Daily Prelims Notes 24 February 2024

February 24, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

24 February 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Gemini AI’s reply to ‘Is Modi fascist’ violates IT Rules, says Minister

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Awareness in IT and computer

Context:

Gemini, Google’s new artificial intelligence chat product, is violating Indian information technology laws and criminal codes, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

More on the news:

When a user asked, “Is Modi a fascist”, Gemini AI responded that Mr. Modi had “been accused of implementing policies that some experts have characterized as fascist”.
These are direct violations of Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, 2021 and violations of several provisions of the Criminal Code.

Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, 2021:

It says that online platforms should inform users “not to host, display, upload, modify… or share any information that… belongs to another person,… is grossly harmful, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, or otherwise unlawful in any manner”.

Gemini project of Google:

What is it?
- It is a Multimodal AI and a Large Language Model (LLM) developed by Google.
Features:
- Multimodal: It can understand different types of information including text, audio, images and video.
- Powerful: It surpasses most human experts in various tasks, potentially making it the most powerful AI model to date.
- Types: It will be available in three models: Ultra (for highly complex tasks), Pro (for scaling across a wide range of tasks) and Nano (on-device tasks).
- The Nano and Pro models will be immediately incorporated into Google’s AI-powered chatbot Bard. The Ultra model will be launched next year.
Significance:
- It could revolutionize how we search for information online.
- It could be used to create new forms of art and entertainment, pushing the boundaries of human creativity.
Concerns:
- Job displacement in certain sectors.
- Amplification of misinformation or unintended consequences.

What is a Large Language Model (LLM)?

A large language model is an advanced artificial intelligence system that processes, understands and generates human-like text based on massive amounts of data.
These models are typically built using deep learning techniques such as neural networks and are trained on extensive datasets that include text from a broad range such as books and websites, for natural language processing.
One of the most well-known examples of LLMs is OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Source: TH

2. Fifteen non-profits take fresh legal action against Europe’s biggest plastics project

Subject: Environment

Section: Int Conventions

Context:

Client Earth, Greenpeace, WWF, and 12 other non-profits are challenging the Flemish Authority’s approval of INEOS’ €3 billion plastics project in Belgium, citing it as Europe’s largest potential plastics facility.

More in the news:

This legal action, initiated on February 22, 2024, extends a three-year battle against the project, which a Belgian court deemed illegal in July 2023 due to its potential violation of the EU Habitats Directive by increasing nitrogen pollution.
Despite government and INEOS claims of negligible environmental impact, the NGOs argue the project’s approval bypassed necessary impact assessments, violating EU and national laws.
They emphasize the project’s dire implications for environmental, climate, and public health, highlighting the excessive nitrogen pollution it would introduce to protected areas and its contribution to the global plastics and climate crisis.
The case is validated by the Council of Permit Disputes.

Source: DTE

3. An index for monitoring the effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture practices: How it can help

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate change

Index to evaluate Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices:

Developed by: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Forest Management (Bhopal) and Solidaridad Network
Aim: To evaluate Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in India, aiming to enhance environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, income, and sustainable farm production.
- These practices include interventions like improved seeds, integrated nutrient management practices, crop residue management practices, direct seeding of rice, zero tillage farming, mulching, and agroforestry, supported by government initiatives across various states.
Introduced by the FAO in 2010, CSA’s evaluation involved 34 indicators across five dimensions: governance, farm management practices, environment management, energy management, and awareness and training, with the latter being identified as the most critical for CSA adoption.

Climate Smart Agriculture: Characteristics

Contrary to conventional agricultural development, CSA systematically integrates climate change into the planning and development of sustainable agricultural systems. CSA‟s three primary pillars are interrelated concerns-increased productivity, enhanced resilience and reduced emissions. However, the resultant trade-offs often cannot maximize the pillars simultaneously, only optimize them. v CSA maintains ecosystem services: Ecosystems provide the agricultural sector with a number of unpaid services –clean natural water, materials, food, sunlight etc. CSA attempts to ensure the sustainability of these services, preventing their degradation. CSA is not a rigid set of particular practices, technologies or methodologies- it is only a concept amenable to adaptation. It has multiple entry points, ranging from the development of technologies and practices to the elaboration of climate change models and scenarios, information technology, insurance schemes, value chains and the strengthening of institutional and political enabling environments.

Key Government Initiatives on CSA

National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA):National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched in February, 2011 with an outlay of Rs.350 crores. The project aims to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture, covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) The Government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which provides the overarching framework for climate actions, through national missions in specific areas.

The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), one of the Missions under NAPCC, includes programmatic interventions like Soil Health Card, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, Rainfed Area Development, National Bamboo Mission and Sub-mission on Agro-Forestry. The NMSA works through adoption of sustainable development pathway by progressively shifting to environment friendly technologies, adoption of energy efficient equipments, conservation of natural resources, integrated farming, etc. Besides, the NMSA aims at promoting location specific improved agronomic practices through soil health management, enhanced water use efficiency, judicious use of chemicals, crop diversification.

The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the State and Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. This Scheme was implemented during 2015-16 mainly for supporting concrete adaptation activities dealing with mitigating the adverse effects of global climate change in various sectors including agriculture. Under the NAFCC, various projects have been sanctioned in different states i.e., Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, J&K, Meghalaya, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh etc.

Climate Smart Village: Climate-smart village (CSV) is an institutional approach to test, implement, modify and promote CSA at the local level and to enhance farmers‟ abilities to adapt to climate change. The CSV adopts a portfolio of interventions to tackle the climate challenges of the agriculture sector that cover the full spectrum of farm activities. Various Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers and national research organisations are putting their concerted efforts into the CSVs in India. CSVs were piloted in two states of India: Karnal district of Haryana state and Vaishali district of Bihar state which later spread into districts of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchayeeYojna (PMSKY): This Scheme was planned and formulated to give more priority on water conservation and its management in agriculture with the vision to extend the area under irrigation from 1 July 2015. The main motto of this Scheme is ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ to improve water use efficiency. ‘More crop per drop’ scheme provide end-to-end solutions in water on source creation, distribution channels and its management.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY): The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) introduced in the country from Kharif 2016 season is voluntary for States/UTs as well as for farmers. States/UTs can participate in the scheme keeping in view their risk perception and financial considerations etc. From inception of the scheme till 2020-21 cumulatively 2,938.7 lakh farmer applications for a sum insured of Rs. 10,49,342 crore have been enrolled under the scheme.

Soil Health Card Scheme: This Scheme was launched in February, 2015 to issue soil health cards (SHC) to the farmers providing detailed information on test-based soil nutrient status of their own land along with recommended dose of fertilizers for improving productivity through judicious use of inputs. The Government of India targeted to issue 10.48 crores of SHCs since inception of the Scheme.

National Water Mission (NWM): A Mission was mounted to ensure Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) for conserving the water sources and minimizing its wastage, and also to optimize Water Use Efficiency (WUE) by 20 per cent including agriculture sector.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY): It is an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM) launched in 2015 under NMSA with the objective of supporting and promoting organic farming through adoption of organic village by cluster approach, which in turn result in improvement of soil health. Biotech-KISAN: It is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme launched in 2017 for agriculture innovation with an objective to connect science laboratories with the farmers to find out innovative solutions and technologies to be applied at farm level. Under this scheme, so far 146 Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been established covering all 15 agroclimatic zones and 110 aspirational districts in the country. The scheme has benefitted over two lakhs farmers so far by increasing their agriculture output and income. Over 200 entrepreneurships have also been developed in rural areas.

Neem Coated Urea: It is a form of urea fertilizer coated with neem extracted material, which acts as a slow releaser of nitrogen reducing the pest and disease infestation ultimately minimizing the usage of chemicals in farming by achieving the overall increase in crop yield.

Sub-mission on Agro-forestry: This Mission was launched during 2016-17 with the objective of planting trees on farm bunds. Agro-forestry has the potential to bring sustainability in agriculture and also achieving the optimum productivity by mitigating the impact of climate change.

National Livestock Mission: This Mission was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and got commenced from 2014-15 focusing mainly on livestock development through sustainable approach ultimately protecting the natural environment, ensuring bio-security, conserving animal bio-diversity and farmers’ livelihood.

CSA and farm productivity:

A new study found a strong correlation between farm productivity and CSA, utilizing a multidimensional indicator-based framework to calculate a “climate smartness” score at the farm level.
The research, conducted in Madhya Pradesh across three districts with diverse agro-climatic zones,analyzed data from 315 farmers during the 2019-2020 cropping seasons.
It highlighted the importance of training and awareness in adopting CSA practices, showing no significant difference among the indicators but underscoring training as key to implementation success.
This study suggests that the framework could aid policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in designing and upscaling CSA practices, which is vital as the global population grows and climate change impacts agriculture, necessitating a shift towards more sustainable practices.

Source: DTE

4. Inger Andersen urges inclusion of ‘super pollutants’ such as methane and black carbon in NDCs

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate change

Context:

The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 began on February 21, ahead of the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), with a call for international collaboration to phase-out short-lived climate pollutants, or “super pollutants”, such as methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons.

More on news:

UNEA-6 will be held in Nairobi from February 26 to March 1 under the theme of “effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle the triple planetary crisis: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.”
It urged countries to include ‘Super pollutants’ such as methane and black carbon in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Significance of agreements such as the Kigali Amendment, the Montreal Protocol and the Global Methane Pledge to remove super pollutants from the atmosphere was highlighted.

About Super Pollutants:

Super pollutants, also sometimes referred to as short-lived climate pollutants (SCLPs), derive their name from their relatively short life in the atmosphere as compared to carbon dioxide.
For example, black carbon has a lifespan in the atmosphere of just a few days before falling to the earth, and methane persists for a little more than a decade.
Other examples are Methane, frabout Hydroflourocarbons and Ground Level Ozone.

About Emission Gap Report (2023)

UNEP has published the 14th Emission Gap Report 2023.
There is only a 14 percent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, considering the most optimistic climate action projects.
Even if the existing nationally determined contributions (NDC), both conditional and unconditional, are delivered by 2030, the world will warm by 2.5°C, breaching the 2°C target set by the Paris Agreement.

Global Methane Pledge

The pledge was first announced in September by the US and EU, and is essentially an agreement to reduce global methane emissions.
One of the central aims of this agreement is to cut down methane emissions by up to 30 per cent from 2020 levels by the year 2030.

About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)- Background:

In 1972, the UNGA passed what is formally known as UN-Resolution 2997.
It would be the last step in the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – an organization conceived to spearhead a global effort to minimize humanity’s footprint on the planet.
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
Governing Body: UNEA(formed in 2012) – meets once in two years.
It hosts various Conventions like Minamata Convention, UNCBD, CITES, Basel Convention, Stockholm Convention, Rotterdam Convention, Montreal Protocol, Vienna Convention, CMS, Carpathian, Bamako, Tehran Convention.
Important Treaties signed under UNEP are IPCC, Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of Montreal Protocol.

5. Wealthy nations wrestle over seats on Loss and Damage Board, causing delays in fully operationalizing Fund

Subject: Environment

Section: Int conventions

Context:

Developed countries have delayed nominating members to the Loss and Damage Board, hampering efforts to fully operationalise the fund to developing countries in time.

More on news:

At the 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Egypt, Parties reached an agreement on providing loss and damage funding to nations most vulnerable and impacted by the effects of climate change.
At COP28, the fund was formally established.

Governance Mechanisms:

A decision text released at COP28 stated that the fund would be governed and supervised by a board, a decision-making body.
It is tasked with setting up a strategic direction for the Fund as well as its governance and operational modalities, policies, frameworks and work programme, including relevant funding decisions.
The Board will comprise 26 members, 12 members from developed countries and 14 from developing nations.

About Loss and Damage Fund:

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) defines ‘loss and damage’as the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, including extreme and slow onset events, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
It’s destructive, irreversible, and cannot be addressed by mitigation and adaptation measures.

Genesis of the L&D fund:

Historic pollution from Developed Countries has elevated the world’s average surface temperature by more than 1 degree Celsius and is currently inflicting damage worldwide, but especially in the poorest nations.
CoP19 of UNFCCC- 2013: held at Warsaw, Poland.
- Countries agreed to formally establish the L&D fund.
- It was being created to provide financial and technical assistance to economically developing nations that were incurring L&D due to climate change.
CoP25 of UNFCCC: held at Madrid, Spain in 2019
- The Santiago Network for L&D was set up, but countries didn’t commit any funds.
- The vision of the Santiago Network is to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimize and addressing L&D at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
CoP26 of UNFCCC:held at Glasgow, U.K. in 2021
- The Glasgow Dialogue on finance for L&D was established to continue discussions over the next three years on the fund.
CoP27 of UNFCCC: held at Sharm El- Sheikh, Egypt in 2022
- Members agreed to set up the L&D fund and a Transitional Committee (TC) to figure out how the new funding mechanisms under the fund would operate.
- The TC was also to prepare recommendations that countries would consider, deliberate on, and potentially adopt by COP 28.
COP 28 adopted the decision on the operationalization of the new funding arrangements, including a Fund, for responding to loss and damage.
The decision was adopted by consensus by all Parties including India.

6. Green Waterway Initiatives

Subject: Schemes

Section: Economy

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various Green Waterway Initiatives in Varanasi, Marks Milestone in Clean Energy and Tourism.

More on news:

PM Modi dedicates two hybrid electric catamaran vessels to nation built by CSL through IWAI under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Vessels have seating capacity of 50 passengers each, are powered by fast-charging batteries and are designed to reduce carbon emissions by 400 MT annually
The PM inaugurated four community jetties in Varanasi and laid the foundation stone for 13 community jetties along NW 1 in Varanasi and NW 110 in Mathura and Prayagraj.
The Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism System inaugurated today will reduce time from six hours to 30 minutes.
MoPSW aims to boost the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5% by 2030 as part of the Maritime India Vision (MIV),signaling a comprehensive effort towards fostering maritime sector growth and connectivity enhancement.

About Hybrid electric catamaran vessels:

The two hybrid electric catamaran vessels ie MV Guh and MV Nishadraj are built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
MV Guh will sail on the River Saryu in Ayodhya, and MV Nishadraj on the River Ganga in Varanasi.
These state-of-the-art vessels, with a seating capacity of 50 passengers each, are powered by fast-charging batteries and are designed to reduce carbon emissions by 400 MT annually.

About Harit Nauka Guidelines:

The Government of India also aims to foster the confidence of the stakeholders in the maritime sector and usher them towards transitioning to greener and cleaner fuels as emphasized under the Harit Nauka- Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines, published on 8th January 2024.
The Harit Nauka Guidelines shows MoPSW’s commitment to transform the maritime landscape by adopting green vessels & establishing operationalization of the green ecosystem.
It also aims to embrace low/zero emission sources of fuel & attain 100% green vessels in the Indian waters by 2047.

About Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP):

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India aims to improve the navigability of the 1390 km stretch of NW1 from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal

About Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism System (QPOMS):

The QPOMS will help in reducing the time for the manual dismantling and reassembly of the kulfi pontoon bridges across NW-1 in a quick and efficient manner.
It will thus reduce the overall inconvenience and delays to vessels as well as vehicular traffic.

7. Race to global eradication of Guinea worm disease nears finish line

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

More on news:

Nations like South Sudan and Mali, where Guinea worm disease was once more common, have made commendable progress, although the fight continues in Chad and the Central African Republic.

More on news:

The world is on the brink of a public health triumph as it closes in on eradicating Guinea worm disease.
There were more than 3.5 million cases of this disease in the 1980s, but according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) weekly epidemiological report, they dwindled to 14 cases in 2021, 13 in 2022, and just six in 2023.
The WHO recorded only six cases of Guinea worm disease in 2023. Nations like South Sudan and Mali, where the disease was once more common, have made commendable progress, although the fight continues particularly in Chad and the Central African Republic, where the last vestiges of this disease cling on.
Unlike many of its viral counterparts, this parasitic adversary has offered no chance for immunity, defied prevention by vaccines, and resisted most cures – yet the possibility of its eradication is closer than ever thanks to the triumph of human resilience and ingenuity.
India eliminated Guinea worm disease in the late 1990s, concluding a commendable chapter in the country’s public health history through a rigorous campaign of surveillance, water safety interventions, and community education.

About Guinea worm disease:

Guinea worm disease, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis.
The disease affects poor communities in remote parts of Africa that do not have safe water to drink.
There is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it.
People become infected with Guinea worms by drinking unfiltered water from ponds and other stagnant water containing copepods (tiny “water fleas” too small to be clearly seen without a magnifying glass).
While a Guinea worm by itself is not lethal, it debilitates those whom it infects and prevents them from performing daily tasks and earning their livelihoods.
It manifests as a painful skin lesion as the adult worm — sometimes up to a meter long — emerges.
The symptoms typically involve intense pain, swelling, and sometimes secondary bacterial infections at the open wound. Sufferers may experience fever, nausea, and vomiting.
More than 90% of Guinea worm infections manifest in the legs and feet.
The disease affects people of both sexes.

Who is at risk for infection?

Anyone who drinks from a pond or other stagnant water source contaminated with Guinea worm larvae is at risk for infection.

India and Guinea worm disease:

India eliminated Guinea worm disease in the late 1990s, concluding a commendable chapter in the country’s public health history through a rigorous campaign of surveillance, water safety interventions, and community education.
The government of India received Guinea worm disease-free certification status from the WHO in 2000.

Ways to Prevent:

Unlike many diseases that have been cornered by medical interventions, Guinea worm disease was and is being pushed to extinction using the fundamentals of public health:
- ensuring access to clean water (by applying a larvicide called Temephos),
- spreading awareness through community workers, and
- meticulously tracking cases and containing outbreaks.

8. Grey-zone warfare latest entry in lexicon of warfare, says CDS

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Defence

Context:

In the lexicon on warfare, “grey-zone” is the latest entry, because of what has happened in the South China Sea and what has happened along our northern borders, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan said in a reference to China.

About Grey Zone Warfare

Grey Zone Warfare is a strategy where a country tries to gain an advantage over another without resorting to open war. Essentially, it’s a series of tactics, like cyberattacks, misinformation, or economic pressures, used to subtly undermine or destabilize an opponent. China has been particularly adept at employing this strategy, notably against India and other neighbors.

China’s Grey Zone Tactics against India:

South China Sea Activities: China uses naval and civilian vessels to assert its dominance in the South China Sea, creating tensions with its neighbors, including India.
Building Near Borders: China constructs infrastructure and villages near India’s borders. These projects bolster their territorial claims and offer strategic advantages.
Digital Investments: China invests in apps, media, and other digital platforms in India. This influence in the digital space can shape public perception and narratives.

India’s Counter-Measures:

Inter-agency Collaboration: India has prompted its defense, intelligence, and police forces to collaborate. Their collective aim is to strategize and counter the challenges of Grey Zone Warfare.
Increased Vigilance: India has ramped up its surveillance and presence in border areas and key strategic locations to ensure readiness against any covert Chinese activity.
Regulating Tech Inflows: India is scrutinizing foreign tech investments more closely to ensure national security isn’t compromised.

Long-term Implications for India:

Grey Zone Warfare introduces complex security challenges:

Information Warfare: A major part of the conflict happens in the digital realm. Misinformation can influence public opinion, making it a powerful tool.
Economic Leverage: Dependency on foreign investments, particularly in critical sectors, can become a vulnerability if it’s used as leverage by the investing nation.
Tech Dependency: Relying heavily on foreign technology can expose India to risks, making it imperative for India to bolster its indigenous tech capabilities.

9. ISRO: PAPA detects solar wind impact of coronal mass ejections

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space technology

Context:

According to The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), advanced sensors of the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload onboard the Aditya-L1 has detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

What is PAPA:

The Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya
PAPA is an energy and mass analyser designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range.

It has two sensors:

SWEEP: The Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe: It measures electrons in the energy range of 10 eV to 3 keV).
SWICAR: The Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser: It measures ions in the energy range of 10 eV to 25 keV and mass range of 1-60 amu).
The sensors are also equipped to measure the direction of arrival of solar wind particles.
The payload has been operational since December 12, 2023.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s atmosphere—the corona, that propagate outward into interplanetary space.
During a CME, the sun releases a colossal amount of material, including electrons, protons, and heavier ions, as well as magnetic fields.

Solar Wind:

Solar wind originates from the sun’s outermost layer(corona), consists of high-energy charged particles, such as protons and electrons, along with smaller amounts of heavier ions.
Solar wind particles are emitted at extremely high speeds, reachingsupersonic
Solar wind is a continuous and constant flow of charged particles from the sun into space radiating outwards in all directions from the sun, permeating the entire solar system
Solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, leading to phenomena like auroras (northern and southern lights) near the polar regions.
Since solar wind particles are charged, they are affected by magnetic fields. Earth’s magnetic field deflects these particles towards the magnetic poles.
Solar wind can pose challenges to spacecraft and satellites by potentially causing electronic malfunctions and radiation damage.
Spacecraft, satellites, and moon-bound vessels need radiation-hardened electronics to endure solar wind effects.
The intensity and speed of solar wind can vary due to solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Understanding solar wind is important for space weather forecasting and for protecting spacefaring equipment from its effects.
Solar wind creates a region called, heliosphere, which extends far beyond the solar system and interacts with interstellar space.

Aditya-L1:

Aditya-L1 isa coronagraphy spacecraft for studying the solar atmosphere, designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is orbiting at about 5 million km from Earth in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) between the Earth and the Sun, where it will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around the Earth.

The main objectives:

To observe the dynamics of the Sun’s chromosphere and corona.
To study chromospheric and coronal heating, the physics of partially ionised plasma, of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their origins, of the coronal magnetic field and heat transfer mechanisms, and flare exchanges.
To observe the physical particle environment around its position.
To determine the sequence of processes in multiple layers below the corona that lead to solar eruptions.
To study space weather, and the origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind.

Various payloads related to Adiya-L1:

10. PSBs can now check on big borrowers on unified portal

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context:

Public sector banks (PSBs) would now be able to check the antecedents of large borrowers and ascertain the existence of any non-performing assets against their name in a single click.

Benefit : a move that is expected to help expedite lending decisions.

Unified portal:

According to The Indian Banks’ Association – An “Automated Search Portal” was operationalised by the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) in collaboration with the State Bank of India.
Objective:
For antecedent verification of prospective borrowers and NPAs [non performing assets]” to streamline intelligence clearance process for banks.

Features:

Under the framework for timely detection, reporting, investigation relating to large value bank frauds, the Department of Financial Services under the Finance Ministry had mandated all PSBs to seek a report from the CEIB before sanctioning loans exceeding ₹50 crore in the case of new borrowers and if the existing borrower’s accounts turned into NPAs.
The Bureau, in tandem with SBI, has developed a digital platform that would help all public sector banks to obtain mandatory intelligence clearance from the CEIB in a prompt manner.

Importance: To facilitate timely disbursement of funds.

11. India’s stance on data transfers at WTO spooks semiconductor industry giants

Subject: Economy

Section: External Sector

Context:

A global consortium of semiconductor industry groups has asked India to reconsider its plan to push for duties on cross-border digital e-commerce and data transfers at an upcoming global trade meeting (WTO) in Abu Dhabi.

Possible consequences: India’s stance will stifle its own chip design industry.

Main Agendas at WTO meet: Discuss several trade-related issues .Extending a moratorium in place since 1998 on applying duties on electronic transmissions.

Different perspectives on moratorium:

Developing nations like India, South Africa and Indonesia are opposing moratorium.
S. and Europe want to extend the moratorium.
If no accord is made, the moratorium would expire this year.

World Semiconductor Council (WSC):

The World Semiconductor Council (WSC) is an international forum that brings together industry leaders to address issues of global concern to the semiconductor industry.

Comprised of the semiconductor industry associations (SIAs) of the United States, Korea, Japan, Europe, China and Chinese Taipei, such as Qualcomm, Intel, AMD and Nvidia.

Goal:

To promote international cooperation in the semiconductor sector in order to facilitate the healthy growth of the industry from a long-term, global perspective.

According to the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) If the moratorium’s collapse then:Tariffs on digital e-commerce and an innumerable number of transfers of chip design data across countries will kick in .

Impact of tariff:

Raising costs
Worsens chip shortages

Importance of chip sector for India:

The chip sector is a key plank to push India’s economic growth, with a $10 billion incentive package in place to boost the industry.

Impact on India:

Duties on data transfers would “also impede India’s efforts to advance its semiconductor industry and attract semiconductor investment, especially as more than 20% of the world’s semiconductor design workforce is based in India.

Massive revenue loss:

According to New Delhi-

Physical goods like books and videos, once governed by traditional tariff rules, were now available as digital services and should be subject to duties.
Developing nations are facing massive loss in potential revenue with such imports from developed countries on the rise.

Implications of India’s support to renew moratorium:

India’s support to renewing the moratorium will send a strong signal to semiconductor companies that India is an investment friendly environment.