Daily Prelims Notes 28 October 2023

October 28, 2023
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Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

28 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Dark pattern sales by airlines, online agents deemed ‘cybercrime’

Subject : Science and Tech

SECTION: Awareness in IT

Context:

Due to complaints of deceptive practices by airlines and online travel agents, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged IndiGo to fix its website, which a government official termed a Dark Pattern “cybercrime.

Dark Patterns” in Airline Practices

Deceptive Techniques: Airlines and online portals have been accused of employing “dark patterns” in their user interfaces, which manipulate consumers into purchasing products they did not intend to buy.
Consumer Affairs Secretary’s Stance: The Consumer Affairs Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, defines “dark patterns” as tactics nudging consumers into unintended purchases, constituting unfair trading practices and possibly cybercrimes.
Pervasive Issue: Approximately 10,000 complaints related to these practices have been lodged with the Ministry via the National Consumers Helpline over the past eight to nine months.

Manipulating Seat Selection

IndiGo’s Practice: IndiGo Airlines, for instance, employs a tactic known as “false urgency,” creating a sense of urgency by implying that consumers must pay an extra fee (₹99 to ₹1,500) for seat selection during booking, portraying all free seatsas unavailable.
Transparency Issue: Passengers are not adequately informed that they will be auto-assigned free seats if they choose not to pay the extra fee.
Obfuscation: The “skip” option, although present, is inconspicuously located, demonstrating “interface interference.”

Additional Unfair Practices

SpiceJet’s Pressure for Insurance: SpiceJet’s website pressures passengers to purchase travel insurance by using alarming phrases like “I will risk my trip” if they opt out, playing on passengers’ fears.
“Basket Sneaking” by MakeMyTrip: MakeMyTrip adds a convenience fee when customers reach the payment gateway after booking, a practice known as “basket sneaking.”

Draft Guidelines and Regulatory Perspective

Ministry of Consumer Affairs Guidelines: These dark patterns have been defined in the draft guidelines released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in September.
DGCA’s Stance: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) permits “unbundling” airfares but emphasizes that these services must be offered on an “opt-in” basis, with clear descriptions without ambiguity.
Parliamentary Committee Report: A parliamentary committee report urges transparency in seat-wise airfares, fair pricing mechanisms to ensure reasonable profit margins, and effective grievance redressal mechanisms.

Conclusion

The crackdown on deceptive airline practices by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation signifies a push for transparency and fairness in the airline industry.
The rise of “dark patterns” and other misleading tactics in online booking processes has raised concerns about consumer exploitation and cybercrimes.
As the government takes action to address these issues, passengers may expect a more equitable and transparent air travel experience in the future.

2. Odourless, tasteless, lethal: thallium as a murder weapon

Subject : Science and Tech

SECTION: Msc

Context: Cases of Thallium poisoning have been rising in India, particularly in the Maharashtra.

About Thallium:

Thallium is a toxic metal element (symbol Tl) with atomic number 81, known for its extreme toxicity.
It does not freely occur in nature.
Thallium has no colour, odour or taste. Its use is regulated in India. Thallium is also called the “poisoner’s poison”.

Appearance:

Silvery-white tarnishes to Gray.

Common Uses:

Historically used in low-temperature thermometers.
Radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging.

Health Hazards:

Extremely toxic when ingested or inhaled.
Can cause severe health issues, including nerve and kidney damage.
Mere contact with thallium can cause poisoning as it is highly soluble in water and can easily pass through the skin. It is also a suspected carcinogen.

Antidote:

Prussian blue is used to remove thallium from the body.

Interesting Fact

Thallium is known for its high toxicity and was historically used as a rat poison.
Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, is alleged to have used it to murder his political opponents.

3. Vikram kicked up 2 tonnes of lunar dust, say scientists

Subject : Science and Tech

SECTION: Space technology

Context:

Chandrayaan3’s lander module, Vikram, had generated an “ejecta halo” on the lunar surface while making the historic touchdown on the south pole of the moon on August 23.
According to a new study, Vikram raised lunar dust and generated a bright patch around itself when it landed on the moon.

About Chandrayaan 3:

Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission and second attempt at achieving a soft landing on the moon’s surface.
The mission took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm.
It consists of an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM) and a Rover with an objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies required for Inter planetary missions.

What are the Intended Actions for Chandrayaan-3 after its Landing?

Chandrayaan-3 is expected to operate for at least one lunar day (14 Earth days) on the lunar surface.
The Pragyan rover will move around the landing site within a radius of 500 meters, conducting experiments and sending data and images to the lander.
The Vikram lander will relay the data and images to the orbiter, which will then transmit them to Earth.
Lander and Rover modules are collectively equipped with advanced scientific payloads.
These instruments are designed to conduct comprehensive investigations into diverse facets of lunar characteristics, encompassing terrain analysis, mineralogical composition, surface chemistry, atmospheric attributes, and crucially, the exploration for water and potential resource reservoirs.
The propulsion module that carried the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit also has a Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

4. More Than 200 Scientists From 19 Countries Warn: the Southern Ocean Is In Trouble

Subject :Geography

SECTION: Physical Geography

Context:

Since 2016, The annual extent of winter sea ice has stopped increasing in Antarctica.

Details:

First marine ecosystem assessment for the Southern Ocean was produced in 2018.
This report can be used to guide decision-making for the protection and conservation of Antarctica and the diversity of life it contains.

Why should we care about sea ice?

It is the foundation for Antarctic marine ecosystems, and its reduction can impact the wildlife of the southern ocean that consists of krill, emperor penguins and whales.
Other wildlife found in the southern ocean: Skuas, petrels, leopard seals, Weddell seals, minke whales, and blue whales.
Sea ice provides: food and safe-keeping to young Antarctic krill and small fish, seeds the expansive growth of phytoplankton in spring, breeding ground for penguins, nourishing the entire food web.

Report findings:

Southern Ocean habitats, from the ice at the surface to the bottom of the deep sea, are changing.
The warming of the ocean, decline in sea ice, melting of glaciers, collapse of ice shelves, changes in acidity, and direct human activities such as fishing, are all impacting different parts of the ocean and their inhabitants.
Climate change is the most significant driver of this change.

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR):

Formed in 20 May 1980
It is the international body responsible for the conservation of marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean, with membership of 26 nations and the European Union. India is also a member.
Latest meeting will be held in Hobart (Capital of Tasmania), Australia.
It is a part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Headquartered in Hobart, Australia.
In 1989, CCAMLR set up the Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) to further monitor the effects of fishing and harvesting of species in the area.
In 2022, Ecuador became the 26th Member of the Commission.

Source: The Wire

5. First cases of avian flu found in Antarctic region

Subject :Geography

SECTION: Physical geography

Context:

Scientists have detected the presence of avian flu for the first time in the Antarctic region, raising concerns for remote populations of penguins and seals.

Details:

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
It has been detected in brown skua (a predatory seabird) populations on Bird Island, South Georgia (The island is claimed by both Britain and Argentina).
Consequences: HPAI may lead to a decline in the breeding populations of vulnerable fragile wildlife residing in the region.

Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI):

The viral disease HPIA or avian influenza, especially the H5 and H7 strains, mostly affects birds.
These strains are highly pathogenic and have been reported in domestic poultry, resulting in high mortality if they manage to reach wild bird populations.
It spreads among birds and mammals due to predators and scavengers feeding on infected birds. Marine mammals have also been found to be infected.
Earlier, HPAI H5N1 spread rapidly in South America and the southern end of the continent to Tierra del Fuego and led to mass scale death of South American Sea lions. Falkland Islands are at most risk.
Threatened species from HPAI:
- Avian groups like gulls and skuas, birds of prey such as hawks and caracaras, terns and shorebirds.
- Among marine mammals, fur seals, sea lions, southern elephant seals and dolphins.

Source: DownToEarth

6. China to build the world’s largest ‘ghost particle’ detector

Subject : Science and Tech

SECTION: Space technology

Context:

China is building an enormous telescope in the western Pacific Ocean.

Details:

China’s new telescope, “Trident”, will span 7.5 cubic kilometers in the South China Sea. It will be 10,000 times more sensitive. It will be the largest of its kind.
It will detect “ghost particles”, also known as neutrinos.
At present, the largest neutrino-detecting telescope is the University of Madison-Wisconson’s “IceCube” telescope.
- Situated in the Antarctic, the telescope’s sensors span around 1 cubic kilometer.

What is a ghost particle?

Atoms consist of: Protons (positive charge), electrons (negative charge) and neutrons (no charge).
Neutrinos are a type of electron but they do not have any charge.
They are among the tiniest and most abundant particles in our universe.
Earlier they were considered to be massless, but recent evidence suggests that they do have a very small mass.
They rarely interact thus are very hard to detect and can be detected only when they interact with other particles.

How do scientists detect ghost particles?

Sometimes they interact with water molecules, which is why China is building its ghost molecule telescope underwater.
These ghost particles have been observed in fleeting instances when the particles create byproducts after traveling through water or ice.
- These “muons” create flashes of light that can be detected by sophisticated underwater telescopes.

Why does the detection of ghost particles matter?

They defy established rules of physics.
It’s not clear where the particles come from.
They might have played a role in the early universe, right after the big bang.
It may solve the origin of the mysterious cosmic rays, which are known to contain neutrinos.

Source: IE

7. Gaia Space Observatory Finds Half a Million New Stars in Milky Way

Subject : Science and Tech

SECTION: Space technology

Gaia space mission:

Launched by: European Space Agency (ESA).
Aim: To create a 3D map of our galaxy.
After observing some 1.8 billion stars, it has created a near complete map of the Milky Way. But they did not have a clear view of parts of the sky that were packed with stars.

Globular cluster:

A globular cluster is a spheroidal conglomeration of stars that is bound together by gravity, with a higher concentration of stars towards their centers.
They are some of the oldest objects in the universe.
Spotting these clusters helped scientists realize that the sun was not at the centre of the spiral Milky Way galaxy.

Recent study:

Scientists have focussed on the Omega Centauri cluster, some 17,090 light years from Earth.
The study revealed half a million new stars in just this one cluster. It also found cosmic objects so heavy they bend light itself.
The majority of the galaxy’s globular clusters are situated near the centre of the Milky Way. Using their locations, they found that the sun (and Earth) was in the open clusters found in one of the galaxy’s spiral arms — the Sagittarius arm.
The data can help us understand how the stars of the Milky Way are distributed and why some parts of the universe have more mass than others.

Why did Gaia choose Omega Centauri?

Omega Centauri is the largest known globular cluster in the Milky Way that can be seen from Earth. It appears to be almost as big as a full Moon when observed from dark, remote areas.
It has a sprawling diameter of 150 light years. It is estimated to be four million times as heavy as the sun and spread across some 10 million stars.

Universe through gravitational lens:

Light tends to get warped when it passes through heavy objects like globular clusters.
These heavy clusters have a greater gravitational pull. So they bend light in a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.
The clusters behave like a giant magnifying glass, or lens, that can amplify the light and cast multiple images of the faraway source onto the sky.
The Omega Centauri cluster’s gravity bend light coming from distant sources called quasars.
- Quasars are remote sources of bright light that could be powered by black holes.

Source: The Wire

8. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Alaska and the Himalayas Show Evolving Hazards in a Warming World

Subject :Geography

SECTION: Physical Geography

Context:

A small glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred in Alaska at Mendenhall Glacier, similar to GLOF event at Chungthang, Sikkim due to bursting of South Lhonak lake.

Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF):

Glacier-dammed lakes are abundant in Alaska.
They form when a side valley loses its ice faster than the main valley, leaving an ice-free basin that can fill with water. These lakes may remain stable for years, but often they reach a tipping point, when high water pressure opens a channel underneath the glacier.
The rapid and catastrophic drainage of lake water that follows is called a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).

When glaciers hold back lakes:

Some glacial lakes are dammed by moraines – mounds of rock and debris that are left behind as a glacier retreats. Too much pressure from extreme rainfall or an avalanche or landslide into the lake can burst these dams, triggering a devastating flood.
Glacier-dammed lakes, like Suicide Basin off of Mendenhall Glacier, are instead dammed by the glacier itself.
These glacial lakes tend to repeatedly fill and drain due to a cyclic opening and closing of a drainage path under the ice. The fill-and-drain cycles can create hazards.

How glacier lake hazards are changing in Alaska

The glacier-dammed lakes in Alaska have decreased in volume since 1985 but the frequency of outbursts remains unchanged.
Warming air temperatures are causing glaciers to melt and thin, lowering the tub walls and therefore accommodating less water. That reduces the total volume of water available for a potential glacial lake outburst flood.
Smaller lakes have had less significant change in area over time.
GLOF in Alaska: Suicide Basin, near Juneau; Skilak Glacier-Dammed Lake, which affects the Kenai River; and Snow Lake, which impacts the Snow River.

How will rising temperatures affect these lakes?

Glacier loss in Alaska is accelerating as temperatures rise, that may result in formation of more glacial lakes thus more potential hazards.

Source: The Wire

9. Indian Himalayan Region

Subject :Environment

SECTION: Climate change

Context:

The Indian government has taken various initiatives regarding overall development in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR).

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE):

Launched in 2010 by Department of Science & Technology
It is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Primary objective of the mission is to develop in a time bound manner a sustainable National capacity to continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem and enable policy bodies in their policy-formulation functions and assist States in the Indian Himalayan Region with their implementation of actions selected for sustainable development.
his would call for suitable learning systems for balancing changes in ecosystem with responsible human actions.
The mission attempts to address some important issues concerning:

Himalayan Glaciers and the associated hydrological consequences,
Biodiversity conservation and protection,
Wildlife conservation and protection,
Traditional knowledge societies and their livelihood and
Planning for sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem.

Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme:

The project aims at strengthening the capacities of Indian institutions in climate science, with a specific focus on glaciology and related areas, as well as institutional capacities of Himalayan states in India on adaptation planning, implementation and policy.
The IHCAP builds on three pillars: (i) enhancing capacities and knowledge of the Himalayan ecosystem through collaboration between Indian and Swiss scientific institutions; (ii) institutional strengthening in the Himalayan state on adaptation planning and implementation; and (iii) linking science and community level action to policies across IHR.
The programme supports India’s National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
The programme aims to strengthen the information base and institutional capacities, leverage international and local financial resources and develop strategic partnerships towards supporting and facilitating the implementation of the NMSHE and related State Action Plans on Climate Change in the Himalayan States.

Secure Himalaya Project

Launched in 2017.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility.
It supports the government’s efforts for conservation of snow leopard and its habitat by developing and implementing a landscape-based approach for Himalayan ecosystems, and addresses key issues of habitat degradation, threatened livelihoods and illegal trade in wildlife.
Components:
- Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species.
- Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems.
- Enhancing enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats.
- Gender Mainstreaming, Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management.
Project Landscapes:
- Changthang, Ladakh Landscape, Jammu & Kashmir
- Lahaul-Pangi and Kinnaur Landscapes,
- Gangotri-Govind and Darma-Byans Landscapes,
- Khangchendzonga-upper Teesta Valley.

Guidelines on the ‘Carrying Capacity’ of the Himalayan region 2022:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has proposed the formation of a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the ‘carrying capacity’ of 13 Himalayan states, including cities and eco-sensitive zones.
This initiative is essential to ensure sustainable development and preservation of the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain without degradation.

10. India’s 800-year-old connection with Jerusalem

Subject: History

Section: Medieval India

Context: India’s 800-year-old connection with Jerusalem i.e Baba Farid’s lodge

More about the news:

In the ancient city of Jerusalem, India’s presence dates back to the 12th century, with an Indian Hospice bearing a plaque commemorating this connection.
In October 2021, India’s External Affairs Minister emphasized this 800-year relationship with a new plaque.

How did this connection come to be:

Baba Farid, a Sufi saint from Punjab, is said to have meditated at a place in Jerusalem for 40 days.
Indian Muslims on their way to Mecca started coming to the walled city of Jerusalem to pray at this location.
Over time, this spot transformed into a shrine and a hospice for Indian travelers, becoming a significant historical and religious site.

Baba Farid and the lodge:

Baba Farid, a Sufi saint from Punjab was born in 1173 CE, was part of the Chishti order and one of the first Sufi saints to write his verses in Punjabi, some of which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs.
During his travels, Baba Farid visited Jerusalem, prayed at the Al-Aqsa mosque, and composed verses.
He found a lodge within one of the gates of Old Jerusalem, known as Bab-az-Zahra among Muslims and Herod’s Gate among Christians.
This lodge was part of a khanqah, which is a structure for Sufi orders, serving as both seminaries and hospices for travelers, located on a hillock within Herod’s Gate.
After Baba Farid’s departure, the khanqah evolved into a hospice for travelers from India and was named Zawiya Al-Hindiya, meaning “the Lodge of Hind.”
Despite changing rulers, including Christian crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottoman rulers, the lodge maintained its association with India.
The lodge, known as Zawiya Al-Hindiya, was described by the medieval traveler Evliya Chelebi as one of the largest Zawiyas in the city in 1671.
Leadership disputes and expansion of facilities at the lodge are documented in the historical record.
During the Ottoman rule, sheikhs from South Asia played a significant role in the lodge’s prominence.
With the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1919, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin Al-Husayni, took charge and initiated extensive renovations with support from Muslim patrons worldwide, including Indian princely states.
In 1921, the Grand Mufti informed leaders of the Indian Khilafat Movement about the ‘Indian Lodge’ in need of repair, and Khwaja Nazir Hasan Ansari from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, took on the task.
By 1924, the lodge was fully renovated and provided sanctuary to travelers and pilgrims from British India for the next 15 years.
During World War II in 1939, the lodge served as a refuge for soldiers from British India fighting in North Africa.

How did the lodge get associated with independent India:

After India gained independence, Nazir Ansari sought official recognition for the lodge from the Indian embassy in Egypt, solidifying its Indian identity.
The lodge faced conflicts, enduring rocket strikes in 1952 and the Six-Day War in 1967, but it expanded over time to its current size of 7,000 square meters.
The lodge also houses the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the Jerusalem Health Centre.
In 2000, the lodge was the site of a meeting between former Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and Palestinian leader Faisal Husseini.
The Indian Hospice is a must-visit for Indian diplomats and visiting dignitaries.
Sheikh Mohammad Munir Ansari, born in Jerusalem in 1928, serves as the lodge’s administrator and received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2011, the highest honor given by the Government of India to overseas Indians.
Despite regional turmoil, the Indian flags proudly fly at the lodge, and the Ansaris celebrate Independence Day every August 15.
The property is owned by the Waqf Board of India and is accessible only to individuals of Indian citizenship or heritage.
The hospice offers six guest rooms, a small mosque, a library, a dining hall, and a kitchen, where guests are encouraged to take care of their own cooking and laundry using provided supplies and equipment.
The Ansari family continues to maintain the hospice, providing hospitality and a connection to India in Jerusalem.

11. The centrality of natural gas in ties between India and Qatar

Subject :IR

Section: Places in news

Context: The death sentence given to eight former personnel of the Indian Navy by a court in Qatar presents the biggest challenge for India.

India’s Gas import dependency:

India currently imports approximately 50% of its natural gas due to the government’s efforts to increase natural gas consumption. Even if domestic natural gas production increases, these imports are expected to rise further in the future.
The government-owned Petronet LNG, India’s largest LNG importer, has a long-term contract with Qatar to import 8.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG.
Qatar also plays a significant role in India’s LNG purchases from the spot market.
India has set an ambitious target to raise the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix from slightly over 6% to 15% by 2030, which will likely lead to a rapid increase in LNG imports in the coming years.
Natural gas is considered a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to conventional petroleum fuels like diesel and petrol.
India’s heavy reliance on crude oil imports to over 85% makes natural gas a crucial transition fuel in India’s energy strategy.
The situation with India’s energy security concerns and aspirations, coupled with its increasing natural gas demand, presents a sensitive challenge for Indian diplomacy, possibly highlighting the need for secure and stable natural gas sources like Qatar

The global LNG market:

The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has become a seller’s market due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions disrupting Russian natural gas supplies to Europe. This disruption has caused prices, especially for LNG spot cargoes, to increase worldwide.
Spot LNG prices tend to be more volatile compared to long-term contracts. In a supply surplus, spot prices drop more sharply, whereas in times of supply shortages, spot prices rise more significantly.
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, has gained significant leverage in this situation.
Industry experts suggest that long-term contracts provide a more stable and reasonable way to secure LNG supplies, especially considering the recent price volatility in global LNG markets.
This has prompted LNG importers, including India, to seek long-term contracts with major suppliers, with Qatar being a primary choice.
Qatar has recently signed long-term LNG supply deals with various countries.
Petronet’s existing long-term LNG contract with Qatar is set to expire in 2028, and negotiations for an extension are ongoing. India is also exploring additional long-term LNG contracts.
Analysts and experts anticipate that the global LNG market may transition into a buyer’s market in the coming years due to the development of new LNG export projects. However, this shift is expected to take some time, and a significant portion of new export capacity is likely to come from Qatar itself.

Some facts about India -Qatar relations

Indians are the largest expatriate community in Qatar.
2023 marks 50 years of establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Qatar.
India was among the few countries which recognized Qatar soon after its independence in 1971.
Exercise Zair-Al-Bahr is a bilateral maritime exercise between the two navies.

Some facts about Qatar:

Qatar is a peninsula in the Middle East, bordering Saudi Arabia to the south and the Persian Gulf to the east and north.
The Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain
Capital: Doha
Official language: Arabic
Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
It is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas
It hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.