Daily Practice Sheet 13 January 2021

  • January 13, 2021
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPS
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Daily Practice Sheet 13 January 2021

By

Santosh Sir

All 6 Prelims qualified

4 CSE Mains qualified

If I can do it, you can too

 

Daily Prelims Topic

  • Green Corridor
  • Asola wildlife sanctuary (New Delhi-Gurugram)
  • National youth Parliament festival
  • Pongal and Jallikattu
  • Pneumonia
  • Consumer Price Index
  • Index of Industrial Production
  • Sandbox guidelines

Daily Mapping

  • Aravallis

Daily Facts

‘Data Protection Trends for 2021’ report

In 2021, some 42% of organizations in India and globally, will continue to invest in cybersecurity and privacy solutions to steer away from the rising cyberattacks in the era of remote working.

Central grant to local bodies

States funding to nutrition

Daily Mains Mantra

NEWSPAPER

GS 2: Polity

1. What is judicial overreach? How it is different from judicial activism? Discuss issues in the court encroaching into territory beyond its remit. [Reference: Indian Express, Indian Express]

2. What is Right to Privacy and its status in India? Discuss challenges it faces from social media penetration and suggest a framework for better protecting privacy in this context. [Reference: Indian Express]

GS 3: Economy

1. Examine the Code on wages brought as part of labour reforms recently. What more needs to be done for fair and living wage in India. [Reference: Financial Express]

2. The DFC will herald an era of fast, safe and timetabled running of freight trains. Discuss. [Reference: Financial Express]

GS 3: Science

1. Incentivizing innovation in India can be the driver of economy to aim of $5 trillion economy. In this context discuss opportunities and challenges for innovation in India. Examine government’s effort in promoting innovation. [ Reference: Orfonline]

2. What do you understand by Nano technology? Discuss its applications.

What is NanoTechnology?

Nanotechnology is the use and the developments of techniques to study physical phenomena and develop new material and devices structures in the physical size range from 1 to 100 nanometres (nm).

  • It operates at atoms and molecular levels.
  • It is just 10 times the size of a hydrogen atom.
  • At this level the standard laws of physics and chemistry do not apply.
  • Quantum Physical and chemical properties operate.
  • E.g. carbon nanotubes are 100 times in strength and 6 times lighter than steel.

Applications of Nanotechnology:

Some of the recent developments in the application of nanotechnology in India are listed below:

  • Medical and Healthcare applications:
    • For diagnosis and treatment.
    • Nano nose helps in detection of cancer by analyzing breath.
    • Artificial skin made using nanotechnology can help in generation of natural skin.
    • Nano silver band-aid to curb burns available in India.
    • Nano medicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, draws on the natural scale of biological phenomena to produce precise solutions for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Agriculture: 
    • Nanogels, nano pesticides and nano herbicides help in crop rotation and keeping pests away.
    • Nano fertilizers help in enhancing soil fertility and better input management.
    • Carbon Dots generated from dries water hyacinth acts as bio indicators.
    • Nano emulsion, Nano Biosensors and Nano Fibres are used for food processing and antimicrobial packaging.
  • Defence and Space: 
    • Carbon nanotubes help in making stronger and lighter equipment.
    • Nano suits for soldiers.
    • Nano drones and nano sensors in warfare.
  • Energy Applications:
    • Nanotechnology is finding application in traditional energy sources and is greatly enhancing alternative energy approaches to help meet the world’s increasing energy demands.
    • For example, Nanotechnology is improving the efficiency of fuel production from raw petroleum materials through better catalysis. It is also enabling reduced fuel consumption in vehicles and power plants through higher-efficiency combustion and decreased friction
  • Environment remediation:
    • Nanotechnology can help improve energy efficiency, there are also many ways that it can help detect and clean up environmental contaminants
    • For example, Nano Filters using Nano Membrane could help meet the need for affordable, clean drinking water through rapid, low-cost detection and treatment of impurities in water.
  • Future Transportation Benefits:
    • Nanotechnology offers the promise of developing multifunctional materials that will contribute to building and maintaining lighter, safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, and ships. In addition, nanotechnology offers various means to improve the transportation infrastructure.

Challenges:

  • Nano materials are so small that they are expected to disrupt cellular or enzymatic level causing health hazards.
  • Nanoparticles are considered to be non-biodegradable and on disposal may create non-biodegradable waste.
  • Insufficient knowledge of how nanoparticles will behave when applied in real time situations.
  • High cost of technology.
  • Governance issues: Interdisciplinary subject which requires policies to ascertain their use.
  • Ethical consequences: It can be used as a performance enhancer e.g. drug which cannot be detected, can be used to violate privacy via nano drones.
  • Economic Development: Advance economies can take advantage to replace imported raw materials sourced from poor countries creating further economic inequality.
  • It can create a reverse effect in Global Supply Chain Management.
  • Nano cellulose is highly toxic and can enter the food chain via food and create health hazards.

Nanotechnology & India:

Scientific experts from all over the country came together at the National Conference – Nano India 2019 to discuss ways of using nanotechnology for the development of products and processes for national development, especially in areas of national relevance like safe drinking water, materials development, sensors development, and drug delivery.

Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission)

  • It seeks to focus on capacity building for development in nanotechnology and achieve its applied potential for development in India.
  • It involves basic research promotion through funding scientists, students involved in it.
  • Steps for infrastructure development for nano science and technology.
  • Focus on human resource development with interdisciplinary approach. International collaborations with access to research facilities abroad

Daily Ethics:

1. Discuss the problem of pervasive corruption in India. [Reference: Indian Express]

Approach:

Introduction:

Briefly discuss what the statement means to you.

Body:

Point to issue of corruption plaguing the Indian society from ground zero (offering a sum of as low as RS 10 in some offices) to Common wealth scam. Then move on to discuss at different levels importance of this statement in fighting corruption:

  1. Individual level: Understanding corruption. Not be a part of it and raise a voice particularly against coercive corruption until it’s addresses. (give example if any).
  2. Society: Break the idea of “Chalta Hai” (It happens) attitude, social sanction against corruption, values to child (Example)
  3. Civil society: As a pillar of democracy it needs to arise as more vocal component, extend support and hold all involved to accountability and challenge collusive corruption.
  4. Government: Acknowledge corruption as biggest issue effecting ethics and economy, address both facets of corruption and sanction in time-bound manner. Addressing collusive and coercive corruption. (include 2nd ARC recommendations)

Conclusion:

Corruption is like a termite which eats away whole society. It is time we as a citizen and government arise, awake and continue to follow steps to eradicate this menace once and for all.

Daily Practice Sheet