Daily Prelims Notes 19 October 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

19 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. What are “proxy advisory firms”?
2. Another year of futures ban in seven agri-commodities likely?
3. Destination test: FPI fund transfers under taxman’s lens?
4. Vizhinjam port
5. Ram temple get FCRA node
6. Meet Daniel, the deadly ‘nightmare’ hybrid storm that devastated the Mediterranean
7. How quantum algorithms solve problems that classical computers can’t
8. Flash floods in Kerala: A junked breakwater plan may have been Achilles’ heel
9. Severe drought grips the Amazon rainforest: The impact, cause and grim future
10. EV push: Bureau of Indian Standards approves indigenous charging standards for 2Ws, 3Ws
11. As lightning kills 12 in a day, Odisha proposes large-scale palm tree plantations
12. The poorly studied Eurasian lynx in Ladakh needs more research for conservation
13. MQ – 9B drones
14. India will explore building large language models

1. What are “proxy advisory firms”?

Subject: Economy

Section: Capital market

Context::Proxy advisory firms oppose Anant’s appointment on RIL board.

Key Points:

• A proposal to appoint Anant Ambani (28), the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, on the board of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is facing opposition from two proxy advisory firms.
• The firms – Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Ltd (IiAS) and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) – have advised RIL shareholders to vote against the proposal. However, they are backing the appointments of Anant’s elder siblings – Isha and Akash – both 31 years of age, on RIL’s board.

Why the decision to oppose?

• IiAS and ISS have cited Anant’s age as the reason for not supporting the proposal for his appointment on the RIL board.
• At 28 years of age, his (Anant’s) appointment as a Non-Executive Non-Independent Director does not align with voting guidelines of the advisory firms.

What are proxy advisory firms?

• Proxy advisory firms position themselves as independent firms that provide advice to individual shareholders, minority shareholders or institutional investors relating to the exercise of their rights in a company, including recommendations on public offers or voting recommendations on agenda items.

How many proxy advisory firms are there in India?

• Some of the major proxy advisory firms in the country include IiAS, Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) and InGovern.
• Proxy advisors are regulated by the markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Why are proxy advisory firms important?

• Proxy advisory firms closely look at listed companies, their performance and resolutions, and advise shareholders about their rights.
• They work in the interest of shareholders who might not always be able to analyse the impact of any resolution adopted by a company.
• These firms suggest investors vote for or against any corporate decisions.
• Proxy advisory firms also work with companies to improve their corporate governance practices.

2. Another year of futures ban in seven agri-commodities likely?

Subject: Economy

Section: Capital market

Context: Finance Ministry through SEBI continues ban on 7 agri commodity futures for another year.

Key Points:

• Futures trading in seven agriculture commodities on the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) is likely to remain suspended until December next year.
• The move is seen as linked to the political inconvenience of rising food prices ahead of state and general elections.
• The proposed extension for a year beyond 20 December comes in the face of opposition from the NCDEX and the cabinet secretariat.

Why is the NCDEX and cabinet secretariat opposing the ban?

• NCDEX and the cabinet secretariat sought a review of the ban to enable partial revocation of suspension in derivatives trading in edible oils and mustard seed.
• The continuation of the suspension will shut down the exchange and the ecosystem created over 20 years will collapse.
• Government also received many representations from edible oil associations urging the removal of the ban amid deflation in edible oil.

What are the benefits of future trade in agri commodities:.

• Futures trading in agricultural commodities helps in price discovery, risk management, and market liquidity.
• For agricultural producers, these markets provide an essential tool for locking in prices, mitigating price volatility, and ensuring a stable income.
• They also facilitate hedging to safeguard against adverse price movements and support better management of storage and transportation considerations.
• Investors benefit from the opportunity to diversify their portfolios while taking part in global agricultural markets.

When were agri futures first banned? 

• Finance ministry through the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) first imposed the ban in 2021, halting futures trading in seven commodities non-basmati paddy, wheat, chana, mustard seeds and its derivatives, soybean and its derivatives, crude palm oil and moong (green gram)—for a year to combat rising inflation.

Why were they banned?

• The issue goes into the heart of a delicate matter of political economy— whether or not widely consumed agricultural commodities such as pulses and rice should be allowed to be traded on the exchange, given their likely impact on food security.
• Futures trading in agricultural commodities can contribute to price swings and speculation.

Who administers agri commodity futures?

• The Forward Markets Commission (FMC) was the primary regulator until it was merged with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2015, which now oversees the commodity derivatives market.

3. Destination test: FPI fund transfers under taxman’s lens?

Subject: Economy

Section: Capital market

Context: Several Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) receive tax notices.

Key Points:

• Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have received a slew of notices on foreign remittances made outside India under Section 133 (6) of the Income Tax Act.
• Tax authorities are seeking KYC details, names of ultimate beneficial owners, holdings and nature of remittances.

What is the reason for notices?

• The main reason is the suspicion of using investment treaty provisions to avoid tax by non treaty nations.
• For a fund investing from Singapore into India, capital gains will be taxable. But the dividend or interest income will be subject to tax at the concessional rate of 10 per cent.
• To be eligible for the concessional rate, the fund needs to demonstrate that it is the beneficial owner of the income and a tax resident of Singapore.
• The Singapore fund, however, may be repatriating the gains made from investing in India to a country like Mauritius or the US. This is being looked upon with suspicion.
• The tax office may wants to curb such practices and disallow treaty benefits to these funds.
• If the money has gone to a country other than where the fund is based, it could imply that the fund has been treaty shopping.
• If even the bank account is being operated from another country, the “substance” of the fund could be called into question and lead to denial of treaty benefits. Taxes where exemption was claimed could become payable, along with interest and penalities.
• A substance test typically requires a fund to prove its presence in a particular jurisdiction, by way of its registered office, staff, cash flows, etc.

4. Vizhinjam port

Subject : Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context: Congress fight for credit over the Vizhinjam port

What is the Vizhinjam International Seaport Project:

• It is a transshipment deepwater multipurpose seaport project is being built by Adani Ports and SEZ Private Limited in Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,
• The project follows the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model, which is a type of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
• In the DBFOT model, a private partner takes on various responsibilities, including designing, building, financing, operating, and eventually transferring the project to the public sector.
• This model is typically used for large-scale infrastructure projects, where the private partner receives a concession from the public sector to manage and operate the project for a specified period, typically ranging from 20 to 30 years.
• At the end of this period, control of the project reverts to the public entity that initially granted the concession.
• According to the agreement for this particular project, Adani Group is expected to invest Rs 2,454 crore, and an additional Rs 1,635 crore will be secured from state and central governments as viability gap funding.
• The Kerala government has also contributed by providing 500 acres of land for the project.
• The DBFOT deal encompasses a 40-year duration, with provisions for possible extensions of up to 20 years.

What are the features of the Vizhinjam port:

• Vizhinjam port is India’s first international deepwater transshipment port.
• Some of the special features are:
• Unique Depth: Vizhinjam boasts a natural depth of over 18 meters, expandable to 20 meters, making it capable of accommodating large vessels and mother ships.
• Versatile Purpose: The port is designed to handle container transshipment, multi-purpose, and break-bulk cargo. It is strategically located just ten nautical miles from the international shipping route.
• Low Maintenance: The port has minimal littoral drift and requires minimal maintenance dredging, reducing operational costs.
• Competitive Advantage: Vizhinjam aims to compete with transshipment hubs like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. It is expected to reduce container movement costs to and from foreign destinations.
• Initial Capacity: The first phase of the project has a capacity of one million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), which can be expanded to 6.2 million TEU.
• Job Opportunities: The project is expected to create 5,000 direct job opportunities, support industrial growth, and boost cruise tourism.
• Advanced Infrastructure: Vizhinjam offers state-of-the-art automation and infrastructure to handle Megamax container ships efficiently.

Why India needs a container transshipment port:

• India currently has 13 major ports, but lacks the infrastructure to handle ultra-large container ships effectively, leading to the transshipment of about 75% of cargo at ports outside India, including Colombo, Singapore, and Klang.
• In the fiscal year 2021-22, India’s total transshipment cargo amounted to approximately 4.6 million TEUs, with roughly 4.2 million TEUs being managed at foreign ports.
• Developing a transshipment hub in India is expected to yield several significant benefits, including forex savings, increased foreign direct investment, enhanced economic activity at Indian ports, the growth of associated logistics infrastructure, job creation, improved operational efficiency, and an increase in revenue share.
• The establishment of a transshipment port can also lead to the growth of various related businesses, such as ship supplies, ship repair, logistics services, warehousing, and bunkering.
• A deep water container transshipment port has the potential to capture a substantial portion of the container transshipment traffic currently diverted to ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai, ultimately contributing to India’s economic development and creating numerous job opportunities.

5. Ram temple get FCRA node

Subject: Polity

Section: Legislation in news

Context: Ram temple gets FCRA node.

More about the news:

• The Union Home Ministry has given approval to the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, allowing them to receive foreign donations for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
• The Trust confirmed that contributions must be sent to a specific bank account in SBI’s 11 Sansad Marg branch in New Delhi. 
• The consecration ceremony for the temple is planned for January, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend.
• The first phase of temple construction is set to finish by December this year.

What is FCRA:

• The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.
• The law was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehension that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping in funds through independent organizations.
• It is implemented by the Union Home Ministry

What are the provisions of the act:

• The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be
  • To be registered under the Act
  • To open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi
  • To  utilize those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act
  • To file annual returns and not to transfer the funds to another NGO

How is FCRA registration granted:

• FCRA registrations are granted to individuals or associations that have definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, and social programmes.
• NGOs that want to receive foreign funds must apply online with the required documentation.
• Authority– The Ministry of Home Affairs makes inquiries through the Intelligence Bureau into the antecedents of the applicant and approves or rejects the application within 90 days.
• In case of failure to process the application in the given time, the MHA is expected to inform the NGO of the reasons for the same.
• Eligibility- Under the FCRA, the applicant
  • Should not be fictitious or benami
  • Should not have been prosecuted or convicted for indulging in activities aimed at conversion through inducement or force, either directly or indirectly, from one religious faith to another
  • Should not have been prosecuted for or convicted of creating communal tension or disharmony
  • Should not have been found guilty of diversion or misutilisation of funds
  • Should not be engaged or likely to be engaged in the propagation of sedition
• Validity– Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years and NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration.
• In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired.

6. Meet Daniel, the deadly ‘nightmare’ hybrid storm that devastated the Mediterranean

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

The Mediterranean Storm Daniel that hit Libya, Greece, Bulgaria and Türkiye, has, so far, been responsible for at least 11,000 deaths.

Medicane:

• Storm Daniel initially formed over the eastern Mediterranean and caused extensive flooding in parts of Greece, Bulgaria, Türkiye, and Libya.
• Medicane is a hybrid term combining the words Mediterranean and hurricane — and requires specific conditions to form. These conditions are:
  • Relatively closed ocean basin
  • Cold air from north
  • Warmer air from south
  • Relatively dry air
• Historical data on medicanes is patchy, and the criteria used to classify them is less exact than traditional cyclones.
• They are rare because of the geography of the Mediterranean — a relatively small ocean basin surrounded by dry air to the south over Africa and numerous mountain ranges.
• It contains characteristics of both tropical low-pressure systems (cyclones) and the low-pressure systems usually seen in northern Europe.

Impact of Medicane:

• Heavier rain, more severe storm surges and, possibly, stronger winds.

Omega block pattern:

• The medicane got trapped by something called an Omega block pattern, which is when a high-pressure system gets sandwiched between two lows.
• During an Omega block, the wave in the jet stream becomes amplified, displacing the river of strong wind aloft well south.
• The result is that weather systems which normally follow the jet from the west to east become stagnant.

How medicane is different from tropical cyclone:

Hot seas helped spark storm:

• The sea surface temperatures (SST) of the Mediterranean sea was at times more than 5C above average and air temperatures at record highs.
• During the peak of a July marine heatwave, the Mediterranean actually warmed to a record average of 28C, easily surpassing the 26.5C threshold required for a traditional tropical cyclone.
• This extra heat helped fuel Daniel’s intensification and also provided the system with added moisture from evaporation.
• A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture before it rains. For every 1C increase in air temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7 per cent more water, which eventually leads to heavier rain and more severe flooding.
• Tropical cyclones are declining worldwide, but the intensity of the most severe cyclones is increasing.

Source: abc.net

7. How quantum algorithms solve problems that classical computers can’t

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

• We often hear that quantum computers efficiently solve problems that are very difficult to solve with a classical computer. But even if the hardware is available to build a quantum computer, exploiting its quantum features requires us to write smart algorithms.
• An algorithm is a sequence of logically connected mathematical steps that solve a problem.

Quantum v. classical algorithms:

• An algorithm is a series of steps to find the solution of the targeted problem.
• A quantum algorithm is also a series of steps, but its implementation requires quantum gates.
  • Some problems may need fewer steps on the part of a quantum algorithm than the number of steps required by a classical algorithm. That is, the quantum algorithm can speed up the computation.
• One factor that controls this speed-up is the possibility of superposition of the states of quantum bits, or qubits, that encode information.
• Whereas a classical computer uses semiconductor-based gadgets as bits to encode information, quantum computers use qubits. In both cases, the bit or the qubit can have two distinct states, 0 or 1; but qubits have the additional ability to be partly 0 and partly 1 at the same time.

Shor’s algorithm:

• One of the earliest quantum algorithms is the factorisation algorithm developed by Peter Shor. It requires fewer steps to factorise a number than one that operates with classical principles.
• The efficiency of an algorithm is related to the number of steps required as the size of the input increases. An algorithm is more efficient if it requires fewer steps (and thus less time). Thus, Shor’s algorithm is far more efficient than any known classical algorithm for factorisation.
• Modern cryptography – which is used to secure user accounts on the internet – depends on the fact that there are no efficient classical algorithms that can factorise large integers. This is the source of the claim that the availability of quantum computers will challenge the safety of classical cryptography.

Grover’s and Deutsch-Jozsa algorithms:

• Another popular quantum algorithm is the quantum search algorithm developed by Lov Grover.
  • For every 100x increase in the list’s size, Grover’s algorithm will need only 10x more steps. This is the kind of speed-up this quantum algorithm achieves.
• another quantum algorithm that showcases the exponential speed-up is the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm.
• Scientists already know of more quantum algorithms that can solve problems in optimisation, drug design, and pattern search, among other fields more efficiently.

Term related to quantum computing:

1. Qbits: A qubit or quantum bit is a basic unit of quantum information—the quantum version of the classic binary bit physically realized with a two-state device.
2. Entanglement: It refers to the phenomenon in which two or more quantum particles can become correlated in such a way that their states are intrinsically linked, regardless of the distance between them. This correlation is stronger than any classical correlation and is described by a mathematical concept known as a quantum state.
3. Superposition: Superposition is the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured. Because the concept is difficult to understand, this essential principle of quantum mechanics is often illustrated by an experiment carried out in 1801 by the English physicist, Thomas Young.

Source: TH

8. Flash floods in Kerala: A junked breakwater plan may have been Achilles’ heel

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• Flash floods drenched Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram. Most low-lying areas of the city are still under water. Significant rains were recorded in the districts of Ernakulam, Kollam and Alappuzha, creating waterlogging and stagnation in several regions.

Why the flooding occurred:

• These torrential rains in Kerala were caused by cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep.
• TheAmayizhanchan Canal near Kannamoola connects to Akkulam Lake and drains rainwater into the Arabian Sea via Veli Pozhi, an estuary.
• But the final component of the project titled Operation Anantha is missing — which may have led to flooding in the city.
• The flood mitigation project included a breakwater at Veli so that excess water from Akkulam lake would drain out to the sea through the year. But, its construction was halted following opposition from the Veli locals due to concerns including:
  • Chemical effluents and plastic waste will be drained into the marine ecosystem
  • Coastal erosion
• Solution lies in:
  • Digital mapping of land-use changes in urban landscapes.
  • Building early warning systems,
  • Infrastructure that can withstand water overflow and
  • Suitable land-use planning
  • Check dams have been suggested to prioritize watershed-based management, afforestation and soil conservation.
  • Water-efficient farming practices, Use of drought-resistant crops and implementation of micro-irrigation.

Flash flood:

• A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours.
• Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them.
• They can occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall. They can also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance after a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by a debris or ice jam.

Source: DownToEarth

9. Severe drought grips the Amazon rainforest: The impact, cause and grim future

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context:

• The Amazon rainforest is reeling from an intense drought. Numerous rivers vital for travel have dried up. As a result, there is no water, food, or medicine in villages of Indigenous communities living in the area.

Details:

• The Rio Negro, one of the world’s largest rivers by discharge levels, has fallen to a record low level of 13.59 metres near the city of Manaus.
• Amazon, called the planet’s lungs, covers nearly seven million square kilometers, or about the area of Australia, and stores more than 150 billion metric tonnes of carbon.
• In the past five decades, between 17 and 20 percent of the Amazon has been destroyed.

Stranded boats, wildfires, dead fish:

• Water levels have dropped and high numbers of fish and river dolphins, known as boto, have been washing up dead.
• The lack of water has also stalled the operations of a major hydropower dam.
• The extreme dry conditions have made the rainforest more vulnerable to wildfires.
  • So far this month, the Amazonas state has witnessed 2,700 blazes — the highest ever noted for the month of October since the records began 25 years ago.
• Smoke from wildfires has plummeted air quality in Manaus, a city in the middle of the Amazon, to hazardous levels.

The combined effect of El Nino and high sea surface temperatures:

• This drought event is more severe as two simultaneous natural events have hindered cloud formation, further reducing the already low rainfall levels in the region.

1. The onset of El Nino: which refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The weather pattern is known to increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and triggers more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean.
2. The unusually high water temperatures in the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean. Due to warmer ocean waters, heated air rises into the atmosphere, which then reaches the Amazon rainforest. The warm air inhibits the formation of clouds, causing rainfall to drop sharply.

A grim future:

• Several studies have indicated that with rising global temperatures, the Amazon will experience longer and more frequent droughts.
• The Amazon has become slower at recovering from longer periods of drought over the past 20 years and is nearing its tipping point. Beyond the tipping point, it would transform from a lush green forest into a drier open savanna, releasing a large amount of stored carbon, which would, in turn, exacerbate global warming.

Amazon Rainforests:

• The Amazon rainforest or Amazonia constitutes close to 1.3% of the planet’s surface and 4.1% of the earth’s land surface, but as a biome, the Amazon is host to 10% of the world’s wildlife species and some more, as we are still discovering new species in this epic mass of life in Latin America.
• Some of the species found in the Amazon are not found anywhere else.
• The Amazon itself is the largest river by volume of water in the world, draining from Iquitos in Peru, across Brazil and discharging into the Atlantic ocean.
• Countries with amazon rainforests: 60% of it is in Brazil, 13% is in Peru, 8% in Bolivia, 7% and 6% respectively in Colombia and Venezuela, and nearly 3% each in Guyana and Suriname and around 1% in French Guiana and Ecuador.
• Ecological contributions:
  • In all, by storing around 76 billion tonnes of carbon, the Amazon rainforest helps stabilise the world’s climate.
  • Moisture from the Amazon is responsible for rainfall for many parts of Latin America, contributing to agriculture, storage of water in urban reservoirs as well.

Source: IE

10. EV push: Bureau of Indian Standards approves indigenous charging standards for 2Ws, 3Ws

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Msc

Context:

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has granted approval to an indigenous AC and DC combined charging connector standard designed for light electric vehicles (LEVs), known as IS17017 (Part 2/Sec 7): 2023.

About IS17017 (part 2/Sec 7): 2023:

• The initiative was undertaken by NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV makers and the Bureau of Indian Standards to develop a national standard to help create an open ecosystem that will drive faster EV adoption across the globe.
• This is claimed to be the world’s first-ever combined AC and DC charging connector standard for LEVs and is designed and engineered in India and can become the benchmark globally for LEVs.
• Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will now have a choice to move away from relying solely on international standards and protocols. Since more than 75 percent of new vehicles sold in India are either two- or three-wheelers, BIS created a standard that impacts the biggest chunk of the vehicle market.

Addressing the gap:

• The standard addresses a large gap in the market for a standardized connector for an AC and DC combined charging system for light electric vehicles (two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars).
• A combined AC and DC charging connector ensures that a hybrid, cost-efficient infrastructure emerges for all forms of charging, whether fast or slow, for light electric vehicles.
• The customer benefits from having an interoperable network for fast and slow charging without carrying a bulky charger with them.

Source: Business Line

11. As lightning kills 12 in a day, Odisha proposes large-scale palm tree plantations

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• Lightening in several parts of Odisha killed 12 persons in a single day on October 2, 2023.

Lightening in Odisha:

• The eastern coastal state of Odisha, prone to natural calamities, continues to be one of the leading states in terms of mortality due to lightning.
• On April 1, 2015, Odisha declared lightning a “state-specific disaster”. Odisha also floated a proposal to the Centre to declare lightning as a natural disaster. Till now 16 states have declared lightning a state-specific disaster.
• Lightning is the discharge of electricity to another cloud or to the ground. The effects of lightning on humans include burns, muscle spasms, multi-system dysfunction, cardiac arrest and instant death.
• The phenomenon in Odisha was a result of recurrent dry spells in between the monsoon months.
• This is not a new phenomenon. The change in rainfall patterns with a longer dry spell time period breaking through the monsoon leads to increased lightning events.

Mortality due to lightning:

• According to the Annual Lightning Report 2021-22, most victims of lighting are from rural areas (96%) which include farmers, cattle grazers, fishermen, jungle hunters and labourers working in the open.
• Lightning strikes increased 34% from 2019-20 to 2020-21 and then reduced by 19.5% in 2021-22.
• Lightning strikes will increase by about 12 percent for every degree of rise in global average air temperature.

Palm tree plantations as lightning conductors:

• Multiple studies show that palm trees (Arecaceae) are useful in preventing lightning strikes.
• Countries such as Thailand and Bangladesh have opted for large-scale palm tree plantations to mitigate lightning deaths. As trees contain sap and water, they absorb the lightning and are damaged themselves.
• Since palm tree is on the exempted species list, it does not require a transit permit for transportation Thus prone to illegal felling and transportation.

Awareness is key:

• The India Meteorological Department issues specific forecasts related to lightning with colour-coded warnings. The first forecast is issued three days ahead of any lightning events, and the second forecast is issued three hours before the lightning events.
• The Annual Lightning Report also recommends that states should undertake lightning micro-zonation for geographical region-wise precise handling of the risk.
• The Lightning Risk Management programme for each state has to be customized as per seasonality, intensity and frequency of lightning.

12. The poorly studied Eurasian lynx in Ladakh needs more research for conservation

Subject : Environment

Section: species in news

Eurasian lynx:

• Eurasian lynx is a carnivorous cat species found in barren, relatively open, rocky mountainous plateau of Central Asia. In India, the lynx is found in some parts of Ladakh and Dobaj forest area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district. and sightings of the cat have been very rare.
• It is the second largest feline species in Ladakh, after the snow leopard.
• Lynx usually preyon Tibetan wooly hare, marmots, and Royle’s pika, female or juvenile ungulates, domestic sheep and goats. Their role in the food chain involves regulating the populations of these prey species.
• Over a period of time, it is estimated that the population of Eurasian lynx in India has gone down. Conducting a population survey of the elusive cat is also difficult in comparison to other cat species.

A medium-size cat:

• There are six subspecies of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) found in Europe and North-central Asia.
• The subspecies found in India is known as the central Asian lynx (Lynx lynxisabellinus). It is also known as Turkestan lynx, Tibetan lynx or Himalayan lynx.
• The Eurasian lynx is the largest species of the genus lynx and is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act which means it has the highest level of protection.
• Locally known as Eeh or Ee in Ladakhi, is found in different parts of Ladakh such as the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tso-Kar basin, Hemis National Park and Nubra Valley, which are major habitats of the cat.

Lynx in Ladakh:

• In Ladakh there are three major felids – snow leopard, being the largest cat, is the apex predator, the Eurasian lynx subspecies which is a medium size wildcat and Pallas’s cat which is a small wildcat.
• The Eurasian lynx found in Ladakh has long legs and big paws. Its tail is very short and the ears have a black back with long black hair tufts. The fur is yellowish with a faint and almost unmarked coat.
• While other subspecies of Eurasian lynx are mostly found in forested areas, the central Asian lynx or Himalayan lynx inhabits a barren environment.
• By preying on these herbivores, lynxes help control their numbers, preventing overgrazing and habitat degradation.

13. MQ – 9B drones

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Defence

Context:

• India is set to acquire 31 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the United States.
• The agreement is projected to be finalised by February 2024, and deliveries are scheduled to commence in February 2027, marking a three-year gap after the contract is signed.

About MQ-9B Predator Drone:

• The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper”, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
• These are high-altitude long-endurance drones armed with strike missiles which can take out enemy targets with high accuracy.
• It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
• The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian.
• The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.

Features of MQ-9B SeaGuardian :

• It can carry up to 5,670 kg and has a fuel capacity of 2,721 kg.
• The drone can operate at over 40,000 feet.
• The Predator also has a maximum endurance of 40 hours, making it useful for long-hour surveillance.
• It can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.
• It is also capable of automatic take-offs and landings.
• It can safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain day or night.

Key Developments

1. Deal Status and Timeline

• The MQ-9B UAV deal is progressing as planned.
• The Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) from the U.S. government is awaited.
• The contract is anticipated to be finalised by February 2024.

2. UAV Maker’s Commitment

• The UAV manufacturer, General Atomics (GA), is in the process of setting up a worldwide facility for maintenance, repair, and overhaul within India.
• The exact location for the facility is yet to be determined, but Bengaluru is a likely choice.

3. Clearance and Costs

• In June, India’s Defense Ministry approved the procurement of 31 MQ-9B UAVs from GA, valued at an estimated cost of $3,072 million.
• The procurement consists of 15 Sea Guardians designated for the Navy, as well as eight Sky Guardians allocated to both the Army and the Air Force.

4. Procurement Process

• The Letter of Request (LoR) was issued to the U.S. government just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with U.S. President Joe Biden at the G-20 summit.
• The LoR serves as the basis for finalising the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), specifying equipment and procurement terms in line with the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

5. Approval and Conclusion

• The U.S. administration is required to inform the U.S. Congress about the sale.
• The deal will then need approval from the Indian government’s Cabinet Committee on Security before the contract can be concluded.

14. India will explore building large language models

Subject : Science and tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

India will set up a “high powered committee” to explore the development  of large language models, or LLMs, tools that harness artificial intelligence  to create applications that can understand and process human language,  the Union government’s Principal Scientific Adviser, Ajay Sood, said on Wednesday.

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.