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D4 Drone system

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The D4 anti-drone system which was used for security during the Republic Day parade is one of the products to be showcased at Aero India 2023.

Key facts about D4 Drone system:

What is it ? 

  • The Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy system (D4S) is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system to be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces.
  • It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
  • Purpose: To detect rogue drones that are likely to attack most vulnerable places.
  • Features:
    • D4 system can instantly detect and jam micro drones (Soft kill) and use a laser-based kill mechanism to terminate targets (Hard kill).
    • It uses DRDO’s RF/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to detect the frequency which is being used by the controller and the signals are then jammed.
    • It can detect and jam micro-drones at a distance of up to 3 km.
    • It can lase a target 1-1.25 km far depending on the wattage of the laser weapon.

About Aero India:

  • It is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. 
  • It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.


Neglected Tropical Diseases

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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.

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


Senna Spectabilis

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The Nodal Centre for Biological Invasions (NCBI) at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has recently come out with a management plan to eradicate Senna spectabilis.

Why in news?

  • 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 the restoration of natural forests based on landscape.

What is Senna spectabilis?

  • Senna spectabilis is an invasive species.
  • It is introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America.

Key facts about the Periyar Tiger Reserve

  • It is nestled in the southern region of Western Ghats in the state of Kerala.
  • It is drained by the rivers Mullayar and Periyar.
  • Flora: tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and grasslands.
  • Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr etc.


Finance Commission

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The Central government will soon start off the process to set up the Sixteenth Finance Commission, with the Finance Ministry likely to notify the terms of references for the Finance Commission.

About Finance Commission:

What is it ? 

  • It is constitutional body for giving recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States and amongst the States themselves.

Who constitutes ? 

  • The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution.
  • It is constituted at the end of every fifth year or earlier, as the deemed necessary by the President.
  • Parliament may by law determine the requisite qualifications for appointment as members of the Commission and the procedure of their selection. On account of this, The Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951 was passed.
  • Mandate: It is the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to:
    • the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds; 
    • the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
    • the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;
    • any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the interests of sound finance.
  • Composition: It consists of a Chairman and four other members appointed by the President.
  • Qualifications of members: The Chairman of the Commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs and the four other members are selected from among persons who
    • are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a High Court; or
    • have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Government; or
    • have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; or
    • have special knowledge of economics
  • Tenure of members: Every member will be in office for the time period as specified in the order of the President and is eligible for reappointment.
  • Recommendations of the Finance Commission are not binding on the government.


Ancient History Set 3

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ANCIENT HISTORY SET - 3

1. 
पाटलिपुत्र को किस राजा ने सर्वप्रथम अपनी राजधानी बनाई ?

2. 
पाटलिपुत्र नगर की स्थापना उदयिन ने किस नदी के संगम पर की थी ?

3. 
रथमूसल नामक आक्रमक यंत्र का प्रयोग किस जनपद में सबसे पहले किया गया ?

4. 
ताम्रलिप्ति बंदरगाह अवस्थित था।

5. 
इलाहाबाद प्रशस्ति का लेखक कौन है ?

6. 
चाणक्य भारत के किस शिक्षण संस्थान में अध्ययन किया था ?

7. 
प्राचीन भारत में ओदन्तपुरी विश्वविद्यालय कहाँ स्थित था ?

8. 
शक संवत् की शुरुआत कब से मानी जाती है ?

9. 
विश्व में पाई जानेवाली पहली धातु थी।

10. 
भारत की सबसे प्राचीनतम लिपि थी।

11. 
प्रयाग प्रशस्ति का संबंध किस गुप्त शासक से है ?

12. 
अपने स्वयं के खर्चे से सुदर्शन झील की मरम्मत किसने कराई थी ?

13. 
इंडिका के लेखक कौन हैं ?

14. 
वासुदेव कृष्ण किस वंश के थे ?

15. 
पाँच पांडवों में सबसे बड़ा कौन था ?

16. 
संकर्षण किसका दूसरा नाम था ?

17. 
सबसे पहले अवतारवाद सिद्धांत का व्यापक निरूपण कहाँ किया गया ?

18. 
महाभारत की रचना किस भाषा में हुई ?

19. 
पुराणों की संख्या कितनी है ?

20. 
श्रीमद् भागवत गीता के महत्व पर किसने विचार व्यक्त किए हैं ?

21. 
मनुस्मृति के रचयिता थे ।

22. 
मनुस्मृति में कितने प्रकार के विवाह का उल्लेख किया गया है ?

23. 
महाभारत किसने लिखा ?

24. 
महाभारत और पुराण में मथुरा के शासक वंश को कहा गया है –

25. 
प्राचीन भारत के महाकाव्य का नाम है –

26. 
रामायण की रचना किसने की ?

27. 
दुर्योधन की माँ कौन थी ?

28. 
दुर्योधन की ओर से कौरव-पाण्डव युद्ध में शामिल थे।

29. 
भीम की पत्नी थी।

30. 
गान्डीव क्या था ?

31. 
युद्ध भूमि में अर्जुन के सामने की सेना में कौन था ?

32. 
गीता में उपदेश दिया गया है।

33. 
गोत्र किसका सूचक था ?

34. 
अर्जुन किसके शिष्य थे ?

35. 
निम्न में से किस संत ने गीता पर टीका मराठी में लिखा ?

36. 
क्षत्रिय शब्द का साहित्यिक अर्थ है –

37. 
अम्बा अम्बालिका किसकी पत्नियाँ थीं ?

38. 
घटोत्कच किसका पुत्र था ?

39. 
139. गंगापुत्र किसे कहा जाता है ?

40. 
कर्ण की माँ कौन थी ?

41. 
‘कर्मण्सेवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषुकदाचन’ श्रीमद्भगवत गीता के किस अध्याय में वर्णित है ?

42. 
142. मानव जीवन के संपूर्ण जीवन को कितने आश्रमों में बाँटा गया है ?

43. 
द्रौपदी किसकी पत्नी थी ?

44. 
अभिमन्यु किसका पुत्र था ?

45. 
गौतम बुद्ध का जन्म कहाँ हुआ था ?

46. 
महावीर ने पार्श्वनाथ के सिद्धांतों में नया सिद्धांत क्या जोड़ा ?

47. 
श्वेताम्बर एवं दिगम्बर का संबंध किस धर्म से हैं ?

48. 
आर्यों की सभ्यता किस नाम से जानी जाती है ।

49. 
आर्यों का सबसे प्रमुख पशु कौन था ?

50. 
आर्यो का प्रिय पेय क्या था ?

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Increase in Death penalty by trial courts

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Context

According to the Annual Death Penalty Report 2022, the Supreme Court has called for reform in death penalty sentencing.

About the report:

  • Released by: ‘Project 39A’, a criminal reforms advocacy group with the National Law University, Delhi.
  • Key highlights:
    • According to NCRB data, 165 death penalties were awarded by trial courts since 2000.
    • The corresponding figure for the last five years was;
  • 146 in 2021, 78 in 2020, 104 in 2019, 163 in 2018, and 110 in 2017.
  • Sole decision taken by trial courts: The report notes that 3% of the death penalty cases were decided by trial courts “without any materials on mitigating circumstances of the accused and without any state-led evidence on the question of reform.”

What is the death penalty in India?

  • Hanging and shooting are the two methods of the death penalty in India.
  • According to the Criminal Procedure Code, hanging is the method of execution in the civilian court system.
  • The Army Act, of 1950, however, lists hanging and shooting as official methods of execution in the military court-martial system.
  • Under the provisions of criminal procedure, the death penalty must be awarded as an alternative punishment to life imprisonment which the offenders may be sentenced to in ‘rarest of rare cases’.
Rarest of rare cases

Rarest rare cases can be described as those when the murder is committed in an extremely brutal, ridiculous, diabolical, revolting, or reprehensible manner so as to awaken the intense and extreme indignation in the community. 

When total depravity and cruelty are the motives behind a murder.

The process to grant a death sentence:

  • Mercy petition process:
  • For a convict to file a mercy petition, his/her death sentence must be confirmed by a high court first.
  • The law says: “The death sentence convict can appeal to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court either refuses to hear the appeal or upholds the death sentence, then the convict or his relatives can submit a mercy petition to the President of India (Articles 72) or the Governor of the State (161).
  • Grounds to seek mercy appeal: physical fitness, age, the law was too harsh, or the convict is the sole breadwinner of the family.
  • According to Article 72 of the Constitution, the power to pardon — the philosophy of which is “every civilised country recognises and provides for the pardoning power as an act of grace and humanity in course of law” — lies with the President.
  • The Article also states that he/she can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or suspend, remit or commute the convict.
The mercy petition is reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which consults the state involved, before going to the President.

Supreme Court’s stand:

  • A three-judge bench headed by then Chief Justice of India U U Lalit had referred the issue of reconsidering death penalty sentencing to a five-judge bench.
  • The court had asked for a “uniform approach” to granting real and meaningful opportunities to convicts on death row.
  • The court has also mandated trial courts to collect psychiatric and psychological evaluations of the convict before holding that there is no possibility of reform and awarding a death sentence.

What are the issues in the current system?

A Supreme Court Bench led by Justice U.U. Lalit made the following observations:

  • Quick decision: In some cases, trial courts sentence a person to death merely hours after conviction.
  • Little effort to unearth the issue: Little effort is taken to unearth or understand the circumstances which led a person to commit the crime. In short, trial judges hardly know the people they are sending to the gallows.
  • Ignored individual details: No effort is ever made to dig deeper into a convict’s childhood experiences, multi-generational history of physical and mental health issues, exposure to traumatic events and other familial, social and cultural factors crucial in order to undertake an individualised sentencing enquiry.
  • Mitigation expert: The court said a “mitigation expert”, a qualified professional with unhindered access to the convict’s past, ought to be at the centre of this change in outlook.
  • This ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach while considering mitigating factors during sentencing should end. A more enlightened approach has to be evolved. The apex court’s introspection may be a sign of the judiciary veering away from the death penalty.
Capital Punishment and international standards:

Capital punishment founds its place in international human rights treaties as a facet of the right to life as imbibed in “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (‘ICCPR’)”, it was later discovered that implementation of capital punishment violates the norms of the prohibition against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment. With the enforcement of the second ICCPR, there had been an increasing trend towards the removal of capital punishment as a way of punishment.

 



Short Selling

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Short seller Hindenburg Research, disclosed short positions in Adani Group, alleging stock manipulation and accounting fraud.

  • Buy low, sell high is the traditional investment strategy in which one buys a stock or security at a particular price and then sells it when the price is higher, thereby booking a profit.
  • This is referred to as a long position, and is based on the view that the price of the stock or security will appreciate with time.
  • Short selling or shorting is a trading strategy based on the expectation that the price of the security will fall.
  • While fundamentally it is based on the buy low, sell high approach, the sequence of transactions is reversed in short selling, to sell high first and buy low later.
  • Also, in short selling, the trader usually does not own the securities he sells, but merely borrows them.
  • In the stock market, traders usually short stocks by selling shares they have borrowed from others through brokerages.
  • When the price of the shares falls to the expected levels, the trader would purchase the shares at the lower price and return them to the owner, booking a profit in the process.
  • If, however, the price of the shares appreciates instead of falling, the trader will be forced to buy shares at a higher price to return to the owner, thereby booking a loss.


Shumang Leela

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Manipur’s traditional theatre form of Shumang Leela has continued to inform and entertain down the ages.

  • Shumang Leela, translates to “courtyard performance”, is a traditional form of theatre in Manipur.
  • In Shumang Leela, the roles of women are all played by men, called Nupi Shabis.
  • In the case of women’s theatre groups, the roles of men are played by women.
  • Often, the female roles are taken up by transgender actors.
  • The tradition is believed to be descended from Lai Haraoba, a ritual of the Meitei community of Manipur.
  • The plays serve as a medium to spread awareness among people of social, political and economic issues.
  • Types – Shumang Leela is of two types
    • Nupa Shumang Leela – Performed only by men
    • Nupi Shumang Leela – Performed only by women

Lai Haraoba

  • Lai Haraoba is a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri meitei communities since ancient times.
  • Lai Haraoba is celebrated through oral literature, music, dance and rituals.
  • Cultural troupes will be performing various cultural and traditional musical skits including Manipuri martial arts, folk music and folk dances during the festival.


NREGA Reforms

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What is the issue?

In reforms to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, an administrative and fiscal efficacy-alone focus would be a flaw.

What is MGNREGA?

In financial year 2018-19 MGNREGA has covered 30% of India’s rural population.

  • MGNREGA – The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment (MGNREG) is the largest public employment program in the world.
  • It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development in India.
  • It is based on an Act (MGNREGA) passed in 2005, which makes a legislative commitment to provide right to work.
  • Aim – To enhance the livelihood security of people by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled work.
  • The act also seeks to create durable assets and the categories of MGNREGA public works activities include
    • Category A – Natural resource management (Irrigation canal)
    • Category B – Individual assets for vulnerable sections (House construction or Refurbishment)
    • Category C – Common assets and infrastructure to promote agricultural productivity (Poultry shelter)
    • Category D – Rural infrastructure (Foot bridge)
  • Features – Wage levels are set at the statutory minimum wage.
  • Assets developed under MGNREGA are geo-tagged and displayed on a public website, GeoMGNREGA, to enhance transparency.
  • Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.
  • Under MGNREGA, work should be provided within 15 days of demanding work failing which the workers are entitled to an unemployment allowance.
  • The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands.
  • Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which lends to accountability and transparency.

mnrega

What is the case about?

  • The Central government has constituted a committee headed by former Rural Development secretary Amarjeet Sinha to review the implementation of the MGNREG Scheme.
  • Functions of the Sinha Committee – The committee especially assesses the programme’s efficacy as a poverty alleviation tool.
  • The committee will study the various factors behind demand for MGNREGA work, expenditure trends and inter-State variations and the composition of work.
  • It will suggest changes in focus and governance structures to make MGNREGA more effective.

What must the committee look into?

  • Address the delays in wage payment – The committee must look into the issue of addressing the delays in wage payments to restore the faith of workers in the programme.
  • In 2016, the Supreme Court directed the government to ensure that wages were paid on time, calling the act of making workers wait for wages for months as equal to “forced labour”.
  • Strengthen the implementation capacities – There is a need to strengthen implementation capacities where expenditure is low instead of curbing expenditure where employment generation is high.
  • According to the Economic Survey 2016, States which are spending more are implementing the programme better because they have better capacities.
  • There has to be a focus on exclusion and not inclusion “errors”.
  • Instead of using expenditure and income poverty as the only markers, exclusion must be identified at the household level.
  • Panchayats where employment of SCs and ST families is lower than their proportion in the population, where the average wage is paid lower than the notified wage rate, etc. must be identified.
  • The online Management Information System of NREGA can flag areas where entitlements are violated.
  • Demand-based law – Intermittent and unpredictable fund releases by the central government is one among the reasons why State governments are unable to ensure the full potential of NREGA.
  • Hence, it is needed to run the programme like a demand-based law, and not a scheme.
  • The Kaam Mango Abhiyan was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2013, which literally means “ask for work” which led to the demand for work in Bihar’s Kathiawar district.
  • Participatory discussion – NREGA emerged from the demands of a vibrant peoples’ movement across India and its cornerstones have been its path-breaking provisions for public accountability.
  • There has to be a leveraging of consultative processes and forums, such as the State and Central Employment Guarantee Councils.
  • Impact of reforms – There must be an attempt to map the impact of each of its reforms on access to and the expenditure of NREGA, particularly in poorer States.
  • A slew of reforms such as the electronic fund management system, geo-tagging of assets and a national mobile monitoring system (NMMS) are often plagued with technical disruptions.
  • Reforms to NREGA must prioritise the access of workers to entitlements with ease and dignity, rather than focus on administrative and fiscal efficacy alone.


Mughal Gardens renamed as Amrit Udyan

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Why in news?

  • The iconic Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House) in Delhi have been renamed as Amrit Udyan.
  • The cluster of about 15 gardens will collectively be known as Amrit Udyan.
    • Individual gardens within the sprawling Presidential Estate — Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden — will retain their names.

What’s in today’s article?

  • Mughal Gardens

What is the history of Mughal Gardens in India?

  • The Mughals were known to appreciate gardens. In Babur Nama, Babur says that his favourite kind of garden is the Persian Charbagh style (literally, four gardens).
  • Defined by its rectilinear layouts, divided in four equal sections, these gardens can be found across lands previously ruled by the Mughals.
  • From the gardens surrounding Humanyun’s Tomb in Delhi to the Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, all are built in this style – giving them the moniker of Mughal Gardens.
  • A defining feature of these gardens is the use of waterways, often to demarcate the various quadrants of the garden.
    • These were not only crucial to maintain the flora of the garden, they also were an important part of its aesthetic.
    • Fountains were often built, symbolising the cycle of life.

How did the Rashtrapati Bhavan get Mughal Gardens?

  • In 1911, the British decided to shift the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
  • About 4,000 acres of land was acquired to construct the Viceroy’s House with Sir Edwin Lutyens being given the task of designing the building on Raisina Hill.
    • Lutyens’ designs combined elements of classical European architecture with Indian styles, producing a unique aesthetic that defines Lutyens’ Delhi till date.
  • Crucial in the design of the Viceroy’s House was a large garden in its rear. The initial plans involved creating a garden with traditional British architecture.
  • However, the wife of the then Viceroy wanted something in the Mughal style and urged the planners to create a garden in that style.
    • She was inspired by the book Gardens of the Great Mughals (1913) by Constance Villiers-Stuart as well as her visits to Mughal gardens in Lahore and Srinagar.

Evolution of Mughal Garden at Rshtrapati Bhavan

  • Though the layout of the garden was in place by 1917, the planting was taken up only in 1928-29. Director of horticulture William Mustoe, who planted the garden, was especially skilled at growing roses and is said to have introduced more than 250 different varieties of hybrid roses gathered from every corner of the world.
  • The gardens have evolved over time. While roses remain the star attraction, residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan have all added their own personal touch to the garden.
  • g., C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor General of India, made a political statement when during a period of food shortage in the country, he himself ploughed the lands and dedicated a section of the garden to foodgrains.
  • Today, the Nutrition Garden, popularly known as Dalikhana, stands in that spot, organically cultivating a variety of vegetables for consumption at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • President R Venkatraman added a cactus garden and APJ Abdul Kalam added many theme based gardens-from the musical garden to the spiritual garden.


President of 77th Session of UNGA visits India

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Why in news?

  • President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Korosi is on a three-day visit to India.
  • This is his first bilateral visit to any country since he assumed UNGA Presidency in September 2022.

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • UNGA (About, Key decisions taken by UNGA, Achievements)
  • President of the General Assembly (about, election, role)
  • News Summary

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

  • It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.
  • It is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
  • It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
  • Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

Key decisions taken by the UNGA

  • The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:
    • appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
    • electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
    • approving the UN budget

Important achievements of UNGA

  • Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000
  • The 2005 World Summit Outcome Document
  • 17 Sustainable Development Goals formulated in September 2015

President of the General Assembly (PGA)

  • Any Member State can put forward a candidate for PGA.
    • He/she is not required to be, but always has been, a citizen of the Member State presenting the candidacy.
  • The PGA is elected in his/her personal capacity for a one-year term
  • The Member State of the PGA cannot at the same time hold the office of Vice-President or Chair of a Main Committee.
    • Thus, the five permanent members of the Security Council, who are always Vice-Presidents, cannot hold the office of the PGA.
  • The Presidency of the General Assembly rotates among the five regional groups, namely:
    • Group of Asian States,
    • Group of Eastern European States,
    • Group of Latin American and Caribbean States,
    • Group of African States,
    • Western European and other States Group.

Election of PGA

  • The President is elected by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly.
  • Usually, the Member States of a regional group agree on one candidate and present a clean slate.
  • The President is elected at least three months before formally assuming office, usually in mid-June.
    • This allows him/her to prepare and to assemble a team before the GA session begins in September.

Role and mandate of the PGA

  • The PGA is the guardian of the GA Rules of Procedure but has no say in the actual decision-making of the GA – in fact, the PGA does not have a vote in the GA.
  • Even on procedural matters, the PGA always remains under the authority of the GA.
  • Hence, PGA has very little formal power. It depends on the moral authority and convening power of the office as main instruments to keep the 193 Member States working together.

News Summary: President of 77th Session of UNGA visit to India

  • Current President of UN General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, has arrived in India on a three-day visit.
  • Ahead of his visit, he criticised UN Security Council (UNSC) for not reflecting today’s realities.

Key highlights of the speech

  • UNSC is not reflecting today’s realities
    • The UNSC was created back then, and it does not reflect today’s realities.
    • The composition of the Security Council reflects the outcome of the Second World War.
    • In the 77-year-old history of the UN, the composition of the Security Council has been altered only once.
      • In 1963 when the General Assembly decided to expand the Council from 11 to 15 members, with the addition of four non-permanent seats.
    • Since then, the world has changed. The geopolitical relations in the world altered, the economic responsibilities changed.
    • India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, and it rightly deserved a place as a permanent member in the UN.
  • UNSC is paralysed
    • UNSC is unable to discharge its basic function of maintaining international peace and security when one of its permanent members has attacked its neighbour.
    • Russia has vetoed UNSC resolutions on Ukraine and voted against a resolution in the UNGA which called on countries not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has claimed.
    • The veto power is used to paralyse the functioning of UNSC.


Asia Has Had a Really Cold Month, Courtesy of the Polar Vortex

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Why in News?

  • Mohe, China’s northernmost city, recorded a temperature of minus 53oC this week. That was the coldest in its recorded history.
  • Scientists say Asia’s extreme cold is largely the result of the Polar Vortex phenomenon.

What’s in today’s article?

  • About Polar Vortex (Meaning, how it works, Relation w.r.t. Climate Change, etc.)
  • News Summary

What is a Polar Vortex?

  • The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles.
  • It always exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter.
  • The term “vortex” refers to the anti-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles.
  • Many times, during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream.
    • Jet stream is the area of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere that surrounds the polar vortex.
  • This occurs regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States & Canada.
  • Portions of Europe and Asia also experience cold surges connected to the polar vortex.

Is it a new Climatic Phenomenon?

  • Polar vortexes are not something new.
  • The term “polar vortex” has only recently been popularized, bringing attention to a weather feature that has always been present.
  • By itself, the only danger to humans is the magnitude of how cold temperatures will get when the polar vortex expands, sending Arctic air southward into areas that are not typically that cold.

Relation w.r.t. Climate Change:

  • The polar vortex is held in place by the Earth’s rotation and temperature differences between the Arctic and mid-latitudes.
  • Changes in temperature differences can make the polar vortex expand to more southern latitudes.
  • While this phenomenon occurs naturally, climate change is expected to impact the frequency and severity of polar vortex events.

News Summary:

  • China’s national weather agency issued daily warnings of extremely cold temperatures recently for almost the entire country.
  • On the Korean Peninsula, North Korea’s state meteorological agency warned residents in the last week of “the most bitter cold wave in 23 years”. And in South Korea, hundreds of flights were grounded, and beaches were covered in ice.
  • Scientists say Asia’s extreme cold is largely the result of the Polar Vortex phenomenon.
  • The term refers to an expanse of cold air that generally circles the Arctic but occasionally shifts south from the North Pole.


All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

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Why in News?

  • Recently, the Union Ministry of Education released the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 report.

What’s in today’s article?

  • About All India Survey on Higher Education Report (Purpose, Categorization)
  • Key Highlights of AISHE 2020-21 Report

About All India Survey on Higher Education Report:

  • The AISHE report is being published by the Ministry of Education since 2011.
  • Objective – Identify & capture all the institutions of higher learning in the country.
  • For the purpose of this Survey, Higher Education is defined as the education, which is obtained after completing 12 years of schooling or equivalent.
  • For the purpose of the All-India Survey on Higher Education, all the institutions of higher learning in the country have been divided in 3 categories –
    • Category I: University & University Level Institutions
    • Category II: Colleges/ Institutions affiliated to University
    • Category III: Institutions NOT affiliated to University called Standalone Institutions
  • The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teacher’s data, infrastructural information, financial information etc.

Key Highlights of All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21:

  • Number of Institutions –
    • The total number of Universities/University level institutions registered is 1,113, Colleges 43,796 and Standalone Institutions 11,296.
    • Since 2014-15, there has been increase of 353 Universities (46.4%).
    • The Institutes of National Importance (INIs) have almost doubled from 75 in 2014-15 to 149 in 2020-21.
    • 191 new Higher Education Institutions have been established in North Eastern States since 2014-15.
    • Highest number of universities is in Rajasthan (92), Uttar Pradesh (84) and Gujarat (83).
    • Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat are top 8 States in terms of number of colleges.
    • 43% universities and 61.4% colleges are located in Rural Areas.
  • Student Enrolment –
    • The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore in 2019-20.
    • The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45% in 2014-15 to around 49% in 2020-21.
    • The survey also highlighted an increase in enrolment of Schedule Caste (SC) students to 58.9 lakh in comparison to 56.5 lakh in 2019-20 and 46 lakh in 2014-15.
    • The enrolment of students belonging to the Schedule Tribe (ST) increased to 24.1 lakh in 2020-21 from 21.6 lakh in 2019-20 and 16.4 lakh in 2014-15.
    • The total Student Enrolment in North East States is 12.06 Lakh in 2020-21 as compared to 9.36 Lakh in 2014-15.
    • As per response in AISHE 2020-21, about 79.06% of the total students are enrolled in undergraduate level courses and 11.5% are enrolled in postgraduate level courses.
    • Of the total enrolment, 55.5 Lakh students are enrolled in Science Stream, with female students (29.5 Lakh) out numbering male students (26 Lakh).
  • Faculty –
    • The total number of faculty/teachers are 15,51,070 of which about 57.1% are male and 42.9% are female.
    • The female per 100 male faculty has improved to 75 in 2020-21 from 74 in 2019-20 and 63 in 2014-15.


PIB fact-check plan on hold

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Why in news?

  • The government has decided to put its Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check plan on hold.
  • The decision comes in the wake of protests by the Editors Guild of India, the Indian Newspaper Society as well as The News Broadcasters & Digital Association.

What’s in today’s article?

  • Fake News and Laws to Punish Offenders
  • PIB fact-check plan – about, concerns

Fake News and Laws to Punish Offenders

  • Meaning of Fake News: Fake news is referred to as those news stories that are false, fabricated, with no verifiable facts, sources or quotes.
  • Types of Fake News: Satire or parody (no intention to cause harm), misleading content, imposter content, fabricated/false/manipulated content, etc.
  • Laws to control effect of fake news:
    • The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2008. The offence related to electronic communication shall be punished under section 66 D of IT Act.
    • The Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005. Whoever makes/circulates a false alarm/warning as to disaster/its severity/magnitude, leading to panic shall be punished under the DM Act.
    • The Indian Penal Code, 1860. Fake news creating false alarm in public, fake news creating riots and information causing defamation shall be punished under different sections of the IPC.

PIB Fact-check plan as proposed by the government

  • Recently, the government had released a modification to the draft Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
  • This modification proposed that any piece of news that has been identified as fake by the fact-checking unit of PIB will not be allowed on online intermediaries, including social media platforms.
    • PIB is the Centre’s nodal agency to share news updates.
    • Examples of online intermediaries include social media platforms, internet service providers, web hosting providers etc.
  • The condition was added to the list of due diligence criteria that intermediaries must follow in order to enjoy legal immunity from third-party content that they host.
  • The proposal also suggested that content marked as misleading by any other agency authorised by the government for fact-checking or in respect of any business of the Centre will not be allowed on online intermediaries.
  • Hence, according to the latest proposal, there is now the possibility of content takedowns because something has been recognised as fake news by the PIB.

Concerns related to these proposals

  • Empowers government to take down any news which does not suit its agenda
    • Analysts have expressed concern that anything that contradicts government’s stand might be used to justify content takedowns.
    • The determination of fake news cannot be in the sole hands of the government as it will result in the censorship of the press.
  • Government is legislating to become a judge in its own cause
    • The government, through the proposed amendment, is taking a step to effectively muzzle criticism and even fair comment.
  • PIB, or an agency of the central government, is ill-equipped:
    • The identification of fake news requires the highest standards of fairness and due process to ensure factual accuracy of reports about government business.
    • In this context, many analysts believe that PIB, or an agency of the central government, is ill-equipped to handle such issues.
      • PIB’s fact-checking unit was set up in 2019 to verify news related to the government’s ministries, departments and schemes.
      • It routinely flags content that it believes is false or misleading, yet it rarely explains why it has flagged a specific piece of information.
      • The PIB’s fact-checking unit has itself tweeted (occasionally) inaccurate information.


Spider Star System

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Scientists at NASA have recently detected the first gamma-ray eclipses from a “spider” star system.

About Spider Star System:

  • It is a binary star system in which a superdense star (pulsar) spins quickly, eats another star.
  • The super-dense object that begins to pull a matter from the companion resembles the habits of spiders of the genus Latrodectus, in which the female eats the male after mating, hence the name came.
  • Initially, the dense pulsar strips material from the outer atmosphere of its companion, periodically shedding the gathered material in violent explosions.
  • In the later stage of their lifetimes, the energetic particles streaming out of the pulsar can strip the atmosphere of its companion.
  • In either case, the pulsar slowly erodes its companion over time.
  • Two Types:
    • Black widows: Binary pulsar systems, in which the mass of a companion star is less than 5 percent of the pulsar.
    • Redback: Binary pulsar systems in which mass of the companion star is from 10 to 50 percent of the pulsar.

What is a Binary star system?

  • A binary system is one in which two stars orbit around a common centre of mass, that is they are gravitationally bound to each other.

What are pulsars?

  • Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars, extremely dense starscomposed almost entirely of neutrons and having a diameter of only 20 km (12 miles) or less. 
  • They emit concentrated streams of radiation far across the cosmos.

What are neutron stars?

  • They are the remnants of giant stars that died in a fiery explosion known as a supernova.
  • After such an outburst, the cores of these former stars compact into an ultradense object with the mass of the sun packed into a ball the size of a city.


Quantum dot spin qubits.

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An international team of scientists recently made a breakthrough in retaining the quantum coherence of quantum dot spin qubits.

About Quantum coherence:

  • It deals with the idea that all objects have wave-like properties.
  • It states that, if an object’s wave-like nature is split in two, then the two waves may coherently interfere with each other in such a way as to form a single state that is a superposition of the two states.
  • This concept of superposition is famously represented by Schrödinger’s cat, which is both dead and alive at the same time when in its coherent state inside a closed box.
  • It lies at the heart of quantum computing, in which a qubit is in a superposition of the “0” and “1” states.

What is Quantum entanglement?

  • It means that aspects of one particle of an entangled pair depend on aspects of the other particle, no matter how far apart they are or what lies between them. 
  • Like coherence, quantum entanglement also plays an essential role in quantum technologies.

What is the principle of Superposition of waves?

  • It states that when two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant disturbance is equal to the algebraic sum of the individual disturbances.

What is a qubit?

  • A qubit (or quantum bit) is the quantum mechanical analogue of a classical bit.
  • A classical binary bit can only represent a single binary value, such as 0 or 1.
  • A qubit, however, can represent a 0, a 1, or any proportion of 0 and 1 in superposition of both states.
  • In quantum computing the information is encoded in qubits.


Soliga ecarinata

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Recently, the scientific community has named a new genus of wasp after the Soliga community.

About Soliga ecarinata:

  • The Soliga ecarinata is a new wasp that belongs to the subfamily Metopiinae of the Darwin wasps family Ichneumonidae.
  • These are seen only in the Palaearctic region, Neotropical and Nearctic regions.
  • This is the second genus of this subfamily reported from India and the first from South India.
  • Scientists have named this wasp after the Soliga community.

Who are Soligas?

  • Soligas are an indigenous tribe of Karnataka, inhabiting the peripheral forest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara in the Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka.
  • The Soligas were dependent on hunting and shifting agriculture traditionally. 
  • They are the first tribal community living inside the core area of a tiger reserve in India to get their forest rights officially recognised by a court of law.

Key facts about the Biligiri Rangan Hills

  • It is located northwest of the Western Ghats and on the westernmost edge of the Eastern Ghats.
  • The unique geographical positioning and diversity of habitats make BRT one of the richest areas for biodiversity in India.
  • The Kapila and Cauvery Rivers flow through these hills. 


Padma Awards

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Prime Minister urged the citizens of the country to read about the lives and stories of people who have been conferred with the prestigious ‘Padma’ Awards during his first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme of 2023.

Key facts about Padma Awards:

  • The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. 
  • The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines. 
  • Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954
  • The award is given in three categories, namely,
    • Padma Vibhushan: for exceptional and distinguished service;
    • Padma Bhushan: for distinguished service of a high order; and
    • Padma Shri: for distinguished service.
    • Award: The awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.

Eligibility:

    • All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.
    • Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
    • The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
  • The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

Who can nominate?

    • Nominations are invited from Central Ministries/Departments, States/UT Governments, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, Institutes of Excellence.
    • All citizens can make nominations/recommendation including self-nomination.

Who Decides?

    • All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. 
    • On the basis of the recommendations of the Awards Committee, and after approval of the Home Minister, Prime Minister and President, the Padma Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day.


Albinism

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Recently a partial albino dhole (Cuon alpinus) has been photo-documented in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Albinism:

  • Albinism is the result of cells that can’t produce melanin, the pigment needed to colour skin, scales, eyes and hair.
  • This genetic condition gets passed to offspring when both parents carry the recessive gene. When albinism is present, the animal can appear white or pink.
  • The production of melanin occurs within melanocytes, specialized cells that are present but not fully functional in albino mammals.

Key facts about Dhole

  • The dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog is found in three clusters across India namely the Western and Eastern Ghats, the central Indian landscape and North East India.
  • The Western and Eastern Ghats is a stronghold regions for dholes.
  • Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • The Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule II
  • CITES: Appendix II

About Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

  • It is extended over three districts, namely, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagara in
  • The sanctuary provides a vital link between Bannerghatta National Park in the north and BRT Tiger Reserve and Male Mahadev Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
  • The area is drained by three rivers, namely, Cauvery, Arkavathi and Shimsha.
  • Flora: The forest is primarily of dry deciduous and scrub types, but a wide range of forest types including moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, shola, riverine, Hardwicke forest, etc.
  • Fauna: Important animals found in the sanctuary are tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, wild dog etc.


International Financial Architecture Working Group meet

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The first International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting of G-20 under the chairmanship of India will be held in Chandigarh on 30-31 January 2023.

About International Financial Architecture Working Group

  • This G-20 finance track focuses on strengthening international financial architecture.
  • It will also aim to address various challenges faced by vulnerable countries.
  • Around 100 delegates from G-20 member nations, invited countries and international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting.
  • Discussions during the two-day meeting will be jointly moderated by the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India, as well as by the co-chairs of the International Financial Architecture Working Group, – France and South Korea.
  • The meeting will also focus on finding ways to maximize aid to poor and vulnerable countries.