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Distribution: yearly

  • How to minimise the threat from IEDs?

    Central Idea: The article discusses various measures that need to be taken to minimise errors in anti-terrorist operations. This has been particularly discussed after recent incidents of IED (improvised explosive device) explosions.

    What are IED (Improvised Explosive Device)?

    • IEDs are homemade explosive device made from commonly available materials such as fertilizer, diesel fuel, and metal scraps.
    • They are typically used as a form of guerrilla warfare by non-state actors such as terrorists, insurgents, and other militant groups.

    Why discuss IEDs?

    • IEDs are a popular choice for such groups as they are relatively easy to construct, difficult to detect, and can be triggered by a range of mechanisms including pressure plates, remote control, and tripwires.
    • IEDs are often responsible for a large number of casualties and fatalities in conflict zones.

    Disadvantage faced by Indian armed forces

    • The security forces are dealing with an enemy who is faceless, unidentifiable, and hidden among the people.
    • Security personnel can open fire only in self-defence, not on apprehension, giving militants the ‘first mover advantage’.
    • The reaction or the response time available for “Immediate Action (IA) or Counter Ambush drill” is a few seconds.
    • All standard operating systems and procedures, technological measures, etc., are directed towards the identification and detection of IEDs/landmines and to avoid being caught in them.

    Preventing IED Fatalities

    (1) Minimizing Errors

    • Avoid vehicle travel: To avoid casualties/fatalities in Maoist territories, vehicle travel should be avoided.
    • Foot patrolling: Routine operations like area domination, cordon-and-search, long-range patrolling, ambush-cum-patrolling should only be undertaken on foot.
    • Route security: If vehicle travel is essential, the onward and return journeys should never be by the same route, nor undertaken during the daytime.
    • Smaller convoys: Security forces should travel in a convoy of a minimum of two to three vehicles, maintaining a distance of at least 40 to 50 meters between them.

    (2) Camouflage and Protective Gear

    • In certain war zones, vehicular deployment is inevitable.
    • Security forces should be equipped with appropriate protective gear and their vehicles should be equipped with V-shaped and armour-plated hull, blast-resistant technology, and proper sandbagging to minimize damage in the event of an explosion.

    (3) Making a Region Safe for Travel

    • Detection: Rigorous and regular implementation of various detection methods, such as metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and trained sniffer dogs, to locate and clear landmines and IEDs, is essential.
    • Multi strata surveillance: This carried out through drones and road opening parties equipped with UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) can detect the presence of terrorists and pick tell-tale signs of a likely ambush.
    • Mapping of such areas: Areas known or suspected to contain landmines or IEDs can be mapped, and contingency plans prepared for them.

    (4) Intelligence Inputs and Investigation

    • Confidence building: Winning of hearts and minds is essential to gather actionable intelligence.
    • Diligent and scientific investigation: Establishment of linkages through meticulous collection and marshalling of evidence, framing of chargesheets, followed by speedy trials and conviction, serve as a strong deterrent to terrorism.

    Policy measures required

    • Regulating explosives: Legislative measures are required for the mandatory addition of odoriferous chemicals and/or biosensors to explosives used in industry and mining for their easy detection during transport.
    • Collaboration with international organizations: Other countries have taken several counter-IED measures, such as the U.S. setting up the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization and spending about $20 billion on counter-IED measures since 2005.
    • Overarching agency: It is needed under the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate the efforts of both the GoI and the states, and to provide legislative, technological, and procedural support to law enforcement agencies.

    Conclusion

    • It is crucial for governments to take necessary measures to protect their security personnel and prevent casualties caused by IEDs.
    • Again it is essential to raise awareness about the challenges and dangers faced by security personnel in conflict zones and to find effective solutions to mitigate the risks.

     

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  • Exemptions under Surrogacy Law

    The govt in the Supreme Court has said that same-sex couples and live-in partners are not included in surrogacy and assisted reproduction laws to avoid ‘misuse’ and provide children a ‘complete family’.

    Government’s stance

    • Same-sex couples and live-in partners are excluded from surrogacy and assisted reproduction laws to avoid ‘misuse.’
    • The welfare of the child should be prioritized over any notions of equality among prospective parents or couples.
    • No special provisions or additional rights have been granted to same-sex couples and live-in partners despite the decriminalization of their relationships.

    Why in news?

    • The government’s perspective is not in tune with several Supreme Court judgments that long live-in relationships “presume” marriage.
    • Live-in partners are not bound by law, and the safety of the child born through surrogacy cannot be guaranteed.

    Judiciary in support

    • Same-sex couples are fighting for their right to marry and raise a family as equal parents.
    • CJI heading the Constitution Bench, has remarked that same-sex couples could offer as stable and loving a home, if not better, to children as heterosexual married parents.

    Distinct features of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

    • Definition of surrogacy: It defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand over the child after the birth to the intending couple.
    • Regulation of surrogacy: It prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy which involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance.
    • Purposes for which surrogacy is permitted: Surrogacy is permitted when it is: (i) for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility; (ii) altruistic; (iii) not for commercial purposes; (iv) not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and (v) for any condition or disease specified through regulations.
    • Eligibility criteria: The intending couple should have a ‘certificate of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ issued by the appropriate authority ex. District Medical Board.

    Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother:

    • To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to be:
    1. A close relative of the intending couple;
    2. A married woman having a child of her own;
    3. 25 to 35 years old;
    4. A surrogate only once in her lifetime; and
    5. Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.
    • Further, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.

    Basis of the Petition: Right to Reproductive Autonomy

    • The personal decision of a single person about the birth of a baby through surrogacy, i.e., the right of reproductive autonomy is a facet of the right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
    • Thus, the right to privacy of every citizen or person affecting a decision to bear or beget a child through surrogacy cannot be taken away.

    Other issues with Surrogacy Law

    • Medical issue necessity: Married women can only avail surrogacy services if they are unable to produce a child due to medical conditions.
    • Widow/Divorced: Otherwise, for women to avail of surrogacy services, they must be aged between 35 and 45 and widowed or divorced.
    • One child obligation: Women can only offer surrogacy if they are aged between 25 and 35 and married with at least one biological child.
    • Genetic relation obligation: The laws also require a surrogate to be genetically related to the couple who intend to have a child through this method.

     

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  • CPEC to be extended to Afghanistan

    cpec

    Central Idea: Pakistan, China and Afghanistan have agreed to extending the Beijing-backed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan to fully harness the country’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity.

    What is CPEC?

    • The CPEC, one of the most ambitious components of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was announced to great fanfare in 2015.
    • CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan beginning in 2013.
    • Originally valued at $47 billion, the value of CPEC projects is worth $62 billion as of 2020.
    • It is intended to rapidly upgrade Pakistan’s required infrastructure and strengthen its economy by the construction of modern transportation networks, numerous energy projects, and SEZs.
    • On 13 November 2016, CPEC became partly operational when Chinese cargo was transported overland to Gwadar Port for onward maritime shipment to Africa and West Asia.

    India’s reservation against CPEC

    Ans. Sovereignty breach

    • India which shares tense relations with Pakistan, objects to the CPEC project as upgrade works to the Karakoram Highway are taking place in Gilgit-Baltistan.
    • This is the territory illicitly occupied by Pakistan in 1947-48.
    • During the visit of Indian PM Modi to China in 2015, the Indian FM, Sushma Swaraj reportedly told the Chinese.
    • India did not object to the Chinese construction of the Karakoram Highway which was built between 1959 and 1979.

    Why CPEC?

    • Economic push for Pak: CPEC has consistently been held up as a “gamechanger” for Pakistan’s economy.
    • Debt trap diplomacy: At the same time, China is the only country that is heavily investing in Pakistan.

    Progress status

    • Slow pace: Gwadar, despite being the epicenter of multibillion-dollar projects, lacks basic necessities like reliable access to water and electricity, let alone other facilities.
    • At standstill: But the road to completion has proved long and winding. Reports indicate that the pace of CPEC projects has been slowing down in Pakistan in recent years.
    • Baloch freedom movement: This is another impediment to the stalled project where Chinese officials are targeted and killed.
    • Consistent security threat: China is also seeking to deploy its Army in the CPEC projects, to which Pakistan has contested.

     

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  • Common Uniforms at Higher Ranks of Army

    uniform

    Central Idea: A decision has been taken at the recent Army Commanders Conference to change the uniforms worn by senior Army officers.

    Changes in Uniform

    • All officers of the rank of Brigadier and above will now wear common uniform items.
    • The common uniform items include berets, badges of rank, belt buckle, and pattern of shoes.
    • Regimental lanyards and shoulder flashes will no longer be worn by officers of these higher ranks.
    • There will be no item of uniform that will identify them as belonging to a particular Regiment or Corps.

    Present Uniform Accoutrements

    • Officers from the rank of Lieutenant to General currently wear uniform accoutrements as per their regimental or corps affiliation.
    • Each Infantry Regiment and Corps has its own pattern of lanyard, badges of rank, buttons, and belt buckle as per regimental traditions.

    Reason for Change

    • Regimental service in the Army ends at the rank of Colonel for most officers who rise further.
    • Senior officers commanding troops of mixed regimental lineage should present themselves in a neutral uniform rather than a regimental one.

    Reversion to Past Practice

    • The Army is now reverting to the practice that was followed almost 40 years ago, when the changes towards wearing regimental affiliations took hold in the service.
    • Until about the mid-1980s, officers of the rank of Colonel and above had common uniform patterns and insignia.

    Tradition in Other Armies

    • In the British army, the uniform worn by officers of the rank of Colonel and above is referred to as the Staff uniform, to distinguish it from the Regimental uniform.
    • Among neighbouring countries, the Pakistan and Bangladesh armies follow the same pattern as the British army.

     

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  • India coal imports surge to 162 MT in FY23

    Central Idea

    • India’s coal imports increased by 30% to 162.46 million tonnes in the 2022-23 financial year compared to 124.99 MT in the previous year, according to a report.
    • The report was released by mjunction, a B2B e-commerce platform that is a joint venture between Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Tata Steel.

    India’s coal production and consumption

    • India is among the top five coal-producing countries in the world.
    • Despite being a major producer, India also imports coal to meet some of its demand.
    • India is a significant consumer of coal, which is used for power generation and industrial processes.

    Import of Coking Coal

    • Coking Coal: The import of coking coal rose by 5.44% to 54.46 MT over 51.65 MT in FY22, as per the report by mjunction. Coking coal is a key raw material used in steel making.
    • Non-coking coal: In March 2023, non-coking coal import stood at 13.88 MT against 12.61 MT in the same month last year.
    • Other imports: The total imports of various types of coal like anthracite, pulverised coal injection (PCI coal), met coke and pet coke, along with coking and non-coking coal, were at 249.06 MT in FY23, up from 200.71 MT in FY22, a rise of over 24%.

    Key inferences from this

    • The high demand for steam coal in India and the weakening of seaborne prices led to increased volumes during March.
    • This trend might continue in the coming months due to above-normal average temperatures expected during the summer.

    Why does India import coal?

    India imports coal primarily due to the following reasons:

    • Lack of good quality coal: India’s domestic coal reserves have limitations in terms of quality, and the country does not have sufficient reserves of good quality coking coal, which is used in steelmaking and allied industries. Therefore, India imports coal to compensate for the lack of good quality coal.
    • Growing energy demand: India’s energy demand is continuously increasing due to population growth and rapid urbanization. Coal is a significant contributor to India’s energy mix, and the country needs to import coal to meet its growing energy demand.
    • Infrastructure constraints: India’s domestic coal production is limited due to various factors such as geological constraints, land acquisition issues, and environmental regulations. Moreover, India’s domestic coal transport infrastructure is insufficient, and many power plants are located far away from the coal mines, making imports a more viable option.
    • Better quality and cost-effectiveness: Importing coal from other countries can sometimes be more cost-effective than producing it domestically, especially when the quality of imported coal is better than domestic coal.

     

    Key terminologies

    Coking coal: a type of coal that is used in the production of steel.

    Anthracite: a hard and compact type of coal that has a high carbon content.

    Pulverised coal injection (PCI coal): a method of injecting pulverized coal into a blast furnace to improve the efficiency of the iron-making process.

    Met coke: a type of coke made by heating coal in the absence of air, which is used as a fuel in blast furnaces to produce iron.

    Pet coke: a carbon-rich solid material that is derived from oil refining. It is used as a fuel in industrial processes.

     

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2012:

    Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal?

    1. It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for the future, and import them from other countries for the present use.
    2. Most of the power plants in India are coal-based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country.
    3. Steel companies need a large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?       

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”qekagebaxt” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • RBI’s gold reserves rise to 794.64 tonne

    Central Idea: The RBI has increased its gold reserves by 34.22 tonnes YoY to reach 794.64 tonnes at the end of March 2023, according to the central bank’s data.

    What are Gold Reserves?

    • Gold reserves refer to the physical gold holdings that a central bank or a country holds as a part of its foreign exchange reserves.
    • Central banks may acquire gold reserves through various means, including purchases from other central banks, international organizations, or commercial banks, and from domestic production or importation.
    • Gold reserves are typically held in the form of gold bars, which are stored in secure vaults or depositories.

    Why Gold?

    • Gold is considered a safe-haven asset and has been historically used to back a country’s currency.
    • Holding gold reserves is seen as a way to hedge against inflation, currency fluctuations, and other economic uncertainties.

    Significance of Gold Reserves

    • Economic stability: Gold reserves are often seen as a symbol of economic stability and confidence, especially during times of financial crisis or uncertainty. Holding gold reserves can help central banks to maintain the stability of their currency and the economy.
    • Diversification: Gold is considered a safe-haven asset and can provide diversification to a country’s foreign exchange reserves portfolio. Diversification helps to reduce the risks associated with any single asset class.
    • Hedge against inflation: Gold is considered an inflation hedge as its value tends to increase during times of high inflation or when the value of a currency is depreciating. Holding gold reserves can help to protect the purchasing power of a country’s currency.
    • International transactions: Gold reserves can be used as collateral for loans and international transactions. Countries can also use gold reserves to settle international debts.
    • Confidence-building: The level of a country’s gold reserves can be an indicator of the country’s financial strength and stability. High levels of gold reserves can help to build confidence among investors and other countries.

    Breakdown of RBI’s gold reserves

    • Total: As of March-end 2023, the RBI held 794.64 metric tonnes of gold, including gold deposits of 56.32 metric tonnes.
    • Domestic and abroad: Out of the total gold reserves, 437.22 metric tonnes of gold is held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), while 301.10 metric tonnes of gold is held domestically.

    How much do these gold reserves value?

    • In value terms (USD), the share of gold in the total foreign exchange reserves increased from about 7.06% as of September-end 2022 to about 7.81% as of March-end 2023, as per the RBI’s report.
    • During the half-year period, the reserves increased from $532.66 billion as of September-end 2022 to $578.45 billion as of March-end 2023.

     

    New terminologies

    Foreign currency assets (FCA): a component of forex reserves that includes major traded currencies held by the central bank of a country.

    Special drawing rights (SDRs): an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to supplement member countries’ official reserves.

    Reserve tranche position: a component of IMF’s financial accounts that represents a country’s reserve position in the organization.

    Back2Basics: Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserve

    • Foreign exchange reserves are important assets held by the central bank in foreign currencies as reserves.
    • They are commonly used to support the exchange rate and set monetary policy.
    • In India’s case, foreign reserves include Gold, Dollars, and the IMF’s quota for Special Drawing Rights.
    • Most of the reserves are usually held in US dollars, given the currency’s importance in the international financial and trading system.
    • Some central banks keep reserves in Euros, British pounds, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan, in addition to their US dollar reserves.

    India’s forex reserves cover:

    1. Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)
    2. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
    3. Gold Reserves
    4. Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

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  • India’s delayed implementation of mandatory Drug Recall Law

    Central Idea

    • Abbot published a public notice in newspapers, alerting people about a mislabelled batch of medicine that it had inadvertently shipped to the market.
    • Such recalls take place regularly in the US but it is uncommon in India for domestic or foreign pharmaceutical companies to recall substandard or mislabelled drugs.

    Recall of Medicines: India story

    India has been mulling the creation of a mandatory recall law for substandard drugs since 1976.

    • Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting in 1976: Resolved to have greater cooperation between state drug controllers to recall and destroy drugs that failed tests.
    • DCC meetings in 1989, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2007, and 2011: Issue of recalls came up but resulted in no amendments to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.
    • CDSCO proposes draft recall guidelines in 2012: National regulator lacks power to convert guidelines into binding law
    • DCC and Drugs Technical Advisory Board meetings in 2016 and 2018-2019: Issue of recalls resurfaces but India still lacks a recall law, 46 years on.

    Why there is no concrete law in India?

    • Complex drug regulatory issues: The Drug Regulation Section of the Union health ministry is not equipped to tackle complex drug regulatory issues.
    • Multiple agencies: India has highly fragmented regulatory structure, with each state having its own drug regulator.
    • Exposing the loopholes: India’s drug regulators are aware that a mandatory drug recall system, will bring to public attention the poor state of affairs in India’s pharmaceutical industry.
    • Evading accountability: The delay in implementing a recall law exposes the lack of accountability and interest in protecting public health.

    Consequences of delay

    • Drug failure hazard: Dozens of drugs fail random testing in government laboratories every month.
    • Substandard quality: The lack of a mandatory recall law means substandard drugs, even those with dangerous consequences for consumers, can circulate in the market.
    • Public health crisis: People, including children, are likely dying or suffering from adverse health events because substandard drugs are not swiftly removed from the market.

    Reasons behind

    The lack of a mandatory recall law in India can be attributed to various factors, including-

    1. Lack of expertise
    2. Apathy
    3. Vested interests in enabling the growth of the pharmaceutical industry.

    Way forward

    • Implementation of a mandatory drug recall law: The Indian government can take steps to implement a mandatory drug recall law. This law should have teeth to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their products.
    • Centralization of regulatory powers: To create an effective recall mechanism, the responsibility of recalling drugs has to be centralized, with one authority that has the legal power to hold companies liable for failures to recall drugs from across the country, and further, to also search and seize batches of failed medicine.
    • Streamlining of regulatory processes: The Indian government can take steps to streamline regulatory processes to reduce the time taken for approvals and ensure that drugs are tested thoroughly before they enter the market.
    • Capacity building of regulatory bodies: The Drug Regulation Section of the Union health ministry should be equipped with the necessary resources, expertise and mandate to tackle complex drug regulatory issues.
    • Encouragement of ethical pharmaceutical companies: The Indian government can encourage ethical pharmaceutical companies by providing incentives to companies that comply with regulatory standards, penalizing those that do not, and promoting transparency in drug pricing.

     

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  • Manipur Riots: CJI questions HC’s power over ST List

    Central Idea

    • The Chief Justice of India has questioned why a 23-year-old Constitution Bench judgment was not shown to the Manipur High Court, which directed the state government to consider the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.
    • The Chief Justice observed that a High Court does not have the power to direct changes in the Scheduled Tribes List, as it is a Presidential power to designate a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

    What is the Scheduled Tribes List?

    • Article 342(1) of the Constitution states that it is entirely the President’s power to designate a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
    • It is not open to State governments, courts, tribunals, or any other authority to modify, amend or alter the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in the notification issued under clause (1) of Article 342.
    • A notification issued under clause (1) of Article 342 can be amended only by law to be made by Parliament.

    Notable Judgements:

    (1) The State of Maharashtra vs. Milind verdict

    • The five-judge Constitution Bench in State of Maharashtra versus Milind, in November 2000, held that a notification issued under clause (1) of Article 342, specifying Scheduled Tribes, can be amended only by law to be made by Parliament.
    • Any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe can be included or excluded from the list of Scheduled Tribes only by Parliament by law and by no other authority.

    (2) FCI vs. Jagdish Balaram Bahira

    • The settled law in the Milind verdict was referred to by a July 2017 judgment authored by Justice Chandrachud for a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in CMD, FCI versus Jagdish Balaram Bahira to note that the Presidential Order under Article 342 regarding Scheduled Tribes was always “final”.

    Back2Basics: Scheduled Tribes

    • The term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ first appeared in the Constitution of India.
    • Article 366 (25) defined scheduled tribes as “such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution”.
    • Article 342 prescribes procedures to be followed in the matter of specification of scheduled tribes.
    • Among the tribal groups, several have adapted to modern life but there are tribal groups who are more vulnerable.
    • The Dhebar Commission (1973) created a separate category “Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs)” which was renamed in 2006 as “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)”.

    How are STs notified?

    • The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State/ Union Territory is by a notified order of the President, after consultation with the State governments concerned.
    • These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament.

    Status of STs in India

    • The Census 2011 has revealed that there are said to be 705 ethnic groups notified as Scheduled Tribes (STs).
    • Over 10 crore Indians are notified as STs, of which 1.04 crore live in urban areas.
    • The STs constitute 8.6% of the population and 11.3% of the rural population.

     

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  • Misleading food ads and regulations to curtail them

    Central idea: Misleading claims

    • FSSAI flagged 32 cases of food business operators (FBOs) making misleading claims and advertisements in contravention of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018.
    • The cumulative count of such offences has shot up to 170 in the last six months.
    • FBOs urged to avoid making unscientific and exaggerated claims for larger consumer interest.

    Regulations for tackling misleading ads and claims

    • Regulations include-
    1. FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018
    2. CCPA’s regulations, and Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.
    • FSSAI seeks truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, and scientifically substantiated claims.
    • Claims suggesting suitability for prevention, alleviation, treatment, or cure of a disease, disorder, or particular psychological condition prohibited unless permitted under the regulations of the FSS Act, 2006.

    Response of FSSAI

    • Scrutinized products in categories such as health supplements, organic products, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products, and staples endorsing certain health and product claims.
    • Alleged violators include manufacturers and/or marketers of nutraceutical products, refined oils, pulses, flours, millet products, and ghee.
    • Cases referred to concerned licensing authorities to issue notices and withdraw the misleading claims or scientifically substantiate them.
    • Failure to comply would invite penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh, suspension, or cancellation of licenses for repeated offenses.

    Recent observations in the food advertising ecosystem

    • Non-disclosure: Close to 788 ads processed against food advertising, about 299 related to non-disclosure by food influencers, and 490+ ads found to be misleading.
    • Fairly violative sector: Violations across different food categories and food.

    Definitions of various terms

    • Natural food product: A single food derived from a recognized natural source with no additives or chemicals.
    • Fresh: This reference is allowed only for products not processed except washing, peeling, chilling, trimming, cutting, or low-dose irradiation.
    • Pure: It is used for single-ingredient foods with nothing added and devoid of all avoidable contamination.

    Expectations from a consumer’s point of view

    • Clinical data: Companies need to provide clinical data about the outcomes pertaining to the control group, the administered group, and the observed period of the claimed outcomes.
    • Interpretable ads: Advertisements need to be modified in a way a consumer can interpret.

     

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  • Cyclone Mocha developing in Bay of Bengal

    cyclone

    Central Idea: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a developing cyclonic or low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. It would be named Cyclone Mocha (pronounced ‘Mokha’).

    What is a cyclone and how are they formed?

    • A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.
    • Warm seas present ripe conditions for the development and strengthening of cyclones.
    • The air rises and blows in an anticlockwise direction around the low in the northern hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
    • As warm air rises and cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and this can lead to rains.
    • Cyclones can cause significant impacts on life and property, including storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lightning.

    Requirements for a Cyclone to form

    There are six main requirements for tropical cyclogenesis:

    1. Sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures
    2. Atmospheric instability
    3. High humidity in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere
    4. Enough Coriolis force to develop a low-pressure centre
    5. A pre-existing low-level focus or disturbance
    6. Low vertical wind shear

    How are cyclones named?

    • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialized meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
    • The IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean after following a standard procedure.
    • In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
    • After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalized the list.
    • This cyclone will be named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

    Why is it important to name cyclones?

    • Adopting names for cyclones makes it easier for people to remember, as opposed to numbers and technical terms.
    • It’s easier and less confusing to say “Cyclone Titli” than remember the storm’s number or its longitude and latitude.
    • Apart from the general public, it also helps the scientific community, the media, disaster managers etc.
    • With a name, it is also easy to identify individual cyclones, create awareness of its development, rapidly disseminate warnings to increase community preparedness etc.

     

     

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