Daily Prelims Notes 16 October 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

16 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Olympic Value Education Program
2. IOC amends Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments
3. Azerbaijan President raises national flag in Karabakh
4. Israel, Hamas, and the laws of war
5. Citing deep fakes govt look at It rules to make WhatsApp disclose source I’d
6. How Jews first migrated to Israel and how Israel was born
7. Overseas Indian Start-ups Seeking Listing in India
8. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC)
9. Study estimates count of UAVs required for the three Services
10. Railways develops anti-freeze flushes and fuel tanks for journeys in J&K
11. Kaziranga sanctuary reopens with tribute to British­ era officer
12. New ‘quantum engine’ does work by flipping the identity of atoms
13. French AI firm Mistral’s Large language model
14. EU open to allowing India collect carbon tax
15. Geographical indication (GI) tag for Goan cashews
16. IMD issues yellow alert in 9 districts

1. Olympic Value Education Program

Subject :IR

Section: International Organisation

Context: India’s First Olympic Values Education was launched in Odisha.

More details about Olympic Value Education Program:

• The Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) is based on the Olympic philosophy that learning takes place through the balanced development of body and mind.
• It is a series of free and accessible teaching resources created by the IOC, to complement academic curricula using the context of Olympic sports and the core principles of Olympism.
• The programme aims to disseminate this values-based curriculum to help children become active, healthy and responsible citizens.
• The first OVEP launched in India in Odisha.
• It is a programme funded by the IOC and was launched by the Abhinav Bindra Foundation (ABF).

2. IOC amends Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments

Subject :IR

Section: International Organisation

Context: During the 141st session of International Olympic Committee being held at Mumbai changes were introduced in the Olympic Charter,

More about the news:

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) amended the Olympic Charter to reinforce its commitment to human rights during its 141st Session.
• The IOC incorporated additional wording emphasizing respect for human rights into the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.
• This change reflects the work of the Legal Affairs Commission and the Advisory Committee on Human Rights.
•  IOC President Thomas Bach considered it a significant step towards human rights in the Olympic Movement.
• The Olympic Charter was also aligned with the Guidelines on Athlete Expression, ensuring freedom of expression for all Olympic Games participants while adhering to Olympic values and principles.
• The International Federation of American Football gained full IOC recognition.
• Russia’s IOC members Yelena Isinbayeva and Sharmil Tarpishchev were absent, and a human rights activist, Peter Tatchell, claimed to be prevented from leaving his hotel room by Mumbai police, intending to protest the IOC Session.
• Salt Lake City in the USA expressed interest in hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics and potentially the 2030 Games.

What is Olympic Charter:

• Olympic Charter is the codification of fundamental principles of Olympism and rules and bye-laws adopted by the International Olympic Committee.
• The Charter was first published in 1908, under the title of Annuaire du Comité International Olympique.
• Some of the rules contained in this first Charter had, however, been written by Pierre de Coubertin around 1898.
• Although the title Olympic Charter is generally used in reference to all the editions, it is only since 1978 that it has actually appeared as the title on the publication.
• It governs the organization, actions and functioning of the Olympic Movement and establishes the conditions for celebration of Olympic Games.
• It establishes the relations between International Federations, National Olympic Committees and Olympic Movement.

Some details about International Olympic Session:

• An IOC session is the annual meeting of the members of the IOC.
• It comprises 101 voting members and 45 honorary members.
• It decides on the key activities of the global Olympics movement.
• The powers of the Session are:
  • To adopt or amend the Olympic Charter.
  • To elect the members of the IOC, the Honorary President and the honorary members.
  • To elect the President, the vice-presidents and all other members of the IOC Executive Board.
  • To elect the host city of the Olympic Games.
• An Olympic Session is the general meeting of the members of the IOC and its supreme organ.
• All IOC Session decisions are final.
• India hosted the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
• In this session newly added sports in the 2028 Olympics are  Cricket, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse Return, Flag Football.

Some details about International Olympic Association:

• The International Olympic Committee is a non-governmental sports organizationbased in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss Civil Code (articles 60–79).
• It was founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is the authority responsible for organizing the modern Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympic Games.
• Demetrios Vikelas was the first president of the IOC.
• The 141st session of IOC is being held in Mumbai.

Some details about Indian Olympic Associations:

• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was established in 1927 as a Non-Profit Organization under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It was founded by Sir Dorabjee Tata and Dr. A.G. Noehren.
• It is an autonomous body recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• India first participated in the Olympics in 1900 in Paris. The country was represented by Norman Pritchard, an Anglo Indian.
• A 32-member Executive Council, headed by President and assisted by different Standing Committees that includes subject-field experts work for effective governance.
• The election for the Executive Council is held once every 4 years.

3. Azerbaijan President raises national flag in Karabakh

Subject :IR

Section: Places in news

Context: President Ilham Aliyev raised Azerbaijan’s flag in the main city of Nagorno-Karabakh

More about the news:

• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev raised his country’s flag in Nagorno-Karabakh, sealing Baku’s takeover of the region following a swift military offensive in September, ending three decades of Armenian separatist rule.
• The region’s capital, Khankendi also known as Stepanakert, appeared deserted after the offensive.
• Aliyev visited various sites in the region and marked his visit on the 20th anniversary of his presidency.
• Pope Francis called for the protection of Karabakh’s ancient Christian Armenian monasteries and churches, urging respect for places of worship amid allegations of “ethnic cleansing” by Armenia, a charge denied by Azerbaijan.

Some facts about Nagorno Karabakh:

• It shares borders with Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, and Armenia.
• It is a mountainous area in the South Caucasus.
• Under international law it is recognised as part of Azerbaijan but ethnic Armenians constitute the majority.
• The Lachin corridor is the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

4. Israel, Hamas, and the laws of war

Subject :IR

Section: International conventions

Context: Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking a deadly conflict with significant civilian casualties and hostilities.

What are the laws of war:

• Two fundamental aspects of international law govern conflicts.
  • Jus ad Bellum: This aspect of international law addresses the conditions and justifications for countries to use force in their international relations. It is regulated by the United Nations (UN) Charter.
  • Jus in Bello: Jus in bello concerns the rules that dictate how a war is to be fought, specifying what military actions are permissible. Even if a country is justified under the UN Charter to use force, it must adhere to these rules.
• This law of war, known as international humanitarian law (IHL), outlined in customary international law, the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and the 1977 Additional Protocols, prescribes rules to protect civilians and minimize suffering during armed conflicts. Regardless of the justness of their cause, warring parties must abide by IHL.

Do the laws of war apply to the ongoing military conflict:

• The conflict between Israel and Hamas is considered an armed conflict in international law.
• It falls under the category of non-international armed conflict (NIAC) because it involves non-governmental forces i.e. Hamas in battle with governmental forces i.e. Israel.
• Both parties are obligated to adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

What about civilian killings:

• International Humanitarian Law(IHL) aims to protect civilians in armed conflicts by distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants.
• Both Hamas and Israel must adhere to IHL.
• Indiscriminate attacks on civilians, as in Israel’s bombing of Gaza, are illegal, and a disproportionate use of force violates the Geneva Conventions, constituting war crimes.

Is hostage-taking legal:

• Hamas’s hostage-taking of Israelis is illegal and classified as a war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute and Article 1 of the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages.

What about the Gaza Strip blockade:

• Israel’s plan to block essential supplies in Gaza, affecting two million people, constitutes collective punishment, a breach of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
• It violates the principle that individuals shouldn’t be punished for others’ actions and IHL’s requirement for effective advance warnings before attacks.
• Both sides should uphold IHL.

What are war crimes:

• War crimes encompass grave breaches of humanitarian laws within conflicts.
• The Rome Statute of the ICC provides the definition, which draws from the principles of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
• It centers on the principle of individual accountability for actions committed on behalf of a state or its armed forces. Illustrative examples include hostage-taking, deliberate killings, torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners of war, and the recruitment of child soldiers.

What is Criteria for War Crimes:

• International humanitarian law employs three key principles to determine whether an individual or military has committed a war crime:
  • Distinction: This principle forbids targeting objectives that are likely to cause excessive harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure compared to the expected military advantage.
  • Proportionality: Proportionality restricts the use of disproportionate force in response to an attack. For instance, it prohibits indiscriminate retaliation, such as bombing an entire city for the death of a single soldier.
  • Precaution: Parties involved in a conflict are obligated to take measures that prevent or minimize harm to the civilian population.

What are the Geneva Conventions (1949):

• The Geneva Conventions, established in 1949 along with their Additional Protocols, represent crucial international agreements that set forth fundamental regulations to mitigate the cruelty of armed conflict.
• These conventions provide safeguards for non-combatants i.e. civilians, medical personnel, humanitarian workers and individuals who are no longer able to participate in combat  i.e. injured, sick, and shipwrecked military personnel, as well as prisoners of war.
• The First Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
• The Second Geneva Convention protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war.
• The Third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners of war, including a wide range of general protections such as humane treatment, maintenance and equality across prisoners, conditions of captivity, questioning and evacuation of prisoners, transit camps, food, clothing, medicines, hygiene and right to religious, intellectual, and physical activities of prisoners.
• The Fourth Geneva Convention protects civilians, including those in occupied territory. The other Geneva Conventions were concerned mainly with combatants rather than civilians.
• Two Protocols of 1977: Additional to the four 1949 Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1977. They strengthen the protection of victims of international (Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II) armed conflicts and place limits on the way wars are fought.
• In 2005, a third Additional Protocol was adopted creating an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which has the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.

5. Citing deep fakes govt look at It rules to make WhatsApp disclose source I’d

Subject :Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context: Citing deep fakes govt look at It rules to make WhatsApp disclose source I’d.

More about the news:

• The Indian government is considering invoking a law to make WhatsApp reveal information about the originator of messages due to increasing AI-driven misinformation on the platform.
• The move follows the circulation of deepfake videos of politicians, which pose a threat to electoral integrity.
• This would be the first time the Central government directly sends an order to an Internet platform under the IT Rules, 2021, but it may spark controversy, as WhatsApp and Facebook had previously challenged this provision in court.
• The government asserts the need for traceability to combat fake content during elections.

What is deep fakes:

• A deepfake is an artificially created image or video that convincingly portrays one person as another.
• It represents an advanced form of producing deceptive content, harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence(AI) .
• AI involves programming machines to emulate human intelligence, enabling them to think and act like humans.
• With AI, it becomes possible to generate entirely fictitious individuals and manipulate genuine individuals, causing them to appear as if they said or did things they never actually did.
• The term deepfake originated in 2017, when an anonymous Reddit user called himself “Deepfakes.”
• This user manipulated Google’s open-source, deep-learning technology to create and post pornographic videos.

What are the Global Efforts to regulate Deepfake technology:

• European Union
  • The EU has an updated Code of Practice to stop the spread of disinformation through deepfakes.
  • The revised Code requires tech companies including Google, Meta, and Twitter to take measures in countering deepfakes and fake accounts on their platforms.
  • They have six months to implement their measures once they have signed up to the Code.
  • If found non-compliant, these companies can face fines as much as 6% of their annual global turnover.
• United States
  • In July 2021, the US introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter deepfake technology.
  • The measure directs the DHS to conduct an annual study of deepfakes assess the technology used, track its uses by foreign and domestic entities, and come up with available countermeasures to tackle the same.
• China:
  • In China, it is mandatory for deep synthesis service providers and users to ensure that any doctored content using the technology is explicitly labelled and can be traced back to its source.
  • The regulation also mandates people using the technology to edit someone’s image or voice, to notify and take the consent of the person in question.
  • When reposting news made by the technology, the source can only be from the government-approved list of news outlets.

What is Information Technology Rules, 2021

• IT Rules 2021 were released under section 87 of the IT Act, 2000 for Social-Media, Digital Media, and OTT platforms.
• It covers digitized content that can be transmitted over the internet or computer networks and includes intermediaries such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.
• It also includes publishers of news and current affairs content and also curators of such content over online papers, news portals, news agencies and news aggregators.
• However, e-papers are not covered because print media comes under the purview of the Press Council of India.Newspapers and TV news channels are governed under the Press Council of India Act, 1978 and Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995 respectively.
• Through the act the digital media is brought under the ambit of Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which gives takedown powers to the government.
• The section allows the Centre to block public access to an intermediary in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above”.
• It also deprives the intermediaries of their “safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000.
• Safe Harbour provisions protect the intermediaries from liability for the acts of third parties who use their infrastructure for their own purposes.
• The act provides for three Tier Check Structure part III of the rules imposes three-tier complaints and adjudication structure on publishers.
  • Level I: Self-regulation.
  • Level II: Industry regulatory body headed by a former judge of the Supreme Court  and High Court with additional members from a panel approved by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • Level III: Oversight mechanism that includes an inter ministerial committee with the authority to block access to content, which can also take suo moto cognisance of an issue and any grievance flagged by the Ministry.
• Social media companies are needed to appoint Content Moderation Officers who will be responsible for complying with content moderation orders.
• The New rules make it mandatory for platforms such as WhatsApp to aid in identifying the originator of unlawfull messages.
• The rules mandate the creation of a grievance redressal portal as the central repository for receiving and processing all grievances.
• Intermediaries are required to act on certain kinds of violations within 24 hours, and on all concerns of a complainant within 15 days.
• The rules also hold that Information Disclosure to Competent Authorities may demand pertinent information for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment of crimes. However, it excludes the intermediary from having to disclose the content of the personal message

6. How Jews first migrated to Israel and how Israel was born

Subject :IR

Section: Places in news

Context: Israeli military orders Gaza City civilians to evacuate amid potential ground offensive in ongoing conflict.

What is Anti-semitism and Zionism:

• The Hebrew Bible defines ‘Israel’ as the name given by God to Jacob, a descendant of Abraham, who is a key figure in the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• The descendants of Abraham settled in Canaan, which corresponds to the approximate territory of modern-day Israel.
• Over the course of history, Canaan was part of various empires, including the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Crusaders, and Islamists.
• In the late 19th century, the land of Canaan was under Ottoman rule, and the Jewish population, scattered in various countries, faced vulnerability and persecution, particularly in Europe.
• Incidents such as the 1880s pogroms in Imperial Russia and the 1894 Dreyfus affair in France highlighted prevailing anti-Semitic prejudices.
• A growing sentiment within the Jewish community emerged, emphasizing the need for a secure homeland, leading to the movement known as Zionism.
• In 1896, Theodor Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian, published a pamphlet called ‘Der Judenstaat,’ outlining his vision for a Jewish nation, establishing him as the father of political Zionism.
• Initially, potential locations for a Jewish homeland included countries like Uganda and Argentina.
• However, the focus eventually shifted to Palestine due to its historical importance in Judaism and the presence of numerous holy sites.

Before World War I:

• Jewish migration to Palestine, known as Aliyah, commenced in the late 19th century.
• The initial wave, termed the First Aliyah (1881-1903), saw Jewish migrants buying and farming large tracts of land, leading to losses for the native Palestinian population.
• Palestine was then part of the Ottoman Empire, and its residents identified themselves in various ways, with land often owned by absentee landlords.
• New Jewish settlers didn’t assimilate, rarely interacted with Arabs, and employed fewer Arab laborers.
• Arab tenants lost their homes and communities when Jews purchased land.
• The Jewish settlers maintained distinct European sensibilities, introduced modern technologies, and were financially supported by wealthy Jews abroad.
• Growing tensions and resentment among the local population resulted from the changing demographics and land ownership.
• In 1908, after the Young Turks revolution overthrew the Ottoman Sultan, Jewish migration efforts became more streamlined.
• Efforts to gain international support for the Jewish cause were underway outside of Palestine.

The Balfour Declaration:

• The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a significant event that changed the course of West Asia.
• It was a letter from a British official, Arthur James Balfour, to Baron Lionel Walter Rothschild, expressing British support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The British government aimed to secure Jewish support for its World War I efforts. 
• This framework influenced future resolutions but often lacked substantial action on Palestinian rights.
• Palestinian nationalism was rising, but internal divisions hindered their efforts, while a long-standing conflict had bred deep-seated hostility and sporadic violence between Jewish and Palestinian communities.

British Mandate and World War II:

• After World War I, following the Ottoman Empire’s defeat, Palestine came under British mandate.
• Over three decades, despite numerous commissions, white papers, and resolutions, violent conflicts persisted. Arab resentment grew against Jewish settlements and British rule, while Jews established disciplined militias.
• Moderate Jewish voices advocating for Arab rights lost influence, and two main Arab factions emerged, led by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Nashashibi family. 
• World War II and the Holocaust garnered international sympathy for Jews, strengthening Jewish armed groups.
• The years 1936-1938 marked significant bloodshed, leading to proposals for partition and a British White Paper in 1939 favoring Palestinians.
• Ultimately, in 1947, the British withdrew from Palestine, leaving the issue to the UN amidst deep-seated distrust and hostility.

UN resolution and wars:

• During this period, Jewish determination to secure their homeland was evident, even though they were a minority.
• In 1947, the UN voted to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The Palestinians rejected this, and Israel declared independence in 1948, leading to civil war and the exodus of many Palestinians.
•  Israel successfully defended itself against neighboring countries, leading to more Arab-Israeli conflicts.
• Today, 139 UN member states recognize Palestine, while 165 recognize Israel, but Gaza and the West Bank remain under Israeli military control.

Situation after the independence of Israel:

• Arab Israeli war 1948– Israel declared statehood in 1948 leading to invasion by neighboring Arab states i.eEgypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria.It resulted in Israeli survival and signing of Armistice Agreements with territorial changes.
  • The territory was divided into 3 parts
  • The Jewish Israel
  • The Arab West Bank
  • Gaza Strip
• The agreement established temporary borders between Israel and neighboring Arab states.
  • West Bank– It was controlled by Jordan.
  • Gaza Strip– It was administered by Egypt
• Suez crisis 1956-Israel, France and UK launched a military campaign against Egypt over nationalization of Suez Canal.During this period, Israel captured Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip but withdrew under international pressure in 1957.
• 1967 Six day war- Israel gained territory including Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights (Syria).
• 1973 Yom Kippur War- Also known as October War, it began with the surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel during Yom Kippur, the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
• Camp David Accords 1978 – It established the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East” and brought about the end of simmering conflict between Egypt and Israel.
• Egypt became the 1st Arab country to conclude a peace treaty with Israel.

7. Overseas Indian Start-ups Seeking Listing in India

Subject: Economy

Section: Capital market

Why in News?

• Overseas Indian Start-ups Seeking Listing in India: A group of start-ups set up overseas, are lobbying the Finance Ministry and SEBI to allow them to list in India.
• Regulatory Changes Required: The current regulations do not permit such companies to list in India. Any framework enabling this would necessitate changes in SEBI and FEMA norms as well as the Companies Act, 2013.
• Rationale for Listing in India: With the development of the Indian market, start-ups prefer listing in India for better brand recall, valuation premium, retail participation, and higher tax contributions to the government through Securities Transaction Tax (STT) and capital gains tax.
• Challenges of Reverse Flipping: Some start-ups are exploring reverse flipping of their holding companies, which involves a merger and potential tax implications. Compliance with various regulatory and sectoral approvals is also required.
• Government Response and SEBI’s Role: SEBI is reportedly waiting for instructions from the government. Earlier proposals to allow Indian companies to list abroad and foreign companies to list in India were rejected due to concerns about the flight of capital triggered by foreign listings.
• Industry Demands: Industry officials suggest that companies with substantial Indian connections should be allowed to list in India with the condition that the primary capital raised is spent in India and cannot be repatriated.
• Current Government Focus: The government’s focus on promoting GIFT City and other priorities in the election year has pushed this matter down its priority list.

About Securities Transaction Tax (STT)

STT is a turnover tax that applies to transactions conducted through an exchange for securities such as shares, debentures, bonds, mutual funds, government equity securities, and derivatives. The investor is obligated to pay this tax on the total sum received or paid during the transaction. STT does not apply to commodities and currency transactions or transactions conducted outside of the exchange. The rates of STT differ for delivery-based equity transactions and intra-day transactions, as well as for buying and selling securities. It was introduced in 2004 by the then finance minister P Chidambaram to reduce the evasion of capital gains tax.

About Capital Gain Tax

Capital Gain Tax is a form of tax levied on the profits arising from the sale of a ‘capital asset’. This gain is considered as income and is subject to taxation in the year in which the transfer of the capital asset occurs. Capital gains tax can be categorized as long-term or short-term, depending on the duration of the asset’s holding period.

Two types of capital gains tax:

• Long-term Capital Gains Tax: This tax is applicable to the profits earned from the sale of assets held for more than a year. The tax rates can vary between 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on the individual’s tax bracket.
• Short-term Capital Gains Tax: This tax is applicable to assets held for a year or less and is taxed as ordinary income.
• It’s worth noting that capital gains can be reduced by deducting any capital losses that may occur when a taxable asset is sold for less than its original purchase price. The resulting amount after deducting the capital losses from the capital gains is referred to as the “net capital gains”.
• Tax on capital gains is only triggered when an asset is sold or “realized”.
• Appreciating stock shares, for instance, will not incur capital gains tax until they are sold.
• Capital assets can include a wide range of possessions such as land, buildings, house property, vehicles, patents, trademarks, leasehold rights, machinery, and jewelry. The term also encompasses rights in or in relation to an Indian company, along with management or control rights and other legal entitlements.

Flipping:

• Flipping is the process of transferring complete ownership of an Indian company to an overseas entity.
• It involves the transfer of all intellectual property and data owned by the Indian company.
• It is usually carried out at the early stages of startups, driven by commercial, taxation, and personal preferences of founders and investors.
• Some companies opt for flipping due to the predominant offshore market for their product
• Investor preferences, such as access to specific incubators, can also drive companies to flip.

Reverse Flipping:

Reverse flipping is the process of relocating the domicile of companies back to India, which had previously flipped.

Companies often reverse flip to benefit from easy access to capital from private equity and venture capital, changes in rules regarding round-tripping, and the growing maturity of India’s capital market.

Listing on Stock Exchange: Listing on a stock exchange makes a company’s shares or securities available for public trading, enabling investors to buy and sell the stock, thus providing the company access to capital and visibility in the financial markets.

Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF): Recently launched by SEBI to provide stability to the corporate bond market during periods of stress. Supported by a guarantee from the National Credit Guarantee Trust Company and substantial funding from the mutual fund industry.

About International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA):

1. Establishment: IFSCA is a statutory body established in 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
2. Headquarters: Located at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
3. Role: It ensures inter-regulatory coordination within the financial sector and serves as a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, services, and institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
4. Prior Status: Before its establishment, the business in IFSC was regulated by domestic financial regulators such as RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI.
5. Objective: IFSCA aims to establish a strong global connect, cater to the needs of the Indian economy, and serve as an international financial platform for the region and the global economy.

8. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC)

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context: ‘95% of Freight Corridors will be ready by March

Completion Status: 95% of the total 2,843-kilometer Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Operational Sections: The 1,337-kilometer EDFC is entirely operational, while approximately 70% of the WDFC is ready for operation.

Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC): Spans 1,337 kilometers from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab, crossing through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and ending at Sonnagar in Bihar.

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC): Connects Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Mumbai, covering a 1,506-kilometer route through states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC):

Description: It is a broad gauge corridor that extends for 1,504 kilometers, starting at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and concluding at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust near Mumbai.

Establishment: The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) was established in October 2006 as a dedicated body to oversee the project.

Funding: The project is being funded through a soft loan of $4 billion from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under special terms for economic partnership (STEP).

Key Locations: The corridor passes through Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Phulera, and Rewari, traversing through the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC):

Route and Coverage: The EDFC spans a route length of 1,856 km, stretching from Dankuni in West Bengal to Ludhiana in Punjab, covering several key states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Railway Infrastructure: The EDFC is a critical railway infrastructure project, dedicated to enhancing the transportation of freight across multiple regions in northern and eastern India.

Components: The corridor is designed with two main components – the first is to augment rail transport capacity, enhance service quality, and enable higher freight throughput, while the second involves institutional development to support DFCCIL and the Ministry of Railways in leveraging heavy haul freight systems.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL):

Overview: DFCCIL operates as a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Railways, responsible for planning and implementing the 3,306 km long Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) across the country.

It is responsible for planning, development, financial resource mobilization, construction, maintenance, and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors.

DFCCIL is registered as a company under the Companies Act of 1956, emphasizing its organizational structure and governance.

Project Cost: The total estimated project cost for the DFCs, including the Western and Eastern corridors, amounts to over ₹81,000 crore.

Decongestion and Punctuality: The construction of the DFCs project aims to alleviate congestion on existing saturated paths, thereby improving the punctuality of passenger trains.

Importance of DFCs:

Relieving Traffic Congestion: DFCs are crucial in separating freight and passenger traffic, enhancing the speed of freight movement, and alleviating congestion on the country’s major routes.

Diverse Cargo Transportation: The corridor will be utilized for transporting various commodities such as fertilizers, food grains, salt, coal, iron & steel, and cement.

National Integration: It will be integrated with the Eastern DFC, forming four significant hubs – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, effectively linking major parts of the country.

9. Study estimates count of UAVs required for the three Services

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Defence

Context:

• The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has ordered two studies on significant military platforms used by the three Services in India.
• These platforms are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and armoured helicopters.
• These studies aim to optimise the number of platforms, resources, and avoid duplication.

What is Drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?

• An unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew or passengers on board.
• UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system, which include additionally a ground-based controller and a system of communications with the UAV.
• Drones have been divided into five categories based on their weight (existing rules)-Nano : Less than or equal to 250 grams, Micro : From 250 grams to 2kg, Small : From 2 kg to 25kg, Medium : From 25kg to 150kg, Large : Greater than 150kg.

Drone regulation in India

• These rules are built on the premise of trust, self-certification, and non-intrusive monitoring. The policy is designed to usher in an era of super-normal growth while balancing safety and security considerations.
• Drone (Amendment) Rules 2022
• The requirement of a drone pilot licence has been abolished.
• No remote pilot certificate will be required for operating a drone up to two-kilogram for non-commercial purposes.
• The Remote Pilot Certificate issued by a Directorate General of Civil Aviation approved drone school through the single window Digital Sky platform will be sufficient for operating drones in the country.
• An individual owning any unmanned aircraft system manufactured in India or imported into India on or before 30th of November, 2021 must make an application to register and obtain a unique identification number and state the required details in form D-2 and the stipulated fee under Rule 46.
• To promote Made in India drones, the import of foreign drones has been prohibited in the country.

Studies on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)

• The study on UAVs has been completed, recommending the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAVs and 155 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs.
• The Indian Services currently operate Israeli Heron MALE UAVs, and there’s a pending upgrade to weaponize and incorporate satellite communication on these UAVs.
• Officials believe this upgrade may get cleared following the study’s recommendations.

Procurement of MQ-9B UAVs

• In June, the Defence Ministry approved the procurement of 31 MQ-9B UAVs from General Atomics through the U.S. foreign military sales route.
• The Letter of Request (LoR) was issued to the U.S. government, and further details and terms of the procurement will be negotiated and finalised in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).

Apache Helicopters

• The Army Aviation Corps inducted the first batch of light combat helicopters (LCH) and is awaiting government approval for a bigger deal to procure 156 LCH.
• The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 39 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the U.S.
• The Air Force has already inducted 22 AH-64E Apaches, and further Apache procurements will go to the Army.
• The Army signed a deal for six more Apaches in February 2020, with deliveries expected to start in February 2024.
• The Army is discussing the procurement of 11 more Apaches with Boeing, and progress will be based on the outcome of the study on armoured helicopters.

10. Railways develops anti-freeze flushes and fuel tanks for journeys in J&K

Subject :Science and Tech

Section: Msc

Context:

• The Indian Railways is facing unique challenges in maintaining water and fuel in liquid form in subzero temperatures during the harsh winters in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
• Engineers at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala have designed and implemented indigenous innovations to overcome these challenges.

Challenges

• In the Jammu and Kashmir region, winter temperatures can drop to minus eight to minus 12 degrees Celsius.
• Freezing water in toilets and fuel tanks poses challenges, including toilets not functioning, supply taps not working, and the risk of tank cracks and bursts due to ice expansion.

Innovations

• The RCF has created double-walled composite insulated water tanks, available in capacities from 450 to 685 litres, which effectively keep water in its liquid state for a duration of 16 to 20 hours even in subzero conditions.
• The tanks mimic thermoplastic bottles with two walls and an insulation layer of foam in the middle, preventing freezing.
• The RCF is using heated pipes with a distributed heating system and insulation to prevent water in supply pipelines from freezing.
• Geysers will be deployed at the point of use in toilets, heating only the required amount of water, reducing energy loss.
• Similar technology is being used in the fuel tanks for locomotives to keep fuel in liquid form.

11. Kaziranga sanctuary reopens with tribute to British­ era officer

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected areas

Context:

Named after Patrick D. Stracey, the library was inaugurated on Sunday. Stracey, who was born in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada, served as an Indian Forest Service officer in Assam. He played a key role in renaming the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950. He also established the Assam Forest School, a training institute catering to the northeastern region.

About Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary 

• Location: It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,996 Hectare (ha). It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
• Legal Status:
  • It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
  • It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• International Status:
  • It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
  • It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
• Important Species Found:
  • It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
  • Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
  • The 2018 census had yielded 2,413 rhinos and approximately 1,100 elephants.
  • As per the figures of tiger census conducted in 2014, Kaziranga had an estimated 103 tigers, the third highest population in India after Jim Corbett National Park (215) in Uttarakhand and Bandipur National Park (120) in Karnataka.
  • Kaziranga is also home to 9 of the 14 species of primates found in the Indian subcontinent.
• Rivers and Highways:
  • The National Highway 37 passes through the park area.
  • The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it.

About the One -horned Rhino:

• The greater one-horned rhino (or “Indian rhino”) is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India.
• It is Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List and lies in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
• It is in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• India is home to over 85 % population. It is found in UP, West Bengal and Assam.
• According to WWF data from 2012, Assam has 91 % of the total Rhino in India which is mainly concentrated in Kaziranga National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Others include Manas Tiger Reserve, Orang Tiger Reserve and Laokhowa Reserved Forests.

There are five rhino species:

• Great One horned rhino- Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.
• White rhinos – near threatened in the IUCN Red List.
• Black rhinos in Africa – critically endangered in the IUCN Red List.
• Javan rhino- Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
• Sumatran rhinos- extinct.
• There are three species of rhino in Asia—Greater one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis), Javan and Sumatran.
• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as Indian rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.

Other national parks in Assam are:

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
• Manas National Park
• Nameri National Park
• Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
• DehingPatkai National Park
• Raimona National Park

12. New ‘quantum engine’ does work by flipping the identity of atoms

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

• Physicists in Germany have come up with a way to convert the energy difference between two quantum states of a group of atoms into work. The device adapts the principles of the familiar classical engine to the subatomic realm, giving physicists a way to study the nascent field of quantum thermodynamics in more detail as well as, possibly, build better quantum computers.

About:

• All subatomic particles can be classified as either fermions or bosons.
• Fermions are the building blocks of matter and bosons are particles that carry the forces acting between them.
• All particles in a system are distinguished by four quantum numbers.
• The values of the four numbers together tell us  something about how much energy a particle has. 
• The exclusion principle states that, in a given system, no two particles can have the same four quantum numbers– that is, they can’t occupy the same energy level .

Working:

• Classical engines convert heat into work. For example, the internal combustion engine in a car uses the heat released by the combustion of petrol or diesel to push a piston.
• Overall the engine has four steps: the fuel is compressed, ignition causes the fuel air mix to expand and push the piston out, the mix cools and stops expanding, and the piston is brought back to the first step.
• The quantum engine, or what the researchers are calling a ‘Pauli engine’,has a similar set of four steps. First, the atoms collected in the trap are compressed and kept in a bosonic state. Second, the strength of a magnetic field applied on the atoms is increased by a small amount. Interactions between the atoms and the field cause the former to slip into a fermionic state: they are forced to move out of the lowest energy level and progressively occupy higher levels. Third, the compression applied in the first step is eased. Fourth: the magnetic field strength is reduced to its original value.
• The energy of the atoms increases during the third step and this can be converted to work. The efficiency of the quantum engine is based on how much more energy is released in the third step relative to the energy added to the system in the first step.
• Currently, according to the researchers’ paper, published in Nature on September 27, their quantum engine is 25% efficient. The researchers expect to be able to increase this to 50% or more in future.
• The quantum engine is still a proof of concept. Researchers have demonstrated that their design can be used to force a bunch of atoms to cyclically release energy as they are switched between bosonic and fermionic states. The researchers need to figure out how this energy can be moved from inside the trap to a system on the outside.

13. French AI firm Mistral’s Large language model

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

• A week ago, Mistral released a 7.3 billion parameter language model positioned to compete against Meta’s L Lama 2, a 13 billion parameters large language model(LLM). The French firm has claimed first place for  the most powerful LLM.

What is generative AI?

• Like other forms of artificial intelligence, generative AI learns how to take actions based on past data.
• It creates brand new content—a text, an image, even computer code—based on that training instead of simply categorizing or identifying data like other AI.
• The most famous generative AI application is ChatGPT, a chatbot that Microsoft-backed OpenAI released late last year.
• The AI powering it is known as a large language model because it takes in a text prompt and, from that, writes a human-like response.

What are large language models (LLMs)?

• Large Language Models (LLMs) are advanced AI systems designed to understand and generate human-like language.
• They use vast amounts of data to learn patterns and relationships in language, enabling them to answer questions, create text, translate languages, and perform various language tasks.

Potential of large language models

• Economic Transformation: LLMs are predicted to contribute $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy.
• Enhanced Communication: LLMs redefine human-machine interaction, allowing for more natural and nuanced communication.
• Information Democratization: Initiatives like the Jugalbandi Chatbot exemplify LLMs’ power by making information accessible across language barriers.
• Industry Disruption: LLMs can transform various industries.For example, content creation, customer service, translation, and data analysis can benefit from their capabilities.
• Efficiency Gains: Automation of language tasks leads to efficiency improvements.This enables businesses to allocate resources to higher-value activities.
• Educational Support: LLMs hold educational potential.They can provide personalized tutoring, answer queries, and create engaging learning materials.
• Medical Advances: LLMs assist medical professionals in tasks such as data analysis, research, and even diagnosing conditions.This could significantly impact healthcare delivery.
• Entertainment and Creativity: LLMs contribute to generating creative content, enhancing sectors like entertainment and creative industries.
• Positive Societal Impact: LLMs have the potential to improve accessibility, foster innovation, and address various societal challenges.

14. EU open to allowing India collect carbon tax

Subject :Economy

Section: External sector

In News: EU ready to consider India’s proposal of domestic collection of the carbon tax to be levied by the EU.

Key Points:

• The EU is ready to consider India’s proposal of domestic collection of the carbon tax that the bloc plans to levy on Indian steel, aluminium and cement shipments under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from January 1, 2026.
• What has India proposed?
  • India has proposed that it will collect the carbon tax that the EU is implementing under the CABM.

What is the EU response to the proposal?

• EU has not rejected India’s proposal on collecting the carbon tax levied by it under the CBAM as it is not a revenue generating mechanism for EU.
• According to EU the collection of carbon tax by India also achieves the objective of adding to the cost of the exporters of carbon intensive products, which ultimately is what they want.
• While the items covered under CBAM include cement, iron & steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen, the hardest hit sectors in India could be iron & steel and aluminium, followed by cement.

Government plan:

• The government wants to ensure that the carbon tax levied on Indian products is as low as possible.
• It wants to have a fully functional Carbon Credit Trading System in place by January 1 2026, and get it recognised by the EU, so that compliance can be established for most exporters
• India wants to use the clause of equivalence existing in CBAM to get the carbon taxes already embedded in the country’s taxation system recognised.
• The EU’s equivalence clause could mean that if a country is already charging its industry some amount of carbon tax, such as India’s taxes on petroleum and coal, then that can be recognised while calculating the carbon tax on an exporter from that country.
• Additionally, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power coming up with its carbon credit trading system, a proposed system equivalence can be reached with the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).
• India will also insist that the principles of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR), which is also part of the Paris Agreement on climate change, be followed while calculating taxes under CBAM

Implementation of CABM:

• With the CBAM being in the transitional phase that started from 01st Oct 2023, exporters need to specify the quantity of CBAM goods shipped and the embedded emissions.
• This has already started, further the shippers will have time till January 2024 to submit the first quarterly report.

Exporter’s concern:

• Under CBAM, a lot of information on products and processes will need to be shared.
• These would include sensitive information about business practices that can’t be revealed to third parties as it could hurt a company’s competitive advantage. India would need clarity on what be the integrity of data protection around CBAM

15. Geographical indication (GI) tag for Goan cashews

Subject : Geography

Section :Economic geography

Context: The Geographical indication (GI) tag for Goan cashews holds significant implications for the cashew industry in Goa.

Significance of GI Tag for Goan Cashew

• The GI tag ensures that cashews bearing this label are authentic products originating from Goa. This helps consumers distinguish between genuine Goan cashews and those sourced from outside the state, which are often falsely marketed as ‘Goan cashews.’
• Goan cashew manufacturers and processors can use the GI tag as a trademark in the international market. This protection helps safeguard the reputation and quality associated with Goan cashews.
• Goa has a long history of cashew cultivation, and the GI tag helps in preserving the cultural and historical legacy of Goan cashews.
• By promoting authentic Goan cashews, the GI tag can potentially boost the demand for these products, benefitting local cashew producers, manufacturers, and the state’s economy.

Historical Background of Cashew in Goa

• Cashew was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Initially, it was primarily cultivated for afforestation and soil conservation purposes. However, it was not until a century after its introduction that the economic value of cashew nuts became apparent.
• The edible value of cashew nuts was reportedly discovered by Goan prisoners who were exiled to the Portuguese territory of Africa (Mozambique) during Goa’s freedom movement in the mid-18th century.
• The first cashew factory in Goa began operations in 1926, and the first consignment of cashew kernels was exported in 1930. Over time, cashew production transitioned from a cottage industry to a large-scale one, driven by demand, particularly from the United States.
• Before Goa’s liberation in 1961, the region exported substantial quantities of processed cashew nuts, both locally grown and imported from Portuguese colonies in Africa. On average, around 1500 tonnes of processed cashew nuts were exported to countries like the USA, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and West Germany.
• The cashew processing industry accounted for about 60% of industrial production in Goa by 1961, and it was a significant contributor to foreign trade. Various factors, including favourable import duties, port expenses, lower rents, wages, and salaries, contributed to the industry’s growth and success.

16. IMD issues yellow alert in 9 districts

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Colour- Coded Weather Warning:

• It is issued by the IMD whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.
• Warnings are updated daily.
• The IMD uses 4 colour codes are:
  • Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.
  • Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.
  • Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
  • Red (Take Action): When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.
• These alerts are universal in nature and are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall.
  • For e.g., when the water in a river is ‘above normal’ level, or between the ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ levels, a yellow alert is issued.

About India Meteorological Department:

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
• It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.
• IMD is headquartered in Delhi and operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica.
• Regional offices are at Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati and New Delhi.
• IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organisation.
  • It is regional nodal agency for forecasting, naming and disseminating warnings about tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean north of the Equator including the Malacca Straits, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
• IMD collaborates with other agencies such as the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.
• IMD also operates seismic monitoring centres at key locations for earthquake monitoring and measurements.
• IMD undertakes observations, communications, forecasting and weather services.
  • In collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation, the IMD also uses the IRS series and the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) for weather monitoring of the Indian subcontinent.
  • IMD was first weather bureau of a developing country to develop and maintain its own satellite system.
  • IMD Forecasts monsoon based on:
    • Sea Surface Temperature
    • ENSO
    • Relative Humidity
    • Wind Direction
    • Wind Speed
    • Pressure Patterns
    • Cloud Cover etc.