9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – October 31st, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• A check over of the U.S.’s much anticipated NSS
• The extra-constitutional delusions of Raj Bhavan
• Why we need a more comprehensive index than the Global Hunger Index
• The case of consent – on women related issues
• How today’s energy crisis will shape our world’s future

GS Paper 3

• Demand grows, but DNA tests fall under a grey area
• United against terror – on United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting
• Climate responsibility
• About India’s per capita growth: The First Among Twenty
• How The Aviation Ecosystem Will Take Flight With C-295s

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Kalanamak rice, ‘Buddha’s gift to people’, is now small, strong
• Prime Minister lays foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility – country’s first in private sector – in Vadodara, Gujarat
• Indian Navy Participates in Maiden Trilateral Exercise with Mozambique and Tanzania
• Explained | What are the laws against black magic and superstition in India?
• Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal Converts Red Mud into X-ray shielding tiles
• PM dedicates Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
• U.P. promotes tombs of Muslim devotees of Krishna for tourism
• Commerce ministry plans DPIIT cell to spur industry
• Only 1-2% of population who need palliative care have access to it: FICCI report

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

A check over of the U.S.’s much anticipated NSS

News: The United States has launched its National Security Strategy (NSS). It is a comprehensive document that provide the estimates of investment in the defense of the country and in achieving the nation’s security goals.

What are the goals of NSS?

The NSS of the Biden administration focuses on multiple goals to be achieved in the current decade (2021-30).

It seeks to 1) Sustain U.S. leadership, 2) Improve the U.S. economy, 3) Building partnerships and alliances, 4) Counter China as its strategic competitor and Russia as a disruptor, and 5) Boost U.S. competitiveness and defend democracy.

It also focuses on the issues of climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, terrorism, energy shortages and inflation along with food security and inflation.

It serves three purposes – a) fulfils the aims and vision of the National Security Strategic Guidance, b) provides clarity and direction to various policies, c) fulfils the political expectation in the US.

An important part of the NSS is to inform the U.S. Department of Defense’s strategy, especially in the two areas – nuclear posture and missile defense.

What are the agendas put under NSS?

It lays down three main agendas of the U.S. strategy of moving forward: a) invest; b) build and c) modernize.

Invest: It seeks to invest in the tools of American power and increase its influence by strengthening the economy, improving critical infrastructure and investing in technologies such as microchips and semiconductors.

Build: It seeks to build the strongest possible coalition of nations.

Modernize: it aims at modernizing that would fulfil the US’ internal and external security demands.

These three agendas will help US to compete with China as NSS names China as the only competitor that could shape the international order in a fundamental way.

How does NSS provide strategy to compete with China and fill the gap of Russia?

The NSS provides a long-term and immediate plan to counter China. It seeks to build a joint-strategy to compete China while putting limitation on Russia.

It considers China’s increasing dominance in the Indo-Pacific region in areas of economy, technology, development, security, etc, a threat.

Further, it also focuses on building alliances and global partnership to oppose change in the status quo of Taiwan by China.

It identifies Russia’s downgraded economy, military, and its degraded global influence. To fill the gap of Russia, the NSS acknowledges India and Japan.

This acknowledgement may be a hint for the inclusion of India in G7. However, one has to be aware that any such inclusion will serve the interest of the US only rather than its Indo-Pacific partners.

How NSS recognizes India as the strategic partner of the US?

NSS identifies India as a both bilateral and multilateral partner in the Indo-Pacific and highlight the importance of India as the largest democracy and a major defence partner.

It provides India with the opportunity of partnership with the US in the defence sector.

It has also recognized India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific through regional partnerships such as the Quad (India, Australia, Japan the U.S.) and the I2U2 (India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S).

The extra-constitutional delusions of Raj Bhavan

News: The Kerala Governor issued the statement that individual Ministers who lower the dignity of the office of the Governor can face withdrawal of the pleasure by the Governor. The statement has stirred the controversy.

What are the different views regarding the pleasure of the Governor?

Governor mainly exercises two powers – a) Statutory Power, b) Constitutional Powers

Statutory Power: The governor has statutory powers as a Chancellor of universities in the State, like determining the loopholes in the appointment process, etc. Vice-Chancellors of universities were expelled in exercise of this power. However, he does not have power to expel Ministers and he is expected to act within the bounds of the Constitution.

Constitutional Powers: Article 163(1) says that the Council of Ministers must aid and advise the Governor. Article 163(2) says that the Governor can act in his discretion in certain matters according to the Constitution. These two articles have to be read together.

This means that Governor is bound by the Cabinet decision except in certain cases, where he can use his discretion, such as in deciding on sanctions to prosecute a cabinet minister or in his decisions as Administrator of a Union Territory, etc.

Article 164 says that the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. However, this article cannot be separated form Article 163.

Therefore, it means that Governor cannot use its pleasure unless the Cabinet or the Chief Minister advises to use it.

Scholar’s view: The jurist H.M. Seervai said that if Governors have discretion in all matters under Article 163(1), then it would be unnecessary for another provision that gave discretionary powers to Governor under Article 163(2).

According to scholar Subhash C. Kashyap, the pleasure given in the constitution signifies the use of the pleasure only when the Ministry has lost the confidence of the majority.

Supreme Court: Supreme Court in Shamsher Singh vs State of Punjab (1974) highlighted the statement of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar regarding Article 164.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said unlike the President of the US, Indian President is bound by the advice of his Ministers. The President cannot act against the advice of the Ministers nor he can take any decision without their advice.

He further said that the President of India cannot dismiss any Minister as long as he enjoys the majority in the Parliament. This same principle applies to Governor as well.

SC also said that the power and functions of the President and the Governor should be disposed by the Ministry answerable to the Legislature. This will secure the democratic nature of the governance.

Colonial laws: As per the Government of India Act, 1858, the post of Governor was under the supervision of the Governor General and Government of India Act, 1935 made Governors to act on the advice of the provincial Government.

Constituent Assembly: There were debates over the misuse of the power of the Governor. The daft article 126 contained that Governor’s Ministers shall be chosen and summoned by (the Governor) and shall hold office during his pleasure. However, this article was later amended and the Cabinet was given the authority to rule.

So, it implies that the Governor is only a titular head of the State and the Governor cannot act against the Cabinet if the Cabinet has majority. Therefore, the current statement of the Kerala Governor stands void.

Why we need a more comprehensive index than the Global Hunger Index

News: India has ranked 107 among 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI, 2022). This has raised concern over the policy of the government in tackling hunger especially in the children.

However, it has raised the lacunae over the methodology of calculating hunger by GHI and problems associated with it.

What are the problems with GHI?

Problems with Indicators

Three of the four indicators used for calculation of the GHI are related to the health of children and therefore the index does not represent the entire population.

The indicator that estimates the proportion of undernourished population is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000.

The other variables that GHI uses are stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height) of children and mortality rate of children under 5 years.

Therefore, the government has said that the data provided by GHI 2022 mostly reflects the health of the children rather than the health of the entire country.

Further, the problem of stunting and wasting is multidimensional and not just because of hunger. Thus, it requires a focus on female education, access to immunization, and better sanitation facilities.

Problems of food shortages

GHI 2022 suggests that India is facing food shortages and many Indians do not have access to food. However, this is not true.

India has been giving free food (rice/wheat), 10/kg per person per month to more than 800 million people since April 2020 in the pandemic. It also exported more than 30 MMT of cereals in 2021.

This distribution and export have helped in tackling starvation not only in India but around the world. India has also been applauded for its effort by multilateral agencies like the UNDP, IMF, World Bank, etc.

Therefore, the government has raised concern that GHI does not include free food under the PMGKY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana) but instead relies on an opinion survey of 3,000 in a country of 1.4 billion.

On the other hand, the authors GHI say that NSSO’s consumption data has not been generated after 2011 which made them rely on the sample size.

What can be the course of action?

The authors of the GHI index should use the calorie intake based on FAO’s food balance sheets because there are problems even with the NSSO consumption data.

For example, according to the research at ICRIER, calories consumption for 2019 was estimated at 2,581 calories while the NSSO consumption survey of 2011 is stuck at 2088 calories.

Therefore, more research is needed by the authors to produce GHI which will eventually improve India’s ranking.

Further a more comprehensive index like the Multi-dimensional Poverty (MPI) index of the UNDP than the GHI is needed to get the status of the entire population.

The case of consent – on women related issues

News- The article explain the issue of women alleging rape when long-term relationships come to an end.

What is the legal position?

Section 375 is related to rape. As per Section 375, a man is said to have committed rape if he has sexual intercourse with a woman “without her consent”.

It should be read with section 90. Section 90 provides that consent given under a misconception is not consent in the eye of the law. Hence, a woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with a man on the promise of marriage argues that her consent was accorded under the “misconception” that the accused was going to marry her.

Supreme Court has ruled that the alleged misconception created to obtain a woman’s consent for sex has to be close to the incident and not stretched over years.

What are the issues involved?

The law is being misused against the male sexual partners. It is being used as an instrument of arm-twisting, blackmail, extortion and disproportionate revenge. It causes immense harassment, including imprisonment, the financial burden of seeking bail to men who had no criminal tendencies.

Risk averse tendency of police in sexual offence related cases further exacerbate the problem.

It also results in an undue burdening of the criminal justice system.

Relationship dynamics are further undergoing a quantum change. Young men and women increasingly engage in casual dating and short-term sexual intercourse through social media apps.

A law that seeks to protect unmarried adult women from being deceived into sexual intercourse also appears patently paternalistic.

The law is also paradoxical to women’s sexual liberation and empowerment. This comes with both the freedom and the responsibility to own up to their choices and desires.

What is the way forward?

There is an urgent need to institute a system of detailed preliminary enquiry for such complaints before registering an FIR  to gauge the veracity of the allegations. This would help protect the genuine victims.

How today’s energy crisis will shape our world’s future

News- The article explains the current energy crisis and its implications.

What are some facts related to the current energy crisis?

This has been initiated by Russia’s invasion of Europe.

According to the IEA, the world is in the midst of the first global energy crisis, a shock of unprecedented breadth and complexity.

It is much broader-based than the crisis in the 1970s. It does not cover just oil, but gas and other fossil fuels.

Between January and July this year, the IMF global price index has risen by 72%. But since then, the gas prices have fallen drastically due to lower demand.

The epicenter of the crisis has been Europe.

What will be the implication of this crisis?

There is a longer term shift. Even if the situation normalizes, Europe’s dependence on Russia will not be the same. The rupture between their energy relation will be permanent.

Germany is looking for other alternatives to meet energy needs. Major replacements have been Norway, Netherland.

Ripples of these realignments will be felt by big consumers like India. It will have to make more efforts to secure energy supply.

Russia will have to look for new buyers for its oil as the full European embargo on Russian oil begins in February next year.

Countries will have to prioritize energy security over other goals.

There will be a transition towards clean energy. IEA energy outlook says that coal demand will plateau by next few years and natural gas by next decade.

What is the scenario of India?

India dependence on Russian oil is not a short-term shift. India will likely be a major buyer in years to come. If Russia is able to build a pipeline in Asia infrastructure in Asia, India could be a major importer of Russian gas.

Renewable will continue to grow in importance. IEA Energy Outlook says that coal share in electricity generation  will fall by 20% in less than a decade. Share of solar power and wind energy in electricity generation will rise to about 27% from the current 10%. But it will be a major consumer of fossil fuel.

GS Paper 3

Demand grows, but DNA tests fall under a grey area

News- The article explains the issues related with DNA tests. It also explains the position of higher courts on DNA tests.

What are the issues involved?

The demand for DNA tests are increasing by around 20% each year.

There is conflict between two issues. On the one hand, it encroaches on the privacy of individuals and there is danger of self-incrimination. On the other hand, it is needed to unearth the truth, claim of marital infidelity and proving paternity.

The Supreme Court recognized bodily autonomy and privacy as part of the right to life under Article 21.

Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act  presumes that a child born to a married woman is legitimate. The burden of proof is on the person claiming illegitimacy of the child. The use of DNA tests to deal with claims of infidelity competes with this section.

What have been the views of the cases?

The Supreme Court has recently held in a case concerning a woman protecting her identity that compelling an unwilling person to undergo a DNA test would be a violation of his/her personal liberty and right to privacy.

In Bhabani Prasad Jena, 2010; Supreme Court held that judges cannot order genetic tests as a “roving enquiry”.

In the Banarsi Dass case, 2005, it held that DNA must balance the interests of the parties. DNA tests should also not be ordered if there was other material evidence at hand to prove the case.

In its Ashok Kumar judgment last year, the court said judges, should examine “proportionality of the legitimate aims”, before ordering a genetic test.

High Courts also have taken divergent views. Kerala High Court delivered two contrasting verdicts. In a high-profile case last year, it allowed a genetic test to establish that a former Left student leader and her husband were the biological parents of a one-year-old baby. In another case, it dismissed a 77-year-old man’s plea for a DNA test to prove that his wife had been adulterous.

United against terror – on United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting

News- The article explain the main highlights of recently held United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in Mumbai.

What are the challenges related to terrorism?

There is lack of global cooperation in fight against terrorism. Lack of international cooperation was evident in bringing justice to victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

Pakistan has not prosecuted the preparators of the attack. The USA has refused to extradite David Headley and Tahawwur Rana. China continues to block designating LeT leaders on the UNSC 1267 terror list.

What was the focus of the summit?

The focus was on online radicalization and terror recruitment, terror financing through crypto-currency, and virtual assets. The issues like unmanned aerial system use including drones for terror strikes, and transporting drugs and arms were also discussed.

The deliberations led to the “Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes”.

Climate responsibility

News: Two issues may play an important role in the upcoming COP27 — a) Further commitment on global climate responsibility for loss and damage compensation and b) Some acceleration of commitments on mitigation actions.

How do the global countries stand on their climate responsibility?

Responsibility

The Paris agreement mentioned a “common but differentiated responsibility.” The word responsibility meant to a) Responsibility as liability: This is for the damage inflicted on others, b) Responsibility as a duty: Since climate change affects every country in the world, all have a duty to act.

Concerns associated with fixing responsibility: The Paris Agreement has a) Diluted the distinction between developed and developing countries was diluted and, b) Created a way for voluntary pledges instead of globally negotiated commitments, c) There is no standard set for the substantiality of voluntary pledges.

Loss and damage

This involves the impacts of climate change that are not avoided by mitigation, adaptation, and other measures such as disaster-risk management. It includes, for instance, extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, the sea-level rise, etc.

Steps taken on loss and damage: This includes Santiago Network on technical assistance and an agreement at COP26 in Glasgow to have a dialogue process on the issue.

Concerns associated with the loss and damage principle: So far, the cost of financing with unavoidable loss and damage is not yet discussed. According to experts, the financing of loss and damage is even more important than support for mitigation and adaptation.

Emission-reduction plans

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has estimated the carbon emissions from 2020 to global net zero(2050) should be limited to 500 billion tonnes for a 50:50 chance of staying below a temperature increase of 1.5 degree centigrade. This is done after taking into account the likely emission of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide.

Concerns associated with fulfilling Emission-reduction plans: The permissible average per capita per year emission over the 2020-2030 period is 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide. But the emissions of the USA will amount to five-seven tonnes, of China four-six tonnes, of the EU and the UK two-three tonnes.

Note: India’s average per capita per year emissions will be 1.5-2.3 tonnes.

Overall, the combination of responsibility as liability for loss and damage and responsibility as a duty to leave enough room for others will not be readily accepted by the major emitters.

What climate responsibilities needs to be finalised on COP-27?

Agreement on loss and damage: Much of the loss and damage will take place in the future as well. So, there should be an agreement to assign financing responsibility for loss and damage with the actual payments provided when the actions to manage loss and damage are undertaken.

There should also be a separation of relief measures for unpredicted adverse weather events and steady funding for measures to cope with threats like sea-level rise.

Emission-reduction plans: The pace of emission reduction depends on the announced targets for 2030, and beyond that, it will depend on the rate at which decarbonisation initiatives like renewable and nuclear energy, electrification of transport or its conversion into green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage are implemented.

India can assert and ensure that it remains on the UNFCCC agenda and provides a basis for bringing together the vast majority of countries that are mainly victims rather than perpetrators of climate risks.

About India’s per capita growth: The First Among Twenty

News: Recently IMF-World Bank meetings have been concluded in Washington. The IMF WEO expects per capita growth in India to be higher than that of China for six years, from 2022 through 2027.

About India’s per capita growth against China

Between 1980 and 2019, China’s per capita income grew at 7. 7% per annum, and India’s at 4. 1%. Between 1980 and 2014, India’s per capita growth exceeded that of China on only two occasions: in 1989, when the excess was 1. 1% and in 1990 when the excess was 0. 9%.

After 2015, India ended this long “drought” and held excess per capita income growth for three successive years. India is now converging to the per capita income of China. According to the projections, the average per capita growth rate for India and China, 2022-27: India 5. 4%, China 4. 3%.

Why India’s growth story has surprised many, and How has India performed against G20 economies?

India is a democracy, but China is not. Many experts have hinted that democracy is a constraining factor in carrying out economic reforms that could facilitate growth. But despite being a democracy, India has achieved this development.

For instance, G20 countries provide a useful reference point for a comparative analysis of performance of India. The table provides historical data for five groups of countries: India, China, G20 emerging markets (minus India), G20 advanced economies, and G20 itself.

The IMF WEO data reveals a) For the first time ever, EMs and AE exchange rate depreciation has narrowed to near equality for the forecast of period 2022-27, b) Across a number of important economic performance criteria the balance has shifted to the EMs, and c) Within EMs, the baton of leadership has passed from China to India.

So, overall, India’s economy is set to thoroughly outpace its fellow G20 members over the next five years

How The Aviation Ecosystem Will Take Flight With C-295s

News: Recently, the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for the Tata consortium’s C-295 manufacturing facility.

What are the potential applications of C-295 aircraft?

The aircraft is contemporary in design, technology and systems and has widespread usage in 12 countries.

Military applications: It is already certified and operational in numerous roles like Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), maritime patrol, aerial refuelling, search and rescue (SAR), and even as a water bomber.

It has a load capacity of up to nine tonnes, it can carry up to 71 passengers or 44 paratroopers or 24 stretchers for medical evacuations

Civilian applications: Beyond military potential across the board, the aircraft is certified for civil applications.

The aircraft’s unique capability to connect destinations which are tough to service or reachable only through semi-prepared surfaces and short runaways. This can help in both passenger and load-carrying tasks.

What is the significance of the C-295 manufacturing facility in India?

First of a kind initiative: This is a) The first large-scale project given directly to the private sector, b) C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing capability is being set up in the country for the first time, thereby bridging a critical gap in indigenous aircraft manufacturing.

Host of benefits to IAF: C-295’s versatility would provide IAF with an immensely powerful tactical transport capability. By the next decade, this fleet would become the backbone of the IAF’s entire tactical transport operations. Apart from the present 40 orders, additional requirements will also emerge from the IAF towards future acquisitions/replacements in this category.

Further, the navy and coast guard have already indicated interest towards their requirements.

Boon for the private and MSME sector: The project will involve the creation of production infrastructure with transfer of technology from Airbus. The resulting manufacturing supply chain will spread from Tata to a host of MSMEs.

As per the data released, about 125 MSMEs across the country will be involved in the supply chain. Overall, the initial order would result in substantial production set-up in the country.

The contract stipulates the setting up of a D-Level servicing facility by 2031, and this maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) capability will itself be a boon for the private sector with a long-term commitment to efficient and cost-effective maintenance support for IAF.

How India can move ahead with the C-295 manufacturing facility?

1) India should utilise this capability and start targeting MROs of aircraft in friendly countries, 2) India should try to get export orders from friendly countries, 3) India should develop indigenous mission computers and own operational software to support indigenous products and R&D and permit rapid modernisation.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Kalanamak rice, ‘Buddha’s gift to people’, is now small, strong

Source: The post is based on the article “Kalanamak rice, ‘Buddha’s gift to people’, is now small, strong” published in The Hindu on 31st October 2022.

What is the News?

Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has successfully developed two dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice, named Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652.

What is Kalanamak?

Kalanamak is a traditional type of rice with a black husk and a powerful fragrance.

The rice is considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti when he visited the region after enlightenment.

It is currently grown in 11 districts of the Terai region of northeastern Uttar Pradesh and in Nepal (specifically Kapilvastu).

This rice is rich in micronutrients such as iron and zinc and can help prevent Alzheimer’s. It also contains 11% protein which is almost double of common rice varieties.

This rice has been awarded the Geographical Indication(GI) tag in 2013 which recognised Siddharthnagar and the adjacent districts for the tag.

Under the One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme, it has earned the Prime Minister’s award for Excellence in Public Administration 2021.

It was also featured in the book ‘Speciality Rices of the World’ by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

What are the problems faced by Kalanamak rice?

Kalanamak has been prone to ‘lodging’ which is one of the reasons for its low yield.

Note: Lodging is a condition in which the top of the plant becomes heavy because of grain formation, the stem becomes weak, and the plant falls to the ground.

What has been developed by scientists?

Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has successfully developed two dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice named Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652.

The traditional Kalanamak paddy’s yield is barely two to 2.5 tonnes per hectare. The yield of these new varieties is double that of the traditional variety.

Prime Minister lays foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility – country’s first in private sector – in Vadodara, Gujarat

Source: The post is based on the article “Prime Minister lays foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility – country’s first in private sector – in Vadodara, Gujarat” published in PIB on 30th October 2022.

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of a C295 aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, of the Tata-Airbus consortium that will manufacture the transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force(IAF). 

It is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. It is also the first time that the C295 aircraft will be manufactured outside of Europe.

What is a C295 aircraft?

C295 is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment. It is manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space in Spain.

Equipped with: Two Pratt & Whitney engines.

Purpose: C295 can carry troops and logistical supplies from main airfields to forward operating airfields of the country. 

– It can also operate on short unprepared airstrips as it is capable of Short Take-off and Landing (STOL).

– It can additionally be used for casualty or medical evacuation, performing special missions, disaster response and maritime patrol duties

India has concluded a deal with Airbus for C295 medium transport aircraft(MTA). As part of the deal, the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from Spain within four years and the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

Features of C295 aircraft: The C295MW is a transport aircraft with a 5 to 10-tonne capacity and a maximum speed of 480 kmph. 

– It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off and landing from semi-prepared surfaces are some other features.

– The company claims this aircraft has the longest unobstructed cabin in its class which can accommodate 71 seats. 

– All aircraft will be fitted with an indigenous electronic warfare suite to be developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

Indian Navy Participates in Maiden Trilateral Exercise with Mozambique and Tanzania

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian Navy Participates in Maiden Trilateral Exercise with Mozambique and Tanzania” published in PIB on 30th October 2022.

What is the News?

The first edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise(IMT TRILAT) has started at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

What is IMT TRILAT?

It is a trilateral maritime exercise among the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzania navies.

Objectives of the exercise: 1) Capability development to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices, 2) Enhancing interoperability and 3) Strengthening maritime cooperation. 

The Indian Navy is represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS (Special Forces).

Significance: These exercises reflect India’s and the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR (Safety and Growth for All in the Region).

Explained | What are the laws against black magic and superstition in India?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | What are the laws against black magic and superstition in India?” published in The Hindu on 30th October 2022.

What is the News?

The brutal murders of two women as part of “ritualistic human sacrifices” in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala have left the country in shock. 

Chilling details of the killings have sparked a debate about the prevalence of superstitious beliefs, black magic and sorcery in Kerala.

What does the NCRB data say on deaths due to black magic and Superstition?

As per the 2021 report of the National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB), six deaths were linked to human sacrifices while witchcraft was the motive for 68 killings. 

The maximum number of witchcraft cases were reported from Chhattisgarh (20), followed by Madhya Pradesh (18) and Telangana (11). Kerala saw two cases of human sacrifice. 

Note: In 2020, India saw 88 deaths due to witchcraft and 11 died as part of ‘human sacrifices’.

Is there a law in India against black magic and Superstition?

In India, there is no central law that exclusively deals with crimes related to witchcraft, superstition or occult-inspired activities. 

In 2016, MP Raghav Lakhanpal introduced the Prevention of Witch-Hunting Bill in the Lok Sabha, but it wasn’t passed. 

In the absence of nationwide legislation, a few States have enacted laws to counter witchcraft and protect women from deadly ‘witch-hunting’. 

Bihar was the first State to enact a law to prevent witchcraft, identification of a woman as a witch and eliminate torture, humiliation and killing of women. Similarly, other states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra and Karnataka have also passed the act.

Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal Converts Red Mud into X-ray shielding tiles

Source: The post is based on the article “Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal Converts Red Mud into X-ray shielding tiles” published in PIB on 30th October 2022.

What is the News?

CSIR- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute(AMPRI) has converted red mud into X-ray shielding tiles in a green and economically viable manner.

These tiles can be used to build radiation shielding structures in diagnostic X-rays, CT scanner rooms, Cath labs, bone mineral density, dental X-rays, etc instead of the toxic lead sheet to protect the public from radiation hazards.

What is Red Mud?

Red Mud is the waste generated in the Bayer process of alumina production from bauxite. It is also known as bauxite residue. 

Red Mud is defined as a “High Volume Low Effect Waste”. Nearly 1 to 1.5 tonnes of RM is being generated while producing one tonne of alumina from the bauxite ore through the Bayer process. 

Red Mud Generated Globally: Annually about 175 million tonnes of red mud have been generated globally and stored in a specially designed clay-lined pond. Among that, India is producing nearly 9 million tonnes of red mud every year. 

Is Red Mud toxic?

Red Mud is considered to be toxic due to its extreme alkalinity and heavy element leaching. 

The clay-lined ponds in which red mud is stored often break out and pollute soil, groundwater, and air and become fatal for both humans and wildlife.

About the underutilization of Red Mud

Red mud is one of the underutilized industrial wastes that is getting accumulated over the years due to an increase in alumina production as well as inadequate technologies for its large-scale utilization. 

– Although the scientific community has patented more than 700 applications of red mud, very few of them have reached industries due to high cost, low public acceptance, environmental issues, and limited market. 

– Noteworthy, only 3-4% of red mud has been utilized by the industries to produce cement, bricks, source of iron ore etc.

– The beneficial utilization of red mud is becoming a global issue. The red mud contains 30 – 55% of Fe2O3 which is suitable for attenuating high-energy ionizing radiations like X- and gamma rays.

PM dedicates Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat

Source: The post is based on the article “PM dedicates Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat” published in PIB on 30th October 2022.

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has inaugurated Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. These are now new attractions at the Statue of Unity.

What is Maze Garden?

A maze garden is a type of garden that is grown and landscaped in such a way that a maze exists. 

The Maze Garden in Gujarat is spread over three acres of land making it the largest such garden in India.

The garden has a pathway of about 2.1 kilometres. It has been designed in the shape of a ‘Shriyantra’, which is believed to bring positive energy to the place.

As many as 1.8 lakh saplings have been planted in the garden which has added to the aesthetic beauty of the landscape.

What is Miyawaki Forest?

Miyawaki forest is named after the technique developed by a Japanese botanist and ecologist Dr Akira Miyawaki to plant saplings of various species that are planted close to each other which develops into a dense urban forest. 

The growth of plants is ten times faster using this method and as a result, the forest developed is thirty times denser. 

Through the Miyawaki method, a forest can be developed in just two to three years while it takes at least 20 to 30 years through the traditional method. 

U.P. promotes tombs of Muslim devotees of Krishna for tourism

Source: The post is based on the article “U.P. promotes tombs of Muslim devotees of Krishna for tourism” published in The Hindu on 31st October 2022.

What is the News?

The Tourism department of Uttar Pradesh has redeveloped the tombs of Raskhan and Taj Bibi (both devotees of Lord Krishna) as a tourist complex with an open-air theatre.

Who was Raskhan?

Raskhan or Syed Ibrahim Khan was a 16th-century Sufi Muslim poet born either in Amroha or Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh. 

Raskhan was his pen name in Hindi.

He became a follower of Krishna and spent his life in Vrindavan. 

His poetry is in the form of Doha, Padawali and Savayya.

Who was Taj Bibi?

Taj Bibi, also known as the ‘Mughal Mirabai’ was the daughter of a Muslim nobleman named Padna Khan.

Taj Bibi was married to Emperor Akbar and was appointed by the Mughals to protect the Gokul area.

She wrote poetry during the Mughal time when the ruling class belonged to the Muslim religion.

Commerce ministry plans DPIIT cell to spur industry

Source: The post is based on the article “Commerce ministry plans DPIIT cell to spur industry” published in Livemint on 31st October 2022.

What is the News?

The Department for promotion of industry and internal trade(DPIIT) is preparing a comprehensive industrial policy statement to give a renewed push to manufacturing activity and private investment.

What is the purpose of the Industrial Policy Statement being prepared by DPIIT?

The policy aims to provide a broad framework to address manufacturing-related bottlenecks and facilitate investments while leveraging the realignment of global supply chains due to geopolitical factors.

Its six core objectives include 1) promoting India as an attractive investment destination by ensuring policy stability, 2) transparency and ease of entry, 3) strengthening intellectual property rights awareness, 4) promoting IP dialogues with industry, small businesses and academia, 5) ensure a better land availability process, creation of a logistics ecosystem and 6) sustained increase in labour productivity.

Key reforms planned under the policy: 1) Establish a cell in the DPIIT. The cell will ideate, implement and monitor India’s industrial development strategy, 2) Expansion of production -linked incentive(PLI) schemes, 3) Strengthen the cluster development model, 4) Incentivize public procurement, 5) Promote research and development funding on a “mission mode”, 6) Reform outmoded laws and 7) Ensure seamless enforcement of contracts and end-to-end digitization of all procedures.

Significance of the policy: The government has been trying to increase the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP to 25% from the current 17% and move up the global value chain.

Further, this policy statement is important as it comes at a time when private investment is yet to pick up pace amid monetary policy tightening.

Only 1-2% of population who need palliative care have access to it: FICCI report

Source: The post is based on the article “Only 1-2% of population who need palliative care have access to it: FICCI report” published in The Hindu on 26th October 2022.

What is the News?

According to a report released by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), only 1-2% of the population in India who need palliative care have access to it compared to the global average of 14%.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses. 

Palliative care is required for a wide range of diseases. The majority of adults in need of palliative care have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (38.5%), cancer (34%), chronic respiratory diseases (10.3%), AIDS (5.7%) and diabetes (4.6%)

Palliative care should be offered in conjunction with any medical treatment that a patient may be seeking, right from the time of diagnosis.

Why Palliative care is important in India?

India stands at number three in terms of cancer incidence in the world.

Kerala, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab, and Assam report the highest overall crude incidence rates of cancers which is greater than 130 cases per lakh population.

The financial burden for cancer treatment is the highest compared to all diseases making it unaffordable for over 80% of the population. 

The cost of single hospitalization for cancer care is three times that of any other non-communicable disease (NCDs).

Palliative Care Policy in India: Currently only three States in India (Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra) have a palliative care policy.

Suggestions: The need of the hour is to train auxiliary nurses and Asha workers to provide counselling to cancer patients.

– The government needs to undertake efforts to include palliative care packages under reimbursement schemes of the government as well as private insurance plans.

What are the steps taken by the Government against NCDs and life-threatening diseases?

Firstly, a population-based initiative for prevention, control, and screening for common NCDs i.e. diabetes, hypertension, and common cancers has been rolled out in the country under National Health Mission (NHM).

Secondly, treatment for Cancer is also available under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). 

Thirdly, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments.

Fourthly, Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions, with an objective to make available Cancer drugs at a substantial discount vis-à-vis the Maximum Retail Price. 

Fifthly, under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), financial assistance is provided to families living below the threshold poverty line for their treatment, including treatment of Cancer in Government hospitals.