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Type: Prelims Only

  • Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

    Vanniyar movement in Tamil Nadu

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Vanniyar Movement

    Mains level: Reservation issues

    The government in Tamil Nadu has announced the construction of a memorial in Villupuram to people killed in police firing and clashes in 1987, during a movement demanding reservation for the Vanniyar community.

    Vanniyar Movement

    • Vanniyar are one of the largest and most consolidated backward communities in the state.
    • They had raised massive protests in the mid-1980s demanding 20% reservation in the state, and 2% in central services.
    • Their movement was backed by the Justice Party as well as the Self-Respect Movement.
    • The agitation began in 1986 with activists sending hundreds of letters and telegrams to then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran seeking an audience.
    • As there was no response from MGR and the then Rajiv Gandhi government, agitators started demonstrations in community strongholds, then went on to blockading rail and road traffic.

    The 1987 deaths

    • The Vanniyars declared an agitation from September 17 to 23, 1987, which turned violent.
    • At least 21 protesters were killed, mostly in police firing, and also in clashes with members of Scheduled Caste communities.
    • While this shook the state establishment, there was no immediate solution.

    Reservation granted

    • After 1989, the OBC quota was split into two: Backward Castes and Most Backward Castes.
    • Vanniyars were categorized among the MBCs with 107 other communities, with 20% reservation.
    • Three decades later,10.5% reservation was granted for Vanniyars within the 20% MBC quota.
  • Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

    Dinosaur Footprints found in Thar desert

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Dinosaur species mentioned

    Mains level: Not Much

    In a major discovery, footprints of three species of dinosaurs have been found in the Thar desert in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district.

    Details of the footprints

    • The footprints, made in the sediment or silt of the seashore, later become permanently stone-like.
    • They belong to three species of dinosaurs — Eubrontes cf. giganteus, Eubrontes glenrosensis and Grallator tenuis.
    • While the giganteus and glenrosensis species have 35 cm footprints, the footprint of the third species was found to be 5.5 cm.
    • The dinosaur species are considered to be of the theropod type, with the distinguishing features of hollow bones and feet with three digits.
    • All three species, belonging to the early Jurassic period, were carnivorous.
    • Eubrontes could have been 12 to 15 metres long and weighed between 500 kg and 700 kg, while the height of the Grallator is estimated to have been two metres, as much as a human, with a length of up to three metres.

    Key findings

    • The discovery of dinosaur footprints prove the presence of the giant reptiles in the western part of the State, which formed the seashore to the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic era.
    • Careful geological observations enabled the scientists to interpret ancient environments in which the rocks of the footprints, which were once soft sediments, were deposited.
    • Geochemical analyses and calculation of weathering indices showed that the hinterland climate was seasonal to semi-arid during the deposition of the footprints.
    • Fieldwork in the Kutch and Jaisalmer basins has suggested that after the main transgression during the early Jurassic period, the sea level changed several times.
    • Spatial and temporal distribution of sediments and traces of fossils and post-depositional structures provided an indication to this phenomenon.

    Significance

    • These trace fossils are significant to ascertain how life started and evolved after the mass extinction of species, including dinosaurs, at the end of the cretaceous period around 65 million years ago.
    • This research also illustrates the evidence of a fluvial freshwater palaeo-environment and tropical palaeo-climate, indicating the presence of a tropical forest and a huge network of rivers.

    No matter what, try this PYQ:

    Q.The term “sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction” is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of (CSP 2018):

    (a) Widespread monoculture Practices agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.

    (b) Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.

    (c) Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other Parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.

    (d) Mankind’s over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss, natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution, and global climate change.

     

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  • Tax Reforms

    Taxing interest on Provident Fund

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Provident Fund

    Mains level: Need for taxing PF

    Following its Budget announcement in February, the Finance Ministry has now notified the rules for taxing interest income on contributions made to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) beyond Rs 2.5 lakh (for private-sector employees) and Rs 5 lakh (for government sector employees).

    What is Provident Fund?

    • Provident Fund is a government-managed retirement savings scheme for employees, who can contribute a part of their savings towards their pension fund, every month.
    • These monthly savings get accumulated every month and can be accessed as a lump sum amount at the time of retirement, or end of employment.
    • Since the provident fund money consists of a large chunk of savings, it can be used to grow your retirement corpus easily.

    Types of provident funds

    There are mainly three different types of PFs, which are as follows:

    1. General provident fund: It is a type of PF which is maintained by governmental bodies, including local authorities, the Railways, and other such bodies. Thus, these types of PFs are mainly defined by government bodies.
    2. Recognized provident fund: It is the one that applies to all privately-owned organizations that contain more than 20 employees. Moreover, holding a rightful claim to the PF associated with your organization, you will be given a UAN or Universal Account Number. This enables you to transfer your PF funds from one employer to another whenever you move from one occupation to another.
    3. Public provident fund: It is defined by the voluntary nature of investment on the part of the employee. The PPF is also associated with a minimum deposit of Rs. 50 and a maximum amount of Rs. 1.5 lakhs. The PPF has a lock-in period of 15 years.

    What is the tax on EPF contributions?

    • In February, the Budget proposed that tax exemption will not be available on interest income on PF contributions exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh in a year.
    • Although this has been a concern for salaried individuals contributing to EPF, it will impact only those who contribute more than Rs 2.5 lakh in a year.
    • It will not affect their existing corpus or the aggregate annual interest on that.
    • In March, the government proposed to double the cap on contribution from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for tax-exempt interest income where there is no contribution by the employer.
    • With this, the government provided relief for contributions made to the General Provident Fund that is available only to government employees and there is no contribution by the employer.

    Why tax the PF?

    • There have been instances where some employees are contributing huge amounts to these funds and are getting the benefit of tax exemption at all stages — contribution, interest accumulation, and withdrawal.
    • With an aim to exclude high net-worth individuals (HNIs) from the benefit of high tax-free interest income on their large contributions, the government has proposed to impose a threshold limit for tax exemption.
    • This will be applicable for all contributions beginning April 1, 2021.

    How will it get taxed?

    • For an individual in the higher tax bracket of 30%, the interest income on contribution above Rs 2.5 lakh would get taxed at the same marginal tax rate.
    • What this means is that if an individual contributes Rs 3 lakh every year to the provident fund (including the voluntary PF contribution) then the interest on his contribution above Rs 2.5 lakh —that is, Rs 50,000 — will be taxed.
    • So, the interest income of Rs 4,250 (8.5% on Rs 50,000) will be taxed at the marginal rate. If the individual falls in the 30% tax bracket, he/ she will have to pay a tax of Rs 1,325.
    • For an individual contributing Rs 12 lakh in a year, the tax will be applicable on interest income on Rs 9.5 lakh (Rs 12 lakh minus Rs 2.5 lakh). In this case, the tax liability would amount to Rs 25,200.

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  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    [pib] Formation of Blue Straggler

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Blue Stragglers

    Mains level: Not Much

    Carrying out the first-ever comprehensive analysis of blue stragglers, Indian researchers found that half of the blue stragglers in their sample are formed through mass transfer from a close binary companion star.

    What are Blue Stragglers?

    • A blue straggler is a main-sequence star in an open or globular cluster that is more luminous and bluer than stars at the main sequence turnoff point for the cluster.
    • The most likely explanation is that blue stragglers are the result of stars that come too close to another star or similar mass object and collide.
    • The newly-formed star has thus a higher mass and occupies a position on the HR diagram which would be populated by genuinely young stars.
    • One-third of them are likely formed through collisions of 2 stars, and the remaining are formed through interactions of more than 2 stars.

    How are they formed?

    • A bunch of stars born at the same time from the same cloud form a star cluster.
    • As time passes, each star evolves differently depending on its mass.
    • The most massive and bright stars evolve and move off the main sequence creating a bend in their track, known as the turnoff.
    • Stars above this bend or brighter and hotter stars are not expected in a cluster, as they leave the main sequence to become red giants.
    • But in 1953, Allan Sandage found that some stars seem to be hotter than the turnoff of the parent cluster.

    Behind the nomenclature

    • Initially, these blue stars still straggling above the turnoff were not part of these clusters.
    • However, later studies confirmed that these stars are indeed cluster members, and they were termed “Blue Stragglers”.
    • The only probable way these stars can still be present in these clusters is if they have somehow acquired extra mass along the way while on the main sequence.
    • Confirming the mechanisms of the mass gain required a study using a large sample of blue-straggler stars and estimates of the mass they have gained.

    What have Indian researchers found?

    • Research showed that these stars are primarily present in the older and massive star clusters. And due to their large mass, they are segregated towards the centre of the clusters.
    • The researchers compared the mass of the blue stragglers to the mass of the turnoff stars (which are the most massive ‘normal’ stars in the cluster) and predicted the formation mechanisms.
    • The study will help improve understanding of these stellar systems to uncover exciting results in studies of large stellar populations, including galaxies.
    • Following these findings, the researchers are conducting detailed analyses of individual blue stragglers in the catalog to obtain their stellar properties.
  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Behler Turtle Conservation Award

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Species mentioned, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)

    Mains level: NA

    Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction.

    Behler Turtle Conservation Award

    • The Award is a major annual international award honoring excellence in the field of tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation and biology, and leadership in the chelonian conservation and biology community.
    • It is co-presented by the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) among others.
    • It is widely considered the “Nobel Prize” of turtle conservation and biology.

    Citation for the 2021 Award

    • For some species, such as the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga), Northern River Terrapin (Batagur Baska), and Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) Dr. Singh and his team’s efforts are the last hope for their wild survival in the country.
    • In just 15 years, there are few individuals that have made such monumental contributions to turtle conservation.

    Turtles in India

    • The Northern River Terrapin (Batagur Baska) is being conserved at the Sunderbans; the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) at Chambal; and the Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) at different temples in Assam.
    • These critically endangered turtles are being conserved as a part of TSA India’s research, conservation breeding and education programme in different parts of the country.
    • There are 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises in the country.

    About Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)

    • The TSA was formed in 2001 as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises.
    • This alliance arose in response to the rampant and unsustainable harvest of Asian turtle populations to supply Chinese markets, a situation known as the Asian Turtle Crisis.

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  • Contention over South China Sea

    China’s new Maritime Law

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: South China Sea

    Mains level: South China Sea Dispute

    China’s new maritime rules designed to control the entry of foreign vessels in what Beijing calls “Chinese territorial waters” take effect.

    What is the new Maritime Law?

    • Foreign vessels, both military and commercial, will be henceforth required to submit to Chinese supervision in “Chinese territorial waters,” as per the new law.
    • Operators of submersibles, nuclear vessels, ships carrying radioactive materials, and ships carrying bulk oil, chemicals, liquefied gas, and other toxic and harmful substances are required to report their detailed information upon their visits to Chinese territorial waters.
    • Vessels that “endanger the maritime traffic safety of China” will be required to report their name, call sign, current position and next port of call, and estimated time of arrival.
    • The name of shipborne dangerous goods and cargo deadweight will also be required.

    Impact of the move

    • The move is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the passage of vessels, both commercial and military, in the disputed South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.
    • It is likely to escalate the existing tension with the US and its neighbors in the region.

    Why is this important?

    • South China Sea: The South China Sea, which lies between China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, is of great economic importance globally.
    • Shipping: Nearly one-third of the world’s shipping passes through its lanes, and the waters house numerous important fisheries.

    Significance for India

    • The South China Sea is a critical route for India, both militarily and commercially.
    • It plays a vital role in facilitating India’s trade with Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN countries, and assists in the efficient procurement of energy supplies.
    • More than 55% of India’s trade passes through the South China Sea and Malacca Straits.
    • India is also involved in oil and gas exploration in offshore blocks in the margins of the Sea, which has led to standoffs with Chinese authorities.

    The actual row

    • The waters around China are hotly contested.
    • Under a “nine-dash line” map, China claims most of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory.
    • This claim is contested by its neighbors in the region and by the United States, which, though it has no claim in the Sea, backs the smaller nations in the fight against Chinese overreach.

    International position

    • Currently, international maritime activities are governed by an international agreement called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
    • China, India, and over a hundred other countries are signatories of UNCLOS (the US, significantly, is not).
    • Accordingly, states have the right to implement territorial rights up to 12 nautical miles into the sea.
    • The UNCLOS also states that all vessels have the right of “innocent passage” through this region – China’s new law violates this.

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  • Coal and Mining Sector

    Govt. tells utilities to ship in coal as demand surges

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Coal mining in India

    Mains level: Need for coal imports

    The govt. has urged utilities to import coal despite having the world’s fourth-largest reserves, with several power plants on the verge of running out of fuel due to a surge in power demand.

    Coal Mining in India

    • Coal in India has been mined since 1774 and is now the second fastest mined in the world, producing 716 million metric tons (789 million short tons) in 2018.
    • Due to high demand and poor average quality, India imports coking coal to meet the requirements of its steel plants.
    • Dhanbad city is the largest coal-producing city and is called the Coal Capital of India.
    • State-owned Coal India had a monopoly on coal mining between its nationalization in 1973 and 2018.

    Consumption

    • Coal-fired power accounts for more than 70% of India’s electricity generation. Electricity generation makes up three-fourths of India’s coal consumption.

    Quality of coal

    • The ash chemistry of Indian coal is such that it is high in silica and alumina.
    • The ash is also highly abrasive because of its high quartz content, which can lead to erosion of the syngas cooling system when it gets fused.
    • Indian coal’s sulfur content is low, about 0.5 percent.
    • So, from a gas clean-up perspective, the flue gas desulphurization (removal of SOx gases) and NOx removal system is not economically justifiable and, therefore, not important.
    • Also, in the Indian context, this is unnecessary to meet emission norms.

    Coal reserves

    • India has the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world. It is the second-largest producer of coal in the world, after China.
    • Coal deposits are primarily found in eastern and south-central India.
    • Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra accounted for 98.09% of the total known coal reserves in India.
    • As of 31 March 2019, Jharkhand and Odisha had the largest coal deposits of 25.88% and 24.76% respectively.

    Imports

    • Coking Coal is being imported by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and other Steel manufacturing units mainly to bridge the gap between the requirement and indigenous availability and to improve the quality.
    • Coal-based power plants, cement plants, captive power plants, sponge iron plants, industrial consumers, and coal traders are importing non-coking coal.
    • Coke is imported mainly by Pig-Iron manufacturers and Iron & Steel sector consumers using mini-blast furnaces.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Which of the following is/are the characteristics/ characteristics of Indian coal?

    1. High ash content
    2. Low Sulphur content
    3. Low ash fusion temperature

    Select the correct option using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Ladakh adopts State Animal and Bird

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Snow leopard, black-necked crane

    Mains level: Not Much

    Ladakh has adopted two endangered species, snow leopard and black-necked crane, as State animal and State bird, two years after it was carved out as a separate Union Territory (UT) from the erstwhile State of J&K.

    Snow Leopard

    • The snow leopard (Panther unica) and black-necked crane (Grus nicricollis).
    • Snow leopard, whose numbers are dwindling worldwide, has been categorized as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
    • In total, there are about 7,500 snow leopards left in the world, out of which 500 are in India.
    • However, experts state that the population of snow leopards is between 200-300 in Ladakh alone.

    Black-necked Crane

    • The black-necked crane is found in eastern Ladakh’s high-altitude wetlands and marshes.
    • It is mostly listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
    • Considered loyal couples, they are only found in Ladakh’s Changthang region. They arrive in March for breeding and migrate by October end or early November.
    • It was the State bird of J&K before August 5, 2019.

    About Ladakh

    • Ladakh was established as a union territory of India on 31 October 2019, following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act.
    • Prior to that, it was part of the Jammu and Kashmir state. Ladakh is the largest and the second least populous union territory of India.
    • It extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the north to the main Great Himalayas to the south.
    • The eastern end, consisting of the uninhabited Aksai Chin plains, is claimed by the Indian Government as part of Ladakh and has been under Chinese control since 1962.
    • The largest town in Ladakh is Leh, followed by Kargil, each of which headquarters is a district.
    • The Leh district contains the Indus, Shyok and Nubra river valleys. The Kargil district contains the Suru, Dras and Zanskar river valleys.

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  • Indian Army Updates

    Exercise ZAPAD 2021

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: ZAPAD 2021

    Mains level: Not Much

    A contingent of 200 Army personnel will participate in the multinational Exercise ZAPAD 2021 being held at Nizhniy, Russia.

    ZAPAD 2021

    • ZAPAD is one of the theatre-level exercises of Russian armed forces and will focus primarily on operations against terrorists.
    • The NAGA Battalion group participating in the exercise will feature an all arms combined task force.
    • The exercise aims to enhance military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations while they plan and execute this exercise.
    • In all, 17 countries have been invited by Russia for the exercise. Of these nine are Participating countries which include Mongolia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Russia, India, and Belarus.
    • The other eight countries are Observers which include Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka.

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    Must read:

    [Prelims Spotlight] Various Defence Exercises in News

  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    West Nile Virus outbreak in Russia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: West Nile Virus

    Mains level: NA

    Russia warned of a possible increase in West Nile virus infections this autumn as mild temperatures and heavy precipitation create favorable conditions for the mosquitos that carry it.

    West Nile virus (WNV)

    • WNV is mainly transmitted through mosquito bites and can lead to fatal neurological diseases in humans, although most people infected never develop any symptoms.
    • Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

    Its origin

    • Originally from Africa, the WNV has spread to Europe, Asia, and North America.
    • It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
    • It was identified in birds in the Nile delta region in 1953.
    • Before 1997, WNV was not considered pathogenic for birds.
    • Human infections attributable to WNV have been reported in many countries for over 50 years.

    Symptoms

    • Infected persons usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms.
    • Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
    • They can last a few days to several weeks and usually, go away on their own.
    • Prolonged illness may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.

    Treatment

    • There is no vaccine against the virus in humans although one exists for horses, the WHO says.

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