DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS BITS
TOPIC – 1 – INS Trikand
INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 23.
About INS Trikand:
- INS Trikand is a frontline frigate equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors. The ship is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai.
- It belongs to the Talwar class of guided missile frigates.
- It was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Key facts about the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023
- It is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world.
- While this is Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the combined maritime forces.
- The newest iteration of Cutlass Express will primarily be carried out in Djibouti, Kenya and Mauritius.
- It will feature a series of shore-based and at-sea training activities that will take place along the eastern coast of Africa.
- It aims to bolster regional security and stability in the Western Indian Ocean.
- Participating nations will include the US, Canada, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, the UK, Japan, Tanzania, Seychelles, France, Kenya, Georgia, Comoros and Greece.
TOPIC – 2 – Megha-Tropiques-1
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be undertaking a challenging experiment of a controlled re-entry of the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1) satellite on March 7, 2023.
About Megha-Tropiques-1:
- Megha-Tropiques is an Indo-French Joint Satellite Mission for studying the water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics.
- Objective: To understand the life cycle of convective systems that influence tropical weather and climate and their role in the associated energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere in tropical regions.
- It provides scientific data on the contribution of the water cycle to the tropical atmosphere, with information on condensed water in clouds, water vapour in the atmosphere, precipitation, and evaporation.
- With its circular orbit inclined 20 deg to the equator, the Megha-Tropiques is a unique satellite for climate research that should also aid scientists seeking to refine prediction models.
- The Megha-Tropiques has day, night and all-weather viewing capabilities; it passes over India almost a dozen times every day, giving scientists an almost real-time assessment of the evolution of clouds.
Megha-Tropiques carries the following four payloads:
- Microwave Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures (MADRAS), an Imaging Radiometer developed jointly by CNES and ISRO
- Sounder for Probing Vertical Profiles of Humidity (SAPHIR), from CNES.
- Scanner for Radiation Budget (ScaRaB), from CNES.
- Radio Occultation Sensor for Vertical Profiling of Temperature and Humidity (ROSA), procured from Italy.
TOPIC – 3 – Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)
The Union government is looking at a possible extension of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) amid global economic uncertainty and expectation of slower domestic growth next fiscal.
About Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS):
- It was launched by the Government of India in 2020 as a special scheme in view of the Covid-19 crisis.
- Objective: To provide 100 percent guaranteed coverage to the banks, non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs), and other lending institutions to extend emergency credit to business entities that have suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are struggling to meet their working capital requirements.
- ECLGS is under the operational domain of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services (DFS).
- National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC) has been set up by the Union Ministry of Finance to manage and provide guarantees to these loans.
- ECLGS was launched in different phases – ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0, ECLGS 3.0, and ECLGS 4.0. In different phases, the scope of this scheme was increased to include multiple sectors.
- Sanctions/disbursements are made by lending institutions based on assessment of the borrower’s requirements and eligibility.
- Processing charges, foreclosure, and prepayment charges are waived under the scheme.
- No collateral is required for this scheme.
- ECLGS 1.0:
- Under the scheme, borrowers could avail of additional credit of up to 20 percent of their overall outstanding credit as on February 29, 2020.
- Eligibility: Business Enterprises/MSMEs with outstanding loans of up to Rs 25 crore as of February 29, 2020, with an annual turnover cap of Rs 100 crore for the financial year 2019-2020.
TOPIC – 4 – Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023
Recently, the President of India presented the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023 and graced the launch of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain -2023 in New Delhi.
About Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman:
- Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman’ is to highlight and acknowledge the leadership and contribution of women at the grass-root level in the journey towards making a ‘Swachh Sujal Bharat’.
- The women achievers who have contributed exceptionally to ODF Plus Model Villages, Har Ghar Jal Villages, Water Conservation, etc. under the National Flagship Missions were felicitated.
- This year’s event was organized by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to honour the women champions of the rural water and sanitation sector.
What is the Catch the Rain campaign?
- Catch the Rain is a Jan Andolan campaign to encourage all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures (RWHS).
- Tag line: Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls.
- The campaign is implemented by the National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The campaign takes place across the country, in both rural and urban areas.
TOPIC – 5 – Nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer
The Government recently approved the launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer in India and has been notified in the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO).
About nano liquid DAP fertilizer:
- It is a concentrated phosphate-based fertilizer.
- It provides phosphorous nutrition throughout the crop growth and development cycle.
- Nano-DAP is jointly manufactured by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in association with a private player Coromandel.
- Nano-DAP will be sold at Rs 600 per bottle of 500 ml. One bottle will be equivalent to one bag of DAP, which currently costs Rs 1,350.
- Expected benefits:
- DAP is the second most consumed fertilizer in the country after urea.
- Out of the estimated annual consumption of around 10-12.5 million tonnes, local production is around 4-5 million tonnes, while the rest has to be imported.
- Nano-DAP will help to bring down India’s fertilizer import bill.
- It is also expected to contribute to bringing down the annual subsidy on non-urea fertilizers.
What is Fertilizer Control Order(FCO)?
- It has been issued under the Essential Commodities Act 1955.
- It is administered by Department of Agriculture Cooperation, Govt. of India.
- The FCO lays down,
- what substances qualify for use as fertilizers in the soil;
- product-wise specifications;
- methods for sampling and analysis of fertilizers;
- the procedure for obtaining a license/registration as a manufacturer/dealer in fertilizers;
- conditions to be fulfilled for trading thereof;
TOPIC – 6 – Army Court martial
An Army court martial in Jammu and Kashmir has recommended life imprisonment for a Captain in connection with the killing of three men in a staged encounter at a remote hilly village at Amshipura in the Shopian district of south Kashmir in July 2020.
About Court martial:
- A court-martial has been granted the authority to judge the guilt of members of the armed forces which is subject to military law, and, in the case, if the accused or defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment which they have to carry.
What is the legal Provision related to court martial in India?
- The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 was passed by the Parliament and led to the formation of the Armed Forces Tribunal.
- This tribunal is empowered with the adjudication of disputes and complaints concerning the commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950
- Composition of the Armed Forces Tribunal
- The Judicial Members are retired High Court Judgesand Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more.
- Judge Advocate General (JAG) who has held the appointment for at least one year is also entitled to be appointed as the Administrative Member.
- There are four kinds of courts-martial in India namely; General Court Martial (GCM), District Court Martial (DCM), Summary General Court Martial (SGCM) and Summary Court Martial (SCM).
- Under the Army Act, army courts can try personnel for all kinds of offences, except for murder and rape of a civilian, which are primarily tried by a civilian court of law.
- Pardoning power: The president of India can use his judicial power under Article 72 of the Constitution to pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment or sentence given by a court martial.
TOPIC – 7 – Apple cultivation
Demand for apples from Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has shot up 30% as the earthquake in Turkey has halted shipments of the fruit to India.
About Apple cultivation:
- In India apple is primarily cultivated in Jammu & Kashmir; Himachal Pradesh; the hills of Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
- It is also cultivated to a small extent in Arunachal Pradesh; Nagaland; Punjab and Sikkim.
- Climatic conditions required
- The apple is a temperate fruit crop.
- However, in India, the apple-growing areas do not fall in the temperate zone but the prevailing temperate climate of the region is due to the Himalayan ranges and high altitudes.
- Temperature: The average summer temperature should be around 21-24 degrees C during the active growth period.
- It can be grown at an altitude of 1500- 2700 m above sea level.
- Rainfall: Well-distributed rainfall of 1000-1250 mm throughout the growing season is most favourable for the optimum growth and fruitfulness of apple trees.
- Soil: Apples grow best on well-drained, loamy soils.
TOPIC – 8 – United Nations High Seas Treaty
After more than a decade of negotiations, the countries of the United Nations have recently agreed to the High Seas Treaty.
About UN High Seas Treaty:
- It is the first-ever treaty to protect the world’s oceans that lie outside national boundaries.
- It is also known as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean.’
- It is a legally binding treaty to protect marine life in international waters.
- It aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030 (a pledge made by countries at the UN biodiversity conference in 2022).
- It will provide a legal framework for establishing vast marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect against the loss of wildlife and share out the genetic resources of the high seas.
- It also covers environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities, such as deep-sea mining.
- It will establish a conference of the parties (CoP) that will meet periodically and enable member states to be held to account on issues such as governance and biodiversity.
- The treaty also includes a pledge by signatories to share ocean resources.
- The treaty is built on the legacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is the last international agreement on ocean protection, signed 40 years ago in 1982. UNCLOS established an area called the high seas.
What are High Seas?
- The high seas begin at the border of countries’ exclusive economic zones, which extend up to 370km (200 nautical miles) from coastlines.
- Beyond that point, the seas are under the jurisdiction of no country, and all countries have a right to fish, ship, and do research.
- They make up more than 60% of the world’s oceans by surface area.
- Activities on the high seas are often unregulated and insufficiently monitored, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
TOPIC – 9 – Raisina Security Dialogue
India recently held the second edition of the Raisina Security Dialogue.
About Raisina Security Dialogue:
- It is a conference of intelligence and security chiefs and top officials from around the world.
- It is modeled on the lines of the Munich Security Conference and Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue.
- It is organized by the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
- It was held for the first time in April 2022.
- Raisina Security Dialogue 2023:
- This is the second edition of the dialogue.
- It saw participation from over 26 countries, including intelligence chiefs from the U.K, Japan, France, and Bahrain.
- The focus of the discussions was largely on global security, which encompassed counterterrorism, radicalization, drug trafficking, and illegal arms smuggling, among others.
Munich Security Conference:
- It is an annual conference on international security policy that has been held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany since 1963.
- It has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers.
- The list of attendees includes heads of state, governments and international organizations, ministers, members of parliament, high-ranking representatives of armed forces, science, and civil society, as well as business and media.
- The conference is held annually in February. The venue is the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Shangri-La Dialogue:
- It is Asia’s premier defense and security summit.
- It is attended by Defence Ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific countries.
- It is organized by an independent think-thank, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
- The summit is named after the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore, where it has been held since 2002.
TOPIC – 10 – Organoid Intelligence
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) recently outlined a plan for a potentially revolutionary new area of research called “organoid intelligence”, which aims to create “biocomputers”:
What is an Organoid?
- Organoids are lab-grown tissues that resemble organs.
- They are three-dimensional structures usually derived from stem cells.
- They are smaller, simpler versions of an organ and can mimic the architecture and function of specific organs in the body.
- They can be crafted to replicate much of the complexity of an organ or to express selected aspects of it, like producing only certain types of cells.
- Organoids can range in size from less than the width of a hair to five millimeters.
What is meant by ‘Organoid Intelligence’?
- It refers to the ability of organoids to exhibit certain behaviors or responses that are indicative of intelligence, such as problem-solving, learning, or adapting to changing environments.
- It is an emerging field where researchers are developing biological computing using 3D cultures of human brain cells (brain organoids) and brain-machine interface technologies.
- These organoids share aspects of brain structure and function that play a key role in cognitive functions like learning and memory.
- They would essentially serve as biological hardware and could one day be even more efficient than current computers running AI programs.
- OI requires scaling up current brain organoids into complex, durable 3D structures enriched with cells and genes associated with learning and connecting these to next-generation input and output devices and AI/machine learning systems.
- OI requires new models, algorithms, and interface technologies to communicate with brain organoids, understand how they learn and compute, and process and store the massive amounts of data they will generate.
What are Biocomputers?
- They are a type of computer that use biological molecules, such as DNA or proteins, to perform computational tasks.
- These computers can perform certain operations much faster than traditional electronic computers and have the potential to revolutionize fields such as medicine and biotechnology.
- One type of biocomputer is a DNA computer, which uses strands of DNA to store and process information.
TOPIC – 11 – The hardships of a career in Ayurvedic practice
Why in news?
Despite the publicity campaigns to promote Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), there is a trust-deficit in these systems.
What is AYUSH?
- AYUSH systems are based on definite medical philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established concepts on prevention of diseases and promotion of health.
- In 1995, with the objective of optimal and focused development of these systems, the Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy was created in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- In 2003, this Department was re named as Department of AYUSH.
- India has a rich heritage of medical wisdom derived from the Vedas that prevailed as Ayurveda.
- AYUSH is the principal medical practice of the country for centuries, forming part of Indian ethos and culture.
Why AYUSH is viewed with scepticism?
- Credibility of Ayurvedic theories – There is widespread scepticism in the public mind about the soundness of Ayurvedic theories and the fruitfulness of its practices.
- Archaic theories that are apt to arouse suspicion in the minds of educated patients are peddled as sophisticated dogmas.
- Not in line with today’s science – The Ayurveda establishment has failed to keep pace with the intellectual and scientific advances of the times.
- Lack of scrutiny – Treatments are made to escape straightforward experimental scrutiny because of their supposed rootedness in such theories.
- Lack of evidence – A major reason for the trust-deficit in Ayurveda is its diminished evidence-based quality.
- Slow treatment – That Ayurveda treatments are slow to heal is another common view that characterises the public image of Ayurveda.
What is the status of AYUSH today?
- Contemporary to modern science – Ayurveda has grown and adapted like any other medicine or school of medicine in the world.
- National Ayush Mission (NAM) – It is a flagship scheme of Ministry of AYUSH.
- The basic objective of NAM is to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost effective AYUSH services.
- It envisages flexibility of implementation of the programmes which will lead to substantial participation of the State Governments/UT.
What are the difficulties faced by the AYUSH practitioner?
- No practical lessons – The practitioner would discover that what has been taught to them in college training is a huge corpus of ancient medical wisdom, where only a part is practically usable.
- Lack of ecosystem – Ayurveda does not have a vibrant ecosystem of science and research, the poor practitioner has to depend on himself to discover treatments and approaches that actually work.
- Affects reputation – The process involves a lot of trial and error with patients and predictably leads to erosion of the practitioner’s reputation.
- Gimmicks – Few practitioners who are using regular newspaper columns, television shows, and social media sites, entrap gullible patients.
What is the need for integrating various medicine fields?
- China – In the 1970s, it pushed traditional medicine, through its economic and political agenda to get total quality Chinese medicine outside China, which eventually was accepted by the world.
- India – India has a brand ambassador in yoga and wellness as our Prime Minister, and wellness is being accepted across the world.
The e-health market size is estimated to reach US$ 10.6 billion by 2025.
- Wellness – We should focus on pushing wellness on a larger horizon and approach it from the point where it complements whatever is going on in allopathic hospitals.
- Post-surgery recovery – Ayurveda can be used to complement what hospitals do, especially after surgeries when they have to recover.
What is the way forward?
- Policy making – Appropriate policy-making can solve a lot of these problems faced by the Ayurveda practitioners.
- Focus on primary care – Primary-care doctors are becoming an endangered species in India’s health-care system.
- Rejuvenating primary care is a sine qua non if a country is to secure the health of its citizens.
- Training – Ayurveda graduates can contribute enormously towards this rejuvenation if trained properly.
- Promotion of Ayurvedic theories – A vigorous evidence-based appraisal of Ayurvedic theories and practices in order to sift the usable from the obsolete will help the cause.
- Modern medicine – Ayurveda graduates must be allowed to practise modern medicine in stipulated primary care areas.
- These reforms would help create a workforce that can function effectively to meet the primary health-care needs of both urban and rural India.
TOPIC – 12 – Appointment of Election Commissioners
Why in news?
Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) by the President will be based on the advice of a three-member high-level committee.
What were the petitions about?
- PIL – In 2015, a public interest litigation (PIL), contended that successive governments failed to set up a “fair, just and transparent process” for the selection of Election Commissioners.
- Political leaning – The Court noted that an Election Commissioner could be competent and honest but could have a definite political leaning which may show in office.
- Not weak-kneed – The SC observed that the country needed Election Commissioners who would not shirk from even taking on the Prime Minister if required, and not just “weak-kneed” yes-men.
What is the current process of selection of Election Commissioners?
- In Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) by the President will be based on the advice of a three-member high-level committee.
- Article 324 (2) – President shall with aid and advice of Council of Ministers, appoint CEC and ECs, till Parliament enacts a law fixing the criteria for selection, conditions of service and tenure.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar – “There is no use making the tenure of the Election Commissioner a fixed and secure tenure if there is no provision in the Constitution to prevent either a fool or a knave or a person who is likely to be under the thumb of the executive.”
- Tenure – Under the Election Commission Act, 1991, an EC can have a tenure of six years or up to the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
- Typically, the senior-most election commissioner is appointed as the CEC.
- Removal – Once appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through Parliamentary impeachment.
- However, no such protection of tenure is available to ECs, who can be removed by the government on the recommendation of the CEC.
What revision has the top court ordered?
- 3 Member Panel – As per the SC’s directions, a panel that includes the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India will now advise the President regarding the appointment of Election Commissioners.
- This is similar to the appointment of the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
- If the position of the Leader of the Opposition is vacant, the leader of the single largest opposition party will be on the committee.
- This system of appointment will be in force till the Parliament comes up with a specific law.
- Funding – The Parliament and central government to constitute an independent secretariat to deal with the expenditure of the Commission, and insulate it from any financial obligation to the government.
What are the positive outcomes of the verdict?
- Constituent Assembly – The framers’ belief that delegation to Parliament would solve the vexing issue of the independence of the EC instead of constitutionalising it seems particularly naive.
- Inaction from parliament – Parliament has not acted, and the executive controls the appointments process, is contrary to the intention underlying Article 324.
- Role of EC in democracy – The ever-expanding scope, powers, and functions of the Election Commission, in the context of the role of free and fair elections in sustaining constitutional democracy.
- Right to vote – The constitutional right to vote cannot be actualised without an infrastructure of implementation in place.
- This, inevitably, has to take the form of an Election Commission charged with the superintendence, direction and control over elections.
- Independence of the EC – The absence of parliamentary legislation, coupled with the affirmative power vested in the Prime Minister to appoint the CEC and the ECs affect their independence.
What are the negative outcomes of the ruling?
- Doctrine of separation of powers – It flows from the Constitution, which sought to establish 3 institutional organs, namely the legislature, executive and the judiciary.
- Against basic structure – The Court’s justification of these appointment making powers is contrary to the basic structure doctrine, which the Court itself has continuously championed.
- National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) – In 2015, the SC observed that the NJAC is unconstitutional as a result of its violation of the basic structure doctrine.
- The NJAC sought to introduce a system that would enable a healthy system of checks and balances in the appointment of judges.
- However, the judiciary was reluctant to accept this proposal as it was viewed as a threat to judicial independence, and therefore, the basic structure, and the collegium system was reinstated.
- While it sought to fiercely protect its position as per the basic structure doctrine in NJAC, it acted in complete contravention of the doctrine while deciding the present matter.
- Undermining powers – Through this verdict, the Court has undermined the legislature and the executive, including their powers, their roles, and the duties they owe to the Indian people.
TOPIC – 13 – Great Seahorses
The great seahorse could be migrating laboriously toward Odisha due to extensive fishing off the Coromandel Coast.
- Seahorses belong to the family syngnathid.
- They are known for their unusual body shape and biology.
- In seahorses males incubate the fertilized eggs, sometimes up to 1,500 in a brood pouch.
- Distribution – There are 46 species of seahorses reported worldwide.
- 12 species of seahorses are found in the Indo-Pacific region, one of the hotspots of seahorse populations.
- In India – The coastal ecosystems of India house 9 species, distributed along the coastal regions of India.
- Habitat – Seahorse populations are distributed across diverse ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves, macro algal beds, and coral reefs.
- Migration – Seahorses are poor swimmers but migrate by rafting.
- They cling on to floating substrata such as macro algae or plastic debris for dispersal by ocean currents.
- Threats – Overexploitation for traditional Chinese medicines and as ornamental fish, general destructive fishing and fisheries bycatch.
In 2001 all the seahorse species found in India was kept in Schedule I of WLPA, 1972 and from then on fishing and trading activities on seahorses were banned in India.
- Conservation Status – Great Seahorse(Hippocampus kelloggi)
TOPIC – 14 – Bio-computers
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) recently outlined a plan for ‘organoid intelligence’ (OI), which aims to create ‘bio-computers’.
- Organoids – The 3D cultures of brain tissue built in the lab are called brain organoids.
- These are of size up to 4 mm and are also called ‘mini-brains’.
- They are built using human stem cells and capture many structural and functional features of a developing human brain.
- Method – In bio-computers brain cultures grown in the lab are coupled to real-world sensors and input/output devices.
- The scheme will combine brain organoids with modern computing methods to create ‘bio-computers’, like coupling the organoids with machine learning.
- Organoids are grown inside flexible structures affixed with multiple electrodes to mimic sensory stimuli.
- Uses – Researchers are now using them to study human brain development and test drugs to see how they respond.
- Organoids can reveal the biological basis of human cognition, learning, and memory.
- Help decode the pathology of and drug development for neuro diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and microcephaly.
- Limitations – The organoids currently don’t have sensory inputs and blood circulation.
TOPIC – 15 – Pump and Dump Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently barred 31 entities, including actor Arshad Warsi, his wife from the securities market in a case related to ‘Pump and Dump’ Scheme.
- SEBI discovered a spike in the price and trading volume of 2 broadcasting firms – Sadhna and Sharpline, and found out the scam.
- Pump and dump is a manipulative scheme in capital market.
- It involves “pumping up” the share price and then “dump” the shares.
‘Pump and dump’ is a 3-step process.
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- SEBI’s stand – Pump-and-dump operations are illegal.
- SEBI terms such schemes as fraudulent and unfair trade practices, which can hamper the sanctity of Indian capital markets.
- Arshad Warsi’s case – Actor Arshad Warsi and his wife were offloading shares of the company while indulging in promotional activities.
- YouTube channels – YouTube channels ‘The Advisor’ and ‘Moneywise’ spread fake and misleading news recommending investors to buy shares of Sadhna and Sharpline for big profits.
- MMD – Under SEBI guidelines, someone who spreads this information is called MMD or a ‘misleading message disseminator’.
TOPIC – 16 – New tech can filter microplastics with minimal energy, says study
Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can quickly and efficiently filter out microplastics.
- In an experiment, over 99.9 per cent of contaminants were taken out of the water in just 10 seconds.
Features:
- The system uses a polymer which is relatively inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties.
- As it requires lower levels of energy, making it ideal for solar-based use.
- This is particularly useful for developing countries where power supply is inconsistent.
- While some traditional carbon-based filters can filter out micro plastics, they have limitations like the adsorption rate is slow and they are not energy-efficient.
TOPIC – 17 – No rhinos poached in Assam in 2022
The Chief Minister of Assam has informed that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.
About Indian Rhinos :
- The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal.
- It has a single black horn that can grow up to 60 cm, and a tough, grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives the animal its characteristic armour-plated look.
- Protection status:
- IUCN Red list: The Indian rhino is listed as ‘vulnerable’ (it was earlier placed in the endangered category).
- The WWF says the recovery of the greater one-horned rhino is among the greatest conservation success stories in Asia.
Why they are poached?
- Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a range of ailments.
- It also used to treat cancer.
- In Vietnam, a rhino horn is considered a status symbol.
Conservation efforts:
- In 2019, the Assam government constituted a Special Rhino Protection Force to keep a check on rhino poaching and related activities at Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
- On every September 22, World Rhino Day is celebrated.
TOPIC – 18 – A new coronavirus variant on the block
| India’s first case of the ‘XBB.1.5’sub-variant of Omicron was confirmed in Gujarat by the national genome sequencing consortium.
About:
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EDITORIAL – 1 – Protocols to tackle threat of spy balloons
Why in news?
- The Indian military has drafted a set of basic protocols to tackle newer threats like surveillance balloons or other unidentified objects in the sky.
- This was after a similar entity was spotted a year ago over the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
What’s in today’s article?
- Spy Balloon
- News Summary
What are spy balloons?
- A contemporary spy balloon is a piece of spying equipment, for example a camera, suspended beneath a balloon that floats above a given area, carried by wind currents.
- The equipment attached to the balloons may include radar and be solar powered.
- Balloons are one of the oldest forms of surveillance technology. The Japanese military used them to launch incendiary bombs in the US during World War Two.
- They were also widely used by the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
- Modern balloons typically hover between 24km-37km above the earth’s surface (80,000ft-120,000ft).
Why use spy balloons rather than satellites?
- For the last few decades, satellites were used on a regular basis. But now lasers or kinetic weapons are being invented to target satellites.
- Hence, there is a resurgence of interest in balloons.
- Although, these balloons don’t offer the same level of persistent surveillance as satellites, but are easier to retrieve, and much cheaper to launch.
- Balloons can also scan more territory from a lower altitude and spend more time over a given area because they move more slowly than satellites.
News Summary: Protocols to tackle threat of spy balloons
Why Indian Military is keen on formulating protocols to tackle threat of spy balloons?
- Increasing cases of spy balloons
- In February 2023, the United States shot down a giant Chinese balloon, which it accused of spying on its crucial military sites.
- China denied the allegations and said it was a civilian aircraft meant to research weather-related aspects.
- Days later, the US shot down a cylindrical-shaped object over Canada and another unidentified aerial object in its own airspace.
- In February 2023, the United States shot down a giant Chinese balloon, which it accused of spying on its crucial military sites.
- Aerial object was spotted over the Andamans
- Even though its origin could not be ascertained, as per media reports, the object had drifted away over the ocean before military authorities could take a decision on action to be taken.
What are the key highlights of draft protocols to tackle newer threats like surveillance balloons?
- Detail the sequence of action
- The protocols detail the sequence of action in case an unidentified slow-moving aerial object is spotted.
- This includes detection, positive identification, verification and targeting using a suitable platform and weapon system.
- These steps will be followed by detailed photography of the target, a comprehensive report on it and analysis of remnants, if recovered.
- Process to be photographed
- The entire operation from the launch of the weapon system to destroying the target will be photographed and recorded in detail.
- A detailed report will be prepared
- A detailed report will be prepared including the sighting time, size of target, its description recorded on the radars on ground and this will be intimated through the chain of command.
What are the associated challenges?
- The primary challenge in such a sighting is the detection and identification of the object. The satellites or radars cannot detect balloons as they are slow-moving.
- In India, several radars at key military sites are being upgraded to detect such aerial objects.
- Even the US, which possesses the most sophisticated military equipment, had earlier failed to detect the slow-moving Chinese balloons.
What is the significance of Andaman & Nicobar for India?
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands house the tri-service Andaman and Nicobar military command.
- What makes these islands strategically important is their proximity to the Indo-Pacific as well as to major choke-points or sea lines of communication (SLOC) in the Bay of Bengal — the Malacca Strait, Sunda Strait, Lombok Strait and the Ombai-Wetar straits.
- Most of the world’s shipping trade passes through these choke-points.
- The islands offer India the potential to play a critical role towards enhancing its influence in the Indian Ocean region and support its military operations in the area.
EDITORIAL – 2 – Period Labour Force Survey
Why in News?
- Data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in its annual report Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) offers insights into the process of structural transformation in the Indian economy.
About National Statistical Office (NSO):
- In May 2019, the Central Government merged the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- The merger created an overarching body i.e., National Statistical Office (NSO).
- Hence, the statistical wing of the MoSPI is now called the NSO.
- NSO acts as the nodal agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country.
- It lays down and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics, involving concepts and definitions, methodology of data collection, processing of data and dissemination of results.
About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
- NSO had launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
- It was launched as part of efforts to get a better sense of the job situation and provide reliable and timely data.
- The PLFS is designed with two major objectives for measurement of employment and unemployment –
- First, to measure the dynamics in labour force participation and employment status in the short time interval of three months for only the urban areas in the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
- Second, for both rural and urban areas, to measure the labour force estimates on key parameters in both usual status and Current Weekly Status.
What is Current Weekly Status?
- The Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach to measuring unemployment uses seven days preceding the date of survey as the reference period.
Calculating Unemployment Rate:
- The unemployment rateis not the percentage of the total adult population without jobs, but rather the percentage of adults who are in the labour force but who do not have jobs:
- Unemployment rate = (Unemployed people/Total labour force) × 100
What is Labour Force Participation Rate?
- The labour force consists of persons who are of age 15 years or older, and belong to either of the following two categories:
- Employed
- Unemployed and are willing to work and are actively looking for a job
- There is a crucial commonality between the two categories — they both have people “demanding” jobs. This demand is what Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) refers to.
- While those in category 1 succeed in getting a job, those in category 2 fail to do so.
- Essentially, LFPR is the number of people ages 15 and older who are employed or actively seeking employment, divided by the total non-institutionalized, civilian working-age population.
- LFPR represents the demand for jobs in an economy.
- On the other hand, Unemployment Rate (UER), which is routinely quoted in the news, is nothing but the number of unemployed (category 2) as a proportion of the labour force.
Latest PLFS Report by NSO:
- The NSO’s latest annual PLFS report was released for the 2021-22 (July-June) period.
- Farm Sector –
- Farm sector’s share in the country’s employed labour force is at 5%.
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- The above chart shows the share of agriculture in the total workforce over a longer time period, based on previous years’ PLFS reports.
- The share of agriculture in the total workforce has fell from 64.6% in 1993-94 to 42.5% in 2018-19.
- The biggest decline, from 58.5% to 48.9%, happened between 2004-05 and 2011-12.
- The share of the labour force employed in manufacturing peaked at 12.6% in 2011-12.
Halting of Structural Transformation:
- Since 2011-12, the structural transformation from agriculture to manufacturing has slowed, with the share of agriculture in employment not falling fast enough and, in fact, rising after 2018-19.
- The share of manufacturing has dropped behind even that of construction and trade, hotels & restaurants.
- In 2021-22, manufacturing’s share, at 6%, was below that of construction (12.4%) as well as trade, hotels & restaurants (12.1%).
- In other words, structural transformation hasn’t just slowed — it has stalled, if not reversed. There is not much labour transfer taking place from farms to factories.
Rise of Construction Sector:
- The jobs that are getting generated outside agriculture are mostly in construction and low-paid services, whose share has overtaken that of manufacturing.
- The construction sector has now become the second-largest employer after agriculture.
- Five years ago, it was at No. 4, after agriculture, manufacturing and trade, hotels & restaurants. Today, manufacturing has been relegated to the fourth spot.
EDITORIAL – 3 – UN Accord To Protect Marine Life on High Seas
Why in news?
- For the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas.
- This represents a turning point for vast stretches of the planet where conservation has previously been hampered by a confusing patchwork of laws.
What’s in today’s article?
- High seas
- News Summary
What are high seas?
- The high seas are the parts of the ocean that are not included in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ), territorial sea or internal waters of a State.
- Water beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast of a country is known as high sea.
- EEZ lie from the coast of a country to about 200 nautical miles into the sea (Countries have special rights for exploration till 200 nautical miles).
- High seas are the areas of the ocean for which no “one nation” has sole responsibility for management.
- Geographically, the ocean constitutes approximately two-thirds of the planet and the high seas comprise 64 percent of its surface and nearly 95 percent of the ocean’s volume.
News Summary: UN Accord To Protect Marine Life on High Seas
- UN members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas – nearly half the planet’s surface – concluding two weeks of talks in New York.
Background:
- Also referred to as the Paris Agreement for the Ocean, the treaty to deal with Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) was under discussion for several years.
- The treaty, under discussion, dealt with the ocean existing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).
- The treaty was being negotiated under the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.
- There was no treaty for conserving the health of vast swathes of the earth’s oceans known as high seas.
- Hence, a UN resolution in 2017 had decided to address this issue while setting 2022 as the deadline.
Key highlights of the proposed treaty
- New body created
- The treaty will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas.
- Includes various aspects of marine conservation
- establishing marine protected areas to put limits on certain activities,
- establishment of ground rules for Environmental impact assessments (EIA) or clearances for sustainability of works,
- financial support to countries and
- sharing other scientific knowledge.
- Rights of companies engaged in exploration activities in the high seas
- A key aspect of the agreement is deciding on the rights of companies that undertake exploration for biological resources in the high seas.
- This treaty will be legally binding in nature.
Significance of this treaty
- Protection of global commons
- There are two major global commons — the atmosphere and the oceans.
- While the oceans may draw less attention, protecting this half of earth’s surface is absolutely critical to the health of our planet.
- Protection of endangered species and habitats
- With this treaty, comprehensive protection of endangered species and habitats is now finally possible on more than 40% of the Earth’s surface.
- Achieving U.N. Biodiversity Conference’s recent pledge
- This treaty is critical to achieve the U.N. Biodiversity Conference’s recent pledge to protect 30% of the planet’s waters, as well as its land, for conservation.
- All activities to be open for scrutiny
- Every country has the right to access open seas and there was no treaty specifically dedicated to protecting the ocean health.
- This had resulted in large-scale drilling and trawling operations for catching fish and other animals for commercial purposes.
- Now, after the enforcement of this new treaty, all activities planned for the high seas will to be looked at, though not all will go through a full assessment.
- Helps coastal biodiversity and economies
- This treaty will help to knit together the different regional treaties to be able to address threats and concerns across species’ ranges.
- It will strengthen the legal protection of two-thirds of the ocean and with-it marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Conclusion
- The high seas have long suffered exploitation due to commercial fishing and mining, as well as pollution from chemicals and plastics.
- The new agreement is about “acknowledging that the ocean is not a limitless resource, and it requires global cooperation to use the ocean sustainably.”
EDITORIAL – 4 – Bio-computers: What are they and what can they tell us about the human brain?
Why in News?
- Scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) recently outlined a plan for a potentially revolutionary new area of research called “organoid intelligence (OI), which aims to create “biocomputers.”
What’s in Today’s Article?
- What is the Premise of this Bio-computer Technology?
- What is the new ‘Bio-computer’?
- What are the Opportunities for ‘Bio-computers’?
- Are ‘Bio-computers’ Ready for Commercial Use?
What is the Premise of this Bio-computer Technology?
- Traditionally, researchers have used rat brains to investigate various human neurological disorders.
- However, there are several differences in structure, function and cognitive capacities of rodents and humans.
- In a quest to develop systems that are more relevant to humans, scientists are building 3D cultures of brain tissue in the lab, also called brain organoids.
- These mini-brains, built using human stem cells, however, have certain limitations –
- No input sensory inputs (touch, smell, vision, etc.)/output connection
- No blood circulation
- When inserted in a rat shows different behavioural interpretation
What is the new ‘Bio-computer’?
- The JHU researchers’ scheme will combine brain organoids (with multiple electrodes similar to those used to take EEG readings from the brain) with modern computing methods (machine learning) to create “bio-computers”.
- These brain cultures (organoids) grown in the lab are coupled to real-world sensors and input/output devices to develop into the complex organ.
- The scientists were able to grow human neurons on top of a microelectrode array that could both record and stimulate these neurons.
What are the Opportunities for ‘Bio-computers’?
- While human brains are slower than computers (say, simple arithmetic), they outshine machines at processing complex information.
- Comparing the data on brain structure, connections, and signalling between ‘healthy’ and ‘patient-derived’ organoids can reveal the biological basis of human cognition, learning, and memory.
- They could also help decode the pathology of and drug development for devastating neurodevelopmental and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
Are ‘Bio-computers’ Ready for Commercial Use?
- Currently, brain organoids have a diameter of less than 1 mm and have fewer than 100,000 cells, which make it roughly three-millionth the size of an actual human brain.
- So scaling up the brain organoid is key to improving its computing capacity.
- Researchers will also have to develop microfluidic systems to transport oxygen and nutrients, and remove waste products.
- They will also need to develop and use advanced analytical techniques to correlate the structural and functional changes in the brain organoids to the various output variables.
- The first, very-primitive forms of learning are already around, and the challenge is now to establish long-term memory, which may take more time.
- There is also a proposal to have an ethics team to parallelly identify, discuss, and analyse ethical issues as they arise in the course of this work.