Daily Prelims Notes 15 December 2022

December 15, 2022
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

15 December 2022

Table Of Contents

Subject :Modern India

Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed a programme celebrating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary via video conferencing today in Kamban Kalai Sangam, Puducherry under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Prime Minister also released a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honour of Sri Aurobindo.

Concept:

He was an Indian social, political and spiritual philosopher, yoga guru, maharishi, poet, revolutionary leader and Indian nationalist ideolouge.
He was also a journalist, editing newspapers such as BandeMataram.
Aurobindo studied for the Indian Civil Service at King’s College, Cambridge, England.
After returning to India, he took up various civil service works under the Maharaja of the Princely state of Baroda and became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti.
- In 1892, he held various administrative posts in Baroda (Vadodara) and Calcutta (Kolkata).
He was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Alipore Conspiracy.
- During his stay in the jail, he had mystical and spiritual experiences, after which he moved to Pondicherry, leaving politics for spiritual work.
At Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo developed a spiritual practice he called Integral Yoga. He believed in a spiritual realisation that not only liberated but transformed human nature, enabling a divine life on earth.
In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa (referred to as “The Mother”), Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded.
His main literary works are
- The Life Divine, which deals with the philosophical aspect of Integral Yoga;
- Synthesis of Yoga, which deals with the principles and methods of Integral Yoga;
- Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, an epic poem.
- Bhagavad Gita and Its Message
- The Future Evolution of Man
- Rebirth and Karma
- Hour of God

AurobindoGhose was born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872.
He was a yogi, seer, philosopher, poet, and Indian nationalist who propounded a philosophy of divine life on earth through spiritual evolution.
He died on 5th December 1950 in Pondicherry.

Indian Revolutionary Movement:

Aurobindo studied for the Indian Civil Service at King’s College, Cambridge, England.
After returning to India, he took up various civil service works under the Maharaja of the Princely state of Baroda and became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti.
- In 1892, he held various administrative posts in Baroda (Vadodara) and Calcutta (Kolkata).
He was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Alipore Conspiracy

Religion & Spirituality:

At Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo developed a spiritual practice he called Integral Yoga.
In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, MirraAlfassa (referred to as “The Mother”), Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded.
He believed that the basic principles of matter, life, and mind would be succeeded through terrestrial evolution by the principle of supermind as an intermediate power between the two spheres of the infinite and the finite.

Literary Works:

An English newspaper called BandeMataram (in 1905).
The Life Divine
Synthesis of Yoga
Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
Bhagavad Gita and Its Message
The Future Evolution of Man
Rebirth and Karma
Hour of God

2. Govt seeks Parliament nod for additional grant of ₹3.25-lakh crore this fiscal

Subject :Polity

Concept:

Article 115: Supplementary, additional or excess grants.
Supplementary grants are the additional grant required to meet the required expenditure of the government.
When grants, authorised by the Parliament, fall short of the required expenditure, an estimate is presented before the Parliament for Supplementary or Additional grants. These grants are presented and passed by the Parliament before the end of the financial year.
When actual expenditure incurred exceeds the approved grants of the Parliament, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Railways presents a Demand for Excess Grant. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India bring such excesses to the notice of the Parliament.
The Public Accounts Committee examines these excesses and gives recommendations to the Parliament. The Demand for Excess Grants is made after the actual expenditure is incurred and is presented to the Parliament after the end of the financial year in which the expenses were made.

Other grants:

Additional Grant: It is granted when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the Budget for that year.
Excess Grant: It is granted when money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that year. The demands for excess grants are made after the expenditure has actually been incurred and after the financial year to which it relates, has expired.
Exceptional Grants: It is granted for an exceptional purpose which forms no part of the current service of any financial year
Token Grant: It is granted when funds to meet proposed expenditure on a new service can be made available by re-appropriation, a demand for the grant of a token sum may be submitted to the vote of the House and, if the House assents to the demand, funds may be so made available.

3. As earth heats up; arctic faces disproportionate impact: NOAA

Subject :Environment

Context:

The once reliably frigid and frozen Arctic is becoming wetter and stormier, with shifts in its climate and seasons that are forcing local communities, wildlife and ecosystems to adapt.
2022 was only the Arctic’s sixth warmest year on record, researchers saw plenty of new signs this year of how the region is changing.

Signs of changing climate in the arctic region:

September heat wave in Greenland led to excessive ice melting.
The August 2021 heatwave caused it to rain for the first time.
Temperatures in the Arctic Circle have been rising much more quickly than those in the rest of the planet.
Warming in the arctic raises the sea level worldwide.

Three main factors could be increasing precipitation in different parts of the Arctic:

Warmer air can hold more moisture.
As sea ice retreats, storms can suck up more open ocean water.
Storms are passing over warmer water before reaching the Arctic, feeding them with more energy.

NOAA: Arctic report card:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produces this report annually since 2006.
This year’s report is produced in Chicago.
As per the report: Rising temperatures have helped plants, shrubs and grasses grow in parts of the Arctic tundra, and 2022 saw levels of green vegetation that were the fourth highest since 2000, particularly in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, northern Quebec and central Siberia.

Artic amplification:

The Arctic’s extreme warming, known as Arctic amplification or polar amplification, may be due to three factors.
One, the region’s reflectivity, or albedo is changing as the world warms.
If the sea ice melts in the Arctic that will remove that white surface off of the ocean, and what will be exposed is this darker ocean surface that will absorb more of the sun’s heat.
This dovetails with the second factor: changing currents.
Ocean currents normally bring in warmer water from the Pacific, and colder water exits out of the Arctic into the Atlantic.
But those currents may be changing because more melting ice is injecting the Arctic Ocean with freshwater, which is less dense than saltwater, and therefore floats above it.
The missing ice also exposes the surface waters to more wind, speeding up the Beaufort Gyre in the Arctic, which traps the water it would normally expel into the Atlantic.
This acceleration mixes up colder freshwater at the surface and warmer saltwater below, raising surface temperatures and further melting ice.
Ocean currents influence the weather, a third factor.
They drive the powerful polar jet stream, which moves hot and cold air masses around the Northern Hemisphere. This is a product of the temperature differences between the Arctic and the tropics.
But as the Arctic warms, the jet stream now undulates wildly north and south. This has been injecting the Arctic with warm air in the summer and the US with extremely cold air in the winter, like during the “polar vortex” of January 2019.

4. COP15 Montreal: ‘30×30 will create more militarised Protected Areas’

Subject: Environment

Context-

The ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, is pushing for a 30×30 Target to protect and conserve at least 30 per cent of land and ocean biodiversity by 2030 to avoid a crisis.

About 30X30 target-

The foundation of the GBF agreement is a pledge to protect 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, usually referred to as the 30X30 goal.
The 30X30 target was first floated in 2019 in an article A Global Deal for Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets published in Science Advances.
This then became the global call of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2020 and as of October 2022, more than 100 countries are part of it.
Countries have to commit to protecting 30 per cent of the land and sea by 2030 under this goal.

Concerns over the target-

It will oust around 300 million indigenous people from their native lands and forests in the name of conservation.
As soon as an areas is notified as Protected areas (PAs), indigenous and local communities will lose access to these areas.
Even after declaring 15-16% of world areas as protected areas, wildlife loss has not been reduced.
The Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which talks about 30×30, does not address indigenous rights and territories.

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)-

An OECM is defined by the CBD as:

A geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio–economic, and other locally relevant values.
Governments, relevant organizations, Indigenous peoples and local communities are invited to apply voluntary guidance on OECMs to identify, recognise and support OECMs, and report data on OECMs to the World Database on OECMs.

Concerns over OECM-

OECMs will undermine India’s Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA).
Under FRA, people from tribal and forest-dwelling communities do not have to show how well they protect the forests to claim rights over their ancestral lands.
Under OECMs the indigenous communities have to show, through a very long and complicated process, that they are able to protect the biodiversity.

5. How gene therapy could cure cancer

Subject :Science and Technology

Context:

Scientists in the United Kingdom testing a new form of cancer therapy, reported success in a teenaged girl, Alyssia, with a form of cancer called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia:

T-cells are a class of white blood cells which are equipped to hunt and neutralise threats to the body.
In this form of blood cancer, the T-cells turn against the body and end up destroying healthy cells that normally help with immunity.
The disease is rapid and progressive and is usually treated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The new experimental gene therapy is relied on a new technique called ‘base editing.’ And proved successful on the teenaged cancer patient Alyssia.

What is base editing?

A person’s genetic code is several permutations of four bases: Adenine (A), Guanin (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T).
Sequences of these bases, akin to letters in the alphabet, spell out genes that are instructions to produce the wide array of proteins necessary for the body’s functions.
Editing these base sequences of genes with the help of a tool known as “CRISPR-cas9 system” is called ‘Base-editing’.
- The CRISPR-cas 9 system, consists of an enzyme that acts like molecular scissors.
- It can be made to cut a piece of DNA at a precise location and a guide RNA can be used to insert a changed genetic code at the sites of incision.
David Liu, of the Broad Institute, Massachusetts has improvised on the CRISPR-cas9 system to be able to directly change certain bases: thus, a C can be changed into a G and T into an A.
While still a nascent technology, base editing is reportedly more effective at treating blood disorders which are caused by so-called single point mutations, or when a change in a single base pair can cause terminal disease.

How did base-editing work for Alyssia’s therapy?

In Alyssia’s case, her T-cells — perhaps because of a mis-arrangement in the sequence of bases — had become cancerous.
A way to correct this mis-arrangement could mean a healthier immune system.
With the help of Base-editing, scientists have successfully arranged the sequence bases which will produce healthier T-cells, which can further regrow her immune system.

6. Public Financial Management System (PFMS)

Subject :Economy

Context:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presented a report on the “Implementation of Public Financial Management System [PFMS].

Details:

The committee observed that the tasks related to the implementation of the PFMS appeared to have been dealt with a casual approach and there was no proper financial planning of the process.
The committee held the view that incorporating scientific methods into budgeting, projecting and utilisation of funds would have ensured maintenance of fiscal prudence.

Concept:

The Public Financial Management System (PFMS)

It was earlier known as Central Plan Schemes Monitoring System (CPSMS)
It is a web-based online software application developed and implemented by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
PFMS was initially started during 2009 as a Central Sector Scheme of the Planning Commission with the objective of tracking funds released under all Plan schemes of the Government of India, and real time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
Subsequently, the scope was enlarged to cover direct payment to beneficiaries under all Schemes.
Gradually, it has been envisaged that digitization of accounts shall be achieved through PFMS and later more financial activities of the Government of India brought under the ambit of PFMS.
The primary objective of PFMS is to facilitate a sound Public Financial Management System for the Government of India (GoI) by establishing an efficient fund flow system as well as a payment cum accounting network.
PFMS provides various stakeholders with a real time, reliable and meaningful management information system and an effective decision support system, as part of the Digital India initiative of GoI.

The mandate:

A financial management platform for all plan schemes, a database of all recipient agencies, integration with core banking solutions of banks handling plan funds, integration with State Treasuries and efficient and effective tracking of fund flow to the lowest level of implementation for plan schemes of the Government.
To provide information across all plan schemes/ implementation agencies in the country on fund utilization.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament

Public Accounts Committee was introduced in 1921 after its first mention in the Government of India Act, 1919 also called Montford Reforms. It is existing in the Indian Constitution since then.

PAC is one of the parliamentary committees that examine the annual audit reports of CAG which the President lays before the Parliament of India. Those three reports submitted by CAG are:
- Audit report on appropriation accounts
- Audit report on finance accounts
- Audit report on public undertakings
The Public Accounts Committee examines public expenditure.
That public expenditure is not only examined from a legal and formal point of view to discover technical irregularities but also from the point of view of the economy, prudence, wisdom, and propriety.
The sole purpose to do this is to bring out cases of waste, loss, corruption, extravagance, inefficiency, and nugatory expenses.
Election of Members -By Parliament every year with proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote (A minister cannot be elected)
Members – 22. Out of 22 members, 15 are elected from Lok Sabha (Lower House) and 7 members are elected from Rajya Sabha (Upper House.)
Term of office – one year
Chairman – Speaker appoints him/her from amongst the members, invariably from the Opposition Party since 1967.
Its limitation – It can keep a tab on the expenses only after they are incurred. It has no power to limit expenses.

7. India’s merchandise trade

Subject :Economy

Context:

India’s imports from China rose sharply post the Galwan clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

Concept:

China is India’s second biggest trading partner after the United States in 2021-22.
In 2021-22, India-China bilateral trade stood at $115.83 billion—11.19 per cent of India’s total merchandise trade of $1,035 billion.
The bilateral trade between the two countries increased post 2002-03 and China became India’s top trading partner in 2011-12, from 2013-14 to 2017-18 and again in 2020-21.

Differences in trading relation between India-USA and India-China

India had a trade surplus of $32.85 billion with the US during 2021-22.
- India imported petroleum crude, coking coal, LNG, diamonds, almonds, turbo-jets, etc. from the USA.
- India exported– diamonds, gold jewellery set with diamonds, vannamei shrimp, and turbo-jets etc
India had a trade deficit of $73.31 billion with China-the highest for any country due to unprecedented surge in imports from India.
- During 2021-22, 15.42 per cent of India’s total imports ($613.05 billion) came from
- India imported-electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers and parts; nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances and parts of thereof; organic chemicals; plastic and plastic articles; and fertilisers.
- India exported– 5 per cent of India’s total shipments ($422 billion) which included-Ores, slag and ash; organic chemicals, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes; iron and steel; aluminum and articles of thereof; and cotton.

India’s merchandise trade:

India’s top-10 trading partners (2021-22)-USA, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, and Australia.

Top exports-Petroleum Products>Pearl, Precious and Semi-precious Stones>Iron and Steel>

Drug Formulations, Biological>Gold and Other precious metal Jewellery

Top export destination:

Top imports- Petroleum crude>gold>petroleum products>Pearl, Precious, Semi-precious Stones>Coal, Coke and Briquettes etc.

Top import destinations:

8. Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations 2022

Subject :Economy

FSSAI laid the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022.

Details:

It aims to create fairness in claims and advertisements of food products and make food businesses accountable for such claims /advertisements so as to protect consumer interests.
Food manufacturers should avoid using misleading “fancy adjectives” to describe the contents of their packs and brand names.
These words include labels such as “natural”, “fresh”, “pure”, “original”, “traditional”, “authentic”, “genuine”, and “real”, for the brand name or trademark which tends to mislead consumers as to the nature of the food.
In such cases a disclaimer shall be mentioned prominently on the front of pack of the label stating that – this is only a brand name or trademark, or fancy name and does not represent its true nature.
It also provides the font size of the above disclaimer.
advertisements in respect of a food product that undermines the importance of healthy lifestyles or portrays the product as a complete replacement for a normal meal are not permitted.

About front-of-package labeling (FoPL)

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FoP labels as nutrition labelling systems that are presented on the front of food packages in the principal field of vision, and present simple, often graphic information on the nutrient content or nutritional quality of products.
- To complement the more detailed nutrient declarations provided on the back of food packages.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission mentions that “FoP labelling is designed to assist in interpreting nutrient declarations”.
FoP labelling system has long been listed as one of the global best practices to nudge consumers into healthy food choices.
It works just the way cigarette packets are labelled with images to discourage consumption.

FOPL and India

In India, Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) was first recommended in 2014 by an expert committee constituted by FSSAI in 2013.
In 2019, the FSSAI issued draft notification Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.
- The draft mandates colour-coded labels on food items.
In December 2019, the FSSAI delinked FOPL from general labelling regulations.
On 15th February 2022 the FSSAI decided to adopt the “health-star rating system” in its draft regulations for Front of Package Labelling (FOPL).
- Health-star rating system gives a product 1/2 a star to 5 stars.
- The HSR format ranks a packaged food item based on salt, sugar, and fat content and the rating will be printed on the front of the package.
- The rating will be the first such in India, a country burdened with lifestyle diseases, and is aimed at guiding consumers to opt for healthy food.

9. Coal imports

Subject :Economy

India’s coal imports are expected to grow by 5 per cent y-o-y to 219 million tonnes (mt) in the current financial year.

Details:

The targets for domestic coal production and imports have been estimated at 911 mt and 219 mt, respectively.

Concept:

Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries account for the majority of coal production in India. CIL has set up Regional Sales Offices and Sub-Sales Offices at selected places in the country to cater to the needs of the consuming sectors in various regions.
India imports coking coal and high grade (GCV) coal which are essential as domestic production is limited due to scarce reserves or non-availability.
- Coking Coal is being imported by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and other Steel manufacturing units mainly to bridge the gap between the requirement and indigenous availability and to improve the quality.
- Coal based power plants, cement plants, captive power plants, sponge iron plants, industrial consumers and coal traders are importing non-coking coal.
As per the coal directory 2020-21, India is the second largest importer, and it mainly imports coal from Indonesia, Australia, South Africa and USA.
Coal is kept under Open General License (OGL) and consumers are free to import coal from the source of their choice as per their contractual prices on payment of applicable duty.
Coal is allocated the power and the non power sectors (non-regulated sectors). NRS consumers include aluminium, cement, sponge iron, paper, ceramics, tea, textile and captive power producers (CPPs).
The electricity sector is the largest consumer of raw coal in India and accounted for 64.07% of the total coal consumed in the country in 2020-21. Other significant consumers include the steel and washery industry (6.65%), the sponge iron industry (1.06%), the cement industry (0.75%), and fertilizers and chemicals (0.19%).

Open General Licence (OGL)

India has steadily made the process of importing products easier.
Most items fall within the scope of India’s EXIM Policy regulation of Open General License.
It means that products are deemed to be freely importable without restrictions and without a license unless they are regulated by the provisions of the policy or applicable laws.
Imports of items not covered by Open General License are regulated and fall into three categories:
- banned or prohibited items;
- restricted items requiring an import license; and
- canalized items- imported only by government trading monopolies and subject to Cabinet approval regarding timing and quantity.

10. World Bank’s Pension Conceptual Framework

Subject :Economy

The World Bank provided a Pension Conceptual Framework in 2008 which is adapted from the World Economic Forum.
The Five Pillar Framework is the template that the World Bank uses for recommendations regarding reform of country-wide pension systems.
The various pension plans for the provisioning of old age financial security in different countries can be broadly classified into five groups or pillars, depending on their funding mode and target population:
- Zero pillar: A non-contributory basic pension from public finances to deal explicitly with the poverty-alleviation objective.
- First pillar: A mandated public pension plan with contributions linked to earnings, with the objective of replacing some pre-retirement income.
- Second pillar: Typically, mandated defined contribution (DC) with individual accounts in occupational or personal pension plans with financial assets.
- Third pillar: Voluntary and fully funded occupational or personal pension plans with financial assets that can provide some flexibility when compared to mandatory schemes.
- Fourth pillar: A voluntary system outside the pension system with access to a range of financial and non-financial assets and informal support such as family, healthcare and housing.
The World Bank’s Pension Primer identifies three relevant process criteria for pension:
- a long-term, credible commitment by the government;
- local buy-in and leadership; and
- sufficient capacity building and support for implementation arrangements.

11. Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on plea for legal nod to same-sex union

Subject :Polity

Context:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea by a gay couple seeking legal recognition of their marriage in India.

More about the issue:

The plea was filed by a 46-year-old Indian national who got married to a US citizen in September 2010 in the US and registered their marriage in Pennsylvania, USA, in June 2014.
The duo’s attempts to get their marriage registered under theHindu Marriage Act, 1955, came to a naught as the Registrar of Marriages refused to grant their request.Moreover the Indian embassy in Washington DC, turned down the request to register the marriage under Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.

What is Same-Sex Marriage:

It is the practice of marriage between two men or between two women.
Same-sex marriage has been regulated through law, religion, and custom in most countries of the world.
As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in more than 30 countries.Mexico was the most recent country to legalise it.

What is the legality of same-sex marriages in India:

The right to marry is not expressly recognized either as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution.
Though marriage is regulated through various statutory enactments, its recognition as a fundamental right has only developed through judicial decisions of India’s Supreme Court.Such declaration of law is binding on all courts throughout India under Article 141 of the Constitution.

What are some important Supreme Court Decisions:

In Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others 2018, Supreme Court stated Marriage as a Fundamental Right. The right to marry is intrinsic to the liberty which the Constitution guarantees as a fundamental right, is the ability of each individual to take decisions on matters central to the pursuit of happiness.
In Navjet Singh Johar and others v. Union of India 2018 The Supreme Court held that members of the LGBTQ community are entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of constitutional rights including the liberties protected by the Constitution and are entitled to equal citizenship and equal protection of law

What is The Special Marriage Act of 1954:

The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of religion or faith followed by either party.
The couples have to serve a notice with the relevant documents to the Marriage Officer 30 days before the intended date of the marriage.
Applicability:
- Any person, irrespective of religion.
- Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, or Jews can also perform marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
- Inter-religion marriages are performed under this Act.
- This Act is applicable to the entire territory of India and extends to intending spouses who are both Indian nationals living abroad.
- Indian national living abroad.

12. Bill for ST status for Gond in four UP district got Rajya Sabha nod

Subject :Polity

Context:

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed with voice vote the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill-2022, which seeks to give the ST status to the Gond community in four districts of Uttar Pradesh.

More about the bill:

The Bill was introduced by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda in the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in April 2022.
The Bill will ensure the inclusion of the Gond community in the Scheduled Tribes list in four districts of Uttar Pradesh i.e Sant Kabir Nagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kushinagar and Chandauli.

Status of Scheduled Tribes in India:

According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes account for 104 million representing 8.6% of the country’s population.
No community has been specified as Scheduled Tribe in the State of Haryana and Punjab and UTs of Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry.
The Government of India set up the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 1999 after the bifurcation of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

What is the the list of Scheduled Tribes:

Article 342 provides for specification of tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or UT.
In pursuance of these provisions, the list of Scheduled Tribes is notified for each State or Union Territory and these lists are valid only within the jurisdiction of that State or UT and not outside.
A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.

What is the process of inclusion in the list:

The process to include tribes in the ST list begins with the recommendation from the respective State governments.
These recommendations are then sent to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, which reviews and sends them to the Registrar General of India for approval.
This is followed by the approval of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes before the list is sent to the Cabinet for a final decision.

Who are Gonds:

Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world.
They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.
Gonds are subdivided into four tribes:
- Raj Gonds
- Madia Gonds
- Dhurve Gonds
- Khatulwar Gonds
Their staple food is two kinds of millet: kodo and kutki.
Gonds believe that earth, water and air are ruled by Gods.
They majorly speak Gondi which is an unwritten language of the Dravidian family.

13. Plea seeking protection for forest staff

Subject :Polity

Context:

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to center on a plea seeking protection for forest staff.

More about the news:

The application was filed in the context of the death of Forest Range Officer Challamalla Srinivas after he was assaulted allegedly by a group of tribals following a dispute over forest land in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana
A two-judge bench presided by Justice B R Gavai issued notice to the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the state of Telangana on the plea by Senior Advocate A D N Rao, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in forest and wildlife law related matters for seeking protection for forest staff who faces hostile anti-social elements in the discharge of their duties and get slapped with the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1998, when they act in self-defence.

What is Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) ) Act, 1989.

The Government of India enacted the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in order to prevent atrocities against SC/STs.
The purpose of the Act was to prevent atrocities and help in the social inclusion of Dalits into society.
The legislation aims at preventing the commission of offences by persons other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Any person who is not a member of a scheduled caste or a scheduled tribe and commits an offence listed in the Act against a member of a scheduled caste or a scheduled tribe is an offender.
Moreover all offences listed in the Act are cognizable and police can arrest the offender without a warrant and start an investigation into the case without taking any orders from the court.
The Act prescribes both minimum as well as maximum punishment.
The minimum in most cases is six months imprisonment while the maximum is five years sentence and with a fine.
In some cases, the minimum is enhanced to one year while the maximum goes up to life imprisonment or even death sentence.

14. India condemns OIC secretary general’s visit to PoK, his comments on J&K

Subject : International relations

Concept:

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states.
It is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
It was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on the 25th of September 1969.
Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
India is not a member of the OIC.

15. Banks jack up deposit rates, MCLR after RBI raises repo

Subject :Economy

Banks hiking retail deposit rates by up to 65 basis points following the Reserve Bank’s move to increase the repo rate last week

Marginal Cost of Lending Rate

It is a benchmark lending rate for floating-rate loans which came into effect in 2016.
This is the minimum interest rate at which commercial banks can lend.
This rate is based on four components—the marginal cost of funds, negative carry on account of cash reserve ratio, operating costs and tenor premium.
MCLR is linked to the actual deposit rates. Hence, when deposit rates rise, it indicates the banks are likely to hike MCLR and lending rates are set to go up.
The transmission of policy rate changes to the lending rate of banks under the current MCLR framework has not been satisfactory.

External Benchmark

So, RBI mandated all banks to link their floating rate loans to an external benchmark instead of the marginal cost-based lending rate (MCLR).
This was done to make sure that the RBI’s action on key policy rates at transmitted in a timely and transparent manner to the ender user, i.e., the borrower.
Banks can choose from one of the four external benchmarks — repo rate, three-month treasury bill yield, six-month treasury bill yield or any other benchmark interest rate published by Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd.

16. Draft cybersecurity strategy has been formulated: Centre

Subject: National Organisation

Context:

In response to a question from Lok Sabha members following recent cyber-attacks (for example, AIIMS, Delhi), the Minister stated that the NSCS had developed a draft cyber security strategy, but no date for implementation or other information was provided..
This year, a total of 12,67,564 cyber security incidents were reported, compared to 14,02,809 such events in 2021.

Guiding Principles under Draft Cyber Security Strategy:

Risk-based approach: To be adopted by the private sector, the government, academia and civil society in assessing and responding to cyber-related threats or issues.
Multi-stakeholder approach: To enhance the effectiveness of all key stakeholders in improving the cybersecurity posture by recognizing the various roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders.
External Co-operation: The Strategy will also promote bilateral, regional and international cooperation, recognizing the borderless nature of cyberspace.
Respect for the rule of law and human rights: To promote, protect fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens.
Capacity development: To address fast changing cybersecurity issues and developments.
Socio-economic development: To ensure cyberspace is fully leveraged by broader socio-economic development, facilitate sustainable socio-economic development across the entire nation.
Addressing Cybercrime: To promote and facilitate both individual and collective action in tackling cybercrime.

About National Cyber Security Policy

The National Cyber Security Policy is a policy document drafted by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2013.
It is aimed at protecting the public and private infrastructure from cyber attacks. The guideline also seeks to protect the personal information of internet users, financial and banking information, and sovereign data.
In 2020, the National Cyber Security Strategy was conceptualised by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) headed by Lt General Rajesh Pant.
The report focused on 21 areas to ensure a safe, secure, trusted, resilient, and vibrant cyberspace for India. About National Security Council

National Security Council

NSC of India is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
The National Security Advisor (NSA) presides over the NSC, and is also the primary advisor to the prime minister. The current National Security Advisor is Ajit Doval.
It was formed in 1998, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.

Three tier Structure:

NSC comprises the three tier structure- Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat.
The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of the relevant inputs.
The NSAB undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives on issues of national security.
The National Security Council Secretariat, which reports to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, has been brought into the government’s Allocation of Business (AOB) rules, thus granting it constitutional recognition and legal authority.
NSCS acts as the secretariat for the PM-led National Security Council (NSC).
Function:
It operates within the executive office of the prime minister of India, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues.
Members:
The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its members..

17. GI tag for Beypore Uru

Subject: Science and Technology

Context:

The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous Beypore Uru (boat).

About Beypore Uru:

It is a wooden dhow (ship / sailing boat / sailing vessel) handcrafted by skilled artisans and carpenters in Beypore, Kerala.
It is mainly made of Malabar teak, probably the biggest handicraft in the world.
Beypore urus are purely made of wood, without using any modern techniques, and traditional methods are used to launch this ship into the water.
The carpenters manually join each piece of wood to build the large boat.
Uru making in Beypore is a centuries old tradition that was established since India began its maritime trade with Mesopotamia.
Beypore Urus are a symbol of Kerala’s trade relations and friendship with the Gulf countries.
Beypore is a town located on the banks of the Chaliyar River.
According to records, Uru ships have been in high demand for around 2,000 years.
The prominent people associated with Uru-making are Odayis and Khalasis.

Odayis:

They manage the technical matters of ship building.
Their family name comes from Odam (a type of small ship previously used in interactions/trade between the Malabar coast and Lakshadweep).

Khalasis:

The Khalasis are the traditional artisans responsible for the manufacture of the Uru.
They are also referred to as Mappila Khalasis as majority of them are Mappila Muslims.
They are the ones who launch these urus into the water, setting them ready for travel.
Arab traders were especially enamoured of them, and were among the first major patrons of these vessels.
It takes at least four years and the effort of over forty Khalasis to build an Uru.

Geographical Indication Tag

It is an indication and it should originate from a definite geographical territory.
It is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods
It is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.
It is a mark of authenticity and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.
GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai).

What is the benefit of registration of geographical indications?

It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India
Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others.
It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.

What Indications are not registrable?

For registrability, the indications must fall within the scope of section 2(1)e of GI Act, 1999. Being so, it has to also satisfy the provisions of section 9, which prohibits registration of a Geographical Indication.
the use of which would be likely to deceive or cause confusion; or
the use of which would be contrary to any law for the time being in force; or
which comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter; or
which comprises or contains any matter likely to hurt the time being in force; religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India; or
which would otherwise be dismantled to protection in a court; or
which are determined to be generic names or indications of goods and are, therefore, not or ceased to be protected in their country of origin or which have fallen into disuse in that country; or
which although literally true as to the territory region or locality in which the goods originate, but falsely represent to the persons that the goods originate in another territory, region or locality as the case may be.

How long the registration of Geographical Indication is valid?

The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years
It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each

18. SC gives Centre three months to form T.N. Karnataka water disputes tribunal

Subject: Polity

Context: The Supreme Court in December 2022 gave the Union government three months to constitute an Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal to resolve the dispute of Pennaiyar river.

About the issue

The Supreme Court gave the Centre three months to constitute an Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal to resolve the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over constructions in Pennaiyar river.
Tamil Nadu had filed an original suit in 2018 against Karnataka’s work on check dams and diversions’ structures in the river.
Tamil Nadu had argued that the flowing water of an Inter-State river was a national asset, and no single State can claim exclusive ownership of it and the utilisation of Pennaiyar river waters by Karnataka is a detriment to the people of Tamil Nadu.

Inter-State River Water Disputes:

Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes.
Under this, Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.
The Parliament has enacted the two laws, the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).
The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards by the Central government for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys. A River Board is established on the request of state governments concerned to advise them.
The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.
The decision of the tribunal is final and binding on the parties to the dispute.
Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.

Amendment to the 1956 Act

An amendment was enacted to the Inter-State Water Disputes Act in 2002 which brought about a few changes such as:
The tribunal has to be constituted within one year of the request.
The tribunal should give the award within 3 years and in some exceptional cases, within 5 years.
If the award is not immediately implemented, the concerned parties can seek clarification within three months.
The tribunal award will have the same force as an order or decree of the Supreme Court. The award is final and above the SC’s jurisdiction.
However, the states could still approach SC through Article 136 (Special Leave Petition)
Private persons could approach the SC under violation of Article 21 (Right to Life).

Pennaiyar River:

The South Pennar River is also known as Dakshina Pinakini in Kannada and Thenpennai or Pennaiyar in Tami
Bangalore, Hosur, Tiruvannamalai, and Cuddalore are the important cities on the banks of South Pennar river.
This is the second longest river in Tamil Nadu, with a length of 497 km, after the Kaveri.
The river is severely polluted by industrial waste as it flows through major industrial areas in the eastern suburbs of Bangalore, the industrial parks of Hosur and Chengam.
The river originates in the Nandi Hills in Karnataka and flows through Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
The river is dry for the most part of the year. Water flows during the monsoon season when it is fed by the south-west monsoon in the catchment area and the northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu.

19. Confluence of cultures of Kashi and tamilnadu

Subject : Art and Culture

Context: A sterling example of this is the month-long “Kashi-Tamil Sangamam”, which will culminate on December 16 in the world’s oldest living city — Kashi, also known as Varanasi.

Concept:

Kashi is the cultural capital of India whereas Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture are at the centre of India’s antiquit
Kashi’s glory has been restored as the global centre of spiritualism and culture. There is (Thenkasi) Dakshin Kashi in Tamil Nadu
“Kashi-Kanchi” in the “Sapta Puris” (the seven holy pilgrimage sites in Hinduism), Pilgrims take a journey from Baba Vishwanath Dham in Kashi to Lord Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.
Both Kashi and Tamil Nadu are the birthplaces and ‘karma bhoomi’ (workplace) of the greatest acharyas of Indian spirituality. Kashi is the land of devotees of saint Tulsi, while Tamil Nadu is the land of Saint Thiruvalluvar
Banaras Hindu University established the Subramania Bharathi Chair in honour of the great freedom fighter who lived in Kashi for a very long time.
In June 1897, Bharathi was hardly fifteen when his marriage took place, and his child-bride was Chellammal. Bharathi left for Benaras which was also known as Kashi and Varanasi. He spent there the next two years with his aunt Kuppammal and her husband Krishna Sivan. Speedily gaining a fair knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindi and English, he duly passed with credit the Entrance Examination of the Allahabad University. The Banaras stay brought about a tremendous change in Bharathi’s personality. Outwardly, he sported a moustache and a Sikh turban and acquired a bold swing in his walk.
About 3,000 years ago, a great poet of India, whose name was Kaniyan Poongundranar, wrote in Purananuru Tamil, which is the most ancient language of the world: “Yaadhum oorae, yaavarum kaeleer’”(we belong to all places, and we belong to everyone). This sense of belonging beyond borders is unique to India.Kaniyan Poongunranar, also Poongundranar or Pungundranar was an influential Tamil philosopher from the Sangam age from around 6th century BCE.
There is a tradition of remembering 12 Jyotirlingas from ‘Saurashtre Somanatham’ to ‘Setubandhe tu Ramesham’ after waking up in the morning. We start our day by remembering the spiritual unity of the country. People recite mantras while taking bath and worshipping. This will strengthen the tradition and heritage of thousands of years and make it the thread that unites the country

Tamilnadu and Kutch

It is said that hundreds of years ago a large population from the Kutch-Saurashtra region migrated to Tamil Nadu.
A large number of Gujarati-origin people live in Madurai and other parts of Tamil Nadu.Saurashtrians maintain a predominant presence in Madurai, a city, also known as ‘Temple City’ in the southern part of Tamil Nadu.
Their migration to Southern India owes to the forays and desecration of the Somnath temple triggered by the frequent Muslim invasions, most notably by Mahmud Ghazni.
It is believed that the Saurashtrian population is anywhere between one-fourth and one-fifth of the city’s total population.
After the fall of Vijayanagar empire they were welcomed by the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur during mid 16th century CE and Madurai during 17th century CE and were allowed to settle near the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace.
The mother tongue of Saurashtrians is Saurastra.They form the linguistic minority in Tamilnadu.
The early settlers in Tamil Nadu were engaged in silk weaving, they were called
These people are first mentioned as Pattavayaka, the Sanskrit equivalent of Patnūlkarar in the Mandasor (present day Madhya Pradesh) inscriptions of Kumaragupta I belonging to the 5th century CE.
hey are also mentioned by the same name in the Patteeswaram inscriptions of Thanjavur belonging to the mid 16th century CE and in the inscriptions of Rani Mangammal of Madurai belonging to the 17th century CE
Sourashtram people have adopted Tamil and are veering away from their ancestors’ strict vegetarianism.