9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – November 16th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• 8 billion & falling: India, soon to be the world’s most populous country, has a narrow window to encash its demographic dividend

GS Paper 2

• Undermining federalism, eroding States’ autonomy
• On religious conversion, Supreme Court must set the bar high, remain mindful of danger of spectre-mongering on a fraught issue

GS Paper 3

• India’s LT-LEDS: Setting the COP agenda
• A call to action to avoid climate catastrophe
• Health as the focus of air pollution policy
• The monetary policy committee should slow its pace of tightening
• Boosting production
• How we can further our efforts in curbing terror financing

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Mangarh Massacre: Rajasthan’s Jallianwala Bagh: A lost story
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam begins Thursday: What is the ancient connect between Kashi and the Tamil land?
• LeadIT Summit 2022 hosted by India and Sweden at COP27, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Nine Russian banks open Vostro accounts for rupee trade
• Tirupati’s megalithic burial sites in a state of neglect
• Seven exotic primates, drugs seized in southern Assam
• New technique for efficient fabrication of liquid crystal display devices with lowered cost
• India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ to commence in Uttarakhand
• Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as state’s 17th wildlife sanctuary
• World Population Prospects 2022: India’s Population Growth Appears To Be Stabilising: United Nations

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

8 billion & falling: India, soon to be the world’s most populous country, has a narrow window to encash its demographic dividend

News: Global population has reached 8 billion. The world’s population has more than doubled over the last six decades, even when developing countries tried to control their population expansion.

What are the concerns with the rise in population for the world?

Globally, the population is rising but the fact is that there has been demographic decline with a low fertility rate. It is also expected that population graying will be dominant in this century.

What does rising population implies for India?

India is set to become the world’s most populous country in the next year.

However, with the increase in population, the fertility rate in India has also declined and has dropped below the replacement level. Therefore, the challenge lies with India in using its demographic dividend.

What is the current situation of India and what is the way forward?

The share of the working age population peaked at 66% in 2012 globally whereas the working age population in India stood at 70% in 2020. This shows that India’s performance compared to the world is not up to the mark.

Research also indicates that in India the economic benefit from the demographic transition has been lower than other Asian countries.

Further, the proportion of the overall working age population in India was at 46% in 2021 while the global average was 59%.

The situation is poorer when it comes to the employment of women in India. World Bank’s data shows that women employment in India is at only 19% compared to a global average of 46%.

Therefore, India needs to employ more women, improve its overall human capital quality by skilling them and come up with the right policy. This will help India to utilize its demographic dividend efficiently.

GS Paper 2

Undermining federalism, eroding States’ autonomy

News- The article explains the challenges to cooperative federalism in the present government.

When the NDA government came into power in 2014, there was hope that India would move towards cooperative federalism. NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission of India with the main objective of promoting cooperative federalism.

But no steps have been taken to promote cooperative federalism by NITI Aayog.

Which instances show that the Union government has not followed the spirit of cooperative federalism?

Finance Commission recommendations– The Fifteenth Finance Commission, in its first report, had recommended a special grant to three States amounting to ₹6,764 crore. It was to ensure that the tax devolution in 2020-21 in absolute terms should not be less than the amount of devolution received by these States in 2019-20. This recommendation was not accepted by the Union Government.

A similar approach has been followed by the Union Government with regard to grants to States recommended by the Finance Commission for the period 2021-26.

This clearly demonstrates that the Union Government has undermined the stature of the institution of the Finance Commission and cooperative federalism.

Off-budget borrowings– The decision to treat off-Budget borrowings from 2021-22 onwards serviced from the State budgets as States’ borrowings and adjusting them against borrowing limits under FRBM in 2022-23 and following years. It is against all norms.

The Government of India has indicated that such a decision is in accordance with the recommendation of the Finance Commission. In fact, there is no recommendation to this effect by the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

The borrowings by corporations against State guarantees are mostly used for capital investment. The Centre has also been raising off-Budget borrowings but mainly for meeting revenue expenditure. The CAG Report on the Compliance of FRBM Act for 2017-18 and 2018-19 pointed out as many as eight instances of meeting revenue expenditure through Extra Budgetary Resources.

Cesses and surcharges– The NDA government has been resorting to the levy of cesses and surcharges. These are not shareable with the States under the Constitution.

The share of cesses and surcharges in the gross tax revenue of the Centre increased from 13.5% in 2014-15 to 20% in the Budget estimates for 2022-23.

Centrally sponsored schemes– Many committees of government have recommended the need to curtail the number of centrally sponsored schemes.

The Government of India has grouped them under certain broad umbrella heads. In 2015, the Centre increased the States’ share in a number of CSS. It has burdened the States. They have lost their autonomy in this process.

Encroaching state powers– The Centre has enacted three farm laws though agriculture is a subject listed in the State List under the Constitution. Though these Acts have been repealed, their enactment is against the spirit of the Constitution. States were not even consulted while introducing these Bills.

On religious conversion, Supreme Court must set the bar high, remain mindful of danger of spectre-mongering on a fraught issue

News: The Supreme Court has said that forced religious conversions are very dangerous and may affect the security of the nation as well as the freedom of religion and conscience of the citizens.

It has directed the centre to step in and inform measures that can be taken by the Union government to stop such conversions.

How are religious conversions being carried out?

Missionary activities in tribal areas and inter-religious marriages are the two major factors of the conversions.

In the case of inter-religious marriages, the law now requires that the bride and groom should seek permission before marriage from the district magistrate.

If the case is of forceful conversion, the burden lies on the groom and his family and they have to disprove the charges to the authorities.

What are the present laws regarding religious conversions?

Article 25 of the Constitution says “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion”.

Even though, almost 10 states have brought anti-conversion laws. They claim that legal safeguards including IPC provisions have failed to stop religious conversions through coercion, intimidation, etc.

However, using these means is not a solution and action against forceful conversion should be taken in such a way that it does not interfere with fundamental freedoms.

What are the concerns associated with religious conversions?

Religious conversions, especially forceful, have political implications and they are used as weapons by political parties in India which ultimately harms the society. Therefore, a judicial and wise intervention is required to address the issue.

GS Paper 3

India’s LT-LEDS: Setting the COP agenda

News: At COP27, India submitted its long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development and joined the coveted list of 56 countries that have submitted their LTS.

Why India’s LT-LEDS is significant?

India’s announcements at the 26th and 27th Conference Of Parties (COP) are now the pillars of its climate leadership. This is because,

a) COP26 last year was a watershed moment because of the country’s plan to go net-zero by 2070, b) This year’s COP27 will be remembered for India’s path-breaking announcement of a long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development.

The LT-LEDS is consistent with India’s net-zero targets and mentions India will need “trillions of dollars” to become carbon-neutral by 2070.

What are the five key takeaways from India’s LT-LEDS?

Sectoral transformations are key: India’s LTS has prioritised six strategic sectors — electricity, transport, urban, industry, carbon dioxide removal(CDR) and forests. Of these, electricity and industry sectors together account for over three-fourths of India’s CO2 emissions.

The focus areas of each sector are, 1) Electricity sector: More renewable power, demand side reductions and a just transition for phase down of coal, 2) Industrial sector: Improve energy efficiency, electrification, material efficiency, green hydrogen and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors, 3) Transport: Transition to cleaner fuels, increase energy efficiency, and aggressive electrification, 4) Urban transition: material efficiency of buildings, 5) CDR: Using methods such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) to remove GHGs before they enter the atmosphere and 6) Forest cover: Protect India’s forest and expand tree cover.

Finance and investments: According to a Council on Energy, Environment and Water assessment, India will need $10 trillion to achieve the 2070 net-zero target. The LTS has gauged the country’s financial requirement, potential sources, the importance of mainstreaming of climate finance and international climate finance, and multilateral arrangements for climate finance flows.

Changes to LiFE: The LTS nudges people to make simple yet effective sustainable choices, industries and markets to scale these, and government policies to support them.

Invest in research and innovation: The LTS notes the relevance of research and innovation, and identifies multiple technologies in the energy and industry sectors.

Adaptation, resilience and international cooperation: India’s 75% of districts are hotspots of extreme weather events. So, the LTS emphasises the a) need for strengthening basic infrastructures like irrigation systems and disaster-resilient buildings, institutional infrastructure for better disaster response, and b) raising incomes to bolster the capabilities of individuals and communities.

What should be done to improve India’s LT-LEDS further?

a) India’s LT-LEDS only focuses on technology-related innovations. This should be expanded to innovation in business models. b) India should include carbon pricing, and c) India’s LT-LEDS does not specify mid-term targets or goals. So, the strategy should present a mechanism to assess progress towards its intermediate goals and course corrections if necessary.

A call to action to avoid climate catastrophe

News: Climate change is a global problem that requires cooperation between all nations. Hence, more than 30 newspapers and media organisations in more than 20 countries have taken a common view about what needs to be done.

What was the view of media organisations on present actions against climate catastrophe?

Media organisations think that the world is heading towards climate catastrophe because,

1) Instead of phasing out fossil fuels, many wealthy nations are a) Reinvesting in oil and gas, b) Failing to cut emissions fast enough and c) Bargaining over the aid they are prepared to send to poor countries.

2) Since the Cop26 in Glasgow last year, countries have only promised to do one-fiftieth of what is needed to stay on track to keep temperatures within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels.

3) No continent has avoided extreme weather disasters this year — from floods in Pakistan to heatwaves in Europe, and from forest fires in Australia to hurricanes in the US. With rising temperatures, the world can expect far worse to come.

4) After the Russia-Ukraine crisis, many nations seek to reduce their energy reliance on Russia. So, the world is experiencing a “gold rush” for new fossil fuel projects.

Why do rich countries need to take climate responsibility?

Clear moral responsibility: Rich countries account for just one in eight people in the world today but are responsible for half of the greenhouse gases.

From melting ice sheets to crop failures, the world’s poorest people are bearing the brunt of climate destruction.

What needs to be done to avert climate catastrophe?

Humanity should end its addiction to fossil fuels: Developed countries should focus on clean and renewable energy instead of focusing on fossil fuels at present.

Rich nations should deliver on the promise: Rich nations should provide the previously committed funds – such as the $100bn a year from 2020. This will signal their climate seriousness.

This can be done by levying a bare minimum windfall tax on the combined profits of the largest oil and gas companies.

Need radical approach in funding: During the pandemic, central banks across the world lubricated states’ expenditures by buying up their own governments’ bonds. Such radical thinking is essential as trillions of dollars are needed to deal with the ecological emergency.

The other steps are, a) Using cash to support the most vulnerable as demanded by the United Nations, b) Poor nations are burdened with debts that make it impossible for them to recover after climate-related disasters or protect themselves from future ones. So, the Creditors should write off loans for those on the frontline of the climate emergency.

To make all this an urgent reality, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change should be about the power of argument not the argument of power.

Health as the focus of air pollution policy

News: The harmful effects of air pollution on health has again been highlighted by the poor winter air quality in north India.

Why status of health in India’s pollution policy-making is essential?

Clearly mentioned in Indian environmental laws: The primacy of protecting public health is clearly laid out in the statement of objects and reasons of India’s key environmental laws.

Impact of air pollution on health: According to the Lancet, in India, in 2019, 17.8% of all deaths and 11.5% of respiratory, cardiovascular and other related diseases are attributable to high exposure to pollution.

What is the present status of health in India’s pollution policy-making?

Non representation of health experts: India’s environmental regulators, expert groups and decision-making entities do not have any health expertise.

For instance, a) the recently constituted Commission for Air Quality Management also lacks any health representation, b) Recent papers published by the Centre for Policy Research revealed that health sector representatives comprise less than 5% of the membership of State Pollution Control Boards.

What are the contributions of the Ministry of Health’s Steering Committee on Air Pollution on pollution policymaking?

Ministry of Health’s Steering Committee on Air Pollution was India’s only effort to include health in India’s pollution policymaking The committee took an exposure-centred view of policy.

The committee a) Prioritised interventions that contributed the most to reducing exposure and thereby providing health benefits, b) Brought the local and global epidemiological evidence on the harmful effects of air pollution to light, and c) Defined policy measures aligned with science.

What needs to be done to include health in India’s pollution policy-making?

Mention explicit health benefits: Health must be turned into a feature and eventually a function of the air pollution policy. For instance, foregrounding health in ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) will improve awareness among people.

Radical rethinking policy design: India should centre science and health to permanently fix the problem of air pollution.

The monetary policy committee should slow its pace of tightening

News- The article explains monetary policy related matters.

What is the present Monetary Policy stance?

Indian monetary policy easing began in early 2001.

The pace of easing quickened after the pandemic struck in early 2020. They have increased the benchmark repo rate by 190 basis points since May 2022. It is due to a recovery in economic activity which allowed policymakers to focus more on the challenge of rising prices.

Monetary conditions have also become tighter since the evaporation of excess liquidity in the money market.It was also led by a sharp fall in foreign exchange reserves.

Why should RBI follow the policy of modest interest rate hike?

It would signal that the battle against inflation is still not over.The MPC meeting in October has already revealed  how interest rate hikes in recent months have been curtailing domestic demand, rather than maintaining the recent pace of rate hikes.

Another argument  is that there is not enough evidence whether the spike in inflation has had significant second-round effects. It usually happens through either the labour market or corporate pricing power.

The Indian labour market still has slack, especially if we look at the labour force participation ratio rather than the unemployment rate. Wage growth is likely to be muted in such a labour market.

On the other hand, companies have greater pricing power now because of the multiple shocks to small and informal enterprises over the past five years.

How does Indian inflation compare with the price situation in other major economies?

The numbers show that the Western world is in the midst of full-fledged inflation shocks. They chose oversized stimulus packages during the pandemic

For reasons specific to each country, India, China and Japan are better off.

A good thumb-rule is that countries with greater distance from their inflation targets as well as past inflation need to react more strongly to price pressures. For example, the US has more reason to push its real interest rate beyond its estimated neutral interest rate than India does right now.

What is the way forward?

The Indian MPC needs to figure out whether it wants to use the interest rate solely to target inflation, or also use it to manage the exchange rate as well as financial stability.

Ideally, RBI should manage the exchange rate by using its foreign exchange reserves. But the sharp fall in its reserve during the recent defence of the rupee. It  means that the interest rate tool will have to be used for inflation control as well as curbing volatility of the exchange rate.

Boosting production

News- The article explains the situation of the fertiliser sector in India. It tells about the issues related to fertiliser subsidy.

What is the current situation of fertiliser production in our country?

Government has recently commissioned a fertiliser plant at Ramagundam in Telangana last week.

This is one of the five public-sector fertiliser plants that were taken up for revival under the New Urea Policy of 2015. These units would add over 6 million tonnes to the country’s existing urea production capacity.

The new urea policy has helped enhance the energy-use efficiency of the existing gas-based urea units. It has led to an increase in their net output.

India is close to achieving self-sufficiency in urea production.

What are the issues related to fertiliser subsidy?

Government’s fertiliser subsidy bill may still remain high. It is because of the unabated imports of phosphatic and potassic fertilisers and heavy discounts on their sale.

A bag of DAP, priced in the international market at around Rs 4,000, is being supplied to farmers at only around Rs 2,500.

What are some facts about nano urea?

It is developed and patented by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO). It contains nitrogen nutrient in a size that is much thinner than that in normal granular urea.

Government is lending full support for production and promotion of this product.

IFFCO has licensed the technology for the production of this liquid fertiliser to a couple of public-sector urea producers free of cost. The purpose is to make this critical plant nutrient available to farmers at cheaper rates.

One 500 ml bottle of nano urea is deemed equivalent to a bag of normal urea.

How we can further our efforts in curbing terror financing

News- The article explain the issue of terror funding.

What are new emerging challenges related to terrorism?

Amorphous terror groups are emerging a big threat.

Terrorist are using newer cyber linked methods of recruitment of radical elements.

The increasingly lethal lone wolf attacks are all adding to the threats emanating from extremist violent elements.

What are methods used by terrorist groups for global flow of funds?

Traditional channels– First, is direct smuggling of cash through international borders.

Second is the use of hawala networks.

Third is banking networks including SWIFT and other international channels.

Terrorist organizations raise money through several sources like travel agencies, money changers, real estate, retail outlets, NGOs, charitable trusts, and even from state sponsors. Terrorists also derive funding from a variety of criminal activities ranging from low-level crime to organized fraud, narcotics smuggling, and illegal activities in failed states and other safe havens.

But now, swift technological developments in areas of blockchain or cryptocurrencies which transcend national boundaries and international currency systems have emerged as a new channel for financing terrorist.

What are global instruments used to tackle terror funding?

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was formed in 1989 to tackle terror financing and money laundering.

The UNSCR resolution 1267 in 1999 and UNSCR resolution 1373 in 2001 formed the bedrock of the financial sanctions regime for terrorist organizations and individuals.

FATF has developed its entire paradigm around the word risk. It used the United Nations Security Council sanctions against terrorists and terrorist organizations to begin to evolve a complex body of documentation in order to assess technical compliance and effectiveness of countries in implementing those UN designations.

What is the way forward resolve the issue of terror funding?

The first step to stop the flow of funds to terrorists is to understand the funding requirements of modern terrorist groups. The costs associated are not only for conducting terrorist attacks. These are also related to developing and maintaining a terrorist organization and its ideology.

Funds are required to promote a militant ideology, pay operatives and their families, arrange for their travel, train new members, forge documents, pay bribes, acquire weapons and stage attacks.

Accurate and well linked financial intelligence is needed to reveal the structure of terrorist groups and also the activities of individual terrorists.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mangarh Massacre: Rajasthan’s Jallianwala Bagh: A lost story

Source: The post is based on the article “Rajasthan’s Jallianwala Bagh: A lost story” published in Indian Express on 15th November 2022

What is the News?

On November 17, 1913, a horrifying tragedy occurred in Mangarh (Banswada, Rajasthan). British cannons and machine guns are known to have killed more than 1,500 tribals in Mangarh. This tragedy is called as Mangarh Massacre and is also known as Adivasi Jallianwala.

What is Mangarh Massacre?

Bhils, a tribal community faced great troubles at the hands of the rulers of the princely states and the British. 

By the end of the 20th century, the Bhils living in Rajasthan and Gujarat became bonded labour.

The great famine of 1899-1900 across the Deccan and Bombay Presidency, which killed over six lakh people, only made the situation worst for the Bhils.

From this tragedy emerged a social activist named Govind Guru. Mobilized and trained by him, the Bhils placed a charter of 33 demands before the British by 1910 primarily relating to forced labour, high tax imposed on Bhils and harassment of the guru’s followers by the British and rulers of princely states.

The Bhils rejected the British’s attempt to placate them. The British then asked the Bhils to leave Mangarh Hill before 15 November 1913. But that didn’t happen.

On 17 November 1913, the British Indian Army fired indiscriminately on Bhil protesters and it is said that over 1,500 people, including women and children, died in the tragedy.

Who was Govind Guru?

Govind Guru was a revolutionary leader of the tribals of Mangarh. He was a living legend among the Bhil and Garasiya tribal communities.

Before Govind Guru became a leader in India’s freedom struggle, he played an important role in India’s renaissance movement.

At the age of 25, he impressed Swami Dayanand Saraswati, a central figure of that movement in north India. He along with Swami Dayanand Saraswati initiated a wave of social reforms in the tribal areas.

For instance, in 1903, Govind Guru pledged not to drink alcohol, shifting his focus to eradicating social evils, boycotting foreign goods, and ending forced labour among others.

This led to the creation of a Sump (Unity) Sabha, whose first meeting was held on the hilltop in Mangarh. This historical event solidified Mangarh’s significance in Indian history as it became central to the tribal movement in this area.

Bhagat movement initiated in 1908 by Govind Guru where tribals gathered around the fire to reaffirm their oath was also seen by the British as a threat.

After the Mangarh massacre, Govind Guru was given a death sentence, and his wife was arrested. But fearing that the movement of tribal Bhils would turn violent, the British postponed his execution and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment on an isolated island.

He lived his last years in Kamboi, Gujarat, where he died on October 30, 1931.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam begins Thursday: What is the ancient connect between Kashi and the Tamil land?

Source: The post is based on the article “Kashi Tamil Sangamam begins Thursday: What is the ancient connect between Kashi and the Tamil land?” published in Indian Express on 16th November 2022

What is the News?

The centre will be organizing a one-of-its-kind event called ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ in Varanasi with an aim to reestablish age-old links between the cultures of Varanasi and Tamil Nadu.

What is Kashi-Tamil Sangamam?

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Significance: This programme is in sync with the National Education Policy, 2020 which emphasizes “on nurturing a generation that is modern and in sync with the 21st-century mindset, while being rooted in the Indian culture and ethos”.

What is the history of ties between Kashi and Tamil Nadu?

The ancient connection between the two centres of knowledge is evident in many walks of life like: 

– Many households in Tamilnadu adopted the names of Kailasanatha and Kashinatha for naming their children, like those who are living in Kashi and Uttar Pradesh. 

– King Adhiveera Rama Pandiyan of the Pandya Dynasty dedicated a Shiva Temple at Tenkasi of Tamilnadu after his pilgrimage to Kashi , whose ancestors established Sivakasi. He wrote “Kashi Kandam” of Skanda Purana in Tamil poetic verses.

– Saint Kumaragurupara from Sri Vaikundam, Tuthukudi District of Tamil Nadu has excelled in bargaining with the Sultanate of Kashi with audacity and drove a lion to his courtyard to get back the Kedarghat and a place for the consecration of Vishweshwara Lingam. He has written “Kashi Kalambakam” a grammatical composition of poems on Kashi. 

LeadIT Summit 2022 hosted by India and Sweden at COP27, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Source: The post is based on the article “LeadIT Summit 2022 hosted by India and Sweden at COP27, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt” published in PIB on 15th November 2022

What is the News?

India and Sweden hosted the LeadIT Summit on the sidelines of COP27.

What is the LeadIT Initiative?

Leadership Group for Industry Transition(LeadIT) was launched by the governments of Sweden and India at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 and is supported by the World Economic Forum. 

The initiative gathers countries and companies that are committed to action to achieve the Paris Agreement.

Purpose: LeadIT members subscribe to the notion that energy-intensive industries can and must progress on low-carbon pathways, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

Secretariat: It is hosted by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sweden.

What is the significance of this initiative?

The low carbon transition of the industrial sector will not only contribute towards the reduction in required greenhouse gas emissions. 

It has several co-benefits that include increasing resilience to changes in climate, enhanced energy security, innovation, socio-economic development and job creation.

Nine Russian banks open Vostro accounts for rupee trade

Source: The post is based on the article “Nine Russian banks open Vostro accounts for rupee trade” published in The Hindu on 16th November 2022

What is the News?

Nine Russian banks have been permitted to open special Vostro accounts to pave the way for export-import transactions.

What is a Vostro account?

A Vostro account is an account that a domestic bank holds for a foreign bank in the domestic bank’s currency — which, in the case of India, is the rupee. 

In the case of trade with Russia, payments in rupee for the export and import of goods will go to these Vostro accounts. The owners and beneficiaries of this money will be the exporters and importers in both countries. The banks will keep a record of money transferred.

What is a Nostro account?

Vostro and Nostro accounts are technically the same type of account with the difference being who opens the account and where.

So, if an Indian bank like the SBI wants to open an account in the United States, it will get in touch with a bank in the US, which will open a Nostro account and accept payments for SBI in dollars.

The account opened by the Indian bank in the US will be a Nostro account for the Indian bank, while for the US bank, the account will be considered a Vostro account.

Tirupati’s megalithic burial sites in a state of neglect

Source: The post is based on the article “Tirupati’s megalithic burial sites in a state of neglect” published in The Hindu on 15th November 2022

What is the News?

Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh is said to have the largest collection of anthropomorphic burial sites.

What are Anthropomorphic sites?

Anthropomorphic sites are those marked by a representation of human form above the megalithic burials.

Most of these sites are in a state of neglect, with neither the government nor the local residents caring to protect what could become a cherished heritage.

What are the most prominent Anthropomorphic sites?

Pillared Dolmen: It is a megalithic site found at Mallayyagaripalle, nestling on a hillock between Chandragiri and Dornakambala, in Tirupati. The structure is locally referred to as ‘Pandava Gullu’ or ‘Pandavula Banda’ in memory of the Pandavas and is estimated to be 2,500 years old.

Devara Yeddhu: It is an endangered megalithic monument in Palem village near Kallur, which resembles a bull’s horn. The site has suffered repeated damage due to clandestine excavation by treasure hunters.

What are Megaliths?

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What are the different types of Megaliths?

Dolmen: This is a type of megalith which is made in a single chamber tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone. 

​​Cairn: A Cairn is a human-made pile of stones, often in conical form. They are usually found in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops or near waterways.

Cist: A cist or kist was used as encasements for dead bodies. It might have associations with other monuments. 

Menhir: A Menhir is a stone Monolithic standing vertically. It could also exist as part of a group of similar stones. They have different sizes with uneven and square shapes, often tapering towards the top.

Stone Circle: A Stone Circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle usually dated to the megalithic period.

Seven exotic primates, drugs seized in southern Assam

Source: The post is based on the article “Seven exotic primates, drugs seized in southern Assam” published in The Hindu on 16th November 2022

What is the News?

The police in southern Assam have seized seven exotic primates and narcotic drugs worth ₹10 crores.

What are Exotic Animals?

What do exotic animals include?

According to the Government of India advisory, the phrase “exotic live species” includes “animals named under the Appendices I, II and III of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” and “does not include species from the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972”. 

What are the guidelines issued for exotic species?

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What are the provisions related to the illegal trade of animals?

Illegally traded exotic animals are confiscated under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962 which is read with the provision of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Foreign Trade Policy (Import-Export Policy) of India.

Also, Sections 48 and 49 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 prohibit trade or commerce in wild animals, animal articles or trophies.

New technique for efficient fabrication of liquid crystal display devices with lowered cost

Source: The post is based on the article “New technique for efficient fabrication of liquid crystal display devices with lowered cost” published in PIB on 15th November 2022

What is the News?

A new easier technique of manufacturing Liquid Crystal Displays(LCDs) has been developed, which can reduce the cost of the devices.

What are Liquid Crystals, and what are their applications?

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What is the major drawback currently with Liquid Crystal Devices(LCDs)?

An essential requirement of Liquid crystal devices(LCDs) is the unidirectional planar alignment of the constituent liquid crystals(LC) over large areas. The conventional polymer rubbing method yields quality LC alignment.

But it possesses unavoidable and undesirable drawbacks such as 1) production of electrostatic charges and dust particles interfere with display operation and even cause damage to the electronic components of the display, 2) dust creates defects which seriously compromise the performance of the device, 3) multistep process for coating and the 4) necessity for high-temperature curing. 

Due to these drawbacks, there is a surge in demand to replace this rubbing method with new non-contact techniques.

What have scientists developed to overcome these drawbacks?

​​A team of scientists has developed a novel way of employing 2D materials to overcome the drawbacks of current methods.

Using h-BN nanoflakes as the specific material, the scientists employed a procedure called the solution-processed deposition technique and found it to be effective in getting the LC alignment over a much larger area. 

They also found the resultant crystals to be quite robust with no evidence of decay in LC orientation over several months.

India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ to commence in Uttarakhand

Source: The post is based on the article “India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ to commence in Uttarakhand” published in PIB on 15th November 2022

What is the News?

The 18th edition of Indo – US joint training exercise “YUDH ABHYAS 22” is scheduled to be conducted in Uttarakhand.

What is Exercise YUDH ABHYAS?

Exercise YUDH ABHYAS is a military exercise between India and the US.

Aim: To enhance understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the armies of India and the US with a number of complex drills being planned.

Started in: The exercise was started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific Partnership Program.

The exercise is hosted alternately between both countries.

What are the other exercises between India and the US?

Exercise Tiger Triumph: It is a tri-service military exercise between India and the US.

Exercise Vajra Prahar: It is a Special Forces joint military training exercise. It has been conducted alternately in India and the US since 2010.

Exercise Cope India: It is a series of bilateral Air Force exercises between India and the United States.

Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as state’s 17th wildlife sanctuary

Source: The post is based on the article “Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as state’s 17th wildlife sanctuary” published in Indian Express on 10th November 2022

What is the News?

The Tamil Nadu government has notified the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as the state’s 17th wildlife sanctuary.

What is Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary?

Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary is the 17th Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.

Geographical area: The sanctuary will connect Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu with the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring Karnataka thereby forming a large, contiguous network of protected areas for wildlife.

– Two important and large elephant corridors namely, the Nandimangalam-Ulibanda Corridor and the Kovaipallam-Anebiddahalla Corridor fall in this area.

– This landscape maintains further continuity to the Nilgiri Biosphere through Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Billigiri Rangaswamy Temple(BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

Fauna: The sanctuary is home to 35 species of mammals, and 238 species of birds. Leith’s softshell turtles, smooth-coated otters, marsh crocodiles and four-horned antelopes are some of the species found here.

Note: Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has notified Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary in Tiruppur district, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary in Karur and Dindigul districts and Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay.

World Population Prospects 2022: India’s Population Growth Appears To Be Stabilising: United Nations

Source: The post is based on the following articles

“India’s Population Growth Appears To Be Stabilising: United Nations” published in NDTV on 16th November.

“World @ 8 billion, India set to be most populous” published in Indian Express on 15th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations has released the World Population Prospects 2022.

According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the world population touched eight billion on November 15, 2022. India was the largest contributor to the milestone having added 177 million people of the last billion people born in the world.

What are the key findings of the report about India’s population?

-India’s population growth appears to be stabilising. The Total Fertility Rate has declined from 2.2 to 2.0 at the national level.

-A total of 31 states and Union Territories (constituting 69.7 per cent of the country’s population) have achieved fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1.

Reasons for the decline: a) Adoption of modern family planning methods (from 47.8% in 2015-16 to 56.5% in 2019-21), b) Reduction in unmet need for family planning by 4% over the same period and c) Significant improvements in access to family planning related information and services.

All this shows India’s national population policies and health systems are working.

India’s population is a global resource: The UNFPA has said India is a youthful nation with the largest cohort of young people anywhere in the world. India’s “youth bulge” will last till 2025.

Since many parts of the world are ageing, India’s youthful population can be a global resource to solve global problems.

What are the key findings of the report about the global population?

-The world’s population will continue to grow to around 10.4 billion in the 2080s. But, the overall rate of growth is slowing down.

-The world is more demographically diverse than ever before, with countries facing starkly different population trends ranging from growth to decline.

-Population growth has become increasingly concentrated among the world’s poorest countries, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.

-As of 2022, more than half the world’s population lives in Asia, China and India being the two most populous countries with more than 1.4 billion people each.

China: China is projected to enter a “severe ageing” phase in 2035 with 400 million people above 60 years. This can be blamed mainly on its decades of the one-child policy.

What are the major recommendations of the report?

To all countries: The world needs to a) invest in each person to achieve a quality of life that allows them to thrive equally and with dignity in the modern world, b) build inclusive societies and sustainable economies, and c) Provide good quality of life to people and lift up and empower most marginalised sections.

To India: The government needs to focus on a) gender equality with the greatest youth generation in history, b) Providing world-class innovation in digital public goods.