27 Feb 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Centre ‘examining’ Indian tech firm on EU, U.S. sanctions list GOVERNANCE 1. Grant permanent commission to women: SC to Coast Guard C. GS 3 Related SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Modi to inaugurate three ISRO facilities today D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 1. An expansive land management policy is overdue F. Prelims Facts 1. What is Bitcoin halving and what does it mean for the crypto community? 2. India-specific AI model to find gestational age developed G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Centre ‘examining’ Indian tech firm on EU, U.S. sanctions list
Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
Mains: Sanction on Indian companies by the West and its impact on trade and strategic autonomy
Context:
- Founded in 1993, Bengaluru-based Si2 Microsystems is involved in semiconductor research.
- It has been a partner of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in recent “Atmanirbhar Bharat” collaborations.
- Si2 Microsystems has faced sanctions from both the European Union and the United States.
Sanctions and Legal Issues:
- The European Union imposed sanctions on Si2 Microsystems for its dealings with Russia.
- The company has also been banned by the U.S. from transferring “dual-use” technology.
- Directors of Si2 Microsystems have been subject to Lookout Circular notices by Indian authorities due to debt defaults.
Government Partnerships and Response:
- Si2 Microsystems is an industry partner for semiconductor research projects, including one with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras.
- The Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment, but all concerned ministries are aware of the situation.
- The Indian government is examining the EU’s sanctions and considering whether to protest the decision, emphasizing that India doesn’t recognise unilateral sanctions.
Project Impact and Review:
- The project partnership with Si2 Microsystems is being reviewed by IIT-Madras in light of the sanctions.
- The company’s involvement in the project may be affected by the EU and U.S. sanctions.
Company Profile and Response:
- Si2 Microsystems describes itself as a “preferred solutions provider” for the Indian armed forces and public sector companies.
- Despite attempts to reach out to the company and its lawyers, there has been no response regarding the EU sanctions or other legal matters.
Nut Graf: Bengaluru-based Si2 Microsystems, a semiconductor research firm, faces EU and U.S. sanctions for its dealings with Russia. Despite partnerships with the Indian government, its directors have legal issues, prompting concerns over its involvement in key projects.
Category: GOVERNANCE
1. Grant permanent commission to women: SC to Coast Guard
Syllabus: Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
Mains: Issues related to vulnerable sectionÂ
Introduction:Â
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has urged the Indian Coast Guard to ensure the grant of permanent commission to women officers. The move underscores the court’s commitment to gender equality and inclusivity within the armed forces.
Judicial Directive for Inclusion:
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, leading a three-judge Bench, emphasized the imperative of including women in the armed forces. Addressing Attorney-General R. Venkataramani, the court underscored the need for action, stating that women cannot be excluded from such opportunities.
Challenges and Considerations: During the hearing, the Attorney-General highlighted operational challenges in providing permanent commissions to Short Service Commission Officers. Despite these challenges, the court remained steadfast in its stance, advocating for policies that treat women officers fairly and equitably.
The Supreme Court questioned any patriarchal approaches within the armed forces, emphasizing the need for progressive policies aligned with principles of equality and non-discrimination. It challenged the notion of a gender-based quota system, affirming women’s equal status and capabilities.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s intervention marks a pivotal step toward achieving gender equality in the armed forces. By advocating for the rights of women officers, the court reaffirms its commitment to upholding constitutional values and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
Nut graf:The Supreme Court urges the Indian Coast Guard to grant permanent commission to women officers, emphasizing equality and inclusivity in the armed forces. This directive reflects a broader push for gender empowerment and progressive policies within traditionally male-dominated sectors.
C. GS 3 Related
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Modi to inaugurate three ISRO facilities today
Syllabus: Awareness in the fields of Space; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology
Prelims: About Trisonic Wind Tunnel, PSLV Integration Facilities, Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test FacilityÂ
Introduction:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to inaugurate three facilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and review the progress of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
- During the visit, PM Modi is expected to announce the names of astronauts for the Gaganyaan program and present them with mission patches.
- The Gaganyaan program aims to demonstrate India’s capability in human spaceflight by sending astronauts into orbit and safely returning them to Earth, with a targeted launch year of 2025.
Dedication of ISRO Facilities:
- PM Modi will dedicate three key facilities:
- Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre)
- Integration facilities for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
- Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility (SIET) at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
- These facilities, developed at a cost of ₹1,800 crore, signify significant advancements in India’s space capabilities.
Trisonic Wind Tunnel:
- The Trisonic Wind Tunnel, with an overall length of 170 meters and a test section size of 1.2 meters, facilitates the assessment of the aerodynamic characteristics of rockets and aircraft models.
- It provides a controlled uniform airflow to analyze optimal design development, operating within a Mach number range of 0.2 to 4, covering subsonic to supersonic speeds.
- The tunnel enhances India’s self-reliance in designing future launch vehicle projects.
PSLV Integration Facilities (PIF):
- The newly inaugurated PSLV Integration Facilities at Sriharikota enable ISRO to increase the number of PSLV missions to 15 per year.
- These facilities allow parallel integration of the PSLV rocket with launch pad refurbishment, streamlining the launch process and enhancing mission efficiency.
Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility (SIET):
- SIET, located at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, provides testing capabilities for the SCE-2000 semi-cryogenic engine.
- The engine utilizes refined kerosene (ISROSENE) and liquid oxygen as propellants, offering enhanced performance for future rocket stages.
- This facility marks a significant milestone in ISRO’s propulsion capabilities, contributing to the advancement of India’s space exploration endeavours.
Nut Graf: Prime Minister Modi inaugurates three ISRO facilities, and reviews Gaganyaan progress. Facilities include Trisonic Wind Tunnel, PSLV Integration Facilities, and SIET. These advancements signify India’s commitment to space exploration and self-reliance.
D. GS 4 Related
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E. Editorials
Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. An expansive land management policy is overdue
Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains: Reversing Land Degradation in India
Introduction:
- Land management is crucial for ecological, economic, social, and cultural well-being.
- Neglecting the multi-dimensional nature of land leads to degradation and loss of ecosystem services.
Global Context:
- Estimated annual losses from land degradation are $6 trillion worldwide.
- International efforts like COP14 and IPCC reports emphasize achieving land degradation neutrality.
- Urgency stressed by FAO’s report on the critical state of land and water resources for agriculture.
Challenges in India:
- India faces significant land management challenges despite its limited geographical area.
- Approximately 30% of India’s land is degraded, impacting agriculture and livelihoods.
- Pressure from population growth, urbanization, infrastructure demands, and environmental factors exacerbates land competition and conflicts.
- Current sectoral approaches, administrative complexities, and regulatory barriers hinder effective land management.
Proposed Solutions:
- Establish multi-stakeholder platforms at district and sub-district levels to integrate stakeholders and formulate land management plans.
- Activate district planning committees as per Article 243ZD(1) of the Constitution to facilitate comprehensive land management planning.
- Advocate for a landscape approach to assess land potential, allocate land use, and make informed decisions.
- Embrace a climate-smart landscape approach to align with climate goals, enhance agricultural productivity, and conserve biodiversity.
Institutional Support:
- Recognize the importance of integrated landscape management supported by scientific evidence.
- Draw lessons from international frameworks like the European Landscape Convention and the UK’s sustainable land management policies.
- Encourage parliamentary discussions in India to address emerging challenges and devise effective long-term policies involving all stakeholders.
Nut Graf: Land management globally faces challenges, with India particularly affected. Despite significant degradation, a sectoral approach persists. A multi-stakeholder landscape approach, backed by institutional support and parliamentary deliberations, is crucial for sustainable land management.
F. Prelims Facts
1. What is Bitcoin halving and what does it mean for the crypto community?
Context: The Bitcoin halving event, akin to the anticipation surrounding the Olympics, captivates the cryptocurrency community every four years. Scheduled for April, this quadrennial occurrence reduces the reward granted to Bitcoin miners by 50%, profoundly impacting the crypto landscape.Â
Issue:Â
- Miners, equipped with cutting-edge technology, compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles and claim the current reward of 6.25 Bitcoin (BTC).Â
- However, the value of this prize fluctuates based on BTC market prices, influencing the timing of sale and overall profitability.Â
- Despite the reduction in rewards, Bitcoin halving increases the asset’s scarcity, often leading to upward price trends reminiscent of gold.
- The global mining landscape sees corporate and independent miners seeking locations with cheap electricity to maximize profits.Â
- While China once dominated crypto mining, regulatory crackdowns prompted miners to relocate, diversifying the geographical distribution of mining operations.
Significance: Predicting the market response remains speculative, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of Bitcoin’s journey and the need for investors to conduct thorough research before making investment decisions.
2. India-specific AI model to find gestational age developed
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Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, have developed a groundbreaking artificial intelligence model tailored to precisely determine the gestational age of fetuses during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.Â
About:Â
- Named Garbhini-GA2, this model is a significant advancement in prenatal care, especially for the Indian population.Â
- Unlike existing models designed for Western populations, Garbhini-GA2 accounts for variations in foetal growth specific to the Indian context, reducing estimation errors by almost threefold.
- The development of Garbhini-GA2 is part of the DBT India initiative (GARBH-Ini) program, which focuses on advanced research on birth outcomes.Â
- This innovative model holds the potential to revolutionize maternal and infant care by providing healthcare professionals with accurate gestational age estimates.Â
- By leveraging advanced data science and artificial intelligence techniques, the researchers aim to improve prenatal care and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across India.
Significance: The collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and data scientists underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in healthcare innovation.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements:
- The ISS was developed and built by five space agencies namely, NASA (USA),Roscosmos (Russia), European Space Agency, JAXA (Japan) and the Canadian Space Agency.
- The Tiangong space station is a permanently crewed space station constructed by South Korea.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are true
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 & 2
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
The International Space Station (ISS) was developed and built by five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), European Space Agency (ESA), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and the Canadian Space Agency. The Tiangong space station is China’s space station project.
Q2. What is Bombyx mori?
- Indian Banyan tree species
- Indian Guava variety
- Domesticated silkworm
- Unicellular algae
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
Bombyx mori is the scientific name for the domesticated silkworm, which is used in the production of silk.
Q3. Which of the following committees suggested private participation to be allowed in various railway infrastructure services ?
- LM Singhvi Committee
- Sundar Committee
- Radha Krishna Commission
- Bibek Debroy committee
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
The Bibek Debroy committee suggested allowing private participation in various railway infrastructure services as part of its recommendations for railway reforms.
Q4. Consider the following statements:
- Â Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries.
- United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iraq are members of the GCC.
Which of the above statements is/are true?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 & 2
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries. Iraq is not a member.
Q5.The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news refers to?
- ASEAN
- BRICS
- EU
- G20
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ refers to an initiative of the European Union (EU) aimed at creating a digital single market within the EU member states to ensure the free movement of digital goods, services, and capital.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Indian armed forces have taken many steps for gender equality but needs to take many more till equality is achieved? (10 marks, 150 words) [GS-2, Governance]
- What is cryptocurrency? What are the impacts of it on the global level ? (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, Science and technology]
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