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

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• On reservations for EWS: a test for law and justice
• Permanent membership of the UNSC is another story
• Energising India-Nepal ties, the hydropower way
• The Lalit Effect

GS Paper 3

• What is the solution to India’s garbage disposal problem?
• Bringing BPCL sale back on the table
• The future of farmer producer companies could be brightened
• Symptoms of climate change are real

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• National launch of JALDOOT App
• Thamirabarani: Govt, ATREE adopt ‘hyper local’ approach to restore one of south Asia’s oldest rivers
• Subject of Akshay Kumar’s new movie, why Ram Setu is the bridge across history, mythology and controversy
• Successful Flight Tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS) Missile by DRDO
• Ministry of Culture organizes Bathukamma festival- an annual celebration in Telangana at Kartavyapath, India Gate
• Why the famous Gir lion is hanging out by the beach
• White fly attack, untimely rains and drought; Rajasthan farmers stare at losses
• Survey shows increase in employment in fourth quarter of last fiscal, manufacturing largest contributor
• Supreme Court: Streaming live
• Explained | The NASA spacecraft-asteroid collision

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

On reservations for EWS: a test for law and justice

News:  The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the 103rd constitutional amendment.

What is 103rd constitutional amendment act?

However, this act has been challenged in the SC and various arguments have been put forward for the opposition.

Why this act has been challenged in the Supreme Court?

According to the petitioners, the amendment violates the Constitution’s basic structure. They believe that the amendment destroys the Constitution’s idea of equal opportunity.

Whereas, the government argues that the Constitution demands equality and there are multiple ways of providing equality. The govt. says that the power to amend include a power to decide how to guarantee equal status to all persons.

What was the rationale behind the reservation?

Reservations were first introduced by some of the princely states as an alleviative measure. At that time almost all government posts in the British India government were filled by the privileged castes. Thus, a system of reservations was introduced denominating communities as “Backward Classes”.

There were debates over reservations when the Constitution was being drafted. The Constitution makers saw reservation as a tool that will help assimilate the depressed class to rise and be equal with the privileged class into public life. Marc Galanter has called this a compensatory discrimination principle.

The rationale remained the same behind the introduction of the 1st Constitution’s amendment in 1951 which allowed the state to make special provisions beyond reservations in public employment.

SC in the State of Kerala v. N. M. Thomas (1975) case held that reservations based on social and educational backwardness, ought to be seen as an intrinsic facet of the idea of equality.

Therefore, it seems that 103^rd amendment act has not served the purpose of reservation.

How does 103^rd amendment is against the idea of equality defined in the Constitution?

Reservations based on the economic criteria doesn’t place people into a definite group requiring special privileges.

This would eventually lead to dominant caste to retain their position in the administration.

Therefore, 103rd amendment act infringes the purpose of equality defined by the Constitution.

Permanent membership of the UNSC is another story

Context:  There are talks about the India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

UNSC remains the only exclusive club, where none of the new emerging countries has entered. Otherwise, even the exclusive Nuclear Club has been breached by India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar has also called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

What are the concerns associated with veto power?

The right to vote with permanent UNSC members has been a cause of concern for other countries. This power has been used frequently to block any attempt that goes against any of the permanent UNSC members. For example;

Western members have used their privileged position to protect Israel when the Palestinian question was being discussed.

Veto power was also used to prevent sanctions being imposed on the apartheid regime of South Africa.

The Russia has cast more vetoes than the three western members of UN. However, many times it has gone in favor of India as well. For example, Russia has helped India on many occasions on the question of Kashmir. Russia also helped India by vetoing unfavorable resolutions during the war of Bangladesh liberation in 1971.

However, considering the present situation, India cannot be sure of help from Russia in future on Kashmir issue or any other unfavorable occasion.

India cannot expect that Britain or America will cast a negative vote against Pakistan.

China is already hostile towards India. It can be seen in the Chinese blockade on the UNSC resolution against confirmed Pakistani terrorists in the sanctions list.

What are the challenges with permanent membership to India in UNSC?

None of the P-5 countries want any new member to be added to UNSC.

Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean are unrepresented in the permanent category at present. However, Africa is looking for two permanent seats and they are yet to decide which two African countries will be included.

There are four declared candidates for permanent membership: India, Japan, Brazil and Germany, called the G-4. There are concerns over the opposition of G-4 permanent membership. For example, China will not support India nor will it ever support Japan. Italy will oppose Germany.

Lastly, even if India is elected for permanent membership with full support, there will other countries along with India entering into the group.

What are the other challenges in the expansion of UNSC?

The UN charter will be amended if any new members are added in the UNSC.  Amending the charter involves two-thirds of the total membership of the U N including the votes of P-5.

There is also an enemy clause, present in Article 107 of the charter and there will be difficulty in amending this clause. The P-5 members will always oppose the enemy nations.

What can be the course of action?

A group of experts has suggested that a new category of semi-permanent members should be created.

Countries would be elected for a period of eight to 10 years and would be eligible for re-election. India should also give serious consideration to this idea.

Some experts are of the opinion that India should not accept permanent membership without the right of veto.

While some say that even a permanent membership without veto will be tremendously helpful in protecting our interests.

Energising India-Nepal ties, the hydropower way

News– The article explains the potential of the West and East Seti River projects for India and Nepal. It also talks about the steps needed for the successful completion of the project.

Recently, Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to develop 1200 MW West Seti and EastSeti River (SR6) projects.

What is the historical background of the project?

The project was conceived in the early 80s.

The Australian company was engaged in developing the project during 1997-2011.

In 2011 project was handed over to a Chinese company. China withdrew from project in 2018

It was then remodeled by Nepal as the East and West-Seti-river joint project.

What is the potential of the project?

Improvement in relations– It can provide India the much-needed leverage in future hydropower cooperation. India is already involved in the Mahakali Treaty (6,480 MW), the Upper Karnali Project (900 MW) and the Arun Three projects (900 MW) in western and eastern Nepal.

The project has the potential to enhance cross-border power exchanges between the two

Countries.

Countering China– It will also help India minimise the geopolitical influence of China and firm its presence in Nepal. West Seti Hydroelectric Project was a major Chinese venture under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Benefits to Nepal- Nepal’s electricity exports to India are expected to increase foreign exchange and address the power shortage. It is estimated that if the hydropower potential is fully harnessed, Nepal can generate revenue of 1,069 billion rupees per year in 2045 by exporting electricity to India.

Benefits to India– The West Seti Hydroelectric Project can provide an alternative to address power deficits in India.

What steps need to be taken?

New options and alternatives need to be explored. Project costs have increased. There is a need for a careful study of investment scenarios, distribution, and transmission networks, and the cost of resettlement and rehabilitation, at the preliminary stage.

Nepal is concerned that the electricity rates and supply from India is inadequate to meet the rising demands. This needs to be taken care of.

The project can also be extended to other regional partners under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) framework for cross-border energy cooperation. A cross-border energy market that includes Nepal, Bhutan and north eastern states of India can be created.

The Lalit Effect

News– The article explains the issues of frequent adjournment pleas and frivolous PILs in higher courts of the country.

Chief Justice UU Lalit has increased the matters listed daily. It has led to an increase of adjournment pleas by lawyers.

What are the rules related to adjournment pleas by courts?

Civil cases– Civil Procedure Code stipulates a maximum of three adjournments while hearing a case.

Criminal cases– Criminal Procedure Code instructs judicial officers to hear trials and inquiries on a day-to-day basis. It stipulates that a lawyer engaged in another court cannot be a ground for adjournment.

What are the issues faced by the judicial system?

Adjournment pleas–  Adjournments are taken for reasons like lawyers being busy in other courts. It leads to judicial delays.

In 2017, a government panel on speeding up commercial disputes found the three-adjournment rule violated in 50% of civil cases.

Frivolous PILs– These are diversionary for constitutional courts.

Recently, Bombay HC dismissed a PIL seeking a ban on advertisements of non-vegetarian foods. The court asked the petitioners why they wish to encroach on others rights.

GS Paper 3

What is the solution to India’s garbage disposal problem?

Context: There is a garbage problem everywhere around the country. Companies make the product but they are unable to take this garbage back to the recycling plants due to the low cost of the packaged material.

What does the data say?

According to a recent annual report of a large consumer goods (FMCG) company, out of every Rs 100 of the company’s product that we buy, Rs 5 go up in vehicular smoke and Rs 8 for the package that we hold in our hand.

This packaging is required because the products have a long shelf life, and withstand heat, sunlight and rough handling during freight.

After using the product consumers throw it in the garbage which can be seen littering around the road causing problems like choking gutters.

However, there are different laws present to address the problem.

What steps have been taken by the government to address the issue?

Government has various laws but they lack implementation.

According to the law, the Ultimate Manufacturers (UMs) of plastic are responsible for the collection of the waste and its processing.

They must set up collection networks and work with state pollution control boards and the city and town administrations. It will ensure that the waste reaches recyclers and manufacturers.

However, this system has not worked because of the economy associated with it.

For example, Rs 8 out of 100 was spent on packaging the product, the cost of the packaging materials is barely Rs 1.

Even with the most advanced recycling technology, the value of that piece of garbage in our hand to the ultimate manufacturer is less than 50 paise.

Therefore, it is simply not economical to transfer the waste back to the manufacturer.

This is why the garbage dumps, ragpickers, and the neighborhood kabaddi shops are necessarily the only last mile option of our recycling system.

What can be the course of action?

A suitable amount of money can be implemented as a sustainability tax on the packaging and carriage cost components of a given product. This tax can be easily administered and transferred to the districts and towns.

This would provide the company with a good amount to address its garbage disposal problem.

Therefore, a consumption tax based on sustainability would create the right incentives for a scientific analysis of garbage and the logistics of its disposal.

Further, it will also create a group of professional companies who specialize in this sector and provide their services to hundreds of cities and towns.

Bringing BPCL sale back on the table

News: Recently the government has put aside the idea to privatize Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

The reason behind it is the inability of the bidders to participate due to prevailing conditions in the global energy market.

However, it is not the only reason that prevents the bidders from participating.

What are the concerns with the privatization of BPCL?

The reasons for postponing the sale of the government’s 53 per cent stake in BPCL are not just the market conditions but it is also the policy environment that prevails in the country’s oil sector.

Therefore, even when the markets improve, the chances of a long queue of bidders for BPCL will remain low.

So, there is a need to reform the pricing policies that govern companies refining and marketing petroleum products.

What steps have been taken by the government for the reforms in the petroleum industry and the problems associated with those reforms?

Many governments in the past have tried to deregulate petroleum product prices but they have failed to do so.

Oil prices are as regulated as any product in the pre-reform days of the 1970s and the 1980s.

Reform: The effort to dismantle the price mechanism for the oil sector was officially started in 2002. The administered price mechanism for the oil sector was officially dismantled.

This provided freedom to the oil companies to sell their products at a price determined by their own calculations on cost and return.

Problems: This led oil companies to declare their prices almost every fortnight but approval from the oil ministry was still required.

Even that little freedom for the oil companies was gone, when international crude oil prices began rising from 2004.

The then government decided to regain full control over prices of petrol and diesel and the oil companies were not allowed to fix the prices till 2009.

Reform: The petrol prices were made free from regulations form 2010. Further, under the Modi government diesel prices were also made free from the govt. regulations.

Problems: The government continued to have an indirect control on retail prices of petroleum products.

The government tried to fix the prices of petrol and diesel and they also raised taxes when international crude oil prices fell.

Therefore, oil refiners and marketing companies never enjoyed the true freedom in pricing their products.

Reform: The government set up the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in 2006.

It was set up to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, and to promote competitive markets.

Problem: But the regulatory board has been insufficient to fulfil its aims.

These all issues have led to the inability of oil companies to develop a transparent system of fixing prices.

How have private companies perform in the petroleum sector?

They entered into the retail markets but later withdrew due to government-controlled pricing. Therefore, the regulatory and policy gaps in the pricing and distribution of petroleum products should be removed.

However, fixing the regulatory and policy gaps in the pricing of petroleum products would be a big challenge.

What can be the course of action?

First, the way out is to grant full freedom to oil marketing companies to fix the retail prices in a competitive environment.

Second, the government could declare a subsidized band of prices for petrol and diesel as it does for cooking gas.

Third, the transaction of the consumer should be linked with Aadhaar based system so that the consumers could claim the difference between the subsidized and market prices.

• This difference could be transferred to their bank accounts.
• This will make the oil companies’ costs and returns would become more transparent

Fourth, it is also important to safeguard the oil marketing companies from political intervention to freeze or bring down retail prices of petrol and diesel.

• This would ensure stability will also encourage the private sector to expand their retail operations in this sector.

The future of farmer producer companies could be brightened

News– The article explains about Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) in India. It analyses the challenges faced by these FPCs and possible solutions to address these issues.

What are the issues faced by the farming sector?

70% of farmers are small and marginal. They have disadvantages in terms of scale, potential risk and bargaining power.

The average monthly income is almost 10000 per month at current prices.

Almost half of farmers are facing debt issues.

Most farmers are rain-fed and exposed to climate risk.

What are Farmer Producer Companies?

They were introduced in the 2000s as potential solutions to challenges faced by the farming sector. They operate on the basis of the welfare model of collectivization.

They function under the Companies Act, 2013 where shareholding farmers pool their resources for better market linkages.

By 2019, 7374 FPCs have been formed.

A central sector scheme was launched in 2021 to promote 10000 FPCs.

Additional funding is provided through the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium, NABARD and schemes like the Agriculture Investment Fund.

What are the challenges before FPCs?

First issue is related to raising capital from its members. High income states like Haryana and Punjab have better scope for raising capital. In states with lower per capita income like Odisha, it is difficult to raise capital. 65% of FPCs were operating on meagre share capital before the pandemic.

Second issue is that they cannot absorb public funding equally. There is a role of business development service providers, knowledge partners, and technical institutes to nurture FPCs. Small FPCs find it difficult to engage with these entities.

Smaller FPCs face issues in hiring full staff for operations that impact their branding and customer outreach.

Third issue is related to dominance of male. Women farmers face issues in providing share capital. They are represented by their male proxies.

What are the possible solutions?

Better coordination- There is a need for policy platforms like POSHAN Abhiyan for inter-agency convergence.

Capacity building– The capacity of FPCs for absorbing public funds should be strengthened. Government officials and cluster-level federations set up under the One District One Product scheme can mentor FPOs.

Better incentives- FPCs must enable farmers access to entitlements like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM krishi Sinchai Yojana, KCC.

Women participation– They need to be given equal priority in these FPCs.

Symptoms of climate change are real

News: The resurgence of the monsoon at a time when it should normally have retreated from the northwest highlighted the impacts of climate change.

The excessive rain also exposed the inherent flaws in the drainage systems and poor town planning in most cities, including Delhi.

What are the clear symptoms of climate change in India?

a) Development of new rain-bearing systems in the oceans, b) The frequency of long dry spells and short bouts of intensive rain, along with the schedule of the monsoon’s onset and withdrawal has also undergone a noticeable change, c) There is a significant rise in the incidence of heavy downpours and pre-monsoon heat waves in the Himalayan region. This has led to more landslides and a greater melting of snow, and d) The overall monsoon rainfall this year, though about 7% above normal, has been quite patchy over time and space. This impeds crop sowing in some areas and adversely affects standing crops in others and e) The persistence of La Nina (caused by cooler than normal waters in the tropical Pacific) for an unusually long term of three years.

What are the clear symptoms of climate change around the world?

Globally, the impact of climate change is showing up in a higher frequency and more intensity of heat and cold waves, wet and dry periods, and melting of glaciers.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization is of the view that aberrant weather might lead to significant crop losses and exacerbate food security concerns in several countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific region.

The impact of La-lina for consecutive three years is clearly visible in the dry climate in parts of the US and South America and unprecedented floods in Pakistan.

The potential loss to the global economy on account of weather-related factors is reckoned by some economists at over $1 trillion by the end of 2023. This shows that global efforts to mitigate global warming are not producing the desired results.

What needs to be done to mitigate climate change?

a) Adapt to climate changes and enhance preparedness to cope with them, b) Concerted efforts to evolve crop varieties and agronomic practices capable of boosting the farm sector’s resilience against weather uncertainties.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

National launch of JALDOOT App

Source: The post is based on the article “National launch of JALDOOT App” published in PIB on 27th September 2022

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Rural Development has launched the “JALDOOT App”.

What is a JALDOOT App?

Developed by: Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Aim: To monitor the underground water levels across the country.

Key Features of the app: JALDOOT app will be used to capture the water level of selected two-three wells in every village.

– The water levels in these open wells will be measured twice a year, from May 1 to May 31 during the pre-monsoon time, and from October 1 to October 31 for post-monsoon levels. 

– To ensure transparency, the officers assigned to measure have been told to upload the geotagged photographs through the app each time the measurement is done. 

– The app will work both in online and offline mode to ensure that lack of internet connectivity does not come in the way of the exercise. 

– The regular data to be input by the ‘Jaldoots’ would be integrated with the database of the National Water Informatics Centre which can be utilized for analysis and help in conservation efforts.

Significance: The app will facilitate panchayats with robust data which can be further used for better planning of works. The groundwater data could be utilized as a part of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan and MGNREGA planning exercises.

Thamirabarani: Govt, ATREE adopt ‘hyper local’ approach to restore one of south Asia’s oldest rivers

Source: The post is based on the article “Thamirabarani: Govt, ATREE adopt ‘hyper local’ approach to restore one of south Asia’s oldest rivers” published in Down To Earth on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The district administration of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu along with Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) are using a ‘hyper local’ approach to restore Thamirabarani River.

What is the Thamirabarani River?

Thamirabarani is the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu. 

It originates in the Pothigai Hills of the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district. 

The river flows through Tirunelveli and then neighbouring Thoothukudi and ends in the Gulf of Mannar at Punakayil. It thus originates and ends in the same state.

Significance: The river supports wildlife such as the Nilgiri marten, slender loris, lion-tailed macaque, white spotted bush frog, galaxy frog, Sri Lankan Atlas moth and the great hornbill.

– Besides the ecosystem services it provides, the river also has historical value for the people of the state. It is mentioned extensively in Sangam Era literature.

Threats: The river is stressed because of industrial effluent release, sewage and water hyacinth. Initial study suggests that the river gets polluted due to industrial discharge and the dumping of solid waste, especially in the form of clothes and flowers by devotees.

What is the TamiraSES project?

Launched by: District administration of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu along with Bengaluru-based non-profit ATREE.

Aim: To restore the Social Ecological Systems of the Tamiraparani riverscape from head-waters to the estuary to enable conditions for native biodiversity to thrive and maintain and enhance multiple ecosystem services to local stakeholders.

– Five social ecological observatories will be set up as part of the first phase of the project. These will serve as pilots to scale up from the learnings from these sites.

– The idea is to rejuvenate not just the Thamirabarani but all the water bodies in the riverscape of Tirunelveli.

Subject of Akshay Kumar’s new movie, why Ram Setu is the bridge across history, mythology and controversy

Source: The post is based on the article “Subject of Akshay Kumar’s new movie, why Ram Setu is the bridge across history, mythology and controversy” published in Indian Express on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The teaser of Akshay Kumar’s new movie, Ram Setu has once again generated buzz around the Ram Setu or Adam Bridge which many believe is the bridge to Lanka mentioned in the Ramayana.

What is Ram Setu?

The Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge is a 48-km chain of limestone shoals between Rameswaram on India’s southeast coast and Mannar Island near Sri Lanka’s northwest coast.

Significance: The structure has significance in both Hindu and Muslim mythology – while Hindus believe this is the bridge (setu) built by Lord Ram and his army to cross to Lanka and fight Ravan.

– On the other hand, as per Islam, Adam used this bridge to reach Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka, where he stood on one foot for 1,000 years in repentance.

Is it a natural or man-made bridge: Scientists believe Ram Setu is a natural structure formed due to tectonic movements and sand getting trapped in corals. However, over the years, evidence has been offered to claim that the bridge is man-made. 

What is the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project?

The project aims to create a shipping route between India and Sri Lanka by building an 83-km-long deep water channel which would also reduce travel time between the eastern and western coasts of India, as ships would no longer have to circle Sri Lanka to travel between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. 

However, the project has been opposed on religious and environmental grounds.

Current Status of the project: In 2018, the Government of India told the Supreme Court that the Ram Setu will not be affected in the execution of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project.

– Another plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction from the Centre to declare the Ram Setu a national heritage monument.

Successful Flight Tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS) Missile by DRDO

Source: The post is based on the article “Successful  Flight Tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS) Missile by DRDO” published in PIB on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The Defense Research and Development Organization(DRDO) has conducted two successful test flights of the Very Short Range Air Defense System(VSHORADS).

What is a Very Short Range Air Defense System(VSHORADS)?

VSHORADS is an indigenously designed and developed Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).

Developed by: DRDO’s Research Center Imarat(RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.

Purpose: To neutralize low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.

Features: The missile is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor. It also incorporates a number of novel technologies, including a miniaturized Reaction Control System and integrated avionics.

Significance: VSHORAD is considered extremely vital for the defense of any major city or any strategically important location. The present stock with the Indian Army like the Air Defence Guns L-70 and the ZU-23 is over four decades old and hence totally obsolete. 

Ministry of Culture organizes Bathukamma festival- an annual celebration in Telangana at Kartavyapath, India Gate

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Culture organizes Bathukamma festival- an annual celebration in Telangana at Kartavyapath, India Gate” published in PIB on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Culture has organized the celebration of Bathukamma festival being held at Kartavyapath, India Gate, New Delhi.

What is Bathukamma Festival?

Bathukamma is an annual festival in Telangana.

The festival is celebrated by the women folk of Telangana, heralding the beauty of nature in vibrant colors of multitudinous flowers.

The festival begins a week before the grand ‘Saddula Batukamma’ (the grand finale of the Bathukamma festival) which falls two days before Dussehra.

During the nine-day annual festival, women and girls sing and dance around specially arranged flowers. At the end of the festival, they immerse the specially arranged flowers called Bathukamma in local ponds.

Since the formation of Telangana state in 2014, Bathukamma has been celebrated as the state festival.

Why the famous Gir lion is hanging out by the beach

Source: The post is based on the article “Why the famous Gir lion is hanging out by the beach” published in TOI on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The coastal population of Asiatic lions in Gir, Gujarat has increased by 395% in 10 years.

Asiatic Lion Population in Gujarat

According to the 2020 census, Gujarat has 674 Asiatic lions against 523 in 2015. Of these, 104 live on the Saurashtra coast; these include 17 lions along the Bhavnagar coast which has been developed as a satellite habitat for the Gir lion.

In just 10 years, the coastal population has grown from 21 to 104, an increase of 395%. 

An internal count of the department shows that in 2022, the number would be close to 130.

Why has the lion population increased along the coast?

Since the lion population in the state is increasing, they are now spreading across Saurashtra’s landscape.

Lions also seem to have adapted to the coastal climate. A study has revealed that casuarina equisetifolia plant (Saru plant) was found in abundance in coastal areas. These plants reduce the temperature by 3-4 degrees making the place conducive for lions.

The other reason for lions moving to new territories is infighting. For instance, once a subadult lion reaches the age of four, it is kicked out of the group. Along with other subadults, it carves out its own territory and pushes older lions out of the area. So, the big cats then venture out to search for new territories. 

White fly attack, untimely rains and drought; Rajasthan farmers stare at losses

Source: The post is based on the article “White fly attack, untimely rains and drought; Rajasthan farmers stare at losses” published in Down To Earth on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The number of white fly attack on cotton has been increasing in states like Punjab and Rajasthan.

What is White Fly?

Whitefly is a serious pest of cotton that lowers yield by feeding on the underside of the leaf and spreading diseases like Cotton Leaf Curl Virus. 

Whiteflies feed on the sap of the leaves and release fluid onto the leaves on which a black fungus grows.

This affects photosynthesis, the food-making process of the plant, and so lowers the strength of the plant.

Origin: Most of the whitefly species are native to the Caribbean islands or Central America. In India, the first invasive whitefly was reported in Kerala in 1995. 

Spread of Whitefly: Whitefly species are expanding their host range (Species on which they feed) on valuable plant species like coconut, banana, mango, sapota, guava, cashew, oil palm, and important medicinal plants.

– The host range of all the whiteflies is increasing due to their polyphagous nature (ability to feed on various kinds of food) and prolific breeding (produces a large number of offspring).

Measures to control Whiteflies: Click Here to read

Survey shows increase in employment in fourth quarter of last fiscal, manufacturing largest contributor

Source: The post is based on the article “Survey shows increase in employment in fourth quarter of last fiscal, manufacturing largest contributor” published in The Hindu on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The Government has released the results of the fourth round of the Quarterly Employment Survey(QES).

Note: QES is part of the All-India Quarterly Establishment Based Employment Survey (AQEES).

What is the All-India Quarterly Establishment Based Employment Survey (AQEES)?

Click Here to read about it

What are the key highlights from the fourth round of QES?

Employment is showing an increasing trend in the selected sectors of the economy. The estimated employment increased from 3.14 crore in the third quarter to 3.18 crore in the 4th Quarter.

Largest Employing sector: Manufacturing continues to be the largest institutional employer in the country, employing about 38.5% of the workers. It was followed by the education sector with 21.7%.

Women: The participation of women workers witnessed a marginal increase from 31.6% in the third quarter to 31.8% in the fourth quarter report.

– Women workers constituted about 52% of the workforce in the health sector. In financial services, women far outnumber males among self-employed persons.

Categories of workers: Around 86.4% of the workers were regular employees, and 8.7% were contractual employees followed by casual employees (2.3%) and self-employed (2%). The share of fixed-term employees in the establishments was found to be the least (0.7%) overall.

Supreme Court: Streaming live

Source: The post is based on the article “Supreme Court: Streaming live” published in Indian Express on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has started to live stream its proceedings only in crucial Constitution Bench cases.

Background

The Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi vs Supreme Court of India (2018) had ruled in favor of opening up the apex court through live-streaming.

It held that the live streaming proceedings are part of the right to access justice under Article 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution.

Quoting the English legal philosopher Jeremy Bentham, the Supreme Court said that publicity is the very soul of justice.

Click Here to read more about it

What are the advantages of live streaming of Supreme Court proceedings?

Firstly, Live-streaming directly brings citizens into conversations that have so far largely remained restricted to judges, lawyers and litigants, on vital issues affecting the polity and society.

Secondly, Live-streaming is also an accountability tool for a check on populist statements by lawyers and for ensuring that judges begin proceedings on time and give equal opportunity to all sides. 

Thirdly, it is also an invaluable resource for those who study and teach law. 

Fourthly, the archive will be an excellent opportunity to identify and address systemic patterns that are affecting judicial functioning. For example, multiple studies on the US Supreme Court audio archives found a pattern in the disruptions — female judges were more frequently interrupted than their male counterparts.

What are the concerns of live-streaming of constitution bench hearings?

Explained | The NASA spacecraft-asteroid collision

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | The NASA spacecraft-asteroid collision” published in The Hindu on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft has collided with the asteroid Dimorphous.

What are Asteroids?

Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Although asteroids orbit the Sun like planets, they are much smaller than planets. 

There are lots of asteroids in our solar system. Most of them are located in the main asteroid belt – a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

What is DART Spacecraft?

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How did NASA undertook this mission?

NASA undertook the ‘kick’ technique. Compared to the massive Dimorphos, DART is a tiny Goliath. 

Yet crashing at a breakneck speed of 23,760 kilometres per hour, the momentum is adequate to slash the angular momentum of Dimorphos, making it speed up and move closer to Didymos. 

All of these reduce the orbital period and the time taken for the moonlet to go around the primary asteroid. The pair’s trajectory is thus deflected as the net result of these dynamics. 

Consider it like this: a fast-moving moped slamming into a truck is sure to undergo a massive crash and burn, yet will veer the massive truck a bit. This is the essence of the ‘kick’ technique.

What has been the impact assessment?

The DART craft carried a high-resolution DRACO (Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation) camera to observe the collision and its consequences. The close-up images until its fatal crash are being analyzed.

Are there other countries launching similar missions?

China is set to deflect a 40 m diameter earth-crossing asteroid called 2020 PN1 sometime in 2026.