9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – November 28th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• It’s time to discuss depopulation

GS Paper 2

• JUVENILE JUSTICE LAW
• Toward legalising same-sex marriage
• The President’s caution on overcrowding of prisons is a wake-up call to the executive and judiciary
• Shifts unexplained – System of shuffling High Court judges without consent needs reconsideration
• Pill Carefully Hospitals, doctors, chemists – they all need a stronger push towards rational use of antibiotics

GS Paper 3

• India’s high growth a good position for G20, but urban pollution must be checked
• Our free trade agreement with Australia is unique in its details
• Why DBT schemes need to fix the problem of tenant farmers
• A region-specific strategy and their introduction in mid-day meals could boost millets cultivation
• Exotic and novel food items: Growing across nations and continents

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Scientists discover new species of black corals near the Great Barrier Reef
• What is bluebugging, and how is it used to hack Bluetooth-enabled devices?
• Himalayan yak accepted as food animal by FSSAI
• ‘Austra Hind-22’: India-Australia joint military exercise
• Indian Navy launches third ‘Ikshak’ survey vessel
• The third generation Indian satellite for monitoring the oceans, formally named as Earth Observation Satellite-6(EOS-6) was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in partnership with Ministry of Earth Sciences
• ICMR: Avoid antibiotics for low-grade fever
• Perfect storm: What is the Fujiwhara Effect?
• What is Imphal’s Ima market, which minister Jaishankar called ‘a great example of Nari Shakti’

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

It’s time to discuss depopulation

News– The article explains the increasing population in India.

What are Statistical data of Population in India as per recent report?

By current United Nations estimates, India’s population will begin to decline only in 2063 It will be just shy of 1.7 billion by that time

Fertility in India is falling along expected lines as a direct result of rising incomes and greater female access to health and education. India’s total fertility rate is now below the replacement rate of fertility.

What are the challenges associated with depopulation in India?

First, the mismatch is rising gap between sex ratio as families with a first son is less likely to have a second child.

Second, the literacy rate is going to play an important role in deciding depopulation.

Third, the sharp anti-Muslim tone in the conversation has remained even though fertility between Hindus and Muslims is converging.

What is the way forward?

The focus of one should be upon the various dimensions of population like harnessing the potential of demographic dividend.

There is a need for much focus on betterment of living standard of living by providing skills to the youth and bridging the gap between the workforce.

GS Paper 2

JUVENILE JUSTICE LAW

News– The article explains the observation made by the Supreme Court in its judgement on the infamous Kathua rape murder case.

What is Juvenile Justice Law?

The Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act,2015 is an act to strengthen and amend the laws relating to the children who are alleged to be in conflict with law and the children who are in the need of care and protection.

In this act the role and powers of Juvenile Justice Board and Children Welfare Board are defined.

Under this act the Central Adoption Resource Authority is given statutory powers.

What are the main observations made by the Supreme Court in this regard?

1. The rising rate of juvenile delinquency in India is a matter of concern and requires immediate attention.
2. There is a school of thought existing in our country. It firmly believes that howsoever heinous the crime may be, be it single rape, gangrape, drug peddling, or murder but if the accused is a juvenile, he should be dealt with keeping in mind only one thing. It is the goal of reformation.

What is the Way forward?

Juvenile Justice Laws should be made more easier for the victim, their parents and other social organizations to get the necessary support and ensure that their child returns to a normal life. This should be done in addition to addressing the procedural loopholes and ensuring rapid delivery of justice.

Toward legalising same-sex marriage

News: Two LGBT couples have filed petitions in the Supreme Court to allow recognition of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act, (SMA) 1954.

The SMA provides a civil form of marriage for couples who cannot marry under their personal law and both the petitioners seek to recognise same-sex marriage in relation to SMA.

What are the arguments of petitioners?

SMA is beyond the purview of the Constitution as it discriminates between same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.

Act denied same-sex couples both legal rights as well as the social recognition and status.

Recognition of same sex marriage is in continuation of the previous SC judgment – Navtej Singh Johar judgment of 2018 (decriminalising homosexuality) and the Puttaswamy judgment of 2017 (affirming the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right).

Section 4 of the SMA on one hand allows marriage between any two persons but on the other hand Section 4(c) of the SMA uses gender specific words like husband/wife. This limits the Act to opposite genders.

Therefore, both petitioners demanded that SMA should be made gender neutral.

One of the new petitioners highlighted SC judgment of NALSA vs Union of India judgment (2014). The court in this judgment held that non-binary individuals were protected under the Constitution and fundamental rights such as equality, non-discrimination, life, freedom, etc. also applies to these individuals.

What is the stand of the government on the issue?

The centre last year has opposed the same sex marriage. It said that the same sex marriage is neither recognised nor accepted in any uncodified personal laws or any codified statutory laws.

It further said that as per law, marriage was only permissible between a “biological man” and “biological woman”.

Which country in the world has legalised same sex marriage?

The Netherlands was the first country in 2001 to legalise same-sex marriage and many other countries followed it.

Today, around 32 countries have legalised same-sex marriages. Many of these countries have recognised same-sex civil unions.

Civil unions or partnerships provide legal recognition of unmarried couples of the same or opposite sex in order to grant them some of the rights that come with marriage such as inheritance, medical benefits, employee benefits to spouses, etc.

The President’s caution on overcrowding of prisons is a wake-up call to the executive and judiciary

News: Recently, the President called the government and the judiciary to address the issue of overcrowding of prisons. The President mentioned that India is “forced to make new prisons because prisons are overcrowded. This raises questions about India’s move towards progress as a society.

Note: Recently, the law minister also suggested that only trial courts ought to decide to grant bail.

What is the present status of the overcrowding of prisons according to Prison Statistics?

Prison Statistics India is a report published by the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to its 2021 edition, a) Between 2016-2021, the number of convicts in jails decreased by 9.5% whereas the number of undertrial inmates increased by 45.8%, b) With three out of four prisoners being undertrials, the problem of overcrowding of prisons is essentially an undertrial issue, c) Around 80% of prisoners were confined for periods up to a year.

What needs to be done to address the overcrowding of prisons?

The government need to tackle the root cause instead of providing bail. Such as addressing the indiscriminate arrest of individuals.

Similarly, the government has to identify those who cannot afford bail and facilitate them with bail.

Shifts unexplained – System of shuffling High Court judges without consent needs reconsideration

News: A recent round of transfers — from Telangana, Madras and Andhra Pradesh High Courts — has stirred the debate on transferring the judges. There are also reports that the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice was unaware of the impending transfer of a judge from the Gujarat High Court.

What are the norms to be followed while transferring a high court judge?

According to the Memorandum of Procedure, a) A judge’s consent is not necessary to effect a transfer, b) All transfers ought to be in public interest, that is, for better administration of justice throughout the country, c) The personal factors of the judge, including his preference of places, should invariably be taken into account.

What are the concerns associated with the transfer of judges?

The power of transfer has always been seen as a possible threat to judicial independence. For instance, even under the Collegium system, it is difficult to dissipate the impression that the threat of transfer hangs over every judge’s head.

What should be done to ensure impartiality in transferring a judge?

Transfers need not to be used as a punitive step. India needs to do a complete review of the provisions for the transfer of High Court judges.

Pill Carefully Hospitals, doctors, chemists – they all need a stronger push towards rational use of antibiotics

News: Recently, ICMR attempted to reform advised doctors to avoid using antibiotics in conditions such as low-grade fever and viral bronchitis. It also plans to announce a stop date in advance to ensure that antibiotics are not given beyond the recommended duration.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its causes and concerns?

What is the reason behind ICMR’s recent advice to reduce the use of antibiotics?

Multiple studies of ICMR have shown the costs of using antimicrobial prescriptions for syndrome management rather than based on a definitive diagnosis. For instance, last year, resistance to Imipenem increased from 14% in 2016 to 36% in 2021.

Note: Imipenem is used to treat infections caused by bacteria E coli

AMR is also being increased due to the food industry, contaminated soil and poor sanitation, doctors and hospitals have a direct role in the matter.

What should be done to reduce the use of antibiotics?

Instead of being at the pilot stage, stewardship programmes should be started across hospitals. This should focus on transparently reporting both prevalent and targeted levels of antibiotic use.

ICMR, CDSCO and state drug controllers all need to step up the audits and updation needed to depress antimicrobial resistance.

GS Paper 3

India’s high growth a good position for G20, but urban pollution must be checked

News- The article explains the increasing urban pollution in India and steps needed to reduce pollution. It also explains the scenario of climate change.

What is India’s strength?

India is a shining star. As per the IMF forecast its GDP growth is expected to be 6.8% in 2022 and 6.1% expected in 2023. India will surpass China in two successive years by a wide margin.

Why is urban pollution a big problem for India?

Delhi is being branded as the most polluted city in the world. The Air Quality Index of Delhi during November 1-15, stood at 267. In comparison, Washington stood  DC at 8, and Beijing at 97. Delhi has the poorest AQI amongst the G20 nations.

The Air Quality Life Index Report (2022) of the University of Chicago claims that Delhites are losing their life expectancy by 10 years

What is the scenario of climate change?

There is a global call for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change has started causing significant damage through heat waves, droughts and floods of increasing intensity and frequency.

The COP27 agreement on creating a “loss and damage fund” for compensating developing countries is a good beginning. But the international community is falling far short of the Paris targets.

According to Climate Watch, the biggest GHG emitters in 2019 were China (12.06 billion tonnes of CO2), the United States (5.77 Bt CO2), and India (3.36 Bt CO2).

However, in terms of GHG emissions on a per capita basis in 2021, Australia tops. It is followed by Saudi Arabia, and Canada. In terms of per capita emissions and emission intensity of GDP, India is in a relatively much better position.

What is the way forward to tackle urban pollution in India?

According to SAFAR, the largest share of stubble burning to Delhi’s AQI this year was 34 per cent. Measures aimed at stubble management are not likely to succeed. There is a need to reduce the paddy area in Punjab by at least one million hectares.

The switch away from paddy towards crops such as maize, soyabean, pulses requires a “diversification strategy” for at least five years. It requires handsomely rewarding farmers with carbon credits, and savings of water and energy.

Vehicular emission in Delhi is another major cause of poor AQI. A fast-track strategy to promote electric vehicles  is the answer. Incentivising and even subsidising EVs and charging stations in all parking lots and residential colonies is the need of the day.

To control dust, heavy fines must be enforced on builders who do not use water sprinklers multiple times a day at construction sites.

All thermal power plants in and around Delhi must be replaced with more renewable energy sources.

Solarisation should be made mandatory for all government buildings, schools, as well as public spaces with a minimum specified area. Easy access to finance for such renewables would be key.

Our free trade agreement with Australia is unique in its details

News- the article explains the steps taken by the Indian government to increase the trade potential of firms.

What are initiatives taken by the Indian government to boost trade?

More exports- India has more than 2 million firms that produce quality products and services. But, less than 100000 of these firms are engaged in exports.

There is a need to increase the number of firms doing commercial exports. District hubs scheme can push more firms to export their products.

Flexible labour laws– Labour laws apply to only formal sector workers. It constitutes just 8% of all workers. India has introduced four labour codes. It will help to set up many new units and increase the employment opportunities.

Support for manufacture of high-tech products– India’s share in global export of high-value items is low. Our export share in machinery is 0.9% and electronics is 0.4%.

The government has introduced the production linked incentive scheme to make India a major production centre of these products. It will lead to more exports.

Enhanced efficiency of commercial courts–  Courts delay in settling commercial disputes is stunting industrial growth. Weak contract enforcement is one of the reasons for poor industrial growth.

The government has made several interventions like introducing new laws and automating courts. These are yielding results.

The introduction of WTO-compatible export schemes– Government has abolished export schemes that are not compatible with rules of WTO. The most important one was the Merchandise Exports from India scheme.

Improved product quality through regulation– Many Indian products fail quality tests due to traces of pesticides, pathogens etc. India needs to redesign its quality assurance framework to help firms reach higher standards.

The government has issued Quality Control Orders and Technical Regulations for many products. It will reassure t5he quality of these products.

Service sector diversification– The IT sector dominates India service exports. The government is working to diversify exports in 12 service sectors under Champion Service Sector initiative.

Why DBT schemes need to fix the problem of tenant farmers

News: Many economists argue that all agricultural subsidies should be converted into direct income support to farmers.

It is because DBT is transparent and simple to administer. It is crop-neutral and does not cause distortions in input/output markets. However, there are problems associated with it.

What is the problem associated with agri-DBT?

There is one limitation with the present agri-DBT schemes that they do not reach tenant farmers, i.e., those who undertake cultivation on leased land.

Due to the rise in leasing of lands the tenant farmers are excluded from income support including zero/low-interest loans, crop insurance, disaster compensation and other agri-related schemes.

What does the data highlight?

According to the National Statistical Office’s (NSO) survey for 2018-19, 17.3 percent out of the total estimated 101.98 million farms in rural India were on leased lands.

Andhra Pradesh (42.4 per cent) has the highest tenant farmers followed by Odisha (39 per cent).

Haryana and Punjab have the share of leased-in area higher than the percentage of tenant holdings. It means that the tenant farmers of Haryana and Punjab cultivate large area of land, even though they don’t own these lands.

The NSO surveys highlight that there has been a steady increase in tenant farmers but the agreements between the land owner and tenant farmer are mostly oral and unwritten.

This causes problems with DBT transfers as benefits cannot be availed by the real farmers and it gets transferred to the account of non-cultivating owners.

However, Andhra Pradesh tried to solve the problem of tenant farmers but it also has problems with it.

How has Andhra Pradesh tried to solve the problem?

The AP government agri-DBT scheme also covers tenant farmers. The government in 2019 enacted the AP Crop Cultivator Rights law.

The law provides for the issuance of “Crop Cultivator Rights Cards (CCRC)” to persons cultivating the lands of owners under agreements with 11-month validity countersigned by the concerned village revenue officers.

The cards provide tenant farmers benefits under the state’s DBT schemes along with obtaining crop loans from banks.

However, very few tenant farmers have received the CCRC card and out of those who received the card, very few availed the benefits of loans or DBT.

The problem with CCRC is that it requires landowner’s signature and cannot be issued without his consent but most owners are reluctant to sign.

They fear that this may give rights to tenant farmers over lands and they might face the burden of loan taken by the tenant farmer if they fail the repayment.

What is the way forward?

Agriculture in India is increasingly seeing both “tenancy” (landless/marginal farmers leasing in land to cultivate) and “reverse tenancy” (small landowners leasing out to better-off farmers keen to reap economies of scale).

Therefore, the central government needs to expand the scope of PM-KISAN by subsuming all existing input and output subsidies under it. However, the problems of benefitting tenant farmers may still be a concern.

A region-specific strategy and their introduction in mid-day meals could boost millets cultivation

News: The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

About India’s millet cultivation

India produces various types of “nutri cereals” such as jowar, bajra and ragi and minor millets such as kodo, kutki, kakun, sanwa, cheena and kuttu. However, India’s own production of these nutri cereals has fallen from 23-24 million to 19-20 million tonnes over the last 4-5 decades.

Why has India’s millet cultivation been reduced recently?

This is because, a) Millets aren’t the first choice either of consumers or producer, b) Unlike wheat, millets are gluten-free. So, kneading dough and rolling rotis is hard with millets. c) Public Distribution System (PDS) has made rice and wheat accessible even to the rural poor, for whom millets were previous aspirational cereals, d) Millets are orphan crops for farmers as with access to irrigation, farmers switched to growing wheat and rice that yield 3-4 times more than jowar or bajra.

Why does millet cultivation deserve a special push?

Apart from health benefits, Millets are a hardier and drought-resistant crop. They have a short growing seasons (70-100 days, as against 120-150 days for paddy and wheat) and lower water requirements (350-500 mm versus 600-1,200 mm).

What should be done to improve millet cultivation in India?

Incentivise millet cultivators to not shift to rice and wheat: The government needs to incentivise farmers in western Rajasthan, southern Karnataka or eastern Madhya Pradesh — who are already cultivating bajra, ragi and minor millets.

Adopt region-specific strategy: Like Dindori in MP for kodo and kutki, the millet cultivation districts/regions can be developed as clusters for particular millets.

Create a potential market: According to data for 2021-22, India has 14.89 lakh schools with 26.52 crore students. These, plus another 14 lakh pre-school anganwadi centres, constitute a large potential market for millets.

The schools and anganwadis can serve khichdi, dosas, energy bars and puddings made from locally-sourced millets. Further, the need for such wholesome nutrition would be more for children in the very regions that are suited for millet cultivation.

Exotic and novel food items: Growing across nations and continents

News: The cultivation of exotic and novel fruits and vegetables is expanding in India at a fast pace.

What are some common exotic and novel food items consumed in India?

The most common among them are fruits like avocado, kiwi and dragon fruit; vegetables like Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, coloured cabbages and capsicums, baby corn, and cherry tomato; and salads like lettuce, broccoli, celery and parsley.

There are also some unique edible items that have traditionally been collected from the wild and consumed primarily by the locals but are now commercially grown by enterprising farmers. These include the likes of Japani Phal (Persimmon), Ambarella (Indian hog plum), Jangli Jalebi or Kodukkapuli (Camachile), Karonda (Carandas cherry), and Buddha’s hand (Fingered citron).

Top producers: Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have emerged as the major producers of exotic and novel food items within India. Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana are the other key producers.

Why there is an increase in the intake of exotic and novel food items?

a) Increased awareness of the need to eat diversified food, b) Impact of the pandemic increased the need for nutritious and immunity-boosting foods. For instance, the import of exotic fruit items has almost doubled in just one year, from about 3.6 lakh tonnes in 2020 to a record 7.21 lakh tonnes in 2021, c) Increased cultivation: According to agriculture ministry estimates, exotic fruits were grown in 2021-22 in over 2.8 million hectares. The area under such crops was almost negligible in the early 2000s.

All these made exotic and novel food items to be readily available in fruit and vegetable shops in even tier-II and tier-III cities.

Why there is an increase in the domestic cultivation of exotic and novel food items?

Farmers replaced traditional crops like sugarcane, grapes, soybean, and vegetables with dragon fruit because it requires less water and cash inputs but fetches higher prices in the market.

Many farmers in Kerala have begun to diversify their farming from traditional crops to butternut squash (introduced from Central America), Gac fruit from Vietnam, and Loquat from China. As they provide much more remunerative than conventional crops.

How India is promoting exotic and novel food items?

Integrated Horticulture Development Mission: Under this, the government promotes several novel fruits, such as kiwi, avocado, passion fruit, blueberry, dragon fruit, figs, mangosteen, persimmon, rambutans and strawberry.

A University in Himachal Pradesh has developed high-yielding technology suitable for growing products like avocado, kiwi, and hazelnut in northern hilly areas.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute has been promoting the technology for growing non-native plants under controlled environmental conditions in poly-houses.

What are the concerns associated with exotic and novel food items?

Despite domestic cultivation, 80-85% of the demand for these products is still met through import. So, a) India’s highly diverse agro-climatic conditions in different regions should be effectively utilised for cultivation of exotic and novel food items, b) Farmers need to include high-value exotic fruits and vegetables in their cropping patterns to get good returns.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Scientists discover new species of black corals near the Great Barrier Reef

Source: The post is based on the article “Scientists discover new species of black corals near the Great Barrier Reef” published in The Hindu on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

Researchers at Smithsonian Institution, Washington have discovered five new species of black corals living as deep as 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.

What are Black Corals?

Black Corals are also known as Antipatharians or thorn corals. They are an order of soft deep-water corals.

These corals can be recognized by their jet-black or dark brown chitin skeletons, surrounded by polyps (part of coral that is alive).

Habitat: Black corals can be found growing both in shallow waters and down to depths of over 26,000 feet (8,000 meters), and some individual corals can live for over 4,000 years.

Features: Black coral reproduces both sexually and asexually throughout its lifetime.

– Many of the Black Corals are branched and look like feathers, fans or bushes, while others are straight like a whip. Unlike the colourful corals that rely on the sun and photosynthesis for energy, black corals are filter feeders and eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.

Uses: Though they have historically been used by Pacific Islanders for medical treatment and in rituals, it’s only modern use is making jewellery. 

Significance: Black corals act as an important habitat where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators in what is otherwise a mostly barren sea floor.

Concerns: Black corals have been declining in numbers and are expected to continue declining due to the effects of poaching, ocean acidification and climate change.

What is bluebugging, and how is it used to hack Bluetooth-enabled devices?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is bluebugging, and how is it used to hack Bluetooth-enabled devices?” published in Indian Express on 28th November 2022.

What is the News?

Several smartphones have their Bluetooth settings on discovery mode as it is a default setting, making it easy for hackers to access the phones when they are within 10 metres from the device. This is done through a process called Bluebugging.

What is Bluebugging?

Bluebugging is a form of hacking that lets attackers access a device through its discoverable Bluetooth connection.

Once a device or phone is bluebugged, a hacker can listen to the calls, read and send messages and steal and modify contacts.

It started out as a threat to laptops with Bluetooth capability. Later hackers used the technique to target mobile phones and other devices.

How does Bluebugging work?

Bluebugging attacks by exploiting Bluetooth-enabled devices. The device’s Bluetooth must be in discoverable mode, which is the default setting on most devices.

The bluetooth enabled device must also be within a 10-metre radius of the hacker.

The hacker then tries to pair with the device via Bluetooth. Once a connection is established, hackers can use brute force attacks to bypass authentication. They can install the malware in the compromised device to gain unauthorized access to it.

Which devices are susceptible to Bluebugging? 

Any Bluetooth-enabled device can be bluebugged. Wireless earbuds are also susceptible to such hacks. Apps that enable users to connect to their TWS (True Wireless Stereo) devices or earbuds can record conversations.

What are the techniques to prevent bluebugging?

1) Turning off Bluetooth and disconnecting paired Bluetooth devices when not in use, 2) Updating the device’s system software to the latest version, 3) Limited use of public Wi-Fi and 4) Using VPN as an additional security measure.

Himalayan yak accepted as food animal by FSSAI

Source: The post is based on the article “Himalayan yak accepted as food animal by FSSAI” published in The Hindu on 28th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Himalayan Yak has been accepted as a Food Animal by the scientific panel of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India(FSSAI).

What is Himalayan Yak?

Himalayan Yak, scientific name Bos grunniens is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle. 

Geographical distribution: It is found throughout the Himalayan region — Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, North Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir — while wild Yak is found in Tibet.

Significance: Yak milk is highly nutritious. It is rich in fat and protein and contains many essential minerals. It is also deemed to have medicinal value.

– Yak meat is also considered lean and better than beef.

Click here to read more

Why has the Himalayan Yak been categorized as a food animal?

The Yak population in the country is decreasing at an alarming rate over the years. According to the 2019 Census, India had some 58,000 Yaks, marking a drop of about 25% from the last livestock Census conducted in 2012.

The reason why the yak population is decreasing is that yak farming is less remunerative. The animal’s milk and meat are not part of the conventional meat and dairy industry and are consumed only locally. 

Hence, categorizing it as a Food Animal will make the Yak a part of the conventional milk and meat industry and will help check the decline in its population. It could also encourage more people to take up yak farming.

‘Austra Hind-22’: India-Australia joint military exercise

Source: The post is based on the article “’Austra Hind-22′: India-Australia joint military exercise” published in PIB on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Bilateral Training Exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to take place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan).

What is Exercise AUSTRA HIND 22?

Exercise AUSTRA HIND is a bilateral training exercise between the Indian Army and the Australian Army.

Aim: To build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in Semi deserts terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate.

Significance: This is the first exercise in the series of Austra Hind with the participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies.

What are the other exercises between India and Australia?

Exercise Pitch Black: It is a biennial multilateral air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force(RAAF) since 1981. The Indian Air Force had taken part in the exercise for the first time in 2018.

AUSINDEX: It is a biennial bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy(RAN). The first edition of the exercise took place in 2015.

Indian Navy launches third ‘Ikshak’ survey vessel

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian Navy launches third ‘Ikshak’ survey vessel” published in PIB on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Indian Navy has launched the third Ikshak Survey Vessel.

What is Ikshak?

Ikshak is the third of the four survey vessels (Large) project.

Built by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited and L&T Shipbuilding.

The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’, which means ‘Guide’, to signify the contribution of the survey ships towards facilitating safe passage for mariners at sea.

What is the Survey Vessel (Large) ships project?

Survey Vessel (Large) ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new-generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. 

Purpose: The primary role of the ships would be to undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels. 

– The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence besides serving as Hospital ships during emergencies.

Features: One of the key elements of the ships is the integration of Bow & Stern Thrusters which have been catered for better manoeuvring at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations. 

Significance: The ships will have over 80% indigenous content by cost. This will ensure that large-scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units thereby generating employment and capability build-up within the country.

The third generation Indian satellite for monitoring the oceans, formally named as Earth Observation Satellite-6(EOS-6) was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in partnership with Ministry of Earth Sciences

Source: The post is based on the article “The third generation Indian satellite for monitoring the oceans, formally named as Earth Observation Satellite-6(EOS-6) was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in partnership with Ministry of Earth Sciences” published in PIB on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) has successfully launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV-C54) carrying the Earth Observation Satellite-6(EOS-6).

What is EOS-06? 

EOS-6 is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series. 

It is a follow-up to OceanSat-1 or IRS-P4 and OceanSat-2 launched in 1999 and 2009, respectively. 

Objectives: To ensure the data continuity of Ocean colour and wind vector data to sustain the operational applications.

– To improve the applications, some additional datasets such as Sea Surface Temperature and more bands in Optical region for florescence and in Infrared region for atmospheric corrections are accommodated.

– To develop / improve related algorithms and data products to serve in well- established application areas and to enhance the mission utility.

Payloads: The satellite onboard carries four important payloads:

– Ocean Color Monitor(OCM-3): It will observe the day side of the earth every day and will provide crucial data on the distribution of ocean algae which is the base of the food chain within the marine ecosystem.

– Sea Surface Temperature Monitor(SSTM): It will provide ocean surface temperature which is a critical ocean parameter to provide various forecasts ranging from fish aggregation to cyclone genesis and movement.

– Ku-Band Pencil beam scatterometer: will provide a high-resolution wind vector (speed and direction) at the ocean surface, something which any seafarer would like to know of, whether it’s fishermen or a shipping company.

– ARGOS: It is a communication payload jointly developed with France, and it is used for low-power (energy-efficient) communications including marine robotic floats (Argo floats), fish tags, drifters, and distress alert devices useful for conducting effective search and rescue operations.

Significance of the launch: Oceansat-3 launch is significant since this is the first major ocean satellite launch coming from India since the initiation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOSSD, 2021-2030). 

ICMR: Avoid antibiotics for low-grade fever

Source: The post is based on the article “ICMR: Avoid antibiotics for low-grade fever” published in TOI on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has called upon doctors to avoid using antibiotics for conditions such as low-grade fever and viral bronchitis among others.

Why has ICMR advised not to use antibiotics for low-grade fever?

ICMR conducted a multi-centre survey to determine the nationwide trend in antibiotic resistance.

It found that a large number of patients were no longer benefitting from the use of certain antibiotics as they have developed anti-microbial resistance to them.

For instance, it found that Acinetobacter baumannii, a gram-negative bacteria known to cause infection in the blood, urinary tract and lungs among others, was resistant to high-end antibiotics like carbapenems.

What are the guidelines issued by ICMR on antibiotics?

Doctors should avoid using antibiotics for conditions such as low-grade fever and viral bronchitis among others.

A stop date should be recorded to ensure that antibiotics are not continued beyond the recommended duration. 

Antibiotics should be prescribed for a duration of five days for skin and soft tissue infections, five days in case of community-acquired pneumonia, and eight days for hospital-acquired pneumonia.

What is Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria?

Gram-positive and Gram-negative are two distinct types of bacteria. People categorize these types based on their structures and their appearance after Gram staining. 

Note: Gram staining is a process of dying bacteria and then viewing them beneath a microscope.

The key differences between Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria are,

Perfect storm: What is the Fujiwhara Effect?

Source: The post is based on the article “Perfect storm: What is the Fujiwhara Effect?” published in Down To Earth on 28th November 2022.

What is the News?

Meteorologists were mesmerized by Typhoon Hinnamnor as it provided a textbook example of a phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara Effect.

What is the Fujiwhara Effect?

The Fujiwhara Effect is any interaction between tropical storms formed around the same time in the same ocean region with their centres or eyes at a distance of less than 1,400 km with the intensity that could vary between a depression (wind speed under 63 km per hour) and a super typhoon (wind speed over 209 km per hour).

The interaction could lead to changes in the track and intensity of either or both storm systems. In rare cases, the two systems could merge, especially when they are of similar size and intensity, to form a bigger storm.

Identified by: The Fujiwhara effect was identified by Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist whose first paper recognising the Fujiwhara cases was published in 1921.

What is Imphal’s Ima market, which minister Jaishankar called ‘a great example of Nari Shakti’

Source: The post is based on the article “What is Imphal’s Ima market, which minister Jaishankar called a great example of Nari Shakti” published in Indian Express on 28th November 2022.

What is the News?

External Affairs minister has tweeted pictures of his visit to Manipur’s Ima market, calling it a “great example of nari shakti (women’s power) powering economic growth”.

What is Manipur’s Ima market?

Ima Keithel or Mothers Market is an all-women market in Manipur. It is said to be the largest such shopping complex in Asia.

In this market, 3,000 “Imas” or mothers run the stalls. The market is split [into] two sections on either side of the road.

Vegetables, fruits, fish and household groceries are sold on one side and exquisite handlooms and household tools on the other.

Male vendors and shopkeepers are barred here. In 2018, the Manipur government announced that legal action would be taken under the Manipur Municipalities Act, 2004 if any male vendor was found selling goods at the market.

What is the historical significance of Manipur’s Ima market?

The Ima Market is centuries-old, and has its origins in Lallup Kaba, an ancient bonded labour system.

Under the system, Meitei men had to compulsorily serve some time working in the military and on other civil projects, keeping them away from home.

The women, thus, were left to manage on their own, and they developed a market system which is today the Ima Keithel.

While the system is centuries-old, it had continued till the time of the British. Policies of the British government had interfered with the functioning of the Ima market too, but were met with stiff resistance from the women.