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Type: Prelims Only

  • 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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  • 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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  • What does the Constitution say about the sovereignty of India?

    Central Idea

    • The article revolves around the issue of a political party filing a complaint against a politician of foreign origin with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
    • She had allegedly been advocating the secession of Karnataka from India in her election speeches.

    Definition of sovereignty

    • Sovereignty is the idea of having supreme authority over a defined territory.
    • In Western philosophy, the concept is used to describe the supremacy of the state over the people being governed.
    • The state has a legitimate claim to sovereignty in exchange for providing protection to its citizens, keeping society cohesive and at peace, and controlling law and order.

    Sovereignty in India’s Constitution

    • The word sovereignty appears in the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of India as the first attribute of the independent republic of India.
    • Its placement as the first among the core principles of the republic underlines its importance in the Constitution.
    • Sovereignty is invoked in the Indian Constitution to “declare the ultimate sovereignty of the people of India and that the Constitution rests on their authority.”
    • It is mentioned in the Constitution under Fundamental Duties, and citizens have a duty to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

    Relationship of Indian states with the sovereign Union

    • The Indian political system is described as “quasi-federal.”
    • India is a Union of States, and the component units have no freedom to secede or break away from it.
    • The Indian setup is more unitary in nature than the federal one, and the central government has more powers than the states.
    • The choice of a unitary bias that the Constitution makers made was possibly rooted in the difficulty of getting around 600 princely states to accede to India.

    Provisions attesting to the superior position of the Centre

    • The States in India need not be consulted in the matter of amendment to the bulk of the Constitution.
    • Governors in states are appointed “during the pleasure” of the President and are seen as representatives of the Union in the States.
    • The Sixteenth Amendment of 1963 laid down that even the advocacy of succession under Article 19 (1) will not be protected under law in the name of Freedom of Speech as directed under Article 19 (2).
    • The right to alter the boundaries of states and to create new states lies with Parliament alone.
    • The Constitution offers no guarantee to the States against their territorial integrity without their consent since it was not a result of an ‘agreement’ between the States.

    These provisions demonstrate the superior position of the Centre in the Indian political system.

     

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  • What is Project Dantak?

    The Prime Minister has praised the initiative by Border Roads Organisation Project Dantak to commemorate 64th Raising Day.

    What is Project Dantak?

    Description
    Establishment Established on April 24, 1961, as per the agreement between the third king of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.
    Objective Identify the most important aspects of connectivity and spur the socio-economic development and growth of Bhutan.
    Responsibility Construct and maintain roads suitable for motorised transportation in Bhutan.
    Legal Provision Established under the provision of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949.

     

    Works and Involvement

    Description
    Infrastructure Development Constructing infrastructure in adjoining Indian districts, including Sherbathang–Nathu La road, Gangtok–Sherbathang road, and Sevoke–Gangtok road.
    Establishment of Facilities Establishing medical and education facilities in outlying areas, which were the first in those regions.
    Takthi Canteen Takthi Canteen, commonly known as the DANTAK canteen, is a major stop for travelers midway between Phuentsholing and Thimphu.
    Recruitment of Workers Recruiting local workers from Bhutan and Indian workers from adjoining districts like Jaigaon, Alipurduar, and other parts of Eastern and North-Eastern India under a basic monthly wage.
    Supervision of Work Posting officials from India for the supervision of work.

     

    Controversies and Incidents

    • The Bhutanese Government accused DANTAK of installing Indian tricolour-themed raised pavement markers or reflectors on the highway railings. DANTAK confirmed their presence, and those reflectors were immediately replaced.
    • A 204 meters long bridge in Haa along the Damchu-Haa road collapsed in February 2021, leaving 3 workers dead and 6 missing. The bridge was handed over to Project DANTAK by the contractor.
    • The project has faced criticisms for its approach to hiring practices and labor management.

    Major projects undertaken

    • Paro Airport: Built in 1968 as an airstrip for on-call helicopter services for the Indian Armed Forces. Now used as an international airport.
    • Yonphula Airfield: Domestic Airport in Bhutan
    • Thimphu – Trashigang Highway: Major Highway in Bhutan
    • Damchu-Chukha Road: Major Road in Bhutan
    • India House Estate: The Indian Embassy in Bhutan.

     

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  • FDA approves first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus

    respiratory

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first vaccine ‘Arexvy’ for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to lower respiratory tract disease in people older than 60 years.

    What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus?

    • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause illness in people of all ages.
    • It is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, and it can also affect older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
    • RSV is highly contagious and spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching one’s face.
    • Symptoms of RSV can range from mild to severe, including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
    • In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or death.

    Identification of Protein F

    • In 2013, Barney Graham and other scientists identified the key protein, protein F, responsible for the RSV virus to infect human cells.
    • The protein, introduced in humans, elicited neutralizing antibodies against the virus.

    Approval and Efficacy of Arexvy

    • The FDA has approved Arexvy, the first RSV vaccine to be approved anywhere in the world, manufactured by GSK.
    • The approval was based on a phase-3 trial carried out on nearly 25,000 participants.
    • It showed a single dose of the vaccine reduced the risk of developing lower respiratory tract disease caused by the RSV virus by 82.6% and severe disease by 94.1% in people older than 60 years.
    • The vaccine will be available for older adults in the U.S. before the 2023-2024 RSV season.

     

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  • Scientists help find new kind of Molecular Motor

    motor

    Central Idea: Researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences have discovered a new kind of molecular motor that has potential applications in biology and medicine.

    What is a molecular motor?

    • Cells use molecular motors to move things like organelles and molecules, and disruption of these processes can lead to diseases.
    • Molecular motors use biochemical energy to do mechanical work.

    What did the new study find?

    • The study found that EEA1, a long protein, can regain its rigid shape to create a new kind of two-part molecular motor.
    • EEA1 regains its rigid shape through a reaction called GTP hydrolysis, mediated by enzymes called GTPases.
    • The researchers believe this could mark a new class of molecular machines that operate as motors in a unique way with novel collective effects.

    Why is the finding significant?

    • The motor is different from most motors because it doesn’t produce a lever-like back-and-forth action and it uses GTP instead of ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate) for energy.
    • EEA1 exerts an entropic force on the membranes that it pulls, which is a unique feature.
    • The finding could have potential applications for understanding membrane fusion and for many other mechanochemical proteins or assemblies.

    What are the potential applications?

    • The discovery of the molecular motor could have potential applications in biology and medicine.
    • The study provides a general mechanism that is applicable to many mechanochemical proteins or assemblies that harness chemical energy for mechanical work in cells.

     

     

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  • Rail Vikas Nigam gets Navratna Status

    Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was recently granted Navratna status by the Ministry of Railways.

    About RVNL

    • RVNL was incorporated in 2003 with the aim of implementing rail infrastructure projects quickly and raising extra budgetary resources for SPV projects.
    • The company started operating in 2005 after the appointment of its board of directors.
    • RVNL was granted Mini-Ratna status in 2013.

    RVNL’s functions

    • RVNL has been assigned to undertake project development and execution of works covering the full project lifecycle.
    • The company will create project-specific SPVs for individual works if required.
    • RVNL will hand over completed railway projects to the concerned zonal railway for operation and maintenance.

    Major projects undertaken

    RVNL has implemented various projects in the rail sector, including:

    • Doubling and electrification of existing lines
    • Construction of new lines
    • Gauge conversion projects.

    Navratna status and its benefits

    • Navratna’s status will give RVNL more operational freedom and financial autonomy.
    • Enhanced delegation of powers will also be granted to the company.
    • Navratna’s status will be a huge boost to RVNL’s progress.
    • This status will be especially beneficial for the company as it expands its operations beyond the railway’s sector and into international projects.

    Back2Basics: Central Public Sector Enterprises

    • The Government runs the CPSEs under the Department of Public Enterprises of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
    • The government grants them the status of Navratna, Miniratna and Maharatna based upon the profit made by these CPSEs.
    • The Maharatna category has been the most recent one since 2009, other two have been in function since 1997.
      Maharatna Navratna Miniratna Category-I Miniratna Category-II
    Eligibility Net profit of ₹2,500 crore per annum OR

    Net worth of ₹10,000 crore for 3 yrs.

    		 Score of 60 based on financial parameters AND be a Miniratna with 4 independent directors

    Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum for last 3 years

    		 Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum OR Positive net worth and profit for last 3 years
    Benefits for investment ₹1,000-5,000 crore or 15% of net worth Up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worth on a project OR 30% of net worth per annum Up to ₹500 crore or net worth, whichever is lower Up to ₹300 crore or 50% of net worth, whichever is lower

     

     

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