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

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Explained: The cultural roots and significance of PM Modi’s gifts for his Quad colleagues

GS Paper 2

• Supreme Court directions on sex workers: history of the case, and where it stands now
• Disability and the barriers to feminine hygiene
• How to solve crimes better
• Digitisation will ensure speedy, efficient delivery of justice
• Hindus and Muslims must give up rigid positions on contested places of worship
• Storm in a GST cup

GS Paper 3

• For India, economic entropy presents both an opportunity and big challenge

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• True Random Number Generator (TRNG): IISc develops device to improve data security
• India to get semi-high speed freight train
• Sela macaque: New Arunachal monkey named after mountain pass
• Avulsion in rivers: Kosi River course change not natural; here’s why
• Government of India has set a target to achieve 100 Million Tonnes Coal Gasification by 2030: Additional Secretary, Coal Ministry
• Minister of State for Commerce & Industry launches Indian Business Portal – e-commerce marketplace
• New Guidelines of Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) approved
• Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): Year before Covid: Jobs in corporate sector, LLPs grew, proprietorships fell
• Money spider, ant-mimicking spider discovered at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurates India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Explained: The cultural roots and significance of PM Modi’s gifts for his Quad colleagues

News: As the India Prime Minister travelled to Tokyo to attend the Quad Summit, he carried with him gifts for leaders of the US, Australia and Japan showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and art forms.

A look at those gifts and their cultural roots.

Sanjhi art panel for US President Joe Biden

The intricate sanjhi panel that the PM gave to US President Joe Biden is based on the theme of Thakurani Ghat, which is one of the most famous ghats on the banks of the holy river of Yamuna in Gokul.

The traditional art form, that originated out of the cult of Krishna, involves creating stencils based on incidents from the life of the deity and then hand-cutting these on thin sheets of paper using scissors.

Radha, according to Hindu mythology, used to paint sanjhi patterns on the walls for her beloved Krishna and later the gopis of Vrindavan followed suit.

Later, the form was used to make ceremonial rangolis in temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. In fact, the term ‘sanjhi’ is derived from ‘sanjh’ or dusk and is related to the practice of making rangolis in temples at dusk.

In the form of painting, sanjhi was popularised in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Vaishnava temples and was practiced by Brahmin priests.

During the Mughal period, contemporary themes were added and several families have continued to practice the form to this day. During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the pictograms were inspired by traditional Sanjhi art.

Gond art painting for Australian PM Anthony Albanese

The art in its visual form is often traced to Jangarh Shyam, who in the 1970s and ’80s began drawing the largely oral myths and legends of the tribe onto the walls of homes in the village of Patangarh.

The art form told the tale of their gods and goddesses and as well as the flora and fauna of the deep forests in Madhya Pradesh.

As the form received global recognition, several Gond artists have gained prominence and recognition. The prominent names include Bhajju Shyam, Venkat Shyam, Durgabai Vyam, Ram Singh Urveti and Subhash Vyam, among others.

Wooden hand-carved box with a Rogan painting for Japanese PM Fumio Kishida

PM Modi gifted PM Kishida a hand-carved deep brown wooden box with a gold and white Rogan painting on a green cloth as its central motif.

Rogan is a form of cloth painting that is considered to be more than four centuries old and is primarily practised in Kutch district of Gujarat.

The word ‘rogan’ comes from Persian, meaning varnish or oil.

The craft uses paint made from boiled oil and vegetable dyes, where castor seeds are hand-pounded to extract the oil and turned into a paste by boiling.

Usually, only half the fabric is painted, and it is folded to create a mirror image. While originally only men used to practice the art form, now several women in Gujarat also pursue it.

PM Modi had also gifted a Rogan painting to the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, during his three-day visit to Europe earlier this month.

GS Paper 2

Supreme Court directions on sex workers: history of the case, and where it stands now

News: A long-standing demand of sex workers that their work be decriminalised has been partially fulfilled, with the Supreme Court observed that adult sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under law.

With the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill yet to see the light of day, the Court invoked powers under Article 142 to issue guidelines till the legislation is in force.

What are the observations made by the court?

Court directed the police to respect the rights of consenting sex workers, and it further observed that –

– Notwithstanding the profession, every individual has a right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

– It reiterated what the Court had ruled in Budhadev Karmaskar (2011), that sex workers are also entitled to a “life of dignity”.

– Police should treat all sex workers with dignity and should not abuse them, verbally and physically, or subject them to violence or coerce them into any sexual activity.

What happened after the Budhadev Karmaskar judgement?

In 2011, the SC appointed a panel asking it to study and make “suitable suggestions” on “prevention of trafficking, rehabilitation of sex workers who wish to leave sex work.

Findings of the panel: In its final report submitted on September 14, 2016, the panel noted that

– Sex workers found it difficult to acquire proofs of identity such as ration cards or voter cards because they lacked a proof of residence.

– District authorities did not recognise the identities of sex workers and their children, and sex workers did not have access to schemes meant for their rehabilitation.

– They also had no access to credit offered by states, because the lack of documents prevented them from opening bank accounts.

The committee recommended that amendments should be made to The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

On May 19, a Bench led by Justice L Nageswara Rao noted that despite its assurances, the Centre was still to bring a law on the subject. Therefore, the court used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 (which enables it to pass orders necessary to do “complete justice” in a pending matter), and directed that some of the recommendations be implemented by states and UTs.

Which are the recommendations that the SC has directed to be implemented?

The May 19 order listed 10 recommendations of the panel, and directed that six of them should be implemented.

These include:

a) provision for immediate medical assistance for any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault;

b) direction to states to do a survey of all Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act Protective Homes so that cases of adult women who are detained against their will can be reviewed and processed for release in a time-bound manner;

c) sensitising police and other law enforcement agencies to the rights of sex workers and to ensure that police treat them with dignity and do not abuse them verbally or physically or coerce them into any sexual activity;

d) ask The Press Council of India to issue appropriate guidelines for the media to take utmost care not to reveal the identities of sex workers; and

e) direction that measures that sex workers employ for their health and safety (condoms, etc.) must neither be construed as offences nor seen as evidence of commission of an offence.

How has the Centre responded?

The Centre said it had “certain reservations” on four recommendations of the panel.

These are:

a) no criminal action against a sex worker who is adult and participating with consent;

b) arresting only the brothel owner and not sex workers during raid on brothels;

c) role of sex workers in decision-making processes, including planning, designing and implementing policy relating to sex work;

d) a recommendation with regard to children of sex workers.

The SC has asked the Centre to file its response to the recommendations of the panel within six weeks.

Way forward

The Court’s general observations should help sensitise the police, media and society toward sex workers, who have generally been invisible and voiceless.

The ball is in the Government’s court to draw up appropriate legislation to free consenting sex workers from stigma, and grant them workers’ rights. In that, too, the Court suggested the Centre and States involve sex workers or their representatives to reform laws.

Disability and the barriers to feminine hygiene

News: The United Nations Population Fund and WaterAid India are collaborating to understand the key challenges and constraints faced by persons with disability with regard to menstrual health and hygiene.

According to Census 2011, nearly 27 million persons (or 2.2% of the Indian population) are disabled.

Measures taken in India so far

The government and non-governmental actors have increased awareness about menstrual health and hygiene management (MHHM), enhanced access to female friendly/gender appropriate sanitation facilities and availability of menstrual products (like sanitary pads).

What were the limitations?

A section including girls and women with disabilities have not been focussed so far. They face an exceptional burden on account of the intersections between gender and disability.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The 2016 Act, stipulates the rights and entitlements of persons with disability. It also recognises that women and children are particularly vulnerable sections of the PWD Community.

It specifies that a person with disabilities has “long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment”. This impairment while interacting with other barriers, hinders [her]/his full and effective participation in society equally with others”.

What are the issues?

Persons with disabilities are unable to fully participate in many areas of daily life. They are excluded from doing so as a consequence of impairments/societal barriers or socio-cultural attitudes.

The reproductive rights are even more neglected or disregarded as compared to others.

The realisation of rights and entitlements of persons with disability has been very poor. It is poorer in case of socially and economically vulnerable groups. For example, girls and women with disabilities from poor households and marginalised communities.

According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-20, fewer than two-thirds of girls and women with disabilities aged between 15 to 24 years use hygienic menstrual protection methods.

There are deeply embedded prejudices and misconceptions about the reproductive anatomy and abilities of persons with disability. For example, they are considered asexual, unsuitable for marriage, and incapable of having and raising children.

They are denied information about sexual and reproductive health as compared to those without disabilities. Their menstrual health is also found to be compromised. For them, menstruation is more than a mere physiological process due to preconceived notions.

They face additional hurdles to hygiene management, good health, and health-seeking behaviours due to economic and structural constraints; mobility constraint, among others.

Objectives of United Nations Population Fund and WaterAid India Collaboration

First, understand the key challenges and constraints faced by persons with disability with regard to menstrual health and hygiene.

Second, identify simple and potentially scalable solutions in critical areas like accessible and adapted Information, education and communication on menstrual health and hygiene based on their differential needs and capacities, and an enabling socio-cultural environment. For example, Tactile models accompanied by audio explanations can help people with visual impairment.

Third, appropriate and safe menstrual products and hygiene promotion. They should be provided with a diverse range of products to choose from the most appropriate product.

Fourth, responsive and inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, including disposal solutions in different settings like schools, rural, and urban areas.

Fifth, caregivers, both from within the family and institutions should be included as participants and partners. They are vital to ensure success of disability focused interventions.

Way Forward

Every menstruating person has the right to menstrual health, irrespective of their gender identity, ability, or socio-economic status.

How to solve crimes better

Context: Forensic sciences have gained great cultural popularity over the past two decades with the onset of crime shows on
television. For example, Series like Law and Order, Mare of Easttown, Shetland and Real Detective.

What is forensic science?

Forensic science is the application of scientific perspectives and techniques to the legal process, including investigations and courtroom protocol. In other words, “It is the use of scientific data and procedures specifically for the legal system.”

There is rigorous procedure involved, including controlled conditions, reliable data collection and the attempt to disprove hypotheses.”

Forensic science involves methodologies like the autopsy procedures, fingerprinting, testing and matching for poisons, blood spatter analysis, matching guns to bullets fired (ballistics), voice sample matches, handwriting assessments and DNA analysis.

Forensic science laboratories (FSL) in India

At the Central level

There are seven central forensic laboratories in India at Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Guwahati, Bhopal and Pune. The CBI controls the laboratory in Delhi and the Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS) controls other six laboratories, barring Delhi.

Their mission is to render high quality and credible forensic services to the justice delivery system

A National Forensic Sciences University was established in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2020.

At the State level

There are 32 state FSLs and about 529 mobile FSL units, of which Delhi has one state FSL and six mobile units.

Others

There are many private forensic laboratories in the country and their quality and standards of integrity vary. 

What is the importance of forensic science?

The investigation is done for the collection of proof pointing to innocence or guilt. It also involves the deployment of forensic science.

The criminal cases are solved by police conducting investigations which are aided by forensic science. The well-trained forensic staff working in good quality laboratories aid the criminal justice system.

What are the issues?

India has amongst the highest disparities in police-citizens and judge-citizens ratios.

The DNA tests discovered in 1985 are used to identify individuals involved in alleged crimes. In 2017,

The United Kingdom completes DNA testing on over 60,000 crimes annually. However, India completes such tests on less than 7,500 cases despite having over 13 times the population of the UK.

India has an inadequate number of forensic science laboratories (FSL). In addition, there is a lack of adequate qualified personnel. For example, the Supreme Court observed In Re: Speedy Trial of Undertrial Prisoners (2018) that 97 posts of scientific officers and 67 administrative posts are unfilled in the Central Forensic Science Laboratories. Further, in all states, there were over 50% vacancies in personnel at their facilities.

The average pendency at each lab is huge.

The Court recognised that the lack of personnel meant that often trials were delayed to non-receipt of FSL reports.

In India, the FSL reports take an inordinate amount of time to be prepared. This prevents conduct of forensic analysis and the criminal justice system relies principally on witness statements.

Way Forward

The Court had asked the central government to address the issue of non-filling of the personnel in FSL.

India needs more investment in the establishment of FSL laboratories, the training and appointment of personnel.

There is a requirement of reforms within our police to establish a trained and skilled detective cadre tasked with solving complex and heinous crimes.

There is a desperate need for good quality training facilities, standards of accreditation and continuous education programmes for our forensic experts.

As forensic science is ever-evolving, it is important to know which facets of the science are still credible and what methodologies must be discarded.

Digitisation will ensure speedy, efficient delivery of justice

News: In 2021, the Gujarat HC became the first court in the country to livestream its proceedings. Its example was followed by other HCs like Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Patna.

Use of technology in the India’s Judicial System

In India, e-governance in the field of administration of justice began in the late 1990s. However, the e-governance accelerated after the enactment of the Information and Technology Act, 2000.

Since then, the focus has been on digitising the court’s records and establishing e- courts across the country. For example, e-courts were launched as a part of the National e-Governance Plan (NEGP) in the year of 2006.

The e-Committee of the Supreme Court has issued directions to ensure that e-filing of cases/petitions by state governments in all matters be made mandatory from January 1, 2022.

The Supreme Court has approved the hearing of a number of matrimonial cases through video-conferencing in a number of cases. For example, in Krishna Veni Nagam v Harish Nagam Case (2017), and in Anjali Brahmawar Chauhan vs Navin Chauhan Case.

In 2018, the Supreme Court allowed the live-streaming of cases of constitutional and national importance on the basis of the judgment in Swapnil Tripathi.

What are the benefits of digitisation?

Digitisation prevents the requirement of a large space needed to store so many files and the decades-old documents.

Ensures that these files are traceable electronically as and when required. This prevents the consequences of missing court records.

– For example, the SC in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Abhay Raj Singh Case held that the courts are bound to set aside the conviction, if court records go missing and re-construction is not possible. Thus, convicts can go free for want of court records.

The time consumed in summoning records from the lower courts to the appellate courts cause a lot of delay in cases. It will take much less time to transmit the records as and when called for after digitisation.

The cases are adjourned simply because affidavits filed several years ago were not restored with the record or were not traceable. The digitisation will not let the cases adjourned by the courts on this account.

The lawyer or a litigant can check the status of the filing, the status of applications and affidavits, date of the next hearing, orders passed by the courts etc. Thus, the lawyers or their staff are not required to visit the reporting sections or other sections of the court to know about the status of their cases.

Before the pandemic, virtual hearings were used only in a limited manner; for example, in criminal cases where it was not possible to produce the accused physically before the court.

The live-streaming of cases of national importance would lead to ensuring transparency and openness.

What are the issues?

There are Internet connectivity issues. In addition, it requires a well-equipped space where lawyers can conduct their cases.

Judges, court staff and lawyers are not well-versed with digital technology and its benefits.

Way Forward

Political will and the support of judges and lawyers are necessary. They should be made aware of the technical know-how and its advantages. They should also be given adequate training in the technologies.

The digital technology can be used in terms of digitisation of court records, e-filing of cases and their virtual hearing, live streaming of court proceedings.

Virtual hearings cannot be a substitute for physical court hearings in all cases. Cases related to matrimonial issues and domestic violence, bounced cheques, motor accident compensation referred to mediation centres and lok adalats could be included in the list of cases fit for disposal through the virtual hearing.

Hindus and Muslims must give up rigid positions on contested places of worship

News: In the Ayodhya temple case decided in 2019 by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court. It was projected as a law falling within the parameters of the inviolable basic structure of the Constitution. In the present-day circumstances, other such disputes like Kashi-Mathura disputes have come to the picture.

What are the problems at present?

The masses remember only what a medieval-age despotic Muslim ruler had supposedly done to some ancient shrines in certain holy cities of India. They forgot the tributes paid by India’s spiritual figure of one community to holy places of another community. For example, Freedom-fighter Hasrat Mohani once went to Mathura on Janmashtami and pleaded with Lord Krishna to accept his pilgrimage to Mathura.

The ongoing developments on the places of worship in India goes against the nation’s professedly secular Constitution.

At present, the nationalists are reading the provisions of the statutes in accordance with their ideology. They do not go by jurisprudential discourses on interpretation of statutes. For example, the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 has acquired an inferior status in present discourse.

Way Forward

We should go by the Constitution’s prefatory terminology — “We the people of India” should join hands to preserve peace in our beloved nation, no matter what cost is to be paid for it. Both minority and majority community should amicably settle the disputes in the interest of peace in the country.

There is not solution in obstinacy and fanaticism. Each community whether minority or majority should respect the freedom of religion. Both have to find together a viable roadmap to nationwide peace. The perennial fighting over a few chosen shrines situated in each other’s vicinity is irrational and indefensible.

The judiciary has a role to balancing competing claims in religious disputes of large magnitude. It forms part of the judiciary’s Constitutional obligations. For example, the Ayodhya dispute Judgment 2019.

The nation’s top court decisions in earlier disputes as mentioned above and in the future disputes like the Kashi-Mathura disputes have been/would be in the interest of peace and harmony. This should not raise eyebrows.

Storm in a GST cup

News: The Supreme Court has given a ruling on a commercial dispute, the Union of India versus Mohit Minerals, over the levy of the integrated goods and services tax (GST) on ocean freight charges paid by importers. It has triggered a nationwide debate.

About the Judgment

The judgment is virtually a recitation from the Article 279A (4) of the Constitution of India. The article states that the GST Council shall “make recommendations” to the Centre and the states on all matters relating to the GST.

In legal terms, the recommendations are not binding on either the Centre or the states. Had the recommendations been binding, it would have been in violation of the legislative supremacy (Tax Sovereignty) of both Parliament and state legislatures.

The SC ruling also endorses the broader Constitutional position of fiscal federalism. It explicitly placed Centre and individual states on a par with each other in respect of GST. The Article 246(A) provides for concurrent taxation powers of the Centre and the states in relation to the levy of GST.

The bench has articulated that the GST’s Council’s deliberations have “persuasive value”.

Implications of the judgement

The “landmark” ruling has unintentionally “stirred and shaken federalism”. It has the potential to alter the nature of fiscal federalism in India.

The GST compensation will end from July 1, 2022. This will trigger dissent in the GST Council. This can lead to disruption and confrontation within the Council.

The judgment can be used by the GST Council members to pursue their agendas, the Centre to renege its committed obligations, or states to get some elbow room on indirect taxation policy.

The council will be driven more by political consideration than policy persuasions, and performance of the GST regime. The political view that state governments compromised their tax sovereignty in the GST regime is gaining currency.

Way Forward

All decisions of the GST Council have been based on consensus, rather than on voting.

The GST Council should start and strengthen the dispute resolution mechanism. Article 279A (11) requires the GST Council to establish a mechanism to adjudicate on any disputes arising out of its recommendations and its implementation. This should be in the form of the GTS Tribunal.

The GST Council must use its status as a constitutional body and skills as an institution to draw up guidelines for adjudication mechanisms to address disputes amongst GST Council members.

All the stakeholders should be made aware that more than loss of tax sovereignty of states, the GST was premised on pooling of tax sovereignty by both the centre and states.

The next Finance Commission can recognise the changes in the institutional landscape of the fiscal federalism post-GST Council. A new set of principles will be developed that will empower the states without disempowering the Centre must be worked on.

The GST Council could work out a state-specific GST outside the existing GST framework. This would transition from a co-operative federalism mindset to a collaborative federal system.

GS Paper 3

For India, economic entropy presents both an opportunity and big challenge

Context: Entropy, or the disorder in a system, is a concept not usually used to understand economic trends, but it best describes the disorder and randomness at work today.

What are some negative economic trends since the start of 2022?

Energy costs rising, the trade balance turns more negative, the fiscal balance deteriorating, portfolio capital flowing out, the rupee drops, companies getting more cautious, markets turning nervous, and consumers feeling the inflation pinch.

What are the elements of the increased economic entropy today?

Several elements go into the complex molecules of increased economic entropy.

First comes the disproportionate weight of globalisation on weak shoulders, in both rich and poor countries, simultaneously with the rise of national and global elites commanding previously unimaginable wealth.

Second, the more dramatic manifestations of sudden wealth have grown out of the ideological triumph of financial capitalism (one of the causes of the 2008 financial crisis), followed now by the rise to prominence of venture capitalism, and in a third but parallel development the rise to power and influence of Big Tech.

Third, the rise of winner-take-all (or platform) businesses and their start-up wannabes, the replacement of secure jobs with the uncertainties of the gig economy, and disruptive disintermediation.

Fourth, The forced entry into the rich countries (with under a sixth of the world’s population) of large numbers of immigrants from poorer ones.

Fifth, there is the power shift caused by the rise of China (and some smaller economies, like India’s), shaking up old power balances but the churn not settling into new ones.

Sixth, biology-driven havoc of a succession of epidemics/pandemics — the mad cow disease, SARS, bird flu, Covid-19, and for all one knows monkeypox — caused by, among others, dangerous research work in secret labs and the industrial farming of animals and birds.

Finally, add the technological changes being force-fed by global warming, making not just specific industries but entire sectors (energy, transportation, manufacturing) confront sudden discontinuity.

The economic consequences of these multiple, random elements of disorder have been disorienting, like the financial crisis of 2008.

Political-economy responses mirror the disorientation, from the rise of political nativism and economic nationalism to the spread of alternative truths, pace Brexit and Donald Trump.

Way forward

The cycle of events could even end the Chinese super-growth story. While India could benefit from that, it must recognise that entropy is the larger reality to be reckoned with.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

True Random Number Generator (TRNG): IISc develops device to improve data security

Source: The post is based on the article “IISc develops device to improve data security” published in The Hindu on 28th May 2022.

What is the News?

A team from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed a true random number generator (TRNG). This can improve data encryption and provide improved security for sensitive digital data such as credit card details, passwords and other personal information.

What is a True Random Number Generator (TRNG)?

Everything a person does on the internet is encrypted for security. The strength of this encryption depends on the quality of random number generation.

Encrypted information can be decoded only by authorised users who have access to a cryptographic ‘key’. But the key needs to be unpredictable and, therefore, randomly generated to resist hacking.

Cryptographic keys are typically generated in computers using pseudorandom number generators, which rely on mathematical formulae or pre-programmed tables to produce numbers that appear random but are not.

In contrast, a TRNG device extracts random numbers from inherently random physical processes, making it more secure.

How does IISC’s True Random Number Generator (TRNG) function?

In IISc’s TRNG device, random numbers are generated using the random motion of electrons. The random motion of electrons consists of an artificial electron trap constructed by stacking atomically-thin layers of materials like black phosphorus and graphene.

The current measured from the device increases when an electron is trapped and decreases when it is released.

Since electrons move in and out of the trap in a random manner, the measured current also changes randomly. The timing of this change determines the generated random number.

What is the significance of IISC’s TRNG?

Standard tests for cryptographic applications are designed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Min-entropy is a parameter used to measure the performance of TRNGs. Its value ranges from 0 (completely predictable) to 1 (completely random).

IISC’s TRNG showed a record-high min-entropy of 0.98, a significant improvement over previously reported values, which were around 0.89. Further, this TRNG is also more compact than its bulkier counterparts.

India to get semi-high speed freight train

Source: The post is based on the article “India to get semi-high speed freight train” published in The Hindu on 28th May 2022.

What is the News?

The Railways is aiming to introduce the country’s first semi-high speed freight train named the ‘Gati Shakti’ train by December 2022.

What is the ‘Gati Shakti’ train?

The train is based on the Vande Bharat platform. The train has 16-coach and will be able to run at 160 km/hour. Initially, two trains would be built, the final number of trains would depend on market reception.

Each train would have two refrigerated wagons to ferry perishable items such as fruits and vegetables.

Purpose: To tap the growing freight sector in the country.

Manufactured at: Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

What is the significance of ‘Gati Shakti’ trains?

Capture the e-commerce market: The railways is planning to target the e-commerce and courier parcel segment with the launch of these trains. Especially the small size parcel shipments by running dedicated high-speed freight trains.

Note: India’s e-commerce market is expected to reach $111 billion by 2024, $200 billion by 2026 and expected to reach $350 billion by 2030.

Increase share of Freight transportation: According to the National Rail Plan, Railways is aiming to increase its share in freight transportation from the present 27% to 45% by 2030 through better infrastructure and business development plans. The freight trains will aid in improving the share of freight transportation.

Sela macaque: New Arunachal monkey named after mountain pass

Source: The post is based on the article “New Arunachal monkey named after mountain pass” published in The Hindu on 28th May 2022.

What is the News?

A new species of old world monkey (Sela macaque) recorded from Arunachal Pradesh has been named after a strategic Sela mountain pass.

About Sela macaque

Sela macaque belongs to the sinica species group of Macaca. But it differs from all other members of this group through attributes such as brown collar hair and muzzle, and the absence of chin whiskers.

Habitat: The Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Sela macaque was geographically separated from the Arunachal macaque (Macaca munzala) by Sela mountain pass.

This mountain pass acted as a barrier by restricting the migration of individuals of these two species for approximately two million years.

Note: Phylogenetics relates to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms.

Characteristics: Sela macaque is genetically closer to the Arunachal macaque. The two have some similar physical characteristics such as heavy-build shape and long dorsal body hair.

But the Sela macaque has some distinct morphological traits. For instance, Sela macaque has a pale face and brown coat, while the Arunachal macaque has a dark face and dark brown coat.

Sela macaque has a tail longer than the Tibetan macaque, Assamese macaque, Arunachal macaque and the white-cheeked macaque but shorter than the bonnet macaque and toque macaque.

Threats: Sela macaque is a major cause of crop loss in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, it faces threats due to man-wildlife conflicts.

Avulsion in rivers: Kosi River course change not natural; here’s why

Source: The post is based on the article “Kosi River course change not natural; here’s why” published in DTE on 27th May 2022.

What is the News?

According to a new study, rivers lining tropical and desert regions are more likely to change directions. These rivers expose the surrounding areas to floods as they abandon their usual route for a new one.

What is avulsion?

Avulsion means a sudden cutting off of land by flood or change in course of a body of water. Avulsions are rare, occurring only once a decade or century, or even less.

Avulsions are infrequent in nature compared to more frequent extreme weather events and the effect of sea-level rise.

What are the key findings of the study on avulsions?

The study documented satellite imagery from 1973-2020 and historical maps of 113 avulsions worldwide and categorized them into three types.

Type 1: According to the study, in 33 instances, rivers changed routes in the bases of mountains while descending onto unconfined valleys or open oceans. For example, the Kosi river belongs to this category.

Type 2:  Along backwater zones, part of the river flows differently because of the effects of the downstream sea. They documented 50 such instances occurring on low sloping deltas along some of the world’s largest waterways, like the Orinoco, Yellow, Nile and Mississippi Rivers.

Type 3: Occurs in rivers with extreme sediment load.

What are the reasons for avulsions?

The findings of the study predicted various factors for avulsions. Such as,

-The study found a common factor in all three categories as sediments. Sediments are known to fill up river beds, forcing rivers to seek new channels during floods.

Kosi-like systems bring a lot of sediments from the Himalayas. After embankments were made on either side of the river in the 1950s, it became much more unstable.

Before the embankment, the river could distribute sediments along the 200-kilometre stretch. Now that has been reduced to 10 km. Hence, the area available for its movement has gone down.

-Rising sea levels can push avulsions farther inland in the backwater zone.

-Temporary solutions like embankments exist. Such temporary solutions contribute to a false sense of protection and even amplify degradation at the system scale by limiting natural sediment dispersal.  This distributes the flow of the water and sediments across channels, dissipating floods and avulsion.

What is the significance of the findings?

Around 330 million people live on river deltas worldwide, and many more live along river corridors. It is essential to understand how river mobility will change in response to climate change and anthropogenic interference.

In India, the Kosi River abandon its established channel for an older one in 2008. This resulted in displacing 3 million people and claiming more than 250 human lives.

Government of India has set a target to achieve 100 Million Tonnes Coal Gasification by 2030: Additional Secretary, Coal Ministry

Source: The post is based on the article “Government of India has set a target to achieve 100 Million Tonnes Coal Gasification by 2030: Additional Secretary, Coal Ministry” published in PIB on 27th May 2022.

What is the News?

Recently, the Ministry of Coal has organized the National Mineral Congress. The Ministry has also prepared a National Mission document to achieve 100 MT Coal Gasification by 2030.

What is Coal Gasification?

Coal gasification is a process in which coal is partially oxidised with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to form a fuel gas. This gas is then used instead of piped natural gas, methane and others for deriving energy.

China has the biggest number of coal gasification projects in the world. 5% of China’s total coal consumption is from its gasifier. The US also has some coal gasification plants running.

What are the advantages of coal gasification?

a) Used in a variety of applications such as in the production of electricity and making chemical products such as fertilisers, b) The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy or upgrading fossil fuels, c) Methane or natural gas extracted from coal gasification can be converted into LNG for direct use as fuel in the transport sector.

What are the concerns associated with coal gasification?

Coal gasification is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production. There are concerns about water contamination, land subsidence and disposing of wastewater safely.

Minister of State for Commerce & Industry launches Indian Business Portal – e-commerce marketplace

Source: The post is based on the article “Minister of State for Commerce & Industry launches Indian Business Portal – e-commerce marketplace” published in PIB on 27th May 2022.

What is the News?

Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched the Indian Business Portal.

What is Indian Business Portal?

The portal is a B2B digital marketplace to empower SME exporters, artisans and farmers to identify new markets for their products and grow their sales globally. It is an International Trade Hub for Indian Exporters and Foreign Buyers.

Designed and developed by: Federation of Indian Export Organisations in partnership with GlobalLinker.

Objectives of Indian Business Portal:

-Digitizing Indian Exporters and help them become discoverable online,

-Promoting exports from all Indian States,

-Showcasing India’s strength in wide range of Products & Services,

-Encouraging virtual meetings between buyers and sellers,

-Providing a trusted network of Indian Exporters to Foreign Buyers.

Functions: Indian Business Portal addresses a number of elements like digitizing exporters, supporting MSME and encouraging greater exports of products Made in India.

Significance: It is the only marketplace that is exclusive for exporters registered in India and is custom-built to support exporters with a range of bespoke features and relevant partners integrated to build this ecosystem

What are the benefits of the portal?

Encourage business ecosystem: The portal is an encouragement to Indian Startups, SMEs, Artisans & Farmers (GI Products), and Service providers to take their first step toward the exports.

Tech-enabled governance: The portal will play a key role in determining India’s growth and competitiveness. The government is focused on paperless, automated processing systems, simple procedures for trade players, online data exchange between departments, digital payments & acknowledgements.

Benefiting capture International markets: The platform will facilitate the enhancement of India’s trade linkages for the International markets.

New Guidelines of Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) approved

Source: The post is based on the article “New Guidelines of Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) approved” published in PIB on 27th May 2022.

What is the News?

The Government has approved the New Guidelines of the Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP). The programme will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle(2021-22 to 2025-26).

What is Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme?

The Government has adopted the cluster development approach as a key strategy for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs).

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Objectives:

-To support the sustainability and growth of MSEs by addressing common issues such as improvement of technology, skills and quality, etc.

– To build the capacity of MSEs for common supportive action through the formation of self-help groups, up-gradation of associations, etc.

-To create/upgrade infrastructural facilities in the new/existing industrial areas/ clusters of MSEs.

– To set up common facility centres (for testing, training centre, raw material depot, effluent treatment, etc.

What are the new guidelines for MSE-CDP?

Common Facility Centers (CFCs): The central government grant will be restricted to 70% and 60% of the cost of the project under certain conditions.

Infrastructure Development: Similar restrictions have been placed for setting up of a new Industrial Estate / Flatted Factory Complex.

Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): Year before Covid: Jobs in corporate sector, LLPs grew, proprietorships fell

Source: The post is based on the article “Year before Covid: Jobs in corporate sector, LLPs grew, proprietorships fell” published in Indian Express on 27th May 2022.

What is the News?

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the provisional results of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).

What is the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)?

It is the principal source of industrial statistics in India and the most comprehensive data on organised manufacturing.

It covers all factories employing 10 or more workers using power and those employing 20 or more workers without using power.

What are the highlights of the survey?

Factories increased: Factories in the country increased by 1.7% year-on-year to 2.46 lakh in 2019-20, employing a total of 1.3 crore workers.

Increase in Gross fixed capital formation: GFCF, an indicator of investment, grew 20.5% in the organised manufacturing sector in 2019-20 as against a growth of 10.2% in the previous fiscal.

Employment in the various sectors:

Corporate Sector: Employment in the corporate sector which include public and private government and non-government companies has increased.

In Partnership: Employment in the partnership sector fell down, but employment in limited liability partnerships has increased.

Employment of Workers: Tamil Nadu showed the highest number of employment of workers in 2019-20. This is followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Total Wages Paid: The wages paid to workers grew 6.3% in 2019-20 as against a wage growth of 11.9% in the previous fiscal. Wages to factory workers in the corporate sector also has increased.

Money spider, ant-mimicking spider discovered at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Source: The post is based on the article “Money spider, ant-mimicking spider discovered at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary” published in The Hindu on 24th May 2022.

What is the News?

Money spiders, commonly found in European meadows, have been reported for the first time in the country from the Muthanga range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Similarly, researchers have also discovered ant-mimicking spiders.

What are Money spiders?

Money Spider belongs to the family of dwarf spiders ( Linyphiidae) under the genus Prosoponoides. It has been given the name Prosoponoides biflectogynus.

Characteristics: The male and the female money spiders are typically 3 mm and 4 mm long respectively.

Females build triangular webs in between dry tree twigs and feed on small insects, while males prefer to hide beneath dry leaves. Two or more male spiders can be found in the web of a single female.

Both sexes are dark brown and have irregular silver patches and black spots on the elliptical abdomen.

There are numerous fine black spines on their olive green legs. Eight dark eyes are arranged in two rows.

Significance of the discovery: Only six species of spiders belonging to this genus have been identified from across the world so far.

It is the first report of this genus from India. Hence, there might be more such findings in future.

What are Ant-mimicking Spiders?

These belongs to the group of jumping spiders, from the Mananthavady range. They belong to the family of Salticidae. Only three species of this genus have been reported from India, and this is the first species reported from the Western Ghats.

Characteristics: They perfectly mimic ants by lifting their front pair of legs while walking as a mechanism to escape from potential predators. The forward-projecting fangs have a characteristic shape of an antler.

The male and the female spiders of this species grow up to 4 mm and 6 mm long respectively.

A pair of white stripes on the dark brown abdomen of females makes them distinct from other spiders in this group.

The male of the species is characterised by a brown cephalic region and black thorax with white hairs. Long spines are present on the base of each leg.

Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurates India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurates India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah” published in PIB on 26th May 2022.

What is the News?

Union Minister has inaugurated India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah and termed Bhaderwah as the birthplace of India’s Purple Revolution.

Note: India’s first National Institute of High Altitude Medicine is also being built in Bhaderwah.

What is Lavender?

Lavandula (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae.

The flowers may be blue, violet or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish.

Cultivation: Lavender cultivation has employed about 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in geographically remote areas of J&K. More than 1,000 farming families are cultivating it on more than 200 acres.

‘Lavender Cultivation’ is getting promoted under CSIR-IIIM’s Aroma Mission.

Applications: Lavender has been used over centuries in traditional medicine and cosmetics. For instance, the main product is Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre.

Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.

Hydrosol is formed after distillation from the flowers. This is used to make soaps and room fresheners.

What is the status of lavender cultivation under the CSIR-AROMA Mission?

CSIR-IIIM introduced lavender to farmers in Doda, Rama, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur, etc.

The mission provided free quality planting material and an end-to-end technology package for cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing of the Lavender crop to the farmers.

CSIR-IIIM also installed 50 distillation units at different locations across J&K under CSIR-Aroma Mission.