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IAO Hanle: A promising astronomical observatory

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: IAO Hanle

Mains level: NA

A new study shows that the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) located in Hanle is one of the emerging sites for infrared and optical astronomy studies.

About IAO Hanle

The IAO, located in Hanle at Mount Saraswati near Leh in Ladakh, has one of the world’s highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes.
It was established in 2001 and is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.
It is currently the ninth highest optical telescope in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters.

Note: University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) located in the Atacama desert of Chile is the highest at an elevation of 5,640 m.

Major telescopes at Hanle include:

Himalayan Chandra Telescope (An optical-infrared telescope named after India-born Nobel laureate Subrahmanyam Chandrasekhar)
GROWTH-India Telescope (A robotic optical telescope)
High Altitude Gamma Ray Telescope

Distinct factors of IAO Hanle

IAO Hanle offers a clear view of space among all observatories globally.
This is due to its advantages of more clear nights, minimal light pollution, background aerosol concentration, extremely dry atmospheric condition and uninterrupted monsoon.
Hanle site is as dry as Atacama Desert in Chile and much drier than Devasthal and has around 270 clear nights in a year and is also one of the emerging sites for infrared and submillimetre optical astronomy.
This is because water vapor absorbs electromagnetic signals and reduces their strength.

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Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Langa-Manganiyar Folk Music

Prelims Only | History and Art & Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Langa-Manganiyar

Mains level: NA

Considered the repository of the Thar region’s rich history and traditional knowledge, the ballads, folklore and songs of the Langa-Manganiyar artistes are being preserved through an initiative for documentation and digitisation.

Who are the Langa-Manganiyar?

The Langas and Manganiyars are hereditary communities of Muslim musicians residing mostly in western Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and in Pakistan’s Tharparkar and Sanghar districts in Sindh.
The music of the two marginalised communities, who were supported by wealthy landlords and merchants before Independence, forms a vital part of Thar desert’s cultural landscape.
The performances are in multiple languages and dialects including Marwari, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dhatti and Thareli.
The romantic tales revolving around legendary lovers such as Umar-Marvi, Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, Moomal-Rana and Sorath-Rao Khangar have traditionally captivated audiences.

Instruments used

The Langa’s main traditional instrument is the sindhi sarangi; Manganiyar’s is the kamaicha.
Both are bowed stringed instruments with skin membrane sounding boards and many sympathetic strings.
Both Langas and Manganiyars sing and play the dholak (double-headed barrel drum), the kartal(wooded clappers), the morchan (jaws harp), and the ubiquitous harmonium.

Try answering this PYQ:

Q. Consider the following pairs:

Tradition: State

Chapchar Kut: festival Mizoram

Khongjom Parba ballad: Manipur

Thang Ta dance: Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 3 only

(d) 2 and 3

Post your answers here.

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Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

Chola inscriptions on qualifications for civic officials

Prelims Only | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Kudavolai System

Mains level: Chola Administration

In the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, some Chola-era inscriptions on Kanthaleeswarar Temple bear testimony to the qualifications required for members of the village administrative council.

Inscription details: Kudavolai System

The Kudavolai system was very vital and unique feature of administration of villages of Cholas.
In the system one representative is elected from each ward and every village had 30 wards.
The village administrative committee was called as variyam.
The election was unique as names of contestants were written on palm leaf and put in a pot.

Taxation details

The rulers were considerate while taxing agricultural produce.
For areca nuts, only 50% tax would be collected for the first 10 years after cultivation. Farmers would pay full tax only after the trees started yielding fruits.
Similarly, 50% tax was imposed on banana crops until the yield.

Though a tough one, but try answering this PYQ:

Q.In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Term: Description

Eripatti: Land revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank

Taniyurs: Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins

Ghatikas: Colleges generally attached to the temples

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 3

Post your answers here.

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Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST collections hit 5-month high

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Revenue receipts

Mains level: GST

India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues crossed ₹1.17 lakh crore in September, hitting a five-month high.

Take a look towards the share of GST in government earnings for the previous fiscal:

UPSC can ask about the majority component of the Revenue Receipts of the govt. See how Corporate tax is nearing the GST revenues.

Do you think it will surpass GST revenue when the economy is fully recovered?

What is the news?

September’s revenues were 23% higher than a year ago and 27.3% more than collections in the pre-pandemic month of September 2019.
Revenues from import of goods were 30% higher while indirect tax collected on domestic transactions, including the import of services, were 20% higher in September, compared to the same month in 2020.
Among the major States, GST revenues grew 29% in Karnataka, 28% in Gujarat, followed by 22% in Maharashtra and 21% each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana recorded a 25% surge in revenues, while Odisha saw a sharper 40% rise.

Significance

This clearly indicates that the economy is recovering at a fast pace.
Coupled with economic growth, anti-evasion activities, especially action against fake billers have also been contributing to the enhanced GST collections.
It is expected that the positive trend in the revenues will continue and the second half of the year will post higher revenues.

Issues underlying

Though GST revenues are picking up pace after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, revenue buoyancy under GST is being seen as a concern.
This is especially after the legally mandated compensation to states for revenue shortfall from the GST implementation comes to an end in June 2022.

Back2Basics: Goods and Services Tax

The GST is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
It was launched into operation on the midnight of 1st July 2017.
It subsumed almost all domestic indirect taxes (petroleum, alcoholic beverages, and stamp duty are the major exceptions) under one head.
The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.
GST is levied at four rates viz. 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. The schedule or list of items that would fall under these multiple slabs is worked out by the GST council.

Types

The GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST).
Import of goods or services would be treated as inter-state supplies and would be subject to Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST) in addition to the applicable customs duties.

The GST Council

It is a constitutional body (Article 279A) for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to GST.
The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.
It is considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get due representation.

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Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

What is Computer Tomography?

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Computer Tomography (CT) and its working

Mains level: NA

The first computed tomography image – a CT scan – of the human brain was made 50 years ago, on Oct. 1, 1971.

A few months back, almost all of us have heard about the High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan being conducted on our relatives for diagnosing the damage of lungs caused due to the Wuhan Virus.

About Computer Tomography (CT)

A CT scan is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to get detailed images of the body noninvasively for diagnostic purposes.
The multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles are then processed on a computer using reconstruction algorithms to produce tomographic (cross-sectional) images (virtual “slices”) of a body.

How does it work?

They use a narrow X-ray beam that circles around one part of your body. This provides a series of images from many different angles.
A computer uses this information to create a cross-sectional picture. Like one piece in a loaf of bread, this two-dimensional (2D) scan shows a “slice” of the inside of your body.
This process is repeated to produce a number of slices.
The computer stacks these scans one on top of the other to create a detailed image of your organs, bones, or blood vessels.
For example, a surgeon may use this type of scan to look at all sides of a tumor to prepare for an operation.

Its development

Since its development in the 1970s, CT has proven to be a versatile imaging technique.
While CT is most prominently used in diagnostic medicine, it also may be used to form images of non-living objects.
The 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to South African-American physicist Allan M. Cormack and British electrical engineer Godfrey N. Hounsfield “for the development of computer-assisted tomography”.

Threats

CT scans use X-rays, which produce ionizing radiation.
Such radiation may damage your DNA and lead to cancer.
The risk increases with every CT scan we get.
Ionizing radiation may be more harmful in children.

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Air Pollution

Probe shows use of toxic material in firecrackers: Supreme Court

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Air pollutants in crackers, Green Crackers

Mains level: Air pollution due to firecrackers

The Supreme Court has said a preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the firecracker industry, including in Tamil Nadu, revealed rampant violation of its ban on use of toxic ingredients like Barium and its salts.

Air Pollution created by firecrackers

Firing crackers increase the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air.
After firing, the fine dust particles get settled on the surrounding surfaces which are packed with chemicals like copper, zinc, sodium, lead, magnesium, cadmium and pollutants like oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put our health at stake.

Harmful elements used

Copper: Irritates the respiratory tract.
Cadmium: Leads to anemia by reducing the capacity of blood to carry oxygen.
Zinc: Can cause metal fume fever and induces vomiting.
Lead: Harms the nervous system.
Magnesium: Metal fume fever is caused by Magnesium fumes.
Sodium: It is a highly reactive element and caused burns when it is combined with moisture.

Why is the issue in news now?

Ans. Barium content

A chemical analysis of the samples of finished and semi-finished firecrackers and raw materials taken from the manufacturers showed Barium content.
The court stated that loose quantities of Barium were purchased from the market.
Also, firecracker covers did not show the manufacture or expiry dates.

Issues with Barium

Barium nitrate, which emits green flames when a cracker is lit, is a metal oxide that increases both air and noise pollution.
There is is no clarity on whether barium nitrate can actually be used or not.

Alternatives: Green Crackers

The new CSIR-NEERI formulation for green crackers has NO barium nitrate — one of the key ingredients of traditional firecrackers.
These crackers have been named “safe water releaser (SWAS)”, “safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL)” and “safe thermite cracker (STAR)”.
The three crackers release water vapour or air as a dust suppressant and diluent for gaseous emissions.
These products can only be manufactured by those who have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with CSIR-NEERI.
The green crackers are sold with a unique logo on the box, and will also have a QR code with production and emission details.

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US policy wise : Visa, Free Trade and WTO

What is H-1B Visa?

Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Indian Diaspora

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Various visas mentioned

Mains level: NA

The need for H-1B visas will continue to exist till the ‘talent challenge’ is tackled globally, even though the information technology industry has successfully adopted the work-from-home model amid pandemic-related travel restrictions.

Various US Visa Programs

1) H-1B visa

What is it: The H-1B visa category covers individuals who “work in a speciality occupation, engage in cooperative research and development projects administered by the US Department of Defense or are fashion models that have national or international acclaim and recognition.”

Who’s covered: The H-1B is most well known as a visa for skilled tech workers, but other industries, like health care and the media, also use these visas.

2) H-2B visa

What it is: According to USCIS, the H-2B program allows US employers or agents “to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.”

Who’s covered: They generally apply to seasonal workers in industries like landscaping, forestry, hospitality and construction.

3) J-1 visa

What it is: The J-1 visa is an exchange visitor visa for individuals approved to participate in work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs in the United States.

Who’s covered: The impacted people include interns, trainees, teachers, camp counsellors, au pairs and participants in summer work travel programs.

4) L-1 visa

What it is: The L1 Visa is reserved for managerial or executive professionals transferring to the US from within the same company, or a subsidiary of it. The L1 Visa can also be used for a foreign company opening up US operations.

Who’s covered: Within the L1 Visa, there are two subsidiary types of visas

L1A visa for managers and executives.
L1B visa for those with specialized knowledge.

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Antimalarial drug resistance in India

Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Malaria and it vaccines

Mains level: Non-communicable diseases burden on India

In recent years there is increasing evidence for the failure of artemisinin-based combination therapy for falciparum malaria either alone or with partner drugs.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito if the mosquito itself is infected with a malarial parasite.
There are five kinds of malarial parasites — Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax (the commonest ones), Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Therefore, to say that someone has contracted the Plasmodium ovale type of malaria means that the person has been infected by that particular parasite.

Burden of Malaria in India

In 2018, the National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) estimated that approximately 5 lakh people suffered from malaria.
63% of the cases were of Plasmodium falciparum.
The recent World Malaria Report 2020 said cases in India dropped from about 20 million in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019.

Treatment of Malaria

Malaria is treated with prescription drugs to kill the parasite. Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug.
In most malaria-endemic countries including India, Artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs are the first-line choice for malaria treatment.
This is especially against Plasmodium falciparum parasite which is responsible for almost all malaria-related deaths in the world.

Why in news now?

There are reports of artemisinin resistance in East Africa and is a matter of great concern as this is the only drug that has saved several lives across the globe.
In India, after the failure of chloroquine to treat P. falciparum malaria successfully, artemisinin-based combination therapy was initially introduced in 2008.
Currently, several combinations of artemisinin derivatives are registered in India.

Artemisinin-based combination therapy failure in India

In 2019, a report from Eastern India indicated the presence of two mutations in P. falciparum cases treated with artemisinin that linked to its presence of resistance.
Again in 2021, artemisinin-based combination therapy failure was reported from Central India where the partner drug SP showed triple mutations with artemisinin wild type.
This means the failure of artemisinin-based combination therapy may not be solely linked to artemisinin. Here it is needed to change the partner drug as has been done in NE states in 2013.

History of drug resistance

In the 1950s chloroquine resistance came to light.
Both chloroquine and pyrimethamine resistance originated from Southeast Asia following their migration to India and then on to Africa with disastrous consequences.
Similarly, artemisinin resistance developed from the six Southeast Asian countries and migrated to other continents, as is reported in India and Africa.
It would not be out of context that artemisinin is following the same path as has been seen with chloroquine.
Now, the time has come to carry out Molecular Malaria Surveillance to find out the drug-resistant variants so that corrective measures can be undertaken in time to avert any consequences.
Some experts even advocate using triple artemisinin-based combination therapies where the partner drug is less effective.

Try this PYQ:

Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria.

Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?

(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium

(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection

(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria

(d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

Post your answers here.

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Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

What are Electronic Gold Receipts?

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Electronic Gold Receipts

Mains level: NA

The board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the framework for a gold exchange as well as for vault managers. This approval paves the way for gold exchanges to be set up for trading in ‘Electronic Gold Receipt’ (EGR).

What is EGR?

SEBI’s concept paper proposes issuing an electronic gold receipt in exchange pf physical gold (similar to equity shares), deposited with a vault manager (like a depositary participant) and this receipt can then be traded.
The government wants India’s outsized influence in the physical market for gold to be visible in the financial market for gold as well.

Why need EGRs?

EGI is a way of getting people to not hoard gold, by creating an exchange that provides transparent pricing and liquidity (to cash or back to gold).
India is a net importer of gold. We are price takers and not price setters. The whole idea is to move from being price takers to be price setters.
Price discovery at the exchanges will thus lead to transparency in gold pricing.
The gold exchanges would provide transparent price discovery, investment liquidity and assurance in the quality of gold.

What is the SEBI regulation?

SEBI has also proposed a regulatory framework for setting up a gold exchange.
Existing stock exchanges will be allowed to provide the platform for trading of EGRs.
The denomination for trading of EGR and conversion of EGR into gold will be decided by the stock exchange with the approval of SEBI.
The clearing corporation will settle the trades executed on the stock exchanges by way of transferring EGRs and funds to the buyer and seller, respectively.

How will EGR work?

EGR holders, at their discretion, can withdraw the underlying gold from the vaults after surrendering the EGRs.
SEBI-accredited vault managers will be responsible for the storage and safekeeping of gold deposits, creation of EGRs, withdrawal of gold, grievance redressal and periodic reconciliation of physical gold with the records of depository.
The vault manager will have a networth of at least ₹50 crore.

Back2Basics: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

The SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance Government of India.
It was established on 12 April 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.

Jurisdiction of SEBI

SEBI has to be responsive to the needs of three groups, which constitute the market:

Issuers of securities
Investors
Market intermediaries

SEBI has three powers rolled into one body: quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and quasi-executive.

It drafts regulations in its legislative capacity, it conducts investigation and enforcement action in its executive function and it passes rulings and orders in its judicial capacity.
Though this makes it very powerful, there is an appeal process to create accountability.
There is a Securities Appellate Tribunal which is a three-member tribunal and is currently headed by Justice Tarun Agarwala, former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
A second appeal lies directly to the Supreme Court.

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

What is Meningitis?

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Meningitis

Mains level: NA

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
People of any age can get meningitis.

What Causes Meningitis?

Most cases are caused by bacteria or viruses, but some can be due to certain medicines or illnesses.
Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can also be bacterial or fungal.
Both kinds of meningitis spread like most other common infections do — someone who’s infected touches, kisses, or coughs or sneezes on someone who isn’t infected.
Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis) is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually less serious.
Many of the viruses that cause meningitis are common, such as those that cause colds, diarrhea, cold sores, and the flu.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Meningitis?

Meningitis symptoms vary, depending on the person’s age and the cause of the infection.
The first symptoms can come on quickly or start several days after someone has had a cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of an infection.

Common symptoms include:

fever
lack of energy
irritability
headache
sensitivity to light
stiff neck
skin rash

Treatment

Several vaccines protect against meningitis, including meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccines.
If dealt with quickly, meningitis can be treated successfully.

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Monsoon Updates

Cyclone Gulab

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Geographical Features & Their Location

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Tropical cyclones

Mains level: Frequent cyclonic activities in India

As a very rare occasion during monsoons, Cyclone Gulab has been developed in the Bay of Bengal and later made landfall close in Andhra Pradesh.

Tauktae, Amphan, Fani, Titli, Bulbul, Gaja… And now Gulab. As and when cyclones with intriguing names approach the Indian coasts, a common question comes to our minds: Who names these storms?

This time it is Pakistan, not India, who proposed this name Gulaab!

About Tropical Cyclones

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure centre, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rains.
Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by different names, including hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, or simply cyclone.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean, and a typhoon occurs in the north-western Pacific Ocean.
In the south Pacific or the Indian Ocean, comparable storms are referred to simply as “tropical cyclones” or “severe cyclonic storms”.

Cyclone Gulab

Three factors —in-sync phase of Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), warm sea surface temperatures over the Bay of Bengal, and the formation of a low-pressure system.
The system’s intensification phases between low pressure – well-marked low pressure – depression – deep depression and to finally becoming Cyclone Gulab was rather rapid, even as the system moved closer to the south Odisha – north Andhra Pradesh coast, where it also made landfall.

What makes Gulab special?

India has a bi-annual cyclone season that occurs between March to May and October to December. But on rare occasions, cyclones do occur in June and September months.
Cyclones are less common during the June to September monsoon season, as there are limited or almost no favourable conditions for cyclogenesis due to strong monsoon currents.
This is also the period when the wind shear — that is, the difference between wind speeds at lower and upper atmospheric levels — is very high.
As a result, clouds do not grow vertically and monsoon depressions often fail to intensify into cyclones.
So it can be stated that this year, the cyclone season commenced earlier than usual. The last time a cyclone developed in the Bay of Bengal in September was Cyclone Day in 2018.

Also read

[Burning Issue] Tropical Cyclones and India

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Indian Missile Program Updates

DRDO tests Akash Prime Missile

Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Akash Missile

Mains level: NA

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested a new version of Akash Surface to Air missile Akash Prime from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.

About Akash Missile System

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
It can target aircraft up to 50–80 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m.
It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Upgrade in Akash Prime

In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy.
Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environment at higher altitudes.

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National Mission on Cultural Mapping

Prelims Only | History and Art & Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: National Mission on Cultural Mapping

Mains level: Read the attached story

Having made little progress since its launch in 2017, the National Mission on Cultural Mapping has now been handed over to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

About the National Mission on Cultural Mapping

The NMCM is a mission mode project of the Ministry of Culture. It was incepted in 2015.
It is aimed to address the necessity of preserving the threads of rich Indian Art and Cultural Heritage, convert vast and widespread cultural canvas of India into an objective Cultural Mapping while creating a strong “Cultural Vibrancy” throughout the nation.
It will identify, collect and record cultural assets and resources. It correlates this to planning and strategizing.
A portal and a database listing organisations, spaces, facilities, festivals and events will be created.
This database can be used to preserve culture and provide or ameliorate livelihoods.

Objectives of the Mission

Under this Mission, at broad-level, there are three important objectives as follows:

National Cultural Awareness Abhiyan: Hamari Sanskriti Hamari Pahchan Abhiyan (Our Culture Our Identity)
Nationwide Artist Talent Hunt/Scouting Programme: Sanskritik Pratibha Khoj Abhiyan
National Cultural Workplace: Centralised Transactional Web Portal with database and demography of cultural assets and resources including all art forms and artists.

Significance of the mission

Revival and safeguarding of oral traditions
Fostering Cultural Awareness
Cultural Preservation
Sustainable Employment to creative industries
Optimal Resource Allocation and Utilization:
Creation of objective Database for inclusive growth of cultural heritage

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International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

What is Dark Energy?

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Dark Energy, Dark Energy

Mains level: Theory of expansion of the universe

Last week, an international team of researchers has made the first direct detection of dark energy.

About the Project

The XENON1T experiment is the world’s most sensitive dark matter experiment and was operated deep underground at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy.
The finding also suggests that experiments like XENON1T, which are designed to detect dark matter, could also be used to detect dark energy.

What is Dark Energy?

Dark energy is an unknown form of energy that affects the universe on the largest scales.
The first observational evidence for its existence came from measurements of supernovae, which showed that the universe does not expand at a constant rate; rather, the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
Prior to these observations, it was thought that all forms of matter and energy in the universe would only cause the expansion to slow down over time.
Measurements of the cosmic microwave background suggest the universe began in a hot Big Bang, from which general relativity explains its evolution and the subsequent large-scale motion.
Without introducing a new form of energy, there was no way to explain how an accelerating universe could be measured.

Does it exist?

Since the 1990s, dark energy has been the most accepted premise to account for the accelerated expansion.
As of 2021, there are active areas of cosmology research aimed at understanding the fundamental nature of dark energy.

Dark energy Vs Dark matter

Everything we see – the planets, moons, massive galaxies, you, me, this website – makes up less than 5% of the universe.
About 27% is dark matter and 68% is dark energy.
While dark matter attracts and holds galaxies together, dark energy repels and causes the expansion of our universe.

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GI(Geographical Indicator) Tags

GI in news: Goa Cashew Feni

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Intellectual Property Rights

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Cashew Feni, other GI tags in news

Mains level: NA

The Goa government’s Feni Policy 2021 has paved the way to take the state’s ‘heritage drink’ forward.

Sounds strange but an alcoholic beverage has been GI tagged!

Goa Cashew Feni

Feni is a spirit produced in Goa, India.
The two most popular types of feni are cashew feni and toddy palm feni, depending on the original ingredient; however, many other varieties are sold.
Feni distilleries are usually family-run affairs, and the history of the drink goes back to at least 1585.
The feni consumed in South Goa is generally of higher alcohol content (43-45% abv) as compared to the feni produced in North Goa.
Commercially packaged feni is available at 42.8% abv.
Cashew feni was awarded Geographical Indication registration in 2009 as a speciality alcoholic beverage from Goa.
It has been described as a colourless, clear liquid that when matured in wooden barrels develops golden brown tint.

Must read

GI Tags in News

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Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

IIT-B develops One-time Programmable Memory

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: One-time Programmable Memory

Mains level: NA

IIT Bombay researchers have developed a “memory technology” that can, in principle, revolutionise Indian industry and the many applications that need semiconductor chips, such as in the defence sector, automobiles and future aspirations in cell phone manufacturing.

One-time Programmable Memory

Hard disks, flash memory, etc, are examples of memory technology.
There is also another form of memory called the one-time programmable memory (OTP) where the memory is written once, stored for a lifetime, and retrieved and used many times.
This finds varied uses, one of which is in correcting faulty chips that have been mass produced for specific applications.

Its utility

For instance, think of a chip that helps read off the temperature.
Due to a manufacturing defect, the chip may read 100 degree Celsius as 101 degree Celsius.
This “offset” of 1 degree may be corrected by storing the error correction parameter in the OTP memory.
This is done uniquely for each chip and once stored, the memory corrects the chip’s output for its lifetime.
OTP memories are also used for other purposes, mainly three: chip identity, secure information storage and chip calibration for error correction.

How does it work?

To store the correction value, the researchers used eight memory cells, each of which would store one “bit” (that is a value of zero or one).
Each of the memory cells consist of an ultrathin silicon dioxide layer which is 10-15 atomic layers thick.
This is deposited uniformly over a dinner plate–sized eight-inch silicon wafer to form millions of nanoscale capacitors.
The pristine silicon dioxide layer is insulating, passing a very low current [which in digital electronics is read as a “0”].
A nanoscale lightning is generated of 3.3 volts to blow the capacitor, leading to a short circuit that produced high current [this is a “1”].
Thus, the OTP memory remembers either the “0” state or “1” state through its lifetime.

Benefits offered

The group has successfully demonstrated CMOS 180-nanometre–based, production-ready, eight-bit memory technology.
These include successful operation between minus 40 degrees C to 125 degrees C and reliability to ensure excess of 95% yield on eight-bit memories.

Significance

A large fraction of manufactured chips may need to be discarded for faults that can be corrected using this technology.
This technology is the first indigenous semiconductor memory technology adoption to manufacturing at 180-nanometre node.
Thus, this is a major national milestone for semiconductor innovation.

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Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

In news: Battle of Chamkaur (1704)

Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Battle of Chamkaur

Mains level: NA

The new Punjab CM represents the Assembly constituency of Chamkaur Sahib, which is of significance in Sikh history.

For such history-related topics, one must not forget to note the contemporaries of a particular period.

The Battle of Chamkaur

The coalition forces of Mughals and hill rajas led by Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind, had laid siege to Anandpur Sahib in the hope of capturing Guru Gobind Singh in May 1704.
After seven months of fighting and heavy losses, the coalition forces offered a safe passage to the Guru and his followers.
The heads of the coalition pledged they would not harm the Guru, his family, or his soldiers.
The peace treaty was sent in the name of Emperor Aurangzeb himself.
But when Gobind Singh and his followers stepped out of the Anandpur Sahib fort on the night of December 20, they were attacked.
Historically, this was where that Guru Gobind Singh lost two of his elder sons in a battle with the coalition forces of Mughals and the hill rajas.

What happened at Chamkaur Sahib?

The Guru, accompanied by panj piaras (the five Sikhs he had initially baptised), his elder sons and around 40 soldiers, regrouped in a fortress-like two-storey house, with high compound walls made of mud.
They were surrounded by an army commandeered by Wazir Khan and Sher Mohammed Khan, the younger brother of Malerkotla’s chieftain.
The Guru sent out soldiers in small squads for hand-to-hand combat. Two such attacks were led by his sons, both of whom died fighting.
Three of the panj piaras — Mohkam Singh, Himmat Singh and Sahib Singh — too died fighting.

How did the battle conclude?

When very few soldiers were left, they decided the Guru should leave so that he could carry on his mission.
It was at the Chamkaur fort that panj piaras issued an edict (hukumnama) ordering the Guru to leave.
This was the first edict issued by panj piaras after the formation of the Khalsa on April 13, 1699.
Before leaving, the Guru gave his attire and distinguishing kalgi to Sangat Singh, a Mazhabi Sikh who resembled him.
Three other soldiers too left the fort, and went in separate directions. The following day, the enemy forced their way inside to find only two soldiers who fought till their last breath.
Five days later, Guru Gobind Singh’s two younger sons, aged nine and seven, were bricked alive for refusing to convert.

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Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

Arctic ice is disappearing: How clouds interact with sea ice change

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Climatic Change

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Polynya

Mains level: Glaciers retreat at the Poles

Temperatures in the Arctic, for example, have been rising much faster than the rest of the planet. Experts, for the longest time, have attributed the crisis to how clouds interact with sea ice, essentially frozen seawater.

Role of Polynya

Decades of research have pointed that the losses in Arctic Sea ice cover allow for the formation of more clouds near the ocean’s surface.
New research by NASA has now shown that more heat and moisture is released through a large hole in sea ice called a polynya, which fuels the formation of more clouds.
This traps heat in the atmosphere and hinders the refreezing of new sea ice.

What is Polynya?

A polynya is an area of open water surrounded by sea ice.
It is now used as a geographical term for an area of unfrozen seawater within otherwise contiguous pack ice or fast ice.
It refers to a natural ice hole and was adopted in the 19th century by polar explorers to describe navigable portions of the sea.
There are two main types of polynyas:

Coastal polynyas, which can be found year-round near the Antarctic and Arctic coasts and are mainly created by strong winds pushing the ice away from the coast, and
Mid-sea or open-ocean polynyas, which may be found more sporadically in the middle of an ice pack in certain locations, especially around Antarctica.

What is the new research about?

The research stated that low clouds over the polynya emitted more energy or heat than clouds in adjacent areas covered by sea ice.
The polynya did refreeze, but only after the increased cloud cover and heat under the clouds persisted for about a week.
The extra clouds and increased cloud radiative effect to the surface remained for some time after the polynya froze.
The sea ice acts like a cap or a barrier between the relatively warm ocean surface and the cold and dry atmosphere above, so more heat and moisture from the ocean into the atmosphere.
This warming slows down the growth of the sea ice.

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Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)

Mains level: Export promotion schemes in India

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has imposed a cap on the total entitlement under the Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) at Rs 5 crore per exporter for shipments done in 2019-20 (FY20). The move is expected to benefit small businesses in the services sector.

About SEIS

Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) aims to promote export of services from India by providing duty scrip credit for eligible exports.
Under the scheme, service providers, located in India, would be rewarded under the SEIS scheme, for all eligible export of services from India.
SEIS was earlier termed as Served from India Scheme (SFIS).

Eligibility

Service Providers of notified services, located in India are eligible for the Service Exports from India Scheme.
To be eligible, a service provider (Company / LLP / Partnership Firm) should have a minimum net free foreign exchange earnings of USD 15000 in the preceding financial year to be eligible for duty credit scrips.
For proprietorships or individual service providers, minimum net foreign exchange earnings of USD10,000 in the preceding financial year is required to be eligible for the scheme.
Also, in order to claim reward under the SEIS scheme, the service provider shall have to have an active Import Export Code (IE Code) at the time of rendering such services for which rewards are claimed.

Back2Basics: Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

MEIS was launched with an objective to enhance the export of notified goods manufactured in a country.
This scheme came into effect on 1 April 2015 through the Foreign Trade Policy and was in existence till 2020.
It intended to incentivize exports of goods manufactured in India or produced in India.
The incentives were for goods widely exported from India, industries producing or manufacturing such goods with a view to making Indian exports competitive.
The MEIS covered almost 5000 goods notified for the purpose of the scheme.

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Solar Energy – JNNSM, Solar Cities, Solar Pumps, etc.

Rooftop Solar Scheme

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Solar Rooftop Scheme

Mains level: Renewable Energy in India

India has added 521 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity in the second quarter (Q2) of the calendar year (CY) 2021, a 53% increase than earlier quarter showing good signs of popularity.

What is Solar Rooftop?

A solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on a rooftop of a building is a mini-power requirement or feed into the grid.
The size of the installation varies significantly depending on the availability of space, amount of electricity consumed by the property and the ability or willingness of the owner to invest the capital required.

Why rooftop?

Rooftop solar with a storage system is a benefit for both, end consumers as well as discoms (power distribution companies).
A one-kilowatt (kW) rooftop system can produce three to five units of electricity a day.
The combination increasingly becomes cost-effective for electricity generation compared to the traditional grid supply and diesel generators.
In 2021, solar and storage will be cheaper than grid supply for most commercial and industrial (C&I) customers.
The increase in penetration of rooftop solar in the distribution grid will have a significant impact on the stability of the grid.

A viable alternative

Most housing societies in urban India rely on diesel generators for power backup. However, as power availability improves in the country, diesel generators will become redundant.
The operational cost of diesel generators is quite high— R16-18 per unit against Rs 5-6 a unit for solar rooftop systems. So rooftop solar power makes financial sense.Solar rooftop is also a perfect solution for commercial and institutional buildings that operate mostly during the day.
Their rooftops can be utilized to generate electricity, and they can, partially or completely, replace diesel generators. This would also help them reduce their electricity bills.

Question of energy storage

In order to integrate rooftop solar and electric vehicles, the grid needs to be flexible and smart.
Energy storage systems will play a key role in providing this flexibility by acting as a load when there is a surplus generation, as well as generating sources when there is a supply shortage.
There are two major methods of integrating battery storage into the electric grid:

Front-of-the-meter (FTM): It is implemented at the utility scale, wherein the battery system is connected to the transmission or distribution network that ensures grid reliability. This happens on a considerably large scale (~MWh scale).
Behind-the-meter (BTM): The other method is implemented at the residential and commercial/industrial level, mainly to provide backup during a power failure or to store excess locally generated energy from solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems.

India’s storage capacity

About 34 GW / 136 GWh of battery storage is expected to be installed by 2030, according to the Central Electricity Authority of India.
This capacity would be used for RE integration, demand-side and peak load management services.

Storage challenges

The solar segment offers a huge market opportunity for advanced battery technologies.
However, manufacturers have some ground to cover in addressing technical limitations of batteries, such as charging characteristics, thermal performance and requirement of boost current to charge deep cycle batteries.
Since solar companies may directly procure batteries from manufacturers and require after-sale services and technical support, battery companies should have wider a presence to address these expectations.

Other key challenges

Rooftop solar source doesn’t match the rise in renewable energy in India.
While industrial and commercial consumers account for 70% of total installed capacity residential consumers remain a big untapped potential to give the boost
Solar rooftops also face several challenges such as little consumer awareness, lack of innovative government policies or attention, bureaucratic hassles, and limited support from discoms.

Way forward

Supportive policies and innovative technological approaches are needed for the sector to achieve its potential.
Indian policymakers need to plan for rooftop solar plus storage, rather than rooftop solar alone with the grid as storage (net / gross metering).
The declining cost of storage solutions, along with that of rooftop solar solutions, is likely to change the future of the Indian power sector.
Several countries such as Australia, the United States, Germany, among others have already endorsed solar power with battery storage.
Energy storage, therefore, represents a huge economic opportunity for India.
The creation of a conducive battery manufacturing ecosystem on a fast track could cement India’s opportunity for radical economic and industrial transformation in a critical and fast-growing global market.

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