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Type: Prelims Only

  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Union Environment Ministry proposes to soften the provisions of the EP Act (EPA) by replacing a clause that provides for imprisoning violators with one that only requires them to pay a fine.

    Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986

    • EP Act was passed under Article 253 of the Constitution, which empowers the Centre to enact laws to give effect to international agreements signed by the country.
    • The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the UN Conference on the Human Environment.
    • They relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
    • It was enacted in 1986 on the backdrop of Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
    • The Act was last amended in 1991.

    Why this Act?

    • The Act is an “umbrella” legislation that has provided a framework for the environmental regulation regime in India.
    • It covers all major industrial and infrastructure activities and prohibits and regulates specific activities in coastal areas and eco-sensitive areas.
    • The Act also provides for coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under other environment-related laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.

    Key provisions

    • The Environment (Protection) Rules lay down procedures for setting standards of emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
    • The objective of Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 is to control the generation, collection, treatment, import, storage, and handling of hazardous waste.
    • The Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous Rules define the terms used in this context, and sets up an authority to inspect, once a year.
    • The Cells Rules,1989 were introduced with a view to protect the environment, nature, and health in connection with the application of gene technology and micro-organisms.

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Consider the following statements:

    The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to

    1. State the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the Procedure and manner in which it sought.
    2. Lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

    Post your answers here.

     

     

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  • Services Sector

    What is Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)?

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Issues relating growth and development, employment

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: PMI

    Mains level: Not Much

    India’s services firms saw growth in new business and output accelerate to a 11-year high in June, as per the survey-based S&P Global India Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI).

    What is the news?

    • The index rose to 59.2 last month, from 58.9 in May, signalling a strengthening in demand across the services sector, which had borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)

    • PMI is an indicator of business activity — both in the manufacturing and services sectors.
    • It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before.
    • It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.
    • The PMI is compiled by IHS Markit based on responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 manufacturers.

    How is the PMI derived?

    • The PMI is derived from a series of qualitative questions.
    • Executives from a reasonably big sample, running into hundreds of firms, are asked whether key indicators such as output, new orders, business expectations and employment were stronger than the month before and are asked to rate them.

    How does one read the PMI?

    • A figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity. Anything below 50 denotes contraction.
    • Higher the difference from this mid-point greater the expansion or contraction. The rate of expansion can also be judged by comparing the PMI with that of the previous month data.
    • If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate.
    • If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate.

    What are its implications for the economy?

    • The PMI is usually released at the start of the month, much before most of the official data on industrial output, manufacturing and GDP growth becomes available.
    • It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.
    • Economists consider the manufacturing growth measured by the PMI as a good indicator of industrial output, for which official statistics are released later.
    • Central banks of many countries also use the index to help make decisions on interest rates.

     

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  • Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

    Three new ‘exotic’ sub-atomic particles discovered  

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Quarks

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment has observed three never-before-seen particles.

    What is the discovery?

    • CERN was investigating the slight differences between matter and antimatter by studying a type of particle called the “beauty quark”, or “b quark”.
    • The three “exotic” additions — a new kind of “pentaquark” and the first-ever pair of “tetraquarks” — to the growing list of new hadrons were found.
    • This discovery will help physicists better understand how quarks bind together into these composite particles.

    What are Quarks?

    • Quarks are elementary particles that come in six “flavours”: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.
    • They usually combine together in groups of twos and threes to form hadrons such as the protons and neutrons that make up atomic nuclei.
    • But they can also combine into four-quark and five-quark particles, called tetraquarks and pentaquarks.
    • These exotic hadrons were predicted by theorists about six decades ago — around the same time as conventional hadrons — but they have been observed by LHCb and other experiments only in the past 20 years.

    What about tetraquarks and pentaquarks?

    • Most exotic hadrons discovered in the past two decades are tetraquarks or pentaquarks.
    • They contain a charm quark and a charm antiquark — with the remaining two or three quarks being an up, down or strange quark or their antiquarks.

     

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  • Nobel and other Prizes

    What is Fields Medal, the ‘Mathematics Nobel’?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Fields Medal

    Mains level: NA

    Ukrainian mathematician Maryna Viazovska was named as one of four recipients of the prestigious Fields Medal, which is often described as the Nobel Prize in mathematics.

    What is Fields Medal?

    • The Fields Medal is awarded by the International Mathematical Union (IMU), an international non-governmental and non-profit scientific organisation.
    • It is awarded every four years to one or more mathematicians under the age of 40 in recognition of “outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and for the promise of future achievement”.
    • The winners are announced at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), which was supposed to be held in Russia this year, but was moved to Helsinki.

    Belongings of the award

    • The honour carries a physical medal of 14K gold, 63.5 mm in diameter and weighing 169 g, and with a unit price of approximately 5,500 Canadian dollars.
    • There is also a cash award of CAD 15,000.
    • The obverse of the medal is embossed with the head of Archimedes facing right, and some Latin quotes.

    History of the Medal

    • According to the IMU website, the 1924 ICM in Toronto adopted a resolution that at each conference, two gold medals would be awarded to recognise outstanding mathematical achievement.
    • The Canadian mathematician Prof J C Fields, who was secretary of the 1924 Congress, later donated funds to establish the medals, which were named in his honour.
    • In 1966, it was agreed that, in light of the great expansion of mathematical research, up to four medals could be awarded at each Congress.

    Indian-origin winners

    • Among the more than 60 mathematicians who have been awarded the Fields Medal since 1936, there are two of Indian origin.
    • Akshay Venkatesh of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, won in 2018, the last time the honour was announced.
    • Manjul Bhargava of the Department of Mathematics at Princeton University was awarded in 2014.

     

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  • Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

    What is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

    Mains level: Not Much

    The world’s most powerful particle collider, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), will begin smashing protons into each other at unprecedented levels of energy beginning July 5.

    What is the LHC?

    • The Large Hadron Collider is a giant, complex machine built to study particles that are the smallest known building blocks of all things.
    • Structurally, it is a 27-km-long track-loop buried 100 metres underground on the Swiss-French border.
    • In its operational state, it fires two beams of protons almost at the speed of light in opposite directions inside a ring of superconducting electromagnets.
    • The LHC’s second run (Run 2) began in 2015 and lasted till 2018. The second season of data taking produced five times more data than Run 1.
    • The third run will see 20 times more collisions as compared to Run 1.

    How does it work?

    • The magnetic field created by the superconducting electromagnets keeps the protons in a tight beam and guides them along the way as they travel through beam pipes and finally collide.
    • Just prior to collision, another type of magnet is used to ‘squeeze’ the particles closer together to increase the chances of collisions.
    • The particles are so tiny that the task of making them collide is akin to firing two needles 10 km apart with such precision that they meet halfway.

    Extreme conditions involved

    • Since the LHC’s powerful electromagnets carry almost as much current as a bolt of lightning, they must be kept chilled.
    • The LHC uses a distribution system of liquid helium to keep its critical components ultracold at minus 271.3 degrees Celsius, which is colder than interstellar space.
    • Given these requirements, it is not easy to warm up or cool down the gigantic machine.

    What is the latest upgrade?

    • Three years after it shut down for maintenance and upgrades, the collider was switched back on this April.
    • This is the LHC’s third run, and it will operate round-the-clock for four years at unprecedented energy levels of 13 tera electron volts.

    Note: A TeV is 100 billion, or 10-to-the-power-of-12, electon volts. An electron volt is the energy given to an electron by accelerating it through 1 volt of electric potential difference.

    Targets this year

    • It now aims to be delivering 1.6 billion proton-proton collisions per second.
    • The last time, the proton beams will be narrowed to less than 10 microns — a human hair is around 70 microns thick — to increase the collision rate.
    • ATLAS is the largest general purpose particle detector experiment at the LHC.
    • The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment is one of the largest international scientific collaborations in history, with the same goals as ATLAS, but which uses a different magnet-system design.

    Previous runs & ‘God Particle’ discovery

    • Ten years ago, in 2012, scientists at CERN had announced to the world the discovery of the Higgs boson or the ‘God Particle’ during the LHC’s first run.
    • The discovery concluded the decades-long quest for the ‘force-carrying’ subatomic particle, and proved the existence of the Higgs mechanism, a theory put forth in the mid-sixties.
    • This led to Peter Higgs and his collaborator François Englert being awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 2013.
    • The Higgs boson and its related energy field are believed to have played a vital role in the creation

     

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Species in news: Chenkurinji

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Chenkurinji

    Mains level: Not Much

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

    Chenkurinji

    • Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica) is a species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
    • Belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, the tree was once abundant in the hills on the southern parts of the Aryankavu Pass in Kerala’s Kollam district.
    • The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica), a species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.

    Why in news?

    • It is very susceptible to climate change and the present condition of the species is quite bad with low regeneration performance.
    • Though there are seemingly enough number of the tree, most are not productive, generating a negative trend in its population.
    • The majority of the trees is old with poor flowering and fruiting rates.
    • Though the flowering usually happens in January, of late, the species has reported a tendency to extend the process due to climate change.

    Significance of Chenkurinji

    • It is reported to have medicinal properties and is used to lower blood pressure and treat arthritis.

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    100 years of Rampa or Manyam Rebellion

    Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Rampa Rebellion

    Mains level: Major tribal uprisings in freedom struggle

    Hundred years ago, in August 1922 the “Rampa Rebellion” or “Manyam Rebellion” took place in the forests of the Godavari Agency in the Madras Presidency.

    Rampa Rebellion

    • The Rampa Rebellion of 1922, also known as the Manyam Rebellion, was a tribal uprising led by Alluri Sitarama Raju in Godavari Agency.
    • It began in August 1922 and lasted until the capture and killing of Raju in May 1924.
    • Forced labour, embargoes on collecting minor forest produce and bans on tribal agriculture practices led to severe distress among the Koyas in the area.
    • Sitarama Raju did not belong to the tribal community, but understood the restrictions that the British colonial administration placed on the tribal way of life.

    Background of the revolt

    • The Rampa administrative area comprised around 1,800 square km and had a mostly tribal population of approximately 28,000.
    • They had traditionally been able to support their food requirements through the use, in particular, of the podu system, whereby each year some areas of jungle forest were burned to clear land for cultivation.
    • The British Raj authorities had wanted to improve the economic usefulness of lands in Godavari Agency, an area that was noted for the prevalence of malaria and blackwater fever.
    • The traditional cultivation methods were greatly hindered when the authorities took control of the forests, mostly for commercial purposes such as produce for building railways and ships.
    • This was done regardless of the needs of the tribal people.

    Why did people revolt?

    • The tribal people of the forested hills, who now faced starvation had long felt that the legal system favoured the muttadar (estate landowners) and merchants.
    • This had also resulted in the earlier Rampa Rebellion of 1879.
    • Now they objected also to the Raj laws and continued actions that hindered their economic position and meant they had to find alternate livelihood.
    • They objected to attempts at that time to use them as forced labour in the construction of a road in the area.

    Role of Raju

    • Raju was a charismatic sanyasin, believed by many tribal people to possess magical abilities and to have an almost messianic status.
    • He saw the overthrow of colonial rule in terms similar to a millenarian event and he harnessed the discontent of the tribal people to support his anti-colonial zeal.

    Course of revolt

    • Alluri Sitarama Raju, along with 500 tribal people, attacked the police stations of Chintapalli, Krishnadevipeta and Rajavommangi.
    • They walked away with 26 police carbine rifles and 2,500 rounds of ammunition.
    • Legend has it that Alluri himself would forewarn the British officers of an imminent attack and would challenge them to stop him with the superior resources that they had at hand.
    • He was finally captured, tied to a tree and shot dead.

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following event?

    (a) The Revolt of 1857

    (b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921

    (c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60

    (d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Genetically Modified (GM) crops – cotton, mustards, etc.

    Researchers found gene regulating Nitrogen absorption in Plant

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: MADS27

    Mains level: Not Much

    Researchers led by those from the National Centre of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru (NCBS-TIFR), have found a new pathway that regulates nitrate absorption in plants.

    Nitrogen in plant nutrition

    • Nitrogen is one of the most important macronutrients needed for development of a plant.
    • It is a part of chlorophyll, amino acids and nucleic acids, among others.
    • It is mostly sourced from the soil where it is mainly absorbed in the form of nitrates and ammonium by the roots.
    • Nitrates also play a role in controlling genome-wide gene expression that in turn regulates root system architecture, flowering time, leaf development, etc.
    • Thus, while a lot of action takes place in the roots to absorb and convert nitrogen into useful nitrates, the absorbed nitrates in turn regulate plant development apart from being useful as a macronutrient.

    What is MADS27?

    • The gene MADS27, which regulates nitrate absorption, root development and stress tolerance, is activated by the micro-RNA, miR444, therefore offers a way to control these properties of the plant.
    • The researchers studied this mechanism in both rice (monocot) and tobacco (dicot) plants.

    Regulatory switches

    • In addition to this route, several gene regulatory switches that regulate nitrate absorption and root development, such as the micro-RNA, miR444, are known in monocot plants, such as rice.
    • The micro-RNA ‘miR444’ is specific to monocots.
    • When this is not made, its target, MADS27, is produced in higher abundance, and it improves biosynthesis and transport of the hormone auxin, which is key for root development and its branching.
    • This regulatory miR444 switch is known to turn off at least five genes called MADS box transcription factor genes.
    • The speciality of the MADS box transcription factors is that they function like switch boxes of their own.
    • They bind to their favourite specific DNA sequences and they switch the neighbouring genes “on.”

    Why is the discovery important?

    • Presence of nitrates is important for the plant development and also for grain production.
    • However, the overuse of nitrates in fertilizers, for instance, can lead to the dumping of nitrates in the soil which leads to accumulation of nitrates in water and soil.
    • This accumulation adds to soil and water pollution and increased contribution to greenhouse gases.
    • Also, since the whole process of nitrate absorption takes place in the roots, a well-developed root system is needed for this to take place optimally.
    • At one level, it is known that the hormone auxin is responsible for well-developed roots across all plants.
    • A number of genes are known to help with auxin production, improved nitrate transport and assimilation in plants.

    Significance of MADS27

    • The MADS27 transcription factor has a three-pronged effect on the plant.
    • First, it regulates nitrate absorption by switching “on” proteins involved in this process.
    • Second, it leads to better development of the roots by regulating auxin hormone production and transport.
    • Finally, and somewhat surprisingly to the researchers, it helps in the abiotic stress tolerance by keeping the main stress player proteins “on.”

     

     

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  • GI(Geographical Indicator) Tags

    Mayurbhanj’s superfood ‘Ant Chutney’

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Intellectual Property Rights

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: GI indication

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Kai Chutney made from Red Ants by the tribals of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha are seeking a Geographical Indications (GI) tag.

    Ant Chutney

    • Despite this, weaver ants are popular among the people, mostly of the tribes,
    • This food item, rich in proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, fibre and 18 amino acids, is known to boost the immune system and keep diseases at bay.
    • Applied under food category, the GI tag will help develop a structured hygiene protocol in the preparation of Kai chutney for standard wider use.
    • Geographical Indications labels enhance the reputation and value of local products and support local businesses.

    How is the Chutney prepared?

    • Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, are abundantly found in Mayurbhanj throughout the year.
    • They make nests with leaves of host trees.
    • The chutney is prepared by mixing and grinding salt, ginger, garlic and chilly and is sold by tribal people in rural markets.

     

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?

    1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
    2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
    3. Tirupathi Laddu

    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

     

    Post your answers here.

    Back2Basics:  Geographical Indication

    • A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
    • Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    • India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
    • GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
    • GI is granted for a term of 10 years in India. As of today, more than 300 GI tags has been allocated so far in India (*Wikipedia).
    • The tag stands valid for 10 years.

     

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  • Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

    DRDO tests Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Indigenization Of Technology

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

    Mains level: India's defence exports, Atmanirbharta in defence

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the maiden test flight of a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), an autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka.

    About the Indigenous Drone

    • The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is powered by a small turbofan engine.
    • It is developed under unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) programme.
    • It is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO.
    • The engine is Russian TRDD-50MT originally designed for cruise missiles.
    • A small turbo fan engine is being developed indigenously for meeting the requirement.

    Various initiatives by DRDO

    • DRDO is in the process of developing UAVs of different classes to met the requirements of the armed forces.
    • Rustom-2, the indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV under development, had crossed a milestone by reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet and an endurance of 10 hours.
    • It is now being designed to reach an altitude of 30,000 feet and 18 hours endurance.
    • An Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle is also on the drawing board.

    Significance of the development

    • Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, way point navigation and a smooth touchdown.
    • This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies towards the development of future unmanned aircraft.
    • This is a significant step towards self-reliance in strategic defence technologies.

     

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