Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The Misconception About Bail-Jail
• Mughals have not been erased from NCERT textbooks
• A reminder about unfettered constitutional posts
• Economic distress in Sri Lanka: Life & Debt – India-France-Japan initiative crucial for Colombo

GS Paper 3

• India is at the bullseye of climate change’s heat impacting workers — this has economic effects
• Trade data points to slowing global and domestic demand
• Tiger numbers can never tell the whole story
• IT rules are a step towards denying misinformation space on the internet
• No Trial Is Error – Allow prosecution of soldiers accused of killing innocents

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Bioluminescence: Here’s why Visakhapatnam beaches are glowing a shimmering blue
• NISAR satellite to map Himalayas’ seismic zones
• Bihu Dance: PM gets into Bihu mood after world record show
• Union Minister launches Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiatives and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health
• An ancient sunken ocean floor seems to lie above Earth’s core, under the mantle
• E-Prosecution portal: Home Ministry develops online module for timely disposal of criminal cases
• India’s forex reserves rise $6.30 bn to $584.75 bn
• Flash Droughts: As world warms, droughts coming on faster: Research
• What is magnetoresistance? It’s one more thing graphene does differently
• What the Uttaramerur inscription, recently referred to by PM says
• Safety Across Asia for the Global Environment (SAFE) Project: China out of UN’s wildlife survey for pandemic controls

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The Misconception About Bail-Jail

News: The article explains the situation of undertrial prisoners in India.

What are the findings of the data on undertrial prisoners?

Click Here to Read

What are the reasons behind the large number of undertrial prisoners?

Click Here to Read

What steps were taken by the court regarding undertrial prisoners?

The court in Hussainara Khatoon vs Bihar, 1979 case interpreted Article 21 and held that speedy trial is the fundamental right of every citizen.

Following this judgment, court guidelines exist on release of different categories of undertrials: 1) Those under civil imprisonment, 2) Those in custody for over 15 days for offences with a maximum sentence less than 7 years, 3) Senior citizens in custody over 3 months for offences where the maximum sentence is less than 10 years, 4) Those in jail for over 6 months under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide) or 307 (attempt to murder). 5) Relatives in jail for over a year on offences under IPC Section 304B (dowry), 6) Release on personal bond with or without sureties or bail is appropriate under Section 436A CrPC, provided that the penalty is not the death penalty and detention has lasted for more than half the maximum term.

What are the concerns with these guidelines?

There are exceptions to it. For example, for point 4, Bail principles won’t apply to offences under NDPS, POCSO, PCA, PMLA, anti-terror laws and in CBI/ ED investigations.

Moreover, for point 5, there is always a risk in granting bail because investigation, evidence, witnesses can be tampered, or the accused may flee.

What has been the stand of SC regarding bail?

SC focuses on granting bail for most of the cases and it has granted bail to even those accused of murder in Asim Kumar Haranath Bhattacharya vs NIA (2021). However, the problem lies with the lower courts.

SC recently in Satender Kumar Antil vs CBI, 2022 observed that the criminal justice system may not necessarily punish a criminal swiftly, or at all but trial courts think denial of bail is punishment.

SC recently also stayed a high court order that directed a trial court judge to justify bail in a particular case. SC said such orders could undermine independence of district judiciary considering bail.

What can be the way ahead?

Since, HC is not subordinate to SC, SC has no power of its supervision. SC has only appellate powers.

Therefore, the issue of bail must be considered by HCs as a priority because a case takes years to be resolved which increases the number of undertrials and deprives them of their rights.

Mughals have not been erased from NCERT textbooks

News- The recent controversy over the National Council of Educational Research and Training reducing the content on Mughal history in the school curriculum has sparked a heated debate in the country.

What are the justifications in support of the NCERT move?

Mughal history is just one glorious 200-year part of just one period of Indian history.

Apart from that, there are 2,000 years remaining. Other great medieval powers like the Marathas and Southern dynasties continue to be underrepresented.

The NCERT removed overlapping material from grades 6 to 12 to reduce the burden on students.

It revolves around the significant policies that redefined the landscape and mindset of the people. Akbar’s policies feature in this theme in the rationalized syllabus as well.

Mughals have been overrepresented in our history books and were an obvious area for right-sizing.

What is the way forward?

In the age of Wikipedia, we need to expose our children to the broad themes and grand sweep of history and create an understanding of their origins. Children should be equipped with the tools and curiosity to read and research further as they grow.

History teaching should be more engaging and informative. It should do justice to the breadth and depth of our heritage.

A reminder about unfettered constitutional posts

News– Two recent comments of the Supreme Court of India are important. In a hearing of the ‘Sena versus Sena’ case, the Court expressed its “serious concern” over the active role being played by Governors in State politics.

The Court divested the executive of its sole discretion in appointing the CEC and ECs by forming a committee to suggest suitable names to man these constitutional posts.

Why is there a need for independent institutions?

A democracy requires a system of checks and balances. It is necessary to prevent the arbitrary use of power by the elected government of the day.

India’s democracy provides for various constitutional authorities such as the Public Service Commission, the CAG, the ECI, the Finance Commission, and the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes.

The Constituent Assembly of India had recognized the need for such independent institutions to regulate sectors of national importance without any executive interference.

It is necessary that such constitutional bodies are provided with complete independence to enable them to function without fear or favor and in the larger interests of the nation.

What are the provisions in the constitution that provide for the appointment of persons heading the independent institutions?

The Constitution uses simple words such as ‘shall be appointed by the President’ in the appointment of the Prime Minister (Article 75), the Attorney­ General for India (Article 76), the Chairman and other members of the Finance Commission (Article280), the Chairman and other members of the Public Service Commission (Article 316).

However, the words ‘shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal’ are used while authorizing the President for appointment of the judges of Supreme Court and the High Court, the CAG and for appointment of the Governor

Similar words have been used in Articles 338, 338A and 338B authorizing the President for appointing Chairman and members of the National Commissions for SCs, STs and

BCs. However, as per the original Article, ‘there shall be a Special Officer for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to be appointed by the President.

How do constituent assembly debates show that it assigns a special status to CAG, Governor and judges of higher courts in appointment related matters?

In the draft Constitution, the article for appointment of the CAG (Article 124) had provided that ‘There shall be an Auditor General who shall be appointed by the President.

An amendment proposed in the Constituent Assembly To this Article for inserting the words ‘by warrant under his hand and seal.

The Constituent Assembly discussed that the Auditor ­General should be always independent of either the legislature or the executive. He is the watchdog of our finances.

The same amendment for the Article related to appointment of Governor in Article 131 of the draft Constitution was moved.

The Constituent Assembly discussed that the President should be free from the influence of the Legislature.

Both amendments were passed.

What is the way forward for appointment of persons heading the independent institutions?

The Constitution affixes the phrase “by warrant under his hand and seal” only for appointment to positions like Judges, the CAG and the Governors. It assigns a special status to distinguish them from other constitutional positions.

Constitutional authorities such as the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court and the CAG of India is to be kept free from political or executive pressure.

Appointments of judges and the ECs have been made free from the influence of the executive. But there is a need to set up a well­ defined criteria and procedures for the appointment of the CAG of India.

The process of selecting a person to be appointed as the CAG of India should begin by appointing a committee consisting of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India, and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to shortlist names for appointment of CAG of India.

A panel of three names should be forwarded to the President for him to make the final selection as in Article 148 of the Constitution of India.

Economic distress in Sri Lanka: Life & Debt – India-France-Japan initiative crucial for Colombo

News: Recently, Sri Lanka received a $2. 9 billion package from IMF. Following that, India, Japan and France have set up a common platform for talks among Sri Lanka’s creditors to work out ways to restructure the country’s external debt.

About the present state of economic distress in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s average inflation in 2023 is projected to be 28. 5% even as the economy is expected to shrink 3.1%. But, Sri Lanka’s current account deficit in 2023 is projected to be 1. 6% of GDP, a manageable level.

The greatest distress of the Sri Lankan economy at present is its aggregate external debt, which is 74% of its GDP. Sri Lanka is having arrears to almost all of its external creditors. The country has also obtained financing assurances from all major creditors.

Note: China is the major creditor of Sri Lanka. 

What led to the economic distress in Sri Lanka?

What are the objectives of the economic restructuring package for Sri Lanka?

The key aim of Lanka’s economic restructuring package is to lower its annual debt service in foreign exchange from the current 9% of GDP to 4. 5% by 2027. This will require the country to lower its public debt from the current level of 122% of GDP.

GS Paper 3

India is at the bullseye of climate change’s heat impacting workers — this has economic effects

News: The article discusses various impacts of rising heat on labour productivity and on economy.

What are the impacts of the heat?

Heat, humidity and outdoor air pollution may have a health impact on workers working outside. This can have economic impacts on a nation.

Which areas are more affected by the rising heat?

Most areas in the tropics or within about 30 degrees of the equator are getting hotter and more humid on average. Even, mornings and night are getting warmer too. This can have a series of cascading health impacts.

How is India impacted by rising heat?

One of the most intense locations on Earth which is mostly hot and humid is the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

India also has a high number of people working outdoors, doing manual labour in agriculture, construction, etc. which involves working out in the sun, lifting loads and lacking heat protection.

Therefore, In India, there are a lot of people which generates internal body heat and this becomes worse by high heat and humidity. This ultimately leads to various health impacts.

Moreover, half of the labour lost to human heat exposure around the world is in India. 

China is also impacted given that its large populations live in eastern China which is low-lying and near the coast where it is hotter and more humid seasonally.

However, from various observations, India seems the most impacted in terms of lost labour productivity. This can have economic impact on India.

How is heat and deforestation linked?

The emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing global warming and the temperature is expected to increase more in the future.

In such a situation, deforestation raises temperatures locally because trees conduct photosynthesis and evapotranspiration which cools the surrounding environment. 

Therefore, across tropical rainforest regions, there is a strong association between deforestation and temperatures increasing from half a degree to several degrees Celsius locally.

What are some important mitigation measures that can be adopted?

Some of the measures than can be adopted are – a) work hours might be shifted from the hottest hours to cooler periods, b) local regulation should be brought up to prevent workers from working during the hottest hours and c) workers should be allowed to rest in those periods and their resting place should be in the shade, with cool, clean drinking water available to tackle dehydration.

Trade data points to slowing global and domestic demand

News– Trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday provides an indication of the headwinds to growth.

What are important takeaways from recently released data?

India’s merchandise exports and imports have now declined in three of the last four months. Tight financial conditions across the world have slowed down global and domestic demand.

As per the latest data, merchandise exports contracted by almost 14% in March and imports fell by around 8%.

How was the performance of the export and import sector in fiscal year 2022-23?

Merchandise exports were $447 billion in 2022-23. It is 6% up from $422 billion in 2022-23.

If we exclude non-oil exports, exports in the full year were actually lower than the year before. Electronic goods have registered a significant expansion. Rice exports, gems and jewelry, cotton, man-made yarn, textiles as well as engineering goods, have shown poor performance.

If oil and gems and jewelry are excluded, imports in March were lower than in the same period the year before.

The latest data also shows that the merchandise trade deficit widened to $267 billion in 2022-23, from $191 billion in 2021-22.

What is the future scenario of trade in India?

The International Monetary Fund has pegged global growth at 2.8% in 2023, down from 3.4% in 2022. So, exports are likely to come under further pressure in the months ahead.

A deep contraction in merchandise exports will slow down the manufacturing sector in India. It will have an impact on overall domestic economic activity.

Both exports and imports are likely to remain weak this year. The extent of domestic demand as compared to external demand will determine the country’s overall current account deficit.

Tiger numbers can never tell the whole story

News – On 9 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the latest tiger numbers. We have about 3,167 tigers in India. The last estimation in 2018 counted 2,967 tigers.

What are the genetic variations in Tigers?

Except for the Western Ghats, these populations are quite small, and this is a matter of concern.

The tigers in Satkosia have gone extinct.

According to the 2018 census, Valmiki has about 30 tigers.

The Simlipal tigers are famed for their broad black stripes, rather than the traditional orange-yellow and black.

The 2022 report also points out that the North-East hill tiger population could be the result of gene flow from the South-East Asian tigers of Myanmar.

What are the two main management challenges?

One is the question of repopulating reserves that don’t have tigers. In areas like Satkosia, tigers can be brought in, but they have to be from a related genetic cluster.

The second is the issue of connecting tiger habitats so tigers can disperse naturally and create viable populations.

What are the recent amendments to the 1980 Forest (Conservation) Act in this regard?

The proposed clause suggests that forests around highways, public roads, railways, or public amenities of a certain size should not be considered forests. It opens forest areas to non-forest users.

It proposes that the construction of linear projects within 100 km of the international border and concerning “strategic” or “national importance”, should be exempt from the Act.

What is the way forward?

There is a need to make tigers a cross-cutting concern with all departments and to bypass forests that have tigers.

The less effective option is to make roads underground or overhead, a form of “green infrastructure”.

Tiger numbers can only go up if the animal is allowed to walk and then secure its own land. Further, tigers have genetic clusters within India and there is a need to bolster numbers within these distinct populations.

IT rules are a step towards denying misinformation space on the internet

News: The government recently notified amendments to Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.

About the amendments to IT Rules

What is the rationale behind the recent amendment to IT Rules?

Regulating misinformation: Misinformation operations for cyberwarfare by state and non-state actors have utilised social media platforms to create civic unrest and for radicalisation and terror recruitment.

In recent times, Covid misinformation, fake cures, financial market misinformation and AI deep fakes have caused and will cause tremendous social and economic harm.

Regulate the state and non-state actor activities: Attacks from state and non-state actor activities against India have become more sophisticated. For example, a) recently, The Washington Post exposed Khalistani elements using bots to conduct misinformation operations against the Indian government, b) In 2019, a network of accounts and pages managed by Pakistan’s ISPR were engaged in malicious, coordinated activity against India on social media platforms.

The scale and diversity of India’s Internet users: India’s internet users vary from children to the elderly. So, proper regulation of information going on the platform is essential.

Note: Rule 3(1)(n) explicitly provides that the fundamental rights of Indian citizens cannot be violated by any platform.

Lax in the enforcement of older IT rules by intermediaries: Under Rule (3) of previous IT Rules, there were nine no-go areas for content on social media, if the platforms were to continue to operate with legal immunity under Section 79. These included child sexual abuse material, religious incitement and misinformation.

But, due to new challenges like AI/deep fakes and the proliferation of anonymous users, bots and fake accounts, the social media intermediaries’ were sloppy in the implementation of the rule (3). This is creating a situation where no one could be held accountable for the content that was false or illegal.

Need a fact-checking government body: This is because a) The government was a target of most misinformation operations, b) Only the government has access to government data, c) any non-governmental entity might not effectively check all the data which is related to government.

International commitment: The G20 Leaders Bali Declaration of 2022 highlighted the need to counter disinformation campaigns as an essential requirement to prevent online threats and promote cyber security.

What are the concerns associated with amendments to IT Rules?

No safeguards: Natural justice requires a transparent process, where a person is provided a fair chance of a hearing and given a legal order. No such safeguard exists in the IT Rules, which could result in a black box of government censorship.

Prevent readers from developing a critical understanding: With the new powers, the government can take down posts swiftly. Thus making the posts inaccessible not only on social media but also on the website of the news portal. Hence, it will prevent readers from developing a critical understanding through a contestation of facts.

Against judicial observations:

-In the State Of U.P. vs Raj Narain (1975) case, the court observed that “the claim of the executive to have exclusive and conclusive power to determine what is in public interest is a claim based on the assumption that the executive alone knows what is best for the citizen”.

-In the R. Rajagopal vs State Of T.N. (1994) case, the SC observed said that “Our system of Government demands… constant vigilance over exercise of governmental power by the press and the media among others. It is essential for a good Government.”

Creates mistrust with government: The design of “fact checking body” which is not insulated, or formed with financial and functional autonomy makes them subservient to government and even political interests.

No Trial Is Error – Allow prosecution of soldiers accused of killing innocents

News: In 2021, a commando unit opened fire and killed six coal miners in a counter-insurgency operation in Oting, Nagaland. Recently, the defence ministry has refused sanction for the prosecution of 30 army commandos allegedly responsible for the Oting massacre. The issue highlighted as the misuse of provisions of AFSPA which give sweeping powers to security personnel.

Why prosecution of soldiers is essential?

Security forces are forced to operate in difficult, often hostile, terrain. But that shouldn’t translate into impunity when grave errors are made.

-Non-prosecution of soldiers will create a sense of injustice which might provide a fillip to the insurgency in the North East.

-Normalisation in the Northeast is directly linked to removal of AFSPA. From April 1, AFSPA is restricted to eight districts of Assam while it has been removed from 19 and 18 police station areas respectively in Manipur and Nagaland. In this situation, by ensuring fair trail and prosecution in the Oting case will increase government’s trust.

What should be done?

Justice has to be provided, especially in the areas where the AFSPA continues to operate.

Prelims-Oriented Articles (Factly)

Bioluminescence: Here’s why Visakhapatnam beaches are glowing a shimmering blue

Source: The post is based on the article “Here’s why Visakhapatnam beaches are glowing a shimmering blue” published in The Hindu on 13th April 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, beaches along the coast of Visakhapatnam started glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence.

What is Bioluminescence?

Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. These planktons emit light on the ocean surface at night.

The dinoflagellates follow a circadian cycle (24-hour cycle) and as a result, this phenomenon occurs during the night which is visible in low light conditions.

Reason: Many marine creatures like sponges, jellyfish, worms, species of fish, anthropods, echinoderms and unicellular alga exhibit bioluminescence to either evade predators, attract prey or during mating.

Process of bioluminescence among dinoflagellates: It occurs when the luciferase enzyme reacts with the luciferin compound in the presence of oxygen to produce a cold light.

Past instances of bioluminescence in India: Havelock Island in the Andamans, Thiruvanmiyur Beach in Chennai, Mattu Beach in Karnataka and Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep have also provided experiences of bioluminescence in the past.

About bioluminescence along the Visakhapatnam coast

Reason for visibility at night: In Visakhapanam, this phenomenon is most likely the result of an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate species of noctiluca and ceratium.

Significance: It is being reported during the night hours on larger stretches of Visakhapatnam beach for the first time.

NISAR satellite to map Himalayas’ seismic zones

Source: The post is based on the article “NISAR satellite to map Himalayas’ seismic zones” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

The NISAR satellite will map the most earthquake-prone regions in the Himalayas with unprecedented regularity. 

What is the NISAR Satellite?

Click Here to read

What will the NISAR satellite do related to the Himalayas?

NISAR will map the most earthquake-prone regions in the Himalayas with unprecedented regularity.

It will use two frequency bands: the L-band and S-band to image the seismically active Himalayan region that will, every 12 days, create a “deformation map”.

The data that will be generated can potentially give advance warning of land subsidence, as recently observed in Joshimath, Uttarakhand as well as point to places that are at greatest risk from earthquakes. However, what can’t be deduced however is the timing. 

Moreover, the geoscience community can also use this data to determine how strain is building up in various parts of the Himalayas.

Note: Strain refers to the deformation that occurs in rocks when it is under pressure from other rocks, usually due to movements of continental plates that are sliding, colliding, or subducting against each other. 

– The Indian Plate, for instance, collided with the Eurasian Plate forming the Himalayas and continuing to incrementally push it upwards.

How can satellites help against disasters?

In 2021, a large landslide of rock and ice triggered a flash flood in Chamoli, Uttarakhand that claimed close to 200 lives and destroyed two hydropower projects. It was satellite imagery that helped scientists decipher the cause of the flash floods.

Bihu Dance: PM gets into Bihu mood after world record show

Source: The post is based on the article “PM gets into Bihu mood after world record show” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

The Prime Minister in Assam was greeted with over 11,000 Bihu performers who had set two Guinness World Records –  the world’s largest performance of traditional Bihu dance and the largest performance by folk musicians.

What is Bihu Dance?

Bihu dance is a traditional folk-dance popular across Assam. It is especially performed during Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, the spring festival that marks the arrival of the Assamese New Year in mid-April.

The earliest depiction of Bihu dance is found in the 9th-century sculptures found in the Tezpur and Darrang districts of Assam. Bihu is mentioned in the inscriptions of the 14th-century Chutia King Lakshminaryan as well.

How is Bihu dance performed?

The Bihu dance is known for its lively attributes of joy with quick movements. Performing dancers usually wear bright colourful traditional costumes. The red colour of the costume signifies fertility, ripe season and harvest.

The dance is usually performed by men and women dancers whirling and spinning to traditional songs of Assam. 

With forming the groups, the Bihu dancers move and dance in circular directions, often clapping hands with enthusiasm and swinging their arms. They often jump while singing the cultural sagas.

Union Minister launches Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiatives and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health

Sources: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiatives and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health” published in PIB on 14th April 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health project under the aegis of the National One Health Mission.

What is the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative(APPI)?

Aim: To enhance India’s preparedness and response to animal pandemics, with a focus on zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to both animal and human health. 

– The initiative will help in improving veterinary services and infrastructure, disease surveillance capabilities, early detection and response, build the capacity of animal health professionals and awareness among farmers through community outreach.

The key activities under APPI which are at different stages of execution are as follows:

– Defined joint investigation and outbreak response teams (National & state)

– Design an overall integrated disease surveillance system (built on National Digital Livestock Mission)

– Strengthening the Regulatory system (e.g., Nandi online portal and Field trial guidelines) among others.

What is the Animal Health System Support for One Health(AHHSOH) project?

Launched by: It is a collaborative project between the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the World Bank.

Aim: To create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach.

– The project calls for participation by the Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional as well as local for creating and strengthening the One Health architecture including community engagement.

Type: Central sector scheme.

The project will be implemented in five states.

Duration of the project: It will be implemented over a five-year period.

An ancient sunken ocean floor seems to lie above Earth’s core, under the mantle

Source: The post is based on the article “An ancient sunken ocean floor seems to lie above Earth’s core, under the mantle” published in Indian Express on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

Geologists have discovered a new layer between the core and the mantle that is likely to be a thin but dense sunken ocean floor.

What have the geologists discovered?

Earth’s structure was divided into four layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Now a fifth layer has been discovered which is between the core and the mantle that is likely to be a sunken ocean floor seen only in isolated patches previously.

This layer is pencil-thin in geological terms, measuring tens of kilometres, which is minuscule when compared to the thickness of Earth’s other layers.

This layer can be thought of as mountains along the core-mantle boundary, with heights ranging from less than about three miles to more than 25 miles.

What is the significance of this discovery?

Firstly, the analysis could reveal how this layer plays a role in heat to escape from the core, the portion of the planet that powers the magnetic field.

Secondly, this new discovery opens up new avenues of research for geologists and could lead to a better understanding of Earth’s geological processes.

Thirdly, the detailed method used to probe a large portion of the Southern Hemisphere using sound wave echoes from the core-mantle boundary could be used in other parts of the world to uncover similar anomalies.

E-Prosecution portal: Home Ministry develops online module for timely disposal of criminal cases

Source: The post is based on the article “Home Ministry develops online module for timely disposal of criminal cases” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) e-prosecution portal has added a new feature that will fix the accountability of government lawyers. The system will send alerts to senior officers whenever a public prosecutor seeks a stay in a criminal case more than twice.

What is an E-Prosecution portal?

The E-Prosecution portal is managed by the Government of India under the Digital India Mission. 

The portal facilitates communication between the police department and the prosecution directorate as part of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS). 

It links and enables the seamless transfer of data and information among different pillars of the criminal justice system — such as courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories — from one platform. 

What are the other steps being taken to strengthen the criminal justice system?

The Ministry of Home Affairs is working to overhaul the British-era Indian Penal Code. One of the changes being considered was making the collection of forensic evidence compulsory in criminal cases punishable by more than six years in prison.

The Ministry also tracks investigations into sexual assault cases across the country, every two months through its analytics tool, the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences. This system was launched in 2018. 

Note: The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 amended Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide for the completion of investigation in rape cases within two months.

India’s forex reserves rise $6.30 bn to $584.75 bn

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s forex reserves rise $6.30 bn to $584.75 bn” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

India’s foreign exchange reserves have increased by $6.3 billion to jump to $584.76 billion. This is the highest in nine months.

Note: In October 2021, the country’s forex reserves had reached an all-time high of $645 billion. The reserves have been declining as the RBI deployed the reserves to defend the rupee amid pressures caused by global developments.

What are Foreign exchange reserves?

Forex or foreign exchange reserves are essential assets held by the central bank in foreign currencies as a reserve. 

They are usually used for backing the exchange rate and influencing monetary policy. RBI is the custodian of the Foreign exchange reserves in India.

The biggest contributor to India’s foreign exchange reserve is by foreign currency assets followed by gold, SDR and reserve with the International Monetary Fund.

Why are foreign exchange reserves so important?

All international transactions are settled in US dollars and are therefore needed to support our imports. 

More importantly, they are needed to support, and maintain confidence for central bank action, whether monetary policy action or any exchange rate intervention to support the domestic currency. 

It also helps limit any vulnerability because of a sudden disruption in foreign capital flows, which could happen during a crisis. Holding liquid forex thus provides a cushion against such effects and gives the confidence that there would still be enough forex to support the country’s crucial imports in case of external shocks.

Flash Droughts: As world warms, droughts coming on faster: Research

Source: The post is based on the article “As world warms, droughts coming on faster: Research” published in Indian Express on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

A study has found that Flash droughts are occurring more often and with greater speed in many parts of the world due to climate change.

What are Flash Droughts?

Flash droughts occur very quickly due to the rapid depletion of soil moisture. It is different from normal drought conditions that develop in months, but the flash drought happens within a week or two.

What causes Flash droughts?

Unlike slow-evolving drought, which is caused by a decline in precipitation, flash drought occurs when low precipitation is accompanied by abnormally high temperatures (e.g., heat waves), high winds, and/or changes in radiation. 

These sometimes-rapid changes can quickly raise evapotranspiration rates and remove available water from the landscape.

What did the study find about Flash droughts?

Flash droughts are occurring more often and with greater speed in many parts of the world due to climate change.

They are occurring more often than slower ones in tropical places like India, Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon basin.

This could have grave consequences for people in humid regions whose livelihoods depend on rain-fed agriculture. 

What is magnetoresistance? It’s one more thing graphene does differently

Source: The post is based on the article “What is magnetoresistance? It’s one more thing graphene does differently” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

Researchers in the UK have discovered that graphene displays an anomalous giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature.

What is Giant Magnetoresistance(GMR)?

Magnetoresistance is the tendency of a material to change the value of its electrical resistance in an externally-applied magnetic field. 

Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) is a quantum mechanical magnetoresistance effect observed in multilayers composed of alternating ferromagnetic and non-magnetic conductive layers. 

The 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Albert Fert and Peter Grünberg for the discovery of GMR.

Applications of GMR: GMR is used in hard disk drives, magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, microelectromechanical systems, and medical imagers.

What did the researchers discover?

Researchers have discovered that graphene displays an anomalous giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature.

The magnetoresistance observed in the graphene-based device was “almost 100 times higher than that observed in other known semimetals in this magnetic field range.”

What is Graphene?

Click Here to read

What the Uttaramerur inscription, recently referred to by PM says

Source: The post is based on the article “What the Uttaramerur inscription, recently referred to by PM says” published in Indian Express on 15th April 2023

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has referred to the Uttaramerur inscription in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, while discussing India’s democratic history.

What is Uttaramerur Inscription?

Uttaramerur lies in the present-day Kanchipuram district in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is known for its historic temples built during Pallava and Chola rule.

The famous inscription from Parantaka I’s reign is found on the walls of the Vaikunda Perumal Temple.

What does the Uttaramerur inscription say?

The inscription gives details of the functioning of the local sabha, i.e. the village assembly. 

A sabha was an assembly exclusively of Brahmans and had specialized committees tasked with different things. 

The inscription details how members were selected, the required qualifications, their roles and responsibilities, and even the circumstances in which they could be removed.

Qualifications: It includes ownership of a certain amount of land, having a house, being between the age of 35 and 70 and “knowing mantras and Brahmanas” (from the Vedic corpus).

– An exception can be made on land ownership if the person has learnt at least “one Veda and four Bhashyas”. One must also be “well-versed in business” and “virtuous”.

Selection procedure for the Sabha: It says there were 30 wards. Everyone living in these 30 wards would assemble and select one representative for the village assembly.

– All those eligible and willing would write their names on palm leaf tickets following which, the representative would be chosen based on an elaborate draw of lots, conducted by priests in the inner hall of the building where the assembly meets.

Disqualification: The inscription lists several factors which disqualify someone and their family like:

– Not having submitted accounts while previously serving on a committee.

– Committing any of the first four of the five ‘great sins’ (killing a Brahman, drinking alcohol, theft and adultery).

– Being associated with outcastes, and eating ‘forbidden’ dishes.

Is Uttaramerur inscription an example of democracy?

Uttaramerur inscription gives details of local self-governance, on closer inspection. But it is far from a truly democratic system.

Not only does it restrict sabha membership to a tiny subsection of land-owning brahmans, but it also does not have true elections. Rather, it chooses members from the eligible pool of candidates through a draw of lots.

However, this does not mean that this inscription should not be cited as a precedent for democratic functioning. 

The inscription gives details of a system of local self-government, outside the direct authority of the king. The inscription is like a constitution – it describes both the responsibilities of members of the sabha as well as the limitations to the authority of these members. 

Hence, if the rule of law (rather than rule by personal diktat) is an essential component of a democracy, the Uttaramerur inscription describes a system of government which follows just that.

Safety Across Asia for the Global Environment (SAFE) Project: China out of UN’s wildlife survey for pandemic controls

Source: The post is based on the article “China out of UN’s wildlife survey for pandemic controls” published in The Hindu on 14th April 2023

What is the News?

China is not participating in a United Nations project called Safety Across Asia for the Global Environment (SAFE) to survey high-risk facilities, including Asian wet markets, that may cause the spread of infectious diseases from animals to humans.

What is Safety Across Asia for the Global Environment (SAFE) Project?

Launched by: United Nations in 2021.

Aim: To focus on the connection between wildlife trafficking and zoonotic disease transmission with the aim to prevent future pandemics. 

Coordinated by: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which monitors illegal wildlife trafficking is coordinating the project.

Funded by: European Union.

Countries: Four Asian countries – China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos – were initially selected for the project because they host multiple facilities presenting risks of animal-to-human disease transmission.

– However, China has effectively dropped out from the project. It was replaced with the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo Island.

Note: Vietnam and Laos have yet to approve the survey.