Daily Current Affairs : 30th and 31st October 2022

by

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

  1. Uniform civil code
  2. Doctrine of Pleasure
  3. COP 27
  4. Delhi Declaration of UNCTC
  5. DNA Test
  6. Dolphins
  7. Facts for Prelims

1 . Uniform Civil Code

Context: Gujarat Home Minister announced the formation of a committee to implement a uniform civil code (UCC) in the state. In May this year, Uttarakhand announced a committee to carry out a similar exercise. Assam and Himachal Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, too have supported the idea of a UCC.

Key Highlights

  • In probably its last Cabinet meeting before the announcement of Assembly election in the State, the Gujarat government moved a proposal to constitute a committee to evaluate all aspects of implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), similar to the move by Uttarakhand.
  • The committee will be headed by a retired High Court judge and will have three or four members.
  • The committee will be formed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force.
  • The proposed UCC would not violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The government held that the Hindu Marriage Act and Muslim personal laws would be covered under the UCC as these laws were not part of the Constitution.
  • The Ministers said the committee would submit its report after evaluating various aspects related to the UCC and the State government would take the final call on its implementation.
  • No deadline has been set for the committee to submit its report.

Background of UCC

  • The Lex Loci Report of October 1840- It stressed the importance and necessity of uniformity in the codification of Indian law, relating to crimes, evidence and contract. But, it also recommended that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should be kept outside such codification.
  • The Queen’s 1859 Proclamation- It promised absolute non-interference in religious matters.
  • So while criminal laws were codified and became common for the whole country, personal laws continue to be governed by separate codes for different communities.
  • Post independence UCC was included under Directive Principle of State Policy

About Uniform Civil Code

  • It is the idea that all citizens, irrespective of faith, should be governed by the same set of laws in ‘personal’ affairs such as marriage, divorce, succession and inheritance, and adoption. Currently, each religion has its own set of personal laws.
  • Article 44 of the Constitution says, “The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.” It is a Directive Principle of State Policy, not mandatory, but a directive towards a desirable end.
  • Personal Laws include : Marriage,Divorce, Adoption, Inheritance, Succession & Maintenance

Argument for Uniform Civil Code

  • The inconsistency in personal laws has been challenged on the touchstone of Article 14, which ensures the right to equality. Litigants have contended that their right to equality is endangered by personal laws that put them at a disadvantage.
  • A uniform civil code will help in integrating India more than it has ever been since independence. A lot of the animosity is caused by preferential treatment by the law of certain religious communities and this can be avoided by a uniform civil code.
  • A uniform civil code means that all citizens of India have to follow the same laws whether they are Hindus or Muslims or Christians or Sikhs this will promote secularism
  • It can also reduce vote bank politics
  • It would address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise diverse cultural practices.
  • A uniform civil code will also help in improving the condition of women in India. 

Challenges in implementation

  • A move against Secularism : Secular character of India has been identified as part of the basic structure of the Constitution, and Article 25 guarantees the freedom to practise, profess and propagate any religion and UCC is seen as invasion into the secular character
  • Infringement of personal religious laws : A strong argument which goes against the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code is, the very idea of assimilating all the personal laws into a uniform code will infringe the constituents of personal laws of most of the minority religion. 
  • Authority to decide : How will the government decide what laws need to be reformed and what laws are good. It is necessary that govt formulate a code that is acceptable to all the communities.

Case Laws

  • The first prominent case founded was Shah Bano (1985) in this case husband gave an irrevocable talaq (divorce) to her which was his prerogative under Islamic law and took up the defence that since Shah Bano had ceased to be his wife and therefore he was under no obligation to provide maintenance for her as except prescribed under the Islamic law which was in total Rs. 5400. In this case Supreme Court ruled that a Muslim woman was entitled to alimony under the general provisions of the CrPC, like anybody else.
  • Following protests from Muslim leaders, Rajiv Gandhi’s government in 1986 got the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act passed in Parliament, which nullified the ruling. The Act allowed maintenance to a divorced woman only during the period of iddat, or for 90 days after divorce, according to provisions of Islamic law, but in stark contrast to general provisions under the CrPC.
  • In Daniel Latifi vs Union of India (2001), the Supreme Court upheld the Act in so far as it confined the time period of maintenance to the iddat period, but held that the quantum of maintenance must be “reasonable and fair”, and therefore, last her a lifetime. In effect, the verdict did a balancing act between the Shah Bano judgment and the 1986 law.
  • In Githa Hariharan vs RBI (1999), the top court adjudicated upon the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 and the Guardian Constitution and Wards Act, on a petition claiming they violated Articles 14 by treating the father as the natural guardian of a child under all circumstances. The court held that the interest of the child was paramount, and that the letter of law would not override this aspect. It ushered in the principle of equality in matters of guardianship for Hindus, making the child’s welfare the prime consideration.
  • The Supreme Court examined the aspect uniformity again in two cases in 2015. The first pertained to seeking the court’s recognition to the Ecclesiastical Court, which operates under the Canon Law for Catholic Christians and not under India’s civil laws. The apex court was upset — wondering angrily whether India would remain secular in the present circumstances, and calling for stamping out religions from civil laws. This case remains pending.
  • In the second case, the court dealt with the issue of guardianship of a Christian unwed mother without the consent of the child’s father. While ruling in the woman’s favour, it said: “It would be apposite for us to underscore that our Directive Principles envision the existence of a uniform civil code, but this remains an unaddressed constitutional expectation.”

Can state Govt bring UCC

  • Uniform Civil Code or UCC essentially refers to a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and succession. As per Schedule VII of the Constitution, such subjects come in the Concurrent List (Entry No. 5), wherein power to legislate rests with both Parliament and state legislatures. Accordingly, the state legislature may introduce amendments to the personal laws enacted by Parliament, but it cannot be stretched to include the enactment of a UCC for a particular state.
  • As per Article 12 of the Constitution, ‘State’ includes central and state governments. As per that authority, if Uttarakhand or any other state government brings any such legislation, it would require Presidential assent under Article 254 of the Constitution. Uniform Civil Code can only be brought by parliamentary legislation as is clear from government reply before courts and Parliament. 

2 . Doctrine of Pleasure

Context: Kerala Governor and the State government have major differences over multiple issues.The latest controversy has arisen after he sought the resignation of several vice-chancellors following a Supreme Court judgment setting aside the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of a technology university. As a fallout of comments made by the State’s Finance Minister, the Governor has also sought his dismissal from his Cabinet, declaring that he has withdrawn the pleasure of having him in the Council of Ministers.

 What is the concept?

  • The pleasure doctrine is a concept derived from English common law, under which the crown can dispense with the services of anyone in its employ at any time.
  • In India, Article 310 of the Constitution says every person in the defence or civil service of the Union holds office during the pleasure of the President, and every member of the civil service in the States holds office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  • However, Article 311 imposes restrictions on the removal of a civil servant.
    • It provides for civil servants being given a reasonable opportunity for a hearing on the charges against them.
    • There is also a provision to dispense with the inquiry if it is not practicable to hold one, or if it is not expedient to do so in the interest of national security.
  • In practical terms, the pleasure of the President referred to here is that of the Union government, and the Governor’s pleasure is that of the State government.
  • Under Article 164, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor; and the other Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the CM’s advice. It adds that Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  • In a constitutional scheme in which they are appointed solely on the CM’s advice, the ‘pleasure’ referred to is also taken to mean the right of the Chief Minister to dismiss a Minister, and not that of the Governor.

What did the Supreme Court say on one Vice-Chancellor’s appointment?

  • In a case challenging the appointment of Dr. M.S. Rajasree as V-C of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram, the Supreme Court held that her appointment was contrary to the regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • The particular infirmity was that the Search Committee had identified only one candidate and recommended the name to the Chancellor for appointment.
  • Under UGC regulations, a panel of three to five names should be recommended so that the Chancellor has a number of options to choose from.

How did the Governor react?

  • The Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor of universities, responded by directing the V-Cs of nine universities to resign the very next day, contending that the infirmities pointed out by the Supreme Court in one case also vitiated their appointments.
  • The Governor of Kerala noted that the apex court had declared that an appointment not in line with the UGC regulations would be ab initio void that is invalid from the very beginning.
  • He highlighted the fact that each of those appointments were either made on the basis of a single recommendation or were recommended by a panel in which the Chief Secretary was a member (contrary to the Regulations that say its members should be persons of eminence in the field of higher education).
  • However, when the communication was challenged in the Kerala High Court, the Governor converted his directive into show-cause notices to the V-Cs to explain how their appointments were not illegal. Later, such notices were sent to two more V-Cs.

3 . COP – 27

Context: Leaders from around 200 countries will gather in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November for the 27th round of the Conference of Parties, or COP27, to deliberate on a global response to the increasing threat of climate change.

Background of the summit

  • The annual summit comes at a crucial juncture against the backdrop of global inflation, energy, food and supply chain crises, fuelled by an ongoing war in Ukraine and exacerbated by extreme weather events, with data showing that the world is not doing enough.
  • At COP27, negotiations are likely to focus on efforts to decarbonise, finance climate action measures and other issues related to food security, energy and biodiversity.

 What have been the key takeaways from past COPs?

  • The participants at COPs are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, adopted 30 years ago.
  • At present, the UNFCCC has 198 members.
  • The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin. Since then, a few COPs have stood out with historic agreements. For instance, the Kyoto Protocol, adopted at COP3 in 1997, committed industrialised economies to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • COP21, another significant conference, ended with the 2015 Paris Agreement in which member countries agreed to keep global warming below 2°C , ideally no more than 1.5°C , compared to pre-industrial levels.
  • The previous summit, hosted by Glasgow, ended with the Glasgow Climate Pact that called for the ‘phasing down’ of unabated coal power.

What’s on the agenda at the upcoming summit?

  •  COP27 will seek to strengthen a global response and deliberate if wealthy nations emitting carbon dioxide should compensate for the loss to developing countries with a lower carbon footprint.
  • Broadly, the summit seeks to “accelerate global climate action through emissions reduction, scaled-up adaptation efforts and enhanced flows of appropriate finance” through its four priority areas of mitigation, adaptation, finance and collaboration.
  • COP27 will be about moving from negotiations and planning to the implementation of promises and pledges made.
  • Experts say the conference could emerge as an “in-between COP,” since climate change goals have either passed or are not due soon, giving COP27 a platform to push forward issues that developed economies pass over.

How has the world been doing on climate change since the Glasgow meet?

  • The world has changed since the last COP in Glasgow. Extreme weather events and scientific reports are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of human pressure on the climate and the inefficiency of existing plans.
  • These reports, likely to leave an impact on political agenda and environmental diplomacy, have built momentum for the Egypt summit.
  • A recent UN report has warned that “efforts remain insufficient” to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, as per the Paris Agreement.
  • The UN Climate Change report says the world is failing to act with urgency to curb greenhouse gas emissions despite the planet witnessing climate-enhanced heatwaves, storms and floods after just 1.2°C of warming.
  • Even if the countries meet their pledges, we are on track for around 2.5°C of warming, which will be disastrous.
  • The findings are based on an analysis of the latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), or country-specific action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. The report adds that emissions compared to 2010 levels need to fall 45% by 2030 to meet the Paris deal’s goal.

What did the IPCC report state?

  • This year’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report stated that climate change has produced irreversible losses to natural ecosystems and has warned of severe consequences to food supply, human health and biodiversity loss if carbon emissions from human activity are not sharply reduced.
    • As per the report, 3-14% of all species on earth face a very high risk of extinction at even 1.5°C, with devastating losses at higher temperatures in the current situation. It adds that limiting warming to around 1.5°C requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 and be reduced by 43% by 2030.
    • Coal-fired power plants operating without technology to capture and store carbon would need to be shuttered by 2050, a warning relevant to India which operates roughly 10% of global capacity.
  • The World Resources Institute also paints a grim picture in its report.
    • It suggests that the world needs to curb emissions six times faster by 2030 than the current trajectory to meet the 1.5°C target. Of the 40 indicators examined, none is on track to reach the 2030 target. “Unabated coal-based electricity generation, although declining worldwide, continues to expand across some regions, while unabated fossil gas-based electricity, is still rising globally,” it notes.
  • Mitigation measures to keep temperatures below 2°C and the need for climate change adaptation mentioned in these reports are likely to come up for discussion at the COP27.

Where does India stand?

  • India is one of the 197 countries that has promised to limit the increase to no more than 1.5°C by 2030. It is also working on a long-term roadmap to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2070.
  • India had committed at the Glasgow summit that the country would get its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030, meet half of its energy requirement from renewable sources and reduce carbon emissions.
  • India is the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Though India updated its climate pledges in line with commitments made at the previous summit, experts have slammed New Delhi for not setting ambitious targets.
  • The Climate Action Tracker, an independent analysis that tracks government climate action classifies India’s action as “highly insufficient”.
  • It says India’s continued support to the coal industry undermines a green recovery. India had previously come under intense criticism over its stand to “phase down” coal power, instead of phasing it out, at COP26.
  • While stronger on paper, India will already achieve these targets with its current level of climate action and the new targets will not drive further emissions reductions,” the tracker notes.
  • The country is, however, expected to play a key role at COP27. A government official told Associated Press that a key issue for India at the summit will be financing both — adapting to climate change and limiting fossil fuel emissions.
  • The official said the country wants the $100 billion-a-year pledge of climate funds for developing countries, a promise that remains unfulfilled.

4 . Delhi Declaration of UNCTC

Context: The United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNCTC) unanimously adopted the Delhi Declaration, calling on all member-states to ensure zero tolerance towards terrorism.

About the declaration

  • The declaration was adopted at the UNCTC’s Emerging Tech special meeting held in Delhi.
  • The meeting, attended by representatives of 15 member-countries of the UN Security Council and global counter-terror experts, adopted the “Delhi Declaration” listing the council’s priorities in combating the challenge of terrorism and terror-financing,
  • The global body expressed concerns over the increasing use of Internet and other information and communications technologies, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes.
  • The committee emphasised the need for member-states and CTED (Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate) to continue cooperation with the private sector and civil society for more effective means to counter the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
  • India is hosting the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council and is being held under India’s chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

Key highlights of the declaration

  • Some of the takeaways of the declaration are as follows:
    • Terrorism in all forms and manifestations is one of the most serious threats. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.
    • Zero tolerance towards terrorism through full and effective implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
    • Member states to fulfil their obligations enshrined in relevant international counter terrorism conventions.
    • Member states obligated to prevent and suppress financing of terrorist acts and to refrain from providing support to entities or persons involved in such acts, including by suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups, consistent with international laws, and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists.
    • Terrorists’ opportunity to access safe havens continues to be a significant concern. All member states must cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism to identify safe havens, deny terrorists’ access to them and bring to justice, in accordance with domestic and international laws, any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempts to participate in the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts, including by providing safe havens.

5 . DNA Test

Context: DNA tests occupy a grey area in the quest for justice, vacillating between the dangers of slipping into self-incrimination and encroachment on individual privacy and the “eminent need” to unearth the truth.

Key Highlights

  • DNA tests can be of help as evidence in a criminal case or in proving a claim of marital infidelity or paternity.
  • More and more complainants are seeking DNA tests — a senior official associated with a government laboratory estimates such requests increasing by around 20% each year.
  • DNA Forensics Laboratory Private Ltd., accredited with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), says it tests 300 to 400 samples a month on private requests and court orders. The numbers were only 30 to 40 till five years ago.
  • The Supreme Court recently held that compelling an unwilling person to undergo a DNA test would be a violation of personal liberty and right to privacy, turning the spotlight on a technology that aids the cause of justice but violates privacy.
  • Women’s rights activists hold that a DNA test is the only tool which can deliver justice in cases of abandonment of mothers and children. The woman can establish the paternity of the child only if the DNA of the man matches.
    • While determining paternity goes a long way towards securing financial support from an estranged partner. It is not so much about women’s rights as child rights.
  • DNA may not be conclusive proof in cases of heinous crimes like rape but for paternity, protection has always been towards the children.

About DNA Test

  • A DNA test (genetic testing) is a medical test that can identify mutations in your genes, chromosomes or proteins.
  • These mutations can indicate if you have or don’t have a genetic condition.
  • DNA tests can also identify your risk for developing a certain condition or passing on a genetic disorder.

The judgements by the Supreme Court

  • Precedents set by the Supreme Court through the years show that judges cannot order genetic tests as a “roving enquiry” (Bhabani Prasad Jena, 2010) and they must balance “the interests of the parties” (Banarsi Dass, 2005);
  • DNA tests should also not be ordered if there was other material evidence at hand to prove the case.
  • In its Ashok Kumar judgment, the court said judges, before ordering a genetic test, should examine “proportionality of the legitimate aims” being pursued.
  • But seven years ago, the court heard a man’s plea for a DNA test to prove his wife’s infidelity and the parentage of their child and sought a test to be done on himself and the child. The court agreed, reasoning there was no other way for him to know. It said the wife could refuse but would risk presumptions being drawn against her. Then again, as the ‘XX’ case demonstrates, there are no easy answers or legal certitudes.
  • While dealing with claims of infidelity, a request for DNA test also competes with the conclusiveness of Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act, which presumes that a child born to a married woman is legitimate — the burden of proof is on the person claiming illegitimacy of the child.
  • While the imperative of justice jostles with that of bodily autonomy, the Constitution Bench judgment in the K.S. Puttaswamy case recognising privacy as part of the fundamental right to life has only buttressed the privacy argument as the government’s bid to pilot the DNA Technology Regulation Bill, 2019 through Parliament hangs fire.

6 . Ganges Dolphin

Context: Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga River with improvement in the quality of its water through the Namami Gange programme, said the Uttar Pradesh government.

Key Highlights

  • The state government claimed that with the completion of 23 projects under the ambitious programme started in 2014, the State has successfully stopped flowing of more than 460 MLD of sewage into the Ganga in the State.
  • Dolphins have also been seen breeding in Brijghat, Narora, Kanpur, Mirzapur and Varanasi, which is likely to increase their number further in the coming days.
  • At present, the population of dolphins in Ganga in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be around 600.
  • The U.P. government added that there has been a lot of improvement in dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical demand (BOD) and fecal coliform (FC) parameters as well, the assessment of river water quality carried out during the period 2014-2022 at 20 locations in Uttar Pradesh reveals.
  • The government said the test found that pH (how acidic the water was) at 20 locations met the water quality criteria for bathing, while DO, BOD and FC improved at 16, 14 and 18 out of 20 locations, respectively.
  • The Namami Gange programme was launched in 2014 with the objective to rejuvenate Ganga by adopting an integrated approach which focused on the interception and diversion of sewage by tapping the drains flowing into the river Ganga.

About Dolphins

  • A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea.
  • Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World River dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). There are 40 extant species named dolphins.
  • Most dolphins are marine and live in the ocean or brackish waters along coastlines. There are a few species, however, like the South Asian River dolphin and the Amazon River dolphin, or boto, that live in freshwater streams and rivers.
  • Dolphins range in size from the 1.7-metre-long and 50-kilogram Maui’s dolphin to the 9.5 m and 10-tonne orca.
  • They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Though not quite as flexible as seals, some dolphins can briefly travel at speeds of 29 kilometres per hour or leap about 30 feet.
  • They use their conical teeth to capture fast-moving prey. They have well-developed hearing which is adapted for both air and water. It is so well developed that some can survive even if they are blind.
  • Dolphins are widespread. Most species prefer the warm waters of the tropic zones, but some, such as the right whale dolphin, prefer colder climates.
  • Dolphins feed largely on fish and squid, but a few, such as the orca, feed on large mammals such as seals.
  • Dolphins produce a variety of vocalizations, usually in the form of clicks and whistles.

About Ganges River Dolphin

  • The Ganges river dolphin, or susu , inhabits the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Karnaphuli, and Meghna rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
  • The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
  • They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind.
  • They are frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together. Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.
  • The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal

IUCN Status

  • International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
  • Its status of existence has become a matter of serious concern over the past few decades as this is an indicator species of health of the river ecosystem.

Major Threats

  • They are endangered due to pollution and overfishing for oil : Entanglement in fishing nets as bycatch can cause significant damage to local populations, and individuals are taken each year by hunters; their oil and meat are used as a liniment, as an aphrodisiac, and as bait for catfish.
  • Poisoning of the water supply from industrial and agricultural chemicals may have also be a contributing factor towards population decline, as these chemicals are biomagnified in the bodies of the dolphins.
  • An immediate danger for the species in National Chambal Sanctuary is the decrease in river depth and appearance of sand bars dividing the river course into smaller segments, as irrigation has lowered water levels throughout their range
  • Other reasons include shipping, climate change, habitat fragmentation by barrages, flow regulation and depletion from hydropower generation and diversions for irrigation

Conservation Initiatives activated by the Government of India

  • On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, 15 August 2020, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced ‘Project Dolphin’ to boost conservation of both river and oceanic dolphins
  • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in its efforts of biodiversity conservation in Ganga River basin has been working further on the Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Action Plan and has taken up steps to coordinate with various institutions to:
    • Build capacity for Ganga River Dolphin Conservation and Management;
    • Minimize fisheries interface and incidental capture of Ganga River Dolphins;
    • Restore river dolphin habitats by minimizing and mitigating the impacts of developmental projects;
    • Involve communities and stakeholders for sustainable efforts in Ganga River Dolphin conservation;
    • Educate and create awareness and Set off targeted research.

7 . Facts for Prelims

Kalanamak rice

  • Kalanamak, the traditional variety of paddy is a black husk with a strong aroma.
  • It is regarded as a “gift from Lord Buddha” to the Sravasti people when he visited the area after enlightenment.
  • It is grown in Nepal and in 11 districts of the Terai region in the northeast of Uttar Pradesh.
  • It has been awarded as the “One District, One Product” product of Siddharthnagar, an aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh’s Terai belt, under the “One District, One Product” (ODOP) program.
  • Kalanamak has also been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations featured it in its book called “Speciality Rice of the World”.
  • The issue with the conventional variety of Kalanamak rice is that it’s tall and prone to lodging, which seriously affects grain filling and quality.
    • Lodging is a condition in which the plant falls to the ground because of the grain formations the top becomes heavy and the stem weak.
    • Further, the blight bacterial disease outbreak also impacts the paddy.
  • Kala Namak rice is ideal for crop production because it is mostly grown without the use of fertilizer or pesticide residues. The grower saves a significant amount of money as pesticides and fertilizers are not used.
  • Benefits: This rice is high in micronutrients like iron and zinc, which can help prevent Alzheimer’s.
    • It also has 11% protein, almost twice as much as other rice varieties.
    • In addition, its low Glycemic Index (49 to 52%) makes it suitable for diabetics and it contains antioxidants like anthocyanin, which aid in skin health improvement and prevent heart disease.
    • It has also been found to be helpful in controlling blood pressure and dealing with issues related to blood
  • The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) recently tested two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak Rice that give double the yield: Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 in Uttar Pradesh. This will address the lodging issue that contributes to the traditional variety’s low yield.

Salmonella typhimurium

  • The rapid and unselective use of traditional antibiotics gives rise to the emergence of drug resistant phenotype in typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, which has increased the difficulties in curing Salmonella-induced food-borne illnesses (majorly typhoid or paratyphoid fever, gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea) worldwide.
  • Salmonella typhimurium ST313, an invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovar, causes bloodstream infection in the malnourished and immunocompromised population of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Recent studies have reported the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype in Salmonella tphimurium DT104, which causes infection in humans and cattle.
  • The further emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) S. Typhimurium ST313 (having multi-drug resistant (MDR) and resistance against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and azithromycin) in Africa posed a significant threat to global health.
  • A recent study showed that outer membrane porins of Salmonella Typhimurium play an essential role in the survival of the bacteria in the presence of antibiotics.
    • In this study, it was showed that deleting outer membrane protein A (OmpA) from Salmonella hampered its survival in the presence of two beta-lactam drugs — ceftazidime and meropenem.
      • OmpA is one of the most abundant barrel-shaped porin proteins localised in the outer membrane of Salmonella.
        • The absence of OmpA in Salmonella hampers the stability of the bacterial outer membrane and reduces the expression of efflux pump genes.

Endogenous retroviruses

  • Previous studies have shown that fragments of ancient viral DNA — called endogenous retroviruses — in the genomes of mice, chickens, cats and sheep provide immunity against modern viruses that originate outside the body by blocking them from entering host cells.
  • Now a study (Science) conducted with human cells in culture in the lab has found that the antiviral effect of endogenous retroviruses likely also exists for humans.
  • The work reveals the possibility of a genome defence system that has not been characterised, but could be quite extensive.
  • Endogenous retroviruses account for about 8% of the human genome.
  • Retroviruses introduce their RNA into a host cell, which is converted to DNA and integrated into the host’s genome. The cell then makes more virus.
  • Typically, retroviruses infect cells that don’t pass from one generation to the next, but some infect germ cells, such as an egg or sperm, which opens the door for retroviral DNA to pass from parent to offspring.

Mastitis

  • Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory response of the udder tissue in the mammary gland caused due to physical trauma or microorganism infections. It is considered the most common disease leading to economic loss in dairy industries due to reduced yield and poor quality of milk
  • In a major breakthrough in creating immunity in cattle against infectious diseases, including mastitis, researchers of the Transdisciplinary University of Health Sciences & Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, have successfully validated the immunomodulation ability of a natural phytochemical compound with curcumin as the active ingredient.
  • Research findings revealed that the natural product offers immunity in dairy cattle against infectious diseases, including mastitis, by increasing complementary protein, interferon, immunoglobulin (IgM), lymphocytes and monocytes.
  • Increase in calcium-phosphorus and albumin-globulin ratio and digestibility index substantiate 10% increase in milk production.
  • Antibiotics have been used to manage various infections in cattle. However, it has been noticed that the uncontrolled use of antibiotics results in increased antibiotic resistance.
  • The use of antibiotics for treating mastitis results in inter-species and inter-genus transfer of antibiotic resistance and creation of various multi-drug resistant microorganisms in the environment, which affects immunity of livestock and human health.
  • The compound with curcumin can be used to control mastitis as a prophylactic measure during pre-partum and post-partum stage along with cattle feed under scientific management practices.
  • For States like Kerala where more than 96% cattle are crossbreeds, control of mastitis assumes more significance.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe)

  • Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN–SPACe) is a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space of the Government of India.
  • Space programme in India has been developed over a period of more than five decades with a strong focus on application driven programmes and bringing space to the services of the common man.
  • In June 2020 Space sector was opened and participation of Indian private sector in the entire gamut of space activities was enabled.
  • To facilitate private sector participation, the government has created the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), as a single-window, independent, nodal agency which functions as an autonomous agency in Department of Space (DOS).
  • Established as a single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities, IN-SPACe plays an important role in boosting the private space sector economy in India.
  • It is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of the NGEs that include, among others, the building of launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme

  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme was initiated by the Government of India to increase the income of farmers and provide sources for irrigation and de-dieselize the farm sector.
  • PM-KUSUM Yojana got its administrative approval in March 2019 and guidelines were framed in July 2019.
  • This scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the installation of solar pumps and other renewable power plants across the nation.
  • The Scheme consists of three components:
    • Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
    • Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
    • Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
  • Scheme benefits:
    • Provides risk-free income for farmers
    • Ability to check groundwater overexploitation
    • Provides uninterrupted power supply to farmers
    • Helps in the reduction of carbon footprint in agriculture
    • Reduces farmer’s burden of farm power subsidy

Biovillage 2

  • In collaboration with the Bio-Technology department, the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Authority (TREDA) has established the country’s first bio-village at Daspara, in the Sepahijala district, about 25 kilometres from here.
  • The Bio-Technology department has extended help to the villagers, who were solely dependent on agriculture and fishery, by encouraging them to set up piggeries and take up goat-rearing as well.
  • The concept of a bio-village is environmentally friendly. The irrigation and lighting systems are solar powered.
  • Some villages of Tripura have ascended to the level of Bio-Village 2. Bio-Village 2 emphasizes how to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters.

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