Daily Prelims Notes 21 December 2022

December 21, 2022
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

21 December 2022

Table Of Contents

1. Why winter solstice matters around the world

Subject: Geography

Context:

it’s not yet winter. According to the astronomical definition, the season will officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere on Dec. 21, 2022: the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice.

What is the winter solstice?

It is also called the hibernal solstice.
It occurs when either of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).
For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
Either pole experiences continuous darkness or twilight around its winter solstice.
The opposite event is the summer solstice.
The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s winter.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (usually the 21st or 22nd of December) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (usually the 20th or 21st of June).

Ancient astronomy:

Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals.
It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun; the gradual waning of daylight hours is reversed and begins to grow again.
Some ancient monuments such as Newgrange, Stonehenge, and Cahokia Woodhenge are aligned with the sunrise or sunset on the winter solstice.

Seasons:

Seasons are specified periods in a year which have similar weather conditions.
Season is a period of the year characterized by a particular set of weather conditions resulting from the inclination of the earth’s axis and the revolution of the earth around the sun.
The same cycle of the season is repeated year after year.
Four seasons, each of three months duration have been recognized in temperate regions.
They are spring, summer, autumn and winter.
In our country, we have three distinct seasons which are summer, winter and monsoons.
The Indian Meteorological Department has recognized four main seasons.
They are

Cold weather season (December to February.)
Hot weather seasons (March to May)
Advancing monsoon season or rainy season (June to September.)
Retreating monsoon season (October to November.)

The rays of the sun are more or less direct on the equator throughout the year. Hence, equatorial regions experience the same temperature all the year round. Therefore, seasons are insignificant on or near the equator.
Near the coast, the oceanic influence reduces the seasonal variations.
In the polar regions, there are only two seasons i.e. long winter and short summer.

2. Project Tiger, CAMPA funds used to finance cheetah project: Centre

Subject: Environment

In the news:

Funds from Project Tiger as well as the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) were used to finance the project to bring African cheetahs to India, the Union government told Parliament December 19, 2022.

Details:

Under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger a budgetary provision of Rs. 38.7 crores has been made for five years besides funding support of Rs 29.47 crore under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which includes the cost of transportation, maintenance and management of African cheetahs and the habitat.

Other identified areas for cheetah reintroduction are:

According to the government, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as well as Shahgarh Bulge, Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan had been identified as other suitable areas for the cheetah in India.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Saurashtra had been identified and assessed by the Wildlife Institute of India as a potential site for the Asitic lions.

What are CAMPA funds?

CAMPA funds are part of long-pending dues of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), a ₹54,000-crore tranche collected for nearly a decade as environmental compensation from industry, which has razed forest land for its business plans.

About CAMPA:

The CAF Act 2016, which came into being more than a decade since it was devised, established an independent authority — the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) — to execute the fund.
- However, it was not until August 2020 that the rules governing the management of the fund were finalised.

What is Compensatory Afforestation?

Compensatory afforestation means that every time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area of degraded forest land.

Fund sharing:

As per the rules, 90% of the CAF money is to be given to the states while 10% is to be retained by the Centre.
The funds can be used for the treatment of catchment areas, assisted natural generation, forest management, wildlife protection and management, relocation of villages from protected areas, managing human-wildlife conflicts, training and awareness generation, supply of wood-saving devices and allied activities.

Activities utilising CAMPA funds:

Compensatory afforestation
Wildlife management
Forest fire protection and critical operations
Improvement of wildlife habitat
Research in forestry
Catchment area treatment
Assisted natural regeneration
Soil and moisture conservation works in forests
Management of biological diversity and biological resources
Monitoring of CAMPA works

Project tiger:

This tiger conservation programme was launched in April 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
Aim: Ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats, protecting them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage
From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 54 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states.
The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy.
- Core areas are the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary.
- Whereas, buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple-use area.
The government has set up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers and funded the relocation of villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts.
National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, to reorganise the management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India. It is the overarching body for the conservation of tigers in India.

3. New air filter technology found to deactivate over 99% of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Subject: Environment

Context:

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have developed air filters made of ingredients commonly found in green tea. Antimicrobial filters can destroy germs and remove them from their system.

Details:

The novel antimicrobial air filters were tested at an accredited laboratory.
They were found to deactivate the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 with an efficiency of 99.24 per cent.
The innovation holds promise to develop antimicrobial filters that can prevent epidemics by air-borne pathogens.
Ingredients used in the air filters are:polyphenols and polycationic polymers commonly found in green tea.
- These ‘green’ ingredients can rupture the microbes through site-specific binding.

Significance:

Over continuous usage, the existing air filters become a breeding ground for captured germs.
The growth of these germs clogs the filter’s pores, reducing its life.
Resuspension of these germs can infect people in the vicinity.
These novel antimicrobial filters in the air conditioners, central ducts and air purifiers can play a crucial role in the fight against air pollution and mitigate the spread of air-borne pathogens like coronaviruses.
This technology was transferred to AIRTH, a startup that is replacing the existing germ-growing air filters with germ-destroying air filters for commercialisation.

Severity of air pollution:

A recent study found that countries with higher rates of stillborn babies had higher amounts of fine particulate pollution.
India led the list with the highest average number of stillbirths — 217,000 out of 25 million births each year.
South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Desert were hotspots of PM 2.5-related stillbirths due to high exposure and baseline stillbirth rate.
India had an average drop of 3.86 years in life expectancy due to air pollution, which caused 1.8 million premature deaths in 2015.

4. Asian Giant Tortoises released into Nagaland protected area for rewilding

Subject: Environment

Context:

Ten captive-bred Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouriaemys) juveniles were released into a protected area of Nagaland on December 19, 2022, according to T Aochuba, director, Intanki National Park.

Soft release of the tortoise:

The Nagaland Forest Department and non-profits Turtle Survival Alliance and Wildlife Conservation Society India conducted a soft release of the juvenile tortoises with the objective to rewild the species and population recovery.
The soft release is a process of gradually releasing captive-raised species into the wild.
The method helps the species to develop site fidelity among released individuals and eventually develop the habit to live in the vicinity of the release closure.

About the Asian Giant Tortoise:

The Asian Giant tortoise (Manouriaemys), also known commonly as the Mountain tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae.
The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.
It is believed to be among the most primitive of living tortoises, based on molecular and morphological studies.
Asian Giant Tortoises are found in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia among other places.
Listed as ‘critically endangered’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
Threats include Over-exploitation and unsustainable use for consumption by local communities resulting in the species being pushed to the brink of extinction.
Conservation efforts: The Joint Asian Giant Tortoise Recovery Project started in 2017 with the Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP) and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).

About the Ntangki National Park:

Ntangki National Park is a national park located in the Peren District of Nagaland, India.
It was first designated as a national park in 1993.
Among the species that inhabit the park are the rare hoolock gibbon, golden langur, hornbill, Asian palm civet, black stork, tiger, white-breasted kingfisher, monitor lizard, python and sloth bear.
The name “Ntangki” is derived from theZeme dialect of the Zeliangrong Nagas.

5. New health threat? Pathogens frozen in permafrost resurface as Earth heats up

Subject: Environment

Context:

A warming planet is resulting in the loss of the Earth’s cryosphere — parts of the planet where water is permanently frozen such as glaciers and ice sheets, and this could be resurrecting trapped pathogens, giving rise to potential public health threats, find a new study.

Details about the study:

Researchers analysed samples from seven different ancient Siberian permafrost sites and pieced together preliminary characterisations of 13 new viruses.
- Two viruses viz pithovirus and mollivirus were identified.
The viruses studied so far only infect amoeba and are of no real threat to humans or animals.
Another route of a potential viral threat could be the thawing of dead people who possibly died of an infection.
- A 300-year-old frozen mummy from Siberia was found to contain the variola virus that causes smallpox.
- Bodies exhumed from Alaska’s permafrost contributed to understanding the 1918 Spanish flu virus genome.
Researchers warned that each new virus, even related to known families, almost always requires the development of highly specific medical responses, such as new antivirals or vaccines.
- There is no equivalent to ‘broad spectrum antibiotics’ against viruses, because of the lack of universally conserved druggable processes across the different viral families.
Russia’s Yamal peninsula witnessed an anthrax outbreak: Abnormally high ambient temperature in the summer of 2016 contributed to the thawing of permafrost and viable Bacillus anthracis (anthrax-causing bacteria) spores could have become exposed to the surface.
The research paper also made an interesting observation about antibiotic-resistance genes being prevalent in permafrost.

Natural reservoirs of pathogens:

In infectious disease ecology and epidemiology, a natural reservoir, also known as a disease reservoir or a reservoir of infection, is the population of organisms or the specific environment in which an infectious pathogen naturally lives and reproduces, or upon which the pathogen primarily depends for its survival.
Animal reservoirs: A reservoir is usually a living host of a certain species, such as an animal or a plant, inside of which a pathogen survives, often (though not always) without causing disease for the reservoir itself.
Ecosystem reservoirs: By some definitions, a reservoir may also be an environment external to an organism, such as a volume of contaminated air or water.

6. Virus and fear surge in China: what’s happening and why?

Subject: Environment

Context:

A surge of Covid-19 infections in China in the past few weeks has prompted warnings that the country could witness over a million deaths in the coming months, even though official figures presented a very different picture.

China Covid-19 surge: What’s happening?

A surge in cases ever since it relaxed the suffocating restrictions last month following rare public protests.

Fast-transmitting variant:

The dominant virus strain in China is BF.7, a sub-variant of Omicron that has been in circulation for over a year now.
There are over 500 Omicron sub-variants currently in circulation.
BF.7 is the name for the BA.5.2.1.7, which itself has evolved from the BA.5 sub-variant. BF.7 is not unique to China.
It accounted for over 5 per cent of the cases in the US in October and over 7 per cent of the cases in the UK.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that there is one particular variant that is driving the surge in China. Neither is there evidence to suggest that any new variant is the cause.
The Gisaid data (a global database of Sars-CoV-2 genomes) shows that nothing vastly different has been uploaded from the country.

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID):

The GISAID platform was launched on the occasion of the Sixty-first World Health Assembly in May 2008.
GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source for genomic data of influenza viruses and the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19.
In 2010 the Federal Republic of Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform and EpiFlu™ database providing sustainability of the platform and stability through its public-private-partnership with the GISAID Initiative to this day.
In 2013 the European Commission recognized GISAID as a research organization and partner in the PREDEMICS consortium, a project on the Preparedness, Prediction and the Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using multidisciplinary approaches.

Key role:

The Initiative ensures that open access to data in GISAID is provided free of charge to all individuals that agreed to identify themselves and agreed to uphold the GISAID sharing mechanism governed through its Database Access Agreement.

7. Project 75: fifth Kalvari class attack submarine delivered to indian navy

Subject :Defence

The fifth Scorpène submarine, Vagir of Project – 75 Kalvari Class submarines has been delivered to the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai.

INS Vagir:

It is having “superior stealth features” like advanced acoustic absorption techniques.
The sixth and last of the Scorpène-class submarines, Vagsheer, was launched into water in April 2022 and is expected to be delivered to the Navy by end 2023.
Six Scorpene submarines are being built under Project-75 by MDL under technology transfer from the Naval Group of France under a $3.75 billion deal signed in October 2005.
The project is about four years behind schedule.
The first submarine INS Kalvariwas commissioned in December 2017, the second submarine INS Khanderiin September 2019, third one INS Karanj in March 2021 and the fourth one INS Vela joined service in November 2021.

About the Project 75:

This project envisages the indigenous construction of submarines equipped with a state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs. 43,000 crores.
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30-year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
It will be the first under the strategic partnership model which was promulgated in 2017 to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.
The strategic partnership model allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence.
Acquisitions under the Strategic Partnership model refer to the participation of private Indian firms along with foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) in ‘Make in India’ in defence.

About 30-year Submarine Plan:

The Cabinet Committee on Security, in June 1999, had approved a 30-year submarine-building plan which included the construction of 24 conventional submarines indigenously by 2030.
- P75I succeeded the P75 under which six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class, based on the Scorpene class, were being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited) – the six submarines under the project are: INS Kalavari, INS Khanderi, INS Kharanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer.
- The fifth Diesel-electric attack submarine INS Vagir is commissioned.
Of the total 24 submarines to be built in India, six will be nuclear-powered.
India has only one nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, at the moment.
The INS Arighat, also a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, is to be commissioned soon.
INS Chakra, a nuclear submarine, which is taken on lease from Russia, is believed to be on its way back to the country of origin.

8. Co-operative society amendment bill referred to joint house panel

Subject: Polity

Context:

Lok Sabha referred the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill to the joint Parliament panel.

What are Multi State Cooperative Societies:

Cooperatives are a ‘State’ subject in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution.
However, there are many societies such as those for sugar and milk, banks, milk unions etc whose members and areas of operation are spread across more than one state.
The Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 was passed to govern such cooperatives.
Since the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act was enacted, 1,479 such societies have been registered of which Maharashtra has the highest number at 567, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 147 and New Delhi at 133.

More about Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022

To plug the “loopholes” in the MSCS Act, the Centre introduced a Bill seeking to amend the 2002 law for more “transparency” and increase the “ease of doing business”.
The Bill proposes merger of any cooperative society into an existing multi-state cooperative society.
The Bill also seeks to improve the composition of the board and ensure financial discipline, besides enabling the raising of funds in MCSCs.
The Bill provides for the creation of a central Co-operative Election Authority to supervise the electoral functions of the MSCSs.
The Authority will have a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and up to three members appointed by the Centre.
The Bill envisages the creation of a Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund for the revival of sick MSCSs,financed by existing profitable MSCSs which will have to deposit either Rs. 1 crore or 1% of their net profit.
In order to make the governance of these societies more democratic, transparent and accountable, the Bill has provisions for appointing a Cooperative Information Officer and a Cooperative Ombudsman.
To promote equity and inclusiveness, provisions relating to the representation of women and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe members on MSCS boards have been included.
The bill also proposes to insert a new Section relating to concurrent audit for such multi-state societies with an annual turnover or deposit of more than the amount as determined by the Centre.

What is the Joint Parliamentary Committee

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is set up to examine a particular bill presented before the Parliament, or for the purpose of investigating cases of financial irregularities in any government activity.
The JPC is an ad-hoc body and is set up for a given period of time and is aimed at addressing a specific issue.
Joint Parliamentary committees are set up by a motion passed in one house of Parliament and agreed to by the other.
The details regarding membership and subjects are also decided by Parliament.
The mandate of a JPC depends on the motion constituting it. This need not be limited to the scrutiny of government finances
JPC recommendations have persuasive value but the committee cannot force the government to take any action on the basis of its report.
The government is required to report on the follow-up action taken on the basis of the recommendations of the JPC and other committees.
The committees then submit ‘Action Taken Reports’ in Parliament on the basis of the government’s reply.
These reports can be discussed in Parliament and the government can be questioned on the basis of the same.
The government can disagree with the JPC’s findings and refuse to take such action.

Powers and Functions:

A JPC is authorized to collect evidence in oral or written form or demand documents in connection with the matter.
The proceedings and findings of the committee are confidential, except in matters of public interest.
The government can take the decision to withhold a document if it is considered prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State.
The Speaker has the final word in case of a dispute over calling for evidence.
The committee can invite interested parties for inquiry and summon people to appear before it.

The committee gets disbanded following the submission of its report to Parliament .

9. Appropriation Bills

Subject :Polity

Context: Rajya Sabha on Wednesday returned two Appropriation Bills authorising payment of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the current financial year.

Concept:

Under Article 114(3) of the Constitution, no amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund without the enactment of such a law by Parliament.
After the Demands for Grants are voted by the Lok Sabha, Parliament’s approval to the withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the amounts so voted and of the amount required to meet the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund is sought through the Appropriation Bill.

Guillotine

The Bill was passed after Speaker Om Birla put it through guillotine, a legislative mechanism to approve the fast-tracking of the passage of outstanding demands for grants without discussion.
While guillotine literally is a large, weighted blade used for executing a condemned person, in legislative parlance, to ”guillotine” means to bunch together and fast-track the passage of financial business.
It is a fairly common procedural exercise in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session.

Finance Bill

The Lok Sabha will now discuss the Finance Bill, which essentially contains the government’s tax proposals. Once the Finance Bill is passed, the budget exercise is complete.
Both appropriation and finance bills are classified as

10. Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha

Subject :Polity

Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook, which allows for suspension of day’s business to debate the issue suggested by a Member, has become a bone of contention in the Upper House.
Opposition members have alleged that the Rajya Sabha chairman has consistently refused to allow any discussion under Rule 267 for a long time.
While Dhankhar has not allowed any matter under Rule 267, his predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu too didn’t allow any admission under Rule 267 during his entire five years.

What is Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha?

The Rule gives special power to a Rajya Sabha member to suspend the pre-decided agenda of the House, with the approval of the Chairman.
The Rajya Sabha Rule Book says, “Any member, may, with the consent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day”.
If the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being: provided further that this rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules”.

Why this rule has become important?

In the Upper House, the Opposition members have been consistent in demanding a debate on the India-China border situation.
There have been hundreds of notices by Members to invoke Rule 267 in the past eight years.
After the latest clash between the two sides in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, the Opposition members have become more vocal with their demand.
Every day, Opposition leaders are demanding that the Chair suspends all other business and allow a discussion on the latest situation in India-China border by applying Rule 267.

Significance of insisting on Rule 267

Any discussion under Rule 267 assumes great significance in Parliament simply because all other business would be put on hold to discuss the issue of national importance.
No other form of discussion entails suspension of other business.
If an issue is admitted under Rule 267, it signifies it’s the most important national issue of the day.
Also, the government will have to respond to the matter by replying during the discussions under Rule 267.

Has the Rule been ever used?

The rule has been used several times.
The Chair had agreed to suspend the business to discuss urgent national issues in the past.
The last time it was used was in November 2016, when the Upper House invoked Rule 267 to discuss demonetization.

Other ways to raise important issues in the House

In Parliament, a member has a number of ways to flag issues and seek the government’s reply.
Question Hour: An MP can ask questions related to any issue during the Question Hour in which the concerned minister has to provide oral or written answers.
Zero Hour: An MP can raise the issue during Zero Hour. Every day, 15 MPs are allowed to raise issues of their choice in the Zero Hour.
Special Mention: An MP can even raise it during Special Mention. A Chairman can allow up to 7 Special Mentions daily.
Debate over president’s address: An MP can try to bring the issue to the government’s notice during other discussions such as the debate on the President’s speech.
Budget speech: Opposition leaders have also used the Budget debate to attack the government politically.

11. Health Ministry asks States to hike genome sequencing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

Subject :Science and Tech

Due to an increase in coronavirus cases reported in China, the United States and South Korea, India’s Health Ministry has asked States to bolster genome sequencing of coronavirus samples.
According to media reports lifting of curbs in China, has resulted in a spurt in infections.
In response, the health ministry has asked states to gear up the whole-genome sequencing of positive case samples to track variants through Indian Sars Cov2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network.

About Genome:

A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.
Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism.
In humans, a copy of the entire genome—more than 3 billion DNA base pairs—is contained in all cells that have a nucleus.

Genome Sequencing:

Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism’s DNA.
The human genome is made up of over 3 billion of these genetic letters.
In more simple terms, Sequencing a gene is like reading a book one letter at a time to look for any spelling mistakes.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS)

All organisms (bacteria, vegetable, and mammal) have a unique genetic code, or genome, that is composed of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, and G).
If you know the sequence of the bases in an organism, you have identified its unique DNA fingerprint, or pattern. Determining the order of bases is called sequencing.
Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure that determines the order of bases in the genome of an organism in one process.
WGS of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been demonstrated to help differentiate hospital-acquired infection from community-acquired coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.

How does genome sequencing for Covid work?

It involves obtaining positive COVID-19 samples and generating a complete RNA sequence of that virus from that sample.
The complete viral genome (~30000 nucleotides) is extracted from the sample and sequenced, allowing us to read the genome of the virus.

Applications:

Tackling Human Disease
Uncovering the secrets of our past
Learning about the science behind ancient medicine
Conserving our wildlife.

Indian Sars Cov2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network.

INSACOG was established in December 2020 as a joint initiative of the Union Health Ministry of Health and Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
It aims to expand the whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 disease, across India with the aim of understanding how the virus spreads and evolves.
It functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology with the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

12. Modhera temple and Vadnagar make it to UNESCO tentative list

Subject :History

Three heritage sites were added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites namely; the Sun Temple at Modhera and Vadnagar town from Gujarat and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti of Tripura.

Tentative List of UNESCO:

According to UNESCO, A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each nation intends to consider for nomination.
As per Operational Guidelines, 2019 of UNESCO, it is mandatory to put any monument/site on the Tentative List (TL) for one year before it is considered for the final nomination dossier.
Once the nomination is done, it is sent to the World Heritage Centre (WHC).

Sun Temple of Modhera

The Sun Temple, Modhera dedicated to Surya dev (The Sun God), is one of the remarkable gems of temple architecture in India.
It is an exemplary model of the Maru-gurjara architecture style of the 11th century of western India under the patronage of the Solanki dynasty.
The age of the temple may be inferred from its style belonging to the reign of Bhimadeva I (1022-1063 CE).
It consists of the main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Kunda) which is now called Ramakunda.
This east-facing temple is built of bright yellow sandstone.
Other sun temples in India are 8th century CE Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir and the 13th century CE Sun temple at Konark.

Rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti

The site of Unakoti Rock-cut relief sculptures is located in the north-eastern part of Tripura, which was built during 8th to 12th CE.
The vertical surface of the Unakoti hills was used by the ancient people to carve various mythological scenes such as the different iconographic forms of Siva, Ganesha, Uma-Maheshwara.
The images found at Unakoti can be classified into two categories:
Majestic rock-cut images on the vertical surface of the hill and fallen boulders.
Loose sculptures of smaller and medium sizes scattered on the hill.
The influence of Buddhism is also seen in the sculptures of the region.
There are various depictions of Boddhisattavas, Buddha and Buddhist motifs also found here.
Many images found in this area also suggest the presence of religious sects such as Sakta, Tantric, Bajrayanis and Nathayogis.

Vadnagar

Vadnagar was situated at a strategic location where two major ancient trade routes crossed each other.
One of them joined central India with the Sindh and further northwest regions while another connected the port towns on the Gujarat coast to northern India.
Vadnagar town is a multi-layered and multi-cultural mercantile settlement with its history stretching back to nearly 8thCentury BCE.

13. BCAS to issue technical norms within a month for new security technology

The aviation security regulator, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), is expected to issue technical norms within a month which will pave the way for airports to adopt modern equipment to screen bags without removing electronic devices.

About Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS):

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was initially set up as a Cell in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in January 1978 on the recommendation of the Pande Committee.
The BCAS was reorganized into an independent department under the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 1st April, 1987.
The main responsibilities of BCAS include laying down standards and measures with respect to security of civil flights at international and domestic airports in India.
It has got four Regional Offices located at International airports i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Functions:

Laying down Aviation Security Standards in accordance with Annex 17 to Chicago Convention of ICAO for airport operators, airlines operators, and their security agencies responsible for implementing AVSEC measures.
Monitoring the implementation of security rules and regulations and carrying out survey of security needs.
Ensure that the persons implementing security controls are appropriately trained and possess all competencies required to perform their duties.
Planning and coordination of Aviation security matters.
Surprise/Dummy checks to test professional efficiency and alertness of security staff.
Mock exercise to test efficacy of Contingency Plans and operational preparedness of the various agencies.

14. India garners international support to save two endangered freshwater turtles

Subject :Environment

Conference of the parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recently concluded at Panama City.
The 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES is being asked to consider stricter trade regulations for nearly six hundred species of animals and plants believed to be under increased threat of extinction from international trade.
India’s proposal to regulate trade in Leith’s softshell turtle (Nilssonialeithi) by shifting its listing to the highest category(from Appendix II to Appendix I) – threatened with extinction and necessitating regulation of trade – was accepted.
The country’s proposal for induction of freshwater red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagurkachuga), too “earned wide support” of the participating countries, and was “widely appreciated and well accepted” when introduced, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC)

Leith’s Soft-shelled Turtle

Leith’s Softshell Turtle (Nilssonialeithii) is a large freshwater soft-shelled turtle which is endemic to peninsular India and it inhabits rivers and reservoirs.

Protection Status:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Critically Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act (WPA): Schedule IV
CITES: Appendix I

Red Crowned Roofed Turtle

Red Crowned Roofed Turtle(Batagurkachuga) is one of the 24 species endemic to India, is characterised by the bright colours such as red, yellow, white and blue on the faces and necks of the males.
It is a freshwater turtle species native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Historically, the species was widespread in the Ganga River, both in India and Bangladesh. It also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin.
Currently in India, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with a substantial population of the species, but even this Protected Area and habitat are under threat.

Conservation Status:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Critically Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act (WPA): Schedule I
CITES : Appendix II.

About CITES

CITES is an international agreement between governments — 184 at present — to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
The convention entered into force in 1975 and India became the 25th party — a state that voluntarily agrees to be bound by the Convention — in 1976.
States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as Parties.
Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
All import, export and re-export of species covered under CITES must be authorised through a permit system.
Every two to three years, the Conference of the Parties meets to review the implementation of the Convention.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices as per the degree of protection they need:
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.
Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but (where trade must be controlled).
Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

15. Montreal Conference on Biodiversity

Subject :Environment

The Montrealmeetingwasthe15thedition of this conference, hence the name COP15 — or the15thConferenceof the Parties to the CBD. The Montreal Conference has delivered a new agreement called the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which contains four goals and 23 targets that need to be achieved by 2030.
The GBF is being compared to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change that is guiding global climate action.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

CBD is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity that has been in force since 1993 and has been ratified by 196 nations.
It sets out guidelines for countries to protect biodiversity, ensure sustainable use, and promote fair and equitable benefit sharing.
It aims at achieving a historic deal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss on par with the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada.
The COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for action by all countries to save biodiversity. Officially known as “Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020”, it provided a set of 20 ambitious yet achievable targets collectively known as the Aichi Targets for biodiversity.
India enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002 for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.
The Parties (Countries) under CBD, meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another.
The protocol defines a ‘living modified organism‘ as any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, and ‘living organism’ means any biological entity capable of transferring or replicating genetic material, including sterile organisms, viruses and viroids.
The Protocol promotes biosafety by establishing rules and procedures for the safe transfer, handling, and use of LMOs, with specific focus on transboundary movements of LMOs.
It features a set of procedures including one for LMOs that are to be intentionally introduced into the environment called the advance informed agreement procedure, and one for LMOs that are intended to be used directly as food or feed or for processing.
Furthermore, the shipment of LMOs subject to transboundary movement must be accompanied by appropriate documentation specifying, among other things, identity of LMOs and contact point for further information.
It was adopted in 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force in 2003.

Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10.
It entered into force on 12th October 2014.
It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization but also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.

30×30 Target:

The Kunming declaration(first Part of CoP 15)made a reference to the ’30 by 30′ target which is a key proposal being debated at the COP15, that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.
Apart from this, the goal to halve the use of chemicals in agriculture and stop creating plastic waste is also being debated.

Target :

Restore 30% degraded ecosystems globally (on land and sea) by 2030
Conserve and manage 30% areas (terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine) by 2030