The debate, which had raised great passions in 1951 during the discussion on the First Amendment of the Constitution has now been revived by the assertion of Previous CJI that the “Basic Structure Doctrine” has “a very debatable jurisprudential basis”.

EXPLANATION:

What is the basic structure doctrine?

• The Doctrine of Basic Structure is a form of judicial review that is used to test the legality of any legislation by the courts.
• The doctrine was evolved by the Supreme Court in the 1973 landmark ruling in Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala. In a 7-6 verdict, a 13-judge Constitution Bench ruled that the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution is inviolable, and could not be amended by Parliament.
• There is no exclusive and definitive list of what the basic features are, for the judiciary decides this on a case-by-case basis.
• The test is widely regarded as a check on majoritarian impulses of the Parliament since it places substantive limits on the power to amend the Constitution.

Elements of the basic structure

• Parliament under Article 368 can amend any part of the Constitution including the Fundamental Rights but without affecting the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
• However, the Supreme Court is yet to define or clarify as to what constitutes the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
• From the various judgements, the following have emerged as ‘basic features’ of the Constitution or elements / components / ingredients of the ‘basic structure’ of the constitution:

1. Supremacy of the Constitution
2. Sovereign, democratic and republican nature of the Indian polity
3. Secular character of the Constitution
4. Separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary
5. Federal character of the Constitution
6. Unity and integrity of the nation
7. Welfare state (socio-economic justice)
8. Judicial review
9. Freedom and dignity of the individual
10. Parliamentary system
11. Rule of law
12. Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
13. Principle of equality
14. Free and fair elections
15. Independence of Judiciary
16. Limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
17. Effective access to justice
18. Principles (or essence) underlying fundamental rights.
19. Powers of the Supreme Court under Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142
20. Powers of the High Courts under Articles 226 and 227

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dont-shut-down-the-debate-on-the-basic-structure-of-the-constitution-8912185/

2. CHOKUWA RICE

TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE

THE CONTEXT: Chokuwa rice recently earned a GI (Geographical Indication) tag for its exquisiteness.

EXPLANATION:

• Chokuwa rice ,also known as magic rice is a part of Assam culinary heritage, this unique rice has been a staple of the troops of the mighty Ahom dynasty.
• This unique and healthy rice is cultivated around the Brahmaputra area and is cultivated in several parts of Assam like Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Morigaon etc.
• Chokuwa rice is basically a semi-glutinous winter rice also known as Sali rice. The sticky and glutinous variety is categorized as Bora and Chokuwa based on their amylose concentration.
• The low amylose Chokuwa rice variants are used to make soft rice, which is known as Komal Chaul or soft rice.

• This whole grain can be consumed after soaking the rice in the cold or lukewarm water.
• For the uninitated, this rice is pre-boiled, dried, then stored and soaked right before consumption.
• This rice variety is widely consumed for its convenience of preparation and nutritional value.
• This unique rice variety is consumed with curd, sugar, jaggery, bananas to name a few. This rice is also used in making several Assamese delights like Pithe and other local dishes.

NOTE: Refer to 2^nd August DNA for more information on Geographical Indication tag.

SOURCE: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/what-is-magic-rice-what-is-special-about-this-rice-that-it-got-gi-tag/photostory/103109458.cms?from=mdr

3. NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY (NPPA)

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE; GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has brought 44 new drugs under price control. These drugs are commonly used for pain management, depression, anxiety, gastro- related ailments, hypertension and several auto-immune diseases.

EXPLANATION:

• The move is aimed to make these drugs cheaper. Manufacturers failing to comply with the price cap have to return the overcharged amount to the government.
• Retail price for various drugs as paroxetine controlled release and clonazepam, a combination drug used for treating mood swings and anxiety and Itraconazole capsule, used to treat fungal infections, has been fixed.
• Other drugs as metformin and sitagliptin combination, used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes and Chlorthalidone, amlodipine and telmisartan tablets, a combination used in the treatment of high blood pressure has been fixed.
• The manufacturers not complying with the regulations shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount as per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 and Essential Commodities Act 1955.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was established as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
• It is in charge of controlling medicine pricing in the nation and ensuring that they are accessible, affordable, and readily available to all of the nation’s citizens.
• The NPPA was set up in 1997 to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013.

Functions of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA):

• Utilizing the authority granted to it, administer and enforce the requirements of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995/2013.
• To carry out and/or support pertinent studies about the cost of medications/formulations.
• To gather and retain information on manufacturing, exports, and imports, individual company market shares, business profitability, etc. for bulk pharmaceuticals and formulation.
• To handle all legal issues resulting from the Authority’s judgments.
• To provide guidance to the central government on modifying or updating the drug policy.

Essential Commodities Act 1955:

• The Act gives powers to the central government to add or remove a commodity in the “Schedule.” The Centre, if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in public interest, can notify an item as essential, in consultation with state governments.
• At present, the “Schedule” contains 9 commodities — drugs; fertilisers, whether inorganic, organic or mixed; foodstuffs, including edible oils; hank yarn made wholly from cotton; petroleum and petroleum products; raw jute and jute textiles; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables, seeds of cattle fodder, jute seed, cotton seed; face masks; and hand sanitisers.
• By declaring a commodity as essential, the government can control the production, supply, and distribution of that commodity, and impose a stock limit.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/nppa-brings-44-drugs-under-price-control-making-pain-management-depression-anxiety-medications-cheaper-11693330020854.html

4. ADDIS ABABA DECLARATION

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Environment ministers of the African continent have agreed to institute national and regional strategies to minimise environmental impacts in the extraction and processing of critical mineral resources.

EXPLANATION:

• The continent is facing several challenges as countries, especially China, rush to Africa for its mineral resources.
• Fifty-four countries acknowledged key environmental challenges faced by the continent land degradation, desertification, and drought in the Addis Ababa declaration.

The 19th session African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) was held at Addis Ababa from August 14-18, 2023.

Addis Ababa Declaration 2023:

• 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 2023 held from August 14 to 18, 2023 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• The theme for AMCEN 2023 was “Seizing Opportunities and Enhancing Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Africa”.
• Addis Ababa declaration was signed by 54 nations and acknowledge challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought.
• The declaration focus was urgent, wide-ranging action on environmental challenges related to climate change, plastics pollution, marine protection, biodiversity conservation and natural capital.
• The countries also committed to take appropriate measures to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through updating or revising national biodiversity strategies and action plans or national targets.
• The Goal of the declaration is to increase the global finance flow to at least $100 billion per year.
• Countries agreed to work on a priority to implement the Africa Blue Economy Strategy of the African Union.

Africa Blue Economy Strategy of the African Union:

• The African Union (AU) published the Africa Blue Economy Strategy in 2018 because the continent’s BE could be a generator of jobs and livelihoods for millions of current and future generations.
• The objective of the BE Strategy is to guide the development of an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that becomes a significant contributor to continental transformation and growth.
• It is done through advancing knowledge on marine and aquatic biotechnology, environmental sustainability, the exploitation and beneficiation of deep-sea mineral and other resources

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/over-50-african-countries-agree-to-work-on-minimising-impact-of-mineral-mining-91402

5. CLIMATE ACTION TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The United Nations released a new guidance “General Comment No. 26” on children’s rights and the environment, with a particular focus on climate change.

EXPLANATION:

• It provides a legal framework to address the adverse effects of environmental degradation and climate change on the enjoyment of children’s rights and to ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable world and to preserve it for future generation.
• The recognition is legally significant as it details member states’ obligations under the Child Rights Convention to address environmental harms and guarantee that children can exercise their rights.

NEW GUIDELINES:

• In the new guidelines, the UN member states have been asked to take all necessary, appropriate, and reasonable measures to protect against harms to children’s rights related to climate change that are caused by businesses.
• Nations have been urged to equitably phase out the use of coal, oil and natural gas.
• They have also been asked to ensure a fair and just transition of energy sources and invest in renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency to address the climate crisis.
• Establishing inclusive early warning systems must be a priority of all the nations to protect children from impacts of the extreme weather events.
• It has also urged upon the developed countries to provide grants rather than loans for actions to avoid negative impacts on children’s rights.
• It has voiced its concerns over the unequal share of finances provided for adaptation and loss and damage measure.

OTHER REPORTS OR CONVENTION:

• In 1989, the UN convention on rights of the child outlined children’s rights, which includes the right to life, health, clean drinking water and survival and development. It has been ratified by 196 countries.
• As per research of UNICEF, all of the world’s 2.02 billion children are expected to be exposed to high heatwave frequency, regardless of whether the world achieves a low greenhouse gas emission scenario by 2050.
• Reducing carbon emissions can prevent 4,000 to 6,000 child deaths due to heat in Africa every year, according to a study. Extreme weather events around the world displaced at least 12 million children in 2022, as per the UNICEF estimates.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/first-of-its-kind-un-guidance-calls-for-climate-action-by-states-to-protect-children-s-rights-91433

1. FORTIFICATION OF RICE

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The government will implement fully rice fortification programme before the scheduled target of March 2024.

EXPLANATION:

• A scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) was launched in October 2021 in a phased manner in order to address the problem of anaemia in children and women.
• In the first phase, the target was to cover ICDS and PM POSHAN in India by March 2022.
• Under the second phase, the plan was to extend the scheme to beneficiaries of PDS and other welfare schemes in all aspirational and high-burden districts on stunting (a total of 291 districts) by March 2023.
• In the third phase, the target was to cover the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.
• The first phase got started only in October 2021 and about 17 lakh tonnes of fortified rice was lifted, the first phase was implemented under the budgetary provision of the Women and Child Development Ministry.
• In April 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN (erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme) and other welfare schemes in all states and Union Territories (UTs) by 2024 in a phased manner.
• The entire cost of rice fortification, which is around ₹ 2,700 crore per annum, would be borne by the Centre as part of the food subsidy till its full implementation up to June 2024.
• As of date, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has 240 lakh tonnes of rice, of which just 12 lakh tonnes are non-fortified rice.
• The government will also look at revising the advisory on fortified rice being harmful to people with sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia in light of new evidence.
• Food regulator FSSAI, the regulatory/licensing authority for food fortification, has drafted standards for FRK and Pre-mix, and provided direction to all the stakeholders for the operationalisation of draft standards with immediate effect.

What is fortified rice?

• According to the Food Ministry, fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets. According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg fortified rice will contain iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram) and Vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
• In addition, rice may also be fortified with micronutrients, singly or in combination, with zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6.
• Fortified rice is nearly identical to traditional rice in aroma, taste, and texture. This process is done in the rice mills at the time of milling of rice.

How is rice fortified with iron?

• Under the fortification scheme, milled broken rice is reduced to dust and a premix of vitamins and minerals is added to it. Thereafter, an extruder machine is used to produce fortified rice kernels (FRK) resembling rice grains.
• The kernels are then mixed in a 1:100 ratio with regular rice to produce fortified rice.
• It is found to be a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets with low turnaround time (TAT) and a step towards nutritional security and helps in fighting anaemia and malnutrition in the country.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/centre-to-fully-implement-rice-fortification-programme-before-march-2024-target/articleshow/102953731.cms?from=mdr

2. 7TH GEF ASSEMBLY: GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK FUND 

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held on Vancouver, Canada. Here, member countries got together to ratify Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.

EXPLANATION:

• The ratification of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) would ensure that sufficient money is available for conservation and restoration of species and ecosystems.
• The fund was envisaged at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15 CBD) in December, 2022.
• It aims to ensure that countries have enough financial support to meet the goals and targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• GEF, which is the world’s largest multilateral funder of environmental action, is tasked with running the fund and has to mobilise at least $200 billion per year by 2030.
• For this, GEF will accept donations from countries, philanthropies and the private sector, along with stimulating schemes such as payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Under its current work plan, GEF has just $1.4 billion for action on three major environmental issues: Climate, biodiversity, and pollution.
• This amount is likely to reach $10.5 billion as GEF plans to generate another $9.1 billion in co-financing from other sources by 2026.
• Biodiversity is set to receive the maximum amount 47% of these funds. Climate change will receive 16 per cent, while land degradation will get 12 per cent. International waters and chemical waste will get 11 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.
• The proposed fund allocations are as follows:

1. 20 per cent will go to Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC). This is an aspirational goal.
2. 25 per cent will go to GEF agencies and must be enforced.

• Allocation of funds to IPLCs would be reviewed two years after ratification in August. SIDS and LDC will get 36 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. This would be reviewed three years after ratification.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/7th-gef-assembly-member-countries-get-together-to-ratify-global-biodiversity-framework-fund-91287

3. RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first vaccination to save newborns from Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

EXPLANATION:

• The new vaccine is made by Pfizers and is given to mothers late in their pregnancies. It provides protection to infants through their first six months of life.
• During the trial of the vaccine on more than 7,000 pregnant people and their infants, it was found that it cut the risk that infants needed to see a doctor. It also reduced the cases of hospitalisation among infants.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. It’s so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age 2. Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-ul) virus can also infect adults.
• In adults and older, healthy children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) symptoms are mild and typically mimic the common cold. Self-care measures are usually all that’s needed to relieve any discomfort.
• RSV can cause severe infection in some people, including babies 12 months and younger (infants), especially premature infants, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone with a weak immune system (immunocompromised).

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These may include:

• Congested or runny nose
• Dry cough
• Low-grade fever
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
• Headache

In severe cases

RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Severe cough
• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that’s usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

United States Food and Drug Administration

• The United States Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services.
• The FDA is led by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The FDA has its headquarters in unincorporated White Oak, Maryland.
• The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, caffeine products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/science/health/usfda-gives-nod-to-first-vaccine-to-protect-newborns-from-respiratory-syncytial-virus-11692671178258.html

4. RAJASTHAN’S FIFTH TIGER RESERVE IN DHOLPUR-KARAULI

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has accorded the final approval to Rajasthan’s fifth Tiger Reserve in Dholpur-Karauli.

EXPLANATION:

• With increasing big cat population in RTR, the Rajasthan state forest department had moved the proposal to develop Dholpur-Karauli the fifth tiger reserve in Rajasthan. NTCA gave its approval in February, 2023.
• It is the country’s 54th tiger reserve. The ministry also gave in-principle approval to declare Kumbhalgarh as a tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
• The other four tiger reserves in Rajasthan are – Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi, which was added in May 2022.
• Currently around 8-10 tigers are moving in Dholpur-Karauli forest area. The protected natural tiger corridor will increase from Ramgarh Vishdhari- RTR-Dholpur to Mukundra – the stretch would be around 4,000sq km.

Tiger Reserve

• A tiger reserve is made up of two areas: a “Core” or “Critical Tiger Habitat” that must be managed as a protected space, and a “Buffer” or “Peripheral” region that borders the Core area but may get less habitat protection.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority, which oversees Project Tiger, is in charge of the Indian tiger reserves, which were established in 1973.

Project Tiger

• Project Tiger was launched in the year 1973. It was one of the most important conservation efforts initiated to protect Tigers in India.
• It was the first of its kind of Project in India to maintain the population of Tigers in India and to protect them from Poaching and other threats.

Aims of Project Tiger:

• To identify factors causing a reduction in tiger habitats and mitigate them through suitable management practices. The damages already done to the habitat were to be corrected so that the natural ecosystem can be recovered to the extent possible.
• To maintain a viable tiger population for their economic, ecological, cultural, and aesthetic significance.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
• The Authority have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States.
• The Inspector General of Forests, in charge of project Tiger, will be ex-officio Member Secretary.
• The Authority lay down normative standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves, apart from National Parks and Sanctuaries.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dholpur-karauli-to-be-rajasthans-5th-tiger-reserve-indias-54th/articleshow/102959871.cms?from=mdr

5. REPORT ON STALLED REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: A 14-member committee chaired by former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, which was constituted to examine stalled real estate projects and recommend ways to complete them, submitted its report.

EXPLANATION:

• The committee was set up in March,2023 by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and Amitabh Kant was appointed its head.
• It included officials of the Union Finance Ministry, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana state governments, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, the National Housing Bank and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) of Haryana and UP.

What did the committee find?

• The committee’s report cited that 4.12 lakh dwelling units of Rs.4.08 lakh crore were “stressed” and about 2.40 lakh (44%) of these were in the National Capital Region. Another 21% of the units were in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
• The committee concluded that the main reason for the stress in these projects was the “lack of financial viability”, which had led to cost overruns and time delays.
• The committee said the way to solve the problem would be to improve the Internal Rate of Return of the projects in order to attract funding.
• Judicial interventions, like the use of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, should be the last resort.

What did the committee recommend?

• The committee began its list of recommendations by reiterating provisions of the Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016 to be enforced.
• Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016 mandates that all projects where the land is over 500 square metres or the number of apartments to be constructed are more than eight are registered with the respective state RERA.
• The committee recommended de-linking the grant of registration or sub-lease by the land authorities to the homebuyers from the recovery of dues from developers.
• The committee recommended that the RERAs identify such projects where the homebuyers were not being given no-objection and completion certificates in projects that were substantially completed and expedite the process to grant certificates, irrespective of the developers’ paying their dues to the authorities.
• One of the main recommendations of the committee was for state governments to set up a rehabilitation package to get the stalled projects running again. Those developers who sign up for the package would have to commit to completing the projects in three years.
• The committee proposed a “partial surrender policy”, in which developers can give back some of the unused lands to the authority in exchange for a waiver on the dues for that land.
• The report said the MoHUA should prepare a detailed scheme for using the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund to “proactively” finance the stalled projects and sent it to the Finance Ministry.
• It said the requirement of minimum Internal Rate of Return and first charge in the SWAMIH fund should be reworked.

Real Estate(Regulation and Development)Act, 2016:

• It aims to protect the rights and interests of consumers by minimising the malpractices done by the developers and promoting uniformity business practices and transactions in the real estate sector.
• The RERA Act came into effect on and from 1 May, 2016. The centre, through the Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry, released the general rules of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
• The Act was legislated under entry 6 and entry 7 of the concurrent list of the Indian Constitution.
• The provisions of the RERA Act apply to residential apartments, buildings and plots whether residential or commercial. The Real Estate Project defined in the Act includes the development of buildings consisting of apartments, converting existing buildings into apartments and developing land into plots for the sale of all or some of the said apartments to carry out the purpose of this Act.

Salient features of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016

• To regulate and promote the real estate sector by establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
• To protect the interests of the consumers and buyers and ensure the prevention of malpractices against them.
• To establish adequate and speedy dispute redressal systems and also establish Appellate Tribunals to hear  and adjudge appeals from the orders, directions or decisions of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
• Establishes state-level regulatory authorities called RERA.
• To ensure that the money collected from project buyers must be kept in a separate bank account and utilised solely for the construction of the project. This sum is subject to change by the State Government.
• The Act provides the right to legal representation on behalf of the client by a CA, CS or CMA or legal practitioners

Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund

• It is a social impact fund specifically formed for completing stressed and stalled residential projects and considered as the lender of last resort for distressed projects.
• It was launched in November 2019, with an aim to provide priority debt financing for the completion of stressed, brownfield and RERA-registered residential projects that fall in the affordable, mid-income housing category.
• The Fund is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and is managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company.
• The Fund considers first-time developers, established developers with troubled projects, developers with a poor track record of stalled projects, customer complaints and NPA accounts, and even projects where there are litigation issues

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/panel-stalled-real-estate-projects-report-findings-recommendations-8903719/

1. KATCHATHEEVU ISLAND

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY ; GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister revived the debate over Katchatheevu, an uninhabited and barren island near Rameshwaram, by reiterating the demand for retrieval from Sri Lanka to put a permanent end to the problems of fishermen of the State.

EXPLANATION:

• Addressing a fishermen’s conference in Mandapam of Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu CM pointed out that following his letters to Prime Minister fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities, were released.

Where is the island of Katchatheevu located?

• Katchatheevu is a 285-acre uninhabited island in the Palk Strait, between India and Sri Lanka. It is no more than 1.6 km in length and slightly over 300 m wide at its broadest point.
• It lies northeast of Rameswaram, about 33 km from the Indian coast. It is about 62 km southwest of Jaffna, at the northern tip of Sri Lanka, and 24 km away from the inhabited Neduntheevu (Delft Island), belonging to Sri Lanka.
• The only structure on the island is the St Anthony’s Church which is visited by both Indians and Sri Lankans for the annual festival. Indians do not need a visa for this.
• Katchatheevu is not suited for permanent settlement as there is no source of drinking water on the island.

What is the island’s history?

• The island is relatively new in the geological timescale, being the product of a 14-century volcanic eruption.
• In the early medieval period, it was controlled by the Jaffna kingdom of Sri Lanka. In the 17th century, control passed to the Ramnad zamindari based out of Ramanathapuram, about 55 km northwest of Rameswaram.
• It became part of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj. But in 1921, both India and Sri Lanka, claimed Katchatheevu in order to determine fishing boundaries.
• A survey marked Katchatheevu in Sri Lanka, but a British delegation from India challenged this, citing ownership of the island by the Ramnad kingdom. This dispute was not settled until 1974.

What is the agreement ?

• In 1974, then Indian Prime Minister made attempts to settle the maritime border between India and Sri Lanka.
• As a part of this settlement, known as the ‘Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement’ Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka to deepen its ties.
• As per the agreement, Indian fishermen were still allowed to access Katchatheevu. Unfortunately, the issue of fishing rights was not ironed out by the agreement.
• Sri Lanka interpreted Indian fishermens’ right to access Katchatheevu to be limited to “rest, drying nets and for visit to the Catholic shrine without visa”.
• Another agreement in 1976, during the period of Emergency in India, barred both country from fishing in the other’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The stand of the Union government on the issue:

• In August 2013, the Union government contended that the islet was a matter of dispute between British India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and there was no agreed boundary, a matter of which was settled through 1974 and 1976 agreements.
• In December 2022, the Union government, while referring to the two agreements, pointed out in its reply in the Rajya Sabha that Katchatheevu “lies on the Sri Lankan side of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line.” It added that the matter was sub-judice in the Supreme Court.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/explained-the-katchatheevu-controversy/article67213802.ece

2. GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON DIGITAL HEALTH (GIDH)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Union Health Minister launched the ‘Global Initiative on Digital Health’ (GIDH), a World Health Organization-managed network, in the presence of the  Director-general, WHO.

EXPLANATION:

• In a significant decision at the G20 Health Minister’s summit, nations have collectively launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).
• This move underlines the growing recognition and commitment to the amalgamation of digital health strategies on a worldwide spectrum.

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH):

• The Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) is a WHO managed network of stakeholders organized to facilitate the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and other WHO norms and standards for Digital Health System Transformation.
• The GIDH aims to consolidate efforts and investments in the digital health sector, creating a comprehensive digital health ecosystem.
• The Initiative will serve as a platform to enable a wide global ecosystem to work collectively to promote country capacity and strengthen international cooperation in digital health.
• The initiative aims to focus on four foundational pillars to converge global efforts for digital health and scale up digital solutions with the use of cutting-edge technologies.

1. Aligning efforts with the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025
2. Offering quality-assured technical assistance for standards-based and interoperable systems,
3. Facilitating the use of digital transformation tools
4. Ensuring mutual accountability.

• GIDH will prioritize the following core areas of work:

1. Assessing and prioritizing Member States’ needs
2. Evaluating the availability and reporting of country-level digital health resources and identifying under-funded priorities
3. Supporting technically and financially the accelerated achievement of the strategic objectives defined in the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025.

• Digital health is a proven accelerator to advance health outcomes and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
• The key components of the GIDH will leverage existing evidence, tools and learnings and will be co-created through a transparent and inclusive process. Through this evidence-based and comprehensive co-creation process, GIDH will ultimately aim to:

1. ALIGN efforts to support of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025
2. SUPPORT quality-assured technical assistance to develop and strengthen standards-based and interoperable systems aligned to global best practices, norms, and standards.
3. FACILITATE the deliberate use of quality assured digital transformation tools that enable governments to manage their digital health transformation journey.

• As a WHO Managed Network (“Network of Networks”), GIDH will address challenges such as duplication of efforts and “products-focused” digital health transformation through a focus on four foundational pillars:

1. Country Needs Tracker – facilitating digital health investments to be informed by country priorities;
2. Country Resource Portal – identifying traditional as well as innovative resource opportunities, and promoting transparency, while reducing the risk of duplication for enabling a standards-based prospective and retrospective analysis of resourcing gaps in digital health.
3. Transformation Toolbox – advocating for quality-assured tools and resources that strengthen country capacity and autonomy to manage the national digital health transformation.
4. Convening and Knowledge Exchange – promoting strengthened collaboration and knowledge exchange across global, regional, and national networks in digital health.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/g20-health-ministers-unveil-initiative-on-digital-health-11692446211179.html

3. KANNIYAKUMARI’S MATTI BANANA

TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Matti banana variety which is native to the Kanniyakumari district was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag that is known for its unique characteristics.

EXPLANATION:

• The application for Kanniyakumari Matti banana was filed by Kanyakumari Banana and Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Limited. The process was facilitated by the Tamil Nadu State Agriculture Marketing Board and NABARD Madurai Agribusiness Incubation.
• Matti banana is mostly grown in the Kalkulam, Vilavancode, Agatheeswaram, Thovalai, Thiruvattar taluks of Kanniyakumari district.
• The Matti banana fruit‘s apex is 2.5 – 3 cm long, slightly larger than human fingers, and looks like mouth of a crocodile. It is also called as ‘Crocodile Finger Banana’.
• It is a traditional table banana cultivar of medicinal value and the fruit is highly fragrant, sweet with sub-acid flavour, firm texture and powdery nature.
• Unlike typical banana bunches that grow straight, the Matti’s fingers exhibit a distinct wind-blown appearance. Its low total soluble solids content (TSSC) recommends it as a baby food.

• The fruit has sweet fragrance and honey-like taste .It is served traditionally in marriage feast mixed with payasam.
• There are six known types of the Matti bananas:

1. Nal Matti boasts a yellowish-orange colour and fine aroma.
2. Theyn [honey] Matti’s pulp tastes like honey.
3. Kal Matti gets its name from the calcium oxalate crystals forming in its pulp and black dots on the skin.
4. Nei Matti exudes the aroma of ghee.
5. Sundari Matti, a Matti clone, with its elongated fingers, thick peel, and creamy white rind, is facing extinction.
6. Semmati (red) is a fusion of Matti and Red banana, with a mix of red and yellow pulp containing ascorbic acid beneficial to the growth of children. It is also called Sanna Kathalai and the sugar level is very low and suitable even for diabetics.

• The Matti banana flourishes due to the area’s special conditions, producing a slightly larger-than-human finger-sized fruit with a sweet fragrance and honey-like taste that can’t be replicated elsewhere.
• The uniqueness of the Matti banana is attributed to a combination of factors including humidity, water, temperature, soil composition, and nutrient balance.
• Experts highlight the significance of the Genotype-Environment-Microbiome interaction (G×ExM) for gene expression, underscoring the importance of the environment in shaping genetic traits.
• The distinctiveness of the Matti banana arises from a complex interplay of factors, making it difficult to reproduce its qualities in other areas with a single factor.

NOTE: Refer to 2^nd August DNA for more information on Geographical Indication tag.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kanniyakumaris-matti-is-distinct-with-fragrance-and-honey-like-taste/article67206980.ece

4. GENETICALLY EDITED MUSTARD

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Indian scientists have developed the first ever low-pungent, disease- and pest-resistant mustard. It is transgene-free, not genetically modified and is based on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.

What is gene editing?

• Genome editing is a method for making specific changes to the DNA of a cell or organism.
• These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.
• Human genome editing technologies can be used on somatic cells (non-heritable), germline cells (not for reproduction) and germline cells (for reproduction).
• Several approaches to genome editing have been developed one of them is called CRISPR-Cas9.
• CRISPER Cas9 is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9.
• It was adapted from a naturally occurring genome editing system that bacteria use as an immune Défense.

How does CRISPR Cas9 works?

What were the challenges in traditional mustard?

• Traditional mustard types have significant levels of glycosylates, sulphur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, which help to give mustard oil and meal its distinctive pungency.
• They exhibit less resistance against pests and diseases, contributing to lower crop yields and increase need for chemical pesticides.
• Due to its high glucosinolate content, mustard oil is less popular with consumers who prefer cooking tools with milder flavours and odours.
• Rapeseed meal, a byproduct of oil extraction, is utilised as a feed ingredient for animals and birds.
• Certain animals find the meal unpalatable due to the high glucosinolate content, which can also cause goitre, decreased feed intake, and organ abnormalities.

How does the application of CRISPR address the challenges of traditional crop system?

Challenges of CRISPER Cas9 technology:

• As with any gene editing technology, unintended consequences are possible.
• For example, if CRISPR targets an unintended location within the DNA, edits could lead to disease.
• Many countries are struggling with how to regulate these technologies.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/gene-edited-mustard-less-pungent-more-useful-8901549/

5. AI AND ACOUSTIC SIDE CHANNEL ATTACKS (ASCA)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: A research paper titled “A Practical Deep Learning-Based Acoustic Side Channel Attack on Keyboards” was published recently.

Key highlights of the study:

• It revealed that the Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be utilized to decipher passwords by analysing the sound produced by keystrokes.
• It also highlighted the precision of Acoustic Side Channel Attacks (ASCA) when state-of-the-art deep learning models were applied to categorise laptop keystrokes and their mitigation.
• Although ASCA is not a new concept, side channel attacks have become a greater threat due to the advancement of AI and deep learning.

What are ASCA?

• Side-Channel Attacks (SCAs):
• It is a method of hacking a cryptographic algorithm based on the analysis of auxiliary systems used in the encryption method.
• These are performed using a collection of signals emitted by devices, including electromagnetic waves, power consumption etc as well as sound from keyboards and printers to target devices.
• These signals are used to decipher signals that could be used to undermine a device’s security.
• Acoustic Side Channel Attacks:
• A keyboard’s clicks are used to evaluate keystrokes and decipher what is being typed to leak sensitive information.
• These attacks are especially dangerous since consumers underappreciate the potential dangers of the acoustic sounds produced by a keyboard, in addition to being easily accessible.
• When inputting sensitive information, most users cover their screens, but no security measures are taken to hide the sound of the keystrokes.
• The adoption of laptops has expanded the range of ASCAs because laptop models have the same keyboard, which makes it simpler for AI-enabled deep learning models to detect and understand the acoustics.

WAY FORWARD:

• Since 1950 ASCA attacks have existed, when acoustic emanations of encryption devices were utilised to breach their security.
• There is no explicit means of defence against ASCAs, simple changes to typing could reduce the chances of attacks.
• Changes in typing style and creating stronger passwords using combination of upper- and lower-case alphabets can make it more difficult to launch successful ASCA attacks.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/what-are-acoustic-side-channel-attacks-and-how-is-ai-used-to-increase-its-accuracy/article67216538.ece

1. INCOIS LAUNCHES ‘SAMUDRA’ MOBILE APP

TAG:  GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has come out with a new mobile application ‘SAMUDRA’ – Smart Access to Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories.

EXPLANATION:

• It offers comprehensive information on all ocean related services, useful for both seafarers and the fishing community.
• It will be especially beneficial to the fishing community as it disseminates potential fishing zone advisories which will guide them to the probable fish aggregation locations. Fishermen can be guided to the most probable fish aggregation locations enabling them to maximise catch rates, and thus, improve livelihoods.
• It empowers users with real-time updates and critical alerts on oceanic disasters such as tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, and swell surge alerts, for the individuals and communities to stay informed and take necessary precautions.
• Till now, INCOIS has been providing fishing zone and Ocean State Forecast (OSF) services through SMS messaging to about seven lakh fishermen across all the coastal states.
• The OSF services are being provided to various public and private firms like the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, shipping industries, maritime boards, ONGC – Oil & Natural Gas Commission and others.
• The five-day advanced OSFs will help mariners, fishermen, and coastal communities to plan their activities in advance, mitigating risks and optimizing operations based on predicted ocean conditions.
• The app also has interactive maps, charts, and animations for enhanced comprehension of complex oceanic phenomena, explained the scientists.
• It is a cutting-edge tool helping users to navigate the marine domain with confidence on their safety, and profitable fishing operations.
• It will catalyse sustainable ocean activities, thus enabling a way forward for the Blue Economy.

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

• INCOIS was established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO).
• It is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and research.

Activities:

• Provides daily advisories to fisher folk to help them easily locate areas of abundant fish in the ocean while saving on both fuel and time used to search for the same.
• Deploys and maintains a suite of Ocean Observing Systems in the Indian Ocean to collect data on various oceanic parameters to understand the processes in the ocean and to predict their changes.
• Carries out Research and Modeling to optimize the performance of mathematical models used for ocean state forecasts, prediction of tsunami waves, storm surges, etc. along the coast.

The Earth System Science Organization (ESSO):

• It was established in October, 2007 as a virtual organization in New Delhi. It operates as an executive arm of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for its policies and programmes.
• It provides overall direction for the centers/units and review the implementation of the programs. It aims to address holistically various aspects relating to earth processes for understanding the variability of earth system.
• It brings all meteorological and ocean development activities under one umbrella, recognizing the importance of strong coupling among various components of the earth viz. atmosphere, oceans, cryo-sphere and geo-sphere.
• It has four major branches of earth sciences:

1. Ocean Science & Technology
2. Atmospheric and Climate Science
3. Geosciences and Technology
4. Polar Science and Cryosphere

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/incois-launches-samudra-mobile-app-for-seafarers-and-fishing-community/article67193794.ece

2. GUIDELINES ON GENERIC MEDICINES

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE.

THE CONTEXT: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is taking steps to better enforce the use of generic medicines by issuing fresh guidelines on it.

EXPLANATION:

• The NMC has directed doctors to prescribe generic drugs instead of branded drugs.
• Branded drugs are much more expensive than generic drugs and they are supported by large-scale commercial promotion by pharma companies.
• Generic drugs have the same composition, effects, side effects and usage as the branded drugs but are often ignored as there is a nexus between doctors, pharma companies and medical shops to promote branded drugs.
• It has also directed that prescriptions should be written clearly and legibly, preferably in capital letters. Carelessly written prescriptions create confusion and have sometimes resulted in patients taking wrong medicines.
• Doctors will now have to prescribe only generic medicines, except for cases where medicines have a narrow therapeutic index drugs where a small difference in dosage may lead to adverse outcomes and in other exceptional cases.
• The guidelines have also sought judicious use of fixed-dose combinations and asked doctors only to prescribe approved, rational combinations.
• Doctors have been told to educate people on generics being equivalent to branded medicines, urge pharmacies to stock them, and to encourage people to buy medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras and other generic drug outlets.
• The enforcement of the guidelines will make a big difference to patients with respect to their out-of-pocket expenditure.

National Medical Commission (NMC)

• The National Medical Commission is a regulatory body of 33 members which regulates medical education and medical professionals.
• It replaced the Medical Council of India on 25 September 2020.
• The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice and assesses the medical infrastructure in India.

The commission consists of four autonomous boards:

• Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB),
• Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB),
• Medical Assessment and Rating Board and
• Ethics and Medical Registration Board

What are generic medicines?

• Generic medicines are pharmaceutical drugs that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents.
• Generic medicines are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active chemical substance is the same, the medical profile of generics is equivalent in performance.
• A generic medicine has the same Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) as the original, but it may differ in some characteristics such as the manufacturing process, formulation, excipients, color, taste, and packaging.

SOURCE: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/editorial/guidelines-on-generic-medicines-welcome-2648867

3. AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA (ABRY)

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE; GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The government has fallen short of its target for employment generation in the formal sector under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), launched in 2020 at the time of the pandemic.

EXPLANATION:

• As per latest government data, enrolments under ABRY stood at 6.04 million as on July 22, 2023, which is less than target of the revised target of generating 7.18 million jobs under the scheme but higher than its initial target of 5.85 million.
• The centre has so far spend 9663.82 crore under the scheme, which is only 42.3% of the initial target expenditure of 22810 crore for the entire scheme period.
• Instead, the Centre reimburses provident fund and pension contribution of either both the employee and employer (24% of wages) or only the employee(12% of wages) in case the establishment has over 1000 workers.
• As per government data, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme stood at 1.29 million in 2021-22, about 5,40,000 in 2022-22 and 9082 till July 18 in 2023-24.
• Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujrat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh are the top 10 states in creating formal employment under ABRY.
• These 10 states contribute 79.4% of the total beneficiaries under the scheme and have drawn 76.6% of the centres’s expenditure under it so far.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

• It was launched in December 2020 as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package and aims to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase.
• The scheme, being implemented through EPFO, covers employees hired till March 2022, and those who lost their job between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and are drawing less than Rs 15000 a month.
• The scheme is to be operational for the period 2020-2023.

Beneficiaries

• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any EPFO registered establishment and did not have a Universal Account Number (UAN) prior to 01st October, 2020 who joins employment in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 up to 31.03.2022 and who is allotted Aadhaar validated UAN.
• Any EPF member, already allotted with UAN, who made exit from employment during the period from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 (Covid Pandemic) from any establishment and who joins in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 and up to 31.03.2022.
• The incentive is payable by the Central Government by upfront credit in the UANs of the new employees.

Eligibility criteria for Establishments

Establishments registered with EPFO if they add new employees compared to reference base of employees as in September, 2020 as under:

• minimum of two new employees if reference base is 50 employees or less.
• minimum of five new employees if reference base is more than 50 employees.

Benefits

Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and upto 30th June, 2021 at following scale

• Establishments employing up to 1000 employees: Employee’s contributions (12% of Wages) & Employer’s contributions (12% of wages) totalling 24% of wages
• Establishments employing more than 1000 employees: Only Employee’s EPF contributions (12% of EPF wages)

The subsidy support to get credited upfront in Aadhaar seeded EPFO Account (UAN) of eligible new employee.

SOURCE: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/scheme-for-formal-employment-generation-falls-short-of-target/articleshow/102781224.cms?from=mdr

4. CARBON SEQUESTRATION

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Carbon sequestration has become a potent ally in our fight against rising carbon dioxide levels and the resulting environmental consequences.

EXPLANATION:

• The impacts of climate change are an issue for the entire world.
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ideas are becoming more and more important for businesses to incorporate into their operations.
• Carbon sequestration stands out among these ideas as a crucial business requirement.

What is carbon sequestration?

• Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.
• Carbon sequestration can be done naturally as well as artificially.
• Carbon sequestration has been recognised as essential to the fight against climate change, which threatens Earth’s ecosystems and human well-being.
• India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2 in the world after China and the US, with estimated annual emissions of about 2.6 gigatonne per annum (gtpa).

Methods of Carbon Sequestration

• There are two primary types of carbon sequestration: natural and artificial.
• Natural Sequestration:
• Natural carbon sequestration occurs through various ecosystems and processes, such as photosynthesis in plants, which captures CO2 and converts it into organic matter.
• Forests, wetlands, and oceans are natural carbon sinks, where CO2 is absorbed and stored over time.
• Artificial Sequestration:
• Artificial carbon sequestration involves human-driven methods to capture and store CO2. E.g.:
• Direct air capture, where CO2 is extracted directly from the air using special technology
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS), where CO2 emissions from industrial processes are captured before they are released into the atmosphere.

How does carbon sequestration help in dealing climate issues?

• Carbon dioxide, the most commonly produced greenhouse gas, is being captured in the process of carbon sequestration.
• About 25% of our carbon emissions have historically been captured by Earth’s forests, farms, and grasslands.
• 30% of the carbon dioxide we emit from burning fossils fuels is absorbed by the upper layer of the ocean.
• 45% of carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, the rest is sequestered naturally by the environment.

India’s initiative in tackling the issue.

• The Government of India has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.
• India aims to reach net zero goal by 2070. (Net Zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible)
• India’s Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage programme aims to reduce carbon emission by either storing or reusing it so that captured carbon dioxide does not enter the atmosphere.
• The growth of renewable power capacity has been one of the key success stories of the clean energy transition in India.
• Power sector contributes to about 1/3 rd of the aggregate CO2 emissions, which will continue to abate as renewables increasingly replace fossil fuel-based power generation.

SOURCE: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/whats-carbon-sequestration-and-how-it-can-help-deal-climate-issues/articleshow/102779362.cms?from=mdr

5. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Tamil Nadu is developing the nation’s first Common Testing Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones).

EXPLANATION:

• This centre would be established over an area of about 2.3 acres at the SIPCOT Industrial Park, Vallam Vadagal near Sriperumbudur.
• The initiative is led by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) as part of the TN Defence Industrial Corridor.
• The testing centre would enable the State to be a significant contributor to the self-reliance of the country in the aerospace and defence sectors.
• The lack of a Common Testing Centre has been a barrier for organizations in this sector.
• TIDCO has initiated the setup of such testing centres under the Centre’s Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme.

What is Drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?

• It is powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift.
• It is commonly known as a drone.
• UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system, which include additionally a ground-based controller and a system of communications with the UAV.
• Drones have been divided into five categories based on their weight:
• Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams
• Micro: From 250 grams to 2kg
• Small: From 2 kg to 25kg
• Medium: From 25kg to 150kg
• Large: Greater than 150kg.

Drone flying restrictions in India.

• A micro drone may not fly higher than 60 metres above ground level (AGL) or faster than 25 metres per second.
• A small drone may not fly higher than 120 metres above ground level or faster than 25 metres per second.
• Drones that are medium or large must fly in compliance with the conditions outlined in the DGCA’s Operator Permit.
• Prohibited zones are completely off-limits, whereas restricted areas require prior approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Drones’ regulations in India

Drone regulations are under the ambit of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

• Drone rules 2021
• A single-window online system with a business-friendly interface will be created for the Digital Sky Platform.
• Green zones and the area between 8 and 12 kilometres from the airport’s boundary do not require a flying permission for flights higher than 400 feet or 200 feet, respectively.
• No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drones and for R&D organisations.
• There are no restrictions on foreign-owned businesses with Indian registration using drones.
• No security clearance is necessary prior to the issue of any registration or licence.
• No requirement of certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for R&D entities.
• Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will cover drone taxis also.
• Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it.
• Manufacturer may generate their drone’s unique identification number on the digital sky platform through the self-certification route.
• Maximum penalty under Drone Rules, 2021 reduced to INR 1 lakh. This shall, however, not apply to penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
• Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
• Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.
• Drone rules 2022
• The requirement of a drone pilot licence has been abolished.
• There will be no requirement for a remote pilot certificate when using a drone up to two kilogrammes for non-commercial activities.
• The Remote Pilot Certificate issued by a Directorate General of Civil Aviation approved drone school through the single window Digital Sky platform will be sufficient for operating drones in the country.
• An individual owning any unmanned aircraft system manufactured in India or imported into India on or before 30th of November, 2021 must make an application to register and obtain a unique identification number and state the required details in form D-2 and the stipulated fee under Rule 46.
• To promote Made in India drones, the import of foreign drones has been prohibited in the country.

PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components

• Central government approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components for implementation during the year 2022-23 till 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 120 crore.
• The PLI scheme and new drone rules are intended to catalyse supernormal growth in the upcoming drone sector.
• The annual sales turnover of the drone manufacturing industry may grow from INR 60 crore in 2020-21 fold to over INR 900 crore in FY 2023-24.
• The incentive programme may result in investments more than 5,000 crore Indian rupees over the course of the following three years in the manufacturing of drones and drone components.
• India has the potential to establish itself as a major drone hub by 2030 given its historical prowess in innovation, information technology, cost-effective engineering, and local demand.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-first-unmanned-aerial-systems-drone-common-testing-centre-under-defence-testing-infrastructure-scheme-to-be-established-in-tamil-nadu/article67202641.ece

1. ARBITRAGE FUNDS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Investors are back to arbitrage funds, pouring in as much as Rs 10,074 crore in July, with cumulative flows rising to Rs 23,800 crore this financial year.

EXPLANATION:

• The inflows reflect high returns and better taxation treatment these funds offer compared to debt plans.
• Over the last year, data from value research show arbitrage funds generated 6.25% returns. This is higher than 2.7-3% that big banks pay for parking money savings accounts.

What is an arbitrage fund? How does it generate returns?

• An arbitrage fund seeks to generate returns on the price differential in the cash and futures market.
• In such a scheme, the fund manager simultaneously buys a company in the cash market and sells an equivalent quantity in the futures segment as long as the futures trade at a reasonable premium.The spread between the two generates the return for the scheme.
• The fund does not take any naked exposure to any individual security or an index as each buy transaction in the cash market has a corresponding sell transaction in the futures
• While 65% of the corpus is allocated to arbitrage products the fund manager is free to choose the balance of 35% between arbitrage or debt products, depending on his view on the market.

Why is it gaining popularity with investors?

• High returns compared with savings accounts and better taxation are driving investors to arbitrage funds.
• Rich investors also prefer these funds as they are treated as equity funds for taxation, which significantly increases post tax returns.
• Investors holding for less than a year pay 15% capital gains tax, while if they sell after a year they pay only 10% long term capital gains tax for gains above Rs 1 lakh. Compared to this in a debt fund, rich investors have to pay short term capital gains tax at 30%.

What are the risks of investing in this scheme?

• Arbitrage funds rank high on safety. The scheme always has a market neutral position by buying in the cash market and simultaneously selling the same security in the futures market.
• Compared to debt funds where there could be some credit risk, there is no such risk here.

What is Futures Market?

• A futures market is an auction market in which participants buy and sell commodity and futures contracts for delivery on a specified future date.
• Futures contracts are derivatives contracts to buy or sell specific quantities of a commodity or financial instrument at a specified price with delivery set at a specified time in the future.
• Futures market provide physical or electronic trading venues, details of standardized contracts, market and price data, clearing houses, exchange self-regulations, margin mechanisms, settlement procedures, delivery times, delivery procedures and other services to foster trading in futures contracts.
• Futures market can be organized as non-profit member-owned organizations or as for-profit organizations.
• Futures markets can be integrated under the same brand name or organization with other types of exchanges, such as stock markets, options markets, and bond markets.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mf/analysis/why-are-arbitrage-funds-gaining-popularity-with-investors/articleshow/102757727.cms?from=mdr

2. THE BHARATIYA SAKSHYA BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Union Home Minister introduced the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill in Lok Sabha that would repeal the current Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

EXPLANATION:

• The new Bharatiya Sakshya Bill has 167 sections. Of these, 23 sections sourced from the Evidence Act have been amended, 1 section is entirely new, and 5 sections have been removed.

Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 definition:

• As per the Bill, it aims to ‘consolidate and to provide for general rules and principles of evidence for fair trial’.
• Citing the reason for bringing this Bill, the government said that the existing Indian Evidence Act has not kept up with the technological advancements and societal changes of the past decades.
• Adding on, the government says the new Bill aims to align the laws with the contemporary needs and aspirations of the people.

Key provisions of the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill:

• The Bill makes electronic or digital records admissible as evidence, thereby they will have the same legal effect as paper documents.
• It repeals five existing provisions of the Evidence Act, modifies 23 provisions, and adds one new provision.
• Also, the Bill proposes amendments to 23 Sections and contains 170 Sections in total.
• In the Bill, the scope of expansion for secondary evidence to include copies made from the original by mechanical processes, counterparts of documents, and oral accounts of document contents has been done.
• Through the Bill, the government is aiming to introduce precise and uniform rules for dealing with evidence during the trial of cases.

Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• The Indian Evidence Act, originally passed in India by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1872, during the British Raj, contains a set of rules and allied issues governing admissibility of evidence in the Indian courts of law
• It consolidates, defines, and amends the law of evidence in India. It extends to the whole of India. It introduced a standard set of law applicable to all Indians. It has eleven chapters and 167 sections,
• The Act applies to all judicial proceedings in or before any Court in India, including Courts-martial (except those convened under the Army Act, the Naval Discipline Act, or the Indian Navy Discipline Act, 1934, or the Air Force Act).
• It does not apply to affidavits presented to any Court or officer, or proceedings before an arbitrator.
• The enactment and adoption of the Indian Evidence Act was a path-breaking judicial measure introduced in India, which changed the entire system of concepts pertaining to admissibility of evidences in the Indian courts of law.
• Until then, the rules of evidences were based on the traditional legal systems of different social groups and communities of India and were different for different people depending on caste, community, faith and social position.
• The law is mainly based upon the firm work by Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, who could be called the founding father of this comprehensive piece of legislation.
• When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, the Act continued to be in force throughout the Republic of India. After 1947, the Act continues in force in India.
• However, it was repealed in Pakistan in 1984 by the Evidence Order 1984 (also known as the “Qanun-e-Shahadat”).

This Act is divided into three parts and there are 11 chapters in total under this Act.

Part 1: Part 1 deals with relevancy of the facts. There are two chapters under this part: the first chapter is a preliminary chapter which introduces to the Evidence Act and the second chapter specifically deals with the relevancy of the facts.

Part 2: Part 2 consists of chapters from 3 to 6. Chapter 3 deals with facts which need not be proved,  chapter 4 deals with oral evidence, chapter 5 deals with documentary evidence and chapter 6 deals with circumstances when documentary evidence has been given preference over the oral evidence.

Part 3: The last part, that is part 3, consists of chapter 7 to chapter 11. Chapter 7 talks about the burden of proof. Chapter 8 talks about estoppel, chapter 9 talks about witnesses, chapter 10 talks about examination of witnesses, and last chapter which is chapter 11 talks about improper admission and rejection of evidence.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/bharatiya-sakshya-bill-to-replace-indian-evidence-act-heres-what-may-change-11691776626038.html

3. LUNA -25: RUSSIAN LUNAR MISSION

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Russia has once again shown its interest into lunar exploration with the much-anticipated launch of the Luna-25 recently. If successful, this will be the first lunar mission by Russia to touch down on the moon’s surface in 47 years since 1976. 

EXPLANATION:

• The launch comes nearly a month after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sent its own moon lander, Chandrayaan-3, which is supposed to land on August 23, 2023.
• The US, China and the erstwhile USSR are the only three countries that have managed to successfully execute a soft-landing on the moon.

What is the Luna-25 mission?

• The Luna 25 mission’s main objective is to execute a pinpoint landing near the moon’s south pole, due to its potential for revealing critical insights into the moon’s geological composition.
• The mission aims to collect geological samples which will give scientists the opportunity to study this unexplored region of the moon.
• Furthermore, scientists also hope that the mission is successful in finding water or at least its building blocks which could aid in establishing human colonies in the near future.
• The landing craft was launched in a Souyz-2 Fregat rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome and is expected to stay on the moon for a year.
• In the meantime, it will collect samples using its robotic arm, collect data from its spectrometers, use the imaging systems to take pictures and beam all the information back to Earth.

Why is this mission important for Russia?

• Russia’s Luna-25 mission is also called as Luna-Glob-Lander which is seen as a bid to reclaim some of its prestige back as one of the leaders in space exploration.
• The last successful lunar mission was the Luna-24 probe launched by the Soviet space programme in 1976. This mission returned with geographical samples which showed the presence of water on the moon.
• Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has tried to launch two landing missions to Mars–Mars-96 in 1996 and the Phobos Grunt in 2011. Both missions ended with the spacecrafts crash-landing into the Pacific Ocean.
• Russia’s space programme has been hampered due to the multiple sanctions imposed on the country since 2014 and the latest sanctions imposed in 2022 due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• The restriction of access to equipment and expertise from western countries have impeded on the success of the Russian space programme.

 Luna-25 mission and  Chandrayaan-3:

• According to Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, the landing of Luna-25 will not have any impact on Chandrayaan-3 as the landing region of the spacecrafts is different and “there is enough space on the moon for everyone.”
• Moreover, the Luna-25 landing craft is stationary while Chandrayaan-3 comes with a landing craft and a rover.
• Also, the Chandrayaan-3 mission is supposed to last for two weeks though both missions have similar objectives–find traces of water on Earth’s only natural satellite while collecting scientific data.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/russia-luna-25-mission-explained-isro-chandrayaan-3-artemis-mission-roscosmos-space-race-china/article67194691.ece

4. VISHWAKARMA SCHEME

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister announced Vishwakarma scheme, which will allocate between 13,000 and 15,000 crores for people with traditional skills.

EXPLANATION:

• On the occasion of India’s 77th Independence Day, the Prime Minister addressed the nation from the Red Fort’s ramparts and unveiled several programmes for the urban poor, women’s self-help groups, and skilled professionals.
• The Vishwakarma scheme, which is for skilled workers like barbers, goldsmiths, washing men, etc., is one of the programmes.
• On the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti (on 17^th September), the programme will be unveiled.

Vishwakarma Scheme

• Prime Minister Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM-VIKAS) scheme has been announced for traditional artisans and craftsmen in the budget 2023-24.

• The components of the scheme will include access to
• Financial support
• Access to advanced skill training to increase the calibre.
• Knowledge of modern digital techniques and efficient green technologies
• Brand promotion
• Linkage with local and global markets
• Digital payments
• Social security
• The Vishwakarma Scheme strives to raise the quality, scope, scale, and accessibility of the goods and services provided by artisans and craftspeople.
• It seeks to incorporate them into both the national and international value chains.
• These workers will become more economically empowered, particularly those from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Communities, women etc.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pm-modi-announces-vishwakarma-scheme-allocates-rs-13-000-cr-15-000-cr-for-those-with-traditional-skills-details-here-11692067668533.html

5. BIRD SURVEY AT CORBETT TIGER RESERVE

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a bird survey was conducted in Corbett Reserve in Nainital, Uttarakhand.

EXPLANATION:

• The Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital conducted a bird study that resulted in a count of about 275 bird species.
• A 62-member team consisting of ornithologists, conservationists, volunteers from World Wide Fund (WWF) India, Tiger Conservation Foundation, and Village Volunteer Protection Force conducted the survey between June 20 and June 23.
• It covered overall 540 km of 135 forest trails provided insights into the diverse bird species inhabiting at Corbett Tiger Reserve.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT

• The report is compiled by Oriental Trials, an NGO working for conservation of wildlife.
• The data included both non-resident species that seek shelter during their hard treks and resident species, who call the reserve their year-round home.
• The survey documented two species that are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of critically endangered.
• Red-headed vulture
• White-rumped vulture
• It covered the vast range of landscape in the reserve, including grassland, dense forest, rivers, and hilly terrains.
• The researchers included two endangered species in their survey:
• Egyptian vulture
• Pallas’s fish-eagle.
• The scientific names of Pallas’s fish-eagle and Egyptian vulture are halieetus leucoryphus and neophron percnopterus respectively.
• Four threatened bird species were also counted in the survey:
• Great hornbill
• Great slaty woodpecker
• Grey-crowned prinia
• River tern.
• The reserve is home to about 10 near-threatened bird species:
• Alexandrine parakeet
• River lapwing
• Red-breasted parakeet
• Oriental darter
• Lesser fish-eagle
• Himalayan griffon
• Great thick-knee
• Gray-headed fish-eagle
• Black-necked stork
• Asian woolley-necked stork.
• The IUCN classifies around 256 of the species found in the survey as being of least concern.

Corbett Tiger Reserve

• Corbett tiger reserve is located in Ramnager in Nainital district.
• The distinctive features of the park are:
• It has sub-Himalayan belts.
• It is the best eco-tourism destination.
• It has 488 different species of plants.
• Rich fauna
• The climate is sub-tropical.
• It has Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Durgadevi and Sitavani zones.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers are the most significant hydrological resource flowing through the Corbett.
• It shelters lots of endangered species includes 50 mammal species, 549 bird species, and 26 reptile species.
• Corbett Tiger Reserve which covers 1288.31 sq. kms spreading over three districts of Uttarakhand viz., Pauri, Nainital and Almora comprising of Sonanadi wildlife sanctuary & reserve forest area, Corbett National Park of 521sq km forms.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/two-critically-endangered-four-vulnerable-and-two-endangered-species-found-during-bird-survey-at-corbett-tiger-reserve-in-nainital/article67197809.ece

1. CAG AUDITS NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (NSAP)

TAG: GS 1: SOCIETY; GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The CAG report found several irregularities in National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).

EXPLANATION:

• The CAG report found several irregularities in beneficiary payments, the most glaring being that all states, except for Haryana and Kerala, did not maintain a database of eligible beneficiaries.
• This led to several eligible beneficiaries being left out of the scheme while payments worth several crores were made to ineligible persons.
• Around Rs 79 crore has been transferred to ineligible beneficiaries under the Ministry of Rural Development’s National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) between 2017 and 2021. Of this, Rs two crore was paid to beneficiaries even after their deaths.
• At the same time, many eligible beneficiaries were likely to have been excluded from the welfare programme either due to non-maintenance of Below Poverty Line (BPL) lists or due to states not carrying out periodic surveys to identify eligible beneficiaries.
• Additionally, ineligible payments of Rs 15.11 crore under IGNDPS as disability pension was paid to 21,322 people in 16 states / UTs. In these cases, the percentage of disability was either below 80 per cent or could not be ascertained.
• Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Ladakh are among the States that made the highest numbers of ineligible payments.
• The beneficiaries were to be selected from the BPL list until the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) was finalised. Though the governments are mandated to identify beneficiaries using SECC once it is finalised, they continued to use BPL lists that were not regularly updated.
• In the absence of proactive identification and non-maintenance of database of eligible beneficiaries as intended, the scheme was being implemented in a demand-driven mode where benefits were provided to only those beneficiaries who applied for pensions/benefits under NSAP themselves.
• The eligible beneficiaries who were unaware/lack resources to apply for the benefits were left out of ambit of NSAP,” the report revealed.
• Further, funds of Rs 57.45 crore earmarked for NSAP were diverted for other schemes and purposes in six states/UTs, while funds amounting to Rs 18.78 crore were lying idle for a period ranging from one to five years in eight states/UTs.

NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (NSAP)

• NSAP was launched on 15th August, 1995 to provide social security to the destitute population living below the poverty line and vulnerable groups in 1995.
• The programme includes five sub-schemes, of which three  Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) are pension schemes.
• The other two sub-schemes are the National Family Benefit Scheme which provides one-time assistance to the bereaved family in the event of death of the breadwinner and the Annapurna scheme, which ensures food security to eligible old age persons who are not covered under IGNOAPS.
• The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 and 42 of the Constitution recognizing the concurrent responsibility of the Central and the State Governments in the matter.

Objective of NSAP

• It is a social security and welfare programme to provide support to aged persons, widows, disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner, belonging to below poverty line households.

Components of NSAP

The NSAP at its inception in 1995 had three components namely

• National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS,
• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and
• National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS). The National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS) was subsequently transferred on 1st April, 2001 from the Ministry of Rural development to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Presently NSAP comprises of five schemes, namely –

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS),
• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS),
• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS),
• National Family Benefit Scheme NFBS) and

Eligibility and scale of assistance

• For getting benefits under NSAP the applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family according to the criteria prescribed by the Govt. of India.
• The other eligibility criteria and the scale of central assistance under the sub – schemes of NSAP are as follows. Besides the central assistance, states / UT contribute an equal amount as their share.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/rs-79-crore-transferred-to-ineligible-beneficiaries-under-nsap-finds-cag-91122

2. PRADHAN MANTRI UCHCHATAR SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (PM-USHA)

TAG: GS 1: SOCIETY;  GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: 14 States as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme which mandates the implementation of the National Education Policy. It is important in order to avail funds worth almost ₹13,000 crore for the next three years, under the Centre’s flagship scheme for State-run higher education.

EXPLANATION:

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre mandates National Education Policy implementation.
• However, some Opposition-ruled States are against MoU, given that PM-USHA scheme has 60:40 funding split between Centre and States, with no extra money for NEP reforms.
• The Centre says it holding discussions to iron out differences with dissenting States.
• The MoU is to show the willingness of States and UTs to participate in the PM-USHA scheme and it will help in the better implementation of the scheme.

NEP reforms need more funds:

• The MoU which makes it mandatory for States to undertake the administrative, academic, accreditation, and governance reforms detailed in the NEP, including an academic credit bank, entry and exit flexibility, and the Samarth e-governance platform has irked some State governments.
• Opposition states remarked that this MoU does not say anything about finding funds for changes envisaged under the NEP.
• Centre however, said that multiple consultations had been undertaken before finalising the structure of PM-USHA. The MoU contains clauses regarding proper planning, implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
• Commitment on planning and drafting the proposals by the State by aligning it with NEP will lead to integration between NEP and PM-USHA.
• The Centre points that PM-USHA reduces the fragmentation of resources by streamlining the number of scheme components to six.
• More flexibility has been given to States/UTs to undertake activities as per felt needs. Unit costs of some components have been rationalised for tangible outcomes.
• States and UTs have also been given the flexibility to identify their focus districts on the basis of various indicators, such as low gross enrolment ratio, gender parity, population proportion of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
• These districts will be prioritised under the scheme to address the diverse needs of each State or UT.

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

• In the light of the National Education Policy, RUSA scheme has been launched as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).
• PM-USHA is the new name for the Ministry’s scheme to improve the quality of higher education in State Universities through curricular and programme changes, teacher training, physical and digital infrastructure, accreditation, and enhancing employability while ensuring equity, access, and inclusion.
• It provides an outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore between 2023-24 and 2025-26.
• The first phase of the scheme was launched in 2013 and the second phase was launched in 2018.
• PM USHA covers government and government-aided institutions of the States and UTs. As the demand for higher education is increasing continuously over the years, there has been an unprecedented expansion in the number of institutions, universities, and volume of students in the country.

Focus Areas:

1. a) Equity Access and inclusion in higher education
2. b) Developing Quality Teaching & Learning processes
3. c) Accreditation of Non Accredited Institutions and improving accreditation
4. d) ICT – based Digital Infrastructure
5. e) Enhancing Employability through Multidisciplinary.

Institutional Structure of PM USHA:

1)Central Level

• National Mission Authority : Chaired by Minister of Education.
• PAB : Chaired by Secretary Higher Education , GoI
• National Project Directorate
• Technical Support Group

 2)State Level

• State Higher Education Council (SHEC)
• State Project Directorate
• State Technical Support Group

3)Institution Level

• Board of Governors
• Project Monitoring Unit

Scope of PM- USHA : 1) Focus Districts and 2) Challenge method selection of institutions
1) Focus Districts :

Maximum 50% District of the State will be considered as focus District
• Lack of access to government colleges
• Low GER,
• Population proportion for females, transgender, SC, ST,OBCs
• Aspirational /Boarder Area, left wing extremism prone area
• Gender parity

2) Challenge method selection of institutions:

• Institutions will be short listed by the state by giving priority to the focus areas.
• On the basis of pre defined criteria weightages will be given to different institutions for
  proposal submission.
• The proposal bill be submitted and it will be evaluated by MoE and approval will be done by PAB at central level.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/education/14-states-yet-to-sign-mou-with-centre-needed-to-avail-higher-education-funds/article67191204.ece

3. ADITYA L1: INDIA’S FIRST MISSION TO STUDY THE SUN

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Aditya L1 spacecraft, assembled and integrated at the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru, has arrived at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

EXPLANATION:

• Aditya L1’s payloads are expected to provide crucial information for understanding the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics etc.
• The Aditya L1 mission will be launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which also launched Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and the Mars Orbiter spacecraft in 2013.
• The launch is likely to take place in August-end or September.

Aditya L1

• Aditya L1 shall be the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
• This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time.
• The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.
• Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.
• It will provide important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.
• The suits of Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide most crucial informations to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, propagation of particle and fields etc.

The major science objectives of Aditya-L1 mission are:

• Study of Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
• Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionized plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares
• Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
• Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism.
• Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density.
• Development, dynamics and origin of CMEs.
• Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events.
• Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona .
• Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind .

Aditya-L1 Payloads:

• The instruments of Aditya-L1 are tuned to observe the solar atmosphere mainly the chromosphere and corona.
• In-situ instruments will observe the local environment at L1. There are total seven payloads on-board with four of them carrying out remote sensing of the Sun and three of them carrying in-situ observation.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indias-first-mission-to-study-the-sun-is-getting-ready-for-launch-isro-aditya-l1/article67192992.ece

4. ENGINEERING OF ACINETOBACTER BAYLYI BACTERIA TO DETECT CANCER

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Researchers at the University of California have engineered a specific species of bacteria that can detect cancer in its early stages by incorporating tumour DNA into its system.

EXPLANATION:

• According to a study that was published in the journal Science, an engineered bacteria may one day be able to detect cancer wherever it may be hiding in the human body’s intestines.
• The goal of the research is to turn these bacteria into a probiotic sensor in the gut that can carefully examine, identify, and report any intestinal disorders.
• This discovery is significant since colon cancer rates are growing and early identification in persons under 50 is critical.
• Acinetobacter baylyi, a kind of bacterium, has been effectively manipulated by a team at the University of California.

ACINETOBACTER BAYLYI BACTERIA

• These bacteria are normally non-pathogenic.
• They are naturally competent to take up DNA by horizontal gene transfer.
• These bacteria become resistant to a specific drug only when they took up DNA containing a cancer-associated mutation in a specific oncogene.
• These species are gram-negative aerobic bacteria that are coccobacillary in shape. (Cocci are sphere-shaped bacteria, while bacilli are rod-shaped bacteria. Bacteria that fall between these two shapes are called coccobacilli).

HOW DOES THIS BACTERIA DETECT CANCER?

• Acinetobacter baylyi bacteria is known for its ability to absorb DNA from their surroundings.
• It has been programmed to seek specific DNA sequences common in colorectal cancers.
• When it incorporates tumour DNA into its system, an antibiotic-resistance gene gets activated.
• This gene enables the growth of the bacteria on feces-derived antibiotic-containing agar plates.
• It demonstrates the presence of cancer cells.

WAY FORWARD TO ITS USE

• It might take some time before the approach is approved for use in clinical trials because the research is still in its early stages.
• The effectiveness and safety of the engineered bacteria still need to be meticulously tested.
• The bacteria are being engineered to recognise KRAS mutations (The KRAS gene belongs to a class of genes known as oncogenes), which are present in roughly 40% of colorectal malignancies, some lung cancers, and the majority of pancreatic tumours.
• For it to be genuinely effective in humans, researchers need to show that Acinetobacter baylyi is safe for oral ingestion and that it consistently yields accurate results when identifying cancer cells in faecal samples.
• The level of effectiveness of this bacterial biosensor in comparison to colonoscopy, a more invasive diagnostic procedure, needs to be examined as well.
• This discovery is significant since colon cancer rates are growing and early identification in persons under 50 is critical.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/engineered-bacteria-cancer-dna-8888930/

5. INTEGRATION OF NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM (NPS) STATEMENT OF TRANSACTION WITH CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT STATEMENT (CAS)

TAG: GS 2: POLITY; GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The PFRDA has integrated the NPS Statement of Transaction with CAS is in line with the Centre’s goal to establish a comprehensive record of each person’s financial assets.

EXPLANATION:

• The National Pension System (NPS) subscribers now have access to a consolidated view of their personal assets in the securities market because of the updated mark-to-market values provided by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and SEBI.
• It includes the investors’ Demat account holdings as well as their mutual fund holdings.
• This will benefit over 1.35 crore NPS subscribers.
• It is expected to provide a simplified and secured way to stay informed on NPS investments through CAS.

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (PFRDA)

• It is a statutory regulatory body set up under PFRDA Act enacted in 2014.
• It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance for overall supervision and regulation of pension in India.
• Its objective is to promote old age income security and protect the interests of NPS subscribers.
• It is ensuring the orderly growth and development of pension market.
• COMPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITY:
• The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and not more than six members, of whom at least three shall be Whole-Time Members, to be appointed by the Central Government.

NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM (NPS)

• The Central Government has introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from 2004 (except for armed forces).
• PFRDA the regulatory body for NPS, has appointed Protean eGov Technologies Limited as Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) for National Pension System.
• CRA is the first of its kind venture in India which will carry out the functions of Record Keeping, Administration and Customer Service for all subscribers under NPS.
• National Pension System (NPS) is an important milestone in the development of a sustainable and efficient voluntary defined contribution pension system in India.
• It has the following broad objectives:
• Provide old age income.
• Reasonable market-based returns over the long term.
• Extending old age security coverage to all citizens.
• NPS is structured into two tiers:
• Tier-I account:
• This is the non-withdrawable permanent retirement account into which the accumulations are deposited and invested as per the option of the subscriber.
• Tier-II account:
• This is a voluntary withdrawable account which is allowed only when there is an active Tier I account in the name of the subscriber.
• The withdrawals are permitted from this account as per the needs of the subscriber as and when claimed.

CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT STATEMENT (CAS)

• It is a single/combined account statement which shows the details of financial transactions made by an investor during a month across all Mutual Funds and also other securities held in Demat mode.
• CAS is issued for those accounts wherein a financial transaction has been made during a month and wherein unit holders are identical, identified by Income Tax Permanent Account (PAN).
• CAS is generated on a monthly basis in respect of the PANs common to the RTAs and the Depositories.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/pfrda-integrates-nps-statement-with-cas/article67190612.ece

1. NAVIGATION WITH INDIAN CONSTELLATION (NavIC)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Department of Space (DoS) told the Parliamentary Committee of Science and Technology that NavIC will soon be integrated into Aadhaar enrolment devices.

EXPLANATION:

• The department of space has facilitated successful conduction of field trials, and is providing technical expertise in the finalisation of procurement specification of the devices.
• Currently the Aadhaar enrolment kits that are used to collect and verify personal details are linked to GPS.
• Apart from that the Centre has been pushing cell phone makers in India to make their instruments compatible with NavIC, a process that will involve hardware alterations.
• The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) was already utilising NavIC as an alert dissemination system for major natural disasters like landslides, earthquakes, floods, and avalanches.
• The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS) relies on it to broadcast cyclones, high waves, and tsunamis alert messages to fishermen venturing into the deep sea.

What is Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) ?

• NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is an independent stand-alone navigation satellite system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• NavIC was originally approved in 2006 at a cost of $174 million. It was expected to be completed by late 2011, but only became operational in 2018.
• NavIC consists of eight satellites and covers the whole of India’s landmass and up to 1,500 km (930 miles) from its boundaries.
• Currently, NavIC’s use is limited. It is being used in public vehicle tracking in India, for providing emergency warning alerts to fishermen venturing into the deep sea where there is no terrestrial network connectivity, and for tracking and providing information related to natural disasters.
• To meet the positioning, navigation and timing requirements of the nation, ISRO has established a regional navigation satellite system called Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).
• NavIC was erstwhile known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
• NavIC offers two services: Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users. These two services are provided in both L5 (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2498.028 MHz).
• NavIC coverage area includes India and a region up to 1500 km beyond Indian boundary. NavIC signals are designed to provide user position accuracy better than 20m and timing accuracy better than 50ns.
• NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals namely GPS, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.

Few applications:

• Transportation (terrestrial, aerial and marine)
• Location based services
• Personal mobility
• Resource monitoring
• Surveying and geodesy
• Scientific research
• Time dissemination and synchronisation
• Safety-of-life alert dissemination

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/indian-gps-navic-to-link-to-aadhaar-enrolment-devices/article67181022.ece

2. THE MALABAR EXERCISE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that India, Japan, United States, and Australia will hold the Malabar Navy Drill off the coast of Sydney from 11 August to 21 August.

EXPLANATION:

• The Indian Navy’s indigenous frontline warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata along with ships and aircraft from the US Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, and the Royal Australian Navy will participate in the exercise.
• This year marks the 27th edition of MALABAR which is being hosted by Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
• According to the ministry, Malabar 2023 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases.

1. The Harbour Phase involves wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and several interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.
2. The sea phase will include various complex and high intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine exercises including live weapon firing drills.

• The exercise provides an opportunity to the Indian Navy to enhance and demonstrate interoperability and also gain from the best practices in maritime security operations from its partner nations.
• INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multi-role stealth frigates .
• INS Kolkata is the first ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-15A class destroyers.
• Both ships have been built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and are fitted with state-of-the-art array of weapons and sensors to detect and neutralise threats in surface, air and underwater domains.

Exercise Malabar:

• Exercise Malabar is a naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners.
• The annual Malabar exercises includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, and anti–air warfare operations among others.
• Over the years, the exercise has been conducted in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Japan, the Persian Gulf, in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It is taken care by the Asian and the North American Commands.
• The exercise started in 1992 along the Malabar Coast as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States.
• It was expanded in 2007 with the participation of Japan, Singapore and Australia. Japan became a permanent partner in 2015.
• Australia participated in the exercise again in 2020, marking the second time that the Quad will be jointly participating in a military exercise. The aim of the exercise includes increasing interoperability between the naval forces.
• The duration of the exercise has ranged from 1 to 11 sea-days. The complexity and sophistication of the exercise has increased over the years. Exercises have on-shore and at-sea stages. The average participation by India increased from 8 ships to just over 9 from 2002 to 2014

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-japan-us-australia-to-hold-first-malabar-naval-exercise-off-australia-11691672444951.html

3. THE BELEN DECLARATION

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) signed the Belem Declaration in the Brazilian city of Belem.

EXPLANATION:

• Leaders from the eight countries across the Amazon, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, failed to agree on the goal to protect the rainforest at the ongoing Amazon Summit organised by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
• Scientists have warned for long that if the combined deforestation and degradation of the Amazon crosses a 20-25 per cent threshold, the forest could reach an irreversible tipping point that may result in the dieback of the entire ecosystem.
• The leaders focused on “initiating a dialogue” on the sustainability of mining and fossil fuel-related activities and there was no commitment to stop oil drilling in the region.
• The failure of consensus on protected areas could have implications on the overall goals and targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework set in December 2022.
• Under this, member countries had agreed to protect at least 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030. The greater role of biodiversity rich countries, such as those in the Amazon region, was emphasised during the negotiations.
• The Belem Declaration released during the Amazon Summit recognises Indigenous knowledge as a condition for biodiversity conservation and calls for ensuring full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making and public policy formulation processes.
• The representatives at the Summit recognised that there is a need for multiple forest economy solutions to counter the trend of agricultural commodities as the dominant economic model in the region.

The Belen Declaration:

• The presidents of the Amazon countries released the Belém Declaration, a document that unifies the shared objectives of the eight signatory nations under the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACTO), focusing on the region’s collective agenda.
• The declaration, signed during the first day of the Amazon Summit, outlines the consensus points of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
• It draws upon contributions from civil society highlighted during the Seminar on Sustainable Development of the Amazon, which took place in May in Brasília, and from federal government agencies.
• The Belém document contains 113 cross-cutting objectives and principles, committed to by the signatory countries. ACTO will play a central role in implementing the new Amazon cooperation agenda.
• The responsibility fell upon the Brazilian government, acting as the host of the Summit, to put forth an initial draft, subsequently subjected to analysis and refinement by the other participating nations.

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO):

• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is an intergovernmental organization formed by the eight Amazonian countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, which signed the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT), becoming the only socio-environmental block in Latin America.
• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty was drafted and signed on July 3, 1978. ACTO has four official languages: Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• ACTO, with a broad vision of the South-South cooperation process, works in different dimensions within the framework of the implementation of the ACT.
• The countries of ACTO, believing that progressive improvement of Amazonian life hinges on the management of the Amazon basin, have created many programs and established agreements to sustain biodiversity and promote conservation and resource management in the Amazon.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/belem-declaration-amazon-countries-fail-to-agree-on-protection-goals-91095

4. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER AND OTHER ELECTION COMMISSIONERS (APPOINTMENT, CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND TERM OF OFFICE) BILL, 2023

TAG:  GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Union government introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to govern the appointments of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.

EXPLANATION:

• The Bill aims to constitute a selection committee for the appointment of the election commissioners consisting of the prime minister (as chairperson), the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union cabinet minister nominated by the prime minister.
• This does away with the arrangement put in place by a Supreme Court judgment delivered in March, which had formed a selection committee consisting of the prime minister, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the chief justice of India, till the Parliament comes up with a law.
• The Supreme Court had directed to form this committee to shield the Election Commission from executive influence.
• Before this judgment, the appointments to the commission were made at the sole discretion of the Centre.
• However, the bill, by replacing the chief justice with a nominee of the prime minister, brings the matter of selecting the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners back within the Centre’s control.

What the bill lays out on election commissioner appointments

• According the procedure prescribed by the bill, a search committee consisting of three bureaucrats from the Union government will prepare a list of five persons for the consideration of the selection committee. The election commissioners will be appointed from the names in this list.
• The bill provides the following qualifications for appointment as chief election commissioner or election commissioner:

1. Currently holding or has previously held a post equivalent to the rank of Union Secretary
2. A person of integrity
3. Possessing knowledge of and experience in management and conduct of elections.

• There are no objective criteria laid down to determine how the second and third qualifications can be met, leaving them to the subjective view of the search committee.
• With regard to the constitution of the selection committee, the bill clarifies that if there is no recognised leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (as is the case in the current Lok Sabha), the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha shall be deemed the member of the selection committee as leader of Opposition.
• The bill states that the appointment of election commissioners shall be valid irrespective of any vacancy or deficit in the constitution of the selection committee.
• This could mean that, for instance, even if the post of leader of opposition in the selection committee is not filled or the nominated member in the committee is not a Union Cabinet member, the appointments it makes would stand.
• The selection committee can also consider for appointment names outside those recommended by the search committee.

The Election Commission of India (ECI)

• It is a constitutional body. It was established by the Constitution of India to conduct and regulate elections in the country.
• Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction, and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of the president of India, and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.
• Thus, the Election Commission is an all-India body in the sense that it is common to both the Central government and the state governments.
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, State Legislative Councils and the offices of the President and Vice President of the country.
• The Election Commission operates under the authority of Constitution per Article 324, and subsequently enacted Representation of the People Act.
• The commission has the powers under the Constitution, to act in an appropriate manner when the enacted laws make insufficient provisions to deal with a given situation in the conduct of an election. It is a permanent constitutional body.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/s-y-quraishi-on-the-collegium-bill-how-to-make-election-commission-credible-8886727/

5. CAG AUDITS EXPOSES LAPSE IN PMJAY

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed significant discrepancies in the registration and validation of beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY).

EXPLANATION

• The CAG report has highlighted issues including beneficiary validation errors, shortcomings in claim handling, lapses by state health authorities , and more.
• As per the NHA database, 24.42 crore beneficiaries have been registered for the scheme till date and Rs 67,456.21 crore has been spent on their hospital admissions.
• The CAG assessment included the time period of September 2018 to March 2021 – part of which coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The auditor test checked 964 hospitals in 161 districts of all 28 states and Union territories (UTs). Delhi, Odisha and West Bengal have opted out of this scheme.

Findings:

• The auditors found large scale corruption in insurance claims settlement. It reported that not enough validation was done by the SHAs before releasing the claims to the hospitals which were empanelled under the scheme.
• It noted that in 2.25 lakh cases, the date of the ‘surgery’ done was shown to be later than the date of discharge.
• Of all such cases, more than 1.79 lakh were found in Maharashtra for which the claimed amount was over Rs 300 crore.
• Lakhs of claims continued to be made against some who had been shown as ‘deceased’ in the database.
• As far as caution against bogus 11.04 lakh beneficiaries is concerned, the NHA generated many alerts to the SHAs. The SHAs could investigate only 7.07 lakh cards. The highest number of such fraud claims were made in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh.

One unique ID: Several beneficiaries

• One of the biggest instances of graft in the implementation of this scheme was found in registration and identification of beneficiaries.
• The scheme stipulates that a unique PMJAY ID should be issued to beneficiaries once verification is complete.
• The audit discovered that 1.57 unique IDs appeared more than once in the database. In other words, all these IDs were duplicated. In such circumstances, possibility of presence of ineligible beneficiaries in the Beneficiary Identification System [BIS] database cannot be ruled out.
• Besides Aadhaar numbers, the system also utilises the phone numbers of beneficiaries. The audit brought to light that there were large numbers of beneficiaries registered against the same or invalid mobile number.

Irregulation related to Aadhaar:

• According to the audit report not all is well with Aadhaar identification either. Two registrations each were found to be made against 18 Aadhaar cards. On the other hand, in Tamil Nadu, 4,761 registrations were made against seven Aadhaar numbers, the audit found.
• All public facilities with capability of providing inpatient services (community health centre-level and above) are deemed empanelled. As such, a little over 15,000 public and 12,000 private healthcare facilities are part of this scheme.
• There were deficiencies such as medical equipment being out of order, lack of basic infrastructure such as IPD Beds, Operation Theatres, ICU care with ventilator support systems, Pharmacy, Dialysis Unit, Blood banks, Round-the clock Ambulance Services etc.

Missing hospitals

• The existence of hospitals in the empanelled list did not necessarily translate into even their existence in the scheme.
• In Andhra Pradesh, for example, out of 1,421 empanelled Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), half of them submitted zero claims thus indicating they were not providing PMJAY services at all. While, another 81 of them submitted only 0-5 claims. Such examples were found in other states as well.
• There is a strong need to invest in public hospitals to improve and upgrade the quality of the existing health facilities in accordance with prescribed criteria [of the PMJAY scheme.
• What also limits the implementation of the scheme is the number of EHCPs empanelled vis-a-vis the number of beneficiaries. For example, in Bihar, 100% eligible people have been registered under the scheme. But there are only 1.8 EHCPs per lakh population – as against 26.6 in Goa.

Note: For further details of AB-PMJAY scheme, please refer to DNA of 9^th August, 2023.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/mint-explainer-cag-audit-exposes-lapses-in-pmjay-what-are-these-11691662333628.html

1. INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION ON VAQUITA PORPOISE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATION; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The International Whaling Commission (IWC) issued its first ‘extinction alert’ on the vaquita porpoise, of which only 10 individuals survive in the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez in Mexico.

EXPLANATION:

• Numbers of vaquita porpoise have fallen from a population of approximately 570 in 1997 to around 10 animals in 2018.
• There are about 10 surviving animals and the IWC is speaking out now because it believes extinction is not yet inevitable.
• The IWC said the first extinction alert had been issued “to encourage wider recognition of the warning signs of impending extinctions, and to generate support and encouragement at every level for the actions needed now to save the vaquita”.
• The decline of the vaquita has continued despite a very clear understanding of both the cause i.e bycatch in gillnets and the solution i.e replacement of gillnets with safe alternatives in the vaquita habitat.
• The vaquita is caught as bycatch in gillnets meant for totoaba, a fish the swimbladders of which are prized in Chinese cuisine.
• Despite the very low number of surviving animals, 100 per cent enforcement of a ban on gillnets in their core habitat would still give this small but resilient porpoise a chance of recovery.

VAQUITA PORPOISE

• The vaquita is the world’s smallest cetacean and is only found in the northern-most part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.
• It is listed on Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
• It is unique among the porpoises as it is the only species of that family found in warm waters, and the size of the dorsal fin is believed to be an adaptation to that, allowing for extra body heat to dissipate.
• Like many other species of porpoise, vaquita tend to be shy and elusive, avoiding boats when approached. They are most commonly sighted in shallow waters up to 50 metres deep.
• They tend to prefer turbid, nutrient-rich coastal waters which attract their preferred prey: small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Threat:

• The decrease in the vaquita population is related to the totoaba, a large fish that also only lives in the Gulf of California.
• The totoaba is listed as endangered in Mexico and the United States and is protected by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species.
• Because totoaba and vaquita are similar in size, gillnets illegally set for totoaba are the deadliest for vaquitas.

Appearance

• The vaquita is about 5 feet long and is one of the smallest members of the dolphin, whale, and porpoise family. Females are longer than males, but males have larger fins.
• Vaquitas have small, strong bodies with a rounded head and no beak. They have black patches around their eyes and lips and small, spade-shaped teeth.
• Vaquitas also have triangle-shaped dorsal fins in the middle of their backs, which are taller and wider than in other porpoises.
• These fins might allow vaquitas to reduce their body temperatures in warm water. Vaquita backs are dark gray, while their bellies are a lighter gray.

Behavior and Diet

• Vaquitas are often found alone or in pairs. These shy animals usually avoid boats with active engines. They are difficult to observe because of their small size, inconspicuous and slow surface rolls, small group size, and avoidance of motorized vessels.
• Vaquitas feed on small fish, crustaceans (such as shrimp), and cephalopods (such as squid and octopuses).

Where They Live

• The vaquita has the smallest geographical range of any marine mammal. It only lives in the northern part of the Gulf of California in Mexico. Most vaquitas live east of the town of San Felipe, Baja California, within a 1,519-square-mile area that is less than one-fourth the size of metropolitan Los Angeles.
• This area also includes the Delta of the Colorado River Biosphere Reserve, one of the earth’s most diverse marine habitats. The delta includes many types of fish, birds, marine reptiles, and marine mammals.

International Whaling Commission

• The International Whaling Commission was established under the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and orderly development of the whaling industry.
• The Commission meets this mandate in part by reviewing and, as necessary, revising the measures outlined in the legally binding Schedule included in the Convention.
• The Commission also conducts activities related to cetacean (e.g., whale, dolphin) conservation.
• The Commission normally meets every other year to review the condition of whale stocks and to modify conservation measures, as appropriate.
• Currently, there are 88 contracting governments. The United States has been an active member of the Commission and has served as its depositary government since the Commission’s establishment.

Regulation of Whaling under the IWC

• There are generally three types of whaling that the Commission regulates: commercial, scientific research, and aboriginal subsistence whaling.

Commercial Whaling

• In 1986, a global moratorium, or a temporary ban, on commercial whaling was adopted due to the overexploitation of whale stocks.
• The Commission has also designated sanctuary areas in the Indian and Southern Oceans where commercial whaling is not allowed.
• Although the moratorium is still in place, some countries, such as Norway and Iceland, continue to engage in commercial whaling activities.
• Norway objects to the moratorium, and Iceland has a reservation to the moratorium that allows it to continue commercial whaling.

Scientific Research Whaling

• Article VIII of the Convention allows contracting governments to issue special permits authorizing the taking of whales for purposes of scientific research.
• Japan’s lethal scientific research in the North Pacific and Southern Oceans under such special permit ended in 2019 with their withdrawal from the Convention.

Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

• The Commission also regulates aboriginal subsistence whaling i.e whaling by native people to sustain themselves.
• Currently, the Commission permits indigenous communities in Denmark (Greenland), the Russian Federation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States to engage in this type of whaling on certain whale stocks.
• The United States is subject to domestic legal requirements and works with the indigenous communities in Alaska and Washington states to ensure that the catch limits established through the Commission meet their cultural and subsistence needs.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/plight-of-the-vaquita-forces-international-whaling-commission-to-issue-first-extinction-alert-91057

2. INDRADHANUSH 5.0

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Indradhanush 5.0 vaccine campaign launched to ensure that children aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women do not miss out on any vaccinations. During the campaign, vaccination against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases will be provided.

EXPLANATION:

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0, the nationwide vaccine catch-up campaign, focusses on reaching zero-dose children aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women was launched in the Kerala.
• IMI 5.0 initiative is also intended to be the big leap for eliminating measles and rubella in the country by ensuring that every child under 5 years of age has completed the two-dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV).
• IMI 5.0 will be implemented in three phases, from August 7-11, September 11 to 16 and from October 9 to 14, when all children who might have missed out any vaccines under the Universal Immunisation Programme will have an opportunity to receive those vaccines.

Mission Indradhanush (MI)

• Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on 25th December 2014.
• It is a special catch-up campaign under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), conducted in the areas of low immunization coverage to vaccinate all the children and pregnant women left out or dropped out from Routine Immunization.

Objectives

• The Mission Indradhanush aims to cover all those children who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases.
• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provide free vaccines against 12 life threatening diseases, to 26 million children annually.
• The Universal Immunization Programme provides life-saving vaccines to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).

The following areas are targeted through special immunization campaigns:

1. High risk areas identified by the polio eradication programme. These include populations living in areas such as:

• Urban slums with migration
• Nomads
• Brick kilns
• Construction sites
• Other migrants (fisherman villages, riverine areas with shifting populations etc.) and
• Underserved and hard to reach populations (forested and tribal populations etc.)

2. Areas with low routine immunization (RI) coverage (pockets with Measles/vaccine preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks).
3. Areas with vacant sub-centers: No ANM posted for more than three months.
4. Areas with missed Routine Immunisation (RI) sessions: ANMs on long leave and similar reasons
5. Small villages, hamlets, dhanis or purbas clubbed with another village for RI sessions and not having independent RI sessions.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

• The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) has been launched by the Government of India to reach each and every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunisation programme.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush covers low performing areas in the selected districts and urban areas.
• These areas have been selected through triangulation of data available under national surveys, Health Management Information System data and World Health Organization concurrent monitoring data.
• Special attention will be given to unserved/low coverage pockets in sub-centre and urban slums with migratory population. The focus is also on the urban settlements and cities identified under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
• IMI is supported by 11 other ministries and departments, such as Ministry of Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs among others.
• The convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), self-help groups is ensured for better coordination and effective implementation of the programme.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush is closely monitored at the district, state and central level at regular intervals. Further, it is reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary at the National level and continued to be monitored at the highest level under a special initiative ‘Proactive Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI)’.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 was to ensure reaching the unreached with all available vaccines and accelerate the coverage of children and pregnant women in the identified districts and blocks from December 2019-March 2020.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 was to ensure reaching the unreached with all available vaccines and accelerate the coverage of children and pregnant women in the identified districts and blocks from February 2021-March 2021.
• The Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 will have two rounds starting from February 22 and March 22, 2021 and will be conducted in pre-identified 250 districts/urban areas across 29 States/UTs in the country. As per the Guidelines released for IMI 3.0, the districts have been classified to reflect 313 low risk; 152 as medium risk; and 250 as high risk districts.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 launched during Febraury 2022 had three rounds and was conducted in 416 districts (including 75 districts identified for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav) across 33 States/UTs in the country.
• In the first round (Feb-April 2022), 11 states conducted IMI 4.0. These are Assam, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Chhattisgarh.
• The others (22 states) conducted the rounds from April to May 2022. These states/UTs include Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Puducherry, Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Jharkhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, A & N Islands.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/indradhanush-vaccine-campaign-launched-in-state/article67169280.ece

3. HAVANA SYNDROME

TAGS: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Central government has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of the ‘Havana Syndrome’ in India in response to a Bengaluru resident’s recent petition.

EXPLANATION:

• A petitioner had approached the Karnataka High court requesting a writ of mandamus for an enquiry on Havana Syndrome in India and the prevention of high-frequency microwave transmission in India.
• A single-judge bench of High Court disposed of the petition after the Centre’s counsel agreed to examine the case. It directed the Centre to do so within three months.

What is Havana Syndrome?

• Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health symptoms that are said to be experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
• It does not mean a unique medical condition, but rather a set of symptoms that are usually experienced together whose origins may be difficult to confirm.
• It typically involves symptoms such as hearing certain sounds without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and balance issues.

Background:

• It traces its roots to Cuba in late 2016. This was about a year after the US opened its embassy in the capital city of Havana after ties between the two countries were normalised in 2015.
• Some US intelligence officials and members of the staff at the embassy began experiencing sudden bursts of pressure in their brains followed by persistent headaches, feelings of disorientation and insomnia.

Where else has Havana syndrome been reported?

• Since the Cuban incident, American intelligence and foreign affairs officials posted in various countries have reported symptoms of the syndrome.
• In early 2018, similar accusations began to be made by US diplomats in China. The first such report was in April 2018 at the Guangzhou consulate.
• An American employee reported that he had been experiencing symptoms since late 2017. Another incident had previously been reported by a USAID employee at the US Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in September 2017.
• According to US media reports, in the past few years, its officials have reported more than 130 such experiences across the world including at Moscow in Russia, Poland, Georgia, Taiwan, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria, among others.
• In India, the first such case was reported in the same year, when a US intelligence officer travelling to New Delhi with CIA director William Burns reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome.

What are the causes of Havana Syndrome?

• Initially during the Cuban experience, the suspicion was on Cuban intelligence and it was then speculated to be a “sonic attack”.
• However, further study by scientists in the US and medical examination of the victims began to suggest that they may have been subjected to high-powered microwaves that either damaged or interfered with the nervous system.
• It was said to have built pressure inside the brain that generated the feeling of a sound being heard.
• Greater exposure to high-powered microwaves is said not only to interfere with the body’s sense of balance but also to impact memory and cause permanent brain damage.
• It was suspected that beams of high-powered microwaves were sent through a special gadget that Americans then called a “microwave weapon”.
• The use of microwaves as a counter-intelligence tactic has been experimented with since the Cold War and both Russia and the US have made attempts to weaponise it.
• There have been reports of US embassy officials in Moscow experiencing mental health issues due to the suspected use of microwaves in the 1970s.

Havana Syndrome in India:

• As of July 2023, the 2021 incident was the only reported occurrence of the syndrome in India. Sources in the Indian security establishment said in 2021 that they were not aware of any weapon with such capacities being in the possession of an Indian agency.

Microwave radiation:

• Microwaves are a form of “electromagnetic” radiation, that is, they are waves of electrical and magnetic energy moving together through space.
• Electromagnetic radiation spans a broad spectrum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays.
• The human eye can only detect a small portion of this spectrum called visible light. A radio detects a different portion of the spectrum, and an X-ray machine uses yet another portion.
• Visible light, microwaves, and radio frequency (RF) radiation are forms of non-ionizing radiation.  Non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms. X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation. Exposure to ionizing radiation can alter atoms and molecules and cause damage to cells in organic matter.
• Microwaves are used to detect speeding cars and to send telephone and television communications.
• Industry uses microwaves to dry and cure plywood, to cure rubber and resins, to raise bread and doughnuts, and to cook potato chips. But the most common consumer use of microwave energy is in microwave ovens.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/havana-syndrome-meaning-explained-8880773/

4. TIDAL POWER DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Standing Committee on Energy submitted its report on the subject “Tidal Power Development in India”.

EXPLANATION:

• The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
• It urged the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to provide updates on initiatives related to assessing the country’s tidal energy potential.
• KEY OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
• ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF TIDAL ENERGY
• The Committee noted that there are three main types of ocean energy: (i) wave, (ii) tidal, and (iii) ocean thermal.
• The theoretical potential of tidal and wave energy is 12.5 gigawatts and 41.3 gigawatts, respectively.
• The potential for ocean-thermal has not been estimated till date.
• The committee noted that the above potential does not necessarily constitute practically exploitable potential.
• Hence, the Committee recommended that the central government should reassess the exploitable potential tidal, wave, and ocean energy.
• COST OF TIDAL POWER PLANT
• The Committee noted that two tidal power plants were shut down in the past because of high cost. These are:

(i) 3.75 megawatt (MW) plant in West Bengal.

(ii) 50 MW plant in Gujarat.

• It recommended that the central government should reassess the current cost of tidal power to determine its economic viability and benefits in long term.
• SETTING UP A PILOT TIDAL POWER PROJECT
• The Committee noted the submission by the MNRE that all renewable sources of energy will be eligible for the 2030 target.
• The Committee recommended that the central government should set up a pilot tidal power project.
• The project should be set up at a cost-effective location such as the Gulf of Kutch.
• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TIDAL POWER PLANT
• The Committee observed that there is no study on the assessment of the environmental and ecological impact of a tidal power plant.
• The power plants may environmentally impact a large area upstream and downstream.
• It recommended that the central government should assess the environmental impact and ecological sustainability of a tidal power plant.
• RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• The Committee noted that no funds have been spent by the central government on the development of tidal power.
• It observed that the fund allocated to the MNRE, or research and development have been reduced significantly at the revised stage in the last few years.
• It recommended that the central government should not reduce the funds for research.

MNRE RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS

• A call for proposals has been issued under the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) which will include tidal power.
• The research and development and pilot projects proposals received in tidal power will be examined.
• However, the committee pointed out that merely issuing a call for proposals is not enough.
• The ministry should actively engage in preparing the groundwork for a demonstration/pilot tidal power project so that the feasibility of commercial generation of tidal power can be explored.

TIDAL POWER IN INDIA

• The ocean tides and currents are natural phenomena that can be harnessed to produce electricity is called tidal power.
• It is a renewable energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases or depend on weather conditions.
• Tidal power works by capturing the energy of the changing water levels and flows caused by the moon and the sun’s gravitational pull.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/renewable-energy/standing-committee-asks-mnre-to-apprise-it-of-efforts-to-assess-tidal-energy-potential-91055

5. SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMRS)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Harnessing of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will be helpful in realising India’s Sustainable Development Goals and Net-Zero Energy Future.

EXPLANATION:

• N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• World still depends on fossil fuels for 82% of its energy supply, So, decarbonising the power sector is critical.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) emerge as a promising solution for India, offering a pathway to enhance energy efficiency, and expedite the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.

INDIA’S NET ZERO TARGET

• To avert the worst impacts of climate change global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Currently, the Earth is already about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s, and emissions continue to rise.
• To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
• At COP-26, India announced an ambitious target for achieving net zero GHG-emission by 2070 in 2021.
• What is net zero?
• Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.
• It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal.

INDIA’S OTHER TARGETS REGARDING CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGY

• Under Paris Agreement, India has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution, increasing its goal to reduce emissions intensity to 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, and committing to achieving 50% cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• India has announced the target of 50% installed power generation capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030, raising the existing target of 40%, which has already been almost achieved.
• Under Sustainable Developmental Goal 7, India aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030.

HOW SMRs ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO ENERGY?

• SMRs offer many advantages owing to their small size, flexibility, and complementarity to renewables.
• SMRs and other advanced reactor technologies, including Generation IV designs, will help India achieve net zero by 2050.
• Addressing the challenge of nuclear power:
• Conventional Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have generally suffered from time and cost overruns.
• As an alternative, several countries are developing SMRs nuclear reactors with a maximum capacity of 300 MW to complement conventional NPPs.
• SMRs can be installed in decommissioned thermal power plant sites by repurposing existing infrastructure, thus sparing the host country from having to acquire more land and/or displace people beyond the existing site boundary.
• Addressing the Challenges of Decarbonization:
• According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, required for clean-energy production technologies, is likely to increase by up to 3.5 times by 2030.
• This jump poses several global challenges, including large capital investments to develop new mines and processing facilities.
• SMRs can be scaled to meet the grid size and have benefits in terms of safety, affordability, and capacity to partner with other clean power sources.

ADVANTAGES OF SMRs

• SMR enhance seismic isolation for more safety.
• Their designs are also simpler than those of conventional NPPs and include several passive safety features, resulting in a lower potential for the uncontrolled release of radioactive materials into the environment.

• SMRs are designed with a smaller core damage compared to conventional NPPs.

• The amount of spent nuclear fuel stored in an SMR project will also be lower than that in a conventional NPP.

• SMRs can reduce costs by simplifying plant design to facilitate more efficient regulatory approvals.
• SMRs are designed to operate for more than 40 years, the levelized cost of electricity is very low.
• SMRs possess transformative capabilities that can reshape India’s energy landscape.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/small-modular-reactors-india-nuclear-power-net-zero/article67175626.ece