Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: RLV
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a successful autonomous landing mission experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?
- RLV is a type of spacecraft that is designed to be reused multiple times for launching payloads into space, instead of being discarded after a single launch like traditional rockets.
- They are seen as a more cost-effective and sustainable option for space launches, as they reduce the need for manufacturing new rockets for each mission.
- They typically consist of a reusable orbiter, similar to a space shuttle, and a reusable booster that provides the initial thrust needed to lift the orbiter and payload into space.
- After the payload is released into orbit, the orbiter and booster return to Earth and land back on a runway, where they can be refurbished and reused for future launches.
Why developing RLV is a big feat?
Developing RLVs requires advanced technologies, including-
- Heat-resistant materials for protecting the spacecraft during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere
- Advanced guidance and control systems for landing and
- Reliable propulsion systems for launching and landing
ISRO’s RLV-TD project
- ISRO is developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space.
- The RLV-TD is being used to develop technologies like hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX), return flight experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX).
- It looks like an aircraft and consists of a fuselage, a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails.
Development of RLV
(1) First RLV experiment:
- In 2016, the RLV-TD was launched into space on a rocket powered by a conventional solid booster (HS9) engine.
- The spacecraft travelled at a speed of Mach 5 when re-entering the earth’s orbit and travelled a distance of 450 km before splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.
- Critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, reusable thermal protection system, and re-entry mission management were successfully validated.
(2) Second RLV experiment:
- The RLV LEX test on April 2, 2023, involved a Chinook Helicopter lifting the RLV LEX to a height of 4.5 km and releasing the RLV.
- After midair release, the RLV carried out an autonomous landing on the Aeronautical Test Range airstrip, under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle’s landing.
- It achieved landing parameters as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle in its return path.
Advantages of RLVs
- Reusable launch vehicles are considered a low-cost, reliable, and on-demand mode of accessing space.
- The cost of a launch can be reduced by nearly 80 percent of the present cost by using RLVs.
Global RLV technologies
- NASA space shuttles have been carrying out dozens of human space flight missions.
- The private space launch services provider SpaceX demonstrated partially reusable launch systems with its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets since 2017.
- SpaceX is also working on a fully reusable launch vehicle system called Starship.
- Several private launch service providers and government space agencies are working on developing reusable launch systems.
Significance
- RLVs have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of space launches, as a significant portion of the cost of traditional rockets comes from the need to manufacture new rockets for each mission.
- By reusing spacecraft, the cost per launch can be significantly reduced.
- Additionally, RLVs can provide greater flexibility and reliability for space launches, as they can be launched on-demand instead of needing to be manufactured and assembled for each mission.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ice Memory Project
Mains level: Not Much
Scientists from Italy, France, and Norway have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to extract samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change.
‘Ice Memory’ Project
- Scientists will drill a series of tubes as far as 125 meters (137 yards) below the surface, which contains frozen geochemical traces dating back three centuries.
- The scientists will work for three weeks in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) to extract ice.
- The Ice Memory foundation is running the operation.
- The ice cores will provide scientists with valuable data about past environmental conditions.
Analysis and storage
- One set of ice tubes will be used for immediate analysis, while a second set will be sent to Antarctica for storage in an “ice memory sanctuary” under the snow.
- The samples will be preserved for future generations of scientists.
Reason for drilling
- The Arctic is warming between two and four times faster than the global average, and water from melting ice is altering the geochemical records preserved in ancient ice beneath.
- Hence, scientists are in a race against time to preserve crucial ice records before it disappears forever from the surface of the planet.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SNAP 10A
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The newscard is about the US government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, and its SNAP-10A space nuclear reactor.
What is SNAP-10A?
|
|
| SNAP-10A |
A nuclear reactor sent to space by the US in 1965 |
| SNAP program |
A government-sponsored program for developing compact, lightweight, and reliable atomic devices for use in space, sea, and land |
| Objective |
To produce at least 500 watts of electricity for a year or longer in Earth orbit |
| Components |
Enriched uranium fuel with zirconium hydride as a moderator, and liquid sodium-potassium alloy as the coolant |
| Conversion |
A thermoelectric converter was used to directly convert heat from the reactor into electricity |
| Payload |
Weighed less than 431 kg, including the instruments and shielding, and was designed to be remotely started and operated in space |
| Launch |
April 3, 1965, on an Atlas-Agena D rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base and placed in a polar orbit |
| Operations |
Achieved on-orbit criticality within six hours of startup and set to autonomous operation at full power after 200 hours of reactor operations |
| Contact loss |
Contact was lost with SNAP-10A for about 40 hours on May 16, 1965, and the reactor’s reflectors ejected from the core, causing the core to shut down and bringing an end to the reactor’s operations |
| Test objectives |
All test flight objectives were met, except the length of operation, which was just 43 days as opposed to the expected year or more |
| Significance |
Only known nuclear reactor sent to space by the US, while Russia has sent several, including one that crashed and scattered radioactive debris over Canada in 1978 |
| Current status |
Continues to be in Earth orbit, and NASA expects it to do so for 2,000 years or more |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ferns, ENP
Mains level: NA
Eravikulam National Park, located in Munnar, India, is known for its natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and has recently introduced a new attraction – a Fernarium.
What are Ferns?
- Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores, rather than seeds.
- They have distinctive leaves, called fronds, which are often intricately divided into smaller leaflets.
- Ferns can grow in a wide variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts, and they play an important role in many ecosystems as a habitat for animals, as well as by providing food and shelter for a variety of other plants.
Importance of Ferns
- Ferns are ecological indicators of healthy forests, and the climatic conditions inside the park are suitable for growing ferns.
- Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family and grow naturally in soilless conditions.
- They obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees, and a large number of ferns are found on trees inside the park.
Fernarium @ Eravikulam
- The Fernarium is a collection of ferns and it is the first of its kind in Munnar.
- Currently, 52 varieties of ferns have been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104 varieties that are found in the park.
- This initiative aims to provide visitors with awareness about the biodiversity of the park.
Back2Basics: Eravikulam National Park
| Location |
Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, the Park was a former hunting preserve of British planters |
| Designation |
Declared a Sanctuary in 1975, and a National Park in 1978 |
| Significance |
Protects the highly endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and is the land of the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years |
| Extent |
Covers an area of 97 sq. km of rolling grasslands and high-level sholas |
| Climate |
Receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons; one of the wettest areas in the world |
| Topography |
Undulating terrain with grass, hillocks, and sholas; highest peak south of the Himalayas, the Anamudi, is located here |
| Vegetation |
Majorly covered with rolling grasslands, with several patches of shola forests; important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), etc. |
| Wildlife Population |
29 species of mammals, including the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog; 140 species of birds, including 10 unique to the Western Ghats; more than 100 varieties of butterflies and 20 species of amphibians are also recorded here. |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Green Hydrogen, Carbon Laser
Mains level: Not Much
Scientists at IIT Mandi have created an innovative carbon-based catalyst that can enhance the efficiency of water electrolysis to generate green hydrogen.
Water electrolysis and its Challenges
- Water electrolysis is the process of splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity inside an electrolyser.
- However, this process consumes a lot of electrical energy.
- A well-known solution is to use a catalyst to induce the water molecules to split at a much lower energy.
- The better catalysts are often based on the metals iridium and ruthenium, which are expensive, in great demand in other sectors, and not consistently stable as the reaction progresses.
IIT’s breakthrough: Development of Laser Carbon
- Researchers have developed a porous carbon material containing nitrogen that functions both as a catalyst and as the anode in electrolyser units.
- This material, called “laser carbon,” was produced by exposing a sheet of a polymer called polyimide to a laser beam, which carbonised the exposed bits, leaving the remainder rich in nitrogen.
How does laser carbon work?
- The nitrogen atoms in laser carbon draw electron clouds towards themselves, rendering the nearby carbon atoms to bond with atoms or molecules containing electron pairs.
- This makes the location of these atoms active sites for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- OER is a bottleneck in this ideal reaction process because it proceeds slowly, with many intermediate steps, lowering the total reaction efficiency.
- Laser carbon offers to fix this problem by reducing the OER overpotential, which means the reaction kicks off sooner and proceeds with more vigor.
Advantages of laser carbon
Laser carbon has several advantages over other carbon-based catalysts.
- It is “highly power efficient,” cheaper to produce, has a simpler synthesis technique, and “can be batch-manufactured with a laser.”
- The manufacturing process is also environment-friendly, as no waste is generated, and there are no wet chemicals that would require disposal.
- Additionally, it does not require a substrate as it is self-supported in the form of a film, acting as both electrode and electrocatalyst.
Challenges
- The catalytic activity of laser carbon may not be as high as that of some metals but is comparable.
- Further improvements in the fabrication process and use of other polymers may address this challenge.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Kala Azar
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The Kolkata-based Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) have established the potential of quinoline derivatives to treat drug-resistant leishmaniasis, which is also called kala-azar or black fever.
What is Kala Azar?
- Kala-Azar is a vector-borne (sandfly) neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasites of the genus leishmania.
- It afflicts the world’s poorest populations in over 90 countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
- Current annual estimates of kala-azar are about 1,00,000.
- More than 95% of cases reported to the WHO are from India and other tropical countries, most importantly co-infection with HIV, which leads to an immunocompromised state.
How does Quinoline work over this?
- The quinoline derivative is a potent inhibitor of an enzyme called topoisomerase 1 (LdTop1).
- This enzyme is essential for the maintenance of DNA architecture in parasites and is distinct from the one found in humans.
- Poisoning LdTop1 imparts significant cytotoxicity to both Leishmania parasites found in the gut of sandfly vectors (promastigotes) and those found in infected humans (amastigotes) of both the wild type and the antimony-resistant isolates.
- This is done without inducing lethality to human and mice host cells.
Significance of quinoline treatment
- Overcoming drug resistance in clinical leishmaniasis is a severe challenge in rural India.
- The current treatment regimens against kala-azar use formulations that are toxic and induce high levels of drug-resistance.
What is the breakthrough?
- The novel inhibitor targeting the leishmania parasites was identified by screening them against recombinant Leishmania topoisomerase 1 enzyme.
- In all, 21 derivatives were prepared and evaluated for their antileishmanial activity, and one of them was found to be effective.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central idea: Bandipur completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve on April 1, 2023.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve
- The reserve is located in the Indian state of Karnataka and is spread over an area of 912.04 sq. km.
- It is recognized as one of the prime tiger habitats in the world and is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Tiger Population in Bandipur
- When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, there were 12 tigers in Bandipur, according to Ramesh Kumar, director, of Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
- Today, the number of tigers utilizing the park is 173 while the number of tigers within the reserve has been pegged at 126 as per the Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India, 2018.
History of conservation efforts in Bandipur
- Much before the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972, was passed, the erstwhile rulers of Mysuru had realized the importance of conserving flora and fauna.
- The Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Act was passed in 1901, and several forest areas were preserved as Game Reserves, and Tiger Blocks were identified with shooting restrictions imposed.
- Initially, an area spread over 35 sq miles was declared as a Game Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar State Forest of Mysore district in 1931 and was protected for 10 years.
Bandipur’s inclusion in Project Tiger
- When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, Bandipur was among the first nine reserves to be brought under the flagship program, and it included most areas that were already protected under the Venugopal Wildlife Park.
- The park was upgraded to a national park and renamed Bandipur, and the adjacent reserve forests were included under it to extend its area to 874.20 sq km.
Significance of the area
- The landscape spanning Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad complex is home not only to the highest number of tigers in the country – about 724 – but also to the largest Asian Elephant population.
- The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Tap to read more about:
[Sansad TV] Perspective – Project Tiger: Reclaiming Territories
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CCI, COMPAT
Mains level: Not Much
The Lok Sabha passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which could pose new challenges for global technology companies.
About Competition Act, 2022
- The Competition Act, 2002 was passed by the Parliament in the year 2002, to which the President accorded assent in January, 2003.
- It was subsequently amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
- In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) have been established.
- The CCI is now fully functional with a Chairperson and six members.
|
Changes brought by the Amendment
(1) Penal powers to CCI
- It grants the CCI the authority to penalize entities found engaging in anti-competitive behavior based on their global turnover, rather than just their annual domestic turnover, which was the case previously.
(2) Turnover Definition
- The definition of “turnover” has been a widely debated subject in the competition law landscape.
- The Supreme Court had previously fixed the criteria for determining turnover in competition law contraventions, holding that it should be the “relevant turnover,” i.e., turnover derived from the sales of goods or services.
(3) Mergers and acquisition
- The CCI will have greater authority in mergers and acquisitions worth more than Rs 2,000 crore.
- Additionally, the time limit for approval of mergers and acquisitions has been reduced from 210 days to 150 days.
Impact on Tech Companies
- While the provision on global turnover will not be exclusively applicable to tech companies, they are likely to be the most affected by it, given the nature of their business that operates across geographies.
- Typically, the revenue earned from these companies’ India operations is much smaller than their income in other regions, such as the US and Europe.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: QCO
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
- Quality Control Orders (QCO) have been issued for fibres like cotton, polyester, and viscose to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items and to ensure that customers get quality products.
- The QCOs are made mandatory for some and yet to be finalized for others.
What is the move?
- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will issue certificate to manufacturers of viscose staple fibre (VSF) who comply with its standards (IS17266: 2019).
- The hallmark is made mandatory.
Why are fibres covered under QCOs?
- The Indian textile and clothing industry consumes both indigenous and imported fibres and filaments.
- The imports are for different reasons, such as cost competitiveness, non-availability in the domestic market, or to meet a specified demand of the overseas buyer.
- The main aim of the QCO is to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items and to ensure that customers get quality products.
Reasons behind
- India’s move to introduce a draft of Quality Control Orders (QCO) aims to curb a Chinese import surge and boost exports to western markets.
What challenges does the new mandate bring?
- Supply chain disruption: India imports annually 50,000 – 60,000 tonnes of viscose fibre and its variants such as Modal and Tencel LF from nearly 20 countries. In the case of polyester, almost 90,000 tonnes of polyester fibre and 1.25 lakh tonnes of POY (Polyester Partially Oriented Yarn) are imported annually.
- Unease of doing business: Getting the certificate from the BIS involves a cost and hence not all are interested in getting the certificate.
- Value chain disruption: The Indian textile manufacturers who are dependent on these suppliers for the raw material will have to either look at other suppliers or lose orders.
- Material shortage: Some varieties of fibres have special functional properties and separate HS (Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System) code when imported. The textile industry imports just small quantities of such fibres, and restricting their availability will deny Indian consumers of niche products.
- Prospected price rise: Several textile units use lower-grade fibres that are generated from rejects and wastes and these are not covered under the QCO.
Textile industry’s expectation
- The industry is of the view that the import of speciality fibres that are used as blends with other fibres should be made available without restriction.
- Any overseas applicant for the BIS certificate should get it without delay after inspection.
Way forward
- Polyester-spun yarn mills in the MSME sector need capital support to set up labs to test products.
- The QCO should be implemented only after the ambiguities are cleared and the anomalies set right, says the industry.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Piezoelectric Effect
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: Scientists have recently discovered evidence of the piezoelectric effect in liquids for the first time. This effect has only been observed in solids for the past 143 years. This new finding challenges the theory that describes this effect and opens doors to previously unanticipated applications in electronic and mechanical systems.
What is Piezoelectric Effect?
- The piezoelectric effect occurs when a body develops an electric current when it is squeezed.
- It has been observed in quartz crystals (SiO2), which are used in wristwatches, clocks, and various instruments that convert mechanical stress to a current.
Recent observation
- The piezoelectric effect was found in pure 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide and 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide.
- Both of these liquids are ionic liquids, which means that they are made of ions instead of molecules, and were found at room temperature.
Why is the effect in liquids surprising?
- Liquids do not have an organized structure like solids, which is why the piezoelectric effect has only been expected in solids until now.
- However, the scientists found the effect in pure ionic liquids at room temperature, challenging the current understanding of the effect.
- The magnitude of the piezoelectric effect in the first liquid was 16 millivolt per newton (mV/N) and in the second, 17 mV/N, in both cases within a margin of 1 mV/N.
What is the strength of the effect?
- In the experiment, the scientists found that the strength of the piezoelectric effect in the two ionic liquids they tested was lower than that of quartz by a factor of 10.
- However, this is still a significant discovery since it opens the door to new applications.
Possible applications
- The discovery of the piezoelectric effect in liquids opens the door to previously inaccessible applications that have fewer environmental issues than many currently used piezoelectric materials.
- Additionally, these liquids displayed the inverse piezoelectric effect, which could be used to control how the liquids bend light passing through them by passing different currents through them, creating lenses with dynamic focusing abilities.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Model Code of Conduct
Mains level: Assembly elections
The Election Commission of India announced the date for Karnataka Assembly elections. Hence the model code of conduct comes into the picture.
Model Code of Conduct
- It is a set of guidelines issued by ECI to regulate political parties and candidates before elections.
- The rules range from issues related to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, content of election manifestos, processions and general conduct so that free and fair elections are conducted.
When does it come into effect?
- According to the PIB, a version of the MCC was first introduced in the state assembly elections in Kerala in 1960.
- It was largely followed by all parties in the 1962 elections and continued to be followed in subsequent general elections.
- In October 1979, the EC added a section to regulate the ‘party in power’ and prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage at the time of elections.
- The MCC comes into force from the date the election schedule is announced until the date that results are out.
Restrictions imposed under MCC
The MCC contains eight provisions dealing with general conduct, meetings, processions, polling day, polling booths, observers, the party in power, and election manifestos.
For Governments
- As soon as the code kicks in, the party in power whether at the Centre or in the States should ensure that it does not use its official position for campaigning.
- Hence, no policy, project or scheme can be announced that can influence the voting behaviour.
- The code also states that the ministers must not combine official visits with election work or use official machinery for the same.
- The ruling government cannot make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may influence the voters.
- Political parties or candidates can be criticised based only on their work record and no caste and communal sentiments can be used to lure voters.
For Political Parties
- The party must also avoid advertising at the cost of the public exchequer or using official mass media for publicity on achievements to improve chances of victory in the elections.
- The ruling party also cannot use government transport or machinery for campaigning.
- It should also ensure that public places such as maidans etc., for holding election meetings, and facilities like the use of helipads are provided to the opposition parties on the same terms and conditions on which they are used by the party in power.
Campaigning
- Holding public meetings during the 48-hour period before the hour fixed for the closing of the poll is also prohibited.
- The 48-hour period is known as “election silence”.
- The idea is to allow a voter a campaign-free environment to reflect on events before casting her vote
- The issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media is also considered an offence.
- Mosques, Churches, Temples or any other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda. Bribing, intimidating or impersonation of voters is also barred.
Is it legally binding?
- The fact is the MCC evolved as part of the ECI’s drive to ensure free and fair elections and was the result of a consensus among major political parties.
- It has no statutory backing. Simply put, this means anybody breaching the MCC can’t be proceeded against under any clause of the Code..
- The EC uses moral sanction or censure for its enforcement.
What if violated?
- The ECI can issue a notice to a politician or a party for alleged breach of the MCC either on its own or based on a complaint by another party or individual.
- Once a notice is issued, the person or party must reply in writing either accepting fault and tendering an unconditional apology or rebutting the allegation.
- In the latter case, if the person or party is found guilty subsequently, he/it can attract a written censure from the ECI — something that many see as a mere slap on the wrist.
- However, in extreme cases, like a candidate using money/liquor to influence votes or trying to divide voters in the name of religion or caste, the ECI can also order registration of a criminal case under IPC or IT Act.
- In case of a hate speech, a complaint can be filed under the IPC and CrPC; there are laws against the misuse of a religious place for seeking votes, etc.
Using powers under Art. 324
- The Commission rarely resorts to punitive action to enforce MCC, there is one recent example when unabated violations forced EC’s hand.
- During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the EC had banned a leader and now party president from campaigning to prevent them from further vitiating the poll atmosphere with their speeches.
- The Commission resorted to its extraordinary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to impose the ban.
- It was only lifted once the leaders apologised and promised to operate within the Code.
What if given Statutory Backing?
- Both the ECI and several independent experts, believe that giving statutory backing to the MCC would only make the job of the Commission more difficult.
- This is because every alleged offence will then have to go to an appropriate court, and right up to the Supreme Court.
- Given the flaws of our legal system, election petitions filed decades ago are still pending before many High Courts — it is anybody’s guess what that situation might lead to.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dalai Lama
Mains level: Not Much
The Dalai Lama has named a US-born Mongolian boy as the tenth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa, the head of the Janang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddhist spiritual head of Mongolia.
Do you know?
“Rinpoche” is a title used in Tibetan Buddhism, which is given to a highly respected teacher or lama. It literally means “precious one” and is used to indicate respect and reverence for the person. The title is often given to senior lamas or to those who are considered to be reincarnations of past masters.
Who is the Dalai Lama?
- The Dalai Lama (a title) is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
- He is believed to be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama and is regarded as an important figure not only in Tibet but also around the world.
- The Dalai Lama is traditionally both the political and spiritual leader of Tibet, but after China’s occupation of Tibet in 1950, he went into exile in India and since then has been primarily a spiritual leader.
- The current and 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who was born in Tibet in 1935 and has been in exile in India since 1959.
Brief Outline of Tibetan Buddhism
- Tibetan Buddhism became the predominant religion in Tibet by the 9th century AD, evolving from the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism and incorporating many tantric and shamanic practices.
- It has four major schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug, with the Janang school being one of the smaller schools that grew as an offshoot of the Sakya School.
- Since 1640, the Gelug School has been the predominant school of Tibetan Buddhism, and the Dalai Lama belongs to this school.
Hierarchy and Reincarnation in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
- The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is one of Buddhism’s key beliefs.
- Tibet’s hierarchical system seemingly emerged in the 13th century, and it was around this time that the first instances of “formally recognizing the reincarnations of lamas” can be found.
- The Gelug School developed a strong hierarchy and instituted the tradition of succession through reincarnation, with the fifth Grand Lama of the school being conferred the title of Dalai Lama.
- Several procedures/tests are followed to recognize Tulkus (recognized reincarnations).
Key issue: Chinese interference
- The announcement of the boy’s reincarnation has brought attention back to the larger question of the 14th Dalai Lama’s own reincarnation.
- The issue of his reincarnation has deep ramifications on international politics, with China seeking to control the succession and take control over Tibet in the cultural sphere.
What lies ahead?
- The question of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
- The Dalai Lama himself has not provided a definitive answer regarding what will happen, although he has suggested that there may be no Dalai Lama after him.
- The question of his reincarnation continues to hold great political implications due to his symbolic authority and importance to millions of Tibetans across the world.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Z-Morh tunnel
Mains level: Not Much
The crucial Z-Morh tunnel that connects Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will be inaugurated next month in April.
What is Z-Morh tunnel?
- Z-Morh tunnel, also known as the Zoji-Morh Tunnel, is an under-construction tunnel located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The tunnel is being constructed at an elevation of 11,578 feet and is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
Location
- The Z-Morh tunnel is located on National Highway 1D, which is the only road that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India.
- The tunnel is being constructed in the Zoji-Morh region, which is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
It’s Construction
- The Z-Morh tunnel is being constructed at a length of 6.5 km and is expected to be completed at a cost of around Rs. 2,000 crore.
- The tunnel will have a two-lane carriageway and will be constructed using the latest tunnelling technology.
- The project is being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Significance
- The tunnel is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, which is currently cut off from the rest of India for several months during the winter season due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
- The tunnel will also reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Leh by around four hours, as it will eliminate the need to cross the Zoji-Morh pass.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Read the attached story
Mains level: Utilizing defunct mines for RE generation
Central idea: Green Gravity is an Australian renewable energy company that has developed a unique scheme to generate electricity. The company’s plan involves using defunct mines, such as the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka, India, to produce reliable and cost-effective renewable energy.
The breakthrough: Gravity-Operated Weighted Blocks
- It uses a weighted block of up to 40 tonnes up to the top of a mine shaft using renewable power during the day when it is available.
- When backup power is required, the heavy block will fall under gravity, powering a generator via a connected shaft or rotor.
- The depth to which the block falls can be determined via a braking system, giving control over the amount of power produced.
Comparison to Pumped Hydropower Storage
- Green Gravity’s approach is similar to the well-established approach of “pumped hydropower” storage.
- In this approach, water is pumped upstream electrically into a reservoir and released downhill to move a turbine and produce electricity when needed.
Need for such technology
- Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, often faces the challenge of being unreliable during nights or windless days.
- Charging a battery for backup power is very expensive and inefficient.
Advantages of Weighted Blocks over Water
- Using weighted blocks instead of water means that decommissioned mines can be put to use, and the environmental costs and challenges of moving water up can be avoided.
- This approach can also mean less reliance on coal-produced power and access to reliable power.
Potential Use in KGF
- The Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka, India, is an iconic but defunct gold mine that has the potential to be used for renewable energy production.
- The weighted block apparatus could produce up to thousands of megawatt-hours of power from the mine’s deep shafts, some of which run nearly 3,000 metres.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Essential Medicines
Mains level: Read the attached story
Prices of 384 essential drugs and over 1,000 formulations are set to see a hike of over 11%, due to a sharp rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Implications for customers
- Annual hikes in the prices of drugs listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are based on the WPI.
- The price surge will mean that consumers have to pay more for routine and essential drugs, including painkillers, anti-infection drugs, cardiac drugs, and antibiotics.
What are Essential Medicines?
- As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hence prepared and released the first National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) of India in 1996 consisting of 279 medicines.
- The list is made with consideration to disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness of the medicines.
- Such medicines are intended to be available in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms and strengths with assured quality.
- They should be available in such a way that an individual or community can afford.
NLEM in India
- Drugs listed under NLEM — also known as scheduled drugs — will be cheaper because the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) caps medicine prices and changes only based on wholesale price index-based inflation.
- The list includes anti-infectives medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin — HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, contraceptives, hormonal medicines and anaesthetics.
- They account for 17-18 per cent of the estimated Rs 1.6-trillion domestic pharmaceutical market.
- Companies selling non-scheduled drugs can hike prices by up to 10 per cent every year.
- Typically, once NLEM is released, the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers adds them in the Drug Price Control Order, after which NPPA fixes the price.
Who regulates Drugs prices?
- The NPPA was set up in 1997 to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013.
- Its mandate is:
- To implement and enforce the provisions of the DPCO in accordance with the powers delegated to it
- To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the NPPA
- To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages and to take remedial steps
- The NPPA is also mandated to collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations and undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals.
How does the pricing mechanism work?
- Prices of Scheduled Drugs are allowed an increase each year by the drug regulator in line with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the annual change is controlled and rarely crosses 5%.
- But the pharmaceutical players pointed out that over the past few years, input costs have flared up.
- The hike has been a long-standing demand by the pharma industry lobby.
- All medicines under the NLEM are under price regulation.
Try this MCQ
Q. Which of the following is not a mandate of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)?
A) Fixing and revising prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations
B) Enforcing price and availability of medicines in the country
C) Monitoring the availability of drugs and taking remedial steps
D) Regulating the import and export of pharmaceutical products
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CITES, WPA Act
Mains level: Not Much
A person in UP was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for “illegally” keeping and nursing an injured Sarus crane (Grus Antigone) he found in his village.
About Sarus
- The Sarus crane is usually found in wetlands and is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
- Standing at 152-156 centimetres, it is the world’s tallest flying bird.
What is Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972?
- WPA provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds and plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
- It provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds and plants, and also for the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas in the country.
- It provides for various types of protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks etc.
There are six schedules provided in the WPA for the protection of wildlife species which can be concisely summarized as under:
| Schedule I: |
These species need rigorous protection and therefore, the harshest penalties for violation of the law are for species under this Schedule. |
| Schedule II: |
Animals under this list are accorded high protection. They cannot be hunted except under threat to human life. |
| Schedule III & IV: |
This list is for species that are not endangered. This includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules. |
| Schedule V: |
This schedule contains animals which can be hunted. |
| Schedule VI: |
This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation. |
What is the law on animals and birds under Schedule IV?
- Species mentioned under Schedules III and IV relate to the prohibition on dealings in trophy and animal articles without a license, purchase of animals by a licensee, and restriction on transportation of wildlife.
- Section 48 of the Act specifically states that any wild animal or animal article can be transported only after obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden or any other officer authorised by the state.
- Section 44 provides for issuing licenses to taxidermists, eating houses (hotels or restaurants), and dealers in animal articles, preserved animal parts or trophies, uncured trophies (whole or any unpreserved part of an animal), captive animals, and snake venom of such species.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Diabates among children
Mains level: Not Much
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to Education Boards of all States/UTs, stating schools must ensure proper care/facilities for children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
What is Diabetes?
- Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels properly.
- Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the main source of energy for the body’s cells.
- Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps the body use and store glucose from food.
- In diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
- Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems, such as damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
- Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in a lack of insulin. This type of diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It requires insulin injections or pump therapy for survival.
- Type 2 diabetes: It is a metabolic disorder in which the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. This type of diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. It is typically diagnosed in adults, but it is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents as well. Treatment for Type 2 diabetes may include lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin therapy.
Menace of diabetes in India
- According to data from the International Diabetes Federation Atlas 2021, India has the world’s highest number of children and adolescents living with Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM).
- There are over 2.4 lakh TID patients in the Southeast Asia region.
Measures to mitigate TID impact on students
- CBSE circular in 2017 allowed students with T1D in Classes X and XII to carry certain eatables to board exam hall to avoid low sugar episodes.
- They are permitted to carry medicines, snacks, water, a glucometer, and testing strips.
- NCPCR suggests states allow students to use smartphones to monitor sugar levels.
- Tamil Nadu has been providing free insulin to children with T1D since 1988.
Back2Basics: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
- NCPCR is a statutory body established in India under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
- Its objective is to protect, promote and defend the rights of children in India.
- It functions as a watchdog to prevent child rights violations, as well as to take action against those responsible for such violations.
- The NCPCR also advocates for the implementation of laws, policies and programs aimed at promoting child welfare and development.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mahila Samman Saving Certificate
Mains level: Not Much
Finance Minister while presenting the Budget 2023 announced a new scheme for women, Mahila Samman Saving Certificate. This scheme has now been operationalized.
Mahila Samman Saving Certificate
- It is a one-time new small savings scheme of the government of India announced in the Budget 2023.
- It will be made available for a two-year period up to March 2025.
- This will offer deposit facility upto Rs 2 lakh in the name of women or girls for a tenure of 2 years.
- The deposit facility will offer fixed interest rate of 7.5 per cent with a partial withdrawal option.
Benefits offered
- It is a suitable alternative to fixed deposits (FDs) invested in the name of a woman for the short term.
- The returns are higher than bank FDs and partial withdrawal makes liquidity less of a concern.
Other details
- The Scheme will be rolled out through banks and post offices across the country.
- The taxation structure is yet to be known and the scheme is expected to be available from April 1, 2023.
How is it different from Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
- SSY is a small deposit scheme of the government of India meant exclusively for a girl child. The scheme is meant to meet the education and marriage expenses of a girl child.
- The current rate of interest offered by Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is 7.6%, which is compounded annually.
- Account can be opened in the name of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years.
- The total amount deposited in an account shall not exceed Rs 1,50,000 in a financial year.
- Sukanya Samriddhi scheme has tax benefits under Section 80C.
- The account matures after 21 years from the date of opening or on marriage of the girl child under whose name the account is opened, whichever is earlier.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Biotransformation Technology
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The article highlights the issue of plastic waste generated by e-commerce giant Amazon and the need for a biotransformation technology that can make plastics biodegradable and its potential applications in reducing plastic waste in various industries.
Amazon’s Plastic Waste Problem
- Amazon generated 321 million kilograms (709 million pounds) of plastic from packaging waste in 2021.
- The amount of plastic waste generated by Amazon in 2021 is enough to circle the Earth over 800 times as air pillows.
What is Biotransformation Technology?
- Biotransformation technology is a novel approach to ensure plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down.
- The technology was co-developed by Polymateria and the Imperial College in London, UK.
- Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which the manufactured material looks and feels like conventional plastics without compromising on quality.
- Once the product expires and is exposed to the external environment, it self-destructs and biotransforms into bioavailable wax, which is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass.
- The technology is the world’s first that ensures polyolefins fully biodegrade in an open environment without causing any microplastics.
Need for Biotransformation Technology
- India generates 3.5 billion kgs of plastic waste annually, and a third of it comes from packaging waste.
- In 2019, plastic packaging waste from e-commerce firms was estimated at over a billion kilograms worldwide.
- Amazon generated nearly 210 million kgs (465 million pounds) of plastic from packaging waste in 2019.
- Up to 10 million kgs (22.44 million pounds) of Amazon’s plastic packaging ended up in the world’s freshwater and marine ecosystems as pollution in 2019.
Application of this technology
- The food packaging and healthcare industries are the two prime sectors that could use this technology to reduce waste.
- The increase in cost is relatively small compared to conventional plastic which does not contain this technology.
- Some well-known Indian firms in the food and packaging industries deploy such technologies.
- Within healthcare and pharma industries, this technology provides biodegradable solutions for non-woven hygiene products like diapers, sanitary napkins, facial pads, etc.
India’s initiatives to tackle plastic pollution
- Phased elimination: The Indian government launched a plastic waste management gazette to help tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics. The government imposed a ban on single-use plastics last year to bring a stop to its use in the country.
- National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management: It brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal: It helps in improving accountability traceability, and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers, and brand-owners.
- Lifecycle monitoring: India has developed a mobile app to report single-use plastics grievances to check the sale, usage, or manufacturing of single-use plastics in their area.
Alternatives to Reducing Plastic Waste
- A switch to jute or paper-based packaging could potentially cut down plastic waste.
- Wooden packaging is yet another alternative, but that will make the packaging bulkier and increase the cost.
- The alternatives can be made using coir, bagasse, rice and wheat bran, plant and agricultural residue, banana and areca leaves.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Interest Rates Risk
Mains level: Global banking crisis
Central idea: Finance Minister urged banks to remain vigilant about “interest rate risks” and undertake regular stress tests during a review of public sector banks’ (PSBs) performance on March 25.
Why in news?
- Inflation-led rising interest rates across the world have caused concerns of contagion effects from banking crises in the US and Europe.
What is Interest Rate Risk?
- Interest rate risk refers to the possibility that a loss could happen as a result of a fluctuation in interest rates.
- A bond’s or another fixed-income security’s value will decrease if the rate rises.
- Interest rate movement typically has an inverse relationship with the market value of fixed-income assets.
- In general, the values of currently issued fixed income instruments decrease when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates decrease.
How does it affect banks?
Interest rate risk affects banks in several ways-
- Interest yields: Banks earn interest income by lending out funds to borrowers at a higher rate than the cost of borrowing those funds. When interest rates rise, the cost of borrowing funds for banks increases, thereby decreasing their net interest margins (NIMs) and profitability.
- Bond yield: Banks also hold a large amount of fixed-income securities in their portfolios, such as government bonds, corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. These securities generate a fixed interest income, which can be affected by changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities held by banks decreases, leading to a potential loss in the value of their investment portfolio.
- Liabilities burden: Banks’ liabilities, such as deposits, often have short maturities, while their assets, such as loans, have longer maturities. When interest rates rise, the cost of funding short-term liabilities increases, while the interest earned on longer-term assets remains fixed. This can negatively impact banks’ profitability and cash flows.
Why do banks resort to interest rate increases?
Banks resort to interest rate increases for several reasons-
- Combat inflation: When the economy experiences a rapid increase in prices, the central bank may raise interest rates to discourage borrowing and spending, thereby cooling down the economy and reducing inflationary pressures.
- Attract deposits: Banks may raise interest rates to attract more deposits from savers, which in turn allows them to lend more money and earn more profits.
- Protection against risks: banks may also raise interest rates in response to changes in the global financial market or to protect their own financial stability in the face of potential risks or shocks.
Try this MCQ:
Which of the following best describes interest rate risk in banking?
(a) The potential loss of income due to changes in interest rates
(b) The risk that borrowers will default on their loans due to high-interest rates
(c) The risk that banks will become insolvent due to low-interest rates
(d) The potential loss of value of a bank’s assets due to changes in interest rates
Post your answers here.
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