HEALTH ISSUES

1. WHAT IS BLASTOMYCOSIS?

TAGS: GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES- PRELIMS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a person has died of a fungal infection after an outbreak at a Michigan paper mill in United states that is likely to have infected nearly 100 people in the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces.
• The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves.
• In the United States, the fungus mainly lives in the midwestern, south-central, and southeastern states, particularly in areas surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence River. People can get blastomycosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air.

Symptoms:

Approximately half of people who are infected with the fungus Blastomyces will show symptoms. The symptoms of blastomycosis are often similar to the symptoms of other lung infections, and can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Fatigue

2. WHAT IS HEMOPHILIA?

TAGS: GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES- PRELIMS

THE CONTEXT: Every year, World Hemophilia Day is observed on April 17 to raise awareness about the rare blood disorder and help those suffering from it lead a better life.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The day was first commemorated by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) in 1989 in remembrance of Frank Schnabel, who was born on April 17, 1942, and spent his entire life working to make the lives of those who were affected by this ailment better.
• The theme for this year is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global Standard of Care,” and the goal is to persuade policymakers and governments to enhance access to care with a particular emphasis on better bleeding control.

What is hemophilia?

• Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to form blood clots. People with hemophilia have deficiencies or abnormalities in certain clotting factors, which are proteins that help the blood clot.
• As a result, they may experience prolonged bleeding or spontaneous bleeding into muscles, joints, or organs.
• The signs and symptoms of hemophilia vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some common signs and symptoms include prolonged bleeding after injury, surgery or dental procedures, frequent nosebleeds, bruising easily, joint pain and swelling, especially in the knees, elbows, and ankles, blood in urine or stool, headaches, blurred vision, or other neurological symptoms, if bleeding occurs in the brain.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS GREEN STEEL AND HOW  IT  CAN REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRIES?

TAGS: GS-III-ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:The Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia recently  approved 13 Task Forces for defining the roadmap for ‘Green Steel’. The task forces with the involvement of experts and the industry stakeholders have been identified to deliberate on various aspects of ‘Green Steel’ production, and chalk out action points.

What is Green Steel ?

• Green Steel refers to the production of steel without relying on fossil fuels. Instead, alternative low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen, coal gasification, or electricity are used in place of traditional coal-fired plants, which results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower costs, and improved steel quality.

Why is Green steel the need of the hour?

• Currently, the steel industry is the largest industrial sector in terms of intensive energy and resource use.
• It is among the three biggest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), and with the aggressive expansion plans across companies globally, the emissions levels are only expected to rise if the traditional methods were to continue.
• According to data, the iron ore and steel industry globally accounts for around 8 percent of total CO2 emissions on annual basis, whereas in India, it contributes 12 percent to the total CO2 emissions.
• With such high emissions, steel producers in India and globally are facing escalating pressure from governments and investors to reduce their carbon footprint from both environmental and economic perspectives.
• Path to Net Zero:In view of commitments made at the Conference of the Parties (COP) climate change conference, the Indian steel industry needs to reduce its emissions substantially by 2030 and hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

What are the Government steps to promote decarbonisation in steel industry

• The government has taken various steps to promote decarbonisation in the steel industry. The Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019 increases the availability of domestically generated scrap to reduce the use of coal in steel production.
• The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), focuses on green hydrogen production and usage, with the steel sector being a stakeholder.
• The Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicles Scrapping Facility) Rules from September 2021 aim to increase scrap availability in the steel sector.
• The National Solar Mission, launched in January 2010 by the MNRE, promotes the use of solar energy and reduces emissions in the steel industry.
• The Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme incentivize the steel industry to reduce energy consumption. The steel sector has also adopted the Best Available Technologies globally in modernization and expansion projects.

VALUE ADDITION:

Steel production in India

• India is currently one of the leading producers of crude steel in the world, standing as the second largest producer with a production of 120 Million Tonnes (MT) during the financial year of 2021-2022.
• The majority of the country’s iron ore reserves, more than 80%, are located in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and the northern regions of Andhra Pradesh.
• These areas are important steel-producing centres and are home to some of the largest steel factories in the country, including Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Durgapur (West Bengal), Burnpur (West Bengal), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Rourkela (Odisha), and Bokaro (Jharkhand).

4. MANGROVE PITTA BIRD CENSUS

TAGS: GS-III-ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Odisha forest officials recently have sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds in the first ever census conducted of these exotic and colourful birds in the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The census was carried out for the first time in the country to study the population analysis of these birds.
• The habitats of these beautiful birds are confined to mangrove forest areas in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika and Sundarban in West Bengal.
• The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) is a species of passerine bird in the family Pittidae native to the eastern Indian Subcontinent and western Southeast Asia. It is part of a superspecies where it is placed with the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta and the blue-winged pitta but has no recognized subspecies.
• A colourful bird, it has a black head with brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff underparts and reddish vent area. Its range extends from India to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects.
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

5. PM MITRA MEGA TEXTILES PARK

TAGS: GS-II- GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:The Prime Minister recently lauded the setting up of PM Mitra Mega Textiles Park across Lucknow and Hardoi districts in Uttar Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Ministry of Textiles (MoT) has launched PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks (MITRAs) Scheme to strengthen the Indian textile industry by way of enabling scale of operations, reduce logistics cost by housing entire value chain at one location, attract investment, generate employment and augment export potential.
• The scheme will develop integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for total value-chain of the textile industry for example, spinning, weaving, processing, garmenting, textile manufacturing, processing & printing machinery industry.
• These parks are envisaged to be located at sites which have inherent strengths for textile industry to flourish and have necessary linkages to succeed. The scheme envisages to leverage Public Private Partnership model for fast paced implementation in a time-bound manner.

Significance

• It will reduce logistics costs and strengthen the value chain of the textile sector to make it globally competitive.
• It will lead to increased investments (FDI and local) and enhanced employment opportunities.
• It will give domestic manufacturers a level-playing field in the international textiles market & pave the way for India to become a global champion of textiles exports across all segments.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. PREVENTIVE DETENTION LAW

TAGS:GS-II-POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT:Recently, the supreme court said that preventive detention laws in India are a colonial legacy with great potential to be abused and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is preventive detention?

• Preventive detention is when a person is held in police custody only on the basis of a suspicion that they would conduct a criminal act or cause harm to society. The police have the authority to hold anyone they suspect of committing a criminal offence.
• The police have the ability to make arrests without a warrant or a magistrate’s authorization in certain cases. Preventive detention was undoubtedly an important part of the colonial legal system in India.
• Surprisingly, the framers of the Indian Constitution, who had been the most oppressed by the preventive detention legislation, did not fail to provide the statutory validity to the same in independent India.
• The word detention simply means when any person is arrested or taken into custody. It can be legal as well as illegal. But when it comes to the security of the state and benefit of the society, there comes a new term which is Preventive Detention.

There are commonly two types of detentions:

• Punitive detention, which means detention as a punishment for the criminal offence. It occurs after an offence is actually committed, or an attempt has been made towards the commission of that crime.
• On the other hand, preventive detention means a person’s incarceration in advance to prevent any further possibility of the commitment of crime or its engagement. Preventive detention is, therefore, an action taken on the basis of apprehension that the person in question might do some wrongful act.

HEALTH ISSUES

2. CHAGAS DISEASE

TAGS:GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES- PRELIMS

THE CONTEXT: The World Health Organization (WHO) is observing World Chagas Disease Day April 14, 2023 to raise awareness about this little-known disease that affects millions every year, especially the poor population and people in Latin America.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In 2019, the 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease. This year’s theme is “time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care”.

What is Chagas disease?

• Chagas disease, also called American trypanosomiasis, is a communicable parasitic disease that has infected 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year across the globe.
• It is caused by the parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasites are mainly transmitted by a family of bugs called ‘triatomines’, also known as the ‘kissing bug’. These blood-sucking bugs transmit the disease from infected to healthy individuals through bites and by defecating on them.
• The systemic, chronic disease manifests as fever, headaches, rashes and inflammatory nodules, nausea or diarrhoea and muscle or abdominal pain. A majority of the patients (70-80 per cent) show an asymptomatic clinical course throughout their lives, making early detection challenging. It is often referred to as the “silent and silenced disease”.
• An individual can also contract this disease through congenital transmission (pregnant woman to their baby), blood transfusions, organ transplantation, consumption of uncooked food contaminated with faecal matter of infected bugs or even accidental laboratory exposure. The disease, however, cannot propagate by casual contact with infected humans or animals.
• The disease is named after physician Carlos Chagas who first detected it in a Brazillian child in 1909.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. NEW FROG SPECIES FOUND IN MEGHALAYA SIJU CAVE

TAGS: GS-III- ENVIRONMENT- SPECIES IN NEWS

THE CONTEXT: Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of frogs from deep within the Siju cave in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The ZSI team named the new cascade species Amolops siju after the cave from where this discovery was made, according to a press note by the researchers. Siju is a four-kilometre-long natural limestone cave.
• Cascade Frogs are named so because of their preference for small waterfalls or cascades in flowing hill streams.
• The genus Amolops is one of the largest groups of ranid frogs (family Ranidae) with currently over 70 known species that are widely distributed across northeast and north India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, through Indochina, to the Malaya Peninsula.
• The discovery of new species from a cave is very rare. This is the second time such a discovery has been made in India — the first being the discovery of the Micrixalus spelunca in 2014 from a cave in Tamil Nadu
• The specimens of Amolops siju were collected in January 2020 during a cave expedition by the ZSI team. The tissue samples of the specimen were subjected to molecular studies to ascertain their specific identity from the other known species of cascade Amolops frogs.
• Based on the morphological, molecular and spatial data, the team concluded this frog from the Siju cave was new to science and decided to name the new species after the cave.
• Although the specimens were collected 60-100 metres from the cave entrance and the dark zones beyond 100 m of the cave entrance, the team did not find any troglobitic or cave-adapted modification, suggesting that this species of frog is not a permanent resident of the shelter.

4. WHAT IS CRAB NEBULA?

TAGS: GS-III- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- PRELIMS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, scientists have mapped the iconic Crab Nebula’s magnetic field in greater detail than ever before using NASA’s latest X-ray telescope.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Crab Nebula is the remnant of a massive stellar explosion, or supernova, that occurred in the year 1054 and left behind a dense object called the Crab Pulsar with a mass about twice that of Earth’s sun. This nebula is one of the most thoroughly studied cosmic objects, but new observations suggest that it’s far more complex than scientists had thought.
• In the 1970s, Weisskopf, now an emeritus astronomer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and his colleagues measured X-ray polarization from the Crab Nebula to understand its extreme environment and found that Crab has an average polarization of about 20%.
• The findings indicate that the X-rays in the Crab Nebula originate from the outer magnetic field region, known as the “wind” region. However, the exact location and mechanism of this process are yet to be determined.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

5. A-HELP(ACCREDITED AGENT FOR HEALTH AND EXTENSION OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION) PROGRAMME

TAGS: GS-II-GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:Recently, the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme was launched in the State of Uttarakhand. It is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and the Ministry of Rural Development.

THE EXPLANATION:

• ‘A-Help’ are community-based women activist groups who do tasks like assisting veterinarians in local departmental activities, helping cattle rearers to get loans for entrepreneurship development, filling applications.
• Under the A-Help scheme envisaged by the Government of India, women have been selected to strengthen livestock related activities in remote rural areas. They help in implementing various schemes and providing information to the farmers at the ground level.
• Under this,trained A-Help workers will contribute significantly in prevention of various infectious diseases in animals, artificial insemination, animal tagging and animal insurance under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• The “Rashtriya Gokul Mission” aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner.
• The potential to enhance the productivity of the indigenous breeds of India through professional farm management and superior nutrition is immense, for this it is essential to promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds.
• The Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focussed project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development.
• The Mission will be implemented with the objectives to:
• Development and conservation of indigenous breeds
• Undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock;
• Enhance milk production and productivity;
• Upgrade non descript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi
• Distribute disease-free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.

FREEDOM STRUGGLE- MODERN INDIA

1. JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE

TAGS: GS-I- HISTORY-PRELIMS

THE CONTEXT: This year marks the 104th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also known as the Amritsar Massacre. Check this article to know the answers to all your questions related to the heart-wrenching event of the Indian Freedom Struggle.

THE EXPLANATION:

• On April 13, 1919, what was planned as a protest gathering of Indians in a compound called Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, in then British-ruled India, witnessed violence that would become one of the most lasting memories of the barbarity of colonial rule.

What is Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?

• The mass killing at Jallianwala Bagh took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, which later came to be known as the Amritsar massacre or Jallianwala Bagh massacre. To protest the Rowlatt Act and the detention of pro-independence activists Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal, a large, peaceful crowd gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. In response to the gathering, the British Indian Army’s temporary brigadier general R. E. H. Dyer covered the protesters with Gurkha, Baloch, Rajput, and Sikh soldiers from the 2-9th Gurkhas, the 54th Sikhs, and the 59th Scinde Rifles.
• The Jallianwala Bagh had only one exit because the other three were blocked by structures. Without giving the mob a chance to disperse, Dyer closed the main exits. He gave the order for his soldiers to start firing at the densest groups of people in front of the few possible small entrances, as terrified multitudes were attempting to flee the Bagh.
• A total of 1650 rounds were discharged throughout the 10-15 minute period of shooting. Up until they ran out of ammunition, the soldiers continued to fire. General Dyer and Mr Irving assessed a total death toll of 291 people. However, according to other sources, including one from a committee led by Madan Mohan Malviya, there were around 500 or more fatalities.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. DOCTRINE OF PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL

TAGS: GS-II- POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT:Recently, Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that instead of implementing the Agnipath scheme, the government should complete the old process and cited the doctrine of promissory estoppel.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Doctrine of promissory estoppel:-

• The Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel works on the principle of equity, fairness and moral conscience.
• The doctrine of Promissory Estoppel means when an individual with an intention of forming a relationship which is lawful makes a clear promise to another individual and the latter individual acts on it, that promise becomes an obligation for the individual who made the promise.
• Hence, then going back from its words is not permissible.
• The law commission recommended suggestions to form a new section as Section 25A in the Indian Contract Act in the 108th report for this doctrine.
• No provisions as such are there which ensures availability of relief under this doctrine.
• At the same time, it can be implemented on the basis of equity, to defend the aggrieved party.
• The doctrine of estoppel in India is a rule of evidence included into Section 115 of The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
• Promissory Estoppel’s application can invalidate the constitutional provision provided under Article 299, which talks about immunity granted against the personal accountability of an individual making the promise.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

3. VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAMME

TAGS: GS-II GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:Recently, Union Home Minister launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ (VVP) in the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh. The constant threat along the country’s border amid the ongoing standoff with China has led to a concerted push to upgrade infrastructure in the border areas.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’?

• This village development scheme was first announced in the 2022 Budget. The programme’s targets are to provide comprehensive development of villages on the border with China and improvement in the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
• The development in these villages will help prevent migration, and thus also boost security.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2018 had pointed towards backwardness, illiteracy, and lack of basic facilities and infrastructure in our border areas. The VVP aims to address all these issues.

What are the objectives of the scheme?

• The aims of the scheme are to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local, natural, human and other resources of the border villages, as per a press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 15, 2023.
• Development of growth centres on the “Hub and Spoke Model” through promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development is also one of the objectives of VVP.
• Moreover, the programme also intends to leverage tourism potential through promotion of local, cultural, traditional knowledge and heritage in the border areas, thus increasing the employment opportunities of the people and, as a result, stemming migration.
• Development of sustainable eco-agribusinesses on the concept of “One village-One product” through community-based organisations, cooperatives, SHGs, NGOs etc is also aimed at.
• The scheme envisages that drinking water, 24×7 electricity, connectivity with all weather roads, cooking gas, mobile and internet connectivity be made available in the border areas. Special attention will be given to solar and wind energy, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and health infrastructure and wellness centres.

Which states come under VVP?

• Under this centrally sponsored scheme, 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts have been identified for comprehensive development. These villages abut the border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. In the first phase, around 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. GOND PAINTING

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:Madhya Pradesh’s famous Gond paintings has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. A geographical Indication (GI) tag is a label placed on products that have a specific geographical origin and have traits or a reputation originating from that origin.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Madhya Pradesh’s artform of Gond Painting has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. A GI tag is essentially a name or sign given to products that are attached to a specific geographical location, which may include a region, town or country. GI tags ensure that only the registered or authorised user uses the name of the concerned product.
• Gond painting is a form of folk art by the Gond tribal community, which mostly inhabit parts of central India. Traditionally, Gond paintings were done on walls and floors of houses, and featured images of animals and plants as well as traditional geometric patterns. Gond paintings usually feature bright colours derived from natural resources.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is a geographical indication?

• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
• In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.

5. EXERCISE ORION

THE CONTEXT: In the first overseas exercise for the Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), four Rafales will depart to France to take part in multilateral exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).

THE EXPLANATION:

• The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5, with the IAF contingent comprising four Rafale, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 personnel. “Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the IAF, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces.”
• Ex Orion is one the largest exercises held by France in recent times involving around 12,000 troops, including those from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and being held in four phases.
• Besides the IAF and the FASF, Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, U.K. and U.S. would also be flying in this multilateral exercise.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. BELAGAVI BORDER DISPUTE

TAGS: GS-II-POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT:Recently, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the state of Maharashtra’s plea in a border row with Karnataka, as Justice Aravind Kumar recused himself.

THE EXPLANATION:

When did the dispute begin?

• Maharashtra and Karnataka have sparred over the inclusion of some towns and villages along the state border ever since the State Reorganisation Act was passed by the Parliament in 1956.
• The Act was based on the findings of the Justice Fazal Ali Commission, which was appointed in 1953 and submitted its report two years later.
• On November 1, 1956, Mysore state – later renamed Karnataka – was formed, and differences between the state and the neighbouring Bombay state – later Maharashtra – erupted.
• Maharashtra was of the view that the northwestern district of Karnataka, Belagavi, should be part of the state, leading to a decade-long violent agitation and formation of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES), which still holds sway in parts of the district and the eponymous city.

What was the Centre’s response?

• Amid protests and pressure from Maharashtra, the Union government set up a commission under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Mehar chand Mahajan on October 25, 1966. S Nijalingappa was the Karnataka Chief Minister then and VP Nayak was his Maharashtra counterpart.
• The report was expected to be a binding document for both states and put an end to the dispute. The commission submitted its report in August 1967, where it recommended merging 264 towns and villages of Karnataka (including Nippani, Nandgad and Khanapur) with Maharashtra, and 247 villages of Maharashtra (including South Solapur and Akkalkot) with Karnataka.

Legal issues in court

• Maharashtra approached the Supreme Court in 2004, challenging the State Reorganisation Act. It demanded 865 villages and towns from five Karnataka districts to be merged with the state. The five districts are Belagavi, Karwar, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi and Bidar.
• However, almost two decades after the petition, its maintainability remains challenged. Karnataka has resorted to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution to argue that the Supreme Court does not have the jurisdiction to decide the borders of states, and only Parliament has the power to do so.
• Maharashtra has referred to Article 131 of the Constitution, which says that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in cases related to disputes between the Union government and states.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. HUMAN COMPOSTING: A GREENER WAY TO DIE

TAGS: GS-III- ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, New York became the sixth state in the US to legalise human composting as a burial option.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Human composting, also known as natural organic reduction, is a process of transforming the human body into nutrient-rich soil that has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial or cremation.
• It has gained popularity, especially among the younger generation, for being an eco-friendly alternative to dispose of a corpse.

Process of human composting:

• The body is first washed and dressed in a biodegradable grown.
• It’s then placed in a closed vessel, usually measuring 8 feet by 4 feet, along with selected materials such as alfalfa, straw, and sawdust.
• The body is left to decompose for the next 30 days.
• To speed up the decay, oxygen is added to the vessel, which results in the unfolding of a process called “aerobic digestion”, in which microbes start to consume organic matter.
• Temperature inside the container is kept around 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius to kill off contagions.
• By the time aerobic digestion is over, the body has been transformed into a soil-like material, containing nutrients, bones, and some medical devices — these are taken out from the compost pile and recycled.
• As the microbial activity comes to an end, the temperature inside the pile drops, marking the transformation from an active composite pile into the soil.

Concerns:

• The biggest opponent of this process has been the Catholic Church and called it an “unfortunate spiritual, emotional, and psychological distancing from the deceased.
• It has been believed that the ‘transformation’ of the remains would create an emotional distance rather than a reverence” for the remains.
• Even cremated remains must remain in a communal place befitting of the dignity inherent in the human body and its connection to the immortal soul.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

3. REVISION SERIES

PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA

TAGS: GS-II-GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheme was launched in India by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers welfare, New Delhi from Kharif 2016 season onwards.
• National Insurance Company started participating in PMFBY from Rabi 2016 onwards and covered 8 States and 2 Union Territories during the past 5 seasons namely, Rabi 2016-17, Kharif & Rabi 2017 and Kharif & Rabi 2018 covering 70,27,637 farmers.
• Farmers share of premium is Rs. 453 crores and with subsidy from State/Central Govts RS.1909 Crores, gross Premium is Rs.2362 Crores for the 5 seasons together.

Objective of the Schemes

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) aims at supporting sustainable production in agriculture sector by way of:

• Providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen events
• Stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming
• Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices
• Ensuring flow of credit to the agriculture sector which will contribute to food security, crop diversification and enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector besides protecting farmers from production risks.

Who can be covered?

• All farmers who have been sanctioned Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans (Crop Loans) from Financial Institutions (FIs), i.e. loanee farmers, for the notified crop(s) season would be covered compulsorily.
• The Scheme is optional for non-loanee farmers.
• The insurance coverage will strictly be equivalent to sum insured/hectare, as defined in the Govt. notification or /and on National Crop Insurance Portal multiplied by sown area for notified crop.

Coverage of Crops

• Food crops (Cereals, Millets and Pulses),
• Oilseeds
• Annual Commercial / Annual Horticultural crops.

In addition for perennial crops, pilots for coverage can be taken for those perennial horticultural crops for which standard methodology for yield estimation is available.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. CHICHEN ITZA

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVES

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered an intricately carved stone they believe was used as a scoreboard for pelota, a ball game played by the Maya hundreds of years ago.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The circular stone was found at the Chichen Itza archaeological site and is thought to be around 1,200 years old.
• At its centre are two players in elaborate headgear surrounded by hieroglyphic writing.
• Experts are now analysing the writing to decipher its possible meaning.
• The 40kg-stone (88lb) was found by archaeologist Lizbeth Beatriz Mendicut Pérez in an architectonic compound known as Casa Colorada (Red House).
• Casa Colorada is the best preserved of the buildings surrounding the main plaza in the pre-Columbian city of Chichen Itza.
• Experts believe the stone would have adorned an archway at the entrance to the compound during the late 800s or early 900s.
• It was found face down half a metre underground, where it is thought to have fallen when the archway collapsed.

5. EXERCISE COPE INDIA 23

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVES

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Exercise Cope India 23, a bilateral Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) is begins at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces and share their best practices.
• The first phase of exercise commenced on April 10, 2023. This phase of the exercise focused on air mobility and involved transport aircraft and Special Forces assets from both the Air Forces.
• Both sides fielded the C-130J and C-17 aircraft, with the USAF operating an MC-130J, as well. The exercise also included the presence of Japanese Air Self Defence Force aircrew, who participated in the capacity of observers.

US-India War Games Amid China Threat

• Meanwhile, India and United States Special Forces are also carrying out wargames with a focus on supporting fighter aircraft operations in forward areas. The war games came in view of an ongoing military standoff with China.
• The operations are likely to have focused on supporting the fighter aircraft operations including designating targets in frontline areas by laser so that the precision-guided bombs can reach their designated target accurately.