Daily Prelims Notes 1 February 2024

February 1, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

1 February 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Acquisition Opportunities for Indian Oil and Gas Companies in North Sea

Subject: Geography

Section: Eco geography

Region Exploration:
- Indian oil and gas firms should explore hydrocarbon assets in regions like the North Sea (UK) and East Mediterranean.
- Potential for creating long-term value is a crucial consideration.
Expansion Mindset:
- Companies need to expand their horizons and not solely focus on short-term bargains.
- Deals are happening globally, emphasizing the need to look beyond current market conditions.
Value Over Price:
- Emphasis on analyzing the long-term value an asset can generate rather than solely focusing on current market prices.
- Recent examples like Harbour Energy’s $9 billion deal in the North Sea highlight the importance of looking at value over price.
Consideration of Stable Regions:
- Regions like the North Sea offer high-quality and mature assets.
- Stable political environment, tax structures, and government relations are key factors.
Diversification Beyond Relationships:
- While maintaining good relationships is important, companies should also diversify beyond familiar partnerships.
- Past challenges in regions like Venezuela and Sakhalin-I (Russia) highlight the need for a broader perspective.
Geographical Examples:
- Alaska: Presents opportunities but is challenging due to weather conditions.
- Eastern Mediterranean: Significant gas province with stable relationships with India (Egypt, Cyprus, Israel).

International Legislation:

1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf establishes rights of countries over continental shelves. Paved the way for exploration in the North Sea.

Evolution of North Sea Drilling:

1958 Geneva Convention: First international legislation establishing countries’ rights over continental shelves.
1964 Continental Shelf Act: Solidified the U.K.’s jurisdiction over oil and gas resources.
BP’s Exploration: Secured the first license in 1964, leading to the discovery of natural gas in 1965.
Commercial Oil Discovery: Forties Field, east of Aberdeen, Scotland in 1970.
Increased Exploration: Various companies engaged in exploration in the following decades.

Oil and Gas in Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Over the past decade, the Eastern Mediterranean has witnessed the discovery of a number of gas fields in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of regional countries while further exploration and drilling activities are going on. According to estimates included in two reports from the United States Geological Survey released in 2010, vast energy reserves are deposited in both the Nile Delta and the Levant basins in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Further deposits are estimated in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Among the regional countries, Egypt and Israel have made a head start with commercial drilling and supplies through pipeline. Israel has invested in Mari-B, Noa, Tamar and Leviathan gas fields, while Egypt has invested in the Zohr and Noor gas fields. Moreover, after the Israel–Lebanon maritime delimitation deal, Israel is expected to start production at the Karish gas field, while Lebanon is likely to accelerate drilling at the Qana field.
The success of Egypt and Israel in finding commercial quantities and starting production from onshore gas fields has encouraged others, including Greece, Cyprus and Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Libya and Syria, to seriously undertake exploration activities.
Simultaneously, the possibility of the Eastern Mediterranean region emerging as a new gas production hub has led to efforts at reconciliation and joint exploration. For example, an informal bloc among Egypt, Israel, Greece and Cyprus took formal shape as the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) in 2019 The EMGF, based in Cairo, aims to develop a cooperative mechanism among member countries for exploration, infrastructure development and to supply gas to European and Asian markets. Likewise, the possible economic benefits of gas production and exports encouraged Israel and Lebanon, that otherwise do not share formal ties, to sign a US-mediated maritime demarcation agreement in October 2022.

North Sea:

Geographically, the North Sea lies between England and Scotland on its west, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France on its south, and Norway, Denmark, and Germany on its west.
An epeiric sea (an inland sea either completely surrounded by dry land or connected to an ocean by a river, strait or “arm of the sea”) on the European continental shelf.
It connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north.
It hosts key north European shipping lanes and is a major fishery. The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries, and a rich source of energy resources, including wind and wave power.

2. Action against Paytm Payments Bank Ltd under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act 1949

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank effective March 2024 due to concerns about breach and non-compliance with regulatory norms.

Comprehensive System Audit:

The restrictions follow a Comprehensive System Audit report and compliance validation report by external auditors, indicating persistent non-compliances and material supervisory concerns.

Previous Directives:

In March 2022, the RBI directed Paytm Payments Bank to stop onboarding new customers and appointed an IT audit firm for a Comprehensive System Audit.

Prohibited Activities from March 1, 2024:

Paytm Payments Bank is barred from accepting deposits, undertaking credit transactions, or facilitating top-ups in customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, and NCMC (National Common Mobility Cards) post-February 29, 2024.

Withdrawal or Utilization of Balances:

Customers will be allowed to withdraw or utilize balances without any restrictions up to the available balance, including from savings and current bank accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, and NCMC.

Prohibited Services After February 29, 2024:

Apart from fund transfers, utilization, or withdrawal, Paytm Payments Bank is not allowed to provide other banking services, BBPOU (Bharat BillPay Operating Units), and UPI facility after February 29, 2024.

Settlement of Transactions:

Settlement of all pipeline transactions and nodal accounts initiated before February 29, 2024, should be completed by March 15, 2024, with no further transactions permitted thereafter.

Customer Concerns:

Following the RBI sanctions, customers expressed concerns on social media platforms regarding wallet balances, fixed and savings deposits, and the ability to use Paytm for UPI transactions.

Market Share and Impact:

Paytm had a market share of 13% in terms of UPI transaction volumes and 11% in terms of the value of UPI transactions as of October 2023, and the restrictions are seen as a negative development with potential impact on the business.

Business Risks:

There are potential risks to payments margins, impact on lending business, and risks to earnings / valuations, especially affecting higher margin products such as wallets and FasTag, which are dependent on the payments bank.

About Banking Regulation Act, 1949

The Banking Regulation Act, 1949, is a comprehensive piece of legislation that regulates and governs the functioning of banking companies in India. It provides the legal framework for the establishment, operation, and regulation of banks, with the primary objective of safeguarding the interests of depositors and ensuring the stability and soundness of the banking system.

The act was initially enacted as the Banking Companies Act, 1949, and later its name was changed to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, effective from March 1, 1966.

RBI’s Regulatory Authority:

The act empowers the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to regulate and supervise banks in India. The RBI is granted extensive powers to issue licenses, regulate shareholders’ shareholding and voting rights, and oversee various aspects of banking operations.

Bank Licensing:

The RBI has the authority to issue licenses to banking companies, specifying the conditions under which they can carry on banking business.

Governance and Management:

The act provides guidelines for the constitution of boards, the appointment of directors, and the management of banking companies. It aims to ensure effective corporate governance in the banking sector.

Operations and Business Conduct:

The act regulates the operations of banks, prescribing certain norms and standards to be followed in areas such as lending practices, investments, and risk management.

Audit and Inspection:

The RBI has the power to conduct audits and inspections of banks to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Control over Moratorium, Merger, and Liquidation:

The act provides for the imposition of a moratorium, merger, and liquidation of banking companies under certain circumstances, with the objective of protecting the interests of depositors and maintaining financial stability.

Public Welfare and Banking Policy:

The RBI can issue instructions to banks in the interests of public welfare and banking policy.

Penalties:

The act empowers the RBI to impose penalties on banks for non-compliance with regulatory provisions.

Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949

Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, grants the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) the authority to issue directions to banking companies in order to prevent their affairs from being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of depositors or prejudicial to the interests of the banking company itself.

This section empowers the RBI to intervene and take regulatory actions to ensure the stability, proper management, and protection of the interests of depositors in the banking system.

Directional Power:

The RBI can issue directions to banking companies to prevent their affairs from being conducted in a manner harmful to the interests of depositors or prejudicial to the interests of the banking company.

Regulatory Intervention:

The section provides the RBI with regulatory tools to intervene in the operations of a banking company if it believes that certain activities may adversely affect depositors or the institution itself.

Ensuring Stability:

The overarching goal of Section 35A is to maintain the stability of the banking sector and protect the interests of depositors.

Governance and Control:

The RBI can impose restrictions on banking companies to ensure better governance and control, safeguarding the overall health of the banking system.

In the recent case involving Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, the RBI invoked Section 35A to issue directions and impose restrictions on the bank, citing persistent non-compliances and material supervisory concerns.

What is a Payments Bank?

A Payments Bank is a bank that does not offer loans or credit cards. It takes deposits up to Rs 1 lakh from its customers. It provides various other financial services such as remittance transfer services, selling of financial products of other banks etc. So a payment bank does not offer loans such as gold loans,business loans, and personal loans. But they can sell the loan products and insurance products etc. of other NBFCs and banks.

3. Govt will follow the poll year tradition of interim Budget: PM

Subject: Economy

Section: Fiscal Policy

Interim Budget Tradition:
- The Prime Minister stated that the government would “follow tradition” to present the interim Budget. Traditionally, when elections are imminent, the complete Budget is not presented.
- The government expressed its commitment to adhere to this tradition, implying that a full Budget would be presented after the formation of the new government.
More comprehensive Budget would be presented after the formation of the new government.
Traditionally, governments entering elections avoid making significant policy announcements in the interim budget.

Differences Between Interim Budget and Union Budget:

Timing:

Interim Budget: Presented just before General Elections.
Union Budget: Presented annually in the Parliament.

Approval Process:

Interim Budget: Vote on account passed without discussion in Lok Sabha.
Union Budget: Passed after complete discussions in Lok Sabha.

Content – Income and Expenses:

Interim Budget: Mentions income and expenses of the previous year, with details for a few months until the next government takes charge. Sources of income are not detailed.
Union Budget: Includes details of income and expenses for the previous year and outlines the government’s plan to raise and utilize funds for the nation’s development.

Duration:

Interim Budget: Covers approximately 2 to 4 months of the fiscal year (election year).
Union Budget: Covers the entire fiscal year.

Detail Level:

Interim Budget: Provides a summary of the expenses and income of the previous year.
Union Budget: Offers a detailed breakdown of income and expenses for the previous year.

Taxation Component:

Interim Budget: Does not have a component detailing income through tax collection.
Union Budget: Describes spending on social welfare measures, development, and ways of raising funds through taxes.

4. PFRDA invites Bids for System Integrator for PFRDA – TRACE

Subject: Schemes

Section: Social security

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has invited bids for the purpose of selection of a System Integrator (SI) for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of PFRDA – TRACE.
Project Name: PFRDATRACE (Tracking Reporting Analytics & Compliance EPlatform).
Scope: The SI will play a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining the platform.
This initiative reflects PFRDA’s commitment to leveraging technology for effective tracking, reporting, analytics, and compliance in the management of pension funds.
PFRDA-TRACE is part of the Technology Architecture (TARCH) project and will serve as a comprehensive tool for submitting regulatory and supervisory compliance reports by intermediaries.
PFRDA-TRACE aims to facilitate the submission of regulatory and supervisory compliance reports by intermediaries, share reports and data with PFRDA, monitor functions, enable workflow for PFRDA departments, and incorporate a validation process for reports and data.
The selected System Integrator (SI) will be responsible for studying existing processes, proposing improved workflows, and providing services for the design, development, customization, implementation, and maintenance of PFRDA-TRACE.
PFRDA-TRACE represents the second phase of the TARCH project, indicating a strategic step in enhancing digital capabilities and regulatory oversight in the pension fund sector.

PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority):

Overview:
- PFRDA is the regulatory body overseeing the pension sector in India – National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
- It was established by the Government of India to promote old-age income security.
- Implementing measures to enhance pension coverage and efficiency.
Functions:
- Regulation: Formulating policies and regulating pension funds.
- Promotion: Promoting the development of the pension industry.
- Protection: Safeguarding the interests of pension subscribers.

NPS (National Pension System):

Introduction:
- NPS is a voluntary, long-term retirement savings scheme designed to enable systematic savings.
- Launched by the Government of India.
Key Features:
- Contributors: Open to all citizens, including employees from the organized and unorganized sectors.
- Flexible Contributions: Allows individuals to contribute regularly and build a pension corpus.
- Investment Options: Offers a range of investment choices for subscribers.
- Portability: Portable across jobs and locations.
- Tax Benefits: Provides tax benefits under specific sections of the Income Tax Act.
Structure:
- NPS is structured into Tier I and Tier II accounts.
- Tier I is a long-term retirement account.
- Tier II is a voluntary savings account with liquidity features.

APY (Atal Pension Yojana):

Objective:
- APY aims to provide a sustainable pension to unorganized sector workers.
- Specifically targets individuals between the age of 18- 40 years, without access to formal pension schemes.
Eligibility:
- Open to Indian citizens aged between 18 and 40 years.
Features:
- Fixed Pension: Offers a fixed pension amount based on contribution and age.
- Contributions: Contributions vary based on the chosen pension amount and age at entry.
- Government Co-Contribution: The government provides co-contribution for eligible subscribers.
- Guarantee: Guarantees pension benefits to the spouse in case of the subscriber’s demise.
Structure:
- The scheme is administered by the PFRDA.
- It focuses on ensuring a steady income stream for individuals in the unorganized sector during their old age.

5. What can lichens tell us about atmospheric pollution?

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context:

During 2000s, in Kodaikanal, the protests were triggered by a thermometer factory near Kodaikanal Lake, owned by Hindustan Unilever, which was found to be polluting the environment with mercury through improper waste disposal.
This pollution affected the soil, water, and air in the area. The factory’s illegal activities were exposed, leading to penalties.
A key evidence in the mercury poisoning case was the discovery of mercury in lichens, a plant-like substance, around the factory.

What are lichens?

Lichens are unique organisms often seen on tree barks and rocks in moist environments, contributing to the beauty of landscapes like the Himalayas with their varied colours.
They are formed from a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (algae or cyanobacteria), as described by the British Lichen Society.
The fungus provides a protective cover, while the photosynthetic partner contributes organic compounds through photosynthesis.
Lichens thrive in various environments, from mountains to Arctic tundras, and absorb water and nutrients directly from the atmosphere.
This direct absorption makes them sensitive to air pollution, leading to damage and bleaching.
India is home to about 3,000 lichen species, some with medicinal properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects.
A notable example is Parmotrema perlatum (black stone flower), used by tribals for medicinal purposes and as a flavour enhancer in Indian cuisine, including biryani.

Why are lichens considered good biomonitors?

Lichens are resilient to pollution and are used as biomonitors and bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.
They are essential for monitoring air quality and ecological health. Scientists use both living and non-living entities to assess environmental quality and pollution levels.
Bioindicators are organisms that provide information about environmental quality, while biomonitors also give quantitative data about environmental conditions. For example, fish are excellent bioindicators for aquatic ecosystems, revealing the health of these systems through their tissues, blood, and structural anomalies.
However, not all bioindicators are biomonitors. While fish can indicate the health of an environment, they don’t provide quantitative data on pollutant levels. In contrast, lichens and mosses are effective biomonitors because they can both indicate environmental quality and be analyzed to measure pollution levels.

How are lichens studied in the scientific world?

Scientists assess environmental damage to lichens using parameters like photosynthesis, chlorophyll content and degradation, ATP decrease, ethylene production, and membrane damage.
Lichens have shown a positive correlation between their sulfur content and atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels. Exposure to vehicular and urban emissions also alters their chlorophyll concentration.
Lichens are used to analyze atmospheric conditions and can estimate the age of the surfaces they colonize.
Studies on lichens are also crucial for understanding their response to global warming. A 2022 study suggests that lichens might struggle to adapt to a one-degree Celsius temperature increase within a million years.
While lichens are diverse in India, they are primarily studied for academic purposes. In contrast, European countries integrate lichen studies into air pollution policy documents.

Source: Mongabay

6. While Banni readies for cheetah, native pastoralists demand land rights

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Area

Context:

Over a year after starting India’s cheetah reintroduction project, plans are underway to establish a cheetah breeding and conservation centre in the Banni grasslands of the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Details:

The Banni grasslands were initially considered for wild cat reintroduction and deemed capable of supporting over 50 cheetahs by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Trust of India.
Historical records from 1839 and 1872 suggest the presence of Asiatic cheetahs in Banni, indicating its potential as a suitable habitat.
However, the Banni grasslands were not initially chosen for cheetah reintroduction due to low prey density.
Efforts to rejuvenate the grasslands focused on removing invasive plants and planting native grass, but significant steps to increase prey density were not taken.
The government’s proposal for a breeding centre was approved by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

Impact on a pastoralist community:

Banni, the largest grassland in Asia, spans 2618 sq km and is home to about 40 different grass species. Due to challenging climatic conditions and soil salinity, agriculture is limited, making animal husbandry the primary livelihood for the region’s inhabitants.
Around 45,000 people, mostly from the Maldhari pastoral community, reside in Banni’s 48 villages, along with over 1.5 lakh cattle. The daily milk yield from the local Banni buffalo breed is estimated to be over 1.5 lakh liters.
Following the government’s announcement of a cheetah breeding center in Banni, the Banni Breeders Association, representing breeders from all Banni villages, expressed opposition due to the lack of consultation in the decision-making process.
While the breeding center itself is not the main concern, the Maldharis fear potential threats to their traditional livelihoods and the well-being of the Banni buffalo.
The community is apprehensive about losing their land to government initiatives.
The grass restoration project of the state government in 2019 had the forest department restore 800 to 3900 hectares of land every year.

Source: Mongabay

7. Himalayan treelines might be climbing higher in response to climate change

Subject: Schemes

Section: Education

Context:

Alpine treelines in the Himalayas and Hengduan regions are ascending towards mountaintops in response to climate change.

Details:

The treeline, marking the highest altitude where trees grow, forms a transition from forests to treeless alpine vegetation.
This environment, typically harsh and characterized by low temperatures, is sensitive to climate changes.
Recent studies reveal that these treelines are affected by temperature and moisture, with varying impacts across different species.
For example, in the Himalayas, treelines are primarily moisture-sensitive, while in the Hengduan region, they are affected by both temperature and moisture.
The study also reports differences in seedling recruitment and treeline shifting rates between Nepal and the Hengduan Mountains.
- The Hengduan Mountains are a group of mountain ranges in southwest China that connect the southeast portions of the Tibetan Plateau with the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau.
- The Hengduan Mountains are primarily large north-south mountain ranges that effectively separate lowlands in northern Myanmar from the lowlands of the Sichuan Basin.
Global studies show that mountain treelines are generally rising, with the rate of ascent accelerating, especially in tropical regions.
This phenomenon underlines the importance of factors like precipitation and temperature in determining treeline distribution and dynamics.

Alpine Forests:

Altitudes ranging between 2,900 to 3,500.
These forests can be divided into: (1) sub-alpine; (2) moist alpine scrub and (3) dry alpine scrub.
The sub-alpine forests occur lower alpine scrub and grasslands.
It is a mixture of coniferous and broad-leaved trees in which the coniferous trees attain a height of about 30 m while the broad leaved trees reach only 10 m.
Fir, spruce, rhododendron, etc. are important species.
The moist alpine scrub is a low evergreen dense growth of rhododendron, birch etc. which occurs from 3,000 metres and extends upto snowline.
The dry alpine scrub is the uppermost limit of scrub xerophytic, dwarf shrubs, over 3,500 metres above sea level and found in dry zone. Juniper, honeysuckle, artemesia etc. are important species.

Understanding treeline dynamics:

Dendrochronology, the study of tree rings, plays a vital role in understanding historical mountain ecosystems.
It helps determine the age of trees and analyze the relationship between climate factors and tree growth.
This method reveals whether a treeline is static or shifting; older trees at the upper boundary suggest a static treeline, while younger trees at higher elevations indicate a moving treeline.
The correlation of annual tree ring widths with climatic data from nearby stations enables researchers to identify limiting climatic factors for tree growth, such as low rainfall leading to smaller rings.
However, treeline shifts are not solely due to climate change. Microbes, fungi, and symbiotes are crucial in supporting alpine tree growth, impacting hydrogen acquisition and seed growth.
The shift in treelines raises concerns about the availability of these biotic conditions. Understanding treelines, particularly in the Himalayas, requires long-term studies from permanent plots to identify the key driving factors.

Consequences:

The upward movement of treelines in the Himalayas, driven by climate change, significantly impacts the region’s mountain ecosystems.
This shift can lead to habitat displacement and loss, affecting plant and animal species adapted to specific elevations and potentially causing local extinctions.
The changing landscape disrupts the intricate relationships between flora and fauna, altering biodiversity patterns, with some species thriving and others declining. Non-vascular plants like bryophytes and lichens, which exist beyond the treeline, face increased competition from advancing sub-alpine forest trees for resources like light.
This upward movement of trees also alters soil properties, such as nutrient content and moisture, impacting understorey plant communities.
Additionally, the growth of sub-alpine forests in previously treeless areas can significantly affect hydrology, potentially reducing stream flow and runoff downstream, particularly in areas where water is already scarce.

Conservation measures:

Understanding the shifting alpine treelines in the Himalayas requires addressing the research gap in treeline dynamics, particularly using precise and updated data like remote sensing rather than outdated toposheets.
Experts emphasize a comprehensive conservation approach, involving habitat preservation, reforestation, effective water management, community engagement, and policy support.
Continuous research, monitoring, and international collaboration are essential for understanding and managing the shifts in treeline and ecosystem dynamics.
Additionally, generating and monitoring baseline data on plant species populations is crucial, considering treelines as part of a broader ecological context, including adjacent eco-regions.

8. CTE awaits Ministry nod to roll out National Mission for Mentoring

Subject: Schemes

Section: Education

Context:

With an aim to provide mentoring to school teachers, the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) has proposed to expand its pool of mentor teachers from 60 to 1,000 and is awaiting the nod of Ministry of Education to approve the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM), so that the mission can be rolled out across the country.

About National Mission For Mentoring

National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) is a programme in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which offers professional development opportunities to Mentors for sharing their knowledge, abilities, and experience with mentee to support them on their path to become effective teachers.
It aims to foster structured mentoring relationships between mentors and mentees, enabling school teachers and administrators to meet 21st-century educational demands.
NEP 2020 emphasizes the importance of high-quality teachers and proposes the National Mission on Mentoring (NMM) to enhance education outcomes and promote holistic teacher development.

National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)

It is statutory body of Central Government set up under NCTE Act, 1993.
Set up in 1995
It was set up to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in Indian education system.
NCTE plans and co-ordinates the development of teacher education system throughout the country (for both central as well as state governments).
It also ensures the maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system.
Its headquarter is in New Delhi.

9. Scientists fuse Brain-like Tissue with Electronics

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

Context:

Recently, a team of researchers has combined brain-like tissue with electronics to create an ‘organoid neural network’ known as Brainoware. It is capable of recognizing voices and solving complex math problems.

Working Process:

Researchers utilized lab-grown real human brain tissue to create mini-brains known as organoids. Brain organoids are 3D clusters of brain cells. These organoids are not actual brains, they are simply tissue structures without thoughts or feelings. They help in studying how the brain works without using a real human brain.
Brainoware connects these organoids to microelectrodes through a method of artificial neural network known as reservoir computing.
This device comprises three layers: input, reservoir, and output.
The brain organoid, which is connected to microelectrodes, acts as the reservoir. It received inputs via electrical stimulation from the input layer (live brain cells). The output layer comprised modified conventional computer hardware programmed to recognize Brainoware’s neural activity.
The researchers showcased Brainoware’s capabilities by forecasting a Henon map. Henon map is a mathematical function that plots a curve on a graph, displaying chaotic or non-chaotic behaviour based on the values of two variables.

Future Prospects:

It marks a significant advancement in multiple areas of science and engineering, such as tissue engineering, electrophysiology, and neural computation.

10. Kangaroo lizard species discovered in Western Ghats

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

The biodiverse forests of the Western Ghats have thrown up yet another marvel of evolution- a new species of tiny lizards, which researchers have described as “diminutive dragon”.

About kangaroo lizard species:

Researchers named the new, scaly reptiles after the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered of Existence (EDGE) program through the Zoological Society of London.
The new species Agasthyagama edge or the northern kangaroo lizard belongs to the Agamidae family.
A group of scientists discovered the new species from the southern Western Ghats at Kulamavu in Idukki.
The species is the second one of the Agasthyagama genus after A. beddomii or Indian kangaroo lizard that has been previously reported from Sivagiri hills in Tamil Nadu.

Some Distinct Features

A reduced fifth toe makes these reptiles poor climbers and hence do not climb trees like other lizards.
Instead, they are mostly terrestrial and found in areas with dense leaf litter cover.
They feed on small insects, this variety of kangaroo lizard runs fast and hides within dry leaves to evade predators.
It is known to have a maximum snout-vent length of 4.3 cm.

11. National credit framework

Subject: Schemes

Section: Education

Context:

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed significant changes to the academic framework for secondary and higher secondary education

More on news:

Changes include shift from studying two languages to three in Class 10,with the requirement that at least two must be native Indian languages.
Students in Class 10 may now need to pass in 10 subjects, as opposed to the current requirement of five.
The proposed changes for class 12 involved students studying two languages instead of one, with the condition that at least one must be a native Indian language.
The proposed changes form part of the CBSE’s broader initiative to implement a national credit framework in school education.
Creditisation aims to establish academic equivalence between vocational and general education, facilitating mobility between the two education systems, as proposed by the National Education Policy 2020.

About Notional learning:

Notional learning refers to a stipulated amount of time that an average student would need to spend in order to attain the specified outcomes.
Each subject has been allotted a certain number of hours so that, in a year, a student spends a total of 1200 learning hours to be declared pass.
The hours will include both academic learning at school and non-academic or experiential learning outside the school.

About Credit System:

The credits earned by a student will be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and accessible through a linked Digilocker account.
The credits will be “independent” of the marks obtained by a student.
About National Credit Framework(NCrF):
The National Credit Framework (NCrF) is based on the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee led by Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi
NCrF is about giving credit for each and every activity a student does in one’s lifetime as a student. Many sports, vocational training, science projects, art and craft activities and other such things will get credits.
NCrF aims to bring all school students under a unified credit system.

12. Back from Arctic winter voyage, scientists ‘happy to see Sun’ again

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

Girish was part of the four-member scientific team that became the first set of researchers from India to spend a winter carrying out scientific studies in the world’s northernmost habitation.

More on news:

India is only the fourth country in the world, after Germany, Italy and Norway, to have a year-round scientific presence in the Arctic region.
India has had a permanent research station called Himadri, in Ny-Ålesund in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the Arctic region since 2008.
Scientists have proposed to conduct the characterisation of the radio frequency environment in the Arctic, the first attempt ever from this region.
The experiments required the Indian researchers to drive an electric car to the Grave Badet laboratory which is located around 1.25 km from Himadri.
India shares this lab with Italy and Japan.
A Maxwell Antenna and an Electric Field Mill has been deployed at the Arctic to detect the atmospheric electric current and field respectively
This will help scientists in gathering information about the Global Atmospheric Electrical Circuit and better understand lightning.

The Himadri station and India’s facilities in the Arctic:

It is situated in the Ny-Alesund region of Svalbard, Norway.
It is India’s first permanent Arctic research station.
It is located at a distance of 1,200 kilometers (750 mi) from the North Pole.
India has an atmospheric science facility called Gruve Badet Observatory that houses various atmospheric observation networks.
The country has initiated new scientific projects in the Canadian High Arctic (Nunavut region) and plans to initiate studies in Greenland soon.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR):

The NCPOR, formerly known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
It is the nodal agency for India’s polar expeditions.
It is an autonomous institution of the Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India which is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintains the Indian government’s Antarctic research stations, Bharati and Maitri.

13. BRICS and BRICS PLUS

Subject: IR

Section: Int Groupings

Context:

Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed that they are joining the BRICS bloc.

More on news:

The five countries were extended invitations along with Argentina at a summit in August in Johannesburg to join the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa.
Members say the move would help reshuffle a world order they view as outdated.

About BRICS:

BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The term BRIC was coined by Jim O’ Neil, the then chairman of Goldman Sachs in 2001.
The first BRIC summit took place in the year 2009 in Yekaterinburg (Russia).
In 2010, South Africa formally joined the association making it BRICS.
The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is convened annually.
The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
Together, BRICS accounts for about 40% of the world’s population and about 30% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), making it a critical economic engine.
During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai.
The Fortaleza Declaration stressed that the NDB will strengthen cooperation among BRICS and will supplement the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global development thus contributing to sustainable and balanced growth.
Considering the increasing instances of global financial crisis, BRICS nations signed BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) in 2014 as part of Fortaleza Declaration at Sixth BRICS summit.
The BRICS CRA aims to provide short-term liquidity support to the members through currency swaps to help mitigate the BOP crisis situation and further strengthen financial stability.
The initial total committed resources of the CRA shall be one hundred billion dollars of the United States of America (USD 100 billion).

About BRICS PLUS:

BRICS Plus is a global platform fostering innovation, diverse collaboration, and sustainability in 186 countries.
With plans to include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in 2024 it is committed to global economic advancement.
BRICS+ Platform is shaping a future of innovation and positive impact worldwide.
BRICS Plus was first mooted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in March 2017 with the objective of widening the “circle of friends” of BRICS that can bring unity among developing countries and enhance South-South cooperation.