Daily Prelims Notes 22 October 2020

October 22, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

Subject: Science and tech

Context: Researchers at Duke University have identified a number of silent mutations in the virus’s genetic code that helped it thrive after it crossed over to humans.

Concept:

Mutations

The DNA sequence is specific to each organism. It can sometimes undergo changes in its base-pairs sequence. It is termed as a mutation.
A mutation may lead to changes in proteins translated by the DNA. Usually, the cells can recognize any damage caused by mutation and repair it before it becomes permanent.

Types of Mutations

Silent mutation

It refers to any change in the sequence of DNA, which has no further impact on the amino acid sequence in a protein or in the functions performed by a protein. There is no phenotypic indicator of mutation.

Nonsense mutation

When due to a point mutation there is change in the sequence of base pair leading to stop codon. It results in a shortened or non-functional protein.

Missense mutation

A missense mutation is a result of point mutation leading to change in the codon, which then codes for another amino acid.

Causes:

Most of the mutations occur when the DNA fails to copy accurately. All these mutations lead to evolution. During cell division, the DNA makes a copy of its own. Sometimes, the copy of the DNA is not perfect and this slight difference is called a mutation.
When the DNA is exposed to certain chemicals or radiations, it causes the DNA to break down. The ultraviolet radiations cause the thymine dimers to break resulting in a mutated DNA.

Negative effects :

Genetic disorders can be caused by the mutation of one or more genes. Cystic fibrosis is one such genetic disorder caused by the mutation in one or more genes.
Cancer is another disease caused by the mutation in genes that regulate the cell cycle.

2. STATE CONSENT TO CBI

Subject : Polity

Context : Maharashtra government withdrew its consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases in the state.

Concept :

CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (DSPE Act, 1946) that makes consent of a state government mandatory for conducting investigation in that state.
There are two kinds of consent: case-specific and general.
Given that the CBI has jurisdiction only over central government departments and employees, it can investigate a case involving state government employees or a violent crime in a given state only after that state government gives its consent.
General consent is normally given to help the CBI seamlessly conduct its investigation into cases of corruption against central government employees in the concerned state. Almost all states have given such consent.

Impact of Withdrawal:

It means the CBI will not be able to register any fresh case involving a central government official or a private person stationed in the state without getting case-specific consent.
Withdrawal of consent will only bar the CBI from registering a case within the jurisdiction of Maharastra. The CBI could still file cases in Delhi and continue to probe people inside state.
Cases registered anywhere else in the country, but involving people stationed in Maharastra, would allow CBI’s jurisdiction to extend to the state.
In simple terms withdrawal of consent simply means that CBI officers will lose all powers of a police officer as soon as they enter the state unless the state government has allowed them.
It will have no impact on investigation of cases already registered with CBI as old cases were registered when general consent existed.

3. ASTEROID BENNU

Subject : Science and tech

Context : NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched asteroid Bennu, from where it is meant to collect samples of dust and pebbles and deliver them back to Earth in 2023.

Concept :

Bennu is a 500-meter wide asteroid in an elliptical orbit around the sun. It is a carbonaceous asteroid composition including a large amount of carbon.
The asteroid was discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey on 1999.It was originally named as 1999 RQ36.

Asteroids :

Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. They are also called minor planets.
Asteroids are divided into three classes. First, those found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.
The second group is that of trojans, which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet. NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans.
The third classification is Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that cross the Earth’s orbit are called Earth-crossers. More than 10,000 asteroids are classified as potentially harmful asteroids.

OSIRIS REx Mission :

OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) mission aims to study asteroid Bennu, collect a sample and return it to Earth in 2023.
The mission will spend 2.5 years, mapping its surface and studying its composition.
In mid-2020, scientists will direct Osiris-Rex to drop down to the asteroid and grab at least 60g of regolith, or “topsoil”
The OSIRIS-REx mission is not the first to ever visit an asteroid and attempt a sample return — Japan has done (Hayabusa Mission) it before and Europe (Rosetta Mission) has managed to land on a comet.

4. PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE

Subject : Govt Schemes

Context : The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing investments will soon be extended to eight more sectors, Economic Affairs Secretary said.

Concept :

Earlier this scheme was launched for Large scale electronic manufacturing(Mobile phones and specified electronic components) .Now extended to eight other sectors.
Unlike other schemes, this is an outcome and output oriented scheme.
Under this scheme , incentives will be paid only if the manufacturers make the goods.
This scheme will give cash incentives for five to seven years and all the sunrise and important sectors are proposed to be covered in PLI.

5. 2+2 DIALOGUE

Subject : International Relations

Context : The third edition of the two-plus-two dialogue between India and the US is expected to take place on October, during which both sides are likely to carry out a comprehensive review of their strategic cooperation,.

Concept :

It is a format of dialogue where the defense and foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country. 2+2 Ministerial is the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries.
India holds such talks with Australia, Japan and the US at the ministerial level.
With the US this was the third 2+2 meeting , first was held in New Delhi in September 2018.
US holds such ministerial dialogues with Australia and Japan also.

6. INTEGRATED COMMAND

Subject : Security

Context : The next step in defence reforms after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) would be the formation of integrated theatre commands says Army Chief .

Concept :

An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres that are of security concern.
The commander of such a force will be able to bring to bear all resources at his disposal — from the IAF, the Army and the Navy — with seamless efficacy.
The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services, and will be free to train, equip and exercise his command to make it a cohesive fighting force capable of achieving designated goals.
The logistic resources required to support his operations will also be placed at the disposal of the theatre commander so that he does not have to look for anything when operations are ongoing.
This is in contrast to the model of service-specific commands which India currently has, wherein the Army, Air Force and Navy all have their own commands all over the country.
The committee, which was headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar (retd) has recommended the creation of 3 integrated theatre commands — northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan border and southern for the maritime role.
Andaman and Nicobar Command is the only integrated theatre command in India, formed in 2001 after the Kargil war.

Current Structure

There are 17 commands, divided among the three services. The Army and the Air Force have seven commands each, while the Navy has three commands.
The commands under the Army are Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, Central, Southwestern and the Army Training Command.
The Air Force has Eastern, Western, Southern, Southwestern, Central, Maintenance and Training commands, and the Navy is divided into Western, Eastern and Southern commands.
These commands report to their respective services and are headed by three-star officers.
Though these commands are in the same regions, they are no located together.