💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Distribution: weekly

  • NASA’s OSIRIS-REx lands on Asteroid Bennu

    NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched asteroid Bennu, from where it is meant to collect samples of dust and pebbles and deliver them back to Earth in 2023.

    The OSIRIS-REx mission

    • OSIRIS-REx stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer. This is NASA’s first mission meant to return a sample from the ancient asteroid.
    • The mission is essentially a seven-year-long voyage and will conclude when at least 60 grams of samples are delivered back to the Earth.
    • As per NASA, the mission promises to bring the largest amount of extraterrestrial material back to our planet since the Apollo era.
    • The mission was launched in 2016, it reached its target in 2018 and since then, the spacecraft has been trying to match the velocity of the asteroid using small rocket thrusters to rendezvous it.
    • This week, the spacecraft’s robotic arm called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), made an attempt to “TAG” the asteroid and collected a sample.

    About Bennu

    • Bennu is a B-type asteroid, implying that it contains significant amounts of carbon and various other minerals.
    • It was discovered by a team from the NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research team in 1999.
    • Because of its high carbon content, the asteroid reflects about four per cent of the light that hits it, which is very low when compared with a planet like Venus, which reflects about 65 per cent of the light. Earth reflects about 30 per cent.
    • Around 20-40 per cent of Bennu’s interior is empty space and scientists believe that it was formed in the first 10 million years of the solar system’s formation, implying that it is roughly 4.5 billion years old.

    Why are scientists studying asteroid Bennu?

    • Bennu is an asteroid about as tall as the Empire State Building and located at a distance of about 200 million miles away from the Earth.
    • Scientists study asteroids to look for information about the formation and history of planets and the sun since asteroids were formed at the same time as other objects in the solar system.
    • Another reason for tracking them is to look for asteroids that might be potentially hazardous. It is also relatively close to the Earth.
    • It is for these reasons that scientists are interested in gathering information about this particular asteroid.
    • Significantly, Bennu hasn’t undergone drastic changes since its formation over billions of years ago and therefore it contains chemicals and rocks dating back to the birth of the solar system.

    How do chemicals and rocks offer scientists clues about the solar system?

    • Because of Bennu’s age, it is likely to contain material that contains molecules that were present when life first formed on Earth, where life forms are based on carbon atom chains.
    • Even so organic material like the kind scientists hope to find in a sample from Bennu doesn’t necessarily always come from biology.
    • It would, though, further scientists’ search to uncover the role asteroids rich in organics played in catalyzing life on Earth.

    Back2Basics: Asteroid

    • Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. They are also called minor planets.
    • According to NASA, 994,383 is the count of known asteroids, the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.
    • Asteroids are divided into three classes. First, those found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.
    • The second group is that of Trojans, which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet.
    • The third classification is Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that cross the Earth’s orbit are called Earth-crossers.
    • More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, out of which over 1,400 are classified as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs).

  • What is Blue Dot Network?

    A group of US Senators has written to India asking to join the Blue Dot Network.

    Try this MCQ:

    Q.The Blue Dot Network recently seen in news is a global alliance for:

    a) Beaches Certification

    b) Infrastructure development

    c) 5G connectivity

    d) Patents regulation

    The Blue Dot Network

    • Blue Dot is a US-led collaboration with Australia and Japan that supports private-sector-led infrastructure financing opportunities in response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
    • It was formally announced on 4 November 2019 at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the 35th ASEAN Summit.
    • It is led by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.
    • It is expected to serve as a global evaluation and certification system for roads, ports and bridges with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.

    Fundamental difference between BRI and Blue Dot

    • While the former involves direct financing, giving countries in need immediate short-term relief, the latter is not a direct financing initiative and therefore may not be what some developing countries need.
    • The question is whether Blue Dot offering first-world solutions to third-world countries.
    • Secondly, Blue Dot will require coordination among multiple stakeholders when it comes to grading projects.
    • Given the past experience of Quad, the countries involved in it are still struggling to put a viable bloc. Therefore, it remains to be seen how Blue Dot fares in the long run.

  • The NEP 2020 must look beyond just data science and AI

    The article deals with the issues with the emphasis on the coding instead of understanding the basic algorithmic process.

    Issues with focusing on coding in NEP 2020

    • The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) envisages putting greater emphasis on mathematical and computational thinking throughout the school years.
    • The framing in the NEP appears to put it at the same level of distinction as the more instrumental ‘coding’, and almost as a mere tool towards the utilitarian goals of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
    • An overemphasis on learning the nitty-gritty of specific programming languages prematurely — even from middle school — may distract from focusing on the development of algorithmic creativity.

    What is coding?

    Coding is basically the computer language used to develop apps, websites, and software. Without it, we’d have none of the most popular technology we’ve come to rely on such as Facebook, our smartphones, the browser we choose to view our favorite blogs, or even the blogs themselves. It all runs on code.

    About computation and algorithms

    • Algorithmics is the abstract process of arriving at a post-condition through a sequential process of state changes.
    • It is among the earliest human intellectual endeavours that has become imperative for almost all organised thinking.
    • All early learning of counting and arithmetic is method-based, and hence algorithmic in nature, and all calculations involve computational processes encoded in algorithms.
    • The core algorithmic ideas of modern AI and machine learning are based on some seminal algorithmic ideas of Newton and Gauss, which date back a few hundred years.
    • Though the form of expressions of algorithms — the coding — have been different, the fundamental principles of classical algorithm design have remained invariant.

    Algorithms in modern world

    • In the modern world, the use of algorithmic ideas is not limited only to computations with numbers, or even to digitisation, communication or AI and data science.
    • They play a crucial role in modelling and expressing ideas in diverse areas of human thinking, including the basic sciences of biology, physics and chemistry, all branches of engineering, in understanding disease spread, in modelling social interactions and social graphs, in transportation networks, supply chains, commerce, banking and other business processes, and even in economic and political strategies and design of social processes.
    • Hence, learning algorithmic thinking early in the education process is indeed crucial.

    So, how coding is different from arithmetics?

    • Coding is merely the act of encoding an algorithmic method in a particular programming language which provides an interface.
    • AS computational process can be invoked in a modern digital computer.
    • Thus, it is less fundamental.
    • While coding certainly can provide excellent opportunities for experimentation with algorithmic ideas, they are not central or indispensable to algorithmic thinking.
    • After all, coding is merely one vehicle to achieve experiential learning of a computational process.

    Way forward

    • Instead of focusing on the intricacies of specific programming languages, it is more important at an early stage of education to develop an understanding of the basic algorithmic processes behind manipulating geometric figures.
    • Indeed, this is a common outcome of the overly utilitarian skills training-based approaches evidenced throughout the country.

    Conclusion

    The NEP guideline of introducing algorithmic thinking early is a welcome step, it must be ensured that it does not degenerate and get bogged down with mundane coding tricks at a budding stage in the education process.

  • What is ‘Infodemic’ Management?

    Managing the “infodemic” has been a serious challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, says a Chief Scientist at World Health Organization (WHO).

    Try this question for mains:

    Q.‘Infodemic’ management these days has become a greater challenge than the actual course of pandemic management. Discuss.

    Defining Infodemic

    • Infodemic implies too much information, including false or misleading information, particularly on social media.
    • It has led to confusion, risk-taking and ultimately mistrust towards governments and the public health response.

    WHO framework for infodemics

    • The WHO has a framework for managing the coronavirus infodemic.
    • Infodemiology is now acknowledged by public health organizations and the WHO as an important emerging scientific field and critical area of practice during a pandemic.
    • From the perspective of being the first “infodemiolgist” who originally coined the term almost two decades ago, the author posts four pillars of infodemic management:
    1. Information monitoring (infoveillance)
    2. Building eHealth Literacy and science literacy capacity
    3. Encouraging knowledge refinement and quality improvement processes such as fact-checking and peer-review
    4. Accurate and timely knowledge translation, minimizing distorting factors such as political or commercial influences

  • State of Global Air Report, 2020

    Air pollution now biggest health risk in India, says the State of Global Air 2020 Report.

    State of Global Air Report

    • The State of Global Air report brings into one place the latest information on air quality and health for countries around the globe.
    • It is produced annually by the Health Effects Institute and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease project.

    India’s exposure to pollution

    • Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019.
    • Overall, air pollution was now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, the report noted.
    • Outdoor and household particulate matter pollution also contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life last year.
    • For the youngest infants, most deaths were related to complications from low birth weight and preterm birth.

    A comparison with peers

    • India faced the highest per capita pollution exposure — or 83.2 μg/cubic metre — in the world.
    • It is followed by Nepal at 83.1 μg/cubic metre and Niger at 80.1.
    • Countries with the least population exposure are below 8 micrograms (μg) per cubic metre.

    Back2Basics: Particulate Matter

    • PM is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye.
    • Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.
    • Particle pollution includes:
    1. PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometres and smaller; and
    2. PM2.5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller.

    Sources of PM

    • These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.
    • Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires.
    • Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.

    Harmful effects of PM

    • Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems.
    • Some particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.
    • Of these, particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.

  • Medicinal plants in news

    This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in DownToEarth.

    Explained below are the medicinal properties of 10 valuable plants known to boost natural immunity:

    (1) Abrusprecatorius (Indian liquorice, Ratti)

    • The bright red ovoid seeds with a black spot weigh 1/10th of a gram, and were hence used as weighing unit called ‘Ratti’ in ancient India by goldsmiths.
    • Its seeds are said to have immune-modulating properties.

    (2) Artemisia scoparia (Redstem Wormwood)

    • These plants have excellent clinical anti-malarial properties due to the presence of artemisinin.
    • They possess potent anti-inflammatory properties and help regulate both innate and adaptive immunity.

    (3) Azadirachtaindica (Neem)

    • It is a well-known tree used in various systems of traditional medicine since time immemorial. In Sanskrit, it is known as Arishtha, which means ‘reliever of sicknesses’.
    • Neem bark is known to have strong immunostimulant Neem oil has been shown to possess activity by selectively activating cell-mediated immune mechanisms.

    (4) Boerhaviadiffusa (Punarnava)

    • In Ayurveda, Punarnava is included in the category of rasayana herbs that possess anti-ageing properties. It helps prevent diseases.
    • This means they increase resistance by providing hepatoprotection (the ability of a substance to prevent damage to the liver) and immune-modulation.

    (5) Cardaminehirsuta (Hairy Bitter Cress)

    • The plants contain vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds that boost immunity.

    (6) Clerodendrumphlomidis (Sage Glory Bower, Arni, Agnimantha)

    • It is an essential medicinal plant that is also mentioned in texts since the Vedic period. It is known to boost the immune system, purify the blood and cure urinary tract infection.
    • The decoction made from the whole plant is useful in improving strength and immunity following a bout of fever or other ailments.

    (7) Phyllanthus tenellus (Mascarene Island leaf-flower)

    • It is an annual herb commonly found near wetlands, ditches, wet places, edges of drains and disturbed places. It is known for immune-modulatory properties.
    • Physalis peruviana (Cape Gooseberry, Rasbhari) (Family: Solanaceae): It is used in traditional folk medicines as an immunomodulatory drug. It is rich in vitamin C and helps enhance body immunity.

    (8) Portulaca oleracea (Purslane)

    • Purslane has been used in folk medicine since ancient times and is included in the World Health Organization’s list of most widely used medicinal plants.
    • The leaves of the plant are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is important in preventing heart attacks and strengthening the immune system.

    (9) Withaniasomnifera (Indian Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng, Aswagandha)

    • Ashwagandha is an important ancient herb and has been used in the indigenous medical system for over 3,000 years.
    • It is considered to be one of the best rejuvenating agents in Ayurveda that helps to maintain proper nourishment of the tissues. It possesses antioxidant, mind-boosting and immune-enhancing properties.

    Now try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following statements:

    1. The Taxus tree is naturally found in the Himalayas
    2. The Taxus tree is listed in the Red Data Book.
    3. A drug called “taxol” is obtained from Taxus tree is effective against Parkinson’s disease

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 3 only

  • [pib] Market Intervention Scheme

    The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for apple procurement in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for the current season.

    UPSC can ask a question on the difference between MSP and MIP. All the agricultural and horticultural commodities for which Minimum Support Price (MSP) are not fixed and are generally perishable in nature are covered under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

    Market Intervention Scheme

    • MIS is a price support mechanism implemented on the request of State Governments for the procurement of perishable and horticultural commodities in the event of a fall in market prices.
    • It is implemented when there is at least a 10% increase in production or a 10% decrease in the ruling rates over the previous normal year.
    • MIS works in a similar fashion to Minimum Support Price based procurement mechanism for food grains but is an ad-hoc mechanism.
    • Its objective is to protect the growers of these horticultural/agricultural commodities from making distress sale in the event of the bumper crop.
    • Under MIS, support can be provided in some years, for a limited but defined period, in specified critical markets and by purchasing specified quantities. The initiative has to emerge from the concerned state.

    Commodities covered

    • The MIS has been implemented in case of commodities like apples, garlic, oranges, grapes, mushrooms, clove, black pepper, pineapple, ginger, red chillies, coriander seed, chicory, onions, potatoes, cabbage, mustard seed, castor seed, copra, palm oil etc.

    Remuneration under MIS

    • MIS provides remunerative prices to the farmers in case of the glut in production and fall in prices.
    • Proposal of MIS is approved on the specific request of State/UT Government, if they are ready to bear 50% loss (25% in case of North-Eastern States), if any, incurred on its implementation.
    • Further, the extent of total amount of loss shared is restricted to 25% of the total procurement value which includes the cost of the commodity procured plus permitted overhead expenses.

    Implementation of MIS

    1) Market Intervention Price (MIP)

    • The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing the scheme.
    • Under the MIS, a pre-determined quantity at a fixed MIP is procured by NAFED as the Central agency.
    • There are other agencies designated by the state government for a fixed period or till the prices are stabilized above the MIP whichever is earlier.
    • The area of operation is restricted to the concerned state only.

    2) Funds transfer

    • Under MIS, funds are not allocated to the States.
    • Instead, central share of losses as per the guidelines of MIS is released to the State Governments/UTs, for which MIS has been approved, based on specific proposals received from them.

  • Issues with dilution of offset condition for defence procurement

    The ‘offset clause’ could help the country achieve the technological expertise and consequently self-reliance. However, India recently relaxed some norms in the policy. The article discusses the stated reasons for tweaking and its implications for the defence manufacturing industry in India.

    Context

    • Recently, the government diluted the “offset” policy in defence procurement, reportedly in response to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s report tabled in Parliament last month.

    Let’s understand ‘offset’ policy

    •  In order to safeguard national interest, most countries restrict trade in defence equipment and advanced technologies.
    • Yet, for commercial gains and for global technological recognition, governments and firms do like to expand the trade through negotiated bilateral sales.
    • Restrictions are often imposed on the buyer country on use, modification and resale of such equipment and technologies.
    • The product and technology compel buyers to stick to them for: the advantages of bulk purchase, and dependence on the supplier for spares and upgrades.
    • The price and the terms of the contract often reflect the government’s relative bargaining strength and also domestic political and economic considerations.
    • Large buyers such as India seek to exercise their “buying power” to secure not just the lowest price but also try to acquire the technology to upgrade domestic production and build R&D capabilities.
    • The offset clause — used globally — is the instrument for securing these goals.

    Changes in the offset policy

    • Initiated in 2005, the offset clause has following requirements:
    • 1) Sourcing 30% of the value of the contract domestically.
    • 2) Indigenisation of production in a strict time frame.
    • 3) Training Indian professionals in high-tech skills, for promoting domestic R&D.
    • However, the policy has been tweaked many times since.
    • According to the recent CAG report,  between 2007 and 2018, the government reportedly signed 46 offset contracts worth ₹66,427 crore of investments.
    • However, the realised investments were merely 8%, or worth ₹5,457 crore.
    • Reportedly, technology transfer agreements in the offsets were not implemented, failing to accomplish the stated policy objective.
    • Recently, the government has changed this policy further so that the offset clause will not be applicable to bilateral deals and deals with a single (monopoly) seller, to begin with.

    Implications of the changes in offset policy

    • The dilution means practically giving up the offset clause, and a setback to India’s prospects for boosting defence production and technological self-reliance.
    • The government, however, has defended the decision by claiming a cost advantage.
    • Howver, price is but one of many factors in such deals, as explained above.
    • The higher (upfront) cost of the agreement due to the offset clause would pay for itself by: reducing costs in the long term by indigenisation of production and the potential technology spill-overs for domestic industry.
    • Hence, giving up the offset clause is undoubtedly a severe setback.

    How did offset policy work for aerospace industry?

    • Despite the heft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India is a lightweight in global civilian aircraft manufacturing, as the public sector giant mostly devotes itself to defence production.
    • The National Civil Aircraft Development (NCAD) project — to come up with an indigenously designed Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) — has remained a non-starter from day one.
    • However, with the introduction of the offset policy in 2005, things changed dramatically.
    • For contracts valued at ₹300 crore or more, 30% of it will result in offsets, implemented through Indian offset partners.
    • As aerospace imports rose rapidly, so did the exports via the offsets, by a whopping 544% in 2007, compared to the previous year.
    • By 2014, exports increased to $6.7 billion from a paltry $62.5 million in 2005, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.
    • The offset clause enabled India to join the league of the world’s top 10 aerospace exporters; the only country without a major domestic aerospace firm.
    • However, exports reduced after the offset clause was relaxed, primarily when the threshold for the policy was raised from the hitherto ₹300 crore to ₹2000 crore, in 2016.
    • The offset exports fell to $1.5 billion by 2019.
    • The 2005 policy helped promote a vibrant aerospace cluster, mostly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around Bengaluru.

    Consider the question “How far has the offset clause been successful in enhancing the domestic capabilities of India in defence manufacturing? What are the challenges in achieving the objectives of the policy?”

    Conclusion

    There are successful examples to draw lessons from, as the aerospace industry episode demonstrates. India needs to re-conceive or re-imagine the offset clause in defence contracts with stricter enforcement of the deals, in national interest, and in order to aim for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’, or a self-reliant India.

  • Govt. hikes poll expenditure ceiling by 10%

    The Law Ministry has increased the ceiling on poll expenditure for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by 10% following a recommendation by the Election Commission in view of curbs imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Try answering this question:

    Q.Ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive and encourages candidates to under-report their expenditure. Critically analyse.

    New ceiling on poll expenditure

    • The ceiling on poll expenditure varies across States, with candidates in Assembly elections in bigger States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu now allowed to spend up to ₹30.8 lakhs as against ₹28 lakhs earlier.
    • For a candidate contesting a Lok Sabha poll in these States, the revised ceiling on poll expenditure is now ₹77 lakhs instead of the earlier amount of ₹70 lakhs.
    • Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and a few Union Territories, based on the size of their constituencies and population, have a lower ceiling on poll expenditure.
    • Here while the enhanced ceiling for a Lok Sabha candidate is now ₹59.4 lakhs those contesting an Assembly can spend up to ₹22 lakhs.

    How are such ceilings made?

    • Such changes are made by amending the Conduct of Elections Rules.
    • The last time the expenditure ceiling was enhanced was in 2014 just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

    What doesn’t account to Election expenditure?

    • The expenditure incurred by leaders of a political party on account of travel by air or by any other means of transport for propagating programme of the political party is not considered to be the election expenditure.
    • Any expenditure which is done for service of the Government and discharge of official duty is also not considered to be election expenditure.

    Role of Election Commission

    • The EC imposes limits on campaign expenditure incurred by a candidate and not political parties.
    • However, it does not cover expenses incurred either by a party or the leader of a party for propagating the party’s programme.
    • Also, candidates must mandatorily file a true account of election expenses with the EC.
    • An incorrect account or expenditure beyond the ceiling can attract disqualification for up to three years as per Section 10A of The Representation of the People Act, 1951.

  • Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme

    The government’s ambitious ‘Ghar Tak Fibre’ scheme — which aims to connect all the villages with high-speed internet — is off to a slow start in poll-bound Bihar.

    Note the features of FTTH connections. They make a perfect case for a statement based prelims question. Also, try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following statements regarding optical fibres:

    1. A layer called the cladding, which has a refractive index more than that of the core, surrounds the core of the optical fibre.
    2. Light is propagated in an optical fibre by refraction and internal reflection.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Ghar Tak Fibre scheme

    • The Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
    • It aims to connect all 45,945 villages of Bihar with high-speed optical fibre internet by 31st March 2021.
    • Under the scheme, Bihar has to provide at least five fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections per village and at least one WiFi hotspot per village.

    What is FTTH?

    • Fiber to the home (FTTH), also called fibre to the premises (FTTP), is the installation and use of optical fibre from a central point directly to individual buildings such as residences, apartment buildings and businesses to provide high-speed internet access.
    • FTTH dramatically increases connection speeds available to computer users compared with technologies now used in most places.
    • FTTH promises connection speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps).