Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Sidharth Luthra writes on proposed Criminal Codes: It’s still colonial
• A strong case to restore Section 8(4) of the RP Act
• Medical prescription guidelines: Go for well-calibrated adoption

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Sidharth Luthra writes on proposed Criminal Codes: It’s still colonial

News– The Union Home Minister recently introduced three comprehensive Criminal Justice Codes on procedure, evidence, and offences before Parliament.

What are some positive aspects of the new criminal codes?

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita incorporates community service. It is a commendable inclusion. But, open prisons are still not covered.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), introduces video conference trials and modifies the process of e-filing First Information Reports.

What are issues with the new criminal codes?

It introduces offences such as fake news, terrorism, organised crime, and corruption. However, it does not abolish the existing specialised legislations that address these crimes.

The new Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita fails to incorporate adjustments that align with the principle of reverse burden or presumptions found in the specialized laws pertaining to terrorism, corruption, and organized crime offenses.

The new code increases the penalties for reckless and negligent actions resulting in death. But, it disregards the unique handling of recklessness and negligence practised in Singapore. It also amplifies the vulnerability of medical professionals.

There is lack of a well-defined reasoning behind the decision not to harmonize the penalty for mob lynching with that of murder or intentional culpable homicide.

The restructuring of sections and the decrease in their quantity by consolidating definitions, updating illustrations is commendable. But, it does not significantly change the fundamental nature of the 1860 Code.

Sedition is abolished under Section 124A of the IPC. But, it is reintroduced as Section 150 in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

This closely resembles the concept of sedition and continues to raise concerns about freedom of expression and the potential for misusing it against dissenting voices.

There are already sufficient provisions in existing laws like the IPC/UAPA to address the matters intended to be covered.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita  does not provide comprehensive security to detainees. The chapter on plea bargaining remains unaltered and limited to sentence bargaining, rather than encompassing the option to admit guilt for a lesser offense.

Expanding the authority of the police to request custody (PC) for 40/60 days undermines the right to bail.

Broadening the scope to apply the 15-day request custody provision doesn’t align well with the intention of breaking free from the colonial past,

It does not correspond with BNSS’s stated objective of promoting advanced forensics and scientific investigations to enhance the quality and speed of inquiries.

The government should have contemplated reducing the 15-day PC duration. By extending police powers to request remand, BNSS contradicts Article 21.

Even our colonial rulers who introduced this provision held reservations about the 15-day PC period. Pre-independence Lahore High Court Rules mandate the shortest feasible PC period and prohibit obtaining confessions.

Way forward-

Rationalising laws is a positive step forward. But, for a true departure from the colonial legacy, there is a need for a coherent philosophical framework for criminal justice.

It is imperative to streamline provisions, decriminalize when necessary, introduce criminalization for emerging forms of criminal activity, regulate arrest powers, implement guidelines for bail and sentencing to guide discretion.

There is a need to reinforce the presumption of innocence and safeguard the fair trial rights of the accused, while also securing the participatory rights of victims.

A strong case to restore Section 8(4) of the RP Act

News: Recently, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified on being convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment in a 2019 defamation case.

The disqualification was instant because of the Supreme Court of India’s judgment in Lily Thomas vs Union of India (2013).

What did the court rule in Lily Thomas vs Union of India judgment?

Click Here to Read

Now, only Section 8(3) remains in the Act which deals with disqualification of persons convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

What is section 8(3) of Representation of People Act, 1951?

Section 8(3) suggests that upon a conviction with a two-year sentence, a sitting member gets disqualified from the conviction date, decided by the President under Article 103. However, it doesn’t directly say they’re disqualified instantly.

Further, the House’s Secretariat, to which the member belongs, lacks the power to announce that a member is disqualified immediately upon being convicted by a court of law.

Hence, the instant disqualification of Mr. Gandhi didn’t have a strong legal basis.

Is suspending the sentence enough to lift the disqualification, or is it essential to suspend the conviction itself?

In the 1980s and 1990s, certain High Courts (like Allahabad High Court in 1987 and Himachal High Court in 1994) believed that disqualification remains even with a suspended sentence.

However, in the Jayalalithaa case of 2001, the Madras High Court determined that when the sentence is put on hold, the conviction should also be considered as on hold.

In Rahul Gandhi’s situation, the Supreme Court stopped the conviction but didn’t say if stopping the conviction also stops disqualification.

Moreover, disqualification happens when the sentence is two years or more in prison. So, it’s based on the sentence length, not the conviction itself.

Why was Section 8(4) struck down by the SC in Lily Thomas vs Union of India (2013)?

The Supreme Court removed Section 8(4) because Parliament can’t treat lawmakers who are found guilty differently. This is because Article 102(1) says lawmakers and candidates should be treated the same way.

However, when it comes to treating them differently, the Constitution actually allows it. Article 103 says that for current lawmakers, the President will decide if they should be disqualified under Article 102(1).

Read More: Making sense of the disqualification of a Lok Sabha MP and Disqualification of Legislators in India – Explained and Does Rahul Gandhi stand disqualified as an MP following his conviction?

What can be the way ahead?

The Lily Thomas ruling hasn’t changed politicians’ behavior much concerning criminal matters. Powerful ruling party members can quickly delay convictions, avoiding instant disqualification.

Therefore, to safeguard legislators’ careers from sudden disruptions caused by court orders, section 8(4) should be constitutionally restored and protected.

Medical prescription guidelines: Go for well-calibrated adoption

News: In this article, author discusses the challenges and considerations of India’s new medical guideline urging doctors to prescribe generic drugs over branded ones. He also emphasises the need for quality assurance, better infrastructure, and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure affordable and quality healthcare in India.

About India’s new medical guideline.

Issue by: On August 2nd, the National Medical Commission (NMC), which oversees India’s medical sector, issued guidelines for registered medical practitioners. These guidelines cover various topics, including medical ethics.

Preference for Generics: An important instruction for registered medical practitioners is to recommend INN generics (International Non-Proprietary Name) rather than branded medications.

Promotion of Government Centers: Urges patients to purchase drugs from government centres and generic pharmacy outlets.

Educational Aspect: Doctors should inform patients about the equivalence of generics to branded drugs in terms of efficacy.

Quality Assurance: Emphasizes the need to ensure the quality and standardization of INN generics.

What are the challenges of India’s new medical guideline?

Challenges of India’s New Medical Guideline

Trust in Quality: Many doctors lack confidence in the quality and reputation of generic drug manufacturers. They’ve used branded generics for years and are hesitant to switch due to concerns about clinical outcomes.

Comparison with Western Markets: Unlike the West, where generics must meet strict quality standards, India’s criteria are less stringent, leading to doubts about drug equivalence.

Transfer of Drug Choice: The guideline might shift drug choice from doctors to chemists. There’s a fear that chemists might dispense pricier drugs for higher trade margins instead of cheaper generics.

Availability Issues: Currently, generic drugs only account for 1-2% of the market share in India.

Quality Assurance: India lacks adequate drug control inspectors and testing labs, making regular inspections of manufacturing facilities challenging.

Prescribing Challenges: Generic drugs often come in fixed-dose combinations, making it hard for doctors to prescribe the right strength variations. Without the flexibility found in branded medicines, doctors might find it challenging to match the exact needs of their patients using generics.

What should be done?

Enhance Trust: Educate doctors on the quality of generic drugs and their manufacturing standards to build confidence in prescribing them.

Quality Control: Increase the number of drug standard control inspectors and expand testing laboratories. Regular inspections of manufacturing facilities are crucial.

Improve Availability: Expand the network of Jan Aushadi centres beyond the current 9,000+ to ensure easier access to generic drugs.

Review Trade Margins: Evaluate and possibly regulate trade margins to ensure that cost savings from generics are passed on to consumers.

Open Dialogue: Encourage discussions between the government, medical bodies, patient groups, and pharmaceutical industry to address concerns and collaborate on solutions.

GS Paper 3

How India is becoming a young country but with an ageing workforce

News– While addressing the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi made a special mention to India being a youthful nation and highlighted the opportunities that lay before India’s youth.

How India workforce is ageing?

The proportion of India’s youth in workforce has declined from 25% in 2016-17 to a mere 17% by the end of the previous fiscal year in March.

The percentage of individuals in workforce within the middle age group has decreased from 38% to 33% during the same timeframe. The oldest age bracket above 45 years has expanded its share from 37% to 49%.

Just in the past seven years, the share of people 45 years and older has gone from one-third to almost one-half.

The overall count of employed individuals has decreased from 41.27 crore to 40.58 crore. The most significant reduction has been observed in the engagement of young individuals.

During 2016-17, the workforce included 10.34 crore people below the age of 30. However, by the end of 2022-23, this figure had declined by more than 3 crores. It is just 7.1 crore.

The employment level of those aged 45 and above increased, despite an overall decline in employment levels.

Which factors explains the ageing workforce?

The youth are being pushed out of the job market.

An effective method to monitor this trend is by examining the metric known as the “Employment Rate.” The Employment Rate for any specific population or age group provides insight into the proportion of that age group or population that is employed.

The population falling under the youth category saw an expansion from 35.49 crore in 2016-17 to 38.13 crore in 2022-23.

While the “young” population grew by 2.64 crore, the count of employed youth declined by 3.24 crore. The youth of India encountered a significant 31% decrease in employment over the past seven years.

This decline is evident in the considerable drop in the Employment Rate for this particular age group. It went from 29% to a mere 19%.

The decrease in employment rates is the most modest among the oldest age category. Remarkably, this is the only age group where the total count of employed individuals has actually increased.

In the age bracket of 25 to 29 years, the employment rate has seen an upward trajectory over the last seven years.

However, this rise in the ER is not attributed to a greater number of individuals from this age group gaining employment. Instead, it is primarily due to a significant decline in the overall population within this cohort.

Why this outcome is hardly unexpected?

India has observed a surge in youth unemployment in recent times. This implies that a considerable proportion of the youth who enter the job market struggle to secure jobs.

India experiences a limited rate of labor force participation, particularly among women. India ranks among the countries with one of the lowest female labor force participation rates globally.

The combined impact of a low labor force participation rate and elevated unemployment rates results in a deteriorating employment rate for India’s youth.

Building resilience against landslides

News– The deaths and destruction by landslides in Himachal Pradesh last week have led to much-needed attention on the Himalayan ecosystem.

What are the reasons behind the vulnerability of Himalayan ecosystem?

Tectonic or neo-tectonic actions and surface processes including erosion, weathering, and rainfall impact the Himalayan ecosystem.

Environmental vulnerabilities are exacerbated by extreme climatic events driven by climate changes. It results in occurrences like avalanches, landslides, debris flow, glacial lakes outburst floods, landslide lakes outburst floods, and rapid floods.

Climate change has detrimental effects on glaciers, river systems, geomorphology, and biodiversity.

These events contribute to the instability of the mountain system. Moreover, the Himalayan region faces additional pressure due to human activities.

Mountainous areas are typically characterized by slope instability and a susceptibility to landslides.

Various factors influence these occurrences. These include slope steepness, elevation of hills, rock durability, forest coverage, urban development, and the presence of loosely consolidated sediment.

Activities such as river flow, alteration of the base of slopes, and deforestation contribute to the vulnerability of a region to landslides. Factors like debris flow and underground water weaken slopes, making them prone to sliding.

The collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate in the Himalayan region generates subterranean stresses that are discharged as earthquakes. It causes fractures and weakens the litho-structures near the surface of the mountains.

Way forward-

There is a need to create vulnerability maps of Himalayas and classify regions into risk zones ranging from the most vulnerable to the least.

Monitoring can be facilitated through web-based sensors like rain gauges, piezometers, inclinometers, extensometers, InSAR, and total stations.

To comprehensively assess the situation in the Himalayas, the establishment of a Himalayan States Council is imperative.

This council should aim to replicate scenarios of hazards resulting from natural occurrences, environmental deterioration, climate-related events, and human interventions in hill towns and areas.

The disaster management agencies of the respective states should collaborate within this centralized council.

The Himalayan region possesses valuable assets such as glaciers, river systems, mineral deposits, geothermal and hydrocarbon energy reserves. These could be harnessed. Nonetheless, a delicate equilibrium must be maintained between exploiting these resources and ensuring ecological sustainability.

Urban planning must accommodate the unique characteristics of mountainous terrain. Limitations should be placed on extensive constructions. Proper drainage systems need to be established.

Slope cutting should be carried out scientifically, and an emphasis should be placed on constructing retaining walls and adhering to building regulations.

It is crucial to conduct high-resolution mapping for all towns and evaluate their load-bearing capacities as fundamental steps in the formulation of building codes.

Easing credit flow: On the Reserve Bank of India’s Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit

News: Recently, the RBI has announced to establish a ‘Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit’.

What is “Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit”?

It aims to make borrowing easier for small and marginal borrowers. It will function as a digital hub for credit information, streamlining the loan approval process.

The platform will include an open architecture, open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and open standards that enable the sharing of digital data with lenders by a variety of organisations, including governmental agencies, credit information providers, and digital identification authorities.

The platform would be introduced in a pilot project on products like Kisan Credit Card loans, loans for dairy farmers, credit without collateral for MSMEs, and personal and home loans through participating banks.

Lenders have the ability to get borrower information from places like Aadhaar e-KYC, digital land records, and even data about milk supply from specific dairy cooperatives.

Must Read: What is RBI’s new pilot for frictionless credit?

Why was the platform needed?

A centralized public platform is crucial because it’s hard for small farmers in rural areas to get formal loans. Despite over seven decades of independence, the issue of enhancing inclusive rural credit remains a significant challenge.

Due to the unavailability of the formal credit, many rural borrowers resort to informal sources like moneylenders, often facing high interest rates.

Hence, the proposed digital platform could address this challenge by utilizing digital advancements to ensure timely and cost-effective availability of small loans to those who need financing the most.

The laptop error

News– Recently, India banned the import of personal computers, laptops and tablets. A licence would be needed to import a computer.

What are the objectives behind this move of government?

It is essential to diminish reliance on imports and enhance domestic manufacturing. India must pressurise international corporations to establish production facilities within the country.

Security considerations come into play as well. 60% of imported computers are sourced from China. India also has a trade deficit of 100 billion dollars with China.

Why has India not emerged as a major player in computer manufacturing?

One significant factor is India’s zero duty commitment to the 1997 IT agreement with the WTO. This commitment has adversely affected the hardware industry by attracting foreign-made computers due to the absence of tariffs.

Local computer manufacturers faced challenges in competing, due to substantial drawbacks such as inadequate logistics, infrastructure, and elevated costs associated with land, labour, and capital.

In contrast, China offered substantial subsidies to foreign corporations to establish manufacturing operations within its borders.

The Government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aimed at encouraging manufacturing has not yielded the desired outcomes.

Way forward-

Initiating conversation with the companies and establishing a six-month timeframe is a more constructive approach.

International manufacturers are also cautious about China and seeking alternative options. Disrupting China’s influence cannot be achieved abruptly. There exist more effective strategies to address national security apprehensions.

Amendments to the PLI scheme are imperative. Emphasising local designs and incentivizing the relocation of component manufacturers to India should be prioritised. PLI agreements should incorporate a specified end date for high tariffs.

India must adopt the manta of push export rather than stop imports.

Nurturing capex- With foreign investments declining, it is necessary to maintain growth in government capital expenditure

News: In this article, the author discusses the Indian government’s new projects and their potential impact on the fiscal deficit. The author also emphasizes the importance of maintaining capital expenditure to support economic growth, despite challenges such as slowing tax revenue and declining foreign direct investment.

How are the Indian government’s new projects impacting the fiscal deficit?

Impact on Fiscal Deficit

1. New Projects Cost: The Union government unveiled projects costing ₹1.2 trillion, such as electric buses, railway enhancements, expanding the Digital India footprint, and support schemes for artisans (Vishwakarma scheme),etc.
2. Current Year’s Expenditure: Not all the project expenses will affect this year’s fiscal balance. Some costs are shared by the states, and only a fraction of the funds will be used before March 2024.
3. Pre-election Spending: Additional schemes, such as extending free food grain supplies or increasing income support for farmers, could potentially widen the fiscal deficit beyond the projected 5.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2023-24.
4. Revenue Shortfalls: In the first quarter of 2023-24, the Centre’s gross tax revenue growth was only 3%, compared to the annual 10% target. The net tax revenue declined by 14%.
5. Positive Impact of Capital Expenditure: Government’s capital expenditure rose by 59% in the first quarter, attracting more private sector investments, with approved plans rising to ₹3.53 trillion.

What are the challenges in maintaining capital expenditure to support economic growth?

Fiscal Deficit Concerns: With new projects worth ₹1.2 trillion, there’s potential strain on the fiscal deficit.

Tax Revenue Shortfalls: The Centre’s gross tax revenue grew only 3% in the first quarter, missing the 10% annual target. Net tax revenue even declined by 14%.

Lower Disinvestment Receipts: The expected revenue from disinvestments is lower than initially budgeted, offsetting the potential gains from other sectors like the RBI.

Declining Foreign Investment: Foreign investments fell 16% to $71 billion in 2022-23 in comparison to 2012-13 and continued to decline by 22% in the first quarter of 2023-24.

What should be done?

Prioritize Capital Expenditure: Despite fiscal concerns, the government should aim for the projected ₹10 trillion capital spending for 2023-24.

Revenue Expenditure Control: Focus on limiting revenue expenditure, which was projected to grow only 1.4% in 2023-24 over the ₹34.52 trillion in 2022-23.

Boost Domestic Investment: Encourage private sector growth, given the current commitment of ₹1.72 trillion in investments.

Address FDI Decline: Implement strategies to attract foreign investments, given the 16% drop in 2022-23.

Not rocket science: Even as we get closer to the Moon, let’s recognise India should be a much bigger player in global space economy

News: India’s space agency, ISRO, plans to soft land Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. Despite tight budgets, ISRO consistently delivers advanced science.

How is ISRO progressing with limited funds?

Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Despite budget constraints, ISRO plans to soft land Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.

Budget Allocation: For 2023-2024, ISRO received ₹12,544 crore, slightly more than ₹12,474 crore in 2021-22 but 8% less than 2022-23.

Collaboration with Private Sector: INSPACe, established in 2020, bridges the gap between ISRO and private space startups, enabling them to utilize ISRO’s technical expertise and infrastructure.

Satellite Launchers: With technologies like PSLV, GSLV, and SSLV, ISRO launched 431 satellites for 36 countries by July 2023.

Earnings: By July 2022, ISRO earned $223 million from foreign satellite launches using PSLV.

What potentials and challenges lie ahead for ISRO?

Potential:

Global Market Share: India aspires to capture a 9% share of the global space market by 2030.

Economic Growth: A report indicates the possibility of India’s space economy reaching $100 billion by 2040, substantially higher than the projected $40 billion.

International Collaborations: Successful missions like Chandrayaan-3 can lead to increased partnerships with other nations.

Challenges:

Budget Constraints: Recent trends show a decline in budget allocations, with 2023-2024 receiving ₹12,544 crore, 8% less than the previous year.

Manpower Issues: ISRO has not expanded its manpower in years and fewer students are pursuing advanced space studies.

Global Ranking: Despite its achievements, India ranks among the top 15 countries for satellites in orbit, holding only 2% of the global space economy.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Bharat NCAP: India gets its own car crash testing programme

Source: The post is based on the article “Bharat NCAP: India gets its own car crash testing programme”  published in The Hindu on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways has launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).

What is Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)?

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is a novel safety assessment initiative introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Aim: To provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.

The programme is modeled on the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), a project of the Towards Zero Foundation which is a U.K.-registered charity that promotes the universal adoption of the United Nation’s most important motor vehicle safety standards worldwide.

Applicable to: The  programme will be applicable to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat with gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg. 

– The programme will be based on the soon-to-be published Automotive Industry Standard 197, which lays down testing protocols.

Rating: A rating from one star to five stars will be assigned to a vehicle after an evaluation of three parameters — adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and safety assist technologies present in the car.

Voluntary programme: The programme is voluntary except in certain cases such as a base variant of a popular vehicle model (minimum clocked sale of 30,000 units), or when the Ministry recommends a model for testing based on market feedback or in the interest of public safety.

What is the significance of Bharat NCAP Programme?

Bharat NCAP serves as a consumer-centric platform enabling car buyers to make safer choices based on the star ratings of vehicles. 

It also encourages healthy competition among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India to produce safer vehicles. 

Globally, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death, particularly among individuals aged 15 to 49 years. Annually, approximately 1.3 million lives are lost due to road traffic accidents. 

The program aims to address this issue, given that over 90% of these fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries. India holds a significant portion of these fatalities accounting for about 11% of global road traffic deaths.

G20 countries gave record $1.4 trillion to support fossil fuels in 2022: report

Source: The post is based on the article “G20 countries gave record $1.4 trillion to support fossil fuels in 2022: report”  published in Indian Express on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and partners has released a study titled “Fanning the Flames: G20 Provides Record Financial Support for Fossil Fuels”.

What are the key findings of the study?

G20 members provided a record $1.4 trillion (approximately Rs 116 lakh crore) in public money to support fossil fuels in 2022.

This support includes fossil fuel subsidies ($1 trillion), investments by state-owned enterprises ($322 billion) and lending from public financial institutions ($50 billion).

While much of this was support for consumers, around one third (USD 440 billion) was driving investment in new fossil fuel production.

What are the concerns raised by the study?

G20 members’ financial support for fossil fuels in 2022 is more than double the pre-Covid-19 and pre-energy crisis levels of 2019.

– This support also perpetuates the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, paving the way for yet more energy crises due to market volatility and geopolitical security risks. 

– It also severely limits the possibilities of achieving climate objectives set by the Paris Agreement by incentivizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while undermining the cost-competitiveness of clean energy.

What are the recommendations given by the study?

– Stop providing public funds to fossil fuels, except for ensuring energy access for the poorest.

– Wealthier G20 nations, with higher historical emissions, should take the lead.

– Encourage consumers and investors to move away from fossil fuels by setting minimum carbon taxes (between $25 and $75 per tonne of CO2) based on a country’s income.

– Use the revenues from cutting subsidies and carbon pricing to help low-income households and promote clean energy.

– Support developing countries through flows of finance, knowledge, capacity and technology to ensure smooth transition towards clean energy.

Hubble Space Telescope captures image of irregular galaxy ESO 300-16

Source: The post is based on the article “Hubble Space Telescope captures image of irregular galaxy ESO 300-16”  published in News9 on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of the irregular galaxy named ESO 300-16.

What is ESO 300-16?

ESO 300-16 is an irregular galaxy. It is located at a distance of 28.7 million lightyears in the southern constellation of Eridanus. 

It is made of many tiny stars all clumped together, surrounded in a diffuse light. In the central, brightest part there is a bubble of blue gas.

The galaxy is surrounded by mostly very small and faint objects, though there are bright stars above and to the left of it, and a string of galaxies nearby.

What is an Irregular Galaxy?

An irregular galaxy is a galaxy that does not have a distinct regular shape, unlike a spiral or an elliptical galaxy. 

Irregular galaxies have unusual shapes, like toothpicks, rings, or even little groupings of stars.

They range from dwarf irregular galaxies with 100 million times the Sun’s mass to large ones weighing 10 billion solar masses.

Irregular galaxies may hold significant amounts of gas and dust – essential ingredients for making new stars.

Formation: Astronomers think these galaxies’ odd shapes are sometimes the result of interactions with others. 

– For example, one spiral galaxy passing another with a stronger gravitational pull could lose some of its material, become distorted, and morph into a new shape. Some, like gas-rich dwarf galaxies, may be new, formed by material pulled from such encounters (or) 

– When galaxies collide, they create a larger, oddly shaped mashup. Some scientists theorize that some large irregular galaxies could represent an intermediate step between spiral and elliptical galaxies.

What is the Hubble Space Telescope?

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Price hike on some food items transitory, elevated inflation warrants greater vigil: FinMin

Source: The post is based on the article “Price hike on some food items transitory, elevated inflation warrants greater vigil: FinMin”  published in Indian Express on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

The Finance Ministry has released its monthly economic review for July,2023.

What are the key observations made by the Finance Ministry?

Food Prices: Food prices had recently gone up but it’s expected to be temporary. Global factors, like Russia terminating the Black Sea Grain deal and domestic factors such as white fly disease and uneven monsoons influenced food prices.

– But the government has already taken steps to control food prices, and with new supplies coming in, prices should go down soon. 

– For example, tomato prices should drop by the end of August or early September, and importing more tur dal should help with pulse prices.

– However, inflation might still be a concern because of global uncertainty and local issues. The Government and the Reserve Bank of India need to keep a close eye on it.

Capital Expenditure: Capital expenditure measures taken by Centre have led to states also increasing their capex spending with states’ capex rising by 74.3% year-on-year in Q1 FY24 and Centre’s capex increasing by 59.1% in the same quarter.

– Enhanced provision for capital expenditure by the government is now leading to crowding in of private investment as seen in various economic indicators and industry reports.

Future Projections: Domestic consumption and investment demand are expected to continue driving growth.

– Government has been making various attempts to raise investment by the private sector.

– PLI and new-age sectors (such as green hydrogen, semiconductors, wearables and solar modules) are expected to account for nearly 17 percent of the capex between FY13 and FY27.

BRICS has become a platform for Global South: PM

Source: The post is based on the article “BRICS has become a platform for Global South: PM”  published in The Hindu on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

The Indian Prime Minister is in South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg.

What is BRICS?

Click Here to read

What is the theme of the 15th BRICS Summit?

Theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism”

Significance: The 15th BRICS summit is the first in-person meet since 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic and the first since the Russian war in Ukraine.

What is the BRICS agenda for 2023?

Expansion of BRICS is one of the key agenda of the 15th BRICS Summit. All the bloc members first need to agree on new criteria new members need to meet.

– More than twenty countries have formally expressed an interest in joining the grouping, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The group will also discuss reducing the dollar’s dominance and several BRICS nations have already begun their trade in local currencies.

Why is this BRICS summit important for India?

Firstly, this BRICS summit carries special importance for India. This is the first in-person summit since the military standoff with China at the Line of Actual Control began in 2020.At the BRICS meet, Indian Prime Minister will come face to face with the Chinese President.

– This meeting would be significant in terms of resolving the LAC situation, where an estimated 1 lakh soldiers stand at the boundary on either side.

Secondly, for India, the platform could be a means of establishing its larger efforts to represent the Global South. 

Researchers unveil ‘demon particle’ that can lead to making superconductors

Source: The post is based on the article “Researchers unveil ‘demon particle’ that can lead to making superconductors”  published in Business Standard on 16th August 2023.

What is the News?

Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered a Demon Particle that could lead to the making of superconductors that can operate at room temperature.

What is a Demon Particle?

Demon is a “composite” particle made up of a combination of electrons, in a solid

The Demon Particle was first theorized by David Pines in 1956.

Pines predicted that electrons in a solid can do something strange. While they normally have a mass and an electric charge, Pines asserted that they can combine to form a composite particle that is massless, neutral, and does not interact with light. He called this particle a “demon.” 

Physicists have speculated that demon particle could play an important role in the characteristics of many metals. But they have never been able to confirm its existence until now. 

The researchers at the University of Illinois have now discovered a Demon Particle.

What is the significance of this discovery?

Superconductors, which can conduct electricity without resistance, currently require extremely low temperatures, often below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

This discovery of the Demon Particle could lead to the making of superconductors that can operate at room temperature.

Brazil found the last survivors of an Amazon tribe. Now what?

Source: The post is based on the article “Brazil found the last survivors of an Amazon tribe. Now what?”  published in New York Times on 19th August 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, the last survivors of an Amazon rainforest tribe called Piripkura were found in Brazil.

What is the Piripkura Tribe?

The Piripkura tribe is a small and indigenous tribe from the Mato Grasso region of Brazil.

The tribe is known for their extreme isolation and efforts to maintain its traditional way of life.

Their land lies within the Amazon rainforest, an area that is rich in biodiversity and crucial for the ecological balance of the region.

Population of Piripkura Tribe:

The Piripkura tribe’s population is estimated to consist of merely three individuals. 

Conducting an accurate census is complicated due to their isolation and unique circumstances.

The Piripkura tribe people have faced significant challenges due to encroachment on their land by illegal logging, mining and other forms of land exploitation.

What are the other indigenous tribes residing in the Amazon Rainforest?

Yanomami Tribe: They are a group of around 35,000 people who live in the northern part of the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Venezuela. They have a rich culture and deep spiritual connection to the forest, which is central to their daily life.

Kayapo Tribe: They live in the central part of the Amazon Basin in Brazil. They are known for their elaborate body painting and beadwork.

Awa Tribe: It is a tribe that resides in the northern Amazon Basin of Brazil. They are known for their musical traditions and vibrant dances. 

Developers, financiers will have to take ‘haircuts’: Committee on stalled housing projects suggests

Source: The post is based on the article “Developers, financiers will have to take ‘haircuts’: Committee on stalled housing projects suggests”  published in Indian Express on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

A committee formed by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to suggest ways to revive stalled real estate projects has submitted its report.

About the committee to examine stalled Real Estate projects:

The committee was chaired by former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant.

Mandate: To examine stalled real estate projects and recommend ways to complete them.

What is the status of housing projects?

The committee cited the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) as estimating that 4.12 lakh dwelling units of Rs.4.08 lakh crore were “stressed” and about 2.40 lakh (44%) of these were in the National Capital Region.

Another 21% of the units were in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The committee concluded that the main reason for the stress in these projects was the “lack of financial viability”, which had led to cost overruns and time delays.

What are the recommendations given by the committee?

In order to make the projects viable, encourage stakeholders — that is the developers, financiers, land authorities etc  to take a “haircut” or accept less than what is due to them.

Delink the grant of registration or sub-lease by the land authorities to the homebuyers from the recovery of dues from developers. About 1 lakh homebuyers would benefit from this.

Expedite the issuance of no-objection and completion certificates for projects that are substantially complete but face administrative obstacles.

Recommend state governments establish a rehabilitation package to revive stalled projects with a commitment from developers to complete them within three years.

Reserve judicial interventions like using the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as a last resort.

Suggest a “Zero Period” for two years, starting from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where interest and penalties on developers are waived.

Developers should be allowed to get a “co-developer” on board to complete the work.

Propose a “partial surrender policy” where developers can return unused land to authorities in exchange for a waiver of dues on that land.

Who will implement these recommendations?

Land is a state subject. Hence, most of the recommendations of the committee fall within the purview of the respective state governments.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will send the recommendations of the committee to all states, who will decide on if and what they want to implement.

A revived trilateral- Japan and South Korea are shoring up security

Source: The post is based on the article “A revived trilateral- Japan and South Korea are shoring up security” published in “Business Standard” on 23rd August 2023.

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

News: This article discusses how Japan, South Korea, and the US held a significant summit at Camp David, reinforcing ties to address security and economic concerns in the Indo-Pacific. These efforts are influenced by historical factors, China’s actions, and shifts in global partnerships.

About Trilateral Summit at Camp David:

Japan, South Korea, and the US met to deepen cooperation.

The summit aimed at addressing security and economic concerns in the Indo-Pacific.

Prompted by historical grievances, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took initiatives to mend ties.

Resulted in both nations lifting export controls and resuming high-level defence and economic talks.

How has the relationship between Japan and South Korea evolved?

Historical:

The relationship was strained due to the Japanese occupation of Korea.

A significant issue was Korean women forced into prostitution during this occupation.

Recent Changes:

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol proposed a compromise on historical grievances.

He made the first visit to Tokyo by a Korean leader in 12 years.

Both countries lifted export controls against each other.

They resumed high-level defence and economic talks, indicating improved ties and cooperation.

What are the impacts of these summits?

Indo-Pacific Security:

The trilateral summit between Japan, South Korea, and the US can enhance security in the Indo-Pacific against potential threats.

Japan desires greater engagement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

South Korea’s arms export industry grew rapidly between 2017 and 2021, emphasizing its role in regional defense.

Impacts on India and Quad:

Questions arise about India’s capability and willingness to partner with the West.

As the Quad prioritizes development, other regions are forming alternative, security-centric alliances.

Economic Security:

Countries aim to diversify from China-centric supply chains for stability.

Japanese and South Korean companies express concerns about their supply chain vulnerabilities intersecting with both the West and China.

These corporations believe that a trilateral partnership can protect them against US protectionist policies and other geopolitical risks.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: [Yojana August 2023 Summary] Integrated approach for holistic well-being – Explained, pointwise