Daily Prelims Notes 11 September 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

11 September 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Apple country Himachal Pradesh gets ground ready for cannabis cultivation
2. Crown shyness: let our realms stay apart
3. Regulator issues alert over sale of falsified versions of 2 drugs
4. G20 Summit: New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted with consensus on various environmental goals
5. Some Facts about the New Delhi Declaration of G20
6. How did a China-based hacking group compromise Microsoft’s cloud security?
7. Buzzing Breakthrough: Genetic Engineering Upgrades Mosquito Control

1. Apple country Himachal Pradesh gets ground ready for cannabis cultivation

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

• Himachal Pradesh government inching closer to legalize cannabis (hemp) cultivation in the State.

Details:

• A five member committee recommended cultivation of ‘non-narcotic use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and scientific use’.
• A study suggests that approximately 95% drug addicts in Himachal Pradesh are using cannabis and its by-products such as marijuana, hashish, charas and ganja/hemp, etc.

Cannabis:

• Hemp is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
• It is produced in parts of Himachal Pradesh though it is illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and NDPS rules 1989.

Uses of cannabis (Hemp):

• Mainly cultivated for its fiber and seeds.
• Used in- Phytoremediation, fiber-cloth manufacturing, ropes, baskets, sleepers, medicinal use, and use in the pulp and paper industry.

Consequences of legalizing cannabis cultivation:

• Positive: Economic boost, increase in employment, increased farmers income, medicinal use of hemp, treatment of patients.
• Negative: Allurement among adolescents and youth towards the use-abuse of cannabis, the nexus between illegal producers and suppliers of cannabis getting stronger, the risk of pilferage, and the occurrence of amotivational syndrome.

NDPS Act 1985:

• The NDPS Act of 1985, imposes a ban on extracting the resin and flowers from the plant, but the law determines the method and extent of its cultivation for medicinal and scientific purposes.
• Section 10 (a) (iii) of the Act empowers the States to make rules regarding the cultivation of any cannabis plant, production, possession, transport, consumption, use and purchase and sale, and consumption of cannabis (except charas).
• States are empowered to permit, by general or special order, the cultivation of hemp only for obtaining fiber or seeds or for horticultural purposes.
• In 2017Uttarakhand became the first State in the country to legalize cannabis cultivation.
• Controlled cultivation is also being done in some districts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• The NDPS Act was enacted in order to meet the then United Nations Conventions on Drug Policy in the year 1985.

2. Crown shyness: let our realms stay apart

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

What is crown shyness?

• Crown shyness or canopy disengagement, or inter-crown spacing is a feature observed in some tree species, in which the crowns of fully stocked trees do not touch each other, instead forming a canopy with channel-like gaps.
• This is most prevalent among trees of the same species, but also occurs between trees of different species, including eucalyptus, pine, spiny hackberry (Celtis spinosa), amberoi and oak.
• This phenomenon is most common in temperate deciduous forests.
• There exist many hypotheses as to why crown shyness is an adaptive behavior, and research suggests that it might inhibit spread of leaf-eating insect larvae.

Probable cause:

• This mutual shade avoidance could be a result of buds at the end of twigs being able to sense light from the neighboring tree and refusing to grow in that direction.
• It may be an adaptive mechanism to reduce trees’ competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients or reduce the spread of disease.

3. Regulator issues alert over sale of falsified versions of 2 drugs

Subject :Science and Technology

Section: Health

In the news:

• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has directed the drugs controllers of all States and Union Territories to keep a strict vigil on the sale and distribution of falsified versions of two drugs, liver medication Defitelio and Takeda’s cancer drug Adcetris (injection), following alerts issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO Advisory:

• Against falsified versions of Adcetris injection 50 mg manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, identified in four different countries including India and Turkey.
• Against a falsified version of Defitelio (Defibrotide) 80 mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion, manufactured by Gentium Srl.
• Against Abbott’s antacid Digene gel, citing safety concerns, which is manufactured at a Goa facility.

Adcetris:

• Adcetris (Brentuximab Vedotin) is a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate indicated for the treatment of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma after the failure of an autologous stem cell transplant and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Laws in India to regulate medicines:

• The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs in India.
• India is also the world’s leading producer of fake drugs, according to research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office.
• In 2003, Mashelkar Committee noted that although the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 has been in force, the level of enforcement in many States has been unsatisfactory.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):

• The CDSCO is India’s national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• The Indian government has announced its plan to bring all medical devices, including implants and contraceptives under a review of the Central Drugs and Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
• Within the CDSCO, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices and is positioned within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC).
• Divided into zonal offices, each one carries out pre-licensing and post-licensing inspections, post-market surveillance, and drug recalls (where necessary).
• Manufacturers who deal with the authority required to name an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to represent them in all dealings with the CDSCO in India.
• CDSCO plans to open an international office in Beijing, China.

4. G20 Summit: New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted with consensus on various environmental goals

Subject: IR

Section: Groupings

Context:

• The Group of Twenty (G20) has adopted the G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration on September 9, 2023.

New Delhi Leader’s Declaration:

• Effective implementation of Paris Agreement of 2015, adherence to the common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR),  inclusion of the sustainable development goals (SDG), climate finance, energy transitions, using and restoring natural ecosystems, harnessing and preserving ocean-based economies, plastic pollution, reducing disaster risk and building resilient infrastructure.
• Taking note of the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report, the document stated that the “timeframes for peaking may be shaped by sustainable development, poverty eradication needs, equity, and in line with different national circumstances”.
• In the declaration under the Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future, the countries have committed to “urgently accelerate our actions to address environmental crises and challenges, including climate change”.
• Full and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• G20 ambition of reducing land degradation by 50 per cent by 2040 on a voluntary basis as discussed in Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap and Gandhinagar Information Platform.
• In the context of forests:
  • It will avoid discriminatory green economic policies, consistent with WTO rules and multilateral environmental agreements.
  • Commitment of mobilizing new and additional finance for forests from all sources, including concessional and innovative financing, in particular for developing countries. Commitment to prevention and mitigation of wildfires and remediation of mining-degraded lands”.
• Harnessing ocean-based economy:
  • Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue / Ocean based economy and the adoption of “the new international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine Biological diversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBJN Treaty)
• Disaster Management:
  • Institutionalization of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group under the presidency of India, which catalyzed efforts towards disaster risk reduction.
  • Accelerating progress on early warning and early action through strengthening national and local capacities, innovative financing tools, private sector investments and knowledge sharing.
• The members supported the United Nations’ initiatives such as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in “furtherance of such collaboration and sharing”.
• Earlier, the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) was agreed upon at Conference of Parties (COP27) to UNFCCC in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022.

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):

• Formed in 2007.
• Latest session: in 2022 at Bali, Indonesia.
• This global forum is an avenue to share knowledge and discuss the latest developments and trends in reducing disaster risk.
• The UN General Assembly recognizes the Global Platform as a critical mechanism to review progress on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• At the Platform, governments, the UN system and all stakeholders get together to identify ways to further accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI):

• It was launched by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
• Today, or as of 2023, the CDRI has 39 members, incl. 31 member states, such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• CDRI is an international coalition of countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector, and academic institutions, that aims to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• Its objective is to promote research and knowledge sharing in the fields of infrastructure risk management, standards, financing, and recovery mechanisms.
• CDRI’s initial focus is on developing disaster-resilience in ecological, social, and economic infrastructure. It aims to achieve substantial changes in member countries’ policy frameworks and future infrastructure investments, along with a major decrease in the economic losses suffered due to disasters.

For details of G20 summit India: https://optimizeias.com/indias-perspective-ahead-of-the-g20-summit/

5. Some Facts about the New Delhi Declaration of G20

Subject : IR

Section: Groupings

More about the news:

• The Declaration’s Structure:
  • The Declaration stands out due to its unique structure, deviating from traditional paragraph-based joint declarations.
  • It begins with a preamble, followed by 10 chapters, and concludes with a final section.
• Emphasis on Ukraine:
  • The Declaration dedicates a significant portion to addressing the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with seven detailed paragraphs.
  • In contrast, the previous Bali Declaration only contained two paragraphs on this issue.
• Global Economic Focus:
  • The document discusses the global economic situation, emphasizing financial inclusion and anti-corruption efforts.
  • Commitment to implementing the Action Plan against Fugitive Economic Offenders to enhance international cooperation and information sharing.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • Focus on achieving SDGs, including ending hunger, improving healthcare, and providing quality education.
  • Highlights potential economic impacts of future pandemics and identifies gaps in pandemic response mechanisms.
• Education Priorities:
  • Emphasis on enhancing teachers’ capacity, improving curricula, offering content in local languages, and increasing access to digital resources.
  • Aims to provide essential education for all, especially marginalized children.
• Green Development:
  • Stress on implementing clean, sustainable, just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions.
  • Recognizes the importance of reliable, diverse, and sustainable value chains for critical minerals and technologies.
• Multilateral Institution Reform:
  • Discussion on reforming international financial institutions likeNotable agreement on UN Security Council reform and reforms for more effective Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
  • Calls for addressing debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries and exchanging tax-relevant crypto asset information by 2027.
• Technological Transformation:
  • Focus on building digital public infrastructure, regulating crypto-assets, and harnessing AI responsibly.
  • Agreement on a G20 framework for digital public infrastructure and a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR).
  • Emphasis on cyber education and awareness, particularly for children and youth.
• Crypto-Asset Regulation:
  • Achievement of consensus on establishing a global regulatory framework for crypto-assets.
  • Endorsement of high-level recommendations by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) for regulating crypto-asset activities.
• Gender Equality:
  • Promotion of equal economic rights, property ownership, financial services, and inheritance for women.
  • Support for women’s organizations, closing gender gaps in agricultural access, and the creation of a working group on women’s empowerment.
• Countering Terrorism and Money Laundering:
  • Strong condemnation of terrorism and commitment to international peace and security.
• Inclusivity and Diplomacy:
  • India’s G20 Presidency welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership, enhancing G20 inclusivity and cooperation with Africa.
  • It shows India’s commitment to promoting respect for religious and cultural diversity and denouncing religious hatred.
• Acknowledgement of future G20 Presidencies, including Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the US in 2026 and recognition of the significance of Engagement Groups and Initiatives under India’s G20 Presidency.

Some facts about Engagement Groups

6. How did a China-based hacking group compromise Microsoft’s cloud security?

Subject : Science and Technology

Section: Awareness in IT

Introduction

• Storm-0558, a China-based hacking group, breached U.S. government-linked email accounts.
• The compromised email accounts included those of top American officials such as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.
• The breach stemmed from the compromise of a Microsoft engineer’s corporate account, allowing hackers to extract a cryptographic key for email account access.

Storm-0558: A China-Based Threat Actor

• Microsoft Threat Intelligence assessed Storm-0558 as a China-based threat actor with activities aligned with espionage objectives.
• The group primarily targeted U.S. and European diplomatic, economic, and legislative entities, as well as individuals linked to Taiwan and Uyghur geopolitical interests.
• Targeting Microsoft accounts using phishing campaigns and exploiting vulnerabilities in public-facing applications for initial access.

Compromising Microsoft’s Security

• Storm-0558 compromised Microsoft’s cloud security by using an acquired MSA key to forge tokens.
• These tokens were used to access Outlook Web Access (OWA), Microsoft’s web-based mail client, and impersonate Azure AD users for enterprise email access.

Understanding Cryptographic Keys

• A cryptographic key is a string of characters used in encryption algorithms to secure data.
• Types:
  • Symmetric Keys:
    • These use the same key for both encryption and decryption.
    • While efficient, secure sharing of the key between parties can be challenging.
  • Asymmetric Keys:
    • Also known as public-key encryption.
    • It involves a pair of keys – a public key and a private key.
    • The public key is shared openly, while the private key remains secret.
    • Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the private key, ensuring secure communication and authentication.
• Digital Signatures: Cryptographic keys are crucial for creating and verifying digital signatures, which confirm the authenticity and integrity of digital documents or messages.

7. Buzzing Breakthrough: Genetic Engineering Upgrades Mosquito Control

Subject : Science and Technology

Section: Biotech

Introduction

• Mosquitoes have plagued humans for millions of years, transmitting deadly diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, lymphatic filariasis, and yellow fever.
• Current mosquito control methods include mosquito nets, insecticides, and the use of symbionts like Wolbachia.
• Insecticide resistance in mosquitoes is on the rise, necessitating new approaches to mosquito control.

Help from Sequencing Tech

• Advances in next-generation sequencing techniques have provided access to the whole genome sequences of mosquito species.
• Researchers from the University of California, Tata Institute of Genetics and Society, and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology prepared high-quality reference genomes for Anopheles stephensi, a major malaria vector mosquito.

Gene Drive

• Genetic manipulation aims to control mosquito populations by interfering with their reproduction.
• Gene-drive technology, conceived by Austin Burt, allows mosquitoes to inherit specific genes not following Mendelian genetics.
• A protein cuts the mosquito’s DNA at a non-encoding part (often using CRISPR), leading to the incorporation of a drive sequence and reducing reproductive capabilities or sterility.
• Researchers genetically enhanced a gene in mosquitoes’ midgut to secrete antimicrobial substances that disrupt the Plasmodium parasite’s development, reducing malaria transmission.

Benefits and Risks

• In 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authorized the release of genetically modified mosquitoOX5034.
• OX5034 males mate with females, but a self-limiting gene prevents female offspring from surviving, reducing mosquito populations.
• Promising results from trials in India, Brazil, and Panama showed up to 90% mosquito population reductions and decreased dengue incidence.
• Risks include potential ecological disruptions and uncertainty about the impact on food chains and ecosystems.
• Critics raise concerns about unintended ecological consequences and the spread of engineered genes beyond target populations.
• The Department of Biotechnology in India released guidelines for genetically engineered insects, outlining procedures and regulations.

Applications:

• Agriculture: Enhancing crops for increased yield, resistance to pests, and environmental stress tolerance.
• Vector Control: Combating diseases by modifying disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes to reduce disease transmission.
• Conservation: Addressing invasive species by altering their genetics to mitigate ecological impacts.