HEALTH ISSUES

1. VERTIPLANE X3 DRONE DELIVERS TB MEDICINES

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Health recently conducted a trial of delivering TB medicines in a drone. The trials were conducted in Rishikesh. Traversing through the Himalayas, especially during rainy seasons and winter seasons is challenging and time-consuming. Drones can deliver medicines to hilly regions quickly even during harsh weather conditions.

THE EXPLANATION:

Drone delivery of TB medicines

• The trials of TB medicine delivery using drones were conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences under the supervision of the Health ministry. The trial was successful. The drone delivered 2 kilograms of anti-tubercular drugs to a hospital in Tehri Garhwal from AIIMS.

Future plans

• GoI is planning on using drone technology to deliver medicines and also sputum samples to laboratories and eliminate TB by 2025. Further, government hospitals will be encouraged to use this technology to deliver organs for transplantation.

About the drone used in the trials

• The drone can carry 4 kilograms. It can traverse 50 km. The drone was designed and built by Tech Eagle Innovations. The drones developed by the same company were used by the Meghalaya government to transport medicines. The Government of Meghalaya set up a drone station in Jengjal. Drones were also used by ICMR to deliver COVID vaccines in Manipur.

VALUE ADDITION:

Tuberculosis

• Cause: It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (bacteria) and it most often affects the lungs.

Transmission

• TB is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A person needs to inhale only a few germs to become infected.
• With TB infection, a person gets infected with TB bacteria that lie inactive in the body. This infection can develop into TB disease if their immune system weakens.

Symptoms

• Prolonged cough, chest pain, weakness/fatigue, weight loss, fever, etc.
• Often, these symptoms will be mild for many months, thus leading to delays in seeking care and increasing the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Diagnosis

• In the case of suspected lung TB disease, a sputum sample is collected for testing for TB bacteria.
• For non-lung TB disease, samples of affected body fluids and tissue can be tested.
• WHO recommends rapid molecular diagnostic tests as initial tests for people showing signs and symptoms of TB.
• Other diagnostic tools can include sputum smear microscopy and chest X-rays.

Treatment

• Bedaquiline for multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB
• Both TB infection and disease are curable using antibiotics.
• It is treated by the standard 6-month course of 4 antibiotics. Common drugs include rifampicin and isoniazid.
• In drug-resistant TB, the TB bacteria do not respond to the standard drugs. Its treatment is longer and more complex.
• In case of infection (where the patient is infected with TB bacteria but not ill), TB preventive treatment can be given to stop the onset of disease. This treatment uses the same drugs for a shorter time.

2. GOVERNING ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION IN INDIA

TAGS: GS- HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT:The Central Government has recently made major changes in the organ transplant regulations in the country under its ‘one nation, one policy’ rule by removing the 65-year age cap for recipients and allowing them to register in any state and not just their state.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Organ Transplantation in India:

• The primary legislation governing organ transplantation in India is the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, passed in 1994.
• It provides a system to regulate the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs.

National Organ transplant programme:

• It is implemented by the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India.
• Objectives:

• To organize a system of organ and Tissue procurement & distribution for transplantation.
• To promote deceased organ and Tissue donation.
• To train the required manpower.
• To protect vulnerable poor from organ trafficking.
• To monitor organ and tissue transplant services and bring about policy and programme corrections/ changes whenever needed.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO):

• It is a National level organization set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• It functions as the apex center for coordinating all activities and networking for the procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and maintaining the registry of organs and tissue donation and transplantation in the country.

Organ donation in India:

• Organ donation means giving part of the body (organ) to a person with end-stage organ disease who needs a transplant.
• In India, organ donations are legal under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994, which also legalizes the concept of ‘brain death’, the permanent cessation of all brain functions.
• Organ donation is a voluntary process wherein you can fill up a consent form to donate your organs in the event of your demise.

Types of organ donation:

Living Donor Organ Donation:

• A person during his life can donate one kidney, a portion of the pancreas, and a part of the liver.
• Living Donor is any person not less than 18 years of age who voluntarily authorizes the removal of any of his organ and/or tissue, during their lifetime, as per prevalent medical practices for therapeutic purposes.
• The donor can be a family member, relative, friend, neighbour, or in-law.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

3. THYREUS NARENDRANI

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, researchers from Kerala has been discovered a new species of cuckoo bee from the Kole wetlands and named it Thyreus narendrani.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Thyreus narendrani:

• The new species belongs to the family Apidae of the order Hymenoptera.
• The genus Thyreus consists of cuckoo bees or cleptoparasitic bees.
• Cuckoo bees parasitise the nest of other bees by breaking and entering and laying their eggs.
• Unlike other female bees, cuckoo bees lack pollen-collecting structures.
• Once the cuckoo bee’s larva hatches out in the nest of the host bee, it consumes the food stored by the host for its own growing larva.

About Kole wetland

• It is the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem located in the state of Kerala.
• Extending from the northern bank of Chalakudy River in the south to the southern bank of Bharathapuzha River in the north
• It is situated in the central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. US BILL ON ARUNACHAL PRADESH LAC

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The US senate recently passed a resolution condemning China. According to the resolution, China is changing the status of LAC using its military force. Also, the resolution lauded India for the country’s steps to defend itself against Chinese aggression at the border.

THE EXPLANATION:

About the resolution

• The resolution title was long and self-explanatory. The title mentioned that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India. It also said that the actions of China in South Asia are provocative.

Implications of the resolution

• The USA is strongly supporting India and its international relations. US Congress had passed such resolutions earlier too. For instance, in 2020, the US Congress passed a similar resolution after the Galwan issue. However, this is the first time, the US is passing a detailed and open resolution that is echoing the position of India in the border areas.

Political significance

• The resolution had the support of both the Republican and conservative party support. This is an additional benefit. This means the support from the US and its citizens is strong. The increase in the number of Indian Americans in the country may be one of the major reasons for such collective support.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The award is presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi to artists in the field of dance, music, and drama. It is presented annually to artists below the age of 40. Every year, more than 33 artists are presented with the award. The winners receive 25,000 rupees of the cash price. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is being presented since 2006. The awards were presented by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism.

THE EXPLANATION:

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• 19 artists from North East India won the award. The awards were presented for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. 102 awardees were selected. The lists were finalised in 2022. However, are being presented now. Categories include Sitar, Flute, Mridangam, etc.

Who is Ustad Bismillah Khan?

• He was a famous Shehnai musician. He was one of the few musicians in the country to receive Bharat Ratna. Before him, musicians M S Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar were honoured with the award before him and he was the third to receive the honour.

Sangeet Natak Akademi

• It was established by the Education ministry of India in 1952. The main objective of the academy is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the country.

VALUE ADDITION:

Sangeet Natak Akademi confers classical status on nine Indian dance forms:

• Bharatanatyam: Tamil Nadu
• Kathak: Northern India
• Kathakali: Kerala
• Kuchipudi: Andhra Pradesh
• Manipuri: Manipur
• Mohiniyattam: Kerala
• Odissi: Odisha
• Sattriya: Assam
• Chhau: Odisha

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

1. WHAT IS FREE FLOAT IN STOCKS?

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III-ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, index provider MSCI said it has cut the free-float designations of four securities of India’s Adani group.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Free Float:

• The free float is also known as Public float which refers to the shares of a company that can be publicly traded and are not restricted.
• It generally excludes promoters’ holding, government / strategic holding and other locked-in shares, which will not come to the market for trading in the normal course.
• Free Float=(Outstanding shares-Restricted Shares-Closely held shares)
• Outstanding shares refer to the number of shares held by all of the company’s shareholders
• Restricted shares refer to shares that are not transferable until certain conditions are met. Restricted shares are generally held by corporate management, such as executives and directors.
• Closely-held shares refer to shares that are typically held onto for a very long-term basis. Examples include major long-term shareholders and insiders.
• Free Float Methodology is used to provide a more accurate reflection of market movements and stocks actively available for trading in the market.
• The free-float methodology has been adopted by many of the world’s major indexes.
• MSCI calculates free float-adjusted market capitalization for each security to calculate the weights of the securities in the MSCI indexes.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. CORBETT TIGER RESERVE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III-ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court recently banned all construction activities in the core areas of tiger reserves national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

THE EXPLANATION:

A Supreme court-appointed panel noticed that illegal constructions for the establishment of a tiger safari were being done within the buffer area of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand.

About the Corbett Tiger Reserve

• It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This reserve encompasses the Patli Dun valley.
• The Ramganga, Sonanadi, Palain and Mandal, and Kosi rivers form the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.
• The core area of the reserve contains the Corbett National Park and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of its buffer area.
• Flora: The trees which contribute to the Flora of Corbett consist of evergreen Sal and its combined trees, the Sheesham, and the Kanju found extensively on the ridges.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Hog deer, spotted deer, Samber etc.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3. CAR T-CELL THERAPY

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the researchers have said that India’s first indigenously developed Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell T therapy for specific types of cancer.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies represent a quantum leap in the sophistication of cancer treatment.
• Unlike chemotherapy or immunotherapy, which require mass-produced injectable or oral medication, CAR T-cell therapies use a patient’s own cells.
• They are modified in the laboratory to activate T-cells, a component of immune cells, to attack tumors.
• These modified cells are then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream after conditioning them to multiply more effectively.

How does the therapy work?

• In CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s blood is drawn to harvest T-cells which are immune cells that play a major role in destroying tumor cells.
• Researchers modify these cells in the laboratory so that they express specific proteins on their surface, known as chimeric antigen receptors (CAR).
• They have an affinity for proteins on the surface of tumor cells.
• This modification in the cellular structure allows CAR T-cells to effectively bind to the tumor and destroy it.
• The final step in the tumor’s destruction involves its clearance by the patient’s immune system.

4. QUAOAR

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:Astronomers have recently spotted a ring around a Pluto-sized dwarf planet called Quaoar in the outer reaches of the solar system.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Quaoar:

• Quaoar is a dwarf planet that’s located in the Kuiper Belt at the solar system’s edge.
• It is about 697 miles wide (1,121 kilometers).
• It is roughly one-twelfth the diameter of Earth, one-third the diameter of the Moon, and half the size of Pluto.
• Quaoar is greater in volume than all known asteroids combined.
• Quaoar has its own moon, the 100-mile-wide (160 km) Weywot.
• Its surface is moderately red and composed of low-density ices mixed with rock.
• It takes about 288 years for Quaoar to go once around the sun in a roughly circular orbit.

What is Kuiper Belt?

• Kuiper belt, also called the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt, is a flat ring of small icy bodies that revolve around the Sun beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune.
• There are millions of these icy objects, collectively referred to as Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) or trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), in this belt.
• The Kuiper Belt is a region of leftovers from the solar system’s early history.
• It is thought to be the source of most of the observed short-period comets, particularly those that orbit the Sun in less than 20 years.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. BRU TRIBE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Over 14,000 Brus displaced from Mizoram have been registered to vote in Tripura since their rehabilitation process began in April 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Bru Tribe:

• Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to the Northeast, living mostly in Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam.
• In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
• They belong to Indo-Mongoloid racial stock. Their languages have an affinity with Austro-Asiatic groups under the Tibeto-Burman family.
• Ethnically they are divided into 2 major clans namely Meska and Molsoi.
• Their language is known as “Kaubru” which has a tonal effect on the Kuki language though broadly it is the Kok-Borok dialect.
• Occupation: They are still a nomadic tribe and a large number among them maintain their livelihood involving Hilltop Jhum Cultivation and other food gathering activities.
• They believe in spirits and the existence of a soul.
• By religion they are Hindus and most of their deities are akin to gods and goddesses of the Hindu faith. Among Reangs followers of Vaishnavism are found in good numbers.
• This tribal community traditionally are endogamous and does not marry outside their community.
• The village council chief known as “RAI” permits Divorce and Widow marriage.

Connect the dots:

• What is Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

INDIAN POLITY

1. 16TH FINANCE COMMISSION

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The Union government will soon kick off the process to set up the 16th Finance Commission, with the Finance Ministry likely to notify the terms of references for the constitutional body, tasked with recommending the revenue sharing formula between the Centre and the States and their distribution among the States, towards the latter half of this year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The 15th Finance Commission was set up in November 2017 with a mandate to make recommendations for the five-year period from 2020-21. While the Constitution requires a Finance Commission (FC) to be set up every five years, the 15th FC’s mandate was extended by a year till 2025-26, breaking the cycle.
• “In the normal course of things, the next Finance Commission should have been appointed by now, but since our report covered six years instead of five, it must be appointed this year,” the 15th FC’s chairperson N.K. Singh told The Hindu. In late 2019, the commission was asked to give a standalone report for 2020-21 and another report for an extended five-year period till 2025-26.
• The last time an FC was granted a six-year time frame was for the 9th Finance Commission, formed in June 1987. It was asked to submit a single year report for 1989-90 and a five-year report for the five years till 1994-95. These reports were submitted in 1988 and 1990, when the country’s Finance Ministers were S.B. Chavan and Madhu Dandavate, respectively. The 10th Finance Commission was still constituted in June 1992 within the five-year deadline specified by Article 280 of the Constitution, which has not been the case this time.
• “The commission is usually granted about two years to deliberate on its terms of reference, consult States and frame its recommendations, and the government should ideally have its report by October 2025 to consider it in time for Budget 2026-27 — where it will have to place its action taken report on the Commission’s report”.

VALUE ADDITION:

FINANCE COMMISSION

• Article 280 provides for this quasi-judicial body.
• It is constituted by the President every five years or even earlier.
• It is required to make recommendations to the President on the following matters:
  o Distribution of net proceeds of taxes shared between the centre and the states, and the allocation between the states, the respective shares of such proceeds
  o Principles which should decide the grants-in-aid as per article 275
  o Measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of the state to supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities in the state based on the recommendation of the state finance commission
  o Any other matter referred to it by the President
  Some bills can be introduced in the Parliament only on the recommendation of the President so as to protect the financial interests of the states:
• A bill which imposes or varies any tax or duty in which states are interested
• A bill which varies the meaning of the term ‘agricultural income’ as defined for the purposes of the enactments relating to the income tax
• A bill which affects the principles on which moneys are or may be distributable to states; and
• A which imposes any surcharge on any specified tax or duty for the purpose of the centre.

HEALTH ISSUES

2. NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The recent World Health Organization (WHO) report said that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) continue to disproportionately impact the most impoverished members of the international community.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Neglected Tropical Diseases

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections which are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms (helminths).
• There are a diverse group of 20 diseases that are affecting more than 1 billion people who live in impoverished communities.
• They include Buruli ulcer, Chagas Dengue, Chikungunya, Echinococcosis; foodborne trematodes; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; leprosy; Lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, etc

Global Initiative to end NTDs
The WHO’s new road map for 2021–2030 calls for three strategic shifts to end NTDs:

• From measuring process to measuring impact.
• From disease-specific planning and programming to collaborative work across sectors.
• From externally driven agendas reliant on programmes that are country-owned and country-financed.

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY & CLIMATE CHANGE

3. WHAT ARE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III-ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Nodal Centre for Biological Invasions (NCBI) at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has come out with a management plan to eradicate Senna spectabilis, the exotic invasive plant that is posing a severe threat to the State’s wildlife habitat.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Based on the results of the experimental study done at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the plan envisages landscape-level management of the tree. The two key factors considered in developing the management protocol were the fast nature of the spread of the tree in natural forests, and restoration of natural forests based on landscape.

What are invasive species?

• Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health.
• In particular, they impact adversely upon biodiversity, including decline or elimination of native species – through competition, predation, or transmission of pathogens – and the disruption of local ecosystems and ecosystem functions.

The impacts of invasive species include:

• Reduced biodiversity.
• Decreased availability and quality of key natural resources.
• Water shortages.
• Increased frequency of wildfires and flooding.
• Pollution caused by overuse of chemicals to control infestations.

VALUE ADDITION:

Senna spectabilis

• It is an invasive species.
• It is introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America.
• The species has become highly invasive in the Sigur plateau in both the core and buffer zones of the MTR.
• Senna spectabilis, along with Lantana camara, is among five major invasive weeds that had taken over vast swathes of the Nilgiris.
• Eucalyptus and pine, though exotic, do not spread as quickly as the other species and are considered easier to manage.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. CHINA’S BAIDU MAY LAUNCH CHATGPT

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The BAIDU is a Chinese-based technology company. It offers a popular search engine in China called BAIDU. (Major search engines like Google are banned in China).

THE EXPLANATION:

• The company works on artificial intelligence and internet-related products. The headquarters of the company is in Beijing. The company is one of the largest AI companies in the world. The TECH giant is now planning to develop a chatbot similar to that of ChatGPT.

What is Baidu’s plan?

• The Beln Crypto report recently said that BAIDU is to launch a ChatGPT-like chatbot. Beln Crypto is one of the most popular and largest cryptocurrency news platforms in the world. BAIDU’s chat platform will have conversation-style interfaces just like ChatGPT.

Background

• BAIDU has been investing millions and millions of dollars in this AI platform. With this, the company is planning on shifting into a complete technology company and stopping all its online marketing services.

Features

• BAIDU’s chatbot is to be built on the Ernie system. ERNIE stands for Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment. It is a hardware random number generator. It was invented to be used in lotteries and casinos.

ChatGPT

• It is a Microsoft product. Today it is at the peak of its success. Apart from BAIDU, other Chinese investors are also looking for ways to develop an AI chatbot just like ChatGPT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

5. ECONOMIC SURVEY: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2023

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III-ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) will release the Economic Survey for the current financial year (2022-23). The survey is always presented a day before – typically January 31 since Union Budgets are scheduled for February 1 – the Finance Minister unveils the Union Budget for the next financial year (2023-24 in the present case).

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the Economic Survey?

• As the name suggests, the Economic Survey is a detailed report of the state of the national economy in the financial year that is coming to a close.
• It is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the guidance of the CEA. Once prepared, the Survey is approved by the Finance Minister.
• The first Economic Survey was presented for 1950-51 and until 1964, it was presented along with the Budget.
• Similarly, for the longest time, the survey was presented in just one volume, with specific chapters dedicated to different key sectors of the economy – such as services, agriculture, and manufacturing – as well as key policy areas – such as fiscal developments, state of employment and inflation etc. This volume carries a detailed statistical abstract as well.
• However, between 2010-11 and 2020-21, the survey was presented in two volumes. The additional volume carried the intellectual imprint of the CEA and often dealt with some of the major issues and debates facing the economy.
• Last year’s (2022) survey reverted back to a single volume format, possibly because it was prepared and presented while there was a change in guard in the CEA’s office and the current CEA – V Anantha Nageswaran – took charge when the survey was released.

What is the Economic Survey’s significance?

• Even though it comes just a day before the Budget, the assessment and recommendations carried in the survey are not binding on the Budget.
• Still, the survey remains the most authoritative and comprehensive analysis of the economy that is conducted from within the Union government.
• As such, its observations and details provide an official framework for analysing the Indian economy.

What should one look for in this year’s survey?

• The Indian economy has been struggling to grow at a fast pace since the start of 2017-18. The years immediately after Covid may have registered fast growth rates but that was just a statistical illusion. Many outside economists have argued that India’s potential growth itself has fallen from 8% to 6%.
• Along with a deceleration in growth, the economy has also witnessed historically high unemployment and a sharp rise in poverty and inequality during the Covid pandemic.
• The survey is expected to diagnose the true extent of economic recovery in the Indian economy and whether India’s growth potential has lost a step or not.
• The survey can be expected to paint future scenarios and also suggest policy solutions. For instance, what can be done to boost manufacturing growth in the country? How can India continue to grow fast at a time when both global growth and world trade is likely to remain muted.

INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. WHAT IS ‘NIKAH HALALA’?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court said recently that it will set up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear pleas challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala practice among Muslims.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Nikah halala:

• The term “Nikah” and “Halala” both are Arabic terms.
• “Nikah” means Marriage and “Halala” means to make something halal or permissible.
• The expression “Nikah Halala” literally means a marriage to make something halal or permissible.
• As per Muslim Law, a man cannot remarry his wife after he divorced her, unless the wife is married to another man and gets divorced from that man (second husband) or after the death of the second husband.
• Thus, the process of making the woman permissible for her first husband by giving her marriage to a third person with a pre-condition is known as Nikah Halala also known as Tahleel marriage.
• In this process, the third person consummates the marriage with the object to make the woman permissible for her first husband.
• Does the Quran permit this?There is no sanction in the holy Quran for such marriages.

Legality of Nikah halala in India:

• The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 passed after the invalidation of triple talaq by the Supreme Court, is silent on nikah halala.
• The Act made instant triple talaq a criminal offence but steered clear of halala which takes place as a consequence of triple talaq.

2. WHAT IS A CHARGE SHEET?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court recently held the state is not obliged to provide the public free access to chargesheets by uploading them on police or government websites.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is a Chargesheet?

• According to Section 173 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), a charge sheet is a report generated by police officers after investigating a case.
• It contains all the stringent records right from the commencement of investigation procedure of lodging an FIR to till the completion of investigation and preparation of final report.
• It contains the names of the people brought in the custody, the charges they are brought in for and the identity of the accusers.
• Once the charge sheet has been submitted to a court of law, prosecution proceedings against the accused begin.
• Time limit for filing a Charge Sheet:
• It is to be filed within 60 days from the date of arrest of the accused in cases triable by lower courts and 90 days in cases triable by Court of Sessions.
• If the charge sheet is not filed within the prescribed time mentioned above, the accused has a right to default bail.
• A charge sheet is distinct from the First Information Report (FIR).

What is the First Information Report (FIR)?

• It is a written document prepared by a Police officer based on information given by an aggrieved person or any other person either in writing or made orally about the commission of a Cognizable Offence.
• Investigation is started only after filing of the FIR.
• Who can file an FIR? Anyone can file a FIR, whether it is the victim, victim’s family or friends, or any witness to a crime.

An FIR can only be lodged in case of cognizable offences.

What is a Cognizable Offence?

• It is one in which the police may arrest a person without warrant.
• The police are authorized to start investigation into a cognizable case on their own and do not require any orders from the court to do so.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT INDIA’S CHIEF GUEST FOR REPUBLIC DAY 2023

TAGS PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will be the first chief guest from his country at India’s Republic Day celebrations. This makes him only the fifth leader from the West Asian and Arab world to be the chief guest.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Location: Egypt is a transcontinental country situated in northeastern Africa and the Sinai Peninsula in Western Asia (Middle East).
• Capital: Cairo

Boundaries:

• The country borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea to the east.
• It is bordered by Libya in the west, the Palestinian territory (Gaza Strip) and Israel in the northeast, and Sudan in the south.
• It shares maritime borders with Cyprus, Turkey and Greece in the Mediterranean Sea, and with Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
• Independence: Modern Egypt became independent in 1922.
• Population: With 12 million inhabitants (2021), Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world.
• Language: Spoken language is Modern Standard Arabic; the colloquial language is the Egyptian-Arabic dialect (Masri).
• Islam is the dominant religion in Egypt with an estimated 85-90% of the population is Sunni Muslim.
• Major rivers: The famous River Nile is the only river that flows in Egypt throughout the year. Around 98% of the country’s population resides in the Nile River Valley.

Suez Canal:

• It is a 30 km (120 miles)-long artificial sea-level waterway located in Egypt.
• It connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea.
• It provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans.
• It is one of the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes.

What is Exercise Cyclone-I?

• It is the first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army.
• Location: Jaisalmer in Rajasthan

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. DECLINE IN NUMBER OF BIRDS IN KOLE WETLANDS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Kole wetlands are located in Kerala. The Asian Water Bird Census recently reported that the number of birds in the wetland has reduced significantly. The number of water birds in the wetland has decreased from 15,959 in 2022 to 9,904. This is huge and the survey accuses unscientific construction in the region of the decline.

THE EXPLANATION:

What does the census say?

• The 2023 census was the 23rd AWC. Kole wetlands are of major concern due to the huge water bird population decline. The population decline was mainly due to habitat loss in the region. This occurs because of unscientific construction and waste dumping.

Rare birds in the Wetland

• In the 2023 census, the ornithologists spotted some rare birds. And therefore are more concerned about the expropriation of their home. Some of the rare birds spotted in the region are Amur Falcon, Wood Sandpiper, and Cattle Egret. Rare migratory birds were also spotted in the region such as Painted Storks, Whiskered Tern, Garganey, and Ibis.

About Asian Water Bird Census

• The census identifies and counts water birds and predominantly focuses on the declining population of the birds in wetlands. It is a part of the International Waterbird Census. These censuses are conducted by Wetland International. The census is conducted in different parts of the world such as Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Neotropics. Neotropics includes South America and Central America.

Asian Water Bird Census in India

• In India, the census was first conducted in 1987. The Bombay Natural History Society assists Wetlands International in conducting the survey in the country.

Significance

• The survey aids to get an outlook on the bird population. Has the bird population declined? Are more birds becoming endangered? Causes of bird population decline. Also, it helps in better implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Convention on Migratory Species

5. ODISHA’S STRATEGY TO MITIGATE HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT

TAGS: GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Forest Department of the Odisha recently submitted a Ten Pillar Strategy to mitigate Man-Elephant conflict in the state. There are more than 2000 elephants in the state of Odisha spread across the Bhitarkanika National Park, Similipal Tiger Reserve, DebrigarhSancturay, and Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Today elephants are facing serious threats due to poaching, poisoning, electrocution, and road and train kill. Seldom have they indulged in human conflict due to loss of habitat. To bring in a solution and put an end to the human-elephant conflict, the Odisha Government has brought in a ten-point strategy.

Strategy

Zone-based approach to be adopted and there are three separate strategies for the following:

• Protection
• Prosecution
• Enforcement
• Strategy to improve elephant corridor
• Strategy to replenish elephant habitats
• People’s participation in spreading awareness
• Habitat management that will consider increasing the forest productivity
• Planting elephant food plants, bamboo plants
• Replenish water sources
• Solar fencing under Jana SurakyaGajaRakhya Scheme
• Control and prevention of forest fire

What is Zone based Approach?

• The approach was adopted from the state of Karnataka. Under the approach, the elephant habitats are to be divided into four broad zones. They are as follows:
  • Zone 1: Elephant Conservation Zone
  • Zone 2: Elephant-Human Coexistence Zone
  • Zone 3: Conflict Mitigation Zone
  • Zone 4: Elephant Removal Zone

Connect the Dots:

• Project Re-Hab

INDIAN POLITY

1. WHAT IS A CURATIVE PETITION?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II- INDIAN POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Supreme Court told the Central Government that it cannot decide its curative plea seeking an additional Rs 7,844 crore from the successor firms of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) for giving compensation to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy as a lawsuit.

THE EXPLANATION:

The concept of curative petition originated from the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs. Ashok Hurra and another case (2002) where the following question arose before the court of law- ‘whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgment/order of the Supreme Court, after the dismissal of a review petition.

What is a Curative Petition?

• A curative petition is the final and last option for the people to acquire justice as mentioned and promised by the Constitution of India.
• A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is dismissed.
• Objective: It is meant to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice, and to prevent abuse of process.

Criteria for admission:

• The court ruled that a curative petition can be entertained if the petitioner establishes there was a violation of the principles of natural justice, and that he was not heard by the court before passing an order.
• It will also be admitted where a judge failed to disclose facts that raise the apprehension of bias.
• The SC has held that curative petitions must be rare rather than regular, and be entertained with circumspection.
• A curative petition must be accompanied by certification by a senior advocate, pointing out substantial grounds for entertaining it.

Who hears Curative petitions?

• A curative petition must be first circulated to a bench of the three senior-most judges, and the judges who passed the concerned judgment, if available.
• Only when a majority of the judges conclude that the matter needs hearing should it be listed — as far as possible, before the same Bench.
• A curative petition is usually decided by judges in chamber, unless a specific request for an open-court hearing is allowed.
• It shall be open to the Bench at any stage of consideration of the curative petition to ask a senior counsel to assist it as amicus curiae.
• In the event of the Bench holding at any stage that the petition is without any merit and vexatious, it may impose exemplary costs on the petitioner.

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

2. WHITE TUFTED ROYAL BUTTERFLY

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a team of butterfly observers and researchers have found White Tufted Royal Butterfly, a rare butterfly species at Kalliyad in Kannur district of Kerala.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is White tufted royal butterfly?

• White tufted royal butterfly is a rare butterfly species.
• It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm. Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant belonging to the Loranthaceae family.
• The species had been spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
• Significance of finding: There were eight species of the butterfly. While two are common, the others are rare. Since we are able to get the egg, the life cycle of the butterfly can be documented.
• Threats: The survival of such rare species is under severe threat and steps should be taken to protect the hills.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTS REPORT 2023

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS- REPORT AND INDEXES

THE CONTEXT: Recently, World Bank has released its latest report on Global Economic Prospects, outlining a slowdown in global growth due to a variety of factors including elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

THE EXPLANATION:

The report warns that any additional negative developments, such as a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or escalating geopolitical tensions, could push the global economy into recession, marking the first time in more than 80 years that two global recessions have occurred within the same decade.

Growth Projections

• According to the report, the global economy is projected to grow by 1.7% in 2023 and 2.7% in 2024. The downturn in growth is expected to be widespread, with forecasts in 2023 revised down for 95% of advanced economies and nearly 70% of emerging market and developing economies.
• Over the next two years, per-capita income growth in emerging market and developing economies is projected to average 2.8%, a full percentage point lower than the 2010-2019 average.

Impact on Developing Countries

• The report highlights that the crisis facing development is intensifying as the global growth outlook deteriorates. Emerging and developing countries are facing a multi-year period of slow growth driven by heavy debt burdens and weak investment as global capital is absorbed by advanced economies.
• This will result in a weakness in growth and business investment, compounding the already-devastating reversals in education, health, poverty, and infrastructure, as well as the increasing demands from climate change. In Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for about 60% of the world’s extreme poor, growth in per capita income over 2023-24 is expected to average just 1.2%, a rate that could cause poverty rates to rise, not fall.

Advanced Economies

• Growth in advanced economies is projected to slow from 2.5% in 2022 to 0.5% in 2023. Over the past two decades, slowdowns of this scale have foreshadowed a global recession. In the United States, growth is forecast to fall to 0.5% in 2023, the weakest performance outside of official recessions since 1970. In 2023, Euro-area growth is expected at zero percent, and in China, growth is projected at 4.3% in 2023.

Emerging Market and Developing Economies

• Excluding China, growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to decelerate from 3.8% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023, reflecting significantly weaker external demand compounded by high inflation, currency depreciation, tighter financing conditions, and other domestic headwinds.
• By the end of 2024, GDP levels in emerging and developing economies will be roughly 6% below levels expected before the pandemic. Although global inflation is expected to moderate, it will remain above pre-pandemic levels.

Investment Growth

• The report also offers a comprehensive assessment of the medium-term outlook for investment growth in emerging market and developing economies. Over the 2022-2024 period, gross investment in these economies is likely to grow by about 3.5% on average—less than half the rate that prevailed in the previous two decades.
• The report suggests a menu of options for policymakers to accelerate investment growth, such as establishing sound fiscal and monetary policy frameworks and undertaking comprehensive reforms in the investment climate.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX 2022

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- REPORT AND INDEXES

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Henley Passport Index released the global ranking of world’s passport according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the index, the strongest passport is defined by the number of countries people with a passport can visit visa-free or visa-on-arrival. The top 10 strongest passports in the world are:
  1. Japan (193)
  2. Singapore/South Korea (192)
  3. Germany/Spain (190)
  4. Finland/Italy/Luxembourg (189)
  5. Austria/Denmark/Netherlands/Sweden (188)
  6. France/Ireland/Portugal/United Kingdom (187)
  7. Belgium/Czech Republic/New Zealand/Norway/Switzerland/United States (186)
  8. Australia/Canada/Greece/Malta (185)
  9. Hungary/Poland (184)
  10. Lithuania/Slovakia (183)

India’s Position in the Index

• India ranks 85th on the index, up two places from last year’s 87th position. Despite having the world’s fifth-largest economy, Indian passport holders can access only 59 destinations worldwide and only 6.7% of global GDP, of which India’s own GDP accounts for about half. Indian passport holders have lost visa-free access to Serbia.
• Starting January 1, 2023, Indian passport holders are required to apply for a visa to enter the country, unlike in the past when visa-free travel to the country for 90 days was allowed. Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 59 destinations such as Bhutan, Indonesia, Macao, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Iran, and Qatar. Some countries require visa-on-arrival.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is the Henley Passport Index?

• The Henley Passport Index is prepared by London-based Henley and Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm. The index claims to be the “original ranking of all the world’s passports” and is updated quarterly according to countries’ visa policy changes.
• It gathers data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which manages inter-airline cooperation globally. The index covers 227 destinations and 199 passports and compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations. If no visa is required, then a score with value = 1 is created for that passport. The same applies if you can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination.

5. POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE(PET)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Researchers from the University of Cambridge, the United Kingdom have recently developed a system that can transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and other valuable products using solar energy.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The researchers developed an integrated reactor with two separate compartments: One for plastic and one for greenhouse gases.
• The reactor uses a light absorber based on perovskite – a promising alternative to silicon for next-generation solar cells.
• Tests of the reactor under normal temperature and pressure conditions showed the reactor could efficiently convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and CO2 into different carbon-based fuels such as CO, syngas or formate, in addition to glycolic acid.
• The reactor produced these products at a rate that is also much higher than conventional photocatalytic CO2 reduction processes.

What is Polyethylene terephthalate?

• It is a condensation polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.
• The by-product of the reaction is water so it is an example of condensation or step-growth polymerization.
• PET Plastic is a thermoplastic synthetic substance which malleable under heat and can be placed into nearly any shape.

1. WHAT IS A COLD WAVE?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-I- GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: In the month of January 2023, Delhi and other parts of northwest India have been reeling under a cold wave.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Delhi recorded cold wave conditions for five consecutive days so far this (Jan) month, making it the longest such spell in a decade. The lowest minimum temperature recorded this month was 1.9 degrees Celsius on January 8, 2023 the second-lowest minimum temperature in January in 15 years.
• While lower-than-normal temperatures were recorded over parts of Northwest India from the December 2022 , these conditions intensified in the first week of January. Fog and low cloud coverage brought severe cold day conditions to the region, when temperatures remained below normal over parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

What is a cold wave?

• The IMD marks a cold wave in terms of minimum temperatures – when the minimum temperature in the plains is 4 degrees or less or when the minimum temperature is less than 10 degrees and 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below the normal.
• According to scientist, one of the major factors contributing to colder than normal temperatures over north India this month is the large-scale fog cover. “While westerly and north-westerly winds of around 5 to 10 kmph in the afternoon have also been contributing to the dip in temperature, an important factor this month is fog, which has been lasting for longer durations, preventing sunlight from reaching the surface and affecting the radiation balance.
• There is no heating in the day time, and then there is the impact of the night. Foggy or cloudy nights are usually associated with warmer nights, but if the fog remains for two or three days, cooling begins even at night”.

2. LAND SUBSIDENCE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-I- GEOGRAPHY- GEOMORPHOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:The exact reason behind Joshimath land subsidence is still unknown but experts cite unplanned construction, over-population, obstruction of the natural flow of water, and hydel power activities as possible causes.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Land Subsidence?

• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), subsidence is the sinking of the ground because of underground material movement.
• It can happen for a host of reasons, man-made or natural, such as the removal of water, oil, or natural resources, along with mining activities. Earthquakes, soil erosion, and soil compaction are also some of the well-known causes of subsidence.
• The subsidence can happen over very large areas like whole states or provinces, or very small areas like the corner of your yard.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), subsidence is the sinking of the ground because of underground material movement.

Reasons can be manmade or natural:

• removal of water, oil, or natural resources, along with mining activities
• Earthquakes
• Soil erosion and
• Soil compaction

Reasons behind Joshimath subsidence:

• unplanned construction,
• over-population,
• obstruction of the natural flow of water and hydel power activities.
• the area is a seismic zone, which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
• the subsidence in Joshimath might have been triggered by the reactivation of a geographic fault —
• defined as a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock — where the Indian Plate has pushed under the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas.

3. OZONE HOLE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: According to a new assessment says the ozone layer will recover to 1980 values by 2066 over Antarctica; in Artic by 2045. Success of Montreal Protocol is noteworthy, but phasing out greenhouse gases is more difficult.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The ozone ‘hole’, once considered to be the gravest danger to planetary life, is now expected to be completely repaired by 2066, a scientific assessment has suggested. In fact, it is only the ozone layer over Antarctica — where the hole is the most prominent — which will take a long time to heal completely. Over the rest of the world, the ozone layer is expected to be back to where it was in 1980 by 2040 itself, a UN-backed scientific panel has reported.
• The recovery of the ozone layer has been made possible by the successful elimination of some harmful industrial chemicals, together referred to as Ozone Depleting Substances or ODSs, through the implementation of the 1989 Montreal Protocol. The assessment has reported that nearly 99 per cent of the substances banned by the Montreal Protocol have now been eliminated from use, resulting in a slow but definite recovery of the ozone layer.

Damage to the ozone layer

• The depletion of the ozone layer, first noticed in the early 1980s, used to be the biggest environmental threat before climate change came along. Ozone (chemically, a molecule having three Oxygen atoms, or O3) is found mainly in the upper atmosphere, an area called stratosphere, between 10 and 50 km from the Earth’s surface. It is critical for planetary life, since it absorbs ultraviolet rays coming from the Sun.
• UV rays are known to cause skin cancer and many other diseases and deformities in plants and animals.
• Though the problem is commonly referred to as the emergence of a ‘hole’ in the ozone layer, it is actually just a reduction in concentration of the ozone molecules. Even in the normal state, ozone is present in extremely low concentrations in the stratosphere. Where the ‘layer’ is supposed to be the thickest, there are no more than a few molecules of ozone for every million air molecules.

Improvement in the situation

• The ozone hole has been steadily improving since 2000, thanks to the effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
• The latest scientific assessment has said that if current policies continued to be implemented, the ozone layer was expected to recover to 1980 values by 2066 over Antarctica, by 2045 over the Arctic, and by 2040 for the rest of the world.
• The elimination of ozone-depleting substances has an important climate change co-benefit as well. These substances also happen to be powerful greenhouse gases, several of them hundreds or even thousands of times more dangerous than carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas and the main driver of global warming.

Connect the dots:

• Montreal Protocol
• Paris Agreement
• Ozone Depleting Substances or ODS’s.

4. SC DEMONETISATION VERDICT: WHAT IS DELEGATED LEGISLATION

TAGS:GS-II- POLITY

THE CONTEXT:In upholding the Centre’s 2016 decision on demonetisation, one of the key questions to decide for the Supreme Court was whether Parliament gave excessive powers to the Centre under the law to demonetise currency.

THE EXPLANATION:

While the majority ruling upheld the validity of the delegated legislation, the dissenting verdict noted that excessive delegation of power is arbitrary.

What is delegated legislation?

Parliament routinely delegates certain functions to authorities established by law since every aspect cannot be dealt with directly by the law makers themselves. This delegation of powers is noted in statutes, which are commonly referred to as delegated legislations.

• The delegated legislation would specify operational details, giving power to those executing the details. Regulations and by-laws under legislations are classic examples of delegated legislation.
• A 1973 Supreme Court ruling explains the concept as: “The practice of empowering the Executive to make subordinate legislation within a prescribed sphere has evolved out of practical necessity and pragmatic needs of a modern welfare State.
• At the same time it has to be borne in mind that our Constitution-makers have entrusted the power of legislation to the representatives of the people, so that the said power may be exercised not only in the name of the people but also by the people speaking through their representatives. The role against excessive delegation of legislative authority flows from and is a necessary postulate of the sovereignty of the people.”

What was the delegation of power in the demonetisation case?

• Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 essentially gives powers to the Centre to notify that a particular denomination of currency ceases to be legal tender.
• The provision reads: “On recommendation of the Central Board the Central Government may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare that, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, any series of bank notes of any denomination shall cease to be legal tender.”

Why is excessive delegation power an issue?

• A 1959 landmark ruling in Hamdard Dawakhana v Union of India, the Supreme Court had struck down delegation of powers on the grounds that it was vague. A Constitution Bench considered the validity of certain provisions of the Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act that prohibited advertisements of certain drugs for treatment of certain diseases and dealt with the powers of search, seizure and entry.
• The Court held that the central government’s power of specifying diseases and conditions as given in Section 3(d) is ‘uncanalised’, ‘uncontrolled’, and going beyond the permissible boundaries of valid delegation. Hence, the same was deemed unconstitutional.

5. INDIAN BLACKBUCK

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:A new study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has shed light on how blackbuck in India have fared in the face of natural and human-induced challenges to their survival.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The blackbuck is found only on the Indian subcontinent. While males have corkscrew-shaped horns and black-to-dark brown coats, the females are fawn-coloured. The animals are mainly seen in three broad clusters across India that pertain to the northern, the southern, and the eastern regions.
• This geographic separation as well as dense human habitation between the clusters would be expected to make it difficult for them to move from one location to another.

Genetic profiling

• The researchers tracked the animals on foot and in vehicles from a distance to collect the samples. In the lab, they extracted and sequenced the DNA from the faecal samples to study the genetic makeup of blackbuck, and deployed computational tools to map the geographic locations with the genetic data. The team also used simulations to trace how the three present-day clusters may have evolved from their common ancestor.
• What they found was that an ancestral blackbuck population first split into two groups: the northern and the southern cluster. The eastern cluster seems to have emerged from the southern cluster.
• Next, the team found that despite all odds, male blackbuck appear to disperse more than expected, thus contributing to gene flow in this species. Females, on the other hand, appear to stay largely within their native population ranges, which the researchers inferred from unique mitochondrial signatures in each population. The data also showed an increasing trend in blackbuck population numbers as compared to the recent past.

VALUE ADDITION:

• Indian Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope and is the only living species of the genus Antilope.
• It is considered to be the fastest animal in the world next to Cheetah.
• The horns of the blackbuck are ringed with one to four spiral turns and the female is usually hornless.

• Habitat: 
  • Blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas.
  • Due to its regular need of water, it prefers areas where water is perennially available.
  • It is found in Central- Western India (MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha) and Southern India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu).
• Protection Status: 
  • Hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
  • It has been categorised least concerned in IUCN Red Data Book.
• The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known worldwide for their conservation efforts to blackbuck and Chinkara.

INDIAN POLITY

1. DEMONETISATION VERDICT

TAGS: GS-II- INDIAN POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court in the majority opinion (4:1) upheld the Union Government’s demonetization order of 8th November 2016 to demonetize currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

THE EXPLANATION:

The majority of judges (4:1) accepted all arguments of the Union Government

• Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 gives the Union government the power to demonetize currency “on the recommendation of the Central Board” of the RBI.
• The majority view found that the word ‘recommendation’ would mean a consultative process between the Central Board and the Central Government.”
• The judges highlighted that it cannot be expected that the RBI and the Central Government acted in two isolated boxes. An element of interaction/consultation in such important matters cannot be denied.
• The majority verdict states that curbing fake currency, black money and terror funding are legitimate interests of the state and have a rational nexus with demonetization.
• The court said that the Centre is the best judge since it has all the inputs about fake currency, black money, terror financing & drug trafficking.
• The majority stated that the court cannot determine the effectiveness of the economic policy. It agreed with the Centre’s contention that the decision had to be made in secrecy and haste for it to be effective.

Justice B V Nagarathna disagreed with the reasoning and conclusions in the majority opinion

• The Justice stated that demonetization was a violation of Section 26(2) of the RBI Act as the recommendation for the demonetization originated from the Centre and not the RBI’s Central Board.

2. AMENDMENT RELATED TO ONLINE GAMING

TAGS: GS-II- INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology proposed an amendment to bring online gaming under the regulations of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

The proposed model is similar to the rules in place for digital news sites and streaming services under the IT Rules, 2021.

• The Ministry highlighted that the proposed framework will;
  o Boost the legitimate domestic online gaming industry.
  o Ensure greater transparency.
  o Promote Consumer protection and investor confidence.
• The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) stated that it would reduce the State-wise regulatory fragmentation that was a big challenge for the industry.

Online Gaming Market in India

• A 2019 survey by the U.S.-based Limelight Networks found that India had the second-largest number of gamers after South Korea.
• The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to exceed $1.5 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $5 billion in 2025.
• The industry in the country grew at a CAGR of 38% between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8% in China and 10% in the US.
• It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024. India’s percentage of new paying users (NPUs) in gaming has been the fastest growing in the world for two consecutive years, at 40% in 2020 and reaching 50% in 2021.
• According to a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), transaction-based games’ revenues grew 26% in India, with the number of paying gamers increasing by 17% from 80 million in 2020 to 95 million in 2021.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

3. ONE-HORNED RHINOS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Assam Chief Minister has recently announced that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

Rhino Population
The park’s Rhino population has also increased. Under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020), the Assam government decided to reintroduce rhinos in Manas National Park in 2005, and the first rhino was translocated to the park in 2006, from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park.

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:
• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

The Greater One-Horned Rhino is one among the five different species of Rhino. The other four are:

1. Black Rhino: Smaller of the two African species. (IUCN: Critically Endangered)
2. White Rhino: Recently, researchers have created an embryo of the northern white Rhino by using In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. (ICUN: Near Threatened)
3. Javan Rhino: Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
4. Sumatran Rhino: Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

About Manas National Park

• Manas National Park is situated on the bank of the river men at the foothills of the Himalayas. The beautiful park is earlier known as North Kamrup wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 519.77 sq km and was declared a sanctuary on December 01, 1928. It was established as the core of the Manas Tiger Reserve in April 1973 and elevated to the position of a National Park status on September 7, 1990.
• The wildlife species found in the national park are Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog, Golden Langur, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Buffalo etc. Other commonly seen animals are elephants, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Himalayan bears, Wild boars, Samber, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer etc.

VALUE ADDITION:
INDIAN RHINO VISION 2020 (IRV 2020)

• Launched in 2005.
• The initiative is led by the Forest Department, Government of Assam, in partnership with WWF India, the International Rhino Foundation.
• The goal of IRV2020 was to increase the rhino population in Assam to 3,000by, by establishing populations in new areas.
• Rhinos are now found in four Protected Areas in Assam: Pobitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park.

4. NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FILTER MICRO-PLASTICS FROM WATER

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can quickly and efficiently filter out microplastics. Crucially, the polymer used is relatively inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In an experiment, over 99.9 per cent of contaminants were taken out of the water in just 10 seconds.
• Microplastics have inundated the world, finding their way into the human food chain . While some traditional carbon-based filters can filter out microplastics, they have limitations — the adsorption rate is slow and they are not energy-efficient.
• The Korean team’s breakthrough system requires lower levels of energy, making it ideal for solar-based use. This is particularly useful for developing countries where power supply is inconsistent.

The Problem of Microplastics in Water

• Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size, have become a global problem. They have been found in water bodies, soil, and air, and have even made their way into the human food chain.
• The presence of microplastics in water can have negative impacts on aquatic life and potentially on human health.

VALUE ADDITION:
Measures taken by government:

• India has pledged to ban all single-use plastics by 2022.
• All offices of central and state governments and major PSUs have been told to prohibit single-use plastic products.
• India has banned imports of solid plastic waste.
• India has passed the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility.

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

• It aims to increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns.
• Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas, because plastic has reached rural areas also.
• Extended Producer Responsibility: To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system and to introduce collect back system of plastic waste by the producers/brand owners, as per extended producers responsibility
• Introduced collection of plastic waste management fee through pre-registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry bags/multilayered packaging and vendors selling the same for establishing the waste management system
• Promote use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery, or waste to oil etc. for gainful utilization of waste and also address the waste disposal issue.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

5. ‘SMART’ (SCOPE FOR MAINSTREAMING AYURVEDA RESEARCH IN TEACHING PROFESSIONALS) PROGRAM

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II- GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under Ministry of Ayush launched ‘SMART’- scope for mainstreaming ayurveda research in teaching professionals programme.

THE EXPLANATION:

About ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) Program:

• It is aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
• The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• The eligible Ayurveda academic institutions may apply by 10 January, 2023.
• All details regarding contact information, eligibility criteria and application process has been shared to all recognized academic institutions and hospitals through NCISM.
• The ‘SMART’ program will motivate teachers for taking up projects in designated areas of healthcare research and create a large database.