Civilsdaily

Category: Strategy Sessions

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Information and Communication Technology

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    31st Mar 2023

    BASICS OF CELLULAR NETWORK

    • Mobile communication involves transmitting voice or data using wireless radio transmission.
    • Mobile generations refer to change like mobile wireless communication network speed, technology, data capacity, frequency, latency etc.

    5G:

    • 5G is the next-generation cellular technology that will provide faster and more reliable communication with ultra-low latency.
    • Latency is a measure of delay. In a network, latency measures the time it takes for some data to get to its destination across the network.

    4G:

    • 4G mobile technology provides wireless mobile broadband internet access in addition to voice and other services of 3G.
    • Applications include improved web access, Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, Video Conferencing, Cloud Computing, Gaming Services, High-Definition Mobile TV etc.
    • 4G uses LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology, which allows voice & data-communication simultaneously.
    4G LTE 4G VoLTE
    Long Term Evolution Voice over Long-Term Evolution
    While accessing Data it uses 4G & voice calls routed to 2G / 3G network Enables both data & voice over the same 4G network

    WI-FI (WIRELESS FIDELITY) 6:

    • Wi-Fi 6 is the sixth generation of WIFI, working on the same principal as other wireless devices- It uses radio frequencies to send signals between devices.
    • Wi-Fi is just a type of WLAN.

    Key benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 technology:

    		 1. Higher data rates

    2. Increased capacity

    3. Performance in environments with many connected devices

    4. Improved power efficiency

    Wi-Fi 6 caters the need of improved network connection and speed which is required for the Internet of Things (IoT).

    INFLIGHT WIFI

    • Recently the Indian government approved to provide inflight Wi-Fi service.
    • It works based on any one of the following two methods:
      1. Air-to-ground Wi-Fi System: Similar to cell phone connectivity.
      2. Satellite-based Wi-Fi System

    BLUETOOTH

    • It is a wireless technology standard used to exchange data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances using Radio waves.
    • Bluetooth 2 is the latest version.

    HOTSPOT

    • A hotspot is a physical location where people can access the Internet, via a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a router connected to an Internet service provider.

    WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

    • These are smart electronic devices designed to be worn on the user’s body.
    • Ex: Smart jewelry, Wristbands, watches etc.
    • These devices detect, analyze, and transmit information.
    • Wearable technology is evolving into an important category of the Internet of things, with life-changing applications in medicine and other fields.

    NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC)

    • NFC is a short-range contactless communicationtechnology based on a Radio Frequency (RF) field using a base frequency of 13.56 MHz
    • NFC-enabled devices must be either physically touching or within a few centimeters of each other for data transfer to occur.

    RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)

    • RFID technology uses radio waves to passively identify a tagged object.
    • An RFID tag consists of a tiny radio transponder; a radio receiver and transmitter.
    • Unlike a barcode, the tag doesn’t need to be within the line of sight of the reader, so it may be embedded in the tracked object.
    Aspect NFC RFID Bluetooth Wi-Fi
    Maximum Coverage 10 cm 3 m 100 m 100 m
    Frequency of operation 13.56MHz Varies 2.4GHz 2.4 – 5 GHz
    Communication Bidirectional Unidirectional Bidirectional Bidirectional
    Applications Card payments Toll pass, Items tracking Communication, Data transfer Wireless Internet

    INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT):

    • IoT is the interlinking of digital devices, people, machines, appliances, & other objects with one another through wireless networks.
    • It allows machines & people to be connected and communicate as well.
    • IoT Applications are many including works of daily life, Industry, Agriculture, Healthcare, Transportation, Governance etc.

    IoT and India

    • IoT is part of Digital India mission.
    • The National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 to aid its development.
    • 100% FDI is allowed in the Telecom sector.
    • The government has set a target of USD 15 billion for the IoT market by the year 2020. This would be 5 to 6% of the global IoT industry.

    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI):

    • AI refers to the simulation of human intelligencein machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions.
    • AI is a self, adaptive learning
    • Applications: Industrial automation, Space science, self-driven cars, Healthcare sector, weather forecasting etc.

    AI & INDIA

    		 · According to the ‘Global AI Report’ 2019, AI will add 957 billion dollars to India’s GDP by the year 2035 boosting India’s annual growth by 1.3% points.

    · India stood at the 9th position in terms of the number of AI specialists working.

    · The US, China & the UK topped the list.

    Steps were taken by the Government

    		 · In 2018-19 budget, the government-mandated NITI Aayog to establish the National Program on AI

    · AIRAWAT – Artificial Intelligence Research, Analytics and Knowledge Assimilation Platform by NITI Aayog.

    · National Strategy for AI, 2018 focuses on 5 sectors:

    1. Healthcare

    2. Agriculture

    3. Education

    4. Smart Cities & Infrastructure

    5. Smart Mobility and Transportation.
    National Artificial Intelligence Portal

    		 · A joint initiative of National e-Governance Division of Ministry of Electronics and IT and NASSCOM.

    · It will work as a one-stop digital platform for AI-related developments in India
    RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment) 2020 · Organized by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to use AI for Social Empowerment.

    SUPERCOMPUTERS:

    • Theseare large systems that are specifically designed to solve complex scientific & industrial challenges.
    • The performance of a supercomputer is measured in Floating-Point Operations per Second (FLOPS).
    • The top five Supercomputers in the world:
      1. Fugaku (Japan)
      2. Summit (USA)
      3. Sierra (USA)
      4. Sunway Taihu Light (China)
      5. Tianhe-2 (China)
    • India has 4 supercomputers in the list of world’s top 500 supercomputers with Pratyush & Mihir being the fastest super-computers in India.
    • Application areas: Climate Modeling, Computational Biology, Atomic Energy Simulations, National Defence, Disaster management etc.

    NATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTING MISSION (NSM):

    • Launched in 2015
    • NSM is jointly steered by the MeitY and Department of S&T (DST) &
    • Implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune & the IISc, Bengaluru.
    • Objective: to connect national academic and R&D institutions with a grid of over 70 high-performance computing facilities.
    • These will be networked on the ‘National Supercomputing Grid’ over theNational Knowledge Network (NKN).

    Achievements:

    		 · ParamShivay: India’s first supercomputer was installed in IIT (BHU), followed by Param Shakti and Param Brahma at IIT-Kharagpur& IISER, Pune, respectively.

    · Rudra: an indigenous server.

    · SHAKTI: India’s first indigenously developed microprocessor (by, IIT Madras)

    QUANTUM COMPUTING:

    • Quantum computersare machines that use the properties of quantum physics to store data and perform computations.
    • A classical computer performs operations using classical bits, which can be either 0 or 1.
    • Quantum computer uses quantum bits or Qubits, which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time.
    • Major advantages: Faster, Accurate, & Energy efficient.

    QUANTUM COMPUTING AND INDIA

    • There are no quantum computers in India yet.
    • In 2018, the Department of Science & Technology unveiled a programme called Quantum-Enabled Science & Technology (QuST) to accelerate research on Quantum computing.
    • SYCAMORE: is Google’s Quantum Computer, which recently claimed Quantum Supremacy.
    • It reportedly did a task in 200 seconds that would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years to complete.
    • Quantum Supremacy: refers to quantum computers being able to solve a problem that a classical computer cannot.

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Nanotechnology and Nuclear Technology

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    30th Mar 2023

    Introduction

    Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.

    Nanotechnology proposes the construction of new nanoscale devices that possess extraordinary properties as they are lighter, smaller and less expensive, and more precise. Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show properties compared to what they exhibit on a macro-scale, enabling unique applications.

    Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology:

    1. Bottom-up approach – materials and devices are built from molecular components that assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition.
    2. Top-down approach – nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control.

    Why do we need it?

    (1) Health sector

    • Nanomedicine: It has healthcare applications such as treatment and diagnostics of various diseases using nanoparticles in medical devices, as well as nanoelectronic biosensors and molecular nanotechnology.
    • Smart pills: Nano-level electronic devices that are shaped and designed like pharmaceutical pills but perform more advanced functions such as sensing, imaging, and drug delivery.
    • Cancer detection and treatment: Regular chemotherapy and radiation damages body’s healthy cells during the treatment. New nanomedicine approaches are being used in the treatment of skin cancer, which enables efficient delivery of drugs and other therapeutic treatments to specific tumor sites and target cells with low toxic side-effects.
    • Nanobots: Nanobots are micro-scale robots, which essentially serve as miniature surgeons. They can be inserted into the body to repair and replace intracellular structures. They can also replicate themselves to correct a deficiency in genetics or even eradicate diseases by replacing DNA molecules. Nanobots can also be used to clear artery blockages by drilling through them.
    • Nanofibers: Nanofibers are being used in wound dressings and surgical textiles, as well as in implants, tissue engineering, and artificial organ components.
    • Nanotech-based wearables: Such wearables have embedded nanosensors in the cloth that record medical data such as heartbeat, sweat components, and blood pressure. It helps save lives by alerting the wearer and medical professionals of any adverse changes faced by the body

     (2) Food Industry

    • Nanotechnology provides the potential for safe and better quality food and improved texture and taste of the food.
    • A contamination sensor, using a flash of light can reveal the presence of E-coli.
    • Antimicrobial packaging made out of cinnamon or oregano oil or nanoparticles of zinc, calcium, etc., can kill bacteria.
    • The nano-enhanced barrier can keep oxygen-sensitive food fresh.
    • Nano-encapsulating can improve the solubility of vitamins, antioxidants, healthy omega, etc.
    • Nanobarcodes are used to tag individual products and trace outbreaks.

    (3) Electronic components

    Nanotechnology has greatly improved the capacity of electronic components by:

    • Reducing the size of the integrated circuits’ transistors
    • Improving the display screens of the electronic devices
    • Reducing power consumption, weight, and thickness of the electronic devices.

    (4) Energy-efficient

    • This technology can improve the efficiency of the existing solar panels. It can also make the manufacturing process of solar panels cheaper and efficient.
    • It can improve the efficiency of fuel production and consumption of petroleum materials.
    • It is already being made use of in many batteries that are less-flammable, efficient, quicker-charging and are lightweight and higher power density.

    (5) Textile industry

    • Nanotechnology has already made revolutionary changes in the textile industry and is estimated to make a market impact worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
    • Nanoscience has now produced stain and wrinkle resistant cloths and may further improve upon the existing innovations.

    (6) Environment

    • It has the potential to address the current problem of pollution.
    • It can provide for affordable, clean drinking water through swift detection of impurities and purification of water.
    • The nanotechnology can be used to remove industrial water pollutants in the groundwater through chemical reactions at a cheaper rate.
    • Nanotechnology sensors and solutions also have the potential to detect, identify, filter and neutralise harmful chemical or biological agents in the air and soil.

    (7) Transport

    • Nanotechnology contributes to manufacturing lighter, smarter, efficient and greener automobiles, aircraft and ships.
    • It also allows various means to improve transportation infrastructures like providing resilience and longevity of the highway and other infrastructure components.
    • The nanoscale sensors and devices can also provide for cheap and effective structural monitoring of the condition and performance of the bridges, rails, tunnels, etc. They can also enhance transportation infrastructure that makes the drivers avoid collisions and congestions, maintain lane position, etc.

    (8) Space

    • Materials made of carbon nanotubes can reduce the weight of the spaceships while retaining or increasing the structural strength.
    • They can also be used to make cables that are needed for the space elevator. Space elevators can significantly reduce the cost of sending materials to the orbit.
    • The nanosensors can be used to monitor the chemicals in the spacecraft to look into the performance of the life support system.

    (9) Agriculture

    • The nanocapsule can enable effective penetration of herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and genes into the targeted part of the plant. This ensures a slow and constant release of the necessary substance to the plants with minimized environmental pollution.
    • The nanosensors and delivery systems can allow for precision farming through the efficient use of natural resources like water, nutrients, chemicals etc.
    • The nanosensors can also detect the plant viruses and soil nutrient levels.
    • Nano-barcodes and nano-processing could also be used to monitor the quality of agriculture produce.

    Carbon Nanotubes

    • Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules that consist of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon atoms (graphene).
    • They can be single-walled (SWCNT) (dia<1nm) or multi-walled (MWCNT) (dia>100nm), consisting of several concentrically interlinked nanotubes. Their length can reach several micrometers or even millimeters.
    • Like their building block graphene, CNTs are chemically bonded with sp2 bonds, an extremely strong form of molecular interaction

    Applications:

    • Used in electric wires to reduce losses
    • It can replace silicon made transistors as they are small and emit less heat and it can revolutionise electronics
    • Can be used in solar cell

    Graphene

    • Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. Graphene is considered to be the world’s thinnest, strongest and most conductive material – of both electricity and heat.
    • All of these properties are exciting researchers and businesses around the world – as graphene has the potential to revolutionize entire industries – in the fields of electricity, conductivity, energy generation, batteries, sensors and more.

    Issues in Nanotechnology

    • The nanotechnology may pose a potential risk to the environment, health and other safety issues.
    • Since this field is still at its nascent stage, the likely risks are contentious. As for whether or not this technology requires special government regulation, the issue is still debated.
    • The regulatory authorities like the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission have started assessing the potential risks posed by the nanoparticles.
    • The organic food sector is the first to be regulated so that the engineered nanoparticles are excluded from the organic produce. It has been implemented in Australia, UK and Canada as well as all the food certified under the Demeter International Standards.
    • Nanotoxicology is the study of potential health risks of nanomaterials.  The human body can easily take up the nanomaterials as they are small in size.
    • However, there is a need for detailed research on how it would behave inside an organism. The behaviour of nanoparticles based on their size, shape and surface reactivity must be thoroughly analysed before launching them into the market.
    • Nanopollution is the generic term that is used to describe the waste generated by the nanodevices or nanomaterials during the manufacturing process.
    • Nanowastes may be of risk due to their size and different properties and interactions. Since the man-made nanoparticles are not naturally made, living organisms may not have the appropriate means to deal with them.
    • The risk of nanotechnology on health, environment, society, economy, security, and trade is not yet fully assessed. This in itself is a threat.

    Government Measures

    • Nanotechnology regulatory board to regulate industrial nano products
    • Nano technology institutes like Indian Institute of Nano sciences at Bangalore,Mumbai,kolkata
    • Nano technology initiatives program by Department of Information technology and for nano electronic products
    • Nano mission:1000 crore allotted for 5 years for development of nano technology
    • Department of Science and Tech-Nanomission (nano-biotechnology activities) through DBT, ICMR, and CoE in Nanoelectronics by MeitY support nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and nanoelectronics activities.
    • Eighteen sophisticated analytical instruments facilities (SAIFs) established by DST across India play a major role in the advanced characterization and synthesis of nanomaterials for various applications.
    • The Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology established by DSTNanomission helps research and PG students in various thrust areas.
    • Thematic Units of Excellence (TUEs) for various areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology play a major role in product-based research to support nanotechnology.
    • Visveswaraya Ph.D. fellowships offered by MeitY supports various nanotechnology activities in the country.
    • INSPIRE scheme supports research fellows to work in interdisciplinary nanotechnology, nanoscience, and nano-biotechnology areas.
    • DST-Nanomission supports more than 20 PG teaching programs to create a baseline for nanoscience and nanotechnology in India, out of about 70 PG programs currently running in India.

     Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission)

    • Launched in 2007.
    • It is as an “umbrella capacity-building programme”.
    • The Mission’s programmes will target all scientists, institutions and industry in the country.
    • It will also strengthen activities in nano science and technology by promoting basic research, human resource development, research infrastructure development, international collaborations, among others.
    • It will be anchored in the Department of Science and Technology and steered by a Nano Mission Council chaired by an eminent scientist.

     Outcomes and significance of the mission

    • As a result of the efforts led by the Nano Mission, today, India is amongst the top five nations in the world in terms of scientific publications in nano science and technology (moving from 4th to the 3rd position).
    • The Nano Mission itself has resulted in about 5000 research papers and about 900 Ph.Ds and also some useful products like nano hydrogel based eye drops, pesticide removal technology for drinking water, water filters for arsenic and fluoride removal, nanosilver based antimicrobial textile coating, etc.
    • The Nano Mission has thus helped establish a good eco-system in the country to pursue front-ranking basic research and also to seed and nurture application-oriented R&D, focused on useful technologies and products.

    Conclusion

    Nanotechnology provides a bright future for humankind. However, much is yet to be known about its impacts and risks. The government, before indulging in the promotion and launch of this new technology, must invest more in basic research to understand this field.

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Biotechnology

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    29th Mar 2023

    Biotechnology

    What is Biotechnology?

    Biotechnology refers to the industrial use of micro-organism, living plant and animal cells to produce substances useful to the people. It includes the manufacture of antibiotics, vitamins, vaccines, toxic waste disposal systems using microbes etc.

    Biotechnology sector in India

    1. Indian biotechnology sector has crossed the $ 3 billion milestones and is growing at the rate of more than 30% over the last few years.  
    2. There is also a general perspective that India could even achieve the target of attaining $20 billion by 2020.

    Applications of Biotechnology in India

    Image result for applications of biotechnology in india

    Agriculture

    1. Biotechnology revolutionized research activities in agriculture which include tissue culture in plants, the creation of new transgenic plants and animals which eventually used as bio-reactors to produce the drug from their milk, food etc.
    2. Genetic engineering accelerates improvements in plants by increasing the diversity of the gene pool. It has also helped in the production of plants that have
    • a short maturing period
    • higher yield
    • potential to promote food production even in adverse conditions like drought, salinity etc.

    Indian scientists have also come up with an inexpensive algal bio-fertilizer technology for rice.

    Animal husbandry

    1. Biotechnology is used in the production of the physiological system, embryos transfer, health and well-being of animals.
    2. Indian scientists have developed a procedure for producing several identical buffalo by using the nuclear transfer technique.

    Human health

    1. Biotechnology has enabled the production of human insulin through microbes, human growth hormone etc.
    2. Diagnostic kits to diagnose viral infections, hepatitis B etc.

    Industry

    1. In the Industrial sector biotechnology has been used for the production of high fructose corn syrup, sweetening agent for soft drinks, improving the production of alcohol, production of the chemical from agricultural waste etc.

    Environment

    1. Biotechnology applications have been successfully made in the treatment of wastes.
    2. An important achievement was made when the Indian borne Anand Chakraborty designed a bacterium Pseudomonas putida that could feed on oil which is of great economic and environmental importance in the battle against oil slicks.

    Measures taken

    1. The Indian government has been very supportive to the Biotech sector and the National Biotechnology Development Strategy has been approved.
    2. A new patent regime is in place and the regulatory system is being beefed up.
    3. The public involvement in biotech investments has been strengthened through the small business innovation research initiative of the Department of Biotechnology.
    4. The Department of Biotechnology has also committed to spending 30% of its budget on public-private partnership programmes in Biotechnology.  
    5. Biotechnology has also been promoted through emphasizing on higher education, establishing 16 new national level universities, 8 new Indian Institute of Technology and 4 new Indian Institutes of Science, Education and Research etc.
    6. Several new interface programmes to connect academic with industry in order to bridge the knowledge to the market chain.

    Challenges

    1. Companies have not been able to launch new products at a significant pace because of bureaucratic red-tape and multiple regulatory bodies.
    2. Innovative companies face funding constraints since the investors have shied away from early-stage ventures.
    3. Another issue is the lack of trained manpower. While India has a considerable number of graduates and postgraduates in biotechnology and related fields, they are not employable. Thus companies have to invest heavily in their training before incorporating them into the business.
    4. India also suffers from brain drain. Top global biotech companies are able to poach the brightest Indian minds with attractive job profiles and good remuneration.
    5. Lack of manufacturing capacity. Several biotech parks (established through PPPs) are solely focused on providing biotech services and diagnostics rather than pure biotech manufacturing.

    Way forward

    1. India is already facing tough competition from China, Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia in terms of attracting investments. Therefore, it is high time that India should enable better technological and scientific competence, better infrastructure, tax and duty exemptions, better course structure, and easier regulatory procedures in order to remain competitive and spur growth in the industry.
    2. The biotech industry should come up with a concrete action plan to effectively utilize the available infrastructure and resources and focus on strengthening innovation to take the biotech industry to new heights.
    3. The government must promote the domestic biotech industry through steps like venture capital, industry-academia link, entrepreneurship incubation centres etc.

  • [Sansad TV] Mudda Aapka: Victory over Left-Wing Extremism

    [Sansad TV] Mudda Aapka: Victory over Left-Wing Extremism

    Distribution:

    Central idea

    • In the last eight years, there has been a historic success in curbing Left Wing Extremism violence and the credit for this goes to the CRPF.
    • Union Home Minister has informed that there has been a 76 per cent decline in the incidents of LWE violence in the country and the fight against Naxalities is in the final stages.
    • In 2022, the number of deaths of civilians and security forces drastically reduced, with only 98 deaths as compared to 1005 deaths in 2010.

    Left vs. Right: Behind the Political Dichotomy

    • In politics, left refers to people and groups that have liberal views.
    • That generally means they support progressive reforms, especially those seeking greater social and economic equality.
    • The far left is often used for what is considered more extreme, revolutionary views, such as communism and socialism.
    • Collectively, people and groups, as well as the positions they hold, are referred to as the Left or the left wing.

    Being ‘Right’ means

    • The word right, in contrast, refers to people or groups that have conservative views.
    • It generally means they are disposed to preserve existing conditions and institutions.
    • They often want to restore traditional ones and limit change.
    • The far right is often used for more extreme, nationalistic viewpoints, including fascism and some oppressive ideologies.

    People and groups, as well as their positions, are collectively referred to as the Right or the right wing.

    Confused between Maoists and Naxalities?

    • Usually, people confuse themselves over Maoists and Naxalities and cannot exactly trace the difference between the two terminologies.
    • Media seems to be confused with the terms and uses Maoists and Naxalities quite inter-changeably. 
    • This creates confusion in the readers’ minds over the actual meaning of individual terms. 

    The actual difference between the terms is as follows: 

    • The difference between Maoists’ struggle and the Naxalite movement is that both trace their origin to the Naxalbari uprising of 1967.
    • But while the Naxalite movement thrives on the original spirit of Naxalbari; the Maoist struggle is an outcome of the 1967 uprising.
    • Maoists work with an agenda and use weapons to achieve their aims. 
    • Naxalism focuses on mass organisations while the Maoism relies mainly on arms.

    (1) Naxalism

    • Naxalism originated as a rebellion against the marginalisation of the poor forest dwellers and gradually against the lack of development and poverty at the local level in rural parts of eastern India.
    • It began in 1967 with an armed peasant uprising in Naxalbari village of Darjeeling district in West Bengal.
    • The term ‘Naxal’ came from the name of the village. 
    • The origin of the Naxals was a result of the split that took place in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1967.
    • It led to the formation of Communist Party of India (Marxist and Leninist).

    (2) Maoism

    • Maoism originated in China as a form of communist theory derived from the teachings of Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.
    • Maoists were the loyal believers of the Chairman Mao’s philosophy that “Power flows from the barrel of the gun.”
    • When the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) was born out of the Naxalbari uprising, a section of communist rebels retained a distinct identity.
    • Along with Marxism and Leninism, a new concept, which is of Maoism, started emerging in India.
    • Around 1966, Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) was formed in West Bengal.

    History and evolution

    left
    • Russian Revolution: Naxalism in India, like any other leftist movement around the globe, draws its ideological basis from the Russian revolution.
    • Overthrowing Tsarist Regime: Lenin successfully fought against the Czarist Rule through a combination of the peasant movement and an armed struggle.
    • Marxian ideology of class struggle: The prime intent was to bestow power in the hands of the exploited and marginalized and enforce societal control over governance and nation building.
    • Neo-Marxism: After the success of the Lenin-led revolution in Russia, the intellectual class in many countries got inspired. Prominent amongst them were Fidel Castro and Mao Zedong.

    Root cause of origin in India

    • Corporate exploitation: Since Eastern India is rich in natural resources including forests, minerals and mines, tribal face exploitation and harassment from government and corporate bodies targeting to extract those resources.
    • Tribal alienation: Tribal communities have been systematically alienated from their traditional rights over natural resources after independence.
    • Livelihood losses: Tribal livelihood is at stake due to depletion of natural resource base.
    • Forceful displacement: Forceful displacement from their homeland destroys their traditional governance system.
    • Absence of governance: In such exploited areas, the absence of governance becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy since the delivery systems are extinguished through killings and intimidation.
    • Foreign provocations: Many of LWE outfits are supported by external forces inimical to India and the Maoists consider such alliances as strategic assets.

    Other factors:

    1. Oppression and HR violations by Security Forces e.g. AFSPA
    2. Violation of Constitutional Protections under PESA and FRA
    3. Prevalence of Acute Poverty

    Impact of LWE

    • Romanticism without a cause: Some sections of society, especially the younger generation, have romantic illusions about the Maoists, arising out of an incomplete understanding of their ideology of Class –Struggle.
    • Extreme violence: Their doctrine glorifies violence as the primary means to overwhelm the existing socio-economic and political structures.
    • Destruction of governance mechanism: LWEs aims at creating a vacuum at the grassroots level of the existing governance structures by killing lower-level government officials, police personnel of the local police stations and the people’s representatives of the PRIs.
    • Radicalization of youths: After creating a political and governance vacuum, they coerce the local population to join the movement.
    • Urban-Maoism: Many extremists have facilitated mass mobilization in semi-urban and urban areas through ostensibly democratic means often led by well-educated intellectuals.

    Outcomes of perpetrating LWE

    The Leftist organizations skilfully use state structures and legal processes to further the Maoist agenda and weaken the enforcement regime through:

    1. Recruitment of ‘professional revolutionaries’
    2. Raising funds for the insurgency
    3. Creating urban shelters for underground cadres
    4. Providing legal assistance to arrested cadres and
    5. Mass- mobilization by agitating over issues of relevance/ convenience

    Govt initiatives for LWE-affected areas

    • Aspirational Districts: The MHA has been tasked with the monitoring of the Aspirational district’s programme in 35 LWE affected districts.
    • HRD measures: Building of schools under the Eklavya model.
    • Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RRP-II): This aims for improving road connectivity in LWE affected States. Under this, 9279 km of roads and 392 bridges are sanctioned.
    • Naxal Surrender Policy: It aims to wean away misguided youth and hardcore naxalites who have strayed into the fold of the naxal movement and cannot find a way back.
    • National Policy Action Plan: To address Left Wing Extremism approved in 2015, has development as one of the most important component.

    SAMADHAN doctrine: It encompasses the entire strategy of government from short-term policy to long-term policy formulated at different levels. SAMADHAN stands for-

    • S- Smart Leadership
    • A- Aggressive Strategy
    • M- Motivation and Training
    • A- Actionable Intelligence
    • D- Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas)
    • H- Harnessing Technology
    • A- Action plan for each Theatre
    • N- No access to Financing

    Way forward

    • Indian counterinsurgency has to work with a dual objective of defeating the insurgents militarily and fully quell the insurgent impulses.
    • This will need institutional overhauls.
    • States must do more to synergize their efforts by launching coordinated operations, thereby denying Maoists any space for manoeuvrability.
    • On parallel grounds, it is also important to segregate the population from the insurgents both operationally and ideologically.
    • The conflict over the distribution of resources can be mended with economic development.

    

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash <strong>UPSC Scholarship Test</strong></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bit.ly/cd_DI"><img class="alignnone wp-image-699674" src="https://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/click-here-2-300x86.png" alt="" width="130" height="37" /></a></h5>
<p style="text-align: center;">Get <strong>upto 100%</strong> Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">100 Slots Left</span></strong></p>

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Global Space Missions and Telescopes in News

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    27th Mar 2023

    NASA’s ICESat-2 maps Antarctic ice sheet melting

    ICESat-2 

    • NASA’s ICESat-2 launched less than three months ago has mapped melting ice sheets in Antarctica and the resulting sea level rise across the globe, which could help improve climate forecasts.
    • The ICESat-2 stands for Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 .
    • It is measuring the height of sea ice to within an inch, tracing the terrain of previously unmapped Antarctic valleys, surveying remote ice sheets, and peering through forest canopies and shallow coastal waters.
    • With each pass of the ICESat-2 satellite, the mission is adding to datasets tracking Earth’s rapidly changing ice.
    • As ICESat-2 orbits over the Antarctic Ice Sheet, the photon returns reflect from the surface and show high ice plateaus, crevasses in the ice 20 metres deep, and the sharp edges of ice shelves dropping into the ocean.

    Unified Geologic Map of the Moon

    • The first-ever digital, unified, global, geological map of the moon was released virtually by the  United States Geological Survey (USGS), NASA and the Lunar Planetary Institute.
    • The UGM will serve as a blueprint for future human missions and a source of research and analysis for the educators and the general public interested in lunar geology.
    • The map is a ‘seamless, globally consistent, 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map’.
    • The mapped surface features of the moon included crater rim crests, buried crater rim crests, fissures, grabens, scarps, mare wrinkle ridges, faults, troughs, rilles, and lineaments.

    Its’ significance

    • The moon’s South Pole is especially interesting because the area is much larger than the North Pole and there could be a possibility of the presence of water in these permanently shadowed areas.
    • Further, the South Pole region also contains the fossil record of the early Solar System.
    • These present and future moon missions’ success can be further helped by the digital map of the moon.
    • The Chandrayaan 2, an active mission also targets the Lunar South Pole for exploration

    GRACE-FO Mission

    • The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission is a partnership between NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
    • GRACE-FO is a successor to the original GRACE mission, which orbited Earth from 2002-2017.
    • It carries on the extremely successful work of its predecessor while testing a new technology designed to dramatically improve the already remarkable precision of its measurement system.

    Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)

    • FRBs are super intense, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves produced by unidentified sources in the space.
    • Their discovery in 2007 by American astronomer Duncan Lorimer led to the term ‘Lorimer Bursts’.
    • Since then, just a few dozen similar events have been observed in data collected by radio telescopes around the world, building evidence that points to a variety of potential causes.
    • Only a handful of emissions have been traced to specific areas of the sky, indicating sources in other galaxies.
    • The flash of radio waves is incredibly bright if distant, comparable to the power released by hundreds of millions of suns in just a few milliseconds.
    • This intensity suggests powerful objects like black holes and neutron stars could be involved.
    • The events were once considered to be largely transient – they seemed to happen once, without obvious signs of a repeat emission. However, a number of such bursts have been identified since then.

    Why are they significant?

    • First noticed in 2018 by the Canadian observatory the waves have created ripples across the globe for one reason — they arrive in a pattern.
    • This gave birth to theories that they could be from an alien civilization.
    • Initially, it was believed that the collision of black holes or neutron stars triggers them.
    • But the discovery of repeating FRBs debunked the theory of colliding objects.

    NASA’s new Mars rover: Perseverance

    • The Perseverance rover weighs less than 2,300 pounds and is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
    • The rover’s mission will be to search for signs of past microbial life. It will also collect samples of Martian rocks and dust, according to the release.
    • The rover will also be tasked with studying the red planet’s geology and climate.
    • All of NASA’s previous Mars rovers — including the Sojourner (1997), Spirit and Opportunity (2004) and Curiosity (exploring Mars since 2012) — were named in this way.

    2020 CD3

    • The mini-moon was discovered by some astronomers at NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona.
    • It is actually an asteroid, about the size of a car; its diameter is about 1.9-3.5 m.
    • And unlike our permanent Moon, the mini-moon is temporary; it will eventually break free of Earth’s orbit and go off on its own way.
    • Orbit integrations indicate that this object is temporarily bound to the Earth.
    • 2020 CD3 was captured into Earth’s orbit over three years ago.
    • For CSS, it is only the second such discovery. It previously discovered 2006 RH120, which orbited Earth for some time that year, before it escaped in 2007.

    NASA’s InSight Mission

    • The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport mission is a robotic lander designed to study the deep interior of the planet Mars.
    • It is the first mission dedicated to looking deep beneath the Martian surface.
    • Among its science tools are a seismometer for detecting quakes, sensors for gauging wind and air pressure, a magnetometer, and a heat flow probe designed to take the planet’s temperature.
    • The InSight mission is part of NASA’s Discovery Program.
    • It is being supported by a number of European partners, which include France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA).

    Habitable-zone Planet Finder

    • NASA’s Kepler mission observed a dip in the host star’s light, suggesting that the planet was crossing in front of the star during its orbit.
    • To confirm, researchers turned to an instrument called Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF). It has confirmed that there is indeed an exoplanet.
    • HPF is an astronomical spectrograph, built by Penn State University scientists, and recently installed on the 10m Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory in Texas.
    • The instrument is designed to detect and characterize planets in the habitable zone — the region around the star where a planet could sustain liquid water on its surface — around nearby low-mass stars.
    • The newly confirmed planet, called G 9-40b, is the first one validated by HPF. It is about twice the size of Earth and orbits its star once every six Earth-days.

     Betelgeuse

    • Using the European Space Organization’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have noticed the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse.
    • It is a red supergiant star (over 20 times bigger than the Sun) in the constellation Orion.
    • Along with the dimming, the star’s shape has been changing as well, as per recent photographs of the star taken using the VISIR instrument on the VLT.
    • Instead of appearing round, the star now appears to be “squashed into an ova”.

    NASA announced it has selected four Discovery Program investigations to develop concept studies for possible new missions.

    What are the new missions?

    • Two proposals are for trips to Venus, and one each is for Jupiter’s moon Io and Neptune’s moon Triton.
    • After the concept studies are completed in nine months, some missions ultimately may not be chosen to move forward.

    DAVINCI+

    • DAVINCI+ stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus.
    • This will analyse Venus’s atmosphere to understand how it was formed and evolved, and if it ever had an ocean.
    • This will advance understanding of the formation of terrestrial planets.

    IVO

    • Io Volcano Observer is a proposal to explore Jupiter’s moon Io, which is extremely volcanically active.
    • This will try to find out how tidal forces shape planetary bodies.
    • The findings could further knowledge about the formation and evolution of rocky, terrestrial bodies and icy ocean worlds in the Solar System.

    TRIDENT

    This aims to explore Neptune’s icy moon, Triton, so that scientists can understand the development of habitable worlds in the Solar System.

    VERITAS

    Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy will aim to map Venus’s surface to find out why Venus developed so differently from Earth.

    Pale Blue Dot

    • The ‘Pale Blue Dot’ is one of the most iconic images in the history of astronomy.
    • It shows Earth as a single bright blue pixel in empty space within a strand of sun rays, some of which are scattering from and enlightening the planet.
    • The original image was taken by the Voyager 1 mission spacecraft on February 14, 1990 when it was just beyond Saturn.
    • At the behest of astronomer Carl Sagan, the cameras were turned towards Earth one final time to capture the image.
    • After this, the cameras and other instruments on the craft were turned off to ensure its longevity.

    About Voyager 1

    • Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.
    • Having operated for more than 42 years, the spacecraft still communicates with the Deep Space Network to receive routine commands and to transmit data to Earth.
    • At a distance of 148.67 AU (22.2 billion km) from Earth as of January 19, 2020 it is the most distant man-made object from Earth.
    • The probe’s objectives included flybys of Jupiter, Saturn, and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

    The Family Portrait of the Solar System

    • The Pale blue dot image was a part of a series of 60 images designed to produce what the mission called the ‘Family Portrait of the Solar System’.
    • This sequence of camera-pointing commands returned images of six of the solar system’s planets, as well as the Sun.

    Solar Orbiter (SolO) Probe

    • The Solar Orbiter, a collaborative mission between the European Space Agency and NASA to study the Sun, took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
    • Carrying four in situ instruments and six remote-sensing imagers, the Solar Orbiter (called SolO) will face the sun at approximately 42 million kilometres from its surface.
    • Before SolO, all solar imaging instruments have been within the ecliptic plane, in which all planets orbit and which is aligned with the sun’s equator.
    • The new spacecraft will use the gravity of Venus and Earth to swing itself out of the ecliptic plane, passing inside the orbit of Mercury, and will be able to get a bird’s eye view of the sun’s poles for the first time.

    Spitzer Space Telescope

    • The Spitzer Space Telescope is a space-borne observatory, one of the elements of NASA’s Great Observatories that include the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray.
    • Using different infrared wavelengths, Spitzer was able to see and reveal features of the universe including objects that were too cold to emit visible light.
    • Apart from enabling researchers to see distant cold objects, Spitzer could also see through large amounts of gas using infrared wavelengths to find objects that may otherwise have been invisible to human beings.
    • These included exoplanets, brown dwarfs and cold matter found in the space between stars.
    • Spitzer was originally built to last for a minimum of 2.5 years, but it lasted in the “cold” phase for over 5.5 years. On May 15, 2009 the coolant was finally depleted and the “warm mission” began.

    Thirty Metre Telescope

    • The TMT is a proposed astronomical observatory with an extremely large telescope (ELT) that has become the source of controversy over its planned location on Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii in the US state of Hawaii.
    • It is being built by an international collaboration of government organisations and educational institutions, at a cost of $1.4 billion.
    • “Thirty Metre” refers to the 30-metre diameter of the mirror, with 492 segments of glass pieced together, which makes it three times as wide as the world’s largest existing visible-light telescope.
    • The larger the mirror, the more light a telescope can collect, which means, in turn, that it can “see” farther, fainter objects.
    • It would be more than 200 times more sensitive than current telescopes and would be able to resolve objects 12 times better than the Hubble Space Telescope.

    Artemis Mission

    • In 2011, NASA began the ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon’s Interaction with the Sun) mission using a pair of repurposed spacecraft and in 2012 the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft studied the Moon’s gravity.
    • For the program, NASA’s new rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS) will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft a quarter of a million miles away from Earth to the lunar orbit.
    • The astronauts going for the Artemis program will wear newly designed spacesuits, called Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or xEMU.
    • These spacesuits feature advanced mobility and communications and interchangeable parts that can be configured for spacewalks in microgravity or on a planetary surface.

    Bhibha Constellation and Santamasa Planet

    Bhibha

    • The star has been named in honour of a pioneering Indian woman scientist Bibha Choudhury, who discovered subatomic particle, pi-meson.
    • ‘Bhibha’ also means “a bright beam of light” in Bengali.
    • It is located in the constellation of Sextans. It is as hot as the sun, with a surface temperature of about 6,000 degrees Kelvin. It is 1.55 times bigger, 1.21 times massive, and 1.75 times brighter.
    • It is so far away that light from it takes 310.93 years to reach Earth and hence it is visible only with a telescope.

    Santamasa

    • The planet has been named S’antamasa’ to reflect the cloudy nature of its atmosphere. ‘Santamasa’ is the Sanskrit term for ‘clouded’.
    • ‘Santamasa’, which is its only planet, is estimated to have a mass of 1.5 times that of Jupiter, going around the central star in a nearly circular orbit just in 2.1375 days.
    • Revolving so near the host star, the planet is expected to be very hot.

    Arrokoth

    • The International Astronomical Union and Minor Planets Center, the global body for naming Kuiper Belt objects have given this name.
    • It was discovered in 2014 with the Hubble Space Telescope, which is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
    • Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft flew by the snowman figured ice mass in December 2018, some 1.6 billion kilometres beyond Pluto.
    • The New Horizons team of NASA proposed the name to the International Astronomical Union and Minor Planets Center.
    • For the New Horizons team it took some months to finalise this name. In the language of the Powhatan tribe, Arrokoth means “sky”.
    • The team got the approval from the elders of the Powhatan tribe to assign it to their newfound “baby”.

    About New Horizons mission

    • NASA launched the New Horizons mission in January 2006.
    • After crossing by Pluto in 2015, in 2019 it flew by Arrokoth. This remains the “farthest flyby ever conducted.”

    Maxwell

    • The Maxwell is the latest in a line of experimental aircraft the NASA.
    • It has been developed over many decades for many purposes, including the bullet-shaped Bell X-1 that first broke the sound barrier and the X-15 rocket plane flown by Neil Armstrong before he joined the Apollo moon team.
    • The two largest of 14 electric motors that will ultimately propel the plane are powered by specially designed lithium ion batteries.
    • The Maxwell will be the agency’s first crewed X-plane to be developed in two decades.
    • The lift propellers will be activated for take-off and landings, but retract during the flight’s cruise phase.

    Voyager 2

    • Voyager 2 was launched in 1977, 16 days before Voyager 1, and both have travelled well beyond their original destinations.
    • The spacecraft were built to last five years and conduct close-up studies of Jupiter and Saturn.
    • As the spacecraft flew across the solar system, remote-control reprogramming was used to endow the Voyagers with greater capabilities than they possessed when they left Earth.
    • It carries a working instrument that will provide first-of-its-kind observations of the nature of this gateway into interstellar space.
    • It is slightly more than 18 billion kilometres from Earth. Its twin, Voyager 1, crossed this boundary in 2012.
    • Their five-year lifespans have stretched to 41 years, making Voyager 2 NASA’s longest-running mission.

    Ionospheric Connection Explorer

    • NASA has launched a satellite to explore the mysterious, dynamic region where air meets space.
    • The satellite — called ICON, short for Ionospheric Connection Explorer — rocketed into orbit following a two-year delay.
    • The refrigerator-size ICON satellite will study the airglow formed from gases in the ionosphere and also measure the charged environment right around the spacecraft which is at a level of 580 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
    • The ionosphere is the charged part of the upper atmosphere extending several hundred miles (kilometres) up.
    • It’s in constant flux as space weather bombards it from above and Earth weather from below, sometimes disrupting radio communications.

    Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)

    • The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite missions began on June 18, 2009.
    • It is a robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon.
    • It studies the Moon’s surface, clicks pictures, and collects data that help in figuring out the presence and possibility of water ice and other resources on the Moon, as well as plan future missions to it.
    • The primary mission of the LRO, managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, was to measure the entire lunar surface to create a high-resolution 3-D map of the Moon.
    • The map with ~50-centimeter resolution images would aid in the planning of future robotic and crewed missions.
    • In addition, LRO would map the Polar Regions and search for the presence of water ice

    K2-18b

    • About 110 light years from Earth, an exoplanet eight times the mass of Earth orbits a star. Called K2-18b, it was discovered in 2015 by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft.
    • The researchers used 2016-17 data from the Hubble Space Telescope and developed algorithms to analyse the starlight filtered through K2-18b’s atmosphere.
    • The results revealed the molecular signature of water vapour, also indicating the presence of hydrogen and helium in the planet’s atmosphere.
    • It resides in a habitable zone — the region around a star in which liquid water could potentially pool on the surface of a rocky planet.
    • Scientists have found signatures of water vapour in the atmosphere of K2-18b. The discovery of water vapour is not the final word on the possibility of life.
    • That makes it the only planet orbiting a star outside the Solar System that is known to have both water and temperatures that could support life.

    Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment (AIDA)

    • It is an ambitious double-spacecraft mission to deflect an asteroid in space, to prove the technique as a viable method of planetary defence.
    • The mission, which includes NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), is known as the Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment (AIDA).
    • The target is the smaller of two bodies in the “double Didymos asteroids” that are in orbit between Earth and Mars.
    • Didymos is a near-Earth asteroid system. Its main body measures about 780 m across; the smaller body is a “moonlet” about 160 m in diameter.
    • The project aims to deflect the orbit of the smaller body through an impact by one spacecraft.
    • Then a second spacecraft will survey the crash site and gather the maximum possible data on the effect of this collision.

    Parker Solar Probe

    • It is part of NASA’s “Living with a Star” programme that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.
    • The probe seeks to gather information about the Sun’s atmosphere and NASA says that it “will revolutionise our understanding of the Sun”.
    • It is also the closest a human-made object has ever gone to the Sun.
    • During the spacecraft’s first two solar encounters, the instruments were turned on when Parker was about 0.25 AU from the Sun and powered off again at the same distance on the outbound side of the orbit.
    • For this third solar encounter, the mission team turned on the instruments when the spacecraft was around 0.45 AU from the Sun on the inbound side of its orbit.
    • It will turn them off when the spacecraft is about 0.5 AU from the Sun on the outbound side.

    TOI 270

    • It is the name of the dwarf star and the planetary system recently discovered by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
    • TOI 270 is about 73 light years away from Earth, and is located in the constellation Pictor.
    • Its members include the dwarf star, which is 40 per cent smaller than the Sun in size and mass, and the three planets or exoplanets (planets outside the solar system) that have been named TOI 270 b, TOI 270 c, and TOI 270 d.
    • These three planets orbit the star every 3.4 days, 5.7 days, and 11.4 days respectively. In this system, TOI 270 b is the innermost planet.

    About Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

    • TESS is NASA’s latest satellite to search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.
    • The mission will spend the next two years monitoring the nearest and brightest stars for periodic dips in their light.
    • TESS is expected to transmit its first series of science data back to Earth in August, and thereafter periodically every 13.5 days, once per orbit, as the spacecraft makes it closest approach to Earth.
    • These events, called transits, suggest that a planet may be passing in front of its star.
    • TESS is expected to find thousands of planets using this method, some of which could potentially support life.

    Tiangong-2

    • Tiangong means “Heavenly Palace”. It was 10.4 metres long and 3.35 metres wide at its widest point, and weighed 8.6 metric tonnes.
    • It was launched on September 15, 2016 and, in late 2016, hosted two Chinese astronauts for 30 days in what was China’s longest manned space mission so far.
    • The recently decommissioned space lab followed the Tiangong-1, China’s first space station, which crashed into the southern Pacific Ocean on April 1, 2018 after Chinese scientists lost control of the spacecraft.
    • China had launched Tiangong-1 in 2011 as proof-of-concept of technologies for future stations. The lab was visited by two teams of Chinese astronauts for 11 days and 13 days respectively.

    About Hayabusa2

    • Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, which successfully made its second touchdown on asteroid Ryugu has become the first ever space probe to gather material from beneath the surface of an asteroid.
    • Launched in December 2014, the probe is a follow-up of Hayabusa, which explored the asteroid Itokawa in 2005.
    • Hayabusa was the first mission to return an asteroid sample to Earth.
    • The asteroid mission first reached Ryugu — a kilometre-wide asteroid, with a relatively dark surface and almost zero gravity — in June 2018 and made its first touchdown on the surface in February 2019.
    • A month later the spacecraft hit the surface of Ryugu with a pellet and created a 10-metre-wide crater.
    • It also exposed the materials under the asteroid’s surface that were so far protected from the harsh effects of cosmic rays and charged particles of solar wind blasting through space.

    About PUNCH Mission

    • NASA has selected an US-based Indian researcher to lead its PUNCH mission which will image the Sun.
    • PUNCH stands for “Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere,” is focused on understanding the transition of particles from the Sun’s outer corona to the solar wind that fills interplanetary space.
    • It will consist of a constellation of four microsatellites that through continuous 3D deep-field imaging, will observe the corona and heliosphere as elements of a single, connected system.
    • This is a landmark mission will image regions beyond the Sun’s outer corona.
    • The Sun and the solar wind are one interconnected system, but these have until recently been studied using entirely different technologies and scientific approaches.

    Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) Telescope

    • The telescope will be launched into space on a Russian-built Proton-M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in June 2019.
    • The four-year mission will survey the entire sky eight times and track the evolution of the universe and dark energy, a mysterious repulsive force that is accelerating its expansion.
    • Besides, it also aims to detect up to three million supermassive black holes — many of which are unknown — and X-rays from as many as 700,000 stars in the Milky Way.
    • The telescope is the first to be sensitive to high-energy ‘hard’ X-rays and map the entire sky.
    • The SRG will also find how dark matter — the main engine of galaxy formation — is spread in the universe.
    • X-ray sky surveys have also been conducted by previous missions, but they were not able to map the entire sky, the report said.

    MeerLICTH Optical Telescope

    • Scientists in South Africa have launched the world’s first optical telescope linked to a radio telescope, combining “eyes and ears” to try to unravel the secrets of the universe.
    • The latest move combines the new optical telescope MeerLITCH — Dutch for ‘more light’ — with the recently-completed 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope, located 200 kilometres away.
    • This is the eye, with the MeerKAT being the ears as a radio telescope.
    • The MeerLITCH uses a main mirror just 65 cm in diameter and a single 100 megapixel detector measuring 10 cm x 10 cm.
    • Astronomers have previously had to wait for a cosmic incident to be picked up by a radio telescope and then carry out optic observations afterwards.
    • The project has been six years in the making by a joint-team of South African, Dutch and British scientists.

    Ultima Thule

    • NASA has found evidence for a unique mixture of methanol, water ice, and organic molecules on Ultima Thule’s surface — the farthest world ever explored by mankind.
    • Ultima Thule is a contact binary, with two distinctly differently shaped lobes.
    • At about 36 kilometres long, it consists of a large, strangely flat lobe — nicknamed “Ultima” — connected to a smaller, somewhat rounder lobe — dubbed “Thule” — at a juncture.
    • Officially named (486958) 2014 MU69, it earned the nickname Ultima Thule following a public contest in 2018.
    • It is located in the Kuiper Belt, a disc in the outer Solar System (beyond Neptune) that consists of small bodies including Pluto.
    • 2014 MU69 was discovered in June 2014 by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope but is so distant that many of its characteristics remain to be understood.

    About the mission

    • New Horizons, a space probe that was launched in 2006, became the first mission to visit Pluto in 2015.
    • Travelling farther into the Kuiper Belt, the nuclear-powered space probe has come within 3,500 km of Ultima Thule.
    • Images taken revealed that the object may have a shape similar to a bowling pin, or a “snowman”, or a peanut spinning end over end, or could be two objects orbiting each other.
    • Flyby data showed that Ultima Thule is spinning like a propeller with the axis pointing approximately toward New Horizons.
    • NASA released a composite of two images taken by New Horizons’ high-resolution Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager.

    Chang’e-4

    • In January, the Chinese spacecraft Chang’e-4 — named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology — became the first ever craft to touch down on the far side of the lunar surface.
    • The team landed its probe in the Von Karmen Crater in the Aitken Basin at the Moon’s south pole — home to one of the largest impact craters known in the solar system.
    • Scientists have said they could be a step closer to solving the riddle behind the Moon’s formation, unveiling the most detailed survey yet of the far side of Earth’s satellite.

    Cassini Mission

    • Launched in 1997, the Cassini mission is a cooperation between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.
    • It has sent back thousands of stunning images and made numerous discoveries about the ringed planet and its moons.
    • Cassini–Huygens is an unmanned spacecraft sent to the planet Saturn.
    • Cassini is the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter orbit. Its design includes a Saturn orbiter and a lander for the moon Titan.
    • The lander, called Huygens, landed on Titan in 2005.

    China’s BeiDou navigation satellite, a rival to US GPS, starts global services

    • China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), touted as a rival to the widely-used American GPS, has started providing global services.

    BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)

    • Named after the Chinese term for the ‘Big Dipper’, the BeiDou system started serving China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012.
    • It will be the fourth global satellite navigation system after the US GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo.
    • The positioning accuracy of the system has reached 10 metres globally and five metres in the Asia-Pacific region.
    • Its velocity accuracy is 0.2 metres per second, while its timing accuracy stands at 20 nanoseconds, he said.
    • Pakistan has become the first country to use the BeiDou system ending its reliance on the Global Positioning System (GPS).

    GRAPES-3 Experiment

    • For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014.
    • GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) is designed to study cosmic rays with an array of air shower detectors and a large area muon detector.
    • It aims to probe acceleration of cosmic rays in the following four astrophysical settings.
    • It is located at Ooty in India and started as a collaboration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India and the Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.

    Asteroid ‘99942 Apophis’

    • On April 13, 2019, a near-Earth asteroid will cruise by Earth, about 31,000 km above the surface.
    • The asteroid, called 99942 Apophis, is 340 m wide.
    • At one point, it will travel more than the width of the full Moon within a minute and it will get as bright as the stars in the Little Dipper, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
    • It is rare for an asteroid this size to pass by Earth so close.
    • Although scientists have spotted small asteroids, on the order of 5-10 metres, flying by Earth at a similar distance, asteroids the size of Apophis are far fewer in number and so do not pass this close to Earth as often.
    • Among potential lessons from Apophis, scientists are hoping they can use its flyby to learn about an asteroid’s interior.
    • Apophis is one of about 2,000 currently known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids, and scientists also hope their observations might help gain important scientific knowledge that could one day be used for planetary defence.

    Samanvaya: Free 1-to-1 mentorship for UPSC IAS

    Fill up this form to schedule a free on-call discussion with senior mentor from Civilsdaily. Once submitted we will call you within 24 hours.

    Civilsdaily Samanvaya 1-On-1 Mentorship Form

    Thank you for registering. Sharing with you the link for Habitat, our learning platform. https://habitat.club/channel/general Attend today’s UPSC IAS discussion sessions on Op-ed and News news analysis, answer writing, and more.
    There was an error in form submission. Please fill the Samanvaya form again.
    20212022
    Preparing full timeWith a jobStill in college
    01234More than 4
    01234More than 4
    NoI have done coaching earlierCurrently enrolled in one
    YesNo
    Field will not be visible to web visitor
    Yes I want Mentorship
    var MXLandingPageId = ‘9bd10f30-4ccb-11eb-9166-0a68392cb7c4’;

  • UPSC Online Workshop: How to effectively utilize the next 15 Months for a 450+ score & Top Rank in UPSC Mains 2024 without Coaching with 5hrs/Day self-study? | Exclusive LIVE Session with UPSC Toppers | FREE QnA 1-1 | Register for Recorded video

    UPSC Online Workshop: How to effectively utilize the next 15 Months for a 450+ score & Top Rank in UPSC Mains 2024 without Coaching with 5hrs/Day self-study? | Exclusive LIVE Session with UPSC Toppers | FREE QnA 1-1 | Register for Recorded video

    The most important UPSC 2024 Workshop by IAS and IPS officers you can attend this year! 2 Days’ UPSC Workshop by UPSC topper AIR 109, Areeba, IPS Shubham Nagargoje, IRS Soham Mandhare, and Prabhat, AIR 377

    (Click) Register for 2 days Workshop Recorded Video

    The UPSC exam is 1 of the toughest to crack in India but it is not unattainable if you follow the right strategy. There are numerous Myths that overwhelm Lakhs of new aspirants, even some veterans also get confused most of the time if he/she faces failure in his/her first or second attempt.

    🚨Is it possible to clear UPSC-CSE without traditional classroom coaching?

    Most beginners remain worried that they’re unable to go to Delhi (Considered the Mecca for IAS aspirants) to join the classroom coaching while many top 10 All India Rankers cleared this hard nut with self-study. How could they?

    Online UPSC Seminar in Delhi for IAS 2024: Details

    (Concluded Successfully) Day-2: How to effectively utilize the next 15 Months for a 450+ score in UPSC Mains 2024 without Coaching?

    (Concluded Successfully) Day-1: How to crack the top 10 Rank in UPSC 2024 with self-study? 18 months plan

    Register: FREE Seminar (Recorded Videos)

    Contact here: +917303316700

    Day-1 with UPSC Toppers: How to effectively utilize the next 1 Year for a 120+ score in UPSC Prelims 2024 without Coaching?

    🗓️Register for Recorded Video

    9-point strategy for UPSC Prelims syllabus + Current Affairs with Self-Study:

    • How to avoid 10 pitfalls if you start UPSC Preparation based on self-study?
    • What’s important for UPSC Prelims 2024, ignoring the rest (What to read from UPSC Prelims syllabus)
    • From where to read and cover the UPSC prelims syllabus? – Current Affairs and GS static
    • How to read? (Purpose-driven current affairs coverage) How to cover the last 1.5 yrs of UPSC’s current affairs?
    • How to ensure retention through revision? (Not just one-time activity)
    • How to deal with CSAT without having a science background?
    • How to attempt test series and how to incorporate Previous Year tests/questions in your preparation?
    • How do balance safe (max) attempts vs accuracy?
    • How do guesswork and at the same time minimize negative marking? On which type of questions you should take the risk
    • Don’t miss out on this super important workshop.
    (Click) Register for 2 days Workshop Recorded Video

    Day-2 with UPSC Toppers: How to effectively utilize the next 15 Months for a 450+ score in UPSC Mains 2024 without Coaching?

    🗓️Register for Recorded Video

    6-point strategy for UPSC Mains Prep and Answer Writing with Self-Study:

    • How to Balance Prelims and Mains Preparation At The Beginning Itself?|| How to Squeeze in Time for Mains if You are a UPSC 2022 Aspirant?
    • What are the different approaches in Prelims and Mains Preparation? Start studying the priority focus topics of Prelims and Mains as a 2024 aspirant.
    • How should UPSC 2024 aspirants focus on mains answer writing when prelims are just 15 months away? Managing time without feeling stress.
    • What should the timetable of the UPSC 2024 aspirant look like? 3 different strategies for working professionals, college students, and full-timers.
    • How many months should be dedicated to prelims? How much time should be given to the optional subjects?
    • How to revise the previous day’s topics and make time for new topics?
    (Click) Register for 2 days Workshop Recorded Videos

    CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

    Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

    Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

    What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

    Karishma Nair, AIR 14 was also Sajal sir’s student
    AIR 65, Pranav mentored under Sajal sir for UPSC 2020
    best coaching for upsc in delhi

    The most important UPSC Prelims 2023 Workshop you will attend this year! 2 Days UPSC Workshop by AIR 109, Areeba, IPS Shubham, IRS Soham, and Prabhat sir

    (Click) Register for 2 days Workshop Recorded Videos
  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: New Law for CBI

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: New Law for CBI

    Context

    • Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has recommended that there is a need to enact a new law and define the status, functions and powers of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation).

    Issues highlighted by the committee

    • Impartial working: It emphasized about laying down safeguards to ensure objectivity and impartiality in its functioning.
    • Working at the behest of states: Highlighting withdrawal of general consent for CBI probe by many states, parliamentary committee in its report has said that the existing law – Delhi Special Police Establishment Act governing the federal probe agency has many limitations.
    • Filling up vacancies: The Parliamentary panel also said that every effort should be made to fill up vacancies in CBI at the earliest. 1,709 posts are vacant in the CBI against its sanctioned strength of 7,295.
    • Lack of permanent staff: CBI needs to reduce its dependence on deputations and strive to recruit permanent staff in the ranks of inspector of police and deputy superintendent of police.
    • No data on cases registered: Details of cases registered with the CBI, the progress made in their investigation and the final outcome are not available in public domain.

    All these issues can be easily sorted by a proper and separate legislation (since CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act).

    cbi

    CBI: A quick backgrounder

    • The CBI traces its origins to the Delhi Special Police Establishment, a Central Government Police force, which was set up in 1941 by the Government of India.
    • It then aimed to investigate bribery and corruption in transactions within the War and Supply Department of India.
    • It then had its headquarters in Lahore.
    • After the end of the war, there was a continued need for a central governmental agency to investigate bribery and corruption by central-government employees.
    • The DSPE acquired its popular current name, CBI, through a Home Ministry resolution dated in 1963.

    Mandate of the CBI

    • The CBI is the main investigating agency of the GoI.
    • It is not a statutory body; it derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
    • Its important role is to prevent corruption and maintain integrity in administration.
    • It works under the supervision of the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) in matters pertaining to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
    • The CBI is also India’s official representative with the INTERPOL.

    Cases to investigate

    • Cases connected to infringement of economic and fiscal laws
    • Crimes of a serious nature that have national and international ramifications
    • Coordination with the activities of the various state police forces and anti-corruption agencies.
    • It can also take up any case of public importance and investigate it
    • Maintaining crime statistics and disseminating criminal information.

    Why need CBI when we have state police?

    • Cases of national importance: If the case is of national importance or has inter-state ramifications, it is necessary for a central agency like the CBI to take charge.
    • Special powers and expertise: Another reason could be that the state police might not have the required expertise, resources, or independence to handle the case.
    • Credible policing: In such cases, the CBI, being an independent investigating agency, can bring more credibility and transparency to the investigation.
    • Fair investigation: Some cases may involve high-ranking government officials, politicians, or influential individuals, and referring the case to the CBI can help avoid conflicts of interest and ensure a fair investigation.

    Issues with CBI

    • Caged parrot: The Supreme Court has criticised the CBI by calling it a “caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice”.
    • Political interference: It has often been used by the government of the day to cover up wrongdoing, keep coalition allies in line and political opponents at bay.
    • Investigation delay: It has been accused of enormous delays in concluding investigations due to political inertia.
    • Loss of Credibility: CBI has been criticised for its mismanagement of several cases involving prominent politicians and mishandling of several sensitive cases like the Bofors scandal, the Bhopal gas tragedy.
    • Lack of Accountability: CBI is exempted from the provisions of the Right to Information Act, thus, lacking public accountability.
    • Acute shortage of personnel: A major cause of the shortfall is the government’s sheer mismanagement of CBI’s workforce.
    • Limited Powers: The powers and jurisdiction of members of the CBI for investigation are subject to the consent of the State Govt., thus limiting the extent of investigation by CBI.
    • Restricted Access: Prior approval of Central Government to conduct inquiry or investigation on the employees of the Central Government is a big obstacle in combating corruption at higher levels of bureaucracy.

    Way Forward

    • Need for autonomy:   As long as the government of the day has the power to transfer and post officials of its choice in the CBI, the investigating agency will not enjoy autonomy and will be unable to investigate cases freely.
    • Selection of director/ Officers: To ensure that the CBI is a robust, independent and credible investigation agency, there is an urgent need to work out a much more transparent mechanism for selection and induction of officers on deputation.
    • Lokpal scrutiny: The Lokpal Act already calls for a three-member committee made up of the PM, the leader of the opposition and the CJI to select the director.
    • Bifurcation of Cadre: CBI should be bifurcated into an Anti-Corruption Body and a National Crime Bureau.
    • Develop its own cadre: One of the demands that have been before the Supreme Court, and in line with international best practices, is for the CBI to develop its own dedicated cadre of officers.
    • Annual social audit should be carried out by ten reputed, knowledgeable persons with backgrounds in law, justice, public affairs and administration and the audit report should be placed before the parliament.

    Attempt UPSC 2024 Smash Scholarship Test | FLAT* 100% OFF on UPSC Foundation & Mentorship programs

    Get your Rs 10,000 worth of UPSC Strategic Package for FREE | PDFs, Zoom session, Tests, & Mentorship

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || ISRO and its Missions/Important Submarines in News

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    24th Mar 2023

    1. RISAT-2B: An all-seeing radar imaging satellite

    • The PSLV-C46 is set to launch RISAT-2B from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

    RISAT Constellation

    • RISAT-2B, short for “Radar Imaging Satellite-2B”, is the second in a series of satellites used to observe weather conditions on Earth using radar imagery.
    • RISAT-2 was the first satellite in the series, launched for the purpose of surveillance. RISAT-1 was launched later, to become India’s first all-weather radar imaging satellite.
    • RISAT-2B is to be followed by RISAT-2BR1, 2BR2, RISAT-1A, 1B, 2A and so on.
    • ISRO orbited its first two radar satellites in 2009 & 2012 and it plans to deploy four or five of them in 2019 alone.
    • A constellation of such space-based radars means a comprehensive vigil over the country.
    • Once operational, the satellite will be capable of monitoring weather day and night, in all weather conditions.

    2.Phase 4 of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

    • The Union Cabinet has approved ongoing GSLV continuation programme Phase-4 consisting of five GSLV flights during the period 2021-2024.
    • The will enable the launch of 2 tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, Navigation, Data Relay Communication and Space Sciences.
    • It will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry.

    About GSLV

    • GSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2003, and two phases have been completed and the third phase is in progress and expected to be completed by Q4 of 2020-21.
    • GSLV has enabled independent access to space for 2 tonne class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
    • One of the significant outcomes of the GSLV Continuation Programme is the mastering of the highly complex cryogenic propulsion technology, which is an essential technological capability to launch communication satellites to GTO.
    • This has also paved the way for the development of a high thrust Cryogenic engine & stage for the next-generation launch vehicle i.e. GSLV Mk-lll.
    • With the recent successful launch of GSLV-F11 on 19th December 2018, GSLV has successfully orbited 10 national satellites.
    • GSLV with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has established itself as a reliable launch vehicle for communication, navigation and meteorological satellites and also to undertake future interplanetary missions.

    3.Mission Shakti (Anti-Satellite Missile Test)

    • In an incremental advance, India has successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test, named Mission Shakti.
    • India becomes the fourth country in the world to demonstrate the capability to shoot down satellites in orbit.
    • So far, only the United States, Russia and China have this prowess.

    Mission Shakti

    • While Mission Shakti may have targeted an object in outer space, India has long developed the ability to intercept incoming missiles.
    • In 2011, a modified Prithvi missile mimicked the trajectory of a ballistic missile with a 600-km range.
    • The DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode.
    • The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters.

    4.Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA)

    Young Scientist Programme

    • ISRO has launched a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram from this year.
    • The Program is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
    • The residential training programme will be of around two weeks duration during summer holidays and it is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/ UTs to participate in this programme covering state, CBSE, and ICSE syllabus.
    • Those who have just finished 9th standard (in the academic year 2018-19) and waiting to join 10th standard (or those who have started 10th Std just now) will be eligible for the programme.
    • The selection will be based on the 8th Std marks.
    • Students belonging to the rural area have been given special weightage in the selection criteria.

    5.PSLV-C45/ Emisat Mission

    • For the sheer number of ‘firsts’ to its credit, the scheduled PSLV-C45/Emisat mission scheduled will be a memorable one for the ISRO.

    PSLV-C45/Emisat

    • C-45, which is set for lift-off from the second launchpad at Sriharikota, will mark the 47th flight of the PSLV.
    • It is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements, according to the ISRO.
    • It will be released into an orbit at 749 km.
    • EMISAT is primarily based on on the famous Israeli spy satellite called SARAL or (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika), and inherits its SSB-2 bus protocol for conducting sharp electronic surveillance across the length and breadth of India.
    • The satellite would serve as the country’s roving device for detecting and gathering electronic intelligence from enemy radars across the borders as it circles the globe roughly pole to pole every 90 minutes or so.
    • For the third successive PSLV mission, the ISRO plans to reuse the rocket’s spent fourth stage or PS4 to host short experiments.

    6.ISRO, French agency to set up a maritime surveillance system

    • ISRO and its French counterpart CNES has sealed an agreement to set up a joint maritime surveillance system in the country.
    • The two nations will explore putting up a constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites.

    Oceansat-3-Argos Mission

    • The system will be augmented with the launch of Oceansat-3-Argos mission in 2020 along with a joint infrared Earth-observation satellite.
    • These will identify and track the movement of ships globally – and in particular, those moving in the Indian Ocean region where France has its Reunion Islands.
    • Before that, they will initially share data from their present space systems and develop new algorithms to analyse them, according to the Paris based National Centre for Space Studies.
    • They work together for the design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System (AIS), to monitor and protect the assets in land and sea.

    7. Use of Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

    • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been pro-active in using the space technology in the agricultural sector. Take a look of various initiative in the aid of farmers:

    Various institutional measures

    1. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare established a Centre, called Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, in 2012.
    2. It works for operationalization of the space technology developed in the Indian Space Research Organization, for crop production forecasting.
    3. The Soil and Land Use Survey of India uses satellite data for soil resources mapping.

    8. India’s communication satellite GSAT-31 launched successfully

    GSAT-31

    1. It was launched in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,850 km, inclined at an angle of 3.0 degree to the equator.
    2. With a lift-off mass of 2536 kg, GSAT-31 will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.
    3. The satellite will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.
    4. GSAT-31 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock-exchange, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
    5. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.
    6. It is India’s 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO’s enhanced ‘I-2K Bus’, utilising the maximum “bus capabilities” of this type.

    9.ISRO launches Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru

    Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC)

    1. The HSFC, the hub of ISRO’s future manned missions, was inaugurated at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.
    2. Announced on August 15 2018, the country’s first crewed mission is set to happen by 2022, the 75th year of Independence.
    3. HSFC shall be responsible for the implementation of Gaganyaan project — which involves mission planning, development of engineering systems for crew survival in space, crew selection and training and also pursue activities for sustained human space flight missions.
    4. HSFC will take the support of ISRO centres to implement the first developmental [crewed] flight.

    10.ISRO’s first mission of 2019 to put military satellite Microsat-R in space

    • ISRO’s first mission of 2019 will put into space a 130-kg military imaging satellite, Microsat-R.
    • C-44 will be launched from the older First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

     Details of Launch

    1. The satellite would be placed within 15 minutes after take-off in a polar orbit 274 km away from Earth.
    2. This is much lower than any of its civil Earth observation spacecraft, which fly pole to pole over the globe at between 400 km and 700 km.

    Payload Details

    Microsat-R

    1. Microsat-R and its payload come assembled from a handful of laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
    2. It is meant for military use.
    3. The satellite was assembled outside and ISRO only interfaced it” with its own systems and the launch vehicle, just as it treats any customer satellite.

    11.Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training Programme of ISRO

    NNATI Programme

    1. It is a capacity-building programme on Nanosatellite development.
    2. It is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50).
    3. The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite.
    4. UNNATI programme is planned to be conducted for 3 years by U.R. Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO in 3 batches and will target to benefit officials of 45 countries.

    About UNISPACE+50

    1. It is an event marking the 50th year of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
    2. It is an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
    3. Three such conferences held earlier recognized the potential of space and laid the guidelines for human activities and international cooperation related to outer space.

    11.ISRO successfully launches hyperspectral imaging satellite HysIS

    HysIS

    1. HysIS stands for Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite.
    2. The objective of the probe is to provide observations within the visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    3. The imaging tools will help the HysIS satellite monitor atmospheric activity and climate change, while also assisting studies of Earth’s magnetic field.
    4. These observations will have a host of applications, prime among which relate to agriculture, forestry, water management, and coastal patterns.
    5. The satellite’s payload also consists of a 730W power backup, and a 64Ah Li-ion battery.
    6. It will continue to make observations until 2023 when the mission ends.
    7. After this launch, the next big event for the Indian space organisation will be its awaited mission to the moon – Chandrayaan-2 – in early 2019.

    12.GROWTH-India telescope’s first science observation

    GROWTH-India Telescope

    1. The GROWTH-India telescope was commissioned six months ago soon after which it saw first light, on the night of June 12.
    2. It is part of a multi-country collaborative initiative – known as the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) – to observe transient events in the universe.
    3. The fully robotic telescope is designed to capture cosmic events occurring over relatively shorter periods of the cosmological timescale: years, days and even hours.
    4. Universities and research institutes from the US, the UK, Japan, India, Germany, Taiwan and Israel are part of the initiative.
    5. Their primary research objective is time-domain astronomy, which entails the study of explosive transients and variable sources (of light and other radiation) in the universe.

    13.ISRO telemedicine nodes for soldiers in high-altitude areas

    Telemedicine Nodes by ISRO

    1. In a major effort to improve emergency medical support to soldiers posted in high-altitude areas, especially Siachen, the Integrated Defence Staff of the Defence Ministry and the ISRO signed an MoU to set up telemedicine nodes in critical places across the country.
    2. ISRO will establish 53 more nodes in the first phase over and above the existing 20, in various establishments of the Army, Navy and Air Force across the country.

    14.Chandrayaan-1 data confirms the presence of ice on Moon: NASA

    NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) is testimony

    1. M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was uniquely equipped to confirm the presence of solid ice on the Moon.
    2. Scientists used data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument to identify three specific signatures that definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon.
    3. It collected data that not only picked up the reflective properties we would expect from ice, but was also able to directly measure the distinctive way its molecules absorb infrared light, so it can differentiate between liquid water or vapour and solid ice.
    4. Most of the new-found water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the poles, where the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius.
    5. Due to the very small tilt of the Moon’s rotation axis, sunlight never reaches these regions.

    15.ISRO set to launch its TV channel

    1. The ISRO is all set for a year-long Vikram Sarabhai centenary celebration starting in August 2019 to honour the visionary scientist and its legendary founding father.
    2. In a few months’ time, it plans to roll out a dedicated ISRO TV channel showcasing space applications, developments and science issues, targeting young viewers and people in remote areas in their language.

    Satellite launches now open to public

    1. As it strengthens its public outreach, ISRO will shortly start allowing the public to watch satellite launches from its Sriharikota launch centre.
    2. Selected students of classes 8 to 10 will be trained at ISRO for a month and taken to various laboratories and centres across the country.

    Vikram Sarabhai- the legend

    1. Sarabhai, the architect of the Indian space programme, the first ISRO chief and renowned cosmic ray scientist, was born on August 12, 1919.
    2. ISRO’s tributes to Sarabhai start with naming the first Indian moon landing spacecraft of the Chandrayaan-2 mission ‘Vikram’.
    3. Sarabhai was only 28 when he sowed the seeds of a space agency around the late 1940s and 1950s.

    16. Upgraded Vikas engine will soon boost ISRO’s rockets

    Adding more thrust

    1. The Vikas engine will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles.
    2. The space agency has improved the thrust of the Vikas engine that powers all of them.

    Main beneficiary: GSLV Mk III

    1. The main beneficiary of the high-thrust Vikas engine is said to be the heavy-lifting GSLV-Mark III launcher, which ISRO expects will now put 4,000-kg satellites to space.
    2. This would be the third Mk-III and the first working one to be designated Mk III Mission-1 or M1.
    3. The first MkIII of June 2017 started with a 3,200-kg satellite and the second one is being readied for lifting a 3,500-kg spacecraft.
    4. The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of the light lifting PSLV; the second stage and the four add-on stages of the medium-lift GSLV; and the twin-engine core liquid stage of Mk-III.

    17.ISRO’s PRL scientists discover an ‘EPIC’ planet

    India in elite planet-spotting club

    1. A team from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, has spotted for the first time a distant planet six times bigger than Earth and revolving around a Sun-like star about 600 light-years away.
    2. EPIC 211945201b (or K2-236b) is the name given to the planet by the discovery team. The host star is named EPIC 211945201 or K2-236.
    3. With this discovery, India has joined a handful of countries which have discovered planets around stars,” PRL’s parent ISRO has announced.
    4. The discovery was made using a PRL-designed spectrograph, PARAS, to measure and confirm the mass of the new planet.

    About EPIC

    1. EPIC was found circling very close to the Sun-like star, going around it once in about 19.5 days and unlikely to be inhabitable because of its high surface temperature of around 600°C.
    2. The team found the planet to be smaller in size than Saturn and bigger than Neptune.
    3. Its mass is about 27 times Earth’s and six times that of Earth at the radius.
    4. The scientists estimate that over 60% of its mass could be made up of heavy elements like ice, silicates and iron.

    GSAT-30 spacecraft

    1. India’s telecommunication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 17, 2020, from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-251.
    2. GSAT-30 is configured on ISRO’s enhanced I-3K Bus structure to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands. The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.
    3. Weighing 3357 kg, GSAT-30 is to serve as a replacement to INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage. The satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia.
    4. The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-30 is more than 15 years.

    Important Submarines in News:

    1. Indian Naval ship Sahyadri reaches Darwin, Australia for exercise KAKADU 2018

    Exercise KAKADU

    1. After having been deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018
    2. Indian Navy’s participation in KAKADU 18 provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment
    3. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime operations

    About the exercise

    1. Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
    2. The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA)
    3. Exercise KAKADU derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin
    4. KAKADU 2018 is the 14th edition of the exercise
    5. During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills.

    2.Operation NISTAR Successfully Culminates with Safe Disembarkations of 38 Indian Nationals at Porbandar

    Operation NISTAR

    • INS Sunayana successfully evacuated 38 Indian Nationals at/ off Socotra Islands during a swift Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operation (HADR), code named Operation NISTAR.
    • The Indian Nationals were stranded after severe Cyclonic Storm – Mekunu devastated the area around Socotra Island.
    • INS Sunayana was diverted from Gulf of Aden deployment to Socotra Island for search and rescue operations.

    Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in India’s National Strategy

    • HADR operations have attracted the attention of the global community in recent years.
    • The Indian armed forces have a wide experience of disaster relief operations both at home and abroad, where they have been the core of relief operations.
    • Due to its sub-continental size, geographical location and its vulnerability to disasters, India has kept its forces ready to render assistance at short notice.
    • In the six decades since independence, India has experienced a number of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famines, industrial accidents etc.
    • At the same time, India has partnered the global community in providing relief in affected regions.

    3.INS Karanj boosts Navy’s firepower

    Third Scorpene class submarine joins Naval fleet

    1. The Navy’s third state-of-the-art Scorpene class submarine, INS Karanj, has been launched
    2. The new submarine is named after the earlier Kalvari class INS Karanj, which was decommissioned in 2003
    3. This launch follows the launch of the first two Scorpene submarines — INS Kalavari and INS Khanderi.

    4.Indian Navy inducts its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle

    • The Indian Navy has inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

    About DSRV

    1. DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled. The Indian Navy joins a select group of naval forces in the world that boasts of this niche capability.
    2. The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people.
    3. The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs, the second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
    4. The induction of the DSRV marks the culmination of years of effort of the Indian Navy in acquiring this niche submarine rescue capability.

    Why need DSRV System?

    1. The Indian Navy currently operates submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar, Kalvari Classes as well as nuclear powered submarines.
    2. The operating medium and the nature of operations undertaken by submarines expose them to high degree of inherent risk.
    3. In such an eventuality, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine.
    4. To overcome this capability gap the Navy has acquired a third generation, advanced Submarine Rescue System considering of a Non-tethered Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and its associated equipment.

    What makes Indian DSRV special?

    1. The Indian Navy’s DSRV System is considered to be the most advanced system currently in operation globally for its capability of undertaking rescue from a disabled Submarine upto 650 m depth.
    2. It is operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled Submarine at one time and can operate in extreme sea conditions.

    5.Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Capability

    Context

    • The Indian Navy has inducted a Submarine Rescue System with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) along with associated equipment.

    Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV)

    1. The Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from a distressed submarine (DISSUB) up to a depth of 650 m and it is the latest in terms of technology and capabilities.
    2. It has been designed and supplied to meet unique requirements of our submarines by M/s James Fishes Defence, UK.
    3. This System has a Side Scan Sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea.
    4. It will be providing immediate relief by way of posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for the rescue.
    5. To ensure early mobilization, the System permits rapid transportation of the Rescue System from the base to the exact location of the distressed submarine by transportation using air/land/sea vessels.

    5.INS Tarangini returns after Vogage across the World

    Context

    • The sail training ship of Indian Navy, INS Tarangini based at Kochi, returned after a seven month long sailing across the world.

    Lokayan 18

    1. The Voyage named “Lokayan 18” was flagged off on 10 Apr 18 from Kochi in INS Tarangini.
    2. During the voyage, the ship has proudly ‘shown the flag’ and highlighted the diverse culture of India across 15 ports in 13 countries.
    3. The ship sailed across the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, Strait of Gibraltar, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, English Channel and North Sea, right up to Norway before commencing her homeward passage back to Kochi.
    4. The ship also participated in the culminating event of the ‘Three Festival Tall Ships Regatta’ at Bordeaux, France.
    5. Over the years, INS Tarangini has been extensively deployed for long voyages away from her base port of Kochi, which includes one circumnavigation of the globe (2003-04) and three previous ‘Lokayans’ (2005, 2007 and 2015).

    About INS Tarangini

    1. INS Tarangini is a three masted ‘square rigged’ barque which carries a total of 20 sails.
    2. She is the First Sail Training Ship in Indian Navy and was commissioned on 11 Nov 1997.
    3. In her 21 years of glorious service, she has sailed over 2,20,000 nautical miles to date across the world’s oceans.
    4. She is the first of two Sail Training Ships in the First Training Squadron, the other being INS Sudarshini.
    5. The primary role of these Sail Training Ships is to develop character and professionalism, as well as inculcate the qualities of initiative, courage, resilience and spirit amongst the Sea Trainees.
    6. The ship also imparts practical training to them, primarily on navigation, sailing and seamanship.

    6.EyeROV TUNA: India’s first Underwater Robotic Drone

    India’s first Underwater Drone

    1. India’s first underwater robotic drone was launched and handed over to the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO.
    2. The Remotedly Operated Vehicle (ROV)/underwater drone, named EyeROV TUNA, was developed by EyeROV Technologies, a company incubating at Kalamassery-based Maker Village, Kochi.
    3. NPOL, a laboratory of Delhi-headquartered Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), made the first order of the product.
    4. The drone will be used by NPOL for research and development activities which in turn would result in a commercial product for defense purposes.

    Features of EyeROV TUNA

    1. It can be navigated up to a depth of 50 metres to take real-time HD video images to examine ship hulls or undersea cables or bridge moorings, eliminating the need for costlier and riskier manual inspection by divers.
    2. It weighs less than 10 kilogram and can be used for inspection of ship hulls, ports, dams and nuclear power plants
    3. EyeROV is a light rover which can be easily accessed and controlled with the supporting attached and connected hardware such as laptops and joysticks.
    4. It can be used for inspection of ship hulls, ports, dams and nuclear power plants.

    7.India’s first missile tracking ship is readying for sea trials

    VC 11184

    1. This will be the first of its kind ocean surveillance ship being built as part of the efforts to strengthen the country’s strategic weapons programme.
    2. Its induction will put India in the elite of club of a few countries that have such a sophisticated ocean surveillance ship.
    3. It has the capacity to carry 300-strong crew with hi-tech gadgets and communication equipment, powered by two diesel engines, and a large deck capable of helicopter landing.
    4. The keel of the ship which was laid on June 30, 2014, is being built for the National Technical Research Organisation.
    5. This technical intelligence agency working directly under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Security Adviser.

    Strategic Weapons Programme

    1. Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) is gearing up to undertake sea trials of India’s first missile tracking ship by the first week of October.
    2. Visakhapatnam is considered a strategic location on the East Coast for the Indian defence forces as it is home for Ship Building Centre to build nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant class.

    INS Chakra

    • Nuclear powered submarine under a 10-year lease from Russia since 2012.
    • Negotiations are underway to lease an additional Akula-class attack submarine

    Arihant Class Submarine

    • A class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines being built for the Indian Navy
    • The lead vessel of the class, INS Arihant was launched in 2009
    • Arihant is the first ballistic missile submarine to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the UNSC
    • The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam
    • INS Arihant is to be the first of the expected five in the class of submarines designed and constructed as a part of the Indian Navy’s secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project

    Project 17 – Shivalik class Frigate

    • The Shivalik class or Project 17 class is a class of multi-role frigates in service with the Indian Navy.
    • They are the first stealth warships built in India – built by Mazagon Dock Limited
    • A total of three ships were built between 2000 and 2010, and all three were in commission by 2012

    Project 15 – Delhi Class destroyers

    • Delhi-class destroyers are guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy
    • Three ships of this class are in active service – INS Delhi, INS Mysore, INS Mumbai
    • The Delhi-class vessels are the third-largest warships to be fully designed and built in India, after the Kolkata-class destroyers and the Shivalik-class frigates

    Project 15A – Kolkata Class Destroyer

    • The Kolkata class (Project 15A) are a class of stealth guided missile destroyers
    • The class comprises three ships – Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai – built by Mazagon Dock Limited
    • The destroyers are a follow-on of the Project 15 Delhi-class destroyers, but are considerably more capable than them

    Project 15B – Visakhapatnam Class Destroyer

    • The Visakhapatnam class (Project 15B) is a class of stealth guided missile destroyers currently being built for the Indian Navy.
    • Based on the Kolkata-class design, the Visakhapatnam class will be an extensively improved version.
    • 1st ship of Project 15B, a Guided Missile Destroyer Visakhapatnam– largest missile destroyer commissioned in India till now
    • Will carry 8 BrahMos missiles
    • Future Ships under this project – Porbandar, Mormugao, Paradip

    Project 17A

    • The Project 17A-class frigate is follow-on of the Project 17 Shivalik-class frigate for the Indian Navy.
    • A future project aimed at building country’s most advanced warships
    • Seven frigates will be built indigenously with stealth features to avoid easy detection by Mazagon Dock and GRSE

    Project 75I

    • 6 Diesel submarines with Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology for Indian Navy by 2022
    • Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries.
    • With AIP systems, they can stay submerged for much longer periods.
    • Will have both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare viz. vertical launched BrahMos for the sea & land targets + Tube-launched torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare
    • AIP significantly improves stealth, as it enables a submarine to generate electricity for services and battery charging and propulsion while completely submerged.

    Scorpene submarine to carry AIP

    • A class of diesel-electric submarine jointly developed by the French DCN and the Spanish company Navantia & now by DCNS under Project 75.
    • It features diesel-electric propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP) system.
    • A DRDO-developed critical propulsion system will go into the last two of the six Scorpene submarines, being built under technology transfer at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.

    Aircraft Carriers –  INS Vikrant

    • Maiden indigenous aircraft carrier in India
    • Largest aircraft carrier after induction
    • Previous aircraft carriers in India – INS Vikramaditya from Russia & INS Viraat from UK
    • Puts India in the elite group of four nations – the US, Russia, the UK and France – in the world capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers

    INS Alleppey Decommissioned

    • Was one of the six Ponchicherry class coastal minesweepers, designed to detect and destroy underwater mines

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Pollutants, Important Keywords in Environment

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM  – Current Affairs Session

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    23rd Mar 2023

    Pollutants, Important keywords in Environment

    What are Air Pollutants?

    Pollutants are the substances which cause pollution; air pollution is caused by air pollutants.

    Types of Air Pollutants

    Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants
    The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants.  The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known as secondary pollutants.

    Classification of Pollutants

    Particulate Pollutants  Gaseous Pollutants
    1. Lead
    2. Fly Ash
    3. Metallic Oxides
    4. Nanoparticles
    1. Carbon monoxide (CO)
    2. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
    3. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    4. Ozone (O3)
    5. Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
    6. Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
    • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
    • Benzene
    • Ethylene
    • Biological pollutants
    • Asbestos
    • Radon

    Particulate Pollutants

    The particles that pollute the air by being suspended can be defined as particulate pollutants.

    These particles are results of some anthropogenic processes like vehicles, industries, construction sites/activities, etc. or natural sources like pollen, volcanic eruptions, natural gaseous precursors, etc.

    • Their size ranges from 0.001 to 500 micrometers (µm) in diameter.
    Heavy Particulate Matter Suspended Particulate Matter Nanoparticulate Matter
    • More than 10 µm
    • Less than 10 µm
    • Less than 0.02 µm
    • Settles down after a point
    • Floats and moves freely with air currents
    • Very light and harmful
    • Form aerosols

    Gaseous Pollutants

    Gaseous Pollutants Description Impacts
    Carbon monoxide (CO)
    • Highly toxic.
    • Produced from internal combustion engines due to incomplete combustion.
    • Other sources are volcanoes, forest fires, etc.
    • Greenhouse gas.
    • Carbon monoxide poisoning.
    • Produces carboxyhemoglobin reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
    Carbon dioxide (CO2)
    • Heavier than air.
    • Source are volcanoes, fire, etc.
    • Greenhouse gas.
    • CO2 is an asphyxiant gas (asphyxia: a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death.).
    • Has other harmful effects if a high concentration of CO2 is inhaled like dizziness, headache, etc.
    • Carbonic rain in high polluted areas.
    Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • Used in refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols, etc.
    • Highly destructive to the Ozone layer.
    Ozone (O3)
    • Very useful in the Stratosphere but harmful at the ground layer.
    • It’s produced due to industries and vehicles.
    • Greenhouse gas.
    • Has toxic effects.
    • Causes watery and itchy eyes.
    Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
    • Various oxides of Nitrogen come under NOX.
    • Caused due to the reaction between oxygen and nitrogen at high temps such as in combustion engines and industries.
    • Aggravates Ashtamatic conditions and other respiratory issues in humans.
    • Plays a major role in the formation of SMOG, acid rain (nitric acid), and the greenhouse effect.
    Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
    • Pungent smelling colorless gas produced from mostly volcanic activities, industrial processes, and production of sulphuric acid.
    • Respiratory issues, premature deaths, and death of certain nerves when inhaled.
    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
    • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature.
    • Irritations in eyes, skin, nose, and throat.
    • Long-term exposure can cause serious damage to the liver and other organs.
    Benzene
    • Found in petrochemicals and used as a fuel additive
    • Increases cancer risk and a major cause of bone marrow failure.
    Ethylene
    • Used in plastic and chemical industries in the production of Polyethylene and other polymers.
    • Excess exposure can cause headaches and dizziness.
    • Ethylene oxide is a carcinogen.
    Asbestos
    • Occurs naturally as a fibrous mineral.
    • Prolonged exposure and inhalation can be very harmful and can cause fatal illness.
    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     
  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Inter-Services Organizations Bill, 2023

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Inter-Services Organizations Bill, 2023

    Context

    The Inter-services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 15, 2023.  

    Inter-Services Organisations Bill, 2023

    • It seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations to exercise disciplinary or administrative control over the service personnel under their command, irrespective of their service.  
    • It will empower commanders-in-chief or any other officers posted in tri-services organisations with disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of personnel serving in them.

    Key features

    • Inter-services Organisation (ISO):  Existing ISO will be deemed to have been constituted under the Bill.  These include the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the Defence Space Agency, and the National Defence Academy.  The central government may constitute an ISO which has personnel belonging to at least two of the three services: the army, the navy, and the air force.  These may be placed under the command of an Officer-in-Command.  These organisations may also include a Joint Services Command, which may be placed under the control of a Commander-in-Chief.
    • Control of ISO:  Presently, the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of ISO are not empowered to exercise disciplinary or administrative powers over the personnel belonging to other services.  The Bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of an ISO to exercise command and control over the personnel serving in or attached to it.  He/She would be responsible for maintaining discipline and ensuring the proper discharge of duties by the service personnel.
    • Superintendence of ISO:  The superintendence of an ISO will be vested in the central government.  The government may also issue directions to such organisations on the grounds of national security, general administration, or public interest.
    • Other forces under central government: The central government may notify any force raised and maintained in India to which the Bill will apply.  This would be in addition to army, navy, and air force personnel.
    • Commander-in-Chief: The officers eligible to be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command are: (i) a General Officer of the regular Army (above the rank of Brigadier), (ii) a Flag Officer of the Navy (rank of Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, or Rear-Admiral), or (iii) an Air Officer of the Air Force (above the rank of group captain).
    • Commanding Officer: The Bill provides for a Commanding Officer who will be in command of a unit, ship, or establishment.   The officer will also perform duties assigned by the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the ISO.  The Commanding Officer will be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted, or attached to that Inter-services Organisation.

    Need for this Bill

    • Multiple legislations: Currently, the service personnel of Indian Air Force, Army and Navy are governed by the provisions of the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957 respectively.
    • No integrated staff: Under current norms only officers of the respective services are empowered to exercise disciplinary powers over the service personnel under the respective service Acts.
    • Others: The Bill will also pave the way for various other tangible benefits such as expeditious disposal of cases, saving of time and public money by avoiding multiple proceedings and greater integration and joint manship among armed forces personnel.

    Significance of the proposed Bill

    • Integration of forces: There has been a long-felt demand to streamline armed forces due to two hostile neighbors. The legislation seeks to avoid resource duplication and enable synergistic deployment.
    • Increase operational efficiency: The bill along with theaterisation will help reduce the current 17 commands to half a dozen for greater operational capability.
    • Better personnel management: The bill would addresses disciplinary issues in a tri-service environment with personnel from different services.
    • Official integration: With this, equivalence and power will be given to the Commander-in-Chief irrespective of their service.
    • Broader realization of security: Need for three services to collaborate to address emerging challenges in modern warfare. Ultimate objective of national security will become easier to achieve.

    Existing challenges

    • Fixed rules of the three services pose a challenge to change.
    • Incorporating technologies like AI and drone technology in modern warfare is challenging.
    • Logistical issues in certain services make it difficult to formulate joint rules and collaboration.
    • Logistics pose a major challenge to smooth and coordinated implementation.
    • Chief of Defence Services (CDS) is overburdened with multiple roles.

    Way forward

    • Operational power should be given within the joint service command at various levels.
    • Powers should be divided to reduce the workload on service headquarters in operational issues.
    • Synergy can be developed on promotion and marking standards between services.
    • CDS should be the Theatre Commander and the charge of the Department of Military Affairs should be given to another officer.
    • Assets of all services should be placed in a central pool until concrete steps of joint operations are taken
    • A Group of Ministers can be formed to take inputs and suggest a well-coordinated policy.
    • Immediate changes like land use and logistics should be made while complicated issues are deliberated.

    Attempt UPSC 2024 Smash Scholarship Test | FLAT* 100% OFF on UPSC Foundation & Mentorship programs

    Get your Rs 10,000 worth of UPSC Strategic Package for FREE | PDFs, Zoom session, Tests, & Mentorship

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Species In News

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM  – Current Affairs Session

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    22nd Mar 2023

    Species In News

    Indian Bullfrogs

    • The Indian Bullfrog Hoplobatrachus Tigerinus (native to
      the Indian subcontinent) has rapidly invaded the Andaman
      islands after it was introduced there in the early 2000s.
    • In human-dominated areas, it now shares space with other
      native (and often endemic) frog species.
    •  The bullfrogs are prolific breeders: they have short breeding
      seasons, and each egg clutch can contain up to 5,750 eggs.
    • Its tadpoles are carnivorous and eat other tadpoles (including their own species).
    • The proportion of bullfrog tadpoles surviving was greater
      in the presence of both endemic frog tadpoles.
    • This is worrying because other native frog species – many
      of which are only being described – could also be affected

    Balsams of Eastern Himalayas

    • Consisting of both annual and perennial herbs, balsams
      are succulent plants with high endemism.
    • Because of their bright beautiful flowers, these groups of
      plants are of prized horticultural significance.
    • The details of the new species, including several new
      records, have been highlighted in the book, recently published by the Botanical Survey of India.
    • Of the 83 species described, 45 are from Arunachal Pradesh,
      24 from Sikkim and 16 species common to both states.

    Threats:

    • Prior to 2010, specimens of Impatiens that had potential
      of being identified as new species would be collected but
      the dried-up specimens looked identical to the species
      discovered earlier and their effort yielded no results.
    • Other than high endemism, what sets Impatiens apart is
      their sensitivity to climate change.
    • Most of the species of Impatiens cannot endure persistent
      drought or extended exposure to direct sunlight.
    • As a result Impatiens species are typically confined
      to stream margins, moist roadsides, waterside boulders, near waterfalls and wet forests.

    Miracle Plant Arogyapacha

    • This ‘miracle plant’ is known for its traditional use by the
      Kani tribal community to combat fatigue.
    • Studies have also proved its varied spectrum of pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic.

    Dracaena Cambodiana: India’s first dragon blood-oozing tree

    • A group of researchers has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong, Assam.
    •  This is the first time that a dragon tree species has been
      reported from India.
    • In India, the Dracaena genus belonging to the family Asparagaceae is represented by nine species and two varieties in the Himalayan region, the northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
    • But Dracaena cambodiana is the only true dragon tree species.
    • The Dracaena seeds are usually dispersed by birds. But due
      to the large fruit size, only a few species of birds are able
      to swallow the fruits, thus limiting the scope of its nature
      conservation.

    7 New Species Of Insects That Can Walk On Water Discovered

    • The newly described species belong to the genus Mesovelia
      whose size ranges from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm and are equipped
      with hydrophobic setae (bristles) on their legs.
    • The combination of hydrophobic setae and water surface
      tension prevents them from sinking.
    • The insects are pale green with silver-white wings with
      black veins on the basal half which make them stand out
      over the green mat of aquatic weeds.
    • Among the new discoveries, Mesovelia andamana is from
      Andaman Islands, bispinosa and M. isiasi are from Meghalaya, M. occulta and M. tenuia from Tamil Nadu and M.brevia and M. dilatata live both in Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu.

    Evolution

    •  These bugs are hemimetabolous insects without having
      larval stage i.e., they go from egg to nymph to adult.
    • They are found on freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes,
      pools, streams, rocks with moss and sometimes on estuaries.
    • These bugs serve as predators and scavengers (feed on
      midges, water fleas, feed on dead and dying mosquitoes),
      thereby removing organic waste and also providing a natural sanitation service.
    • The females of Mesovelia are larger than males and dig
      several holes on plants and insert eggs in plant tissues with
      a specially adapted long serrated ovipositor (genital organ).

    Emperor Penguin Colony In Antarctica Vanishes

    • The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest
      and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic
      to Antarctica.
    • Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body,
      and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.
    • Its diet consists primarily of fish, but also includes crustaceans, such as krill, and cephalopods, such as squid.
    • The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120 km over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals.
    • In 2012 the emperor penguin was uplisted from a species of least concern to near threatened by the IUCN.

    Arctic Kelp Forests

    • Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed that grows in shal-low, nutrient-rich saltwater, near coastal fronts around the world.
    • They occur on rocky coasts throughout the Arctic.
    • Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed that grows in shallow, nutrient-rich saltwater, near coastal fronts around the world.
    • They occur on rocky coasts throughout the Arctic.
    • The longest kelp recorded in the Arctic in Canada was 15 metres, and the deepest was found at 60-metre depth (Disko Bay, Greenland).
    • Kelps function underwater in the same way trees do on land. They create habitat and modify the physical environment by shading light and softening waves.
    • The underwater forests that Kelps create are used by many animals for shelter and food.More than 350 different species – up to 100,000 small invertebrates – can live on a single kelp plant, and many fish, birds and mammals depend on the whole forest.
    • Kelp forests also help protect coastlines by decreasing the power of waves during storms and reducing coastal erosion.

    Neelakurinji Blossom

    • Kurinji or Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthianus) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India
    • Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish-blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms only once in 12 years.
    • It is the most rigorously demonstrated, with documented bloomings in 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018
    • Some Kurinji flowers bloom once every seven years, and then die. Their seeds subsequently sprout and continue the cycle of life and death.

    Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

    • Hangul, the state animal of Jammu & Kashmir, is restricted to the Dachigam National Park some 15 km north-west of Jammu & Kashmir summer capital Srinagar.
    • The Hangul is placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the J&K Wildlife Protection Act, 1978.
    • The Hangul was once widely distributed in the mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba district in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
    • The IUCN’s Red List has classified it as Critically Endan-gered and is similarly listed under the Species Recovery Programme of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) of the MoEFCC.
    • From a population of 5,000 in the early 1900s, the Hangul’s numbers have constantly declined over the decades.
    • The Hangul is considered equally significant to the state of Jammu & Kashmir as the tiger is to the whole of India.
    • The Paliyan tribal people living in Tamil Nadu used it as a reference to calculate their age.
    • It is the only Asiatic survivor or subspecies of the European red deer.
    • But the state animal’s decreasing population remains a big concern.
    • According to the latest survey in 2017, the population of Hangul is 182 in Dachigam and adjoining areas. Earlier population estimates suggest that there were 197 deer in 2004 and 186 in 2015. T
    • The IUCN Red Data Book — which contains lists of species at risk of extinction — has declared the Hangul as one of three species that were critically endangered in J&K.
    • The other two are the Markhor — the world’s largest species of wild goat found in Kashmir and several regions of central Asia — and the Tibetan antelope or ‘Chiru’.

    Great Indian Bustard

    • The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the few species that the Government of India has included in its ‘recovery programme for critically endangered species’.
    • With less than 200 GIBs remaining in the world, most of them were found in Rajasthan’s ‘Desert National Park’. We are on the brink of forever losing a majestic bird species, which was once a strong contender to be declared as India’s National Bird.
    • Habitat: Arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation.
    • It avoids irrigated areas. It is endemic to Indian Sub-continent. found in central India, westem India and eastern Pakistan.
    • Currently, it is found in only six states in the country Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Protection: Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
    • It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES and covered under CMS or Bonn Convention.
    • Bustard Species Found in India: Great Indian Bustard, the Lesser Florican and the Bengal Florican; Houbara also belong to Bustard family but it’s a migratory species.
    • Importance to Ecosystem: GIB is an indicator species for grassland habitats and its gradual disappearance from such environments shows their deterioration. Once the species is lost. there will be no other species to replace it, and that will destabilise the ecosystem of the grassland and affect critical bio-diversities, as well as blackbucks and wolves, who share their habitat with the GIB.
    • Conservation Steps: Great Indian Bustard, popularly known as ‘Godawan is Rajasthan’s state bird. The state government has started “Project Godawan” for its conservation at Desert National Park (DNP) in Jaisalmer. It’s one of the Spades for The Recovery Programme under the Integrated Development of  Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

    Tasmanian Tiger

    • The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (a dog headed pouched dog) was an exclusively carnivorous marsupial that is considered to be extinct.
    • It has resemblance to a dog, with its distinguishing features being the dark stripes beginning at the rear of its body and extending into its tail, its stiff tail and abdominal pouch.
    • The last known thylacine died in captivity over 80 years ago, in Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo in 1936.
    • It may also be the only mammal to have become extinct in Tasmania since the European settlement.

    Adratiklit boulahfa

    • Named Adratiklit boulahfa, it is also the first stegosaurus to be found in North Africa.
    • Its remains were discovered in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
    • The scientists believe it is not only a new species but also belongs to a new genus.
    • The name is derived from the words used by the Berber (an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa) for mountains (Adras), lizard (tiklit) and and the area where the specimen was found. (Boulahfa).

    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     
  • IAS Toppers’ strategy for Current Affairs | LIVE session on How to actually cover current affairs for UPSC 2023-24? and FIVE point agenda | Sajal sir, Dimple ma’am & Dinesh sir | Get FREE Samachar Manthan Module | Register FREE

    IAS Toppers’ strategy for Current Affairs | LIVE session on How to actually cover current affairs for UPSC 2023-24? and FIVE point agenda | Sajal sir, Dimple ma’am & Dinesh sir | Get FREE Samachar Manthan Module | Register FREE

    The three most important figures in UPSC current affairs space will discuss the most important aspect of your prep. (Click here for details)

    Register for Recorded Video

    Current Affairs RTC FREE Recorded Video (Register) | Get Samachar Manthan module for Current Week + Mentorship call

    Preparing for UPSC Current Affairs is akin to being tossed into a turbulent sea of information, leaving most aspirants disoriented and unsure where to focus their attention. The struggle to navigate through the endless news cycle and discern what’s essential for the UPSC exam is real.

    But fret not, for that we already have the Samachar Manthan, Civilsdaily’s flagship program for current affairs, helmed by the illustrious Sajal Sir. Packed with fresh perspectives and exciting features, it’s designed to make your current affairs preparation journey smoother and more enjoyable than ever before.

    But today we have something special to announce.

    Coming Thursday, the Triumvirate of Samachar Manthan, Sajal sir, Dimple ma’am, and Dinesh sir will be LIVE for a detailed Round table level Conference where they will discuss everything that is important for UPSC Current Affairs.

    This is open to all and is an online meeting, we will share the Zoom link with you after registration for this event.

    What is Current Affairs RTC?

    Senior IAS mentors like Sajal sir, Dinesh sir, and Dimple ma’am will be LIVE for detailed session on UPSC current affairs

    1. Pain points faced by UPSC aspirants.
    2. A comprehensive guideline on the how to exactly cover and prepare Current Affairs for UPSC-CSE.
    3. What are the common Blindspots and Loopholes in the preparation for Current Affairs that are faced by most of the aspirants?
    4. How to have a comprehensive analysis covering all the relevant current affairs topics, with a focus on interlinkages, answer writing and retention of information?
    5. Seven most common mistakes an aspirants must avoid while covering current affairs.
    Attend Current Affairs RTC with Sajal sir (Register FREE)

    Details

    Date: 23 March 2023

    Time: 7:30 pm

    FREE for all, Entry on first come first served basis

    Zoom link will be emailed to all on registration

    About Samachar Manthan

    Guaranteed results

    • 85% of UPSC 2022 Prelims and Mains Questions were from CivilsDaily’s Current Affairs Test Series
    • 100+ rankers vouch for the efficacy of Samachar Manthan, a result-oriented Current Affairs program

    Samachar Manthan registered the highest turnout of UPSC rankers from any Current Affairs program available in the market

    And if that’s not convincing enough, just watch the video below of AIR 2 Jagrati Awasthi, 49 Abhijit Ray, and many more, who will vouch for the efficacy of Samachar Manthan.

    That will help you improve your ability to read newspapers and analyze current events.

    Samachar Manthan Batch 4 for UPSC CSE 2023–2024

    This is going to be a special batch as the focus would be on two things:

    1. Covering the backlog from June 2022 to the current month along with answer writing and note making.
    2. Side by side continuing and covering the current issues for Prelims 2023 and then Mains 2023.

    Click & enroll: Samachar Manthan Batch 4 for UPSC 2023 (details here)

    Because Samachar Manthan is a weekly current affairs program, we will design it for you to cover multiple weeks of current affairs in a single week. For example, Week 1 (the first weeks of June 2022) will be paired with SM Week 39. (current weeks).

    Schedule a FREE call to know how to cover the current affairs backlog for UPSC 2023 Prelims & Mains.

    Click & schedule a 1-1 call with senior IAS faculty for strategy

    We will be sharing a personalized strategy and timetable for you as per your UPSC preparation situation.

    Samachar Manthan Yearly for UPSC CSE 2024

    This will be the full-fledged batch of UPSC 2024 aspirants that will continue till Mains.

    This is what our students have to say about Samachar Manthan, Sajal Sir & other faculties.

    Feedback from our students.

    Our ex-students are now rankers.

    Check out Shahansha’s excerpt on how he cleared UPSC 2020:

    https://youtu.be/6WA8nhi9g8I

    Schedule a FREE call to know how to cover the current affairs backlog for UPSC 2023 & 2024. We will be sharing a personalized strategy and timetable for you as per your UPSC preparation situation.

    Click & schedule a 1-1 call with senior IAS faculty for strategy + FREE module
    Register FREE and book your seat for the Samachar Manthan RTC

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM  – Current Affairs Session

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    21st Mar 2023

    National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

    National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

    NATIONAL PARKS STATES
    Papikonda National Park Andhra Pradesh
    Rajiv Gandhi National Park Andhra Pradesh
    Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
    Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh
    Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary Arunachal Pradesh
    Manas National Park (UNESCO) Assam
    Nameri National Park Assam
    Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park Assam
    Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO) Assam
    Dibru Sai Khowa National Park Assam
    Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary Bihar
    Valmild National Park Bihar
    Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary Bihar
    Indravati National Park Chhattisgarh
    Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary Chhattisgarh
    Kanger Valley National Park Chhattisgarh
    Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary Chhattisgarh
    Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park Chhattisgarh
    Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary Chhattisgarh
    Bhagwan Mahavir National Park Goa
    Vansda National Park Gujarat
    Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat
    Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat
    Marine National Park (First Marine National Park) Gujarat
    Black Buck National Park Gujarat
    Gir Forest National Park Gujarat
    Kalesar National Park Haryana
    Sultanpur National Park Haryana
    Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary Himachal Pradesh
    Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary Himachal Pradesh
    Inderkilla National Park Himachal Pradesh
    Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh
    Pin Valley National Park Himachal Pradesh
    Khirganga National Park Himachal Pradesh
    Simbalbara National Park Himachal Pradesh
    Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary Himachal Pradesh
    Salim All National Park Jammu & Kashmir
    Kishtwar National Park Jammu & Kashmir
    Hemis National Park (Largest in Area) Jammu & Kashmir
    Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary Jammu & Kashmir
    Dachigam National Park Jammu & Kashmir
    Kara Koram Wildlife Sanctuary Jammu & Kashmir
    Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary Jammu & Kashmir
    Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary Jammu & Kashmir
    Betla National Park Jharkhand
    Hazaribagh National Park Jharkhand
    Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary Jharkhand
    Nagarhole National Park Karnataka
    Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
    Kudremukh National Park Karnataka
    Bannerghatta National Park Karnataka
    Bandipur National Park Karnataka
    Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
    Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
    Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
    Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary Kerala
    Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
    Periyar National Park Kerala
    Silent Valley National Park Kerala
    Eravikulam National Park Kerala
    Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
    Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
    Anamudi Shola National Park Kerala
    Pampadum Shola National Park Kerala
    Pench National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Bandhavgarh National Park (Highest Numbers of Tigers) Madhya Pradesh
    Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Madhav National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Satpura National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Van Vihar National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh
    National Chambal Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh
    Mandla Plant Fossils National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh
    Phen Wildlife Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh
    Ratapani Tiger Reserve Madhya Pradesh
    Sanjay National Park Madhya Pradesh
    Chandoli National Park Maharashtra
    Gugamal National Park Maharashtra
    Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park Maharashtra
    Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra
    Navegaon National Park Maharashtra
    Tadoba National Park Maharashtra
    Dhakna Kolkaz Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra
    Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra
    Wain Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra
    Keibul Lamjao National Park Manipur
    Yagoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary Manipur
    Nokrek National Park Meghalaya
    Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary Meghalaya
    Balphakram National Park Meghalaya
    Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary Mizoram
    Murlen National Park Mizoram
    Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary Mizoram
    Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park Mizoram
    Pulebarze Wildlife Sanctuary Nagaland
    Intanki National Park Nagaland
    Simplipal National Park Orissa
    Chilka Wild Life Sanctuary Orissa
    Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary Orissa
    Bhitarkanika National Park Orissa
    Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Orissa
    Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary Orissa
    Ranthambore National Park Rajasthan
    Sariska National Park Rajasthan
    First National Park in the world, which was successfully adapted by Royal Bengal Tiger]  
    Darrah National Park Rajasthan
    Desert National Park Rajasthan
    Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO) Rajasthan
    Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
    Jawaharsagar Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
    Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
     Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
    Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary Sikkim
    Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim
    Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary Sikkim
    Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary Sikkim
    Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary Sikkim
    Mukurthi National Park Tamilnadu
    Shenbagathoppu Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Tamilnadu
    Satyamanglam wild Life Sanctuary Tamilnadu
    Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park Tamilnadu
    Guindy National Park Tamilnadu
    Mudumalai National Park Tamilnadu
    Vettangundi Wildlife Sanctuary Tamilnadu
    Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Tamilnadu
    Mrugavani National Park Telangana
    Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary Tripura
    Bisan (Rajbari) National Park Tripura
    Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary Tripura
    Clouded Leopard National Park Tripura
    Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
    Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh
    Ranipur Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
    Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand
    Gangotri National Park Uttarakhand
    Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO) Uttarakhand
    Jim Corbett National Park (Oldest Park) Uttarakhand
    Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO) Uttarakhand
    Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary Uttarakhand
    Govind Pashu Vihar Uttarakhand
    Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Uttarakhand
    Sundarbans National Park West Bengal
    Gorumara National Park West Bengal
    Buxa National Park West Bengal
    Jaldapara National Park West Bengal
    Neora Valley National Park West Bengal
    Singalila National Park West Bengal
    Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Rani Jhansi Marine National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Saddle Peak National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Middle Button Island National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    South Button Island National Park Andaman &Nicobar Islands
    Mount Harriet National Park Andaman &Nicobar Islands
    North Button Island National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Campbell Bay National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Galathea National Park Andaman & Nicobar Islands

     

    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     

  • Attempt All India Smash Open Test for UPSC 2023-2024. No Issues, Give your Best and get up to 100% Scholarship || Registration is open for Limited Entry

    Guys, Are you a beginner who has no idea about UPSC, but want to check if you have the aptitude for the same? Do you want to assess your performance and interest in UPSC before targeting 2024 preparation?

    We have got the perfect opportunity for you. Presenting, Civilsdaily’s UPSC-CSE 2024, Free-To-Register National Scholarship on 26th march (Sunday) 2023. Both in Online and Offline Mode.

    Last year’s scholarship test by Civilsdaily has seen a phenomenal response and pan-India interest in the test. Many toppers have emerged out of the test to be subsequently mentored in the Civilsdaily Foundation Program. So aspirants, ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits of the test.

    It can be the best kick-start opportunity to save your Time, Money, and Energy up to 100%.

    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test

    1. Details of the Civilsdaily All India Smash Open National Scholarship Test

    • Scholarship: 100% on Our Flagship Programs
    • Date: 26th March 2023
    • Mode: Online
    • Registration Fee – Free
    • Language: English
    • Time: 2 Hours
    • Syllabus: GS Paper 1 (Preliminary exam)
    • No. of Questions: 100
    • Time: 10 AM
    • Result: 5/04/2023

    UPSC Prelims FREE Mock test:

    1. One open test in both online and offline mode.
    2. Questions will be from the most important topics.
    3. There will be a detailed session on which question was supposed to be left or must attempt etc along with the number of questions that could’ve been attempted and should attempt etc
    4. Also one pdf on the 100 most important topics.

    Target 130+ marks in UPSC GS Prelims paper, 100+ in UPSC CSAT prelims with an overall accuracy of 90% to avail this 100% scholarship

    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test

    Table of Content

    ‘Realize your worth. Know the difference between what you’re chasing and what you deserve…’

    1. What is the All India Smash Open Test for UPSC 2024?

    Guys, the UPSC 2024 All India Smash Open Test is a national scholarship test program for UPSC 2024 hopefuls. For a novice who is unfamiliar with UPSC but wants to determine whether he has the aptitude for it, this is the ideal opportunity. The Civilsdaily Flagship Foundation Course will be fully funded for you if you ace the upcoming free UPSC national scholarship exam and pass with flying colors.

    Ultimate Assessment Program and Foundation Program includes – 

    • Mentorship (1:1, throughout the preparation till the Interview stage)
    • Masterclasses (complete GS syllabus covered, Only provided in Foundation course)
    • Samachar Manthan (Current affairs Programme)
    • Decimate Prelims (Prelims Crash course)
    • Mains Answer Writing Initiative (On a weekly basis)
    • Smash Mains (upon Qualifying prelims 2024)
    • Essay Guidance Program (To score above 120+ in Essay Mains Paper)
    • Interview Guidance Program (more than 1 mock interview will be conducted with a panel)
    • Civilsdaily IAS Community for Peer-to-Peer Interaction
    Get all the Civilsdaily courses under Smash Foundation Course for 100% off after you attend our scholarship test and score above the cut-off marks!
    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test

    2. What students will get after the mock-Test?

    An average aspirant pays for Prelims Course, Mains Program, Interview Guidance, Test Series & Study Materials all separately. The fees then come up to 2-3 Lakhs for one attempt alone.

    Identifying this issue, Civilsdaily has designed the Flagship mentorship cum Foundation Course for 2023 aspirants. This course covers the entire 3-stage journey of a UPSC aspirant. From Prelims to Interview –

    • 1:1 Mentorship: Dedicated mentor to each student
    • Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Study Plans
    • Weekly Test Series
    • Classes & Study Materials will be provided.

    Another benefit of the program is that it’s an umbrella course wherein an aspirant can access other paid courses of Civilsdaily for FREE.

    The main objective of the program is to identify and nurture serious aspirants to become future UPSC toppers. And that’s why we have designed a scholarship test.

    Our foundation course will be intensive yet personalized. You will be getting individual coaching on how to conquer the basics, develop analytical skills, inculcate conceptual clarity, and acquire the necessary knowledge to face the unpredictable and dynamic UPSC.

    Apart from conducting subject-wise classes that cover all the Prelims-Mains syllabus from scratch, aspirants will follow a customized timetable and will complete their revision on a daily basis to attempt our weekly prelims and mains tests. Once the test is over, they will get a strategy call from a mentor, who will clear their doubts and tell them how to improve their performance from the next test onwards.

    Simply put, you will be getting a unique coaching experience that eludes other UPSC aspirants. Even aspects like Essays, Ethics, and CSAT which are ignored in other normal coaching programs, will be covered over here with tests, mentorship, classes, and notes.

    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test

    3. Why should you take the CD’s Scholarship Test? 

    1. Test your preparation on UPSC-CSE grade questions, at the national level.

    2. Chance to compete against the best. See where you stand.

    3. Identify your subject-wise strengths, weak points, and problem areas before you start preparation.

    4. Mentors will provide personalized counseling based on your performance on the scholarship test. 

    5. A detailed discussion will help you navigate through the challenges during the preparation.

    6. Achieve up to 100% scholarship in our exclusive umbrella foundation course.

    As the program is rigorous and involves individual attention, we can take only limited enrollments. Hence, we are conducting a Scholarship Exam to identify serious UPSC aspirants on the 19th of Feb. Depending on your relative score, you can get up to a 100% scholarship.

    We are looking for

    1. Serious and hardworking aspirants.

    2. Ready to dedicate a minimum of 5-8 hours daily.

    3. Can complete assigned targets and tests without fail.

    4. Only 1 thought in mind and that is – to clear UPSC Civil Services 2024.

    5. Willing to take constructive feedback from mentors after each test.

    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test

    What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship

    (CLICK) Register for the All India Smash Open Test
  • (Launched) Dominate Prelims 2023 with Zeeshan sir | Final 60 days UPSC Prelims 2023 program | Last 10 seats left, Enrollment Open now

    (Launched) Dominate Prelims 2023 with Zeeshan sir | Final 60 days UPSC Prelims 2023 program | Last 10 seats left, Enrollment Open now

    Predicted Prelims Workshop, Destroy Prelims Workshop, Weekly Zoom sessions, 50 value addition GS & CA lectures, 60 Tests, all under Zeeshan sir’s mentorship (Timetable below)

    Enroll here for Dominate Prelims 2023 by Zeeshan sir
    Have a query? Want FREE strategy-cum-mentorship session? | Book your slot

    With less than three months remaining until the UPSC Prelims 2023 exam, it is crucial to approach preparation with an intensive, smart, and efficient plan of action.

    We are excited to announce our new program for UPSC Prelims 2023, led by Senior IAS Faculty, Zeeshan Hashmi.

    It is 60 days, exclusive program (intake of only 100 students) that integrates course completion, mock tests, mentorship, and practical workshops into one comprehensive package.

    Table of content:

    1. Program inclusion
    2. Why Dominate Prelims?
    3. Details of workshops- Predicted Prelims 2023, Destroy Prelims, and more
    4. Date, Course Fee, Duration, etc.
    Predicted Prelims 2023 Workshop is a part of this program (details below)
    Timetable: Dominate Prelims 2023Download

    Program Inclusion

    1. Predicted Prelims Workshop on Zoom Meetings: 10 days practical session (access till Prelims 2023)
    2. Destroy Prelims Workshop on Zoom Meetings: 10 days practical session (access till Prelims 2023)
    3. Weekly Zoom sessions
      ○ Make a strategy – micro and macro for the remaining days till Prelims
      ○ Incorporate syllabus coverage, test series, and revision into it
      ○ Make sure you are executing the plan efficiently
    4. UPSC Level Prelims Mock Tests: Total 60 Tests
      ○ 12 Basic tests
      ○ 10 Current Affairs
      ○ 14 Practice tests
      ○ 6 Advanced
      ○ 8 Full-Length Tests
      ○ 4 CSAT tests
    5. 50 Value addition classes and notes covering
      ○ Static syllabus that is linked with
      ○ Entire Current affairs of 1.5 years (Jan 2022 – April 2023)
    6. Budget and Economy survey of 2023 (Handouts + Videos)
    Timetable: Dominate Prelims 2023Download

    Predicted Prelims Workshop, Destroy Prelims Workshop, Weekly Zoom sessions, 50 value addition GS & CA lectures, 60 Tests, all under Zeeshan sir’s mentorship (Timetable below)

    Enroll here for Dominate Prelims 2023 by Zeeshan sir
    Have a query? Want FREE strategy-cum-mentorship session? | Book your slot

    Why DOMINATE PRELIMS 2023?

    This program led by Zeeshan sir integrates everything from course completion, mock tests, mentorship, intelligent elimination techniques, and practical workshops into one comprehensive package.

    1. Predicted Prelims 2023: 10 days workshop
      • Using methodical PYQ analysis, Zeeshan sir was able to predict 42 questions in UPSC Prelims 2022
      •  Using the same methodology Zeeshan sir will help you predict at least 34 questions for UPSC Prelims 2023
      • Developing an attitude of active learning.
      • 10 days Zoom workshop (access till Prelims 2023)
    2. Destroy Prelims Workshop: Imparting skills to attempt and solve Prelims paper
      • Using logical paper-solving skills to solve questions with limited knowledge
      • Targeting an accuracy rate of 90% and attempting maximum questions.
      • 10 days Zoom workshop (access till Prelims 2023)
    3. Syllabus completion – Current affairs for 1.5 yrs and linked GS topics
      • Most important and probable topics will be covered in a timely manner leaving ample time for multiple revisions.
      • Special classes on topics including Polity, History, Economics, Geography, Sessions to cover Environment innovatively, Science & Technology, and more.
      • To be done through lectures, Notes will be shared.
      • Comprehensive and exhaustive notes covering everything that is important.
    4. Test Series: Evidence-based questions based on the UPSC’s current trends
      • To keep your preparation relevant to UPSC 2023 pattern
      • Bringing efficiency to your preparation. Leaving out what is not important.
    5. Time management and result-oriented preparation
      • Strategy and plan- both micro and macro by Zeeshan sir. This will ensure syllabus completion and rigorous practice through the test series.
      • Zeeshan sir’s personal guidance through weekly Zoom sessions
    6. Constant and gradual improvement through Zeeshan sir’s guidance
      • Weekly Zoom sessions with Zeeshan sir
      • Interaction and doubt session on Telegram group
    7. Evolving your personal approach for attempting UPSC prelims paper
      • Accuracy vs a high number of attempts. Accuracy improvement sessions.
      • Attempting from question 1 or go section-wise.

    Other Details

    • Duration of the program: 75 days
    • Program starts date: 13th March
    • Course fee: Rs 8000 + GST
    • Students Intake: 100

    Predicted Prelims Workshop, Destroy Prelims Workshop, Weekly Zoom sessions, 50 value addition GS & CA lectures, 60 Tests, all under Zeeshan sir’s mentorship (Timetable below)

    Enroll here for Dominate Prelims 2023 by Zeeshan sir
    Have a query? Want FREE strategy-cum-mentorship session? | Book your slot

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Laws and Bodies Related To Environment Conservation In India

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM  – Current Affairs Session

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    20th Mar 2023

    Laws and Bodies Related To Environment Conservation In India

    1.Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981

    • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 an Act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent air pollution in India
    • It was amended in 1987
    • The Government passed this Act in 1981 to clean up our air by controlling pollution.
    • It states that sources of air pollution such as industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., are not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic substances beyond a prescribed level

    Key Features

    The Act specifically empowers State Government to designate air pollution areas and to prescribe the type of fuel to be used in these designated areas.

    According to this Act, no person can operate certain types of industries including the asbestos, cement, fertilizer and petroleum industries without consent of the State Board.

    The main objectives of the Act are as follows:

    (a) To provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution

    (b) To provide for the establishment of central and State Boards with a view to implement the Act(Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board)

    (c) To confer on the Boards the powers to implement the provisions of the Act and assign to the Boards functions relating to pollution

    2.Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986

    • Environment Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India
    • In the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution
    • Passed in March 1986, it came into force on 19 November 1986
    • The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
    • In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other

    Objective of the Act

    The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.

    3.The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 17 July 2000

    The rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act.

    Objectives and Key Features

    • These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs, besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs and the product containing ODS.
    • These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in manufacturing various products beyond 1st January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler and for other medical purposes.
    • Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st January 2001 except for essential use.
    • Other ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methylchoroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1st January 2010.
    • Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st January 2040.

    4.The Energy Conservation Act of 2001

    As a step towards improving energy efficiency, the Government of India has enacted the Energy Conservation Act in 2001.

    Objective

    The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 is the most important multi-sectoral legislation in India and is intended to promote efficient use of energy in India.

    Key Features

    The Act specifies energy consumption standards for equipment and appliances, prescribes energy consumption norms and standards for consumers, prescribes energy conservation building codes for commercial buildings and establishes a compliance mechanism for energy consumption norms and standards.

     

    5.Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

    • In order to implement the various provisions of the EC Act, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was operationalised with effect from 1st March, 2002. The EC Act provides a legal framework for energy efficiency initiatives in the country. The Act has mandatory as well as promotional initiatives.
    • The Bureau is spearheading the task of improving the energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy through the regulatory and promotional mechanism. The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
    • This is to be demonstrated by providing policy framework as well as through public-private partnership.

    6.Forest Conservation Act of 1980

    Background

    First Forest Act was enacted in 1927.

    Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and resulting environmental degradation, Centre Government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Act in1980.

    Objective

    It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce.

    Key Features

    • Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
    • Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.
    • An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
    • The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.

    7.The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

    Background

    During the Rio de Janeiro summit of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992, India vowed the participating states to provide judicial and administrative remedies for the victims of the pollutants and other environmental damage.

    Key Features

    It was enacted under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.

    The specialized architecture of the NGT will facilitate fast track resolution of environmental cases and provide a boost to the implementation of many sustainable development measures.

    NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

    Enabling Provision

    It is an Act of the Parliament of India which enable the creation of NGT to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

    Members

    The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial members although the act allows for up to 20 of each.

    The Chairman of the tribunal who is the administrative head of the tribunal also serves as a judicial member.

    Every bench of the tribunal must consist of at least one expert member and one judicial member.

    The Chairman of the tribunal is required to be a serving or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

    Jurisdiction

    The Tribunal has Original Jurisdiction on matters of “substantial question relating to environment” (i.e. a community at large is affected, damage to public health at broader level) & “damage to environment due to specific activity” (such as pollution).

    The term “substantial” is not clearly defined in the act.

    8.The Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications

    Background

    The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters which are influenced by tidal action are declared “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ) in 1991.

    CRZ notifications

    India has created institutional mechanisms such as National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) and State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA) for enforcement and monitoring of the CRZ Notification.

    These authorities have been delegated powers under Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 to take various measures for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in coastal areas.

    Key Features

    Under this coastal areas have been classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3, CRZ-4. And the same they retained for CRZ in 2003 notifications as well.

    CRZ-1: these are ecologically sensitive areas these are essential in maintaining the ecosystem of the coast. They lie between low and high tide line. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt are permitted

    CRZ-2: these areas form up to the shoreline of the coast. Unauthorised structures are not allowed to construct in this zone.

    CRZ-3: rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain activities related to agriculture even some public facilities are allowed in this zone

    CRZ-4: this lies in the aquatic area up to territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.

     

    9.Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

    Background

    In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act (Protection) Act.

    Objective

    The Wild Life Act provides for

    1. state wildlife advisory boards,
    2. regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
    3. establishment of sanctuaries and national parks, tiger reserves
    4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and
    5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.

    Key Features

    • Harming endangered species listed in Schedule 1 of the Act is prohibited throughout India.
    • Hunting species, like those requiring special protection (Schedule II), big game (Schedule III), and small game (Schedule IV), is regulated through licensing.
    • A few species classified as vermin (Schedule V), may be hunted without restrictions.
    • Wildlife wardens and their staff administer the act.
    • An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced a provision permitting the capture and transportation of wild animals for the scientific management of animal population.

    10.Biological Diversity Act, 2002

    Background

    The Biological Diversity Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2000 and was passed in 2002.

    Objective:

    India’s richness in biological resources and indigenous knowledge relating to them is well recognized

    The legislation aims at regulating access to biological resources so as to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use

    Key Features

    • The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use, and to check biopiracy.
    • This bill seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
    • The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies. The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.
    • BMCs promote conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biodiversity.
    • NBA and SBB are required to consult BMCs in decisions relating to use of biological resources.
    • All foreign nationals or organizations require prior approval of NBA for obtaining biological resources and associated knowledge for any use.
    • Indian individuals/entities require approval of NBA for transferring results of research with respect to any biological resources to foreign nationals/organizations.

    11.Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999

    Objective

    A rule notified in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of Sub Section (2) of Section 3 read with Section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) with the objective to regulate the manufacture and use of recycled plastics, carry bags and containers;

    Key Features

    1. Thickness of the carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall not be less than 20 microns.
    2. Carry bags and containers made of virgin plastic shall be in natural shade or white.
    3. Carry bags and containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than storing and packaging food stuffs shall be manufactured using pigments and colorants as per IS:9833:1981 entitled “List of Pigments and Colorants” for use in Plastics in contact with food stuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water.
    4. Recycling of plastics shall be under taken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications IS:14534:1988 entitled “The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics”.
    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     
  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Common Drugs Standards

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Common Drugs Standards

    Context

    • The Union Health Ministry in India is considering the formulation of common standards for drug regulators across the country.
    • This is aimed at improving the drug regulation mechanism in India by ensuring consistent implementation of standards and facilitating better monitoring of drug safety.
    • It is probably a move likely triggered by recent deaths globally that were linked to the consumption of drugs manufactured in India.

    Common Drugs Standards: Key features

    • Unified national portal: The portal is intended to bring together various drug regulatory functions and processes, currently managed by different government agencies, onto a single platform.  
    • Centralized database: It will be used for information related to drugs, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities, as well as a single-window clearance system for drug approvals.
    • Drug safety monitoring: The portal will also include modules for monitoring drug safety and pharmacovigilance, and for facilitating online submission of applications for various regulatory processes such as drug approval, clinical trials, and licensing.

    Institutions involved

    • The portal is being developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India.
    • The CDSCO is working with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to ensure that the portal is integrated with existing regulatory frameworks and systems.
    drugs

    Need for Common Standards and Regulations

    • Huge market potential: India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 14th by value in the pharma sector.
    • Multiple regulators: The current system is fragmented with 38 drug regulators, each with its own database.
    • Multiple standards: A common set of standards and regulations accepted by both central and state authorities is being worked upon.
    • Easy evaluation: The move could help drug regulators across India know the credentials of all pharmaceutical companies and drugs at the click of a mouse.

    Benefits offered

    • Once operational, the portal is expected to benefit various stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including drug manufacturers, regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals, and patients.
    • It is expected to-
      • Improve the efficiency of regulatory processes
      • Reduce delays in drug approvals and
      • Enhance drug safety monitoring in India

    Why such a move?

    Ans. Recent Cases of Deaths Linked to Drugs Exported from India

    • In the past six months, there have been at least three cases of deaths reported globally that are linked to drugs exported from India.
    • Global Pharma Healthcare Private Limited recalled a batch of eye drops from the US market after they were contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria linked to permanent vision loss and resulted in one death from a bloodstream infection.
    • An inquiry was launched against Marion Biotech after deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan were linked to the firm’s consumption of syrup.
    • WHO issued a medical product alert over four cough syrups manufactured and exported by Maiden Pharma. At least 70 children died in The Gambia likely after consuming the said cough syrups.

    Present Drug Regulation Mechanism in India

    In India, drug regulation is overseen by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), a national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The CDSCO is responsible for regulating the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs in India.

    The following is an overview of the drug regulation mechanism in India:

    • Drug Approval Process: Before a drug can be marketed in India, it must undergo a thorough approval process by the CDSCO. This includes pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, and submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) or a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA).
    • Drug Pricing: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is responsible for regulating the prices of drugs in India. The NPPA regulates the prices of essential medicines and monitors the prices of non-essential medicines to ensure they are not unreasonably high.
    • Drug Safety Monitoring: The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is responsible for monitoring the safety of drugs in India. The program collects and analyzes data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to identify potential safety concerns and take appropriate action.
    • Manufacturing Standards: The CDSCO ensures that drug manufacturers in India adhere to good manufacturing practices (GMP) to ensure that drugs are produced under quality standards and are safe for use.
    • Clinical Trials: The CDSCO regulates clinical trials in India to ensure that they are conducted ethically and with the safety of participants in mind. The CDSCO requires that clinical trials follow the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

    Issues with the above system

    • Slow Approval Process: The drug approval process in India is often criticized for being slow and cumbersome, leading to delays in the availability of new drugs to patients.
    • Inadequate Drug Safety Monitoring: Despite the existence of the PvPI, there are concerns that the monitoring of drug safety is not adequate, leading to underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and delayed response to safety concerns.
    • Lack of Transparency: There have been concerns over the lack of transparency in the drug approval process, with accusations of corruption and conflicts of interest among regulatory officials and drug manufacturers.
    • Inconsistent Implementation of Standards: While India has established good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards for drug manufacturing, there are concerns that these standards are not consistently implemented, leading to quality issues with some drugs.
    • Limited Access to Affordable Drugs: While the NPPA regulates the prices of essential medicines, there are concerns that the prices of non-essential drugs are often unaffordable for the average Indian patient.

    Challenges in implementation of a common standard

    • Healthcare being state list subject: India is a federal state and health is a state subject, which may make it difficult to implement the idea.
    • States hegemony: A central database will be difficult to maintain if states do not share accurate data in a timely manner.

    Way forward

    • Streamline the Approval Process: The government should consider simplifying and expediting the drug approval process while maintaining safety standards. This could involve the use of modern technologies and innovative regulatory pathways, such as accelerated approval and conditional approval, to speed up the approval process for drugs that meet certain criteria.
    • Strengthen Drug Safety Monitoring: The government should allocate more resources to PvPI to enhance its capacity for monitoring drug safety. This could include increasing the number of trained personnel, improving data collection and analysis systems, and implementing a more robust system for reporting and responding to adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
    • Increase Transparency: The government should take steps to increase transparency in the drug approval process, such as making the regulatory framework and decision-making processes more open and accessible to the public.  
    • Improve Implementation of Standards: The government should work with drug manufacturers to improve the implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards, through increased regulatory inspections, penalties for non-compliance, and capacity-building programs for manufacturers.
    • Ensure Access to Safe and Affordable Drugs: The government should explore ways to make non-essential drugs more affordable to the average Indian patient, such as by negotiating better prices with drug manufacturers or promoting generic drug usage through public awareness campaigns.

    Conclusion

    • Overall, the development of a unified national portal for drug regulatory functions is a significant step towards modernizing the drug regulation mechanism in India and bringing it in line with international standards.
    • It is expected to facilitate the growth of the Indian pharmaceutical industry and contribute to the overall health and well-being of the Indian population.

    Attempt UPSC 2024 Smash Scholarship Test | FLAT* 100% OFF on UPSC Foundation & Mentorship programs

    Get your Rs 10,000 worth of UPSC Strategic Package for FREE | PDFs, Zoom session, Tests, & Mentorship

  • 🚨60 days to Pre’23⏰ Join FREE Initiative (Link inside) | Today in Nikaalo Prelims: ISRO AND IMPORTANT MISSIONS | Join Sukanya Ma’am at 7pm

    🚨60 days to Pre’23⏰ Join FREE Initiative (Link inside) | Today in Nikaalo Prelims: ISRO AND IMPORTANT MISSIONS | Join Sukanya Ma’am at 7pm

    7th Edition of 🎯Nikalo Prelims 2023 launched | 1st Mar to 27th May⭐ | Get all PDFs of Lectures | Check timetable below | Join Parth sir LIVE on YouTube

    Register FREE for Nikaalo Prelims 2023

    (LIVE) Day 16 | ISRO AND IMPORTANT MISSIONS | BY Sukanya Ma’am

    (LIVE) Day 12 | Environment: Important Laws & bodies

    (LIVE) Day 11 | Environment- Important Declarations, Conventions, & Protocols for UPSC Prelims 2023

    Day 10 | External sector of India

    (LIVE) Day 8 | Imp keywords in Budget, Fiscal Policy &Taxation | Indian Economy

    Day 7 – Indian Economy: National Income, Inclusive Growth, and other social sector-related schemes

    Nikaalo Prelims Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZTYLkxalE7IAUjvpRtOcEumDtkup1tQz

    As we enter the last three months before UPSC Prelims 2023 it is time to understand and fill critical gaps in your preparation.

    Based on our discussion with around 2500 aspirants, over the past few years at this point in time (3 months before Prelims) we know that you

    • might have already completed the GS syllabus or are about to but finding a gap in core concepts or how to use the knowledge for solving MCQs,
    • your scores in mocks fluctuate and get stuck at 80-90 marks barrier, and
    • most like you don’t know what your weaknesses are, least of all how to make an improvement.

    We’re excited to launch the 6th edition of Nikaalo Prelims for UPSC Prelims 2023

    Nikaalo Prelims is the ONLY PROGRAM that will handhold you to understand your gaps, streamline your preparation during the peak months, and ensure that you have the best shot at clearing prelims.

    It is a 90 days FREE initiative for UPSC Prelims 2023 in which we will have daily LIVE sessions on YouTube and Telegram by CivilsDaily’s senior IAS faculty. Our mentors work day and night to ensure that our aspirants get the best out of it.

    How is Nikaalo Prelims any different from the other “x-day revision programs”?

    You might have chanced upon x-day revision programs by other institutes and UPSC coachings, and all of them are focussing on the content aspect using old ways of revision and preparation in the last 90 days.

    Nikaalo Prelims is going to help you identify, understand and work on the ‘Critical Gaps’ in your preparation. Our team of highly experienced IAS faculty and UPSC rankers have worked really hard on designing this program.

    Through our LIVE sessions, Prelims Spotlight PDFs, and MCQs tests we will test you, guide you and help fill these critical gaps:

    • Awareness Gap
    • Knowledge Gap
    • Revision Gap
    • X-Factor Gap
    • DO NOT TOUCH questions and topics for UPSC Prelims

    Without progressively working on these gaps, you CANNOT clear UPSC Prelims.

    Let’s talk & discuss how to fill these gaps | FREE 1-1 session

    Our team has prepared a 90 days timetable and based on that we will conduct sessions and tests in the program.

    1. Daily LIVE sessions on Youtube and Telegram – Consistency in Preparation

    In Daily YouTube Live sessions Parth sir will take up and discuss GS static concepts and MCQs. These sessions will be strictly timetable based. He will discuss GS core concepts live with you.

    In the evening, Sukanya ma’am will take Live Telegram sessions on core GS concepts related to current affairs and MCQs.

    2. Prelims Spotlight PDFs

    This initiative is meant to help you revise details and facts that can be asked in prelims. They are simplified, synthesized, and prepared using the most authentic sources.

    Topics in Spotlight are chosen only after analyzing the previous year’s trends and PYQs of the UPSC Prelims. These can easily slip your mind or easily confuse you. Continuous Revision for the same is required. Dare you to miss the updates!

    These PDFs will be shared with you on a daily basis. Do register.

    3. Static Subject Revision and Tests

    In a timebound and strategic manner, we will cover all the important static topics and related current affairs. Through daily MCQ tests we will keep you sharp. The discussion of these with Sukanya ma’am and Nikaalo Prelims community will 10x your prep.

    4. Predicting MCQs for UPSC Prelims 2023: Most probable questions

    Using methodical PYQ analysis, discussions, and insights of our highly experienced faculty we will be sharing a list of most probable questions for the Prelims 2023.

    5. Nikaalo Prelims Community

    In addition, to live sessions with senior mentors, our Telegram community provides a supportive and interactive space for UPSC aspirants to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. As a member of our Telegram community, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other like-minded learners, build meaningful relationships, and stay motivated throughout your UPSC journey. You’ll gain exclusive access to study materials, mock tests, and valuable insights from our senior mentors and peers.

    6th Edition of 🎯Nikalo Prelims 2023 launched | 28th Feb to 27th May⭐

    Register FREE for Nikaalo Prelims 2023 | Join Telegram

    How sessions will be taken?

    1. At 10 am everyday you will find Prelims Spotlight PDFs on our website.
    2. At 7 pm Parth sir will go live on YouTube to discuss core concepts and set themes for the day, as mentioned in the timetable.
    3. Daily MCQ test will be shared in the telegram group and you are expected to attempt those and share the report of the questions you got incorrect in our format in he channel. We will be monitoring your progress.
    4. Sukanya ma’am will be Live at 6 pm daily on Telegram to discuss current affairs and MCQs as per the timetable.
    5. We are keeping 1 hour for student-contributed questions. We want to build a community where students are committed to helping each other and clearing prelims together.

    This is it. Feel free to reach out to us for details.

  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Important Declarations, Conventions, Protocols Regarding UNFCCC COPs

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM  – Current Affairs Session

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    17th Mar 2023

    Important Declarations, Conventions, Protocols Regarding UNFCCC COPs

    Major UN climate negotiations under UNFCCC- Timeline

    1992—

    The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted and opened for signatures in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit.

    154 signatories to the UNFCCC agreed to stabilize “greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.”

    The treaty is not legally binding because it sets no mandatory limits on GHG emissions. Instead, the treaty provides for future negotiations to set emissions limits. The first principal revision is the Kyoto Protocol.

    1994—

    The UNFCCC Treaty entered into force after receiving 50 ratifications.

    1997—

    KYOTO PROTOCOL

    COP 3 was held in Kyoto, Japan. On December 11, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted by consensus with more than 150 signatories.

    The Protocol included legally binding emissions targets for developed country Parties for the six major GHGs, which are-

    • Carbon dioxide.
    • Methane.
    • Nitrous oxide.
    • Hydrofluorocarbons.
    • Perfluorocarbons, and
    • Sulfur hexafluoride.

    Annex of the Kyoto Protocol

    • Annex 1 – Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD) plus economies in transition (mainly former soviet block countries) – They would mandatorily reduce GHGs, base year – 1990
    • Annex 2 – Subset of Annex 1,  Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD), would also provide finances and technology to non annex countries
    • Non annex – not included in annex, all other countries, no binding targets
    • Annex A – gases covered under Kyoto <name those 7 gases>
    • Annex B – Binding targets for each Annex 1 country i.e Japan will reduce emission by X%, Australia by Y% 

    The Protocol offered additional means of meeting targets by way of three market-based mechanisms:

    • Emissions trading.
    • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
    • Joint Implementation (JI).

    Under the Protocol, industrialized countries’ actual emissions have to be monitored and precise records have to be kept of the trades carried out.

    India ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.

     

    2000—

    COP 6 part I was held in The Hague, Netherlands. Negotiations faltered, and parties agreed to meet again.

    COP 6part II was held in Bonn, Germany. The consensus was reached on what was called the Bonn Agreements.

    All nations except the United States agreed on the mechanisms for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

    The U.S. participated in observatory status only.

    2001—

    COP 7 was held in Marrakesh, Morocco. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol were adopted and called the Marrakesh Accords.

    The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was established to “finance projects relating to: adaptation; technology transfer and capacity building; energy transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management; and economic diversification.”

    The Least Developed Countries Fund was also “established to support a work programme to assist Least Developed Country Parties (LDCs) carry out, inter alia [among other things], the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs).”

    2005—

    COP 11/CMP 1 were held in Montreal, Canada. This conference was the first to take place after the Kyoto Protocol took force. The annual meeting between the parties (COP) was supplemented by the first annual Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).

    The countries that had ratified the UNFCCC, but not accepted the Kyoto Protocol, had observer status at the latter conference.

    The parties addressed issues such as “capacity building, development and transfer of technologies, the adverse effects of climate change on developing and least developed countries, and several financial and budget-related issues, including guidelines to the Global Environment Facility (GEF).” (UNFCCC)

    2007—

    COP 13/CMP 3 were held in Bali. COP parties agreed to a Bali Action Plan to negotiate GHG mitigation actions after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The Bali Action Plan did not require binding GHG targets for developing countries.

    2009—

    June – As part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, governments met in Bonn, Germany, to begin discussions on draft negotiations that would form the basis of an agreement at Copenhagen.

    December – COP 15 was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    It failed to reach agreement on binding commitments after the Kyoto Protocol commitment period ends in 2012.

    During the summit, leaders from the United States, Brazil, China, Indonesia, India and South Africa agreed to what would be called the Copenhagen Accord which recognized the need to limit the global temperature rise to 2°C based on the science of climate change.

    While no legally binding commitments were required by the deal, countries were asked to pledge voluntary GHG reduction targets. $100 billion was pledged in climate aid to developing countries.

    2012—

    COP 18 was held in Doha, Qatar.

    Parties agreed to extend the expiring Kyoto Protocol, creating a second commitment phase that would begin on January 1, 2013 and end December 31, 2020. India ratified the second commitment period in 2017.

    Parties failed to set a pathway to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 for developing countries to finance climate change adaptation, as agreed upon at COP 15 in Copenhagen.

    The concept of “loss and damage” was introduced as developed countries pledged to help developing countries and small island nations pay for the losses and damages from climate change that they are already experiencing.

    2013—

    COP 19 was held in Warsaw, Poland.

    Parties were expected to create a roadmap for the 2015 COP in Paris where a legally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is expected to be finalized (in order to come into effect in 2020).

    Differences of opinion on responsibility of GHG emissions between developing and developed countries led to a flexible ruling on the wording and a plan to discuss further at the COP 20 in Peru.

    A non-binding agreement was reached among countries to set up a system tackling the “loss and damage” issue, although details of how to set up the mechanism were not discussed.

    Concerning climate finance, the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Program, aimed at preserving the world’s forests, was formally adopted.

    Little progress was made on developed countries committing to the agreed upon plan of providing $100 billion per year by 2020 to developing countries.

     

    2015—

    PARIS AGREEMENT

    COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris.

    Aims of the Paris Agreement-

    1.Keep the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

    2.Pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    3.Strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.

     

    COP 23 – BONN(GERMANY)

    First COP to be hosted by a small Island developing nation.
    Countries continued to negotiate the finer details of how the agreement will work from 2020 onwards.

     

    COP 24 – KATOWICE(POLLAND)

    • Countries settled on most of the tricky elements of the “rulebook” for putting the 2015 Paris agreement into practice.
    • This includes how governments will measure, report on and verify their emissions-cutting efforts, a key element because it ensures all countries are held to proper standards and will find it harder to wriggle out of their commitments.

    COP 26: Glasgow Agreement

    What was achieved?
    1. Mitigation:

    • The Glasgow agreement has emphasised that stronger action in the current decade was most critical to achieving the 1.5-degree target.

    2. Adaptation:

    • The Glasgow Climate Pact has:
    1. Asked the developed countries to at least double the money being provided for adaptation by 2025 from the 2019 levels.
    2. Created a two-year work programme to define a global goal on adaptation.

    3. Finance: 

    • In 2009, developed countries had promised to mobilise at least $100 billion every year from 2020.
    • The developed nations have now said that they will arrange this amount of 100 billion annual fund by 2023.

    4. Accounting earlier failures:

    • The pact has expressed “deep regrets” over the failure of the developed countries to deliver on their $100 billion promise.
    • It has asked them to arrange this money urgently and in every year till 2025.

    5. Loss and Damage:

    • There is no institutional mechanism to compensate nations for the losses, or provide them help in the form of relief and rehabilitation after suffering from climate disasters.
    • The loss and damage provision in the Paris Agreement seeks to address that.
    • Thanks to a push from many nations, substantive discussions on loss and damage could take place in Glasgow.

    6. Carbon Markets:

    • The Glasgow Pact has offered some reprieve to the developing nations.
    • It has allowed these carbon credits to be used in meeting countries’ first NDC targets.

    NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBURTIONS (NDCs)

    • The national pledges by countries to cut emissions are voluntary.
    • The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead.
    • This includes requirements that all Parties report regularly on their emissions and on their implementation efforts.
    • In 2018, Parties will take stock of the collective efforts in relation to progress towards the goal set in the Paris Agreement.
    • There will also be a global stock take every 5 years to assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Agreement and to inform further individual actions by Parties.

    Some facts-

    • It entered into force in November 2016 after (ratification by 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions) had been met.
    • The agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century.
    • In the adopted version of the Paris Agreement, the parties will also “pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C.”
    • The 1.5 °C goal will require zero-emissions sometime between 2030 and 2050, according to some scientists.
    • The developed countries reaffirmed the commitment to mobilize $100 billion a year in climate finance by 2020 and agreed to continue mobilizing finance at the level of $100 billion a year until 2025.
    • In 2017, United States announced that the U.S. would cease all participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation.
    • In accordance with Article 28 of the Paris Agreement, the earliest possible effective withdrawal date by the United States cannot be before November 2020. Thus, The U.S. will remain a signatory till November 2020.

    RATIFICATION TO KIGALI AGREEMENT

    The Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by India.

    What is Montreal Protocol?

    • The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international agreement made in 1987.
    • It was designed to stop the production and import of ozone-depleting substances and reduce their concentration in the atmosphere to help protect the earth’s ozone layer.
    • It sits under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

    What is the Kigali Amendment?

    • It is an international agreement to gradually reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
    • It is a legally binding agreement designed to create rights and obligations in international law.
    • While HFCs do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, they have high global warming potential ranging from 12 to 14,000, which has an adverse impact on climate.
    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     
  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: India’s “Per Capita Income” Doubles

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: India’s “Per Capita Income” Doubles

    Context

    • Since 2014-15 when the NDA government came to power at the Centre, the nation’s per capita income has doubled to Rs 1.72 lakh.

    India’s GDP doubles

    • According to National Statistics Office (NSO) data, the per capita income in terms of net national income, in current prices, stood at Rs 1,72,000 in 2022-23 with a growth rate of 15.8% over the previous year. 
    • This would be nearly double ₹86,647 in 2014-15.
    • Per capita income at the current prices was estimated at Rs1,27,065 and Rs 1,48,524 respectively for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

    This indicates that there has been a consistent rise in per capita income.

    What is Per-Capita Income (PCI)?

    • The per capita income of a geographical location (say, a country, state, city, or others) measures the amount of money earned by every person in that area.
    • It determines the average income of a person in a country, a state, or a specific region.
    • This helps us evaluate the standard of livelihood and the quality of life of people in the geographical location.
    • It is calculated for an average per person and then expressed as a ratio.

    Key parameters indicated by PCI

    • Average income: Per-capita income measures the average income earned per person in a particular geographic area. It provides an indication of the overall level of prosperity in the area.
    • Economic growth: Per-capita income is often used as an indicator of economic growth, as it reflects changes in the overall level of income earned by the population.
    • Standard of living: Higher PCI typically correspond to higher standards of living, as people are able to afford better healthcare, education, housing, and other essential goods and services.
    • Purchasing power: Per-capita income can be used to compare the relative purchasing power of different geographic areas.  
    • Inflation-adjusted: Per-capita income is often reported in real terms, which takes into account inflation and provides a more accurate representation of purchasing power over time.
    • Income distribution: Per-capita income does not provide information about the distribution of income within a particular area. It is possible for an area to have a high per-capita income but still have significant income inequality.

    How is Per Capita Income Calculated?


    We use this formula to calculate the per capita income of a particular area.

    PCI = Population’s total income / Population of a specific area

    When you calculate the PCI of a country, you’ve to divide a country’s total income by that country’s total population.

    The various uses of PCI are-
    (1) Gross Domestic Product Per Capita
    The GDP Per Capita calculates a country’s economic output by the number of people in that country. You have to divide a nation’s total economic domestic production by that nation’s population. The formula for calculating GDP Per Capita is:

    GDP Per Capita = Gross Domestic Product/ Population

    (2) Gross National Income Per Capita
    To determine the Gross National Income per Capita, you have to take into account Gross Domestic Product Per Capita along with the value generated by the people of a country living abroad.

    Other Uses

    • Per Capita Income is used to find out an area’s wealth or lack thereof.
    • It is also used to find out the affordability of an area regarding data on real estate prices.
    • Prominent business chains and owners consider an area’s per capita income before opening a store branch or shop in a concerned area.
    • The higher PCI of a place, the higher the chances of making considerable revenue.
    • The chances of profitable revenue fall drastically in those places where PCI is low.

    What are the Limitations of Per Capita Income?

    Despite being a commonly used measurement entity, per capita income comes with some limitations. Some of them are:

    • Sensitive to Outliers: When calculating a country’s PCI, every individual is taken into account. The calculation includes men, women, children, and babies. This is mainly because the measurement considers the entire country’s population or specific geographical location.
    • Inflation: Per Capita Income doesn’t count for an economy’s inflation (the rate of price rise). Inflation deducts the power of purchases of consumers and limits income increase. This results in overstating the average income of a place’s population.
    • International Comparisons: Making international comparisons can be unfair and inaccurate. This is because it does not include the currency exchange rate in the measurements while calculating the per capita income. Some economies are known to use non-monetary activity and barter systems. Again, this is not considered in calculations of the per capita income.
    • Distorted results: Per Capita Income includes non-earning individuals like children and even newborn babies. When a country’s average income is included, the babies or kids are counted even when they don’t add to the income. Those economies and countries with lots of children will, therefore, get a distorted result when using the PCI parameter to calculate an economy’s average income.
    • Savings are not accounted: The Per Capita Income calculations do not consider every individual’s savings. An individual could have a lot of wealth from his savings, which he uses to maintain a high quality of livelihood but earns a meagre income. Hence, the calculations will still count the wealthy person as a very low-income earner and decrease the per capita income.
    • Welfare parameters ignored: Per Capita Income is used to determine the living quality or livelihood in an area or geographical region. But the calculations do not count for quality of working conditions, literacy level, and overall health benefits.

    Way forward

    • Look beyond just income inequality: While income inequality is an important indicator of economic health, it’s important to also consider other factors like the Gini Coefficient (a measure of income distribution) to get a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand. Over-focusing on income inequality alone can lead to a dependence on freebies and other short-term solutions.
    • Address the aspirations of young people: It’s important to invest in the development of skills and employment opportunities to provide young people with a clear path forward and to prevent them from being left behind in the economy.
    • Ensure equitable access to education and healthcare: Access to education and healthcare are critical components of ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Investing in these areas can help promote social mobility and reduce inequality.
    • Focus on manufacturing and infrastructure: Manufacturing and infrastructure are key areas of economic growth and development, as they have a multiplier effect on the economy and can help distribute income more evenly. It’s important to invest in these areas to help promote equitable economic growth.
    • Diversify the economy: Dependence on any one sector of the economy can be risky, so it’s important to diversify the economy to reduce vulnerability to economic shocks. Diversifying away from agriculture and towards manufacturing and services can help promote equitable growth.
    • Invest in infrastructure: Investment in infrastructure, such as logistics, railways, and highways, can help reduce transportation costs and improve efficiency, promoting economic growth.
    • Reduce existing divides: Finally, it’s important to take proactive steps to reduce existing divides and promote social and economic equality. This can include measures like improving access to credit, reducing discrimination, and investing in social programs that benefit marginalized communities.