06 Apr 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 06 April 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. The NPCI’s new circular on levy charges
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. What is the open-source seeds movement?
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Political situation in South Asia
GOVERNANCE
1. Humane Policing
F. Prelims Facts
1. Lumpy skin disease
G. Tidbits
1. Govt. introduces Aquaculture Bill amid din in Lok Sabha
2. IFC says to stop funding new coal related infra projects
3. Political leaders cannot claim higher immunity: SC
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. What is the open-source seeds movement?

Syllabus: Awareness and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Prelims: About plant breeders’ rights (PBR) and patents.

Mains: Issues associated with plant breeders’ rights (PBR) and patents and the significance of the Open-source seeds model.

Context

This article discusses various aspects of the “open-source” seed model.

About the rights and patents of plant-breeders

  • Traditionally, farmers and cultivators have innovated and shared seeds without any intellectual property rights (IPR) for centuries.
    • However, the advent of hybrid seeds and advancements in scientific plant-breeding have led to the grant of plant breeders’ rights (PBR) and patents.
  • As per PBR and patents regime, rights-holders can demand royalty on seeds and legally enforce intellectual property rights (IPR) and in the case of a few regimes, rights-holders can also limit the unauthorised use of such seeds.
  • Further, the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) helped to put in place a global IPR regime for plant varieties. 
  • These developments led to the consolidation of rights in the seeds sector which led to various concerns about the freedom to innovate. 
  • The genetic revolution in agriculture, unlike the Green Revolution, was mainly led by the private sector, as hybrid seeds developed have been protected by strong IPRs.

Concerns associated with IPR protection in the agriculture sector

  • There are mainly two modes of IPR protection in agriculture namely plant-breeders rights (PBR) and patents. 
  • These modes of IPR protection have restricted the rights of the farmers and the freedom to develop new varieties using germplasm from IP-protected varieties.
  • Further, the high costs and prices associated with genetically modified seeds and IP claims have given rise to various problems and issues which have led to the State’s intervention in Bt cotton seeds in India. 
  • Also, the IPR regime in agriculture has led to the decline of public-sector breeding and the domination of private companies in the seed sector.

Also read: GM Crops

Open-source seeds model

  • In 1999, a plant-breeder T.E. Michaels recommended the application of the principles used for the open-source software approach to seed innovation.
  • In the coming years after the proposal in 1999, various scholars and civil-society members formulated policies on the open-source model for seeds and plant varieties.
    • The German NGO Agrecol started an initiative in Europe and according to this model, the user agrees not to patent seeds bought under the open-source licence. 
    • Also in the U.S., a pledge-based model for sharing seeds was adopted as a part of the open-source seeds initiative. 
  • In India, the Hyderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) came up with a model that included an agreement between the CSA and the recipient of the seed or germplasm. 
  • As per the provisions of India’s Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001, farmers are allowed to register certain farmer varieties only if they meet certain conditions, and will be granted the right to reuse, replant, and exchange seeds. 
    • However, the farmers are mandated not to breed and trade such varieties protected under the Act for commercial purposes.

Significance of open-source seeds model

  • The open-source approach leads to farmer-led seed conservation and distribution systems. 
  • The open-source approaches also play a significant role in ensuring food security and climate resilience in the country.
  • There are various traditional-variety conservation and sharing methods adopted in India that are unique to specific regions and have specific features. 
    • However, such traditional varieties lack uniformity and cannot produce quality seeds.
    • The open-source seed model can help address these issues by enabling testing, improvisation, and adoption.
  • The open-source seed model also helps in promoting farmer-led participatory plant-breeding exercises.

Nut graf: The sudden increase in the number of IP-protected plant varieties and the disproportionate rise of private companies in the seed sector due to the IPR regime have necessitated the adoption of other alternatives. The open-source seed approach is seen as one such alternative that can help overcome the challenges associated with the IPR regime.

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Humane Policing

Syllabus: Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

Mains: Various reforms needed in the police force 

Context: Tamil Nadu IPS officer removed over torture charges.

Introduction:

  • An IPS officer in Tamil Nadu has been removed from his position after he was accused of torturing suspects in police custody.
  • The government removed Ambasamudram assistant SP Balveer Singh, a 2020-batch IPS officer hailing from Tonk in Rajasthan, after photos and videos of the men with their teeth missing circulated on social media.
  • The State Human Rights Commission, which has taken suo moto notice to probe the incident, have summoned the officer for investigation.

Police excesses in India:

  • Police excesses in India have been a long-standing issue, with incidents of police brutality, corruption, and misuse of power being reported regularly. 
  • Some of the common instances of police excesses include custodial deaths, fake encounters, arbitrary arrests, and torture.
  • One of the main reasons for police excesses in India is the lack of accountability and transparency in the system. The police force is often influenced by political and other powerful interests, which can compromise their integrity and impartiality.
  • Another contributing factor is the lack of proper training and resources for the police force. This can lead to a lack of professionalism and adherence to human rights standards.
  • There have been many instances of police excesses in India that have sparked public outrage and protests. Some of the recent incidents include the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennix in Tamil Nadu in 2020, the police shooting of farmers during protests against the new farm laws in 2021, and the police brutality against students during the anti-CAA protests in 2019.

Global Scenario:

  • Police excesses, including excessive use of force and systemic racism, have been a significant issue in the U.S. and other Western countries in recent years. 
  • Incidents of police brutality and discrimination have sparked protests and calls for reform, particularly in relation to the treatment of Black and minority ethnic communities.
  • In the U.S., high-profile cases such as the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police officers have brought attention to the issue of police brutality and systemic racism. In addition, studies have shown that Black Americans are disproportionately likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested by police compared to White Americans, despite similar rates of drug use and other criminal activity.
  • Similar issues have also been raised in other Western countries, such as the UK and Canada. 
  • In the UK, the disproportionate use of force against Black people by police has been highlighted by groups such as Black Lives Matter UK, while in Canada, there have been calls for reform in the wake of the killing of indigenous people by police.

Also read: Police Reforms in India

Way Forward:

  • To address the issue of police excesses, there is a need for systemic reforms in the police force.

Nut Graf: The serious complaint of human rights violation recently against an IPS officer in Ambasamudram in south Tamil Nadu has embarrassed the State government and the police hierarchy. The officer has been suspended from service and his alleged misconduct is being probed. This incident once again brings to the fore the issue of long overdue police reforms in India.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Lumpy skin disease

Syllabus: GS3, Science and Technology; Awareness about various diseases

Prelims: Lumpy skin disease

Context

The Centre has said that the “stagnation” in milk production and the following scarcity of ghee and butter is possibly due to the impact of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) that led to the death of close to 1.89 lakh cattle in recent times.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD)

  • LSD is a viral disease caused by the Capripox virus of the Poxviridae family which is also called the Neethling virus.
  • LSD causes prolonged morbidity in bovines such as cattle and buffaloes.
  • LSD was first reported in Africa (Zambia) in 1929 and has now emerged as a transboundary animal disease as it has spread to Asia and Europe.
  • According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), LSD has a mortality rate of 1 to 5%.
  • Symptoms of LSD:
    • LSD causes fever and nodules all over the body, especially around the head, neck, limbs, udder and genitals.
    • The animals infected with the LSD virus usually lose weight suddenly.
    • Other symptoms like fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield.
    • Other symptoms such as excessive nasal, salivary secretion and miscarriage are also associated with LSD.

Transmission of LSD

Untitled 8

Image Source: www.researchgate.net/

  • LSD spreads through blood-feeding insects like flies, mosquitoes and ticks. 
  • LSD is not a zoonotic disease which means that it does not spread from animals to humans and hence Lumpy skin disease does not affect humans.

Treatment for LSD

  • LSD is curable and recovery will be fast if treatment is given at the early stages of the infection.
  • There are three licensed vaccines for LSD which include the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) Neethling vaccine, Kenyan sheep and goat pox (KSGP) O-180 strain vaccines and Gorgan goat pox (GTP) vaccine.
  • Vaccination against LSD is covered under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme of India.

G. Tidbits

1. Govt. introduces Aquaculture Bill amid din in Lok Sabha

  • The government introduced the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amidst the disruption of the Lok Sabha by the opposition over demands for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue. 
  • The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill was introduced by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  • The Bill aims to decriminalise certain offences listed under the 2005 Act in order to promote ease of doing business.
  • The Bill also seeks to fine-tune existing operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority and promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture as these new forms have the potential to create additional job opportunities. 
  • Further, the Bill also has provisions that restrict the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances which are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.

2. IFC says to stop funding new coal related infra projects

  • The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is the private sector division of the World Bank Group, has held that it will not support investments in new coal-related projects. 
  • The International Finance Corporation (IFC) extends funds to banks and other financial institutions to promote infrastructure and energy projects. 
    • The IFC has so far lent around $5 billion to about 88 financial institutions in India.
  • In 2023, the IFC is looking to undertake various steps which are in line with the Paris Agreement ambitions.
    • The IFC is looking to mandate a commitment from financial institution clients to not originate and finance any new coal projects.
  • In 2020, the IFC announced a policy that mandated clients to reduce their exposure to coal projects by half by 2025, and to zero by 2030, however, it did not halt any new investments, but the latest update disallows this too.

3. Political leaders cannot claim higher immunity: SC

  • The Supreme Court of India has held that political leaders stand absolutely on the same footing as any ordinary citizen of India and are not entitled to “higher immunity” from investigation, arrest or prosecution.
  • The Supreme Court’s observations came while looking into a joint petition filed by a united Opposition of 14 national parties which claimed that the Centre was arbitrarily using agencies such as the ED and the CBI to arrest and initiate criminal proceedings against Opposition leaders who expressed dissent or disagreed with the government.
  • The opposition parties had suggested a “triple test” before ordering the arrest of political leaders and also said that alternatives such as interrogation at fixed hours or, at most, house arrest be used to meet the demands of investigation. 
  • The Chief Justice of India, however, observed that a political leader is basically a citizen and as citizens, all are amenable to the same law. Political leaders do not enjoy immunity.
  • The opposition parties in their petition had claimed that between 2004 and 2014, about 60% of the political leaders investigated by the CBI, were from the Opposition. However, this figure has increased to over 95% in recent years.
    • The opposition parties withdrew their joint petition following the Supreme Court’s observations.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. What do you understand by RISC-V seen in the news recently? (Level – Moderate)
  1. It is a Disaster Management Module developed by NDMA for areas in Zone V of earthquake risk.
  2. It is an indigenous privately developed rocket that will be launched from Sriharikota in July 2023.
  3. It is an open-source computer model developed by the University of California.
  4. It is an AI model against which many experts have filed a petition, to stop its further development.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • RISC-V is an open-source computer model.
  • RISC V is an instruction set architecture developed by the University of California, Berkeley.
Q2. How many of the following statements are true regarding the United Nations 
Statistical Commission? (Level – Difficult)
  1. It comes under the UN ECOSOC.
  2. It consists of a fixed number of members from all the inhabited regions of the world.
  3. The term of office is 4 years.

Options:

  1. Only 1 statement
  2. Only 2 statements
  3. All 3 statements
  4. None of the statements
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, The United Nations Statistical Commission which was set up in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system.
    • The United Nations Statistical Commission is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).
  • Statement 2 is correct, The Commission consists of 24 member countries of the United Nations elected by the UN ECOSOC on the basis of equitable geographical distribution.
  • Statement 3 is correct, The term of office of members is four years.
Q3. How many of the following statements are true regarding Legal Aid in India? 
(Level – Moderate)
  1. It has been established as a fundamental right of all citizens.
  2. The NALSA is a statutory body with the main aim to provide legal aid and assistance to disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
  3. The consortium of the law schools of India has established Legal Aid Clinics across the country with the aid of various NGOs and CSOs.

Options:

  1. Only 1 statement
  2. Only 2 statements
  3. Only 3 statements
  4. None of the statements
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Free legal aid is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed to all the citizens of the country, which is supported by:
    • Article 21 of the Constitution states that “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”.
    • Article 39A in the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution which provides for “Equal justice and free legal aid”. 
  • Statement 2 is correct, The NALSA is a statutory body established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 with the main aim to provide legal aid and assistance to disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, The District Legal Services Authority shall establish Legal Aid Clinics in all villages, or a cluster of villages, depending on the size of such villages, especially where the people face geographical, social and other barriers for access to the legal services institutions.
Q4. How many of the following countries neighbour the Persian Gulf? (Level – Moderate)
  1. Turkey
  2. Bahrain
  3. Qatar
  4. Iraq
  5. UAE
  6. Lebanon

Options:

  1. Only 3 countries
  2. Only 4 countries
  3. Only 5 countries
  4. All 6 countries
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The countries that surround the Persian Gulf are Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Image Source: World Atlas

unnamed 85

Q5. A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere facilitates radio 
communication. Why ? (Level – Easy) [PYQ - 2011]
  1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to earth.
  2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, Ionosphere facilitates radio communication because it reflects and modifies radio waves used for communication and navigation.
    • The Ozone layer is found in the Stratosphere.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
    • However, it is not the reason why the ionosphere facilitates radio communication.

CNA 06 April 2023:- Download PDF Here

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