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  • Election Commission (EC)’s power to delay elections

    Political parties are increasingly voicing concerns over holding elections in Bihar amid a pandemic.

    This newscard contains some interesting facts related to conduct and postpone of elections.

    EC’s power to hold elections

    • The EC is mandated under law to hold elections at any time within six months before the five-year term of the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly expires.
    • The polls are timed in a way that the new Assembly or Lok Sabha is in place on the day of the dissolution of the outgoing House.
    • In the case of early dissolution, EC has to ensure, as far as possible, a new Lok Sabha or Assembly is in place within six months of the dissolution.

    Powers to delay

    • An election once called usually proceeds as per schedule. However, in some exceptional cases, the process can be postponed or even scrapped after its announcement under extraordinary circumstances.
    • Under Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, the poll panel can “extend the time” for completing an election.
    • But such extension should not go beyond the date of the normal dissolution of the Lok Sabha or the Assembly.
    • In 1991, the Commission, under this provision read with Article 324 of the Constitution, postponed the ongoing parliamentary elections after then PM’s assassination during his campaign in Tamil Nadu.
    • As recently as March this year, elections to 18 Rajya Sabha seats were postponed by the Commission due to the COVID19 pandemic.

    So can EC postpone elections in Bihar under Section 153 of the RP Act?

    • Powers under Section 153 can be exercised only after an election schedule has been notified.
    • If the EC wants to postpone Bihar elections, it will have to be done through its extraordinary powers under Article 324.
    • The Commission will have to inform the government of its inability to hold polls on time.
    • The government and the President will then decide the future course — to impose President’s Rule or allow the incumbent Chief Minister to continue for six months.

    Back2Basics

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/explained-presidents-rule-in-maharashtra/

  • ‘Churachandpur Mao Fault’ in Mizoram

    Mizoram’s zone of “scary” earthquakes is caught between two subterranean faults called the ‘Churachandpur Mao Fault’.

    Try this question from CSE Mains 2014:

    Q.Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.

    Churachandpur-Mao Fault (CMF)

    • The CMF is named after two places in Manipur and runs north-south into Myanmar along the border of Champhai.
    • The Mat Fault runs northwest-southeast across Mizoram, beneath river Mat near Serchhip.
    • It is defined by straight valleys; most prominent being between Kangpokpi and Maram region of Mizoram.
    • The fault takes a north-easterly trend from Maram where the fault zone is characterized by active landslides during the monsoon.

    Why study CMF?

    • Faults are discontinuities or cracks that are the result of differential motion within the earth’s crust.
    • Vertical or lateral slippage of the crust along the faults causes an earthquake.

  • National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) signed MoU with NCRB

    The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed an MoU with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to access the centralised online database on FIRs and stolen vehicles. The MoU would enable the NATGRID to get information about details of a suspect as mentioned in the FIR such as his/her father’s name, telephone number and other details.

    Practice question for mains:

    Q.What is NATGRID? Discuss its role in facilitating criminal investigation and intelligence by various agencies.

    About NATGRID

    • NATGRID initially started in 2009 is an online database for collating scattered pieces of information and putting them together on one platform.
    • It links intelligence and investigation agencies.
    • At least 10 Central government agencies, such as the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and others have access to the data on a secured platform.
    • NATGRID is exempted from the Right to Information Act, 2005 under sub-section (2) of Section 24.

    Utility of NATGRID

    • The NATGRID enables multiple security and intelligence agencies to access a database related to immigration entry and exit, banking and telephone details, among others, from a common platform.
    • The 10 user agencies will be linked independently with certain databases which will be procured from 21 providing organisations including telecom, tax records, bank, immigration etc. to generate intelligence inputs.

    Back2Basics: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

    • The NCRB is a government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).
    • NCRB is headquartered in New Delhi and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
    • NCRB was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
    • Mission: To Empower Indian Police with IT and criminal Intelligence to enable them to uphold the law and protect people & to provide leadership and excellence in crime analysis particularly for serious and organized crime.

    Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS)

    • The CCTNS is a project for creating a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing through e-Governance.
    • The concept was first conceived in the year 2008 by the then Home Minister in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
    • The system includes a nationwide online tracking system by integrating more than 14,000 police stations across the country.
    • The project is implemented by NCRB.

  • What is T Cells Immunity?

    A recent study has shown that people unexposed to and not infected with novel coronavirus may still exhibit T cell responses specific to this virus. It is thought that Coronavirus specific T cell responses seen in healthy people might arise from memory T cells derived from exposure to ‘common cold’ coronaviruses.

    Try this question from CSP 2010:

    Q. Widespread resistance of malaria parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malaria vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?

    (a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium

    (b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection

    (c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria

    (d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

    What are T Cells?

    • T Cells also called T lymphocyte, type of leukocyte (white blood cell) that is an essential part of the immune system.
    • T cells are one of two primary types of lymphocytes—B cells being the second type—that determine the specificity of the immune response to antigens (foreign substances) in the body.
    • T cells originate in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus.

    Why are they called memory cells?

    • In the thymus, T cells multiply and differentiate into helper, regulatory, or cytotoxic T cells or become memory T cells.
    • They are then sent to peripheral tissues or circulate in the blood or lymphatic system.
    • Once stimulated by the appropriate antigen, helper T cells secrete chemical messengers called cytokines, which stimulate the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells (antibody-producing cells).

    How do they control immunity?

    • Regulatory T cells act to control immune reactions, hence their name.
    • Cytotoxic T cells, which are activated by various cytokines, bind to and kill infected cells and cancer cells.
    • Because the body contains millions of T and B cells, many of which carry unique receptors, it can respond to virtually any antigen.

    Vaccination outcomes on T cells

    • There is a possibility that pre-existing T cell memory might influence vaccination outcomes.
    • Pre-existing immunity could help elicit better immune responses against novel coronavirus, and these responses can manifest faster.
    • Meanwhile, pre-existing immunity could be mistaken as an enhanced efficacy of the vaccine in eliciting immune responses.
    • This could be particularly confusing in Phase-1 trials where the vaccine is tested on a small group of healthy participants.

    Its drawbacks

    • The pre-existing immunity can reduce the immune responses that the vaccine causes through a mechanism called the “original antigenic sin”.
    • It can also lead to antibody-mediated disease enhancement, where antibodies present at sub-neutralizing concentrations can actually augment virus infection and cause more severe disease.
    • This was seen in the case of chikungunya and dengue.

  • Kuaizhou-11 Rocket

    China’s 19th launch of 2020, the Kuaizhou-11 rocket, failed in its mission.

    Try this question from CSP 2014:

    Q.Which of the following pair is/are correctly matched?

    Spacecraft Purpose
    1. Cassini-Huygens Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
    2. Messenger Mapping and investigating the Mercury
    3. Voyager 1 and 2 Exploring the outer solar system

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    a) 1 only

    b) 2 and 3 only

    c) 1 and 3 only

    d) 1, 2 and 3

    The Kuaizhou-11

    • Kuaizhou, meaning “fast ship” in Chinese, was operated by the commercial launch firm Expace and was originally scheduled for 2018 after being developed three years earlier.
    • Also known as KZ-11, it had a lift-off mass of 70.8 tonnes, and was designed to launch low-Earth and Sun-synchronous orbit satellites.
    • It was carrying two satellites — the first being a remote sensing satellite that would provide data to clients on a commercial basis for forecasting and managing geological disasters.
    • It would also provide the information required for natural resource exploration. The second was part of a series of satellites for low-Earth orbit navigation.
    • Both satellites were built by Changguang Satellite Co. Ltd., a commercial entity born out of the state-owned firms.

  • Rare Comet ‘C/2020 F3 Neowise’

    The C/2020 F3 comet also dubbed NEOWISE will be visible with the naked eye for around 20 minutes every day for 20 days across India.

    Try this question from CSP 2014:

    Q.What is a coma, in the content of astronomy?

    (a) Bright half of material on the comet

    (b) Long tail of dust

    (c) Two asteroids orbiting each other

    (d) Two planets orbiting each other

    What are Comets?

    • Comets or “dirty snowballs” are mostly made of dust, rocks and ice, the remnants from the time the solar system was formed over 4.6 billion years ago.
    • The word comet comes from the Latin word “Cometa” which means “long-haired” and the earliest known record of a comet sighting was made by an astrologer in 1059 BC.
    • Comets can range in their width from a few miles to tens of miles wide.
    • While there are millions of comets orbiting the sun, there are more than 3,650 known comets as of now, according to NASA.

    How do they illuminate?

    • Comets do not have the light of their own and what humans are able to see from Earth is the reflection of the sun’s light off the comet as well as the energy released by the gas molecules after it is absorbed from the sun.
    • The visibility cannot be precisely predicted since a lot depends on the way the “outbursts” of gas and dust play out determining how much of a “good show” the comet will put out for observers.
    • As they orbit closer to the sun, they heat up and release debris of dust and gases that form into a “glowing head” that can often be larger than a planet.

    Why do they get close to the sun?

    • Comets may be occasionally pushed into orbits closer to the sun and the Earth’s neighbourhood due to forces of gravity of other planets.
    • The appearance of some comets, like those that take less than 200 years to orbit around the sun is predictable since they have passed by before.
    • These may be referred to as short-period comets and can be found in the Kuiper belt, where many comets orbit the sun in the realm of Pluto, occasionally getting pushed into orbits that bring them closer to the sun.
    • One of the most famous short-period comets is called Halley’s Comet that reappears every 76 years. Halley’s will be sighted next in 2062.
    • Comets in this cloud can take as long as 30 million years to complete one rotation around the sun.

    Significance of the comets

    • NASA tracks all Near Earth Objects (NEOs) that includes comets and asteroids using telescopes placed all around the Earth, as part of its NEO Observation Program.
    • Comets hold important clues about the formation of the solar system and it is possible that comets brought water and other organic compounds, which are the building blocks of life to Earth.

    Back2Basics

  • [pib] India’s Tiger Census sets a New Guinness Record

    The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018, results of which were declared to the nation on Global Tiger Day last year has entered the Guinness World Record for being the world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey.

    Before reading this newscard, try these PYQs:

    Q. The term ‘M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of: (CSP 2017)

    (a) Captive breeding of Wild Fauna

    (b) Maintenance of Tiger Reserves

    (c) Indigenous Satellite Navigation System

    (d) Security of National Highways

    Q.Consider the following protected areas: (CSP 2012)

    1. Bandipur
    2. Bhitarkanika
    3. Manas
    4. Sunderbans

    Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (c) 2, 3 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    About All India Tiger Estimation

    • The tiger count is prepared after every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provides details on the number of tigers in the 18 tiger reign states with 50 tiger reserves.
    • However, this time, the census also included data collected from the rough terrains of north-eastern states which were not possible due to logistic constraints before.
    • The entire exercise spanned over four years is considered to be the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage and intensity of sampling.
    • Over 15, 000 cameras were installed at various strategic points to capture the movement of tigers. This was supported by extensive data collected by field personnel and satellite mapping.

    Highlights of the 2018 estimation

    • India has 2,967 tigers, a third more than in 2014, according to results of a tiger census.
    • India has achieved the target of doubling tiger population four years before the 2022 deadline.
    • According to the census, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 and Uttarakhand at number 3 with 442 tigers.
    • While Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of tigers, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered the “maximum improvement” since 2014.
    • Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger numbers in Odisha remained constant. All other states witnessed a positive trend.

    Back2Basics: Project Tiger

    • Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 during PM Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
    • In 1970 India had only 1800 tigers and Project Tiger was launched in Jim Corbett National Park.
    • The project is administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
    • It aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats, protecting them from extinction etc.
    • Under this project the govt. has set up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers and funded relocation of villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts.

  • 13th July 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 14th July-

    GS-1 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism.

    GS-4  Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

    Question 1) 

    Is the concept of marriage less exclusionary in our country? In the context of same-sex marriage, discuss the need for a multi-pronged approach to deal with issue of prejudice and discrimination prevalent in society against them. 10 marks

    Question 2)

    Cooperative federalism in India has been facing a new hurdle in the form of fiscal constraints on the States emanating from the centre. Comment. 10 marks

     

    Question 3)

    Formation of Fiscal Council has been suggested by the Finance Commission as well as by FRBM review committee. Do you agree with the view that the formation of the Fiscal Council will be helpful in portraying the virtue of the fiscal discipline of the government? Give reasons in support of your argument. 10 marks

    Question 4)  

    Define what work culture is and compare and contrast the work culture of India with that of West. 10 marks

     

     

    Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment, check  here: Click2Join

  • 11th July 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 479]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 478]

  • How friendly government policies can boost Indian steel industry

    The steel industry forms the backbone of the economy. This article highlights the difficulties of the industry magnified the pandemic. Ans suggest ways to revive demand.

    BAT could help

    • Introduction of a Border Adjustment Tax, known as BAT could help India’s steel industry.
    • Many countries use BAT to protect local steel manufacturers.
    • With economic pain unleashed by the pandemic and threat posed by Chinese state-subsidised steel imports, India hardly affords not to BAT.
    • BAT would create a level playing field.

    Why Indian steel industry is non-competitive

    • Indian steel manufacturers bear multiple local taxes – electricity and cross-subsidy duties, clean energy cess and royalties on ore and there are more.
    • These taxes make up 12% of the price of steel.
    • In rival markets, these levies either do not exist or are comparatively lower.
    • So Indian steel is non-competitive even before it leaves our plants.

    Impact of Covid

    • Impact of Covid on India’s biggest steel mills, which make up 65% of the country’s annual output of about 110 MT, was calamitous.
    • During the pandemic, the mills’ massive blast furnaces continued to burn.
    • Closure and reopening of furnaces can take up to 12 weeks; the process is complex, and maintenance costs are high.
    • So, the furnaces were burning during the lockdown.
    • India’s mills have continued to bear high fixed costs: firing furnaces but without making much steel.
    • Because of this, smaller mills, which account for about a third of national output, lack the strengths to survive a trough, and many have capitulated.

    Significance of Steel Industry

    • Steel is front and centre in India’s recovery.
    • The industry rests on mutual support – investment is made by entrepreneurs, the government offers supportive policies.
    • Government will lend weight to India’s competitive and comparative advantages, especially in manufacturing, in a post covid-19 economic order.
    • Indian steel’s guiding light is a steel ministry vision of 300MT of capacity by 2030, currently at about 138 MT.
    • The pandemic will put pressure on this target.

    Short term hurdles faced by Steel industry

    • Government capital expenditure is diverted to public health.
    • Real estate builders have an interest in large scale construction.
    • Car manufacturing will not see upturn until the second half of the year.
    • The pandemic has also hurt demand for capital utilisation, weighing heavily on capex.

    How the demand can be improved

    • Steel needs more infrastructure projects. Also, the fillip would be for the government to pay on time. Expedite the work.
    • An initiative to consign old cars to the scrap heap would significantly lift demand for steel to build replacement cars.
    • Improving the logistics chain would help transport finished goods and materials more quickly and less expensively.
    • Make steel the material of choice in the construction of flyovers, roads bridges and crash barriers, improving their safety, durability and, as a result, their life-cycle cost.
    • Indian mills possess world-class infrastructure and capacities and have integrated backwards by acquiring mining rights, partly to mitigate costs. As mentioned, one is high taxes on input materials such as energy.

    Consider the question “Examine the issues Indian steel industry faces. Suggest the ways to make it more competitive.”

    Conclusion

    A revived economy means a revived steel industry. The government should provide the wider and deeper support to the government to bring this vital sector back on the track and make help achieve global competitiveness.

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