Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Indian diplomacy and the horses of interest, morality

News– During her recent official visit to India, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs talked about the dichotomy of India’s pursuit of its interests in global affairs.

What are criticisms of the West against the conduct of foreign policy by India?

There is wide variance between India’s moral stand and the pursuit of national interests in not condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

India has been accused in the past of contradictions in its prescriptions for the global community and what it pursues itself.

India was severely critical of U.S. actions in Vietnam, the Anglo-French invasion of Egypt in 1956. But it maintained a relative silence on Soviet operations in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan.

What is the basic difference between the Indian discourse on foreign affairs in earlier days and in current times?

India’s foreign policy principles were rooted in contemporary World Order’s principles. Now, the inspiration flows from the wisdom of ancient India, with the claim that its worldwide application would contribute to the welfare of the planet.

Earlier Indian approach did not pay attention to national constituencies. Combative language was seldom used, especially at senior political levels. That has now changed.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pointed the contradictions in western prescriptions to the rest of the world in the context of the Ukraine war and the pursuit of its own interests. A few months after he became Minister, Mr. Jaishankar famously said in the U.S. that India’s reputation was not made by a newspaper in New York.

Some Sangh Parivar intellectuals avoid the use of the word ‘Vishwa Guru’ in their writings. Ancient Indian heritage can show the path to lead the world out of its present troubles.

They lay stress on Indian traditions of spiritual democracy, celebration of diversity, harmony with nature, the framing of development policies for interests of the poorest, and the idea of a world as a family.

What are the contradictions in the ancient Indian approach?

These principles were not the only ways of Indic thought about the world. For instance, there was the concept of a lawless world where the brave and powerful prevailed. It was part of the political idea contained in the term ‘matsya nyaya’.

There are questions whether these Indic principles were applied in reality. Ancient India history was also full of turbulence and violence.

Pending Bills, the issue of gubernatorial inaction

News- Recently, Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the President of India to fix a timeline for assent to be given to Bills passed by the Assembly.

Is it appropriate on part of the state to pass a resolution for informing the President about inaction of the governor on a bill passed by legislature?

Article 355 of the Constitution says that it shall be the duty of the Union to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

This article was meant to provide justification for central intervention in the States. But, its scope and range need to be widened.

The Constitution requires the Governor to act when a Bill is passed by the Assembly as per the options given in Article 200.

If he does not act in accordance with the Constitution, he is creating a situation where governance of the state is not in accordance with constitutional provisions.

In such a situation, the government of the State has a constitutional duty to invoke Article 355 and inform the President about it. So, a resolution by the Assembly should be considered legitimate action.

What are the powers of the governor in respect of the Bill passed by assembly and presented to her?

Article 200 provides options to the Governor when a Bill is presented to him after being passed by the legislature. These options are: to give assent; to withhold assent; to send it back to the Assembly to reconsider it; or to send the Bill to the President for his consideration.

In case the Assembly reconsiders the Bill as per the request of the Governor under the third option, he must give assent even if the Assembly passes it without accepting any of the suggestions of the Governor.

Sitting on a Bill passed by the Assembly is not an option given by the Constitution. The Governor, by doing so, is only acting against constitutional direction.

What are issues regarding the governor’s power to withhold assent to a bill passed by the state legislature?

A plain reading of Article 200 suggests that the Governor can withhold the assent.

So, the question of crucial importance is whether the Governor can withhold his assent to a Bill in exercise of his discretionary powers. Or, whether he can do so only on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Under Article 154 of the Constitution, the Governor can exercise his executive powers only on the advice of the Council of Ministers. So, there is a view that the Governor can withhold assent to a Bill only on ministerial advice.

But another view is that why the Council of Ministers should advise the Governor to withhold assent after the Bill has been passed by the Assembly. If the government wanted to repeal it after it became an Act, it could have it repealed by the House.

The government can also advise the Governor to withhold assent if it has second thoughts on the Bill after it has been passed.

Under the Indian Constitution, the exercise of the power vested in the Governor to withhold assent may not be confined to the Council of Ministers advising the Governor. But the larger question is why a Governor should be allowed to withhold assent when the Bill is passed by the Assembly.

A Bill is brought before the Assembly when there is some urgency about legislation. It may be a part of the policy of the elected government.

Under the constitutional scheme, the Governor is only a constitutional head and has no real powers. Withholding assent means the death of that Bill.

Thus, the Governor can negate the will of the legislature, and thereby negate the will of the people. The Constitution cannot be assumed to permit the Governor to do that.

The problem with universal child rights: Cultural differences abound in how we raise children

News– The recently released film, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway reminds us that child-rearing is deeply rooted in culture

What are some facts about the UN convention on children’s rights?

The UN convention does not aim to impose a global format on child-rearing or educational practices. It intends to provide a protective cover for children from the consequences of economic hardship, entrenched inequalities, and abuse of different kinds.

What are the issues raised by the film?

It represents a young woman’s struggle against a prejudiced and arrogant bureaucracy in Norway for her child.

In a progressive country like Norway, harsh treatment is provided to a young immigrant family from Bengal in this film for custody of her child. Norway is known for its role as a peace broker, its professed commitment to feminism, and its progressive system of education.

In countries like Norway, separation of children from parents whose lifestyle and practices raises concerns.

Each culture has its norms and practices for raising children. What is normal in one culture may be vehemently disapproved of in another country.

It shows the vulnerability of children in a globalised world.

India’s evacuation diplomacy – Express View on Sudan crisis: Indian government’s efforts to evacuate nationals are commendable

News: India has begun ‘Operation Kaveri’ to evacuate around 4,000 nationals currently stranded in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan.

About the present issue in Sudan

Sudan, the third-largest country in Africa, is immensely rich in resources — from gold to fossil fuels. Sudan’s strategic geography and inherent value have made it a target for exploitation by world powers, countries in its neighbourhood and also from local groups.

What is the significance of India’s evacuation diplomacy?

Over the years, India has been adept at using its diplomatic skill and leveraging goodwill to ensure that Indians overseas are able to return to the country when they are faced with a crisis at their destinations, especially in West Asia and Africa. For example, ‘Operation Ganga’ was conducted in Ukraine to evacuate students and others from the conflict zone.

What should be done?

The diaspora is a crucial part of the economy. Hence, India must continue to do evacuation diplomacy to protect the lakhs of Indians who work and live across the world.

The international community must do all it can to bring the warring parties in Sudan to agree to a ceasefire and ensure the transition that was promised in 2019.

Evolution teaches children that change is an opportunity, erasing it from NCERT textbooks is huge disservice

News: The NCERT had recommended some “rationalisation” of the contents of high-school science textbooks.

What are the recent changes in the NCERT syllabus? 

What is the rationale behind the changes in NCERT textbooks?

What are the science-related concerns raised with NCERT textbook revision?

The revision removed nearly all references to concepts and methods for the study of biological evolution, and renamed the chapter on “Heredity and Evolution” as “Heredity.” The revision also removed Charles Darwin and his evolution concepts.

What is the response of the NCERT expert team to various media debates?

Ball Is In Courts – Bar councils’ argument that same-sex marriage is not SC matter goes against constitutional view of rights

News: Recently, the Bar Council of India and state bar councils on asked the Supreme Court to avoid a decision in an ongoing hearing seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages in India.

What is the reason behind the bar council demand?

The bar councils want the matter to be left to the legislature. This is because of the opinion that the law is essentially a codified societal norm reflecting the collective conscience of the people.

About the case and Centre’s affidavit on legalising Same-sex marriages in India 

What are the issues in the centre’s affidavit on legalising same-sex marriages?  

Does the Constitution always support majoritarianism?

The Constitution is important in a democracy where the right to govern is decided by a parliamentary majority. But that does not mean that it always supports majoritarianism. For example, a) the triple talaq judgment of 2017 declared the practice illegal, and arguments of the “collective” wish of Muslim “communities” were rightly ignored, b) A constitutional bench struck down Section 377 of IPC and decriminalised consensual same-sex relations.

As a vision document, the Constitution is not constrained by social “norms” that usually change at a faster pace. Instead, it prioritises an individual’s fundamental rights.

The Constitution’s underlying principles are inconsistent with majoritarianism. It’s these constitutional principles that have protected laws aimed at social reforms against many social “norms”. For example, the Madras Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947, which opened access to all groups was upheld by the SC.

What does the Constitution say about the case on legalising same-sex marriages?

The Indian Constitution was ahead of its time. For instance, the universal adult franchise wholly ignored the regressive social views of that era. This is one of the Constitution’s greatest gifts. It needs to be nurtured. The ongoing hearing on same-sex marriages is a logical extension of that gift.

GS Paper 3

Why urea rules India’s farms

News: The efforts of the government such as launching Nano Urea and coating all indigenously manufactured and imported urea with neem oil have not been successful in reducing the urea consumption.

What do the current statistics say about the use of urea?

Sales of urea crossed a record 35.7 million tons (mt) in the fiscal year 2022-23. 

After neem-coating was fully enforced from December 2015, consumption of the urea dipped in the initial two years. However, the trend reversed from 2018-19.

Urea sales in 2022-23 were about 5.1 mt higher than in 2015-16 and over 9 mt than in 2009-10.

All other fertilisers, except single super phosphate (SSP), have registered much lower increases or even declines.

What is nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) and why hasn’t it been successful?

Read Here: About NBS

The data reveals worsening of nutrient imbalance, with urea consumption rising by over a third since 2009-10. 

This has been due to a slower rise in the prices of urea. The price increased only by 16.5%, after the introduction of NBS.

The current government has also brought back price controls on DAP. Companies are not allowed to charge more than Rs 27,000 per tonne.

These reasons have led to an increase in the sales of fertilisers in the fiscal year 2022-23.

What are the harms of using excess fertilizers?

Fertilisers are essentially food for crops. They, like humans, need nutrients for growth and grain yield.

Initially, the crop yield on the use of fertilisers was good, especially during the Green Revolution. However, with the time, crop yield response to fertiliser use has more than halved.

For example, 1 kg of NPK nutrients yielded 12.1 kg of cereal grains in India during the 1960s, but only 5 kg during the 2010s.

Further, as per recent research, the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in India has fallen from 48.2% in 1962-63 to 34.7% in 2018. The 34.7% NUE was below the global average of 45.3% and 53.3% for North America in 2018.

Note: NUE refers to the proportion of N applied mainly through urea that is actually utilised by crops to produce harvested yields. 

What can be the way ahead?

First, the consumption of urea can be reduced by increasing its prices. However, it is not easy due to political reasons.

Second, instead of increasing prices, efforts may be put towards improving NUE. This will enable farmers to harvest the same or more grain yields with fewer bags.

Nano Urea is also primarily aimed at boosting NUE. For instance, a single 500-ml Nano Urea bottle containing just 4% N can effectively replace at least one 45-kg bag of regular 46% N urea.

Third, the government should also make incorporation of urease and nitrification inhibitors compulsory in urea. 

These are chemical compounds that inhibit the activity of urease (a soil enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonium and further to ammonia) and nitrifying bacteria (that convert ammonium to nitrate), making more N available to the crops.

Source: The Indian Express

Why Dollar’s Losing Its Shine

News: Countries around the world are looking for an alternative to the weakening US dollar.

What are the alternatives being adopted?

Central banks of most countries are now buying gold as an alternative to dollars. As per the estimate, gold currently accounts for a record 33% of monthly global demand.

This buying boom has helped push the price of gold to near record levels, more than 50% higher than what predicted by models based on real interest rates.

Moreover, countries like Russia, China, Brazil and India are also looking for a new currency to challenge the dollar. Their goal is to trade with one another directly, in their own coin.

Why are these countries looking for alternatives to dollars for trading?

Global trade has been based on the dollar since the end of World War II. However, the US has used its dollar dominance against countries to put financial sanctions.

As per the report, 30% of all countries now face sanctions from the US, the EU, Japan and the UK, which has gone up from 10% in the early 1990s.

The recent one is sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. This cuts off Russian banks from the dollar-based global payment system.

This implied that in future any developing nation could be a target.

What are other measures being taken to promote non-dollar-based trading?

The Philippines and Thailand are now looking to non-dollar-based trading. India has also been discussing with the UAE the idea of conducting non-oil trade in rupees.

Further, dollar as forex reserves has also seen decline since the launch of Russia sanctions. As per the report, the dollar share of central bank reserves is down to 47% from 73% two decades ago.

Further, there are many central banks that are looking to launch their own digital currency. The number has tripled since 2020, representing 95% of the world’s gross domestic product.

Many are testing these digital currencies for use in bilateral trade which again is a challenge to dollars.

What does this imply for the US?

The shift from the dollar to other forms of currencies in trade increases risk for America.

This is because a dominant dollar matters for the US economy as high demand for the currency tends to lower the cost of borrowing abroad, which is a privilege for America.

Moreover, among the top 20 developed economies, America now has the second highest fiscal and current account deficits. Further, the country’s ability to pay its debts is also slipping, as its reliance on foreign funding keeps growing.

Hence, the shift from the dollar towards other currencies will affect overall America’s economy.

Next step for the infotech boom

News– The article explains the growth of infotech industry in India

What are major reflections from the present status of the infotech industry in India?

The long-term vision of science and technology development in the Nehru era of planning created a capacity to keep track of technology developments.

The rapid expansion of engineering education became the basis for India’s global comparative advantage in medium-skill service supply.

What was the policy focus of the government in the 70s and its impacts?

The policy focus in the 1970s shifted on public sector companies to manufacture hardware for defence, space and atomic energy, as a part of the self-sufficiency strategy.

The public enterprises developed the skills required for specific needs, mainly for governmental applications. It had a limited impact on the economy. The high tariffs on hardware imports constrained the development of the service industry.

How did the policy focus of the government after 80s change the status of the infotech industry in India?

The change made in the mid-1980s in the infotech service industry has an economy-wide impact. The new policies announced by the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in 1984.

The tariffs on hardware imports were substantially reduced and software technology parks were established. They provided satellite links to major IT developers, and enabled them to directly transmit the work done in India abroad.

What are the other factors responsible for growth of the infotech industry in India?

The big change occurred towards the end of the last century. Computer programmes designed with two-digit year numbers had to be modified in a time-consuming process to take four digit year numbers.

The Indian software service companies could do this at low cost because of their low worker wages levels.

Software exports from India increased nearly 2.5 times in dollar terms between 1998–1999 and 2000–2001

Another change that generated new options for the Indian software service firms was the establishment of the euro currency. It required similar tedious changes in computer programs.

Since then, the India software service industry has become a key global player in the trade in software services and internet technology-enabled services. Its annual exports have grown from around $3 billion in FY2000 to $181 billion in FY2022.

What is the way forward for future growth of the infotech industry in India?

A greater presence on the frontiers of infotech development and better integration into the needs of the national economy will decide the future of IT industry

The industry is a major global player but not yet a major innovator. The R&D spending of the major companies is about 1% of turnover. It is way below the levels for global internet players not just in the developed world but also in China.

With artificial intelligence (AI), India’s cost advantage in low-cost services will be eroded unless it itself becomes a major player in AI and other new technology developments.

This will require substantially greater investment in R&D by both the government as well as infotech companies.

There are other areas that are becoming more important, like cloud computing. Most users in India are dependent on foreign suppliers of cloud services.

It is also necessary that the infotech service industry increases its focus on domestic sales, which at present are just a little above 20% of their turnover.

The potential and the need for domestic sales will increase with the development of an open access digital framework by the government, with assistance and cooperation with private sector software pioneers

This digital public network includes Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and new developments like the Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Access to digital frameworks has shot up with the growing number of smartphone and internet users and bank deposit holders.

The infotech service companies must now see themselves as a major domestic supplier of services and not just as globally competitive exporters.

Batting for borrowers – Penal levy on loan defaulters should not be usurious

News: The Reserve Bank of India recently released the draft guidelines on ‘Fair Lending Practice’ as there is an increase in retail lending in recent years. The draft circular regulates penal charges on loan defaulters. 

What is the rationale behind regulating penal levy on loan defaulters?

The industry’s share of outstanding bank credit had shrunk to about 24% as of February 2023, from over 43% in 2014-15. The personal loans had surged to 30%, from just 19% eight years ago,

There are times when lenders have levied a penal interest over and above the contracted rate of interest when borrowers delay repayment or default. This is done despite the RBI allows the credit provider to reprice the loan in case a borrower’s ‘credit risk profile’ has changed.

Earlier, the penal levy was focused on solely fostering credit discipline among borrowers. But in practice, the penal interest turned into a revenue enhancement tool.

Such as a) Some entities were charging ‘excessive’ rates of penal interest, b) Lenders had been capitalising the penal interest, thereby increasing the principal amount that the borrower would ultimately have to repay.

Thereby, lenders seek an unduly profit from borrowers’ defaults. So, the RBI has issued a draft circular for regulating penal charges on loan accounts.

How did the RBI’s Fair Lending Practice aim to reduce the penal levy on loan defaulters?

-The penal charges should be recovered separately and must not be added either to the principal outstanding or the rate of interest charged on the loan.

-Lenders can follow the normal process for compounding the outstanding primary interest.

-Lenders have the freedom to set the quantum of penal charges proportional to the default or non-compliance with the terms of the loan contract beyond a preset threshold.

-The penal charges levied on individual borrowers cannot be at a rate higher than a similar charge applicable to corporate borrowers.

-The penal charges must be communicated upfront when finalising every loan and unfailingly reiterated to the borrower in every subsequent reminder for loan repayments.

Overall, the move will benefit small borrowers, individual borrowers, and others.

The government shouldn’t be running a fact-check unit

News: Recently, the government of India has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023.

What are the salient provisions of the IT amendment rules?

What are the concerns associated with amendments to IT Rules?

State’s rejection of ground reality: A private survey has shown that the health department’s management information system (MIS) missed more than 75% of infant deaths in Maharashtra. This survey led to the formation of the Abhay Bang committee which proposed recommendations for proper measuring. Later, Maharashtra became the first state to launch a child nutrition mission in 2005. The State’s model of using community health workers to monitor and treat newborns was eventually scaled up across rural India.

If Maharashtra had a state-run fact-check unit, then the government will dismiss the private report as false. This will diminish the progress of society.

Restrict public access to data: Since only government officials have access to certain kinds of government data, the government data might be inaccessible to the public. For instance, analysts prefer to use the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data rather than Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) data. This is because the anonymized respondent-level PLFS data is publicly available, unlike the EPFO database.

What are the advantages of amendment to IT Rules?

At a time when India is trying to emerge as a viable and democratic alternative to China, India need to reconsider the amendments.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Vibrant Villages plan to be merged with PM Gati Shakti

Source: The post is based on the article “Vibrant Villages plan to be merged with PM Gati Shakti” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

The Vibrant Villages Programme(VVP) will be integrated with the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti mega project.

What is the Vibrant Villages Programme(VVP)?

The Vibrant Villages Programme was first announced in the 2022 Budget. 

Aim: To provide comprehensive development of villages on the border with China and improvement in the quality of life of people living in identified border villages. The development in these villages will help prevent migration, and thus also boost security.

Villages covered: The government has identified 2,967 villages in 19 border districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh that will be developed under the VVP. 

– In the first phase of this project stretching over three financial years from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026, 662 villages will be developed. Of them, 455 are in Arunachal Pradesh. 

– The selected villages will be connected by all-weather roads and provided potable piped water, 24×7 electricity (including solar and wind energy), good mobile and internet connectivity, healthcare and enhanced livelihood options. 

Click Here to read more

What is PM Gati Shakti?

Click Here to read

Why is the Vibrant Villages Programme integrated with PM Gati Shakti?

Gati Shakti brings together 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. This allows government departments to break operational silos.

Hence, by integrating VVP with Gati Shakti, there can be better coordination between various ministries and departments to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme.

To implement this integration, Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N) in Gujarat has been roped in to provide satellite images and GIS mapping of the projects that will be taken up under the VVP scheme.

BISAG-N will also be tracking the infrastructure and other land-use changes in the border villages for real-time monitoring.

India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens from war-hit Sudan

Source: The post is based on the article “India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens from war-hit Sudan” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

India has started ‘Operation Kaveri’ to evacuate its nationals from war-hit Sudan.

What is Operation Kaveri?

Operation Kaveri is a mission by India to evacuate its nationals from violence-hit Sudan.

As part of the operation, India has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and a naval ship at a key port in Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate its stranded nationals.

Named after: The operation has been named after River Kaveri as it is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

– The river is sacred to the people of the region and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (mother Kaveri).

What are the other similar evacuation operations by India?

Click Here to read

IIT-M researchers develop non-invasive device to assess heart vessel health

Source: The post is based on the article “IIT-M researchers develop non-invasive device to assess heart vessel health” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have developed a device called ‘ARTSENS’ to assess the health and age of blood vessels and thereby provide early screening for cardiovascular diseases.

What is ARTSENS?

ARTSENS is a novel, non-invasive device to assess the health and age of blood vessels and thereby provide early screening for cardiovascular diseases.

Developed by: Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre at IIT Madras. 

Features: The device comprises pressure cuffs that need to be attached on the upper arm and thighs and a probe applied on the surface of the neck to detect the carotid artery. 

– It measures carotid artery stiffness, aortic pulse wave velocity and central blood pressure, all three being important markers of cardiovascular health.

Significance: The device is intended for regular medical check-ups, even by non-experts, to evaluate and anticipate vascular health.

Malaria set to be notifiable disease across India even as cases show a decline

Source: The post is based on the article “Malaria set to be notifiable disease across India even as cases show a decline” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

Malaria is all set to become a notifiable disease across India.

Note: Currently, malaria is a notifiable disease in 33 States and Union Territories in India.

What is Notifiable Disease?

A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities.

Making a disease legally notifiable by doctors and health professionals allows for intervention to control the spread of highly infectious diseases.

The Centre has notified several diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, encephalitis, leprosy, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), plague, tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis, measles, yellow fever, malaria, dengue etc. 

The onus of notifying any disease and the implementation lies with the state government.

Any failure to report a notifiable disease is a criminal offence and the state government can take necessary actions against defaulters.

About the decline in Malaria cases in India

India was the only high-burden, high-impact country in the Southeast Asia region to report a decline in malaria cases in 2020 as compared to 2019. 

India witnessed an 85.1% decline in malaria cases and 83.36% decline in deaths during 2015-2022.

What are the steps taken against Malaria?

India has set a vision to be malaria-free by 2027 and to eliminate the disease by 2030. 

The Health Ministry has initiated a joint action plan with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for malaria elimination in tribal areas.

The government now has the availability of near-real-time data monitoring through an integrated health information platform (HIP-Malaria Portal) and periodic regional review meetings to keep a check on malaria growth across India.

What should be the way forward against Malaria?

Globally, children in the poorest households are five times more likely to be infected with malaria. Malaria is also more prevalent among young children whose mothers have a lower level of education and live in rural areas.

Hence, reaching these populations with available malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment is critical for achieving the global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 and Sustainable Development Goal targets and delivering on the promise of zero malaria for everyone, everywhere,

Will policy power India’s race to space?

Source: The post is based on the article “Will policy power India’s race to space?” published in Livemint on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023.

Where does India’s space programme stand?

Ever since India launched its first sounding rocket in 1963, its space programme has come a long way. 

ISRO has undertaken more than 120 spacecraft missions, and 90-odd satellite launch missions and has put over 385 foreign satellites in orbit. 

Its two satellite launchers, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) are considered to be reliable low-cost launch options for the world. 

However, still, India’s share in the $440 billion global market is just 2%. Its space assets at 80 are also far below the US’ 1,650 and China’s over 450 satellites in orbit. 

What does the space policy seek to achieve?

In 2020, the government liberalized the space sector and enabled large-scale private sector participation in the country’s space programme which until then was the prerogative of ISRO.

These reforms ensured that over 100 new companies entered the space sector. Some of them, such as Skyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space, Digantara, Pixxel and Bellatrix Aerospace, have already tasted success.

The updated space policy seeks to provide regulatory certainty to achieve this vision of creating a thriving space ecosystem.

What will be ISRO’s role as per space policy?

ISRO will focus primarily on research and development of new space technologies and applications, and for expanding the human understanding of outer space.

India’s space programme will transition from ISRO-dominated to ISRO-enabled.

What do the private players say on space policy?

The policy is clear about the collaboration between international entities and the private sector on not only the commercialisation of products and services but also on the development of next-generation technologies.

The policy is also flexible. It permits case-by-case authorization or approval from IN-SPACe to engage in space activity even when it doesn’t align with the policy.

However, rules around spectrum allocation, foreign direct investment, and orbital slot allocation are not clearly stated in the policy.

How to check relative humidity on a hot day to keep yourself cool

Source: The post is based on the article “How to check relative humidity on a hot day to keep yourself cool” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

Relative humidity is a simple concept as far as weather phenomena go but it has significant, far-reaching consequences for how we must take care of ourselves on a hot or wet day.

What is Humidity?

Humidity is a measurement of the amount of water vapour in the air. There are three ways to track humidity:

Absolute humidity: It is the mass of water vapour in a given volume of air and water vapour mixture expressed as kg/m3.

Specific humidity: It is equal to the mass of the moisture divided by the mass of air. It is expressed as a dimensionless number (but sometimes as grams per kilogram among other similar units).

Relative humidity: It is important as it factors in the amount of vapour that air can hold at different temperatures. It is determined by dividing the vapour density of the air by saturation vapour density at dry-bulb temperature.

Why does relative humidity matter?

The higher the relative humidity of air, the more it is filled with moisture. When air already contains a lot of moisture, the sweat on your skin can’t evaporate. 

At the same time, the body keeps sweating as it is still expecting to cool itself. As a result, if the relative humidity is high, you can sweat on a hot day even when you are sitting still while your body keeps accumulating heat. This can quickly become dangerous.

Relative humidity of 30-60% is generally considered to be comfortable. Environments that have lower levels than this typically use humidifiers to increase the humidity. When the level is higher, a fan will help move the air around you and help sweat evaporate better.

What is Wet Bulb Temperature?

Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure. 

It is a limit that considers heat and humidity beyond which humans can not tolerate high temperatures.

It is measured by wrapping a wet cloth on a thermometer and observing the temperature at which evaporation occurs. This is distinct from the more commonly known ambient or dry temperature, which is measured as is.

The highest acceptable wet-bulb temperature for humans is 35 °C (95 °F) for six hours. Above that point, even healthy people begin to develop serious, often deadly health problems.

India’s first water body census: How was it done, what does the report say

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s first water body census: How was it done, what does the report say” published in Indian Express on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has released the report of India’s first water bodies census, a comprehensive database of ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs in the country.

What was the need for a water bodies census?

The Centre earlier maintained a database of water bodies that were getting central assistance under the Scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies.

In 2016, a Standing Committee of Parliament pointed to the need to carry out a separate census of water bodies.

The government then commissioned the first census of water bodies in 2018-19 along with the sixth Minor Irrigation (MI) census. 

What was the objective of the first water bodies census?

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What does the census reveal about the encroachment of water bodies?

The census found that 1.6% of enumerated water bodies — 38,496 out of 24,24,540 — had been encroached upon. 

More than 95% of these were in rural areas — which is logical because more than 97% of the water bodies covered by the census were in the rural areas. 

Uttar Pradesh accounted for almost 40% (15,301) of water bodies under encroachment, followed by Tamil Nadu (8,366) and Andhra Pradesh (3,920). 

No encroachment was reported from West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.

Tamil Nadu’s Manamadurai pottery gets GI tag

Source: The post is based on the article “Tamil Nadu’s Manamadurai pottery gets GI tag” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023

What is the News?

The Manamadurai pottery has recently been given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

What is Manamadurai Pottery?

Manamadurai in Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu is known for pottery making.

The Vaigai River enriches the clay used for the Manamadurai pottery. A unique type of clay is also sourced from other water bodies to make these pots.

The pot is painted in different colours. While making these pots, the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sun and air are used.

What is the Vaigai River?

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