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  • [pib] “Kisan Rath” mobile app to facilitate transportation of farm produce

    The Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has launched a mobile application to facilitate farmers & traders in searching for transport vehicles for movement of Agriculture & Horticulture produce.

    Initiatives as such are less likely to be asked in the prelims as the name and purpose create no different analogy. But for the sake of information and mains perspective, it is vital to remember ‘Kisan Rath’ while emphasizing on Agricultural marketing reforms.

    “Kisan Rath” mobile app

    • The app aims to facilitate Farmers and Traders in identifying the right mode of transportation for movement of farm produce ranging from foodgrains, fruits & vegetables, oilseeds, spices, fibre crops etc.
    • Primary transportation would include movement from Farm to Mandis, FPO Collection Centre and Warehouses etc.
    • Secondary Transportation would include movement from Mandis to Intra-state & Inter-state mandis, Processing units, Railway station, Warehouses and Wholesalers etc.
    • It also facilitates traders in transportation of perishable commodities by Reefer (Refrigerated) vehicles.

    Utility of the app

    • Transportation of Agri produce is a critical and indispensable component of the supply chain.
    • Kisan Rath will ensure smooth and seamless supply linkages between farmers and the market.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] LANDMARK JUDGMENTS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

    Prelims Spotlight is a part of “Nikaalo Prelims 2020” module. This open crash course for Prelims 2020 has a private telegram group where PDFs and DDS (Daily Doubt Sessions) are being held. Please click here to register.

    LANDMARK JUDGMENTS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

    18 April 2020 

    Champakam Dorairajan State of Madras,1951

    • In this case caste-based reservations were struck down by the court, as against Article 16(2) of the Constitution.
    • With regard to the admission of students to the Engineering and Medical Colleges of the State, the Province of Madras had issued an order which, fixed number of seats for particular communities.
    • It noticed that while Cl. (1) Art. 29 protects the language, script or culture of a section of the citizens, cl. (2) guarantees the fundamental right of an individual citizen.
    • This right can not be denied to the city only on grounds of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
    • If a citizen who seeks admission into any such educational institution has not the requisite academic qualifications and is denied admission on that ground, he certainly cannot be heard to complain of an infraction of his fundamental right under this Article.
    • This case resulted in the First Amendment of the Constitution of India.

    Berubari Union case (1960)

    • This case was regarding the Parliament’s power to transfer the territory of Berubai to Pakistan. The SC examined Article 3 in detail and held that the Parliament cannot make laws under this article in order to execute the Nehru-Noon agreement.
    • Hence, the 9th Amendment Act was passed to enforce the agreement.

    Golaknath State of Punjab 1967

    • The Apex court held that law made by the Parliament shall not be such that infringes and takes away the fundamental rights of the citizen which are provided by the Constitution of India.
    • Law made by a Parliament in a law under Article 13 of the Constitution.
    • Further, the constitution can be amended.
    • The judgement was overruled by 24th amendment.
    • The judgement was restored and its scope was extended in Keshavnand Bharti case.

    Madhav Jiwaji Rao Scindia Union of India, 1970

    • The infamous case, Madhav Jiwaji Rao Scindia v. Union of India deals with Article 18 of the Constitution of India.
    • It abolishes all special titles.
    • The Supreme Court in this case held the 1970 Presidential order as invalid,.
    • This decision of the court led to abolishing titles and privileges of India’s erstwhile princely rulers.
    • It even abolished privy purses of India’s erstwhile princely rulers.

    Kesavananda Bharati State of Kerala, 1973

    • The bench in the present case comprised of 13 judges.
    • This is the largest bench till date in the Indian judicial history.
    • The Supreme Court gave Parliament power to amend any part of Constitution of India.
    • The court further added that such amendment shall not take away the fundamental rights of the citizen which are provided by the Constitution of India.
    • Such law is a law under article 13 of the constitution.
    • This case is also referred as Fundamental rights case.

    Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain, 1975

    • The Supreme Court held clause 4 of 39th amendment as unconstitutional and void as it was outrightly denied of the right to equality enshrined in Article 14.
    • The apex Court also added basic features of the constitution to list laid down in Keshavananda Bharti case.
    • They are stated below:
      • democracy,
      • judicial review,
      • rule of law.
    • Further, the court added jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 32, which deals with writs basically also forms the basic structure of the constitution.

    D.M. Jabalpur v. S. Shukla, 1976

    • The apex court in the infamous case of A.D.M. Jabalpur v. S. Shukla was a case during prevailing of emergency in the country.
    • Right to move to the court for enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under constitution stands suspended.
    • This even includes Article 14, 21 and 22.
    • In later amendment, it was held that Article 21 and 22 cannot be suspended during the time of emergency.

    Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India, 1978

    • The case is considered a landmark case as it gave a new and highly varied interpretation of the meaning of ‘life and personal liberty’ under Article 21 of the Constitution.
    • This law which prescribes a procedure for depriving a person of “personal liberty” has to fulfill the requirements of Articles 14 and 19 also.
    • Also, it expanded the horizons of freedom of speech and expression. The case saw a high degree of judicial activism.
    • One of the significant interpretation of this case is the discovery of inter-connections between the three Articles 14, 19 and 21.
    • It was finally held by the court that the right to travel and go outside the country is included in the right to personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21.

    Minerva Mills Union of India,1980

    • The Supreme Court of India, strengthened the doctrine of the basic structure which was propounded earlier in the Keshavananda Bharti Case and held social welfare laws should not infringe fundamental rights.
    • Few changes made by the 42nd Amendment Act were declared as null and void.
    • It laid foundation of judicial review of the laws and judgements in the courts of India.
    • Judicial review is dealt in Article 13(2) of thee Constitution of India.

    Shah Bano Begum case (1985)

    • Milestone case for Muslim women’s fight for rights. The SC upheld the right to alimony for a Muslim woman and said that the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is applicable to all citizens irrespective of their religion.
    • This set off a political controversy and the government of the day overturned this judgement by passing the Muslim Women (Protection on Divorce Act), 1986, according to which alimony need be given only during the iddat period (in tune with the Muslim personal law)

    Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, 1985

    • This case came before the Supreme Court as a writ petition.
    • 5 judge-bench gave decision allowing petitioners who live on pavements and in slums in the city of Bombay to stay on the pavements against their order of eviction.
    • The court also held that right to livelihood is a right to life as per Article 21.
    • Though the slum resident agreed not to challenge the decision of Municipal Corporation.
    • Court held that one’s fundamental right cannot be waived

     MC Mehta v. Union of India, 1986

    • MC Mehta filed a Public Interest Litigation for escape of poisonous gases by a plant in Bhopal.
    • The court in this case extended the scope of Article 21 and 32 of the Constitution of India.
    • The case is also famous as Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
    • Finally, the court granted interim compensation of 250 crores to the victims.
    • Though High Court asked Union Carbide to pay compensation of 350 crores to the victim.

    SR Bommai v. Union of India, 1993

    • The court in this case curtailed power of President under Article 356 of the constitution of India.
    • It also held that secularism is the basic structure of the Constitution.
    • It laid the existence of Ram Temple in the disputed area.
    • It held the case to larger bench for demolition of Babri Masjid.

    Rajagopalv. State of Tamil Nadu, 1994

    • The court in this case, decided that the right to privacy subsisted even if a matter becomes one of public record and hence right to be let alone is part of personal liberty.
    • This comes under the perview of Article 21
    • The case is also known as auto Shankar case.
    • The judges held that the petitioners have a right to publish, what they allege to be the life story/autobiography of Auto Shankar insofar as it appears from the public records, even without his consent or authorization.
    • There is a violation of the right to freedom of expression..

     Vishaka State of Rajasthan, 1997

    • This case came before the Supreme Court as a Public Interest Litigation against State of Rajasthan and Union of
    • India by Vishakha and other women groups.
    • The petitioners demanded enforcement fundamental rights for working women under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
    • For this, Vishaka Guidelines were issued.

    Dimensions

    • The judgment also provided basic definitions of sexual harassment at the workplace along with provided guidelines to deal with the same.
    • Employers shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with concerned criminal law by making a complaint with the appropriate authority.
    • Disciplinary actions should be taken.
    • Threw light on compliance mechanism and workers’ initiative.

    D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal

    • In this case, the Supreme Court laid down detailed guidelines to be followed by the central and state investigating agencies.
    • It related all cases dealing with arrest and detention
    • The court held that till legal provisions are made in that behalf as preventive measures.
    • Court held that any form of torture or cruel inhuman or degrading treatment.
    • Even it occurs during interrogation, investigation or otherwise, falls within the ambit of Article 21.

    Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association v. Union of India, 1993

    • It overruled S P Gupta v. Union of India.
    • Court held primacy of Chief justice cannot be taken away in appointment and transfer of judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.
    • It recommended the constitution of collegiums of judges for the same.
    • The case is named as the Second judge transfer case.
    • It was later overruled a committee called NJAC was appointed for appointment and transfer of judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.
    • It was again overruled and NJAC was held unconstitutional in Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association v. Union of India, 2014

    Subramanian swamy vs. Unlon of India,2016

    • The Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional Validity of Sections 499 to 502[[Chapter XXIl] of Indian Penal Code relating to Criminal Defamation.
    • The Bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra and PC. Pant held that the right to Life under Article 21 includes right to reputation.
    • The Bench has dismissed the Petitions filed by Subramanian Swamy, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal challenging the law relating to Criminal Defamation in India.
    • Criminal Defamation law not unconstitutional.

    I.R Coelho and State of Tamil Nadu 2007

    • This judgement held that if a law is included in the 9th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, it can still be examined and confronted in court. The 9th Schedule of the Indian Constitution is a list of acts and laws which cannot be challenged in a court of law.
    • The Waman Rao ruling ensured that acts and laws mentioned in the IX schedule till 24 April 1973, shall not be changed or challenged, but any attempt to amend or add more acts to that schedule, will suffer close inspection and examination by the judiciary system

    Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011)

    • The SC ruled that individuals had a right to die with dignity, allowing passive Euthanasia with guidelines. The need to reform India’s laws on euthanasia was triggered by the tragic case of Aruna Shanbaug who lay in a vegetative state (blind, paralysed and deaf) for 42 years

     Lily Thomas and Union Of India (2013)

    • The SC ruled that any MLA, MLC or MP who was found guilty of a crime and given a minimum of 2 years imprisonment would cease to be a member of the House with immediate effect.

     National Legal Services Authority and Union of India (2014)

    • This case resulted in the recognition of transgender persons as a third gender. The SC also instructed the government to treat them as minorities and expand the reservations in education, jobs, education, etc.

    FURTHER READING:

    A.K. Gopalan Case (1950): (Interpreted key Fundamental Rights including Article 19 and 21)

    • This is a significant decision of the Supreme Court because it represented the first case where the court meaningfully examined and interpreted key fundamental rights enlisted in the constitution including article 19 and 21. The contention was whether, under the writ of habeas corpus and the provisions of the preventive detention act, there was a violation of the fundamental rights entitled in article 13, 19, 21 and 22.
    • The Supreme Court restricted the scope of fundamental rights by reading them in isolation of article 21 and 22 which provided guidelines for preventive detention. The Supreme Court iterated that the term ‘due process’ prevented the courts from engaging in substantive due process analysis in determining the reasonableness of the level of the process provided by the Legislature.

    Shankari Prasad Case (1951): (Amendability of Fundamental Rights)

    • In this case, the validity of the first constitutional amendment which added Article 31-A and 31-B of the
    • Constitution was challenged. The first time, the question whether fundamental rights can be amended under Article 368 came for consideration of the Supreme Court.
    • The Supreme Court rejected the contention that in so far as the First Amendment took away or abridged the fundamental rights conferred by Part III it should not be upheld in the light of the provisions of article 13(2).

    Dimensions

    • Therefore “law” in article 13 must be taken to mean rules or regulations made in the exercise of ordinary legislative power and not amendments to the Constitution made in the exercise of constituent power. Article 13 (2) did not affect amendments made under article 368.

    Berubari Union case (1960): (Parliament’s power to make amendments under Article 3 and Article 368)

    • In this case, conflict arose regarding the power of the parliament to transfer the territory of Berubari to Pakistan.
    • The detailed examination of article 3 was done by the Supreme Court on a reference made by the President in 1960. The Supreme Court held that the Parliament of India is not competent to make a law under article 3 for the implementation of the Nehru-Noon Agreement.
    • This was followed by an amendment of the constitution by parliament using the power of Article 368. The result was the Constitution (9th Amendment) Act 1960.
    • The Supreme Court gave a very narrow judgement that the preamble was not an integral part of the constitution and therefore it is not enforceable in a court of law.

    C. Golaknath case (1967): (Validity of the First and Seventeenth Amendments and described the scope of Article 13)

    • The validity of the First and Seventeenth Amendments to the Constitution in so far as they affect the fundamental rights was again challenged is this case. The fourth amendment was also challenged.
    • The Supreme Court adopted a doctrine of prospective overruling under which the three constitutional amendments concerned would continue to be valid. Moreover, the Supreme Court held that article 368 dealt only with the procedure for amendment and an amendment to the Constitution is made as part of the normal legislative process. It is, therefore, a “law” for the purpose of article 13 (2).
    • To get over the decision of the Supreme Court in Golaknath’s case the Constitution 24th Amendment Act was passed in 1971 in which changes to articles 13 and 368 was made.

    Kesvananda Bharti case (1973): (Defined the Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution)

    • The Supreme Court reviewed the decision in Golaknath v. The state of Punjab and considered the validity of the 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th Amendments. The Court held that although no part of the constitution, including fundamental rights, was beyond the amending power of Parliament, the “basic structure of the Constitution could not be abrogated even by a constitutional amendment.
    • It is a landmark judgement of the Supreme Court of India, and is the basis in Indian law for the exercise of the Indian judicial of the power to judicially review, and strike down amendments to the Constitution of India passed by the Indian Parliament which conflict with the Constitution’s basic structure.
    • The judgment also defined the extent to which the Indian Parliament could restrict the right to property, in pursuit of land reform and the redistribution of large landholdings to cultivators, overruling previous decisions that suggested that the right to property could not be restricted.

    Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narayan case (1975): (Disputes relating to elections involving the Prime Minister of India)

    • The concept of basic structure was reaffirmed in Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narayan case. The Supreme Court applied the theory of basic structure and struck down Clause(4) of article 329-A, which was inserted by the 39th Amendment in 1975 on the ground that it was beyond the amending power of the parliament as it destroyed the basic feature of the constitution.

    Dimensions

    • The amendment was made to the jurisdiction of all courts, including the Supreme Court, over disputes relating to elections involving the Prime Minister of India.
    • Some basic features of the Constitution were listed in this case which is considered as unamendable such as sovereign democratic republic status, equality of status and opportunity of an individual, secularism and freedom of conscience and religion and rule of law.

    Menaka Gandhi case (1978): (Significant towards the transformation of the judicial review on Article 21)          

    • This case is a landmark judgement which played the most significant role towards the transformation of the judicial view on Article 21 of the Constitution of India so as to imply many more fundamental rights from article 21. A writ petition was filed by Maneka Gandhi under Article 32 of the Constitution in the Supreme Court.
    • The main issues of this case were whether the right to go abroad is a part of the right to personal liberty under Article 21 and whether the Passport Act prescribes a ‘procedure’ as required by Article 21 before depriving a person of the right guaranteed under the said article.
    • A new doctrine of a post-decision theory was evolved and the most significant interpretation was made on the interconnections between the three articles 14, 19 and 21.
    • It was finally held by the court that the right to travel and go outside the country is included in the right to personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21. The Court ruled that the mere existence of an enabling law was not enough to restrain personal liberty. Such a law must also be “just, fair and reasonable”.

    Minerva mills case (1980): (Basic Structure which includes Parliament’s power to amend and the power of Judicial Review)

    • In this case, the validity of the 42nd amendment act was challenged on the ground that they are violative of the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution. The Supreme Court struck down clauses (4) and (5) of the article 368 and it was ruled by the court that a limited amending power itself is a basic feature of the Constitution.
    • The court held that the amendment made to Article 31C is invalid on the ground that they violate two basic features of the Constitution that are the limited nature of the parliament of the power to amend and the power of judicial review.
    • The Judgement of the Supreme Court thus makes it clear that the Constitution is the Supreme, not the Parliament. Parliament cannot have unlimited amending power so as to damage or destroy the Constitution to which it owes its existence and also derives its power from.

    Waman Rao Case (1981): (Validity of 9th Schedule and demarcarting the date of 24th april 1973)

    • Supreme Court in Waman Rao case once again reiterated and applied the doctrine of the basic features of the Constitution. In this case, the implications of the basic structure doctrine for Article31-B were re-examined.
    • The Court drew a line of demarcation on April 24th, 1973 (the date of Kesavananda Bharti’s decision) and held it should not be applied retrospectively to reopen the validity of any amendment to the Constitution, which took place prior to 24-04-1973. It meant all the amendments which added to the Ninth Schedule before that date were valid.
    • All future amendments were held to be challengeable on the grounds that the Acts and Regulations, which they inserted in the Ninth Schedule, damaged the basic structure. The decision of this case is a landmark one in the constitutional jurisprudence of India. This case has helped in determining a satisfactory method of preserving the settled position and to address grievances pertaining to the violation of fundamental rights.

    R. Bommai case (1994): (Misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution of India)

    • R. Bommai case was a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India, where the Court discussed provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India and related issues. This case had a huge impact on CentreState Relations. The judgement attempted to curb blatant misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, which allowed President’s rule to be imposed on state governments.
    • Bommai v. The Union of India raised a serious question of law relating to the Proclamation of President’s Rule and dissolution of Legislative assemblies according to Article 356 of the Constitution of India. This verdict stopped the misuse of Article 356 (imposition of the president rule).

  • Virus outbreak can potentially spur the next quantum leap for computing

    The article suggests that the corona crisis would speed up research in the field of quantum computing. The tremendous speed offered by quantum computers will help us find a cure for diseases like Covid-19 in a much shorter duration. This article explains the limitations of classical computers, working of quantum technology, and how quantum computer overcomes these limitations.

    Use of supercomputer to find the cure of Covid-19

    • The whole world is pressurized into quickly discovering a vaccine and a cure for covid-19.
    • IBM’s Summit, the world’s fastest supercomputer, was used for running numerous simulations and computations.
    • These simulations and computations help scientists find promising molecules to fight the pandemic.
    • The latest update says the Summit has been able to identify 77 candidate molecules that researchers can use in trials.
    • This was achieved in just two days, while, traditionally, it has taken months to make such progress.

    Computing capacity as a limit on molecular discoveries

    • Today, faster molecular discoveries are limited by computing capacity.
    • Molecular discoveries are also limited by the need for scientists to write codes for harnessing the computing power.
    • It is no secret that classical computing power is plateauing (e. it is not growing anymore)
    • And till we have scalable artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), scientists will have to write code for not only different scenarios but also for different computing platforms.
    • So, what we need today is more computing power.

    The following points explain the limits of classical computers. Pay attention to the Moore’s law, and how it explains the development of semiconductor technologies and in turn computers as a whole.

    What is the solution to the limits of classical computers?

    • Given that we have already neared the peak of classical computing, the solution probably is quantum computing.
    • Not just vaccines, quantum computing can accelerate many innovations, such as hyper-individualized medicines, 3-D printed organs, search engines for the physical world etc.
    • All innovations currently constrained by the size of transistors used in classical computing chips can be unleashed through quantum computing.
    • Moore’s law: In 1965, Gordon Moore had said the number of transistors that can be packed into a given unit of space will double about every two years.
    • Subsequently, in an interview in 2005, he himself admitted that this law can’t continue forever.
    • He had said: “It is the nature of exponential functions, they eventually hit a wall.”
    • Over the last 60 years, we reaped the benefits of Moore’s law in many ways.
    • For instance, compared to initial days of the Intel 4004, the modern 14nm processors deliver way bigger impact—3,500 times better performance and 90,000 times improved efficiency, at 1/60,000th the cost!
    • Yet, we are also seeing his 2005 statement coming true. All the experts agree that the ‘wall’ is very near.
    • So, what next? The answer again is probably the same—quantum computing.

    Quantum technology is one of the emerging and revolutionary technologies, you should be aware of the terms and general principle which lies at the heart of such technology. So, terms like superposition, qubit, binary etc are important if you want to answer a questions related to this technology.

    Quantum computing and its applications

    • It is no more a concept, there are working models available on the cloud.
    • How it works: Quantum computing uses the ability of sub-atomic particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously, until it is observed.
    • The concept of qubits: Unlike classical computers that can store information in just two values, that is 1 or 0, quantum computing uses qubits that can exist in any superposition of these values,
    • This superposition enables quantum computers to solve in seconds problems which a classical computer would take thousands of years to crack.
    • Applications: The application of this technology is enormous, and just to cite a few, it can help with the discovery of new molecules, optimize financial portfolios for different risk scenarios.
    • It can also crack RSA encryption keys, detect stealth aircraft, search massive databases in a split second and truly enable AI.

    Investment in the development of technology

    • In the Union budget this year, the Indian government announced investments of ₹8,000 crores for developing quantum technologies and applications.
    • Globally, too, countries and organizations are rushing to develop this technology and have already invested enormous capital towards its research.

    Conclusion

    Historically, unprecedented crises have always created more innovations than routine challenges or systematic investments. Coincidentally, current times pose similar opportunities in disguise for the development of quantum technologies.

    Back2Basics: Difference between bit and qubit

    • A binary digit, characterized as 0 and 1, is used to represent information in classical computers.
    • A binary digit can represent up to one bit of information, where a bit is the basic unit of information.
    • In classical computer technologies, a processed bit is implemented by one of two levels of low DC voltage.
    • And whilst switching from one of these two levels to the other, a so-called forbidden zone must be passed as fast as possible, as electrical voltage cannot change from one level to another instantaneously.
    • There are two possible outcomes for the measurement of a qubit—usually taken to have the value “0” and “1”, like a bit or binary digit.
    • However, whereas the state of a bit can only be either 0 or 1, the general state of a qubit according to quantum mechanics can be a coherent superposition of both.
    • Moreover, whereas a measurement of a classical bit would not disturb its state, a measurement of a qubit would destroy its coherence and irrevocably disturb the superposition state.
    • It is possible to fully encode one bit in one qubit.
    • However, a qubit can hold more information, e.g. up to two bits using superdense coding.
    • For a system of n components, a complete description of its state in classical physics requires only n bits, whereas in quantum physics it requires 2n−1 complex numbers.

  • (Breaking news!) UPSC Prelims 2020 to be postponed. What to do now?

    Friends,

    In a TV interview Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS informed that UPSC Prelims 2020 has to be postponed due to prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

    Other decisions regarding new dates will be taken only after 3rd May 2020, he added.

    Watch the clip here: https://youtu.be/U68fXY1TFaM?t=1396

    This has finally brought clarity to the aspirants who were getting distracted due to speculations and rumours.

    Register here for Nikaalo Prelims 2020 – FLTs

    What to do now?

    Many students wasted a lot of time in thinking and speculating.

    Now take this as an opportunity to get back on track. Streamline your preparation. Give mock tests. Identify the shortcomings in your preparation. Cover those areas. Revise.

    Those who kept their minds and continued their preparation, now they are ahead of you.

    UPSC Prelims 2020 is going to be held sooner than later. Don’t waste your time now.

    About Nikaalo Prelims 2020 – FLTs

    It is a power pack for UPSC Prelims 2020comprising 8 GS full-length tests, 3 CSAT tests. 

    High-quality Nikaalo Prelims handouts and in-depth discussion on Telegram group will take place.

    Fees: Only Rs. 500 + taxes 

    Register here for Nikaalo Prelims 2020 – FLTs

     

    Stay safe. Stay strong.

     

     

  • What nation can learn from Kerala in the fight against Covid-19?

    With figures emerging of Kerala’s success in dealing with the Covid-19, the rest of the nation has lessons to learn from it. This article describes the approach adopted by Kerala, and how various factors like robust health infrastructure, past experience etc. are helping it.

    Kerala stands out in India: some figures and facts

    • The COVID curve in Kerala is flattening.
    • Every day, for a week now, the number of recoveries has exceeded the number of new infections.
    • The recovery rate in Kerala is nearly 50 per cent while the all-India average is around 11.
    • While the mortality rate among the infected is 5 per cent in Kerala, the all-India average is 3.4 per cent.
    • The transmission rate of a primary carrier is 6 while in Kerala it is only 0.4.

    With Covid-19, we are in unknown territory in many ways. If Kerala emerges as the success model, the question can be framed from that perspective. So, note down the factors described below that are helping the state in tackling Covid-19 successfully.

    Preparing for the next challenge

    • Kerala is preparing for the next challenge, the outcome of which will determine the result of the war against COVID.
    • Lifting of the lockdown is going to result in an influx of returning migrants from foreign countries and other states.
    • Hundreds of thousands would have to be quarantined, tested and, if positive, treated, ensuring there is no secondary spread.
    • State authorities have already identified accommodation and other facilities for more than two lakh persons.
    • Use of big data analytics: The state is also exploring the possibility of big data analytics to plan a strategy and, if necessary, for reverse quarantining.
    • Authorities have access to WHO data covering nearly two-thirds of the state`s population.
    • Integrating this data with the information currently being generated, we will be able to map vulnerable sections of the population, simulate scenarios and plan ahead.
    • Exit strategy: An exit strategy from the lockdown is being prepared to protect livelihoods and stimulate the economy.

    Strength of the public health system of Kerala

    • The single most important factor that enabled Kerala to be prepared for the COVID is the strength of the public health system.
    • Kerala’s health system is a proud legacy of our past.
    • It has had a big push in infrastructure and equipment investment of around Rs 4,000 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.
    • Five thousand seven hundred and seventy-five new posts have also been created.
    • The Aardram Health Mission was launched with a focus to transform the PHCs into family health centres.
    • Distinctive feature: There is also the distinctive flavour of Kerala — mass participation in preventive and palliative healthcare.
    • Training to health workers: The morale of health personnel has been exceptionally high.
    • Special training, protective gear, scientific duty rotation and, most importantly, societal empathy and solidarity, have all contributed.

    Learning from the past experience

    • Nipah outbreak experience: The recent experiences of successful containment of the Nipah outbreak and management of the two post-flood health situations have provided a kind of herd immunity to the health workers to crisis situations.
    • Covid-19 preparedness: Once news of the Wuhan pandemic came, the Kerala health system scrambled to readiness — the control room was set up, mock drills were organised and the first influx was contained.
    • Once migrants from the Gulf and Europe began to return, things began to get out of hand.
    • But now this battle has been successfully concluded.

    Testing and tracing in Kerala

    • A route map of each COVID positive case is prepared and given publicity, alerting everybody who might have been in contact.
    • The protocol of cycles of intense test, trace, isolate and treatment has been the norm.
    • Kerala has the highest test rate in the country.
    • Break the Chain Campaign to promote social distancing has been successful.
    • Lockdown by itself is not going to contain the COVID spread. It would continue to multiply within households and dormitories.
    • Testing has been woefully insufficient in the national response so far.

    Welfare payment in Kerala more than the rest of the country

    • In Kerala, 55 lakh elderly and disadvantaged have received Rs 8,500 as welfare payments.
    • An equal number of workers have been paid Rs 1,000-3,000 each from the welfare funds.
    • Every family has been provided with a food kit.
    • Interest-free consumption loan of Rs 2,000 crore has been distributed.
    • Besides, nearly 4 lakh meals are distributed every day to the needy from community kitchens set up by local governments.
    • Local governments are also duty-bound to monitor the camps of migrant workers, set up new ones and ensure medicine and food to them.

    Decentralisation paying off in Kerala

    • All the above was not made possible by the state government alone.
    • It is the synergy generated by integrating state government plans and programmes with the local governments, the co-operatives, women neighbourhood groups (Kudumbashree) and civil society organisations that make Kerala distinct.
    • The floods and the pandemic have given testimony for the potential of democratic decentralisation.
    • It is a case of multi-level planning with technical committees and groups working at the state level coordinated by the chief minister.

    Conclusion

    Though it is too early to declare Kerala as a success story, still there are many lessons to be learned by the rest of the country in its fight against Covid-19.

  • Insolvency code should be suspended for six months to help companies recover

    This article argues the suspension of IBC for six months. The issues arising out of suspension like damage to the creditors are also dealt with here. Reading of this article will help us understand the finer details of IBC that are relevant from the UPSC point of view. We have also covered one article from livemint dealing with the same issue, but that article covered the issue in a broader sense.

    Who are operational and financial creditors?

    • After the lockdown is over, several companies are likely to default on their dues to both operational and financial creditors.
    • Who is a financial creditor? The financial creditors include banks and others who have given financial assistance to a company in the form of loans and debentures.
    • According to a 2018 amendment to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2017, flat purchasers are also deemed as financial creditors.
    • An operational creditor is just about anyone who has to receive money from a company.
    • The IBC provides a fast-track mechanism to deal with companies which are unable to repay their creditors and have become financially unviable.
    • Section 22 of the Code mandates the appointment of a Resolution Professional (RP) who is expected to miraculously turn around the company in 330 days.
    • If this attempt fails, the company goes into liquidation.

    The two types of creditors were in the news, so pay attention to these terms.

    Increase in threshold limit to file an insolvency petition

    • The IBC’s provisions have been extensively used by various creditors whose dues were not paid.
    • What was the threshold limit? Initially, the threshold limit was just Rs 1 lakh and the IBC became an effective recovery mechanism for all operational creditors.
    • What is the limit now? Just before the lockdown, the finance minister raised the threshold for invoking the insolvency provisions to Rs 1 crore.
    • This limit was raised to prevent proceedings being initiated against small and medium enterprises.

    Possibility of the domino effect after the lockdown is over

    • After the lockdown, several enterprises, large, medium and small, might not be able to pay their dues, at least in the short-term.
    • The easiest way for a creditor to recover money is to initiate insolvency proceedings against the debtor company and threaten it with liquidation.
    • The shutdown of business after the lockdown could have a domino effect.
    • How would the domino effect come into play? If an auto-manufacturer has shut down its operations, the ancillary units will not get their dues.
    • This would then lead to non-payment to downstream vendors and service providers as well.
    • It might take at least three to four months for the situation to stabilise.

    Steps that should be taken to avoid the domino effect

    • Moratorium on the IBC: The most important, and immediate, step that needs to be taken is to have a six-month moratorium on the IBC.
    • It may be necessary to promulgate an ordinance suspending the prospective operation of Sections 7 and 9 of the IBC so that no fresh petition is filed against a company.
    • Impact on creditors: While this could hurt some of the creditors, the damage that could be done to the corporate sector by invoking the IBC is likely to be far greater.
    • A distressed creditor is not without a remedy as he can always approach the civil courts for relief, which will not be so severe on a defaulting company.
    • If an insolvency petition is filed and the RP appointed, it is difficult to stop the insolvency process.
    • The IBC requires a financially-stressed company to be taken over by a financially-sound
    • For example, Essar Steel was taken over by ArcelorMittal and Bhushan Steel was taken over by Tata Steel.
    • In the current scenario, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for an RP to find a suitable buyer and the only option would be to liquidate the company.
    • Using the insolvency process to recover dues is contrary to the IBC’s objectives.

    The objective of the IBC is not just insolvency but the reorganisation of companies, maximisation of value of assets and the need to balance the interests of all stakeholders. Pay attention to this point.

    How the suspension of the IBC will be beneficial?

    • Suspending the IBC for a short period would enable several companies to return to normalcy.
    • It will help them function without the constant threat of an insolvency application and its Board of Directors and management being taken over by the RP.
    • Moreover, the National Company Law Tribunal benches will simply be unable to take any additional workload.

    Conclusion

    Suspending the IBC for six months would be a much-needed step to prevent further damage to the economy. It would be in the larger public interest. Indeed, at this critical stage, permitting the legal remedy of insolvency could be the last nail in the coffin of many companies.

    Back2Basics: What is the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?

    • IBC provides for a time-bound process to resolve insolvency.
    • When a default in repayment occurs, creditors gain control over debtor’s assets and must take decisions to resolve insolvency.
    • Under IBC debtor and creditor both can start ‘recovery’ proceedings against each other.
    • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 was implemented through an act of Parliament.
    • It got Presidential assent in May 2016.
    • The law was necessitated due to huge pile-up of non-performing loans of banks and delay in debt resolution.
    • Insolvency resolution in India took 4.3 years on an average against other countries such as United Kingdom (1 year) and United States of America (1.5 years), which is sought to be reduced besides facilitating the resolution of big-ticket loan accounts.

  • What is Post-intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)?

    • Various news reports in recent weeks have pointed out that for some COVID-19 patients who needed intensive care, the journey to recovery is a long one.
    • After leaving the ICU, they may suffer from what is known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can happen to any person who has been in the ICU.

    Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), can be scary and can affect our mental health. This pandemic is going to leave a bigger trauma for those who had lost their dear ones as well those who recovered.

    What is PICS?

    • PICS comprise impairment in cognition, psychological health and physical function of a person who has been in the ICU.
    • Further, such patients may experience neuromuscular weakness, which can manifest itself in the form of poor mobility and recurrent falls.
    • The psychological disability may arise in a person in the form of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    Its symptoms

    • The most common PICS symptoms are generalized weakness, fatigue, decreased mobility, anxious or depressed mood, sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances and cognitive issues.
    • These symptoms may last for a few months or many years after recovery, the authors of the aforementioned article note.
    • Patients who develop this may take at least a year to fully recover, until which time they may have difficulty in carrying out everyday tasks such as grooming, dressing, feeding, bathing and walking.

    What causes PICS?

    • A combination of factors can affect aspects of an ICU survivor’s life.
    • PICS may be induced if a person was on prolonged mechanical ventilation, experienced sepsis, multiple organ failure and a prolonged duration of “bed-restore deep sedation”.

    Treatment

    • It is recommended that to avoid PICS, patients’ use of deep sedation is limited and early mobility is encouraged, along with giving them “aggressive” physical and occupational therapy.
    • Further, patients should be given the lowest dose of pain medications when possible and should be put on lung or cardiovascular rehabilitation treatments along with treatments for depression, anxiety and PTSD.

  • Anastomosis surgery for re-implantation

    The chopped off-hand of a Punjab Police officer has been successfully re-implanted after hours of surgery.

    Anastomosis is a general term in surgical sciences used to join amputated limbs or organs. The term has made headline due to its recent application. A piece of general information regarding novelties of medical sciences should be known to the aspirants.

    Anastomosis Surgery

    • A surgical Anastomosis is a surgical technique used to make a new connection between two body structures that carry fluid, such as blood vessels or bowel.
    • It involves conjoining various parts of the arm and the hand — bones, muscles, tendons, arteries, veins as well as nerves.
    • Both radial and ulnar arteries, accompanying nerves and the dorsal vein were anastomosed successfully, allowing for the hand to receive adequate circulation.
    • The bones are attached using K wires (used for orthopaedic surgery) which can be removed once the bones conjoin organically.

    In which cases is re-implantation possible?

    • When a surgeon makes that decision, the factors that he or she considers include how much time has elapsed since the injury.
    • The condition of the severed organ and the nature of the injury are also taken into account.

    Can a reattached hand get its function restored?

    • That is the goal of doing such surgery. The extent of restored function, however, can vary from case to case.
    • While a successful surgery can result in the good return of motor function, studies have shown that sensory recovery can often be poor.
    • Whether the blood circulation is optimum after surgery can only be observed within the next few days.
    • The patient also needs to attend regular physiotherapy sessions for total restoration of motor movement and sensation in his hand.

  • Species in news: Trimeresurus Salazar

    The new species, Trimeresurus Salazar is a snake been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

    Another specie spotted with one more peculiarity, the name Salazar 🙂 Such species are most likely to be asked in prelims to match the columns with their habitat state.

    Trimeresurus Salazar

    • Salazar’s pit viper belongs to the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède comprising “charismatic venomous serpents with morphologically as well as ecologically diverse species”.
    • Pit vipers are venomous snakes distinguished by their heat-sensing pit organs between the eye and the nostril.
    • The name was inspired by Salazar Slytherin, the co-founder of J.K. Rowlings’ fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

  • [pib] Plasmonic Semiconductor Nanomaterials

    Researchers are exploring ways to develop plasmonic semiconductor nanomaterials for removal of toxic organic compounds from water by harvesting solar light.

    Nanotechnology is a pathbreaking technology which can create many new materials and devices with a wide range of applications, such as in nanomedicine, nanoelectronics etc.  PSN is one such application. Topics like PSN are most likely to be asked in the competitive examinations.

    Plasmonic Semiconductor Nanomaterials

    • PSN are metal-like materials with free electrons on the surface that oscillate collectively when hit by light.
    • It uses solar light to increase the photocatalytic efficiency to degrade pollutants as well as generate renewable Hydrogen.
    • These materials can easily adsorb toxic ions like arsenic and fluoride, which are often found in water in North East India and convert it to its not toxic forms when they are exposed to sunlight.
    • PSN can be used for hydrogen energy generation, a process which has shown high photon to hydrogen conversion efficiency under visible and near infra-red light.

    What are Semiconductors?

    • Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors (generally metals) and nonconductors or insulators (such as most ceramics).
    • Its resistance falls as its temperature rises; metals are the opposite.
    • They can be pure elements, such as silicon or germanium, or compounds such as gallium arsenide or cadmium selenide.

    Back2Basics: Nanomaterials

    • Nanomaterials are materials of which a single unit small-sized (in at least one dimension) between 1 and 100 nm (the usual definition of nanoscale).
    • Materials with structure at the nanoscale often have unique optical, electronic, or mechanical properties.
    • They are created from the gas phase by producing a vapour of the product material using chemical or physical means.
    • Examples of nanomaterials include carbon nanotube, nanoparticles, metal rubber, quantum dots, nanopores and many more.

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