9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 17th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Status of inequality: A probe into the Nehruvian pledge
• First principles should guide India’s privacy law
• The Taliban factors
• Upma Gautam writes: Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act
• Bureaucrats Haven’t Failed. But They Can Do Better

GS Paper 3

• Sustainable environmental practices: Stepping back from an ecological abyss
• Achievements of CSIR: High points in science, technology and innovation
• Required fundamental policy changes in science and technology: The coming 75 years
• Power, a reality check

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Paalan 1000 Campaign: Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 live births: Minister
• Explained: Why has FIFA banned India and what happens to Indian football now?
• Explained: All about F-INSAS, Nipun mines, LCA — the new systems handed over to the Army
• Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India unveils Manthan
• Explained: Corneas bioengineered from pig collagen can restore sight, study finds
• Understanding ethanol blending
• How did continents form? Giant meteorite impacts could be responsible, says study
• Explained: Why the 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape case walked out of jail
• Explained: The revolutionaries whom PM mentioned in his Independence Day speech

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Status of inequality: A probe into the Nehruvian pledge

News: On August 15, 1947, in his historic speech, Jawaharlal Nehru said,  “The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity.” 75 years after the pledge, the inequality of opportunities which Nehru wanted to eradicate has only systematically widened.

This article reviews the pledge of ending inequality of opportunity made at the time of Independence under three broad heads: gender inequality, social inequality and the practice of democracy.

What is the status of inequality in gender?

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): According to the global Sustainable Development Goals target, all countries are expected to have an MMR below 70. But the MMR in 456 out of 640 districts of India is above 140 per lakh live births.

The Global Gender Gap Index, produced by the World Economic Forum, India’s position fell from 98 in 2006 to 135 in 2022. On the sub-indices, a) On economic participation, India fell from 110 in 2006 to 151 in 2021, b) In health and survival, it slipped from 103 in 2006 to 155 in 2021.

Crime against women: The reported Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes against women as a proportion of total IPC crimes increased steadily between 1990 and 2019.

Why does the status of inequality in society still persist in India?

In India, social disparities in gender, caste and class coexist. Constitutional guarantees of reservation in employment and education do not expand their opportunities. This is because 1) Historically marginalised communities have to contend with powerful groups with great initial endowments, 2) India has failed to seriously implement land reforms. So, the landless Dalits, Adivasis and the poor have not been able to go forward,

3) A 2019 paper shows that the egalitarian achievements up to the early 1980s have been lost following the liberalisation turnaround. The paper estimate that the top 1% of earners captured less than 21% of the total income in the late 1930s, 6% in the early 1980s and 22% in recent times. Further, the share of the bottom 50% income group grew over 90% in the 1980-2015 period, while that of the top 10% grew 435%, 4) The sustained gains of economic growth have not been channelled to widen the access to education, health care, social security and so on.

What about the practice of democracy?

Shankkar Aiyar termed India as a “Gated Republic”. With growing social and economic inequality, Indian democracy is emerging to fulfil the term “Gated Republic”. For instance, the privileged classes do not demand key public goods such as drinking water, electricity, and law and order because they have bottled water, storage tanks, water purifiers, inverters, and private security.

On the other hand, many of the avoidable deaths, and diseases, that happen in India are due to the public failure in providing water, public hygiene, education and the rule of law. Corruption is pervasive and undermines democratic practice.

So, the inequality of opportunities which Nehru wanted to eradicate has only systematically widened in India.

First principles should guide India’s privacy law

News: Recently, the Central government withdrew its Personal Data Protection Bill after four years of deliberation, while promising to put forward a revised version of the bill.

Background

The Supreme Court 2017 judgment upheld the right to privacy as a part of fundamental rights to life and liberty.

Consequently, Justice B.N. Sri Krishna Committee was constituted which drew up a draft bill in 2018.

A bill was introduced in Parliament. The bill had a considerable weakening of safeguards like the Centre and its agencies were given sweeping powers to call up data at will.

Thereafter, Justice Sri Krishna flagged “Orwellian” risks in the bill introduced in the parliament.

A Joint parliamentary committee (JPC) scrutinized the bill. The JPC’s report suggested 81 changes and 151 corrections. Critics said the state agencies were given a free pass in the law and the stiff data localization and greater regulatory burden on digital players would dent the business environment that might choke innovation.

Why do we need a data protection law in India?

Indians live digital lives in large numbers for work, leisure, creativity, and commerce. This leaves a trail of data or information, known as the “new oil” of the digital economy.

Out of the three stakeholders—the individual, tech platform, and the government, involved in the internet’s design, individuals have the least control over their personal detail.

Cybersecurity concerns have increased in the recent past. For example, issues like data leaks and thefts, and politically motivated spying have become common.

Further, several Western jurisdictions have already enacted a data protection law. India cannot remain behind.

What should be the ingredient of the revised new bill?

The bill should be based on the 1^st principle, i.e., individuals or citizens must be empowered with legal rights to their personal data. Further, personal data should be made accessible to others only for reasons that are fair, transparent, and legitimate.

The 1^st Principle should be adhered to because the SC directed the government to enact a law to protect personal data in the 2017 Judgment, in order to safeguard the fundamental right to privacy.

The government could take inspiration from the EU’s data law. For example, provisions that offer a strong shield against commercial and state surveillance, provisions that commit companies to using only minimal data and for specific purposes, bar them from holding data longer than necessary, and make them accountable for lapses.

The Centre must commit itself to a clear timeline within which the new data protection law will be introduced.

The Taliban factors

News: Recently, the Taliban regime completed its one year of rule in Afghanistan. Now is the time to assess its relations with India.

India has long enjoyed a benign reputation in Afghanistan because of its traditional developmental role in that country.

India’s Foreign Policy Challenges

Taliban 2.0 has imposed its vague notion of an eighth-century Islamic state and established its Sharia law that overrides human rights and oppresses women.

The Taliban lacks a constructive governing system and skill in the art of state-building. Therefore, the regime could not rebuild Afghanistan, which has been ruined by decades of war and lack basic institutions of governance.

India is finding it difficult to establish diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime. India closed its embassy and withdrew all personnel due to attacks on Indians.

Both Taliban and Pakistan have been strong supporters of each other. Further, India had supported the opposition alliance against Taliban 1.0. that ruled from 1996 to October 2001, which did not go in the interest of Taliban.

Afghanistan has become a safe haven for terrorists and terror outfits who want to recruit soldiers. For example, the Taliban has given shelter to al-Zawahiri, who was recently killed by the US. This is the reason there has been an upsurge in a terrorist activity like recruitment along the Indo-Pakistan border since the reading down of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India.

New Developments

Recently, India became the 15^th nation that signaled rapprochement by reopening its embassy in Kabul. The intended objective behind it is, to closely monitor and coordinate the humanitarian assistance that is being given by India.

At present, India can forge more durable ties with the Taliban on account of manifest tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. For example, the Taliban refused to accede to a Pakistani government request to surrender Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan elements sheltering across the border. As a result, Islamabad informed the whereabouts of al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri to the US.

Upma Gautam writes: Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act

News: Recently, in Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI, the Supreme Court has given directions on undertrials and pre-trial detentions. The SC has asserted mandatory compliance with Sections 41 and 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Criminal Justice Reforms

In the first decade of the 21st century, Section 41 was modified and Section 41A was incorporated into the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The objective was to reduce the number of arrests by the police for offences punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment. Further, these initiatives had the potential to reduce custodial violence and lower the burden on courts.

The SC ruling

The SC affirmed its 2014 verdict in Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar Case, in which it directed state governments to instruct their police officers to not arrest the accused automatically when the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years.

The Court said that investigating agencies are accountable for compliance with Section 41 and 41A of CrPC.

It reiterated the importance of the “bail over jail” rule and issued a slew of step-by-step procedures to prevent unnecessary arrest and remand.

The government should enact the Bail Act to inject clarity into bail-related matters. While framing, the government should take a cue from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and many other legal systems as well as the recommendations of the 268th Law Commission report.

Ongoing issues in Indian Criminal Justice System (CJS)

As per the Prison Statistics of India 2020, nearly 76% of prisoners are undertrials. The large percentage of undertrials in prison and pre-trial detentions are often a result of unnecessary arrests by investigating agencies and further the unfair application of bail provisions by the court. This led to a violation of the cardinal rule of the presumption of innocence.

Despite direction, the investigating agencies do not judiciously apply Sections 41 and 41A of the CrPC. They continue to take a mechanical approach that regards detentions as the only effective option to complete the investigation. Therefore, a lot of bail applications are pending before district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court.

Arguments in favour of making immediate arrests and denial of bail to the undertrials

A section of commentators believes that the arrest of the wrongdoer is seen as an effective redressal mechanism by the victim.

Further, if a police officer does not go for immediate detention, it may be considered as a sign of complacency of the authorities.

Moreover, Section 41A has provisions that mandate the immediate arrest of the accused.

On the contrary, recently, In Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary v. Union of India (PMLA case), the Supreme Court upheld the arbitrary conditions of bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, thus discarding the “presumption of innocence” principle.

What should be done?

The Court should not give a contradictory verdict because the operations of investigating agencies do not go in isolation from that of courts. The conflicting and ambiguous approach of courts towards pre-trial incarceration and bail provides investigating agencies avenues to justify flouting of the due processes.

The confusion created by the two decisions of the apex court reinforces the need for a Bail Act.

Investigating agencies and police offices need to sync their approach with the principles of natural justice.

Bureaucrats Haven’t Failed. But They Can Do Better

News: India is celebrating its 75^th year of Independence in 2022. . This is a good time to reflect on the performance of the civil services, where it has failed, and where, if at all, it has made a difference.

Functions of the IAS: (1) Regulatory, (2) policy-making, (3) program implementation, (4) improving ease of living, (5) ease of doing business and governance, and (6) evidence-based assessments.

Issues in the functioning of the IAS

At present, the public perception is negative about civil servants. The number of civil servants who are involved in misdeeds has been disturbingly increasing.

Conformity: Conformity is preferred over competence, conviction, and willingness to take an evidence-based position in the present bureaucratic system where there are compulsions of political compliance.

Incentives: The civil servants including competent become conformist due to incentives of postings like foreign posting incentives.

Some good contributions

(1) 1991 economic reforms: The IAS has played a big role in the regulatory infrastructure, monetary and fiscal policy formulation, and in convincing the political masters to undertake liberal economic reforms, even at the cost of populism. Thus, they contributed to breaking the cycle of low growth rates and opening up the Indian economy, and allowing private sector participation with ease.

(2) Innovation in implementation of programs: (a) The use of technology for identification and portability in the Public Distribution System (PDS), and (b) Use of Aadhaar linked DBT and decline in leakages, the success of pro-poor public welfare was led by innovative civil servants.

(3) In dismantling the archaic laws in areas that were identified by the World Bank for reducing the compliance burden.

(4) The IAS officers have empowered 130 million women under the Livelihood Mission, facilitated 31 lakh elected Panchayat leaders, and contributed to poverty reduction and economic well-being like high rates of adolescent girls’ participation in secondary/ higher education; etc.

(5) They have contributed to empowering the poor through means of Technology.

(6) There are many young and idealist civil servants who are struggling to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in remote regions of the country., who are making a difference. However, they often go unnoticed.

What should be done?

The power of community organizations working with elected local governments.

There can be greater accountability through deepening democracy and the voice of the poorest.

There should be a ruthless crackdown on the black sheep, alongside a thrust for greater professionalism among the IAS.

The political democracy will have to be more tolerant to evidence-based dissent and the right person in the right place, with a lower premium on conformism.

The people should change their perception about civil servants like IAS.

GS Paper 3

Sustainable environmental practices: Stepping back from an ecological abyss

News: Chipko, Silent Valley, Narmada, Koel-Karo movements inspired many sustainable environmental practices. The government too responded with a series of forest, wildlife, environment-related laws and policies. It is now a time to analyse the phase of these sustainable environmental practices.

What is the status of environmental health in India?

Water: According to NITI Aayog, “600 million people in India face high to extreme water stress… with nearly 70% of water being contaminated; India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index”.

Air: Four hundred and eighty million Indians face the world’s most extreme air pollution levels.

Land degradation and desertification: According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, over 30% of India’s land is facing issues such as degradation and desertification.

Overall, the World Bank reported in 2013 that India was losing 5.7% of its GDP due to environmental damage.

What is the reason for damage to sustainable environmental practices?

Obsession with economic growth: Despite growing evidence of GDP being a very poor indicator of human well-being exploitation of natural elements continue to be ignored or mauled.

According to the former Planning Commission, over 60 million people have been physically displaced by ‘development’ projects in the last few decades with very poor rehabilitation. Amongst them, a disproportionately high percentage of these are Adivasis and Dalits.

Favour corporate access: The government favour corporate access to land and natural resources. For instance, the latest proposals to amend forest and environment laws, and the Environment Impact Assessment notification.

Building massive physical infrastructure: For instance, the 2022-23 Budget has an allocation for highways alone that is 40 times greater than the Budget of the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The economic ‘reforms’ in 1991: With greater integration into the global economy, the entry of multinational corporations into every sector, and increasing exports of natural materials, the issue of environmental sustainability was relegated to the background.

Less fund for climate action: India still provide abysmally low budgets for adaptation measures. The Climate Action Plan got a meagre ₹30 crore in the 2022-23 Budget.

What are a few innovative and successive sustainable environmental practices?

-Community-led ecotourism, such as homestays in Uttarakhand and Ladakh and Sikkim, has combined increased earnings with ecologically sensitive visitation.

-Women farmers of the Deccan Development Society have demonstrated how organic, rainfed farming with traditional seed diversity can provide full food security and sovereignty.

-Handloom weavers in Kachchh (Gujarat) have shown how dignified, creative livelihoods can be revived based on organic Kala cotton and a mix of traditional and new skills.

What can be done to improve sustainable environmental practices?

Give priority to India’s crafts: India’s crafts have sustained several hundred million people in the past. They can do so again if the traditional and new skills in textiles, footwear, cleaning agents, furniture, architecture and construction, water-related technologies, and a range of household items are given priority.

Link programmes and environmental outcome: As advocated by the UNEP, public transportation, organic farming, land and water regeneration, ecotourism, etc can significantly enhance job creation. Linking programmes such as the MGNREGA with such activities will boost sustainable environmental practices.

Fundamental restructuring of economy and governance: This means a shift away from large infrastructure and industrialisation, replacing mega-corporations with producer cooperatives, ensuring community rights over the ‘commons’ (land, water, forest, coasts, knowledge), etc.

This will entail respect for both human rights and the rights of nature.

Collective mobilisation: Instead of relying on government action alone, collective mobilisation of industrial workers, farmers, fishers, craftspersons, pastoralists, etc is required to fulfil India’s environmental objectives.

Achievements of CSIR: High points in science, technology and innovation

News: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has undertaken its mission effectively since Independence.

What is the responsibility of CSIR in 1947?

CSIR had been founded in 1942. In 1947, India has a GDP of a mere ₹2.7 lakh crore and food grain production of a meagre of 50 million tonnes.

The challenges of educating the people, feeding the population, implementing democracy, promoting industry and trade, and ensuring the country’s security. In this situation, the CSIR took the responsibility of

a) Developing the science, technology and innovation ecosystem, b) Establishing a number of national laboratories under its umbrella, and c) Promoting similar organisations independently.

What are a few major achievements of CSIR?

1) The CSIR started five of its own laboratories with support from the government and industry and raised resources through crowdsourcing, 2) In collaboration with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Government (through the CSIR) started the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 3) The development of national calender: CSIR setup a committee under the Chairmanship of Meghnad Saha. Based on the committee’s science and technology-based solutions a national calendar has been adopted, 4) The CSIR’s National Physical Laboratory developed the indelible ink made up of silver nitrate to address various challenges in voting.

Achievements of CSIR in leather industry

a) CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) was established in 1948, it developed technologies for finished leather products, such as the first-ever indigenous manufacture of leather chemicals, making the transition from semifinished to finished leather possible, b) CSIR-CLRI routinely trained the next generation manpower for the leather industry. As a result, more than 40% of personnel employed in the leather industry have been trained directly or indirectly in the CSIR-CLRI.

The leather industry employed less than 25,000 people at the time of Independence. Due to successful intervention by CSIR, the leather industry now has a workforce of more than 4.5 million, a large percentage of them being women. Further, Indian exports in this sector are close to $6 billion.

What are the achievements of CSIR in other technologies?

During the Green Revolution: The CSIR helped in the development of agrochemicals and the mechanisation of agriculture. Two public sector companies were founded, post-Independence, based on technologies developed in the CSIR’s laboratories.

Indigenous development of the Swaraj tractor at the CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), led to the formation of Punjab Tractors Ltd. in 1970.

Development of generic pharmaceutical industry: The production of anti-HIV drugs by processes developed in CSIR laboratories provided the necessary impetus to the growth of generic pharmaceutical companies.

Dairy sector: In the 1950s, when solving the infant food problem, the CSIR successfully developed technologies to convert buffalo milk into powder and commercialised it with the help of Amul Industries.

Other missions: The Aroma Mission of the CSIR in recent times has been transforming the lives of thousands of farmers across the country.

In upcoming years, CSIR will help in reducing dependence on natural resources, making all industrial processes circular, making technologies environmentally friendly and providing sufficient opportunities to all for living.

Required fundamental policy changes in science and technology: The coming 75 years

News: At present India spends just 0.7% of its GDP on research and development (R&D). In the next 75 years, India should shift its focus to science and technology.

What basic fundamental policy changes in science and technology does India need?

Increase the R&D budget to 4% of the nation’s GDP

Israel and South Korea are prime examples that drive their respective economies by spending nearly 5% of their GDP on R&D.

However, an increase in R&D must proceed with

a) Appropriate macro-level policy changes on fund allocation, including building physical and intellectual infrastructure, especially in universities, b) Well-trained, globally competitive institutional administrators and processes. 

Ensure individual institutions implement processes to accommodate the large budget

This requires a) Standardising procedures across institutions and borrowing the best practices from some global counterparts, b) Each grant-receiving institution must have internal procedures to handle their scientists’ requests to facilitate effective academia-industry collaboration.

Encourage individual entrepreneurs and Link science with society

Encouraging individual entrepreneurs can bring the benefits of science and technology closer to the masses.

India should a) resolve inadequate staffing at funding agencies, lack of transparency in fund disbursal, lack of a rigorous international standard review and feedback process, excessive delay in fund disbursal, and an outdated appraisal system. To avoid these, India can take help from the IT majors, b) Link the labs with the entrepreneurs to execute innovative ideas, products, and solutions to our society.

All these fundamental policy changes in science and technology will be feasible only if India cuts the defence budget. India must realise that the next generation of war is economic, not military, and only a science and technology-driven economy can prepare India for that.

Power, a reality check

News: Recently, the Central government has come up with a Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in a series of attempts to tackle the challenges of the power sector.

The Central government and state governments have made impressive strides in increasing access to the quantity and quality of electricity, as well as expansion of renewable capacity in India.

What are the major issues in the Power Sector?

The financial health of the power sector is rapidly deteriorating. At present, the state-owned DISCOMs are debt-ridden. In fact, the problem has also worsened the fiscal situation of the state governments.

As per the RBI and PRS Legislative Research, the “true” deficit of the state governments significantly increases in FY21, if DISCOM’s losses are incorporated. For example, state government deficits increased as a whole from 4.7% to 5.5% of state GSDP, putting state governments above fiscal responsibility limits. Further, the “true” aggregate debt increases from 31.0% to 34.5%. This has happened in the case of Punjab and Rajasthan, whose deficits and debt have exceeded the indicative targets set by the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC) due to the non-inclusion of the DISCOM losses.

The discoms are incurring huge losses, in increasing order, from “Headline losses”, “losses without subsidies and grants”, and “losses without subsidies and grants and including the arrears of the discoms”. For example, For the fiscal year 2020-21, the combined losses of the discoms are Rs 2.1 lakh crore without subsidies and grants, Rs 3.0 lakh crore when arrears to power generating companies (GENCOs) are included, and much more when the headline loss of 78,000 crores is included.

What are the causes of poor affairs of state-owned discoms?

The discoms have not been able to achieve full cost recovery through revenues and continue to bear losses.

The financial situations of the state governments have worsened because the state governments have failed to fully integrate DISCOM operations in the analysis of state government finances.

Thus, the DISCOM losses must be added to state government deficits, and the DISCOM’s debt must be included in state government debt. It will show a clear picture of the fiscals of state governments.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Paalan 1000 Campaign: Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 live births: Minister

Source: The post is based on the article “Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 live births: Minister” published in The Hindu on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister of State for Health has virtually launched the Paalan 1000 National Campaign and Parenting App to reduce child mortality.

Note: India has taken rapid steps in reducing child mortality since 2014 – when it was 45 per 1000 live births – to 35 per 1000 live births in 2019.

What is the Paalan 1000 Campaign?

Paalan 1000 campaign focuses on the cognitive development of children in the first two years of their life. 

Features: The app will provide practical advice to caregivers on what they can do in their everyday routine and will help clear doubts.

– The app combines coaching for parents, families and other caregivers with services designed to meet the family’s basic needs. 

Significance: The campaign is aligned with the mission of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram(RBSK) which emphasizes responsive care and focused interventions during the first 1,000 days of a child.

Explained: Why has FIFA banned India and what happens to Indian football now?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Why has FIFA banned India and what happens to Indian football now?” published in Indian Express on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

FIFA has announced the suspension of the All India Football Federation(AIFF) for undue influence from third parties.

Background: The problems for Indian football began after the erstwhile AIFF president refused to quit his post as the head of football in the country.

After this, the Supreme Court intervened and removed the president from his post. The SC also appointed a Committee of Administrators(COA) to run the AIFF.

Why did FIFA suspend AIFF?

AIFF has been suspended on following grounds:

Third Party Interference: It refers to a situation in which a member association of FIFA fails to remain independent, is co-opted, and no longer has control over its organization. In this case, the SC’s diktat to the COA to run the AIFF was a textbook case of third-party interference.

Deviations in the roadmap of COA: The COA has made major changes to AIFF constitution. Principle among them was the decision to include 36 eminent players in the electoral college, i.e. 50% of 72 total voters, for the purposes of voting in the AIFF elections.

– FIFA wanted the eminent players’ representation to be limited to 25% of the electoral college.

What are the implications of the ban?

National teams and clubs banned from any international competition: The Indian national teams – senior and junior, men’s and women’s cannot take part in any AFC or FIFA-affiliated matches or tournaments till the suspension is lifted.

No U17 Women’s World Cup in India: The U-17 Women’s World Cup was scheduled to be held in India in 2022. But this ban would lead to India losing the hosting rights to the Women’s World Cup. However, the damage can be undone if the ban is lifted fast enough. 

How can the ban be lifted?

FIFA has said that two main concerns need to be addressed in order for the ban to be lifted. 

First, the mandate of the COA would have to be repealed in full.

Second, the AIFF administration would need to be completely in charge of its day-to-day running once again.

Explained: All about F-INSAS, Nipun mines, LCA — the new systems handed over to the Army

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: All about F-INSAS, Nipun mines, LCA — the new systems handed over to the Army” published in Indian Express on 16th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Defence Minister has handed over several new defence systems including the F-INSAS, the Nipun mines, the Landing Craft Assault (LCA) to the Army.

What is the F-INSAS system?

F-INSAS stands for Future Infantry Soldier As A System. It is a programme for infantry modernisation aimed at enhancing the operational capability of the soldier. 

Under this programme, soldiers are being equipped with modern systems which will be lightweight, all-weather-all-terrain, economical and would require low maintenance.

The full gear of the F-INSAS system includes an AK-203 assault rifle and a multimode hand grenade. Apart from this, soldiers are also provided with ballistic helmets and ballistic goggles for protection against small projectiles and fragments, along with a bullet-proof vest. 

— F-INSAS also comes with hands-free, secured advanced communications set for real-time exchange of information with the command post and fellow soldiers for enhanced situational awareness.

What are Nipun Mines?

Nipun mines are indigenously designed and developed anti-personnel mines termed by the DRDO as ‘soft target blast munition’. These mines are meant to act as the first line of defence against infiltrators and enemy infantry.

Developed by: Armament Research and Development Establishment, a Pune-based DRDO facility, and Indian industry. 

Note: Anti-personnel mines are meant to be used against humans as against anti-tank mines that are aimed at heavy vehicles. They are smaller in size and can be deployed in large numbers.

What is the Landing Craft Assault?

The Landing Craft Assault(LCA) is meant to serve as a replacement for the boats with limited capabilities currently in use in the Pangong Tso lake.

Developed by: Goa-based Aquarius ShipYard Limited.

Features: It has better launch speed and capacity to operate across water obstacles in eastern Ladakh. Similar vessels are already in operation in the Indian Navy.

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India unveils Manthan

Source: The post is based on the article “Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India unveils Manthan” published in PIB on 16th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser(PSA) to the Government of India (GoI) has announced the launch of the Manthan platform.

What is Manthan Platform?

Manthan is a platform to promote collaboration at scale between industry and the scientific research and development ecosystem to help meet India’s scientific missions and goals in alignment with the UN-defined Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) charter. 

Features: The platform will facilitate knowledge transfers and interactions through information exchange sessions, exhibitions and events to develop a framework for future science, innovation, and technology-led growth. 

– It will also provide the necessary fulcrum for transforming the nation through innovative ideas, inventive minds and public-private-academia collaboration to achieve the country’s sustainability goals.

Powered by: The platform is powered by NSEIT. 

Note: NSIET is a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India. It is a global technology enterprise that offers a range of digital, data analytics, automation, cybersecurity, and technology-enabled services. 

Explained: Corneas bioengineered from pig collagen can restore sight, study finds

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Corneas bioengineered from pig collagen can restore sight, study finds” published in Indian Express on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

Researchers in Sweden have developed a successful alternative — bioengineered cornea implants made of collagen derived from pig skin. 

This implant was then used to successfully restore the vision of 20 people in India and Iran, most of whom were blind due to keratoconus, a disease that leads to thinning of the cornea.

What is Cornea?

The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye. The cornea helps the eye to focus light so that one can see clearly.

Damage to the cornea is one of the leading causes of blindness across the world leaving approximately 12.7 million people blind.

Researchers claim that there is a severe shortage of donated human corneas with only one available for 70 patients. Logistical and storage difficulties, along with expensive surgical equipment, further burden those living in low- and middle-income countries.

What have researchers developed to overcome this shortage?

As a substitute for human corneas, the researchers have developed a successful alternative — bioengineered cornea implants made of collagen derived from pig skin. 

Benefits: This method is not only cheaper and easier to access than donated corneas but requires a less invasive procedure and can be stored for a significantly longer period — up to two years.

Understanding ethanol blending

Source: The post is based on the article “Understanding ethanol blending” published in The Hindu on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has announced that India has achieved its target of blending 10% sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol ahead of schedule.

What is Ethanol?

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What is first-generation and second-generation Ethanol?

In first-generation ethanol or 1G, raw materials used are food sources like sugarcane and seeds while Second-generation ethanol or 2G uses farm waste after harvests like rice husks, corn cobs, wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse.

What is Ethanol Blending?

Blending ethanol with petrol to burn less fossil fuel while running vehicles is called ethanol blending. 

Ethanol blending will help bring down the share of oil imports (almost 85%) and save a considerable amount of precious foreign exchange. Secondly, more ethanol output would help increase farmers’ incomes.

Currently, 10% of the petrol that powers the vehicle is ethanol. Though India have had an E10 — or 10% ethanol as a policy for a while, it is only this year that the government have achieved that proportion. India’s aim is now to increase this ratio to 20% by 2025.

How have other countries performed in Ethanol Blending?

The U.S, China, Canada and Brazil all have ethanol blending programmes. Amongst the developing countries, Brazil stands out. 

– Brazil had legislated that the ethanol content in petrol should be in the 18-27.5% range, and it finally touched the 27% target in 2021.

What are the challenges before the Auto Industry?

The challenges before the industry when it comes to 20% ethanol blended fuel are: a) the optimisation of engines for higher ethanol blends, b) the conduct of durability studies on engines and field trials before introducing E20 compliant vehicles, c) storage is also going to be the main concern. For example, if E10 supply has to continue in tandem with E20 supply, storage would have to be separate which then raises costs.

What are the concerns related to Ethanol Blending?

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How did continents form? Giant meteorite impacts could be responsible, says study

Source: The post is based on the article “How did continents form? Giant meteorite impacts could be responsible, says study” published in Down To Earth on 11th August 2022.

What is the News?

According to a study published in The Nature journal, giant meteorite impacts could be responsible for the formation of continents on Earth.

What is the current theory on the formation of continents?

The most commonly accepted theory currently in place attributes continent formation to the movement of tectonic plates (as per the Plate Tectonics Theory).

What is the alternative theory on the formation of continents?

There is a theory that the continents were formed by giant meteorite impacts. But there was little solid evidence for its support.

Note: Meteorite impacts generated massive energy to form oceanic plates which later evolved into continents.

Now the researchers have found the most robust evidence showing that Earth’s continents were formed by giant meteorite impact.

What is the evidence researchers have found?

Zircon crystals in Pilbara Craton: The researchers looked for evidence in zircon crystals embedded in rocks from the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia. This craton is the remnant of an ancient crust that began forming more than three billion years ago.

Note: A craton is an old and stable part of the continental lithosphere, which consists of Earth’s two topmost layers, the crust and the uppermost mantle.

– Zircons are formed by the crystallization of magma or are found in metamorphic rocks. They act as tiny time capsules, recording the period of geologic activity. Newer zircon adds to the original crystal as time progresses.

Findings: By studying the composition of oxygen isotopes in these zircon crystals, the researchers have found a ‘top-down’ process starting with the melting of rocks near the surface and progressing deeper, consistent with the geological effect of giant meteorite impacts.

What is the significance of this study?

Understanding the formation and ongoing evolution of the Earth’s continents is crucial given that these landmasses host the majority of Earth’s biomass, all humans and nearly all of the planet’s important mineral deposits.

Explained: Why the 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape case walked out of jail

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Why the 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape case walked out of jail” published in Indian Express on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Gujarat government has released 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano murder and gangrape case of 2002 under its remission and premature release policy.

About the law on Remission

The word remission of a sentence is used to refer to a reduction in the duration of the sentence imposed while the nature of the sentence remains untouched.

Under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution, the President and Governors have the power to pardon, and suspend, remit, or commute a sentence passed by the courts.

What is the statutory Power of Remission?

Since Prisons is a State Subject, state governments have powers under Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to remit sentences. However, Section 433A of the CrPC puts certain restrictions on these powers of remission. It says 

“Where a sentence of imprisonment for life is imposed on conviction of a person for an offence for which death is one of the punishments provided by law, or where a sentence of death imposed on a person has been commuted under Section 433 into one of imprisonment for life, such person shall not be released from prison unless he had served at least fourteen years of imprisonment”.

What are the grounds for remission?

States set up a Sentence Review Board to exercise the powers under Section 432 of the CrPC. The Supreme Court has held that states cannot exercise the power of remission arbitrarily, and must follow due process.

In ‘Laxman Naskar v. Union of India’(2000) the SC laid down five grounds on which remission is considered: (a) Whether the offence is an individual act of crime that does not affect society; (b) Whether there is a chance of the crime being repeated in future; (c) Whether the convict has lost the potentiality to commit the crime; (d) Whether any purpose is being served in keeping the convict in prison; and (e) Socio-economic conditions of the convict’s family.

When are prisoners usually released in remission?

Prisoners are often released on the birth and death anniversaries of prominent leaders and other important occasions. 

For example, to mark Independence Day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines to states to grant special remission for prisoners who have completed at least half their sentence — women and transgender prisoners above the age of 50, male convicts above the age of 60 and terminally ill convicts among others.

Explained: The revolutionaries whom PM mentioned in his Independence Day speech

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: The revolutionaries whom PM mentioned in his Independence Day speech” published in Indian Express on 16th August 2022.

What is the News?

In his Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister paid tribute to a range of personalities from India’s freedom struggle including fearless revolutionary heroes and several others who fought colonial rule outside the mainstream national movement.

Which are the revolutionaries the PM referred to in his speech?

Mangal Pandey: He was a soldier with the British Indian army. He is believed to have sparked off the mutiny of Indian soldiers at Meerut that eventually became the great revolt of 1857 and spread to other parts of North India. 

Tantya Tope: He was a trusted lieutenant of Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II of the Maratha empire. Nana Sahib lost his ancestral rights under the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ that disallowed adopted heirs of Indian rulers from ascending to the throne.

– In 1857, he brought together armed forces to declare Nana Sahib the ruler of Kanpur and attempted to protect the seat of power for over five months. 

Bhagat Singh: He was inspired by communist thought, anti-colonialism, and anti-communalism, and was involved in the symbolic bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly. 

– He was hanged by the British at the age of 23. Along with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were also hanged to death.

Chandrashekhar Azad: He was a comrade and intellectual fellow traveller of Rajguru, Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh, Ramprasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan. He gave himself the name ‘Azad’ and vowed never to be held captive; when cornered by police in his final moments, he chose to shoot himself.

Ashfaqulla Khan: He helped form the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association(HSRA) and was part of the Kakori incident. In April 1927, Bismil, Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, and Roshan Singh were sentenced to death.

Ramprasad Bismil: He was associated with the Arya Samaj from an early age. He started writing powerful patriotic poems in Urdu and Hindi under the pen names ‘Bismil’, ‘Ram’, and ‘Agyat’. The patriotic song “Mera rang de Basanti chola” is attributed to him. He was executed at the age of 30.