21 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Monuments of National Importance
2. Maitri II Station
3. Use of AI in the Field of Meteorological Research
4. Black Tigers
5. Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill

1. Monuments of National Importance

Syllabus: GS-1, Art & Culture

Prelims: Monuments of National Importance, ASI

Monuments of National Importance:

• There are 3697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared ‘monuments of national importance’ in the country.
• The declaration of monuments and sites is done under section 4 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. 
• Central Government issues a notification of its intention to declare any ancient monument which archaeologically, historically or architecturally qualifies to be of national importance by giving two months’ notice, inviting views/objections from the public. 
• After considering the views/objections received within the stipulated period, the Central Government may declare the ancient monument to be of national importance by publishing a notification in the official gazette.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes the conservation, preservation and maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.

2. Maitri II Station

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & Technology

Prelims: Maitri II Station

Context:

Operationalisation of Maitri II Station in Antarctica.

Details:

• The Indian government intends to operationalise a new research station in East Antarctica, near the existing Indian research base Maitri. 
• The existing station is quite old. This is the second Indian research station in Antarctica and was built in 1989.
  • Maitri is on the Schirmacher Oasis.
  • It engages in research in the fields of earth sciences, biology, glaciology, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, communication, cold region engineering, medicine and human physiology.
  • It sources fresh water from a freshwater lake named Lake Priyadarshini nearby. The lake has been named after former PM Indira Gandhi. The lake is situated in the Schirmacher Oasis, which has more than 100 freshwater lakes.
  • In 1983, India constructed its first Antarctic research base named Dakshin Gangotri (after the Dakshin Gangotri glacier).
    • It is located 2500 km from the South Pole.
    • It was abandoned after being submerged in ice in 1988 – 89 and decommissioned in 1990.
    • Currently, it is being used as a supply base and transit camp.
  • Bharati is the third research station commissioned by India. It was established in 2012.
  • Maitri II is expected to be completed in 2029.

3. Use of AI in the Field of Meteorological Research

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & Technology

Prelims: Applications of AI

Mains: Use of AI in the Field of Meteorological Research

Details:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques are being used to improve the prediction skill of weather, climate, and ocean forecasts at various institutes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• How AI & ML have helped in weather prediction:
  • Improved the short-range precipitation forecast in 1-day, 2-day and 3-day lead times with a reduction in bias.
  • Developed high-resolution (300m) urban gridded meteorological data sets for temperature and precipitation.
  • Developed the time-varying Normalized Difference Urbanization Index with a spatial resolution of 30 meters from 1992-2023. 
  • Developed very high-resolution precipitation data sets for verification purposes.
  • Deep Learning approach is being explored for precipitation nowcasting using data from Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs).

4. Black Tigers

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: Black Tigers, Similipal Tiger Reserve

Mains: Tiger conservation in India

Black Tigers:

• Black tigers are rare colour variants of the tiger. They are not a distinct species or geographic subspecies.
• They are melanistic tigers that have distinctive dark stripe patterns.
• They are Bengal tigers with a gene mutation with stripes so thick and close together that the tawny background is barely visible between the stripes.
• As per the 2022 cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 16 individuals were recorded at Similipal Tiger Reserve, out of which 10 were melanistic.
• In Simlipal National Park, 37% of the tiger population has this condition, which has been linked to isolation and inbreeding.
• Black tigers were first officially recorded in the forests of Similipal in 1975-76.

Also read: Bengal Tigers

5. Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity

Prelims: Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill

Context:

Lok Sabha passes Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill.

Details:

• The Lok Sabha passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, repealing the colonial era law of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.  
• The Bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session.
• The new bill makes the process of allotment of titles and registration of periodicals simple and simultaneous, through an online system without the requirement of any physical interface.  
• This would enable the Press Registrar General to fast-track the process, thereby ensuring that publishers, especially small and medium publishers, face little difficulty in starting a publication.
• Notably, the publishers would no longer be required to file a declaration with the District Magistrates or the local authorities and get such declarations authenticated.
• Additionally, printing presses would also not be required to furnish any such declaration; instead, only an intimation would be enough.
• Statute has been substantially decriminalized as against the PRB Act 1867 which had severe penalties leading to conviction and imprisonment up to 6 months for various violations of the Act.
• In the 2023 Bill, punishment of jail up to six months is envisaged only in the extreme cases where a periodical is published without a Certificate of Registration and the publisher fails to cease the printing of such publication even after six months of direction has been issued to that effect by the Press Registrar General.
• The PRP Bill 2023 empowers the Press Registrar General to suspend/cancel the Certificate of Registration. In the old law, only the DM could cancel the declaration of a periodical.
• Books which were part of the PRB Act 1867 have been taken away from the purview of the PRP Bill 2023, as books as a subject are administered by the Ministry of HRD.

Read previous PIB articles here.