Daily Prelims Notes 29 October 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

29 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Researchers discover first proof of wild female chimpanzees experiencing menopause
2. Role of microbiome in shaping type 1 diabetes
3. How much salt should you take every day?
4. Will QR codes improve access to food labels?
5. How a hydropower project threatens the wildlife of Arunachal Pradesh
6. CM Stalin asks Centre to secure release of 12 T.N. fishermen detained by Maldivian Coast Guard
7. Earth-like tectonic plates on ancient Venus may explain its carbon dioxide- & nitrogen-rich atmosphere
8. Cotton Curse: Tired of losses, farmers giving up cotton on a large scale
9. Yavatmal farmers fight losing battle against pesticide poisoning; pin hopes on Swiss court hearing
10. Studies provide more insight into the internal structure of Mars
11. IITM Pune demonstrates cloud seeding can produce rainfall
12. APEC Summit
13. SC bench to hear plea against poll bonds
14. India abstain on UN resolution for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict
15. Bangladesh is building memorial to honor Indian heroes of 1971 war

1. Researchers discover first proof of wild female chimpanzees experiencing menopause

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• A recent study has uncovered the very first pieces of evidence of female wild chimpanzees experiencing menopause and having a post-fertile life, which has been very rare in the animal kingdom.
• A handful of mammals, including humans and toothed whales, are known to have extended lifespans in females beyond their reproductive years.

Relevance of menopause to fertility

• Menopause is when menstruation stops and female reproductive hormones slow down.
• This phenomenon is universal and marks the end of a female’s reproductive cycle.
• It is the time in a female’s life when menstruation stops permanently and she will no longer be able to bear children.
• Menopause is defined as having occurred when a female has not had any vaginal bleeding for a year.

Changes During Menopause

• Females experience hot flashes, difficulty in sleeping, mood swings and irregular libido.
• Before menopause female’s periods would become irregular i.e shorter or longer duration.
• Hot flashes are associated with shivering, sweating etc. These stop after two or three years.
• It is associated with decreasing hormone production by ovaries.

Factors influencing Menopause

• Genetic factors play an important role in deciding the age at menopause. A daughter may follow her mother’s pattern of menstrual cycle.
• Nutritional factors are important in deciding the age at menopause. Better nourished females have higher age at menopause compared to poorly nourished females.
• Some diseases lead to early menopause like coeliac.
• Medical treatment: Hysterectomy removal of uterus will lead to early menopause about 3.5 years earlier than expected.
• Lifestyle: Lifestyle of women can promote early onset of menopause like smoking, consuming alcohol, eating junk food etc.

Relation Between Menopause and Fertility

• Menopause is the end of a woman’s reproductive cycle.
• Women cannot bear children once menopause occurs.
• Early menopause can also lead to fertility problems.

Significance of findings 

We now know that menopause and post-fertile survival arise across a broader range of species and socio-ecological conditions than formerly appreciated, providing a solid basis for considering the roles that improved diets and lowered risks of predation would have played in human life history evolution.

2. Role of microbiome in shaping type 1 diabetes

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

Parsing data from two clinical trials, researchers have mapped out how the gut microbiome can impact how people respond to teplizumab, a drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes.

About:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by the destruction of islet β cells in the pancreas triggered by genetic and environmental factors.
• In past decades, extensive familial and genome‐wide association studies have revealed more than 50 risk loci in the genome.
• However, genetic susceptibility cannot explain the increased incidence of T1D worldwide, which is very likely attributed to the growing impact of environmental factors, especially gut microbiome.
• Recently, the role of gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of T1D has been uncovered by the increasing evidence from both human subjects and animal models, strongly indicating that gut microbiome might be a pivotal hub of T1D‐triggering factors, especially environmental factors.
• Gut microbiome contains approximately 500 to 1000 different bacterial species and 100 trillion bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Because of the symbiotic relationship between gut microbiome and our body, gut microbiome also is called commensal bacteria.
• Microbes in the gut and intestine are generally divided into Gram‐positive (G+) and Gram‐negative (G−) populations.
• Usually, gastrointestinal tracts are dominated by 4 bacterial phyla based on 16S rRNA sequencing, including Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria.
• Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes constitute the most abundant phyla in the adult’s gut and intestine, and Actinobacteria is predominant in the gut of breast‐fed infants.
• Bifidobacterium is the most abundant bacteria in Actinobacteria and considered to be probiotic microorganisms.

3. How much salt should you take every day?

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Health

More about news:

• Our bodies need salt. Salt also adds taste to our food. However, too much salt in your diet may lead to high blood pressure.
• The World Health Organization recommends 5 grams of salt in your diet every day. But the world average is 10.8 grams.
• A recent report, a part of the national non­communicable disease monitoring survey, states that Indian men consume 8.9 grams, and Indian women take in 7.1 grams of salt on a daily basis.

What is the Need for Limiting Salt Intake?

• Excessive salt intake can have dangerous consequences such as Hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
• Reducing sodium intake is important because it is strongly correlated with lower blood pressure, which can lead to a decrease in Cardiovascular Diseases.
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and is responsible for a significant economic impact on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as India.
• Cardiovascular disease and hypertension are significant challenges in India due to several factors, including rising mortality rates, higher prevalence in men, particularly in southern states, and a large pre-hypertensive population.
• The 2020 Report on Medical Certification of the Cause of Death shows that circulatory system diseases account for 32.1% of all documented deaths in India, with hypertension being a major risk factor.
• The World Economic Forum projects that the Indian economy alone faces losses surpassing USD 2 trillion between 2012 and 2030 because of cardiovascular disease.

What are the Related Initiatives?

• Eat Right India Campaign:

It was launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), aiming to transform the Indian food system and ensure that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food.

• Aaj Se Thoda Kam Campaign:

FSSAI has initiated the ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ social media campaign. Despite these efforts, the average sodium consumption of Indians remains alarmingly high. Studies have found that the typical daily intake of sodium in India is around 11 grams, which is much higher than the recommended intake of 5 grams per day.

Why is Salt Consumption Important?

• Salt as a Sodium chloride is an essential nutrient that plays several important roles in the body.
• Sodium is an electrolyte that helps to regulate the balance of fluids in the body and aids in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
• Salt consumption is important for maintaining proper bodily function, but excessive intake can have negative health consequences, making it important to consume salt in moderation.

How can the Related Challenges be Addressed?

• India needs a comprehensive national strategy to reduce salt consumption, with a multi-pronged approach that engages consumers, industry, and the government. Collaboration between state and union governments is essential to combat hypertension caused by excessive sodium intake.
• Reducing sodium consumption has been identified as a highly cost-effective strategy to prevent Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide.
• A report suggests that implementing policies to reduce sodium consumption could save an estimated seven million lives globally by 2030.
• The sodium reduction policy is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing deaths from NCDs.

4. Will QR codes improve access to food labels?

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended the inclusion of  a QR (quick response) code on food products for accessibility by visually impaired individuals  stating that this will ensure access to safe food for all.

Why is the move important?

• The move is vital as India is one of the largest markets of packaged foods in the world and is currently witnessing a growing burden of non­-communicable diseases (NCDs) which have seen an abrupt rise globally since the last two decades.
• According to the World Health Organization. Besides other factors,  this trend is attributed to aggressively marketed, cheaper, and more easily  available pre­packaged foods which is finding a growing preference among consumers.
• Every consumer has the right to know exactly what he is paying for and  if he is getting what he is promised and advertised.

What information will the QR codes provide?

• The FSSAI has advised that these new QR codes should encompass  comprehensive details about the product, including, but not limited to, ingredients, nutritional information, allergens, manufacturing date, best before/ expiry/use by date, allergen warning, and contact information for customer  enquiries.
• It adds that the inclusion of a QR code for the accessibility of information does not replace or negate the requirement to provide mandatory information on the product label, as prescribed by relevant regulations.
• The latest advisory caters to two important regulations the FSSAI’s Food  Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020 which outlines the information to be included on labels  of food products and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which recognises the rights of individuals with disabilities and emphasizes accessibility of health for persons with disabilities.

How did the QR code come into being?

• A QR code is a type of two dimensional matrix barcode, invented in 1994, by the Japanese company Denso Wave for labeling automobile parts.
• According to market experts, for the food manufacturers, using QR codes on food products can help improve their brand image, customer loyalty, and operational efficiency.
• On the importance of accurate and accessible food labels, a recently  published paper titled, ‘Food literacy & food labelling laws a legal analysis of  India’s food policy’, noted that aggressively marketed, cheaper and more easily available pre­packaged foods, often considered as foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, is finding a growing preference amongst consumers in India.
• To prevent or control further widespread of NCDs, the FSSAI has issued  numerous food and packaging laws and acts to control their manufacture,  storage, distribution, sale, and import so that a safe and wholesome food is available to consumers.
• The front­ of­ pack labeling (FOPL), proposed by FSSAI in 2019, is a key strategy to alert and educate consumers in making an informed choice.
• Food industry experts also note that consumers now consider food packaging  equally important as a product.
• The increase in smartphone usage by consumers indicate that QR codes  are emerging as one of the most promising technologies to enhance the information provided to consumers and influence their buying behaviour.

5. How a hydropower project threatens the wildlife of Arunachal Pradesh

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geo

Context:

• In 2012,  1,750-megawatt Lower Demwe hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh received wildlife clearance.

Lower Demwe hydroelectric project:

• Location: Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
• The dam is proposed in an eco-sensitive zone on the Lohit river, 50 metres from the Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It will directly impact the Ganges river dolphin, critically endangered bird species, the Bengal florican, and the white-bellied heron, Assam roofed turtle, tigers, elephants and also impact Parshuram Kund, a Hindu pilgrimage site.
  • The white-bellied heron is known to be extremely vulnerable to the loss and degradation of its preferred habitat (free-flowing natural river courses), and hydroelectric projects are causing direct mortality of birds through power lines.
  • The project will submerge a 4-km stretch of the Lang river, a left-bank tributary of the Lohit river.
• The established protocol is to conduct assessments before construction and seek mitigation of adverse impacts only as a last resort.

Dams: Doing major harm but a manageable problem?

• Dam construction is one of the oldest, most preferred tools to manage freshwater for various uses. The practice reached a peak internationally in the 1960s and ’70s, but in recent years dam construction has faced increasing global criticism as the hefty environmental price paid for their benefits piles up.
• Damming the rivers is the largest single anthropogenic alteration of the freshwater cycle.
• There are close to 60,000 large dams &  16 million small dams, storing about a sixth of the globe’s total annual river flow to the oceans.
• The flows of most major waterways have been impacted by dams globally. Only 37% of rivers longer than 1,000 km (620 mi) remain free-flowing, and just 23% flow uninterrupted to the sea. Natural flows will be altered for 93% of river volume worldwide by 2030, if all planned and ongoing hydropower construction goes ahead.
• This global fragmentation of rivers has led to severe impacts. Dams have contributed to an 84% average decline in freshwater wildlife population sizes since 1970. More than a quarter of Earth’s land-to-ocean sediment flux is trapped behind dams. Dams also impact Earth’s climate in complex ways via modification of the carbon cycle.
• But dams are needed for energy, agriculture and drinking water, and are an inevitable part of our future.
• Impact of dams: decline of freshwater species, dams block the migration of fish and other aquatic species, separating them from breeding grounds and reducing population sizes, Migratory fish populations have fallen by 76% since 1970, decline in fishery activities, downstream water temperatures change, natural ebb and flow of the hydrological cycle is altered, reduced flow of phosphorous, nitrogen and silicon trapped behind dams, impact on deltas (Mekong Delta in Vietnam, the world’s third-largest delta).
• Species threatened by dam construction are: Migratory fishes like- sturgeon, salmon, hilsa and gilded catfish, Amazon’s giant catfish, Irrawaddy dolphins, beluga sturgeon, Mekong giant catfish,  the Chinese paddlefish (already extinct).

Dams, deforestation and climate change:

• Cheap, government-subsidized hydropower attracts energy-intensive, ecologically destructive industries, such as bauxite mining and aluminum smelting and industrial gold mining.
• Tropical hydroelectric plants and their reservoirs can emit two to three times more greenhouse gasses than natural gas, oil, or coal plants, due to deforestation and potent methane emissions.

 Penobscot River Restoration Project:

• This effort to revive New England’s second-largest river system entailed the removal of two dams and construction of a stream-like bypass channel around a third.

Kruger National Park:

• Formed in 1911 in South Africa, it is one of the largest protected areas in Africa.
• Issues faced by the park: Overgrazing, veld degradation and erosion, Siltation behind the dams due to catchment basins and stagnant waters that are nurturing cyanobacteria and poisoning the animals that drank the water.

Source: FT, Mongabay

6. CM Stalin asks Centre to secure release of 12 T.N. fishermen detained by Maldivian Coast Guard

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• The fishermen had ventured into the sea from the Tharuvaikulam fish landing centre in Thoothukudi in a mechanized fishing boat, bearing the registration number IND–TN–12–MM-6376, were apprehended by the Coast Guard near Thinadhoo Island.

Thinadhoo (Huvadhu Atoll):

• Thinadhoo City is the capital of Gaafu Dhaalu region in the atoll of Huvadhu, Maldives.

Atoll:

• It is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon.
•  60  Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop.

Deep sea fishing in India:

• Fishing at least 100 feet deep in waters far from the shore is known as deep-sea fishing, also known as large game or offshore fishing.
• Fishing operations in the open ocean, beyond the continental margin, are referred to as deep-sea fishing.
  • The country’s Blue Revolution goal to fully utilize fishing resources within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone has included deep sea fishing as a key component (EEZ).
• Types of deep sea fishing:
  • Trolling: A technique in which a lure or bait is drawn through the water behind a moving boat. The lure is designed to attract fish to bite.
  • Bottom fishing: A technique in which the bait is dropped to the bottom of the sea. The trick can be left on the bottom or lifted slightly off the bottom to attract fish.
  • Jigging: is a technique in which a weighted lure is dropped to the bottom of the sea and lifted and lowered to attract fish.
  • Drifting: This is a technique in which the boat is allowed to drift along with the current while bait is deployed. The bait can be on the surface or suspended at a depth to attract fish.
  • Chumming: This is a technique in which fish bait is scattered over the water to attract fish.
  • Deep dropping: This is a technique in which the bait is dropped to the bottom of the sea, usually in depths of several hundred meters, to catch deep-sea species
• Potential of deep sea fishing in India:
  • The potential of tuna fishery (a form of deep sea fishing) in the Indian Ocean, was estimated by Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) with the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for Yellowfin tuna at 3.44 lakh tonnes and have reported that for sustainable production the exploitation shall not exceed 3 lakh tonnes.
  • The non-convential deep sea resources available in our waters also provide ample scope for exploitation. The deep sea shrimps like Metapenaeopsis andamanensis, Aristeus alcocki, Pleasonkins spinipes etc., deep sea oceanic squids and deep sea fishes like Myctophids (Lantern fish) also provide great scope for exploitation.
• Government steps:
  • Department of fisheries, GoI has come up with a draft national fisheries policy which empowers the Coastal State Governments / Union Territories through delegation of powers to grant Marine Fishing Licenses for the EEZ and high seas.
  • It also encourages and empowers small scale fishers and fisher groups for undertaking resource specific deep sea fishing for harnessing untapped potential of high value resources like tuna and tuna like species, myctophids and oceanic squids in a sustainable manner within the EEZ and High Seas, in compliance with international agreements / arrangements.
  • Further, for effective utilization of the deep sea fishery resources, steps to support fishing vessels with additional capacity to undertake extended voyages by infusion of modern technology and capacity building is also being initiated.
  • Introduction of modern electronic equipment such as GPS, Fish Finder and other communication devices have paved the way for multi day fishing and triggered the pace for deep sea fishing.
• Challenges in deep sea fishing:
  • Overfishing, Bycatch ( the accidental capture of non-target species during deep-sea fishing), Habitat destruction, Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF), expensive and logistically difficult, fishermans enter the EEZ of another country for deep sea fishing and get caught by coastal guards.

Source: TH, Mpedia

7. Earth-like tectonic plates on ancient Venus may explain its carbon dioxide- & nitrogen-rich atmosphere

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Space technology

Context:

• Venus, often referred to as Earth’s sister planet, may have experienced tectonic activity about 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago, according to a new study.

Venus planet:

• Venus and Earth are about the same size, mass, density and volume. Still, Venus is the least understood of the terrestrial planets.
• It appears in Earth’s sky always close to the Sun, as either a “morning star” or an “evening star”.
• It is the third brightest object in Earth’s sky after the Moon and the Sun.
• It has a weak induced magnetosphere and an especially thick carbon dioxide atmosphere, which creates, together with its global sulfuric acid cloud cover, an extreme greenhouse effect.
• This results at the surface in a mean temperature of 737 K (464 °C; 867 °F) and a crushing pressure of 92 times that of Earth’s at sea level, turning the air into a supercritical fluid.

Study findings:

• The planet’s atmospheric composition is mainly composed of carbon dioxide (96.5 per cent) and nitrogen (less than 3.5 per cent). Plate tectonics may have been instrumental in creating its carbon dioxide– and nitrogen-rich atmosphere on Venus.
• The new findings suggest that ancient Venus may have been home to microbial life. That means Earth and Venus may have been even more alike than thought.

Outcome from new findings:

• We very likely had two planets at the same time in the same solar system operating in a plate tectonic regime.
• Plate tectonics would have likely ended on Venus after it lost water and its atmosphere got too hot and thick. This process may have dried up the necessary ingredients that make tectonic movements possible.
• Only early plate tectonics could explain Venus’ current atmosphere and surface pressure. This early tectonic movement would have been happening on Earth and Venus simultaneously.
• Venus may have transitioned from limited tectonic movement early in its history to the stagnant lid model that exists today. A stagnant lid means its surface has only a single plate with minimal amounts of movement to release gases into the atmosphere.
• We might have planets that transition in and out of habitability rather than just being continuously habitable.
• DAVINCI is National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) upcoming mission to Venus.
• Shukrayaan-1 will be India’s mission on Venus.

Plate tectonics theory (PTT):

• Suggested by McKenzie and Parker in 1957 and propounded in 1967 by Morgan.
• Both conventional current theory and seafloor spreading theory paved the way for the theory of plate tectonics.
• It explains the movement of the Earth’s lithospheric plates, which make up the Earth’s outermost shell.
• It describes how Earth’s thin outer shell is broken into big pieces called tectonic plates, which float on the planet’s mantle. Plate tectonics gave rise to oceans, continents and mountains, along with playing a critical role in nourishing life on Earth.

PTT is based on 4 general geomorphological assumptions:

1. The slab or zone of the lithosphere is divided into several vertical columns geomorphologically known as plates drifting kinematically over a semi-molten asthenosphere called a tectonic.
2. The surface area of a continental plate is also extended over the oceanic lithosphere. Thus, there is no complete segregation between the continental and the oceanic lithosphere.
3. The movement or tectonics of the respective plates depends on the direction and the impulse action of the thermal Convection currents. Consequently, the plates are converging and also divergent away from each other.
4. The process of convergence and divergence further creates a new crust over the Earth’s surface and also disintegrates the crust apart. The rate of formation and disintegration of the crust has acquired a profile of equilibrium by which the surface area of the earth remains constant.

Source: DownToEarth

8. Cotton Curse: Tired of losses, farmers giving up cotton on a large scale

Subject :Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

• Cotton farmers in the northern cotton zone have experienced the worst pink bollworm attack on their crops in two decades this year.

Details:

• Pest attacks on cotton crops have occurred on a regular basis in recent years. Farmers are being forced to switch to other crops due to continued losses and uncertainty.
• Farmers are experimenting with horticulture and paddy as an alternative to cotton farming.
  • Paddy cultivation requires less labor and has reduced risks of infestation than that of cotton.
  • Paddy fetches have an MSP of Rs 3,200 while the MSP for cotton is Rs 6,235 per quintal.
• As per the state agriculture department, the cotton cultivation area has decreased from 421,000 hectares in 2014-15 to 248,900 hectares in 2022-23, and the production of cotton has halved from 1,347 bales to 444 bales in the period. Whereas paddy cultivation has increased from 2,895,000 hectares to 3,167,800 hectares for the same timeframe.

Pink Bollworm:

• It is an insect known for being a pest in cotton farming.
• It is native to Asia, but has become an invasive species in most of the world’s cotton-growing regions.
• In parts of India, the pink bollworm is now resistant to first generation transgenic Bt cotton (Bollgard cotton) that expresses a single Bt gene (Cry1Ac). Monsanto has admitted that this variety is ineffective against the pink bollworm pest in parts of Gujarat, India.

Bollgard-I and Bollgard-II:

• Bollgard- I and Bollgard- II help in developing genetically modified crop plants. Bollgard cotton provides in-built protection for cotton against destructive Bollworm infestations, and contains an insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
• Bollgard Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002.
• Bollgard II technology contains a superior double-gene technology – Cry1Ac and Cry 2Ab which provides protection against bollworms and Spodoptera caterpillars.

Source: DownToEarth

9. Yavatmal farmers fight losing battle against pesticide poisoning; pin hopes on Swiss court hearing

Subject : Environment

Section: Pollution

Pesticide ‘Polo’:

• Manufactured by the Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta.
• Polo’s active ingredient is diafenthiuron, which has been banned in Switzerland and by the European Union because of its harmful effects on health and the environment but the company exports and distributes it in India.
• Health impact includes: Nausea and heavy-head, damage of clear vision, photo-sensitivity, loss of stamina for labour, severe exposure leads to death.

Pesticides in India:

• India is the 2nd largest pesticide manufacturer in the world. It is the 5th largest exporter after China, USA, Germany and France.
• Maharashtra is the top consumer of pesticides in the country.
  • Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region (mainly a cotton growing region) accounts for 50 percent of total pesticide use in India.
  • Because of several deaths due to pesticides poisoning, Maharashtra has banned products which use diafenthiuron.
• Pesticides are the leading cause of poisoning in India, with two in every three cases of poisoning happening because of pesticide consumption either intentionally or unintentionally.
• Pesticides can enter the human body by three common ways: Through the skin (contact), the mouth (ingestion) and the lungs (inhalation).

Pesticide regulation in India:

• The Pesticides Management Bill  has been introduced to replace the Insecticides Act of 1968.
  • The Bill is meant to ensure more effective regulation of the sector, minimise risks to human beings, animals, living organisms other than pests and the environment, with an endeavour to promote pesticides that are biological and based on traditional knowledge.
• There are at least 116 pesticides that are banned internationally but are being allowed to be used in India and pose serious health hazards to farmers.
• In 2020, the Centre came out with a draft order banning 27 pesticides, out of the 66. However, the order has been reversed to ban only 3 out of 66 pesticides.
• On September 29, 2023 the government issued an order to ban four hazardous pesticides — Dicofol, Dinocap, Methomyl and ‘Monocrotophos’.  The use of pesticide ‘carbofuran’ has been restricted.

About Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC):

• It is under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and was set up by the Ministry of Agriculture in the year 1970.
• Aim: To regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risks to human beings and animals and for other matters connected therewith.
• The Insecticides Act, 1968 was brought into force in 1971 with the publication of Insecticides Rules, 1971.
• The Central Insecticides Board (CIB) advises the Central Government and State Governments on technical matters arising out of the administration of this Act and to carry out the other functions assigned to the Board by or under these rules. Major functions are:
  • Advise the Central Government on the manufacture of insecticides under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.
  • Specify the uses of the classification of insecticideson the basis of their toxicity as well as their being suitable for aerial application.
  • Advise tolerance limits for insecticides residues and establishment of minimum intervals between the application of insecticides and harvest in respect of various commodities.
  • Specify the shelf-life of insecticides
• Registration of Insecticides / Certificate of Registration
• There is compulsory registration of the insecticides at the Central level and license for their manufacture, formulation and sale are dealt with at the State level.
• Hence for effective enforcement of the Insecticides Act, the following bodies have been constituted at the Central level by the Ministry:
  • Central Insecticides Board (CIB)
  • Registration Committee (RC)
• Any person desiring to import or manufacture any insecticide may apply to the Registration Committee for the registration of such insecticide and there shall be a separate application for each such insecticide to obtain the Certificate of Registration.
• License to manufacture insecticides
  • According to the Insecticides Rules 1971, a license is required to obtain from the concerned State Government office either to manufacture, sell, exhibit for sale or distribute any insecticide/pesticide.

What are the alternatives available to farmers?

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, which are using cost-effective mechanical methods
• Bio-pesticides
• Newer molecular target-specific low toxicity pesticides, usage of which is extremely low, and which are a little more expensive
• Pheromone traps, which are quite economical, are meant for mating disruption, for suppression of pest population, and mass trapping. Such traps slowly release synthetic attractants which help in the detection of a single species of insect in the fields.
• Neem-based biopesticides, which are environment-friendly, is very effective cost-wise and yield-wise. Its bitter taste keeps pests away from plants.
• Moreover, the right kind of seeds and precise irrigation can also help farmers keep the pests away.

Source: DownToEarth

10. Studies provide more insight into the internal structure of Mars

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• Mars’s liquid iron core is likely to be surrounded by a fully molten silicate layer, according to a pair of studies published in Nature.

About the study:

• The InSight Mars Lander of NASA used an instrument called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) to record seismic waves passing through Mars’s interior. Data from three years of quakes in Mars, including two seismic events caused by meteorite impacts, were used for the study.

Study findings:

• Its core is smaller and denser than previously proposed.
• Presence of a large but low-density core, composed of liquid iron and lighter elements such as sulphur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.
• The core has a higher proportion of lighter elements than is feasible according to estimates of the abundances of these elements early in Mars’s formation history.
• The liquid iron-nickel core of Mars is surrounded by an approximately 150 km-thick layer of near-molten silicate rock, the top of which was previously misinterpreted as the surface of the core. This decrease in core radius implies a higher density than estimated in the earlier InSight study.
• The molten state of this layer suggests that its temperature must be at least 2,000 Kelvin. This could be a sign that Mars had a turbulent interior following its formation, rather than a calmer one that more gently transported and shed heat to interplanetary space.

InSight Mars lander:

• The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission was a robotic lander designed to study the deep interior of the planet Mars.
• It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space, was managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and two of its three scientific instruments were built by European agencies.
• The mission launched on 5 May 2018 aboard an Atlas V-401 launch vehicle and successfully landed at Elysium Planitia on Mars. InSight was active on Mars for 1440 sols (1480 days; 4 years, 19 days).
• InSight’s objectives were to place a seismometer, called Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), on the surface of Mars to measure seismic activity and provide accurate 3D models of the planet’s interior; and measure internal heat transfer using a heat probe called HP3 to study Mars’ early geological evolution.
• This was intended to provide a new understanding of how the Solar System’s terrestrial planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars – and Earth’s Moon formed and evolved.

Source: TH

11. IITM Pune demonstrates cloud seeding can produce rainfall

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• A cloud seeding experiment was carried out in Solapur city, and in return it was able to achieve 18% relative enhancement in rainfall.

About Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX phase-4):

• It was a scientific investigation conducted in Solapur city during the summer monsoon period of 2018 and 2019 by IITM Pune.
  • Solapur city (in Maharashtra) falls on the leeward side of the Western Ghats and hence gets low rainfall — 384 mm and 422 mm of total rainfall during the period June to September 2018 and 2019, respectively.
• Enhancement in rainfall is approximately 8.67mm as a result of the experiment.
• The primary objective was to investigate the efficacy of hygroscopic seeding in deep convective clouds and to develop a cloud seeding protocol.

Study findings:

• Cloud seeding is an effective strategy for enhancing rainfall in a region under suitable conditions.
• Selection of clouds is based on: Liquid water content in the cloud, the vertical motion in the cloud, which is an indicator of the growth of the cloud.
• Calcium chloride flare was used for seeding the clouds.
• The seeding was done at the base of the warm convective clouds and at a time when the clouds were in their growing stage so that the seed particles could enter the clouds with minimum dispersion.
  • The convective cloud bases are found at 500-1,500 metres altitude during the summer monsoon period and around 2,000 metres or more altitude during the monsoon break periods, which depends on the moisture content in the lower atmosphere.
• Major finding: Not all cumulus clouds produce rainfall when cloud seeding is done.
• The approximate cost of producing water through cloud seeding was 18 paisa per litre. The cost will drop by more than 50% if we use indigenous seeding aircraft.
• Cloud seeding alone cannot mitigate droughts but can help produce 18% more rainfall and partially address water requirements.
• The study has helped develop a high-resolution numerical model that can help stakeholders to identify target locations, clouds that can be seeded, and a suitable seeding strategy to enhance rainfall in an area.

Cloud seeding:

• It is a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud.
• Its effectiveness is debated; some studies have suggested that it is difficult to show clearly that cloud seeding has a very large effect.
• The usual objective is to increase precipitation (rain or snow), either for its own sake or to prevent precipitation from occurring in days afterward.

Chemicals used for cloud seeding:

• The most common chemicals used for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).
• Liquid propane, which expands into a gas, has also been used.
  • This can produce ice crystals at higher temperatures than silver iodide.
• In the CAIPEEX experiment, Calcium chloride flare is used.

Concerns:

• Some chemicals are potentially harmful to the natural environment and the plants which depend on the contaminated rain to produce food.
• It is a very expensive process.
• It could have many dire consequences to the environment if not well regulated.
  • Dry areas are not usually well-positioned to handle certain weather conditions, and thus, may become easily flooded and cause more harm to the already struggling environment.
• For cloud seeding to be successful, certain uncontrollable conditions have to be met. for example:
  • Clouds have to be present, not just any cloud but clouds capable of producing rain.
  • The atmospheric conditions must also suit the process as certain conditions could lead to an unwarranted result like the rain falling in a different location or not falling at all.

Source: TH

12. APEC Summit

Subject : IR

Section: International groupings

Context: Biden and Xi to meet on the APEC summit sideline in November.

Some facts about APEC:

• APEC is an inter-governmental forum of 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
• It was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of the region’s economies.
• APEC’s mission is to “promote trade and economic cooperation among its member economies in order to create greater prosperity for the people of the Asia-Pacific region.”
• APEC accounts for approximately 60% of global GDP and 47% of global trade.
• Its members include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
• APEC’s work is guided by the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which is for an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040. This will be achieved by pursuing three economic drivers:
  • Trade and investment
  • Innovation and digitalisation
  • Strong, balanced, secure, sustainable and inclusive growth.
• APEC decisions are reached by consensus, and commitments are made on a voluntary basis.
• APEC has three official observers-The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
• The 2022 APEC summit was hosted by Thailand in Bangkok.
• The venue for 2023 APEC summit is San Francisco (U.S.A)

13. SC bench to hear plea against poll bonds

Subject : POLITY

Section: Elections

Context: A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud will hear petitions challenging the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme

More about the news:

• A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud will hear petitions challenging the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme
• The bench will also comprise Justices Sanjeev Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
• A batch of petitions was filed by various parties, including the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, CPI(M), Congress leader Jaya Thakur, and an individual named Spandan Biswal.
• On October 16, a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice Chandrachud referred the petitions to a Constitution bench and scheduled the hearing for October 31.
• The decision to refer the case to a Constitution bench was based on the significance of the issue and Article 145(3) of the Constitution, which requires at least five judges to hear cases involving substantial constitutional questions.
• The electoral bond scheme, introduced in the 2017 Union Budget, allows for anonymous donations to political parties. The government claims it is a step toward electoral reform, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• The petitioners argue that the scheme makes political funding less transparent, as it allows political parties not to disclose their annual contribution reports to the Election Commission of India (ECI) or reveal the identities of bond donors.

What was Supreme Court previous judgements:

• In April 2019, a three-judge Supreme Court bench directed political parties that received donations through electoral bonds to submit details of the bonds to the ECI.
• The Supreme Court had previously dismissed a request to halt the sale of new bonds in March 2021, disputing the claim that the bond scheme provides complete anonymity to donors. The court noted that it had already ordered certain safeguards in its April 2019 interim order.
• The court also mentioned that the Election Commission had received details of contributions made through bonds as per the April 2019 order.
• The Supreme Court expressed uncertainty regarding the extent of anonymity in political party financing by corporate houses, both within India and abroad, under the scheme. The court questioned whether the allegation of complete anonymity was sustainable at this stage.

What is Electoral Bond:

• Electoral bonds are banking instruments that can be purchased by any citizen or company to make donations to political parties, without the donor’s identity being disclosed.
• It is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India.

What are the features of Electoral Bonds Scheme:

• A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. 
• The bonds are like banknotes that are payable to the bearer on demand and are interest-free.
• Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one percent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.

What is the procedure to purchase the electoral bond:

• The State Bank of India  has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorized Branches.
• The bonds are sold by the SBI in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.
• One can purchase these bonds only digitally or through cheques.
• The Electoral Bonds can be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank.
• The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account is credited on the same day.
• Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment is being made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period.

14. India abstain on UN resolution for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict

Subject : IR

Section: International organisation

Context: India abstained in a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict

More about the news:

• India abstained from a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• The resolution did not mention ‘Hamas’ or ‘hostage’ and passed with 120 votes in favor and 14 against.
• The resolution called for an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
• It was drafted by a group of 22 Arab countries and had support from various nations, including Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, and South Africa.
• Israel, the United States, and a few other countries voted against the resolution.
• India was part of a group of 45 countries that abstained on the resolution titled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations.”
• Canada proposed an amendment to the resolution, naming Hamas and condemning their actions, but it failed to get the necessary support.
• India voted in favor of Canada’s amendment, along with 86 other nations.
• India’s abstention in the vote reflected its diplomatic balancing act in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

What is Emergency special sessions of UNGA:

• An emergency special session of the United Nations (UN) refers to an unplanned meeting of the UN General Assembly. Its purpose is to address pressing issues and provide urgent recommendations on a specific matter.
• The UN Charter grants the General Assembly the authority to convene an emergency special session. If the General Assembly is not in a regular session, it can assemble for an emergency special session within twenty-four hours of a request.
• The process for calling an emergency special session is outlined in the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly. These rules govern the steps and requirements for organizing such sessions
• An emergency special session can be initiated in two ways:
  • By the Security Council: If the Security Council deems it necessary, they can request such a session through a vote of at least seven of its members.
  • By Majority of UN Members: Alternatively, a majority of the United Nations’ member states can also trigger the convening of an emergency special session.
• Since 1950, only 11 emergency special sessions of the General Assembly have been held.
• These resolutions passed in the special session are not legally-binding. These are symbolic of the world opinion on the crisis and carry political weight as they represent the will of the entire UN membership.

Some facts about United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):

• It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.
• It is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
• It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
• Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

15. Bangladesh is building memorial to honor Indian heroes of 1971 war

Subject : IR

Section: Places in news

Context: Bangladesh is building memorial to honor Indian heroes of 1971 war

More about the news:

• A memorial is under construction in Ashuganj, Bangladesh, to honor Indian soldiers who participated in the 1971 Liberation War. It is expected to be completed by December.
• The memorial will feature the names of approximately 1,600 Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war.
• This will be the first memorial in Bangladesh exclusively dedicated to Indian soldiers from the 1971 war.
• The foundation stone for the memorial was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March 2021.
• The purpose of the memorial is to ensure that the names of the Indian soldiers who contributed to Bangladesh’s liberation are engraved for all to see, emphasizing their role in the nation’s emancipation.
• The memorial’s location in Ashuganj, close to the India-Bangladesh border, is significant. It was near this area that Indian forces crossed the Meghna River on their way to Dhaka during the liberation war.
• The project aims to raise awareness of the 1971 Liberation War among the youth and will include facilities for children’s recreation on the premises.
• Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March 2021 marked the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence. During the visit, he expressed deep respect for the Indian soldiers who played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s liberation and announced India’s donation of military equipment used in the war for museums in Bangladesh.