From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Meerut, 1857 Uprising
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
The article highlights the historical significance of Meerut, a city in western Uttar Pradesh.
Alamgirpur, the easternmost settlement of the Harappa civilization, is located in Meerut and has archaeological importance.
However, Meerut gained fame for its role in India’s First War of Independence on May 10, 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny or Revolt.
Meerut: Historical origins and name
Meerut has historical origins, possibly deriving its name from Mayarashtra, the capital of Mayasura, who was Ravana’s father-in-law.
The archaeological site of Vidura-ka-tila, located northeast of Meerut, is believed to be the remains of Hastinapur, the ancient capital of the Kauravas and Pandavas from the Mahabharata.
Meerut was ruled by the Scindias before being ceded to the British in 1803, which eventually paved the way for the British exit from India.
The 1857 Rebellion
The rebellion in Meerut was sparked by the introduction of the Enfield rifle and the use of cartridges rumored to be greased with a mixture of cow and pig fat.
Sepoys (Indian soldiers) who refused to use the cartridges were punished and stripped of their uniforms.
This incident led to a rebellion among the sepoys and a call for the uprising against British rule.
Outbreak of the Mutiny
On May 10, 1857, while the European residents of Meerut were attending church, the sound of musketry and columns of smoke signalled the revolt of the native troops.
The sepoys, having revolted, marched towards Delhi, considering it the power center and the capital of Mughal India.
Meerut’s Significance
Meerut played a crucial role in the Indian Mutiny, serving as the starting point for the rebellion that spread across the country.
The mutiny in Meerut inspired and influenced the subsequent events of the uprising.
D. Savarkar later referred to the Mutiny as the First War of Independence.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Uniforms, Ranks and Insignia
Mains level: Not Much
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.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Types of coal
Mains level: India's coal import
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?
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.
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.
Steel companies need a large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gold Reserves
Mains level: India's forex reserves and its implications
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:
Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
Gold Reserves
Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Drug Recalls
Mains level: Read the attached story
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-
Lack of expertise
Apathy
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.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cyclone Mocha
Mains level: Not Much
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:
Sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures
Atmospheric instability
High humidity in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere
Enough Coriolis force to develop a low-pressure centre
A pre-existing low-level focus or disturbance
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.
Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sovereignty
Mains level: Not Much
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.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Project Dantak
Mains level: NA
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
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, F Protein
Mains level: NA
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.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Molecular Motor
Mains level: Not Much
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.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) , Navratna status
Mains level: Public Sector Enterprises
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
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: All India Radio
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The Centre has ordered that public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes.
All India Radio: Through history
The journey of radio broadcasting in India began with the first commercial transmission sent out by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923.
In 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was established and in 1930, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was set up.
In 1936, ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR).
At the time of Independence, AIR covered only two percent of India’s land area and reached just 11 percent of its population.
Today, AIR has a network of over 262 radio stations, covering 92% of India’s area and nearly all of its population.
It broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects and also has an External Services Division which broadcasts in 11 Indian and 16 foreign languages, reaching out to more than 100 countries.
AIR’s News Services Division broadcasts 647 bulletins daily for a total duration of nearly 56 hours.
FM broadcasting began in 1977 in Chennai and today, AIR has 18 FM stereo channels.
Why the name change?
The order to exclusively refer to AIR as Akashvani is in line with the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, passed by Parliament.
Listeners have more of a connect with Akashvani and that the name change is in tune with the law which came into being in 1997.
Importance of AIR
AIR played a crucial role in communicating momentous events in India’s recent history, prior to the advent of television or digital media.
AIR’s place in history is cemented due to its role in broadcasting Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in 1947 and Kapil Dev’s mythical 175 run knock in 1983, among other events.
For many Indians, the Akashvani jingle evokes nostalgia and memories of a bygone era when they woke up to the sounds of the jingle at the break of dawn and started their day with AIR programming.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Clearing Corporations
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has de-recognised 6 clearing corporations in India as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) with effect from April 30.
However, it allowed European banks to continue business with them till April 2023 without penal consequences.
What are Clearing Corporations?
Clearing corporations, also known as central counterparties (CCPs), are financial institutions that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers in financial markets.
They help to manage the risk of default by ensuring that each party involved in a trade has the necessary funds or securities to fulfil their obligations.
Clearing corporations also ensure that trades are settled in a timely and efficient manner.
In the context of this article, clearing corporations refer to those involved in the clearing and settlement of trades in India’s cash and derivatives market.
Decisions by ESMA
ESMA has withdrawn recognition of six Indian clearing corporations including- CCIL, Indian Clearing Corporation Ltd, NSE Clearing Ltd, Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing, India International Clearing Corporation, and NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation.
ESMA asked Indian regulators to sign an agreement to give it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
Indian regulators refused to give supervisory power to foreign entities in Indian clearing corporations.
ESMA recognised these clearing corporations as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) in the EU region.
India’s rebuttal
ESMA had asked the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to sign an agreement giving it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
Indian regulators did not agree to give supervisory power to a foreign entity on Indian clearing corporations.
Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cantonments
Mains level: ULBs in India
Central Idea: The Union government has kicked off a plan to abolish the 62 cantonments around the country as “archaic colonial legacies”. The first cantonment to be renamed a military station is Yol in Himachal Pradesh.
What is the plan?
The plan is to carve out the military areas in all cantonments and convert them into “exclusive military stations” with the Army exercising “absolute control” over them.
The civilian areas, in turn, will be merged with the local municipalities, which will be responsible for their maintenance among other things.
The Army moved away from the concept of cantonments after independence, mainly due to the friction between military and civilian authorities.
But some major cantonments continued to exist. Ex. Pune Cantonment, Agra Cantonment etc.
What are Cantonments?
Cantonments in India are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are stationed for administrative purposes.
These cantonments are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006 which provides for municipal administration and control of these areas.
There are 62 cantonments in India which are located in various states across the country.
These areas are maintained by the Defence Estates Organization (DEO) under the Ministry of Defence, and are distinct from military bases or barracks which are temporary locations for military personnel.
Cantonments are generally considered to be areas with better infrastructure and facilities compared to other parts of the country.
Their features
Cantonment Boards are democratic bodies comprising elected and nominated members.
In terms of Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing Accommodation therein is the subject matter of the Union.
The Station Commander of the Cantonment is the ex-officio President of the Board, and an officer of the IDES or Defence Estates Organisation is the Chief Executive Officer who is also the Member-Secretary of the Board.
They have equal representation of elected and nominated/ex-officio members to balance official representation with democratic composition.
They maintain ecological balance while providing better civic facilities to the residents.
History of establishments
The Cantonments Act, 1924 was enacted by the British to regulate the municipal administration of Cantonments.
After India’s independence, the Cantonments Act, 1924, was modified to suit the democratic setup of the country.
The Cantonments Act, 2006, replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924, and aims to provide greater autonomy and accountability to the Cantonment Boards.
Categories
There are four categories of Cantonments, depending on the size of the population residing inside a Cantonment:
Category I: Cantonments having a population of more than 50,000.
Category II: Cantonments having a population of 10,000 to 50,000.
Category III: Cantonments having a population of less than 10,000.
Category IV: Industrial or training Cantonments, irrespective of their population size.
IOCRPrelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: World Press Freedom Index
Mains level: Freedom of press in India and global propaganda
Central Idea: India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
What is Press Freedom Index?
The PFI is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters without Borders since 2002.
It is based upon the organisation’s own assessment of the countries’ press freedom records in the previous year.
It defines press freedom as “the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.”
It intends to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations, and netizens have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom.
It does not measure the quality of journalism in the countries it assesses, nor does it look at human rights violations in general.
Irony of the rankings
In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year’s 157th rank.
Afghanistan was ranked 152nd. This raises some questions about the methodology of the index.
Global scenario
Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022
Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom, while Vietnam, China and North Korea constituted the bottom three.
Back2Basics: Freedom of Press and Constitutional Provisions
The Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. the State of Madras, 1950 observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
It is guaranteed under the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
Freedom of the press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution.
The freedom of the press is also not absolute.
Reasonable restrictions
A law could impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, it faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows:
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Abhilash Tomy, Golden Globe Race
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Abhilash Tomy, a former Commander in the Indian Navy, has achieved the remarkable feat of completing a solo circumnavigation worldwide by finishing second at the Golden Globe Race (GGR), 2022.
He achieved this record under even more challenging circumstances than his previous record-breaking feat of going worldwide on a sailboat solo and unassisted back in 2013.
What is Golden Globe Race?
The Golden Globe Race is a non-stop, solo, unassisted yacht race around the world which was held for the first time in 1968-69.
The race requires contestants to use boats designed to prescribed premodern specifications and rely entirely on sextants and paper charts.
Satellite phones are available for extremely restricted use, and the use of modern navigational gear is not allowed.
The sailing would be along a stipulated route, rounding the three great capes (Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, and Cape Horn in Chile).
His return to GGR
After several injuries, in 2021, Tomy began to look for sponsors and boats to participate in GGR-2022.
He announced his participation in the race on the Bayanat in March 2022, sponsored by a UAE-based company in the field of geospatial artificial intelligence.
However, just three weeks before the race, the boat collided with a ship and required massive repairs.
Significance of his achievement
Only three of the 11 contestants of GGR-2022 lasted the course of the race, with Kirsten Neuschafer becoming the first woman to win a solo around-the-world yacht race.
Tomy’s boat was the most ‘repaired’ boat in the race and it was all carried out by the sailor fighting unimaginable sea conditions and lack of sleep.
In the end, Tomy became the first Asian to complete the 30,000-mile GGR by finishing second after Neuschafer.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ASEAN
Mains level: India-ASEAN Relations
Central idea: The article highlights India’s increasing military cooperation with ASEAN countries, with a special emphasis on the upcoming ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in the South China Sea.
ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise
The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) is set to commence on May 2, 2023, with war games to be held in the South China Sea.
INS Satpura and INS Delhi will participate in the exercise.
The exercise is divided into two phases: ‘Harbour Phase’ and ‘Sea Phase.’
The exercise is aimed at fostering close cooperation and conducting seamless operations in the maritime domain between the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies.
About ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Details
Members
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Formation
August 8, 1967
Headquarters
Jakarta, Indonesia
Purpose
To promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development
Economic integration
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
Political cooperation
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
Cultural cooperation
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)
Relationship with India
Strategic partnership, trade, and investment
Why such exercise?
Defying territorial claims: The South China Sea is a critical waterway that connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, and it is also a contested region where multiple countries have territorial claims.
Support freedom of navigation: Conducting exercises in this region allows India to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and upholding international maritime laws.
Indo-Pacific Strategy: India’s growing strategic ties with ASEAN are part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to promote a rules-based order and ensure stability in the region.
Counterbalancing China: As China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific grows, India sees ASEAN as a key partner in balancing China’s assertiveness and promoting regional stability.
India’s stakes in South China Sea
The South China Sea plays a critical role in India’s security and well-being as-
Global common: The SCS is not China’s sea, but a global common.
Unimpeded navigation: It has been an important sea-lane of communication for centuries, and passage has been unimpeded. Indians have sailed these waters for well over 1,500 years with a continuous trading presence.
Global trade chokepoint: Nearly $200 billion of India’s trade passes through the South China Sea, and thousands of Indian citizens study, work and invest in ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Key significance: India’s Responsiveness to ASEAN
India needs to be responsive to ASEAN’s expectations.
Meeting ASEAN’s aspirations: While strategic partnerships and high-level engagements are important, ASEAN expects longer-lasting buy-ins by India in their future.
History of lesser importance given by India: ASEAN has taken the initiative time and again to involve India in Indo-Pacific affairs, even though India’s current level of trade or investment with ASEAN does not make a compelling argument.
Broader perception of India as key partner: ASEAN has deliberately taken a longer-term view, given the importance of regional arrangements for economic recovery and rejuvenation.
Back2Basics:South China Sea Dispute
It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys – two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims.
Alongside the fully-fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks, and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.
China claims by far the largest portion of territory – an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims.
It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Psychedelics
Mains level: Medicianal use of psychotropic substances
Central idea: The context of the article is about the use of psychedelic drugs for both recreational and medicinal purposes.
What are Psychedelics?
Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter an individual’s perception, mood, and thought processing while still allowing the individual to remain conscious and with unimpaired insight.
They are non-addictive and non-toxic, and cause less harm to the end user compared to illicit drugs.
The two most commonly used psychedelics are LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin. Researchers have also developed synthetic psychedelics.
Humans have used psilocybin and mescaline for ceremonial, healing, and spiritual rituals for millennia.
The modern-day use of psychedelics is commonly associated with the German chemist Arthur Heffter isolating mescaline from the peyote cactus in 1897.
In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD while investigating compounds related to ergotamine.
LSD was widely used as a therapeutic catalyst in psychotherapy between 1947 and 1967, until it was criminalized in the US due to medical concerns and the Vietnam War.
Experience of using psychedelic substances
Users of psychedelic substances report changes in perception, somatic experience, mood, thought-processing, and entheogenic experiences.
Perceptual distortions most commonly include the visual domain.
Somatic experiences may include the visceral, tactile, and interoceptive domains.
Mood changes may include elation, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia.
Entheogenic experiences include transcendental and ineffable spiritual experiences.
Psilocybin’s therapeutic effects require a ‘trip’ that is mediated by the activation of serotonin receptors.
Modern neuroimaging suggests that psychedelics increase the cross-talk between different brain networks, and this correlates with the subjective effects of psychedelics.
Can psychedelic substances cause any harm?
Death due to direct toxicity of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline has not been reported in the literature despite 50-plus years of recreational use.
Synthetic psychedelics have been associated with acute cardiac, central nervous system, and limb ischemia, as well as serotonin syndrome.
What is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has three types of sessions: preparatory, medication, and integration.
In the medication session, the patient is accompanied by a male-female co-therapist dyad and a psychedelic drug is administered in a comfortable and well-appointed room.
Over the next 6-8 hours, the therapists listen to the patient while maintaining a neutral therapeutic stance.
In the integration session, the therapists work with the patient to interpret the contents of their psychedelic experience into meaningful long-term change, based on their thoughts and ideas.
Uses to treat Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Research has shown that psychedelic substances have potential therapeutic benefits in treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In recent trials, a single dose of psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce depression scores and improve symptoms of PTSD in participants.
Back2Basics: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
Details
Purpose
Combat drug abuse and trafficking in India
Scope
Consolidates and amends the existing legal framework related to narcotics and psychotropic substances
Regulations
Strictly regulates and controls the production, manufacture, sale, transport, possession, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Special Courts
Establishment of special courts and appointment of special public prosecutors to handle cases related to drug trafficking and abuse
Covered Substances
Opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy
Classification
Substances classified into different schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use
Punishment
Imposes different levels of punishment for offenses related to each schedule
Enforcement
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), and state-level drug enforcement agencies
Functions
Prevention of drug abuse and trafficking, investigation and prosecution of drug offenses, rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Shilabhattarika
Mains level: NA
Central idea: The article talks about the discovery of new information on the celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika through the decoding of copper plates by the Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute.
Who was Shilabhattarika?
Shilabhattarika was a 9th-century Sanskrit poet from India.
She lived near the Narmada River and the Vindhya mountains.
Her poetic skills were praised by medieval Sanskrit literary critics.
It is speculated that she may be the same as Shilamahadevi, the queen of 8th-century Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruv.
According to recent research, she was the daughter of Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II.
Her literary works
Shilabhattarika is known to have written at least 46 poems on various topics, such as love, morality, politics, nature, beauty, the seasons, insects, anger, indignation, codes of conduct, and the characteristic features of various kinds of heroines.
Shilabhattarika is considered a leading figure of the Panchali literary style, which maintains “a balance between words and meaning”.
According to Rajashekhara, the Panchali style can be traced to the works of Shilabhattarika, and possibly in some of the works of the 7th-century poet Bana.
Sharangadhara-paddhati, a 14th-century anthology, praises her and three other female poets for their great poetic genius and erudition.
One of the most iconic songs of the noted Marathi poetess Shanta Shelke, “toch chandrama nabhat” (it is the same moon in the sky), draws inspiration from the verses of Shilabhattarika.
Key findings of the recent research
The research analyzed a copperplate charter consisting of 5 copper plates dating back to the reign of Badami Chalukyan ruler Vijayaditya (696-733 CE).
The plates were held together by a copper ring that bore the varaha (boar) seal, which is the trademark of the Badami Chalukyas.
The Sanskrit text inscribed in late-Brahmi script contained a total of 65 lines.
The charter revealed that King Vijayaditya Chalukya had donated the village of Chigateri to a scholar named Vishnu Sharma, based on the recommendation of Mahendravarma, Shilabhattarika’s son.
Shilabhattarika’s husband, Dadiga, was deputed as the governor of Kogali, while his elder brother Polavira succeeded their father Mokkara as the ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty, which acted as subordinates to the Chalukyas of Badami and fought against the Pallavas of Kanchi.
The plates also mentioned the names of Shilabhattarika’s father-in-law, Mokkara (or Mushkara), and his father, Durvinita, who was a proficient composer and had patronized Bharavi, the author of the classical epic Kiratarjuniya.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bihan Mela
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: Since 2019, the Kondh tribe in Nayagarh district, Odisha has been celebrating the Bihan Mela, or the seed festival, to promote the revival of indigenous farming.
Bihan Mela
This event involves the collection and preservation of indigenous seeds, and farmers from 40 villages in Dasapalla block participate in the festival.
After harvesting kharif crops, women collect the seeds of indigenous varieties and store them in earthen pots.
On a designated day in December, they decorate the pots with red and white motifs, place them in a bamboo basket and carry them on their heads to the village where the fair is being organized.
Men accompany them, beating drums and other traditional instruments.
Objectives
The seed festival was introduced to help farmers return to their traditional ways of farming, like mixed-cropping, which is more resilient to erratic rainfall and pest attacks.
In recent years, farmers have abandoned native crops and varieties that are naturally resistant to pests and better suited to the region’s climate.
Commercialization through this festival: Seed Bank
To facilitate access to indigenous seeds, Nirman, a non-profit that works with the tribe on forest rights and agro-ecological farming, set up a seed bank in Raisar village in 2019.
The bank collects and preserves indigenous seeds from across Kondh villages and lends those out to farmers.
The bank now boasts of 62 varieties of paddy, four varieties of millets, five varieties of pulses, and eight vegetables.
The bank is open to all Kondh farmers and has benefitted 750 families so far.
