Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CCO and its Functions
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
The Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) recently held inspections of Coal Mines to ensure the accuracy of Coal class and grade declarations.
Coal Sector in Indian Economy:
- The Indian coal sector is one of the 8 core sectors contributing heavily to the economic development of India.
- In India, there are 4 grades of coal available: Lignite, Bituminous, Sub-Bituminous, and Anthracite, and out of which Anthracite is the highest grade of coal.
- More than 70% of Coal reserves in India are mainly found in the South-Central region i.e. in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
- India is the second-largest producer of Anthracite globally after China.
- The mining sector accounts for more than 2% contribution to the total GDP of India.
- India, had a global share of Coal production nearly 9%.
- India’s share of coal in major imports in FY 2023 was estimated at 8%.
- India exports coking coal to neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
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About Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO)
- The CCO was established in 1975 under the Coal Mines (Conservation and Development) Act, 1974.
- It operates under the Ministry of Coal.
- It is headquartered in Kolkata and field offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kothagudem, and Asansol.
Functions of CCO
- Regulatory Oversight: Regulates coal industry activities, ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
- Inspections: It conducts inspections of collieries to ensure the accuracy of coal class and grade declarations under the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 (Amended in 2021).
- Quality Control: Establishes and enforces standards for coal quality through testing and inspection.
- Grading and Classification: Categorizes coal into grades based on quality and intended use.
- Licensing and Permissions: Issues licenses and permits to coal producers, traders, and consumers.
- Data Collection and Analysis: Collects and analyzes data on coal production, consumption, and market trends.
- Research and Development: Conducts or sponsors R&D to improve mining techniques and coal quality.
- Conservation and Sustainability: Formulates policies for coal resource conservation and sustainable development.
- Enforcement and Compliance: Ensures compliance with coal-related regulations through inspections and enforcement actions.
Grades of Coal in India
The gradation of coal is based on-
- Non-Coking Coal: Based on Gross Calorific Value (GCV).
- Coking Coal: Ash Content
- Semi Coking /Weakly Coking Coal: Ash plus Moisture Content
What is Coke?
- Coke is a solid carbonaceous material derived from heating coal in the absence of air.
- It is a porous, hard, black substance with a high carbon content and few impurities.
- Coke is primarily used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in the process of smelting iron ore to produce steel in a blast furnace.
Types of Coal based on Coking ability
- Non-Coking Coal: Non-coking coal, also known as thermal coal, is coal that does not have the ability to undergo conversion into coke when heated in the absence of air. It is primarily used for power generation in thermal power plants, as well as for other industrial applications such as cement production and heating.
- Coking Coal: Coking coal, also known as metallurgical coal, is a type of coal that possesses the necessary properties to undergo conversion into coke when heated in the absence of air. Coking coal is characterized by its high carbon content, low ash content, and ability to form a strong, porous coke when heated.
- Semi Coking / Weakly Coking Coal: Semi-coking or weakly coking coal is a coal type that falls between non-coking coal and coking coal in terms of its properties. While it does not fully qualify as coking coal due to certain limitations in its coking properties, it exhibits some degree of coking ability when heated.
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PYQ:
[2022] In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO)?
- CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India.
- It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks.
- It hears any objection to the Government’s notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas.
- It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
Mains level: Key features of NCAP
Why in the news?
When the Indian government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, it’s target was to cut the concentration of atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM) by 20-30% by 2024, from 2017 levels. This was later revised to 40% by 2026.
What is the NCAP?
- The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in India in January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- The NCAP aims to achieve reductions in PM10 levels through various measures.
What is PM10?
- PM 10, also known as particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 micrometers.
- PM 10 particles can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and prolonged exposure to high levels of PM 10 can lead to serious health problems, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death.
Key features of NCAP (Note: asked in UPSC 2020 mains)
- Target: Achieving 20% to 30% reduction target in Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations by 2024, where 2017 is kept as the base year for the comparison of concentration. But it has been revised to 40% by 2026.
- Cities based on air quality:Identification of 122 non-attainment cities across the country based on the 2014-2018 Air Quality data.
- City specific plans: Preparation of city-specific action plans, including measures to strengthen the monitoring network, reduce vehicular/industrial emissions, and increase public awareness.
- Coordination between centre, state and local: Facilitating collaborative, multi-scale, and cross-sectoral coordination between the relevant central ministries, state governments, and local bodies.
- Right mix with exixting policies: Establishing a right mix with the existing policies and programs, including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and other government initiatives related to climate change.
- Changes as per additional scientific information: Constant change, activity, and progress to get evolved based on the additional scientific and technical information as they emerge.
- Monitoring station: Increasing the number of monitoring stations in the country, including rural monitoring stations, technology support, and data analysis.
- Awareness and capicity building: Emphasis on awareness and capacity building initiatives, including public awareness campaigns, training programs, and research and development activities.
Challenges related to NCAP
- Lack of fund Utilization: On average, only 60% of the allocated funds have been utilized so far, with 27% of cities spending less than 30% of their designated budgets. Notably, Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru have spent 0% and 1% of their NCAP funds, respectively.
- Implementation Delays: Delays in implementing CAAPs are attributed to various factors, including bureaucratic hurdles such as delays in approvals from competent authorities and the absence of standard operating procedures.
- Technical Challenges: Technical challenges, such as defining technical specifications for tendering processes and procuring necessary equipment like mechanical sweepers and electric buses, contribute to implementation delays.
How scientific tool can help?
- Emissions Inventory (EI): EIs provide crucial insights into local pollution sources and their contributions, aiding in forecasting future emissions and shaping targeted pollution control strategies.
- Source Apportionment (SA) Studies: SA studies offer detailed analyses of contributions from various pollution sources, including distant ones.
- Role of Air Quality (AQ) Modelling: AQ modelling helps in understanding pollution dispersion, including from distant sources.
- Role of EI, SA and AQ: Combining EI, SA studies, and AQ modelling allows for a comprehensive understanding of pollution sources, their contributions, and dispersion patterns.
Conclusion:
Implement stricter monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely and efficient fund utilization. Regular audits and reviews can help identify underutilization and take corrective actions promptly.
Mains PYQ
Q What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (UPSC IAS/2020)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Map of West Asia
Mains level: Reason behind the west Asia is a heavily militarised region
Why in the news?
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers 2023’, four of the top 10 largest importers of arms last year were from West Asia, with the U.S. being the main supplier
SIPRI Report: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2023
- India’s Arms Imports: Increased by 4.7% compared to 2014-18.
- European Arms Imports: Saw a staggering 94% increase between 2014-18 and 2019-23, likely influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Russia-India Arms Trade: Russia remained India’s largest arms supplier, accounting for 36% of total imports.
- Top Global Importers: India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar emerged as the top three importers globally.
- Ukraine’s Arms Imports: Became the fourth largest arms importer during the specified period.
- China-Pakistan Arms Trade: Pakistan, the fifth largest arms importer, obtained 82% of its arms from China.
- France’s Arms Exports: Emerged as the world’s second-largest arms supplier, after the United States.
- French Arms Exports to India: India was highlighted as the largest single recipient of French arms exports.
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West Asia has largest expenditure in Defence as per GDP %
Reason behind the west Asia is heavily militarised region:
- Regional Conflicts and Tensions: The region is characterized by ongoing conflicts and tensions, such as those in Yemen and Syria, leading countries to seek advanced weaponry to address security challenges
- Oil Boom: The oil boom in West Asia has led to increased military spending as countries seek to protect their oil resources and maintain regional stability
- Internal Factors: The presence of Western arms and personnel in some Persian Gulf countries has contributed to internal resurgences, leading states to invest in military capabilities for self-defense
- Diversification of Arms Suppliers: West Asian states have adopted the principle of diversifying sources of arms supply, leading to a broader range of arms imports from various suppliers globally
- Client-Supplier Relationship: The relationship between client states and arms suppliers is often favorable to the recipient, with the recipient receiving the arms they wish and the supplier bowing to their demands
- Regional Disputes and Border Skirmishes: Border disputes, threats, and wars have made it imperative for West Asian states to resort to modern and efficient national defense systems like conflict between Iran and Israel
Conclusion:
Encourage diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts and tensions through dialogue and negotiation, aiming to reduce the need for excessive military spending. Advocate for the establishment of regional arms control agreements to limit the proliferation of weapons and promote stability in the West Asia region.
Mains PYQ
Q How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agricultural subsidies; Policies and Programs by government;
Mains level: Key challenges related to Swachh Bharat Mission
Why in the news?
India was ranked right at the bottom of 180 countries in the Environment Performance Index (EPI) in 2022. The EPI ranks countries on climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
- It is also known as the Clean India Mission, is a significant campaign initiated by the Government of India on October 2, 2014,
- It is primarily aimed at eliminating open defecation, improving solid waste management, and promoting cleanliness across the country.
Key challenges related to Swachh Bharat Mission
- Poor Quality of Infrastructure: Reports suggest inadequate construction quality of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), raising questions about the effectiveness of the initiative.
- Inadequate Access to Sanitation Facilities: Despite government claims, communities in slums and peri-urban areas still lack access to public toilets, contributing to sanitation challenges.
- Lack of Waste Treatment: Toilet construction in rural areas is not linked to waste treatment, leading to improper disposal of faecal sludge and environmental contamination.
- Ineffective Waste Management Technologies: Large, capital-intensive waste management technologies have failed to meet expectations, resulting in health crises and the need for additional resources to fix them.
- Privatization of Public Health Services: The outsourcing of sanitation work to private contractors, often employing subjugated communities, has led to the privatization of public health services and perpetuated caste discrimination.
- Insufficient Human Resources: Shortage of sanitation inspectors and inadequacy in recruitment efforts hinder effective monitoring and management of sanitation programs at the local level.
Way forward
- Enhanced Quality Assurance: Implement stricter quality control measures to ensure the construction of toilets meets prescribed standards. Regular inspections and audits can help identify and rectify any construction deficiencies.
- Targeted Infrastructure Development: Prioritize the construction of public toilets in slums and peri-urban areas to improve access to sanitation facilities for marginalized communities.
- Integrated Waste Management: Integrate toilet construction with waste treatment facilities in rural areas to ensure proper disposal of faecal sludge.
Mains PYQ
Q What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (UPSC IAS/2018)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: 95Mat5 Antibody
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
After multiple rounds of screening, researchers have identified an antibody, 95Mat5 that showed promising results in making a potent antidote against various snake venoms.
What is 95Mat5?
- 95Mat5 is a universal antivenom developed to neutralize the toxins present in snake venoms.
- Development Process:
- The scientists first synthesized variants of a toxin called long-chain 3FTxs (3FTx-L), which are found in the venoms of various snakes, including cobras, kraits, mambas, and monocled cobras.
- They then screened billions of human antibodies expressed on the surface of yeast cells to find antibodies that bound best to the synthesized toxins.
- After multiple rounds of screening, they identified a shortlist of antibodies that broadly reacted with most of the 3FTx variants used in the study.
- The selected antibodies were further tested in vitro in human cells to determine which ones could best neutralize the toxins.
Mechanism of Action
- 95Mat5 specifically targets α-neurotoxins, which are a specific class of 3FTxs that prevent nerve and muscle cells from responding to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in carrying messages from neurons to muscles.
- By binding to the toxins, 95Mat5 prevents toxins from interacting with the receptors in human nerve and muscle cells, thereby blocking their ability to induce paralysis and other deadly effects.
- In animal experiments, 95Mat5 demonstrated efficacy in neutralizing the toxins present in the venoms of various snake species, protecting the animals from death.
Global Impact of Snakebites
- Venomous snakebites claim over 100,000 lives annually, with around 400,000 individuals suffering permanent disability.
- Low and middle-income countries, especially India and Africa, bear the brunt of this burden.
- India alone witnessing an average of 58,000 deaths each year.
- In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared snakebite envenoming as a highest priority Neglected Tropical Disease, shedding light on a long-hidden health crisis.
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PYQ:
[2020] With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
- They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
- They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
- They can be used in biochemical sensors.
- Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Commonwealth of Nations, CPGRAMS
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
India’s Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) received global recognition during the 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads in London.
What is CPGRAMS?
- The primary objective of CPGRAMS is to provide citizens with a user-friendly mechanism to register complaints or grievances related to various government departments and agencies.
- It is an online platform available to the citizens 24×7 to lodge their grievances to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery.
- It was created in June 2007 by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.
- It has been designed in-house by the National Informatics Centre team.
- Prime Minister is the supreme head of the CPGRAMS.
Key functions of CPGRAMS include:
- Grievance Lodging and Tracking: Citizens can lodge grievances online and track their progress using a unique registration number generated by the system.
- Role-Based Access: Every Ministry and state have role-based access to this system, ensuring that grievances are forwarded to the concerned Ministries or Government Departments.
- Appeal Facility: CPGRAMS provides an appeal facility to the citizens if they are not satisfied with the resolution by the Grievance Officer.
- Feedback Mechanism: After the closure of grievance, if the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, they can provide feedback. If the rating is ‘Poor’, the option to file an appeal is enabled. The status of the Appeal can also be tracked by the petitioner with the grievance registration number.
Issues that are NOT taken up under CPGRAMS:
- Subjudice cases or any matter concerning judgment given by any court.
- Personal and Family disputes.
- Right to Information (RTI) Queries.
- Anything that impacts upon territorial integrity of the country or friendly relations with other countries.
- Grievances of Government employees concerning their service matters including disciplinary proceedings etc because there is already a mechanism for addressing these issues.
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What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
- The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire.
- It dates back to the first half of the 20th century with the decolonization of the British Empire through increased self-governance of its territories.
- It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference.
- It was formalized by the UK through the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
- The symbol of this free association is Queen Elizabeth II, who is the Head of the Commonwealth.
- Membership: Based on free and equal voluntary cooperation.
History of its creation
- The Commonwealth was created in the early 1900s when nations that were formerly a part of the British Empire began to secede.
- India is one of the founding members of the modern Commonwealth.
- India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, played a key role in the creation of the modern Commonwealth in 1949, Indian policy-makers over the years have considered it as a relic of empire and steeped in colonial legacy.
Working of Commonwealth
- Commonwealth members have no legal obligations to one another.
- Instead, they are united by language, history, culture and their shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Actual functioning: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
- CHOGM which takes place every two years is a platform for all Commonwealth leaders to meet and discuss issues about the Commonwealth.
- The motto behind the meeting is to reaffirm common values, address the shared global challenges and agree on how to work to create a better future.
PYQ:
[2012] With reference to consumers rights/privileges under the provisions of law in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Consumers are empowered to take samples for food testing.
2. When a consumer files a complaint in any consumer forum, no fee is required to be paid.
3. In case of death of a consumer, his/her legal heir can file a complaint in the consumer forum on his/her behalf.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[2016] The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War,
(a) India should be granted complete independence
(b) India should be partitioned into two before granting independence
(c) India should be made a republic with the condition that it will join the Commonwealth
(d) India should be given Dominion status |
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