Daily Prelims Notes 3 August 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

3 August 2023

Table Of Contents

1. The government is bringing home India’s heritage
2. Oldest species of swimming jellyfish discovered in 505m-year-old fossils
3. How tiger reserves benefit humans
4. National Centre For Polar And Ocean Research
5. Adopt WHO-standard good manufacturing practices: Govt sets deadline for pharmas
6. How UIDAI is using AI to tackle payment frauds
7. NSEL case: SEBI cancels broking licence of MMTC
8. Fitch Downgrades US Credit Rating
9. Indian refiners increase Ural stocks
10. Ukraine war: Russia attacks grain stores at River Danube ports
11. Centre prohibits production, distribution of two drugs toxic for vultures
12. Distribute Copies of the Vedas to All MPs, Rajya Sabha Chair Tells Education Minister
13. Jeddah: Hope for peace in Ukraine?
14. The ‘Temporary’ Nature of Article 370 and Its Constitutional Challenge
15. Room-temperature Superconductivity

1. The government is bringing home India’s heritage

Subject :History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

• The USA government will return over 105 ancient statues and antiquities to India.

Details:

• Of these, two 12th-century statues — Lord Shiva’s rare Lingodbhava statue and Bodhisattva Manjushri statue — have already reached India.
• So far over 351 ancient artefacts and items of historical importance have been brought back. Contrast this with the 1947-2013 period, when less than 20 ancient statues were brought back.
• Recently, the International Museum Expo 2023 was inaugurated in New Delhi.

Stolen artefacts that were brought back to India:

• The 18th-century Maa Annapurna statue, which was stolen some 100 years ago from Varanasi and was spotted in Canada and being brought back in 2021.
• The 10th-century statue of Natraj was also repatriated from London the same year.
• The 900-year-old “Parrot Lady” sculpture from Khajuraho was brought back from Canada.
• A 14th-15th Chola period bronze statue of Lord Hanuman was returned by Australia, while a 1,200-year-old Buddha idol, Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, smuggled from DevisthanKundulpur temple in Bihar was repatriated from Italy.
• The US returned the 11th-century statue of the poet-saint Manikkavachakar.
• The 10th-century statue of Maa Durga’s Mahishasur Avatar is back from Germany, while the rare bronze statue of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita which was stolen in 1978 was retrieved from London.
• Also, the ancient Yogini statue which was stolen from Banda in Uttar Pradesh in the 1980s has been brought back from London.
• Recently, 29 ancient items of archaeological importance were brought back from Australia.
• The statues of Shri Devi from the Chola dynasty and the terracotta statue of a woman from the Maurya period have been returned.
• The Australian government returned two rare statues — a 900-year-old statue of Pratyangara stolen from an Amravati temple and a meditating Buddha statue that was smuggled from Mathura.

What are antiquities?

• The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972, defines antiquity as a certain category of objects listed below that has been in existence for not less than one hundred years. They are:
  • Any coin, sculpture, painting, epigraph or other work of art or craftsmanship
  • Any article, object or thing detached from a building or cave
  • Any article, object or thing illustrative of science, art, crafts, literature, religion, customs, morals or politics in bygone ages
  • Any article, object or thing of historical interest
• For a manuscript, record or other documents of scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value the duration is fixed at not less than 75 years.

International convention:

• The UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property defines cultural property as property having importance for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science for the designated country.
• The convention also says that illicit import, export and ownership transfer is depriving the cultural heritage of the country of origin.
• The Convention also suggests international cooperation as a means to protect the cultural property of the country.

Indian Laws on Antiquities

• The seventh schedule of the Constitution contains the following items related to antiquities:
  • Item-67 of the Union List
  • Item-12 of the State List
  • Item-40 of the Concurrent List
• One of the major acts implemented since 1976 was the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972 (AATA).
• Before enacting the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972, Antiquities (Export Control) Act was passed in 1947 to ensure that antiquities are exported with a license.
• Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act were enacted in 1971.
• Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 (AATA) prohibits trade in antiquities without a license and makes it unlawful for persons other than the government to export antiquity or art treasure.
  • AATA mandates those who possess antiquity to register and obtain certificates.
• There has been registration of 3.52 lakh antiquities among the 16.70 lakh documented under the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities.

Retrieval of Antiquity from Abroad:

• For antiquities taken out of the country before independence, the issue needs to be raised bilaterally or in international forums.
• Objects taken out of the country after independence can be retrieved easily by raising the issue bilaterally through submitting proof of ownership and using the UNESCO convention.

Why are Ancient Indian sculptures illegally traded?

• Indian art, including ancient sculptures, is highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide, leading to a lucrative market for these artefacts.
• India has weak laws and regulations when it comes to the protection of its cultural heritage.
• India has a long history of looting and plundering by foreign invaders, leading to the loss of many precious artefacts.
• In many cases, poverty and lack of resources in rural areas make it easier for smugglers to bribe locals and obtain artefacts.
• Corruption sometimes facilitates the illegal trade of artefacts for personal gain.
• Lack of awareness
• In a globalized world, it is easier for smugglers to transport and sell artefacts across borders, making it more challenging to track and recover stolen or smuggled artefacts.

2. Oldest species of swimming jellyfish discovered in 505m-year-old fossils

Subject :Geography

Section: Physical Geography

Context:

• The oldest species of swimming jellyfish ever recorded has been discovered in 505m-year-old fossils.

Details:

• The fossils were found at Burgess Shale in Canada, an area known for the number of well-preserved fossils found there.
• The new species, which has been named Burgessomedusaphasmiformis, resembles a large, swimming jellyfish with a saucer or bell-shaped bodyup to 20cm high.
• Its roughly 90 short tentacles would have allowed it to capture sizable prey.
• The discovery of Burgessomedusaphasmiformis has shown that the Cambrian food chain was much more complex than previously imagined.

About Jellyfish:

• Jellyfish belong to a subgroup of cnidaria, the oldest group of animals to exist, called medusozoans.
• Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animals with umbrella-shaped bells and trailing tentacles, although a few are anchored to the seabed by stalks rather than being mobile.
• They are made of 95% water and decay quickly, so fossilized specimens are rarely found, but the specimens – found in the late 1980s and early 1990s – were exceptionally well preserved.
• Jellyfish, along with their relatives, have been “remarkably hard to pin down in the Cambrian fossil record” despite being part of one of the earliest groups of animals.
• Jellyfish are found all over the world, from surface waters to the deep sea.

Burgess shale, Canada:

• The Burgess Shale is a fossil-bearing deposit exposed in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada.
• It is famous for the exceptional preservation of the soft parts of its fossils.
• At 508 million years old (middle Cambrian), it is one of the earliest fossil beds containing soft-part imprints.
• The rock unit is a black shale and crops out at a number of localities near the town of Field in Yoho National Park and the Kicking Horse Pass.
• Another outcrop is in Kootenay National Park 42 km to the south.

3. How tiger reserves benefit humans

Subject :Geography

Section: Physical Geography

Context:

• Tigers have adapted to diverse habitats and thrive in areas with high human densities. The ability to breed well is one of the major reasons why this feline could beat extinction.
• The Article 51 A(g) of the Constitution makes it our fundamental duty to protect species and their habitats.

Importance of tigers:

1. Ecological importance:

• Tigers play a crucial role as top predators in maintaining trophic levels and ecological functionalities.
• They ensure that we get clean water and air, provide natural resources, keep our economy running, food security, the list can go on and on.
• Tiger reserves are home to nearly 50 per cent of threatened bird species of India and many other endangered species that find refuge within them.
• These reserves, encompassing just 3 per cent of India’s landmass, are the origins of around 300 rivers, supplying water for hundreds of millions of people and irrigation purposes.

2. Economic importance:

• A 2019 report evaluating ten tiger reserves based on 27 ecosystem services estimated that their annual monetary value is up to ₹16,202.11 crore.
• This means, for every rupee we spent on conserving tigers in these reserves, we received a benefit of up to ₹7,488.
• Additionally, in terms of water provisioning, these tiger reserves provided benefits worth ₹330 billion.
• A study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution revealed that of the 45 tiger reserves assessed, 11 collectively avoided carbon emissions of around 1.08 tonnes, which, if integrated into voluntary carbon markets, would be worth around $6.24 million.
• Tigers and tiger reserves ensure security and well-being for all of us; not just the millions who live in and around these reserves but also across the country’s borders extending across the sub-continent.

For details on Tigers and Project tiger: https://optimizeias.com/50-years-of-project-tiger/

4. National Centre For Polar And Ocean Research

Subject :International relations

Section: International conventions

Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India

The Indian Antarctic Act 2022

• The Indian Antarctic Act, 2022 received the assent of the Hon’ble President of India on 6th August 2022 and was notified in the Gazette of India on 8th August 2022.
• The Act aims to provide for national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Under the Act, the Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection (CAG-EP) shall be constituted and notified by the Central Government which shall (but not be limited to) have the following function:

1. monitor, implement and ensure compliance with the relevant international laws, emission standards and rules for the protection of the Antarctic environment by the Operators or by any other persons engaged in programmes and activities in Antarctica;
2. undertake any advisory, supervisory or enforcement activities in relation to programmes and activities in Antarctica;
3. obtain and review relevant information and reports provided by Parties to the Treaty, the Convention the Protocol and other Parties engaged in programmes and activities in Antarctica;
4. ensure that the programmes and activities are consistent with India’s obligations under the Treaty, the Convention, and the Protocol and with such other relevant laws for the time being in force in India.

• Any Indian Expedition which involves scientific, logistic, tourism/recreational, or fishing activity, under certain conditions requires a Permit from the CAG-EP in advance, providing all relevant information including environmental impact assessment of the proposed activity, wherever applicable.
• For the contraventions of any provisions of the Act, the offender shall draw moderate to severe penalties or punishment or both.

Environment and Treaty Obligation:

• Recognizing the environmental values of pristine Antarctica, the Environmental Protocol stemmed through the Antarctic Treaty.
  • The Treaty applies to the area south of 60° South Latitude, including all ice shelves, but nothing in the Treaty “shall prejudice or in any way affect the rights, or the exercise of the rights, of any State under international law with regard to the high seas within that area”.
• “Environmental monitoring is a fundamental element of basic research, environmental management, and conservation.
• The collection and evaluation of monitoring data is essential for the detection of human perturbation within the natural variability of ecosystem processes.
• Since all environmental monitoring must be based on testable hypotheses it can also contribute to advancement in both basic and applied research.”
• There are three distinct objectives for monitoring in Antarctica: 

1. to protect the scientific value of the Antarctic
2. to help in the continuous improvement of Antarctic environmental management, and
3. to meet the legal requirements of the Protocol and national legislation

Madrid Protocol:

• The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed in Madrid on October 4, 1991 and entered into force in 1998.
• It designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” (Art. 2). Article 3 of the Environment Protocol sets forth basic principles applicable to human activities in Antarctica and Article 7 prohibits all activities relating to Antarctic mineral resources, except for scientific research.
• Until 2048 the Protocol can only be modified by unanimous agreement of all Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
• In addition, the prohibition on mineral resource activities cannot be removed unless a binding legal regime on Antarctic mineral resource activities is in force.
• Environmental Monitoring is important to observe the human induced change in natural Antarctic environment.
• The Protocol builds upon the Antarctic Treaty and Recommendations adopted by Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings to extend and improve the Treaty’s effectiveness as a mechanism for ensuring the protection of the Antarctic environment.
• The Protocol establishes a Committee for Environmental Protection as an expert advisory body to provide advice and formulate recommendations to the Consultative Meetings in connection with the implementation of the Protocol.
• Dispute settlement procedures are included in the Protocol.
  • These include compulsory and binding procedures for disputes over the interpretation or application of, and compliance with, the provisions of the Protocol relating to mineral resource activities, environmental impact assessment and response action, as well as most provisions included in the Six Annexes.

Non-native species:

• The Committee for Environmental (CEP), the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), has produced biosecurity guidelines for supply chain managers, and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has produced guidelines for boat, clothing and equipment decontamination appropriate for small boat landing operations.
• Rats and  Dogs are not permitted to land within the Antarctic Treaty area.

5. Adopt WHO-standard good manufacturing practices: Govt sets deadline for pharmas

Subject :Science  and technology

Section: Health

Context:

• Following recent incidents of several countries reporting deaths allegedly linked to “contaminated” India-manufactured drugs, the government has set a deadline for mandatory implementation of the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which were revised in 2018, bringing them on par with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

Details:

• Companies with a turnover of over Rs 250 crore will have to implement the revised GMP within six months, while medium and small-scale enterprises with turnover of less than Rs 250 crore will have to implement it within a year.
• Those who do not comply with the direction will face suspension of license and or penalty.
• The move comes after a risk-based inspection of 162 such units and 14 testing labs found several deficiencies, including:
  • absence of testing of raw materials before use,
  • absence of quality failure investigation of its products,
  • faulty design of manufacturing and testing areas.
• According to officials, this will lead to at least 11 specific changes in the manufacturing process on the ground, including:
  • introduction of a pharmaceutical quality system,
  • quality risk man-agement,
  • product quality review, and
  • validation of equipment.
  • Introduction of  aGMP-related computerised system.
    • These computer programmes will be designed to automatically record all the steps followed and checks done, which will ensure all the processes are followed.

• The companies will also have to carry out stability studies as per the climate conditions.
  • At present, most companies store their samples under recommended conditions and test for various parameters from time to time.
  • Now, they will have to keep the drugs in a stability chamber, set the proper temperature and humidity, and carry out an accelerated stability test as well.
• Currently, while companies exporting medicines to other countries already have to be WHO-GMP certified, those manufacturing medicines for the domestic market can be granted permission if they meet the requirements listed in Schedule M of rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
  • Schedule M is a section of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 that outlines the ‘Good Manufacturing Practices’ (GMP) for pharmaceuticals in India. These are the standards that pharmaceutical manufacturers must adhere to to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of their products.

About the WHO-GMP:

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP, also referred to as ‘cGMP’ or ‘current Good Manufacturing Practice’) is the aspect of quality assurance that ensures that medicinal products are consistently produced and controlled to the quality standards appropriate to their intended use and as required by the product specification.

GMP guidance:

• The first WHO draft text on GMP was adopted in 1968.
• In 1969, when the World Health Assembly recommended the first version of the WHO Certification Scheme on the quality of pharmaceutical products moving in the global market, it accepted the WHO GMP as an integral part of the Scheme.
• A supplementary annex on biological medicinal products was adopted by the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS) in 1991 and establishes the general approach to the quality control of biological medicines that include products such as vaccines, blood and blood products, antigens, cell and tissue therapies, biopharmaceutical products, and others.
• More than 100 countries have incorporated the WHO GMP provisions into their national medicines laws, and many more countries have adopted its provisions and approach in defining their own national GMP requirements. The WHO GMP continues to be used as a basis for the WHO Certification Scheme and prequalification of vaccines for procurement by UN agencies.

6. How UIDAI is using AI to tackle payment frauds

Subject: Science  and technology

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

• As more frauds related to the Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) come to the fore, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) based systems in response – this includes developing technologies around fingerprinting and facial recognition.

About AePS:

• AePS is a payment service that allows a bank customer to use Aadhaar to access her bank account and perform basic transactions like balance inquiry and cash with-drawals.
• UIDAI is the statutory authority that issues Aadhaar and administers the unique biometric ID system.
• Step taken to prevent AePS frauds:
  • To prevent AePS frauds by the use of manipulated fingerprints during Aadhaar authentication, the UIDAI has rolled out an in-house Al/ machine learning technology-based
  • “Finger Minutiae Record-Finger Image Record” (FMR-FIR) modality that can check the “liveness” of a fingerprint to detect clones during the authentication process.
  • In May, Airtel Payments Bank collaborated with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch a facial recognition-based authentication measure for AePS transactions. NPCI operates retail payments and settlement systems such as UPI and BHIM.

How does the Aadhaar fingerprint technology work?

• The technology, which has been developed in-house by UIDAI uses a combination of finger minutiae and finger image to check the liveness of the fingerprint captured.
• In effect, the Al-based technology is able to identify whether the fingerprint is from a real, or
• ‘live’ finger, or from a fake/ cloned one.

How serious is the problem of payment fraud?

• The volume of financial crimes reported in the country went up from 2.62 lakh in 2020-21 to 6.94 lakh in 2022.
• The payment-related frauds in India rose from a little more than 7 lakh in 2020-21 to close to 20 lakh in 2022-23.
• Due to the limited awareness of cyber fraud, a significant number of people do not report instances of fraud to the authorities.
• According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), of the 694,424 complaints related to financial fraud in the year 2022, FIRs were registered in only 2.6% of cases.

How far can technology help to address this problem?

• Technological measures can only go so far, especially since a sizable number of AePS frauds over the years have had a similar modus operandi – involving the participation of a key actor in the payments supply chain, the business correspondent.
  • A business correspondent (BC) is an informal bank agent equipped with a biometric point of sale (PoS) machine, which works like a micro ATM.

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):

• It is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
• It is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, to create a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
• It has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013).
• The Company is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology for achieving greater efficiency in operations and widening the reach of payment.
• NPCI is promoted by ten major banks, including the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Citibank, Bank of Baroda, and HSBC.
• The regulatory board of the NPCI, headquartered in Mumbai, includes nominees from the RBI along with nominees from ten core promoter banks.
• Payment systems that the NPCI can operate include:
  • National Financial Switch (NFS),
  • Immediate Payment System (IMPS),
  • Aadhaar-enabled Payments System (AEPS) and
  • National Automated Clearing House (NACH).

Services Offered by NPCI:

• Bharat Bill Payment Interface (BBPI): It was developed by the NPCI to help the retail payments sector. With the introduction of the BBPI, a single platform has been made for aggregators and 0billpayers.
• Immediate Payment Service (IMPS): It gives you the option to transfer funds immediately. The facility is available at any given time. The beneficiary details must be added to transfer funds via IMPS. You can add the IFSC code and the account number to transfer funds via IMPS.
• RuPay: NPCI introduced RuPay so that average citizens can make financial decisions. RuPay is an affordable card and can be issued as credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards. More than 300 million RuPay cards are in India.
• USSD Services: Unstructured Supplementary Service Date (USSD) was introduced by the NPCI to allow individuals to make banking solutions without the need for the internet or smartphones.
• BHIM: BHIM uses UPI to complete payment transfers. You can make payments via BHIM by entering the Virtual Payment Address (VPA) or the registered mobile number. No smartphone is required to transfer funds via BHIM.
• UPI: United Payments Interface (UPI) allows you to transfer funds from your smartphone. However, you will need to link your bank account to complete payments via UPI. Money is transferred directly from one bank to another.

About Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):

• It is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016 by the Govt. of India under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
• Vision: To empower residents of India with a unique identity and a digital platform to authenticate anytime, anywhere.
• It is created to issue Unique Identification Numbers (UID), which is also known as ‘Aadhaar number’ to all the residents of India.
• Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of the Aadhaar life cycle and the system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals.
• Composition: UIDAI consists of a Chairperson, two part-time Members and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is also the Member-Secretary of the Authority.

7. NSEL case: SEBI cancels broking licence of MMTC

Subject :Economy

Section: Capital Market

In News: Capital market regulator SEBI has cancelled the stock broking licence of State-owned MMTC as recommended by designated authority in the National Spot Exchange case.

Key Points:

• SEBI has directed MMTC to cease all broking activity owing to involvement in the NSEL scam.
• Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) of India, is one of the two highest earners of foreign exchange for India and India’s largest public sector trading body.
• SEBI in 2020 in its enquiry report, found that MMTC as a stock broker of the NSEL had facilitated trading in ‘paired contracts’ on the exchange platform of NSEL, which was in violation of the applicable provisions of erstwhile Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952.
• the stock broker failed to meet the “fit and proper” criteria mentioned in the intermediaries rules and accordingly Sebi has canceled the certificate of registration of the MMTC.
• What are ‘paired contracts’ by NSEL?
  • NSEL introduced the concept of “paired contracts” for trading, which allowed buying and selling of the same commodity through two different contracts at two different prices on the exchange platform, wherein the investors could buy a short duration contract and sell a long duration contract and vice-versa at the same time at a predetermined price.
  • The transactions were structured in a manner that buyers of the short duration contract always ended up making profits.The scheme of “paired contracts” traded on the NSEL had caused huge losses to investors to the extent of Rs 5,500 crore.

8. Fitch Downgrades US Credit Rating

Subject :Economy

Section: External Sector

Context: Global rating agency Fitch Ratings downgraded the United States’ long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from AAA to AA+ with a ‘stable’ outlook.

Key Points:

• The agency cited fiscal deterioration as well as a high and growing government debt burden. In May, it placed the country’s rating on negative watch due to the debt ceiling fight.
• Already S&P in 2011 downgraded the US credit rating from AAA to AA+ for the first time in 70 years, saying the budget deal brokered in Washington didn’t do enough to address the gloomy outlook for US finances.
• The credit rating reflects the creditworthiness of an individual, company, or government. Different rating agencies follow different criteria for assigning ratings.
• For Fitch Ratings, an AAA rating is the best, and an AA+ rating refers to high quality. The US credit rating has been reduced to AA+ with a ‘stable’ outlook, which means the creditworthiness still remains strong. The US credit rating downgrade has the potential to impact global markets.
• How will it influence US treasury bond prices?
  • The U.S. Treasury bonds are considered a benchmark for safe-haven assets worldwide. The downgrade may result in higher yields on U.S. government debt as investors demand higher compensation for perceived increased risk.
  • This could lead to a sell-off of U.S. Treasuries by investors seeking higher returns, potentially driving down bond prices.

How Will This Impact Indian Markets?

• Anything major happening in the US economy impacts the world market, including India.
• A reduced rating may slow down investments to some degree, which will put pressure on the Indian equity market in the short term.
• As investors become risk averse, the gold market will be set to benefit in this circumstance.
• The US 10-year bond yield spiking above 4% and the dollar index rising to 102 are near-term negatives for emerging markets. (a rise in dollar index means in)

9. Indian refiners increase Ural stocks

Subject :Geography

Section:  Physical geography

Context: India’s import of Ural crude oil hits a new high in July as Indian refiners stock up.

Key Points:

• State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), stocked up on the grade fearing supply disruptions during August and September as Russia limits exports to shore up prices and meet domestic demand.
• India’s preference for Russia’s largest export grade, Ural, can be gauged from the fact that its imports are close to the combined shipments by the other three top suppliers — Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Indian refiners majorly cut down on premium light sweet grades such as ESPO, Varandey and Sokol (marginal decline) in July 2023. Besides, the import of other light sweet crude, Novy Port doubled, while that of the lighter grade Siberian Light was higher marginally.
• Russian Crudes:
  • Russia has its own oil grade called Urals. This oil is similar to the quality of Brent oil and is even better than WTI oil. The heavier the oil, the more expensive oil products one can produce by processing it.
  • Novy Port is a light sweet crude that Gazprom Neft produces from Russia’s gas-rich Arctic region.  Other light sweet grade crudes are ESPO, Varandey and Sokol, Arco & Siberian Light.

10. Ukraine war: Russia attacks grain stores at River Danube ports

Subject : International Relations

Section: Places in news

Context:  Russian drones have attacked Ukrainian ports on the River Danube, destroying grain storage infrastructure

Details

• A grain depot was also destroyed in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, which has come under almost nightly attack.
• The facilities are just across the river from Nato-member Romania.
• The Danube is a key export route for Kyiv since Russia pulled out of a deal allowing Ukraine to ship wheat, corn and other products via the Black Sea.

Impact of attack:

Prices of food grains have gone up.

Danube River

• Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga. It rises in the Black Forest mountains of western Germany and flows for some 2,850 km to its mouth on the Black Sea.
• Along its course it passes through 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.

11. Centre prohibits production, distribution of two drugs toxic for vultures

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Why in news?

Govt has passed orders to stop veterinary use of aceclofenac and ketoprofen and its formulations

Details:

These are two of three “vulture-toxic” drugs that conservationists have been seeking a ban on. The third drug is nimesulide.

About 16 years ago, India had banned the veterinary use of diclofenac, as it was found to be toxic for vultures. But more recently, conservationists had approached the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the other three drugs as well, to take it up with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). A public interest litigation was also filed on the issue in the Delhi High Court.

Why ban?

A recently published study by IVRI and collaborators had said that aceclofenac metabolised into diclofenac in water buffaloes, as it did in cows, threatening the already critically endangered Gyps vultures in South Asia. They had recommended the immediate ban on the veterinary use of aceclofenac across vulture range countries.

More research is being undertaken to establish safer alternatives and establish nimesulide’s toxicity as well.

Concept:

• The researchers gave the recommended dose of aceclofenac to nine domestic water buffaloes. They collected blood samples at intervals of up to 48 hours.
• And carried out an analysis of aceclofenac and its metabolite diclofenac in their plasma.
• It found that aceclofenac was rapidly converted to diclofenac in the water buffaloes too.
• Diclofenac was present in the plasma within 20 minutes of the treatment.
• The concentration reached its peak between four and eight hours.
• Allowing the use of aceclofenac was a very unfortunate loophole in India’s vulture conservation according to press release of SAVE.

Background

• Aceclofenac is a pro-drug of diclofenac and behaves similarly in domestic water buffalo as it does in domestic cattle, posing the same risk to vultures.
• It is one among the three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) drugs—aeclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide—were introduced as alternatives to diclofenac, that India banned in 2006 for animal use because it caused widespread vulture deaths.
• However, India’s vulture conservation action plan for 2020-25 recommends a ban on the veterinary use of the three drugs.

Diclofenac

• Diclofenac, a drug used to treat cattle, was linked to kidney failure in vultures and a decline in the bird’s population.
• Though the drug was banned in 2006, it is reportedly still available for use.
• Diclofenac, that is potentially toxic to vultures being used by vets for treating cattle. The drugs make their way into the vulture’s system as they feed on carcasses.
• Three of India’s vulture species of the genus ‘Gyps’— the long-billed (Gyps indicus) and the slender-billed (G. tenuirostris) had declined by 97%, while in the white-rumped (G. bengalensis) declined nearly 99% between 1992 and 2007.

Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025

• It proposes to establish Vulture Conservation Breeding Centers in Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• There would also be a conservation breeding programme for the Red Headed vulture and Egyptian vulture, and at least one “Vulture Safe Zone” in every State for the conservation of the remnant populations.
• There would be four rescue centers in different geographical areas:
  • Pinjore in north India,
  • Bhopal in central India,
  • Guwahati in northeast India and
  • Hyderabad in south India,
• There will also be regular surveys to track population numbers, the plan envisages.
• Also, the vulture action plan recommends meloxicam over diclofenac and Tolfenamic acid is the other safe option.

SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction)

• The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and coordinate conservation, campaigning and fundraising activities to help the plight of south Asia’s vultures.
• Objective: To save three critically important species from extinction through a single programme.
• SAVE partners: Bombay Natural History Society, Bird Conservation Nepal, RSPB (UK), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK) and Zoological Society of London.

Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)

• It was established in 1889 at Bareilly, UP.
• IVRI is one of the premier research institutions dedicated to livestock research and development of the region.

Vulture

• It is one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics.
• They act an important function as nature’s garbage collectors and help to keep the environment clean of waste.
• these scavengers do the dirty work of cleaning up after death helping to keep ecosystems healthy and prevent the spread of disease
• Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife diseases in check.
• India is home to 9 species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.
  • Most of these 9 species face danger of extinction.
• Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed are protected in the Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

12. Distribute Copies of the Vedas to All MPs, Rajya Sabha Chair Tells Education Minister

Subject :History

Section :Ancient India

• Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan was given recognition by the Board of Education under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister.
• Objective: Veda Vidya and Sanskrit education should reach every section of the society without any discrimination.
• The government will soon establish five regional centres of Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan at the four Dhams — Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath and Rameswaram – and in Guwahati, to promote “Ved Vidya”.
• Currently, there are 123 schools affiliated to the board across the country with 4600 students and 632 teachers.
• Soon after the establishment of the board last year, the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) asked its approved institutions to consider Veda Bhushan and Veda Vibhushan certifications awarded to candidates by MSRVVP equivalent to Class 10 and 12 certificates issued by the central and state boards of education.
• The government has also established model Vedic schools called Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya in six states, including Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka and Uttarakhand, the report said. These schools admit students on the merit of their proficiency in the Veda Bhusan and Veda Vibhushan in various grades.
• Apart from the four Vedas – Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharva — students can opt for science, English, mathematics, social science, computer science, and agriculture.

Vedas

The Vedas are known as ‘Shruti’ meaning ‘through hearing’, as they were handed down through generations orally with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques.

There are four Vedas:

• The Rigveda
• The Yajurveda
• The Samaveda
• The Atharvaveda

Each Veda has four subdivisions-

• The Samhitas (mantras and benedictions)
• The Aranyakas (text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices, and symbolic sacrifices)
• The Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices)
• The Upanishads (texts discussing meditation, philosophy, and spiritual knowledge).
• Some scholars add a fifth category – the Upasanas (worship).

13. Jeddah: Hope for peace in Ukraine?

Subject: International Relations

Section: Places in news

Context:

Jeddah will host peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war, with Ukraine, the U.S., European countries, India, and Brazil participating on August 5 and 6.

What is Russia-Ukraine War?

• The war began in February 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas
• The war has escalated since February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, breaking the Minsk agreements and triggering international sanctions and condemnation.
• Caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,
  • as Russia has cut off gas supplies, blocked food aid, and launched drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities .
• The war has sparked a global security threat,
  • as NATO and other allies have sent troops and weapons to support Ukraine.

Who has been invited to participate in the peace talks?

• The invited countries include Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, the U.S., some European countries (such as the United Kingdom and Poland), major developing countries (such as India and Brazil), and South Africa.
• Up to 30 countries have been invited for the talks, but Russia is notably excluded from the list of participants.
• The United Kingdom, the European Union, South Africa, and Poland have already confirmed their attendance for the talks.
• The U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, is also likely to attend the talks.

What is the purpose of these peace talks?

• To find a resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has been ongoing since February 2022.
• Ukraine seeks to garner international support for its 10-point peace plan, which was proposed last year during the G20 Summit.
• The talks are seen as a constructive way of promoting third-party mediation and involving non-aligned countries from the Global South in the peace process.
• The talks provide an opportunity to bring both the West and non-aligned countries to the table to address the conflict.

How likely are these peace talks to lead to an effective resolution?

• UN Secretary-General doubts peace talks now due to both sides’ belief in winning.
• Analysts mostly agree that effective peace talks in the near future are unlikely.
• However, Talks are considered constructive for promoting third-party mediation outside the West.

What are the key points of Ukraine’s peace plan?

• 10-point peace plan, promoted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, involves the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
• The plan aims to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity based on its 1991 borders after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• It also calls for prosecuting war crimes committed by Russia during the course of the conflict.
• Ukraine asserts that peace negotiations cannot happen without the withdrawal of Russian troops and that it should define its own terms of peace.

How has Russia responded to Ukraine’s peace plan?

• Russia has rejected Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan and is unwilling to relinquish any of the captured territories.
• Russia insists that any negotiation should consider “new realities,” implying recognition of the territories it has annexed.

What previous attempts at negotiations and mediation have taken place?

• In the initial weeks of the conflict, both parties engaged in talks for temporary ceasefires to establish humanitarian corridors.
• The talks were first held in Belarus and Turkey but broke down as evidence of war atrocities and attacks on civilians increased.
• The International Criminal Court at The Hague has issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in relation to the conflict.
• Multiple countries and blocs have shown a willingness to become mediators between the two parties, offering their own roadmaps for peace.

What was China’s proposed peace plan for the Ukraine crisis?

• China’s 12-point plan, released in February, aimed at a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
• The plan expressed support for the territorial integrity of states and the principles of the UN Charter.
• It also called for the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of dialogue between the conflicting parties.
• However, the plan was seen as an attempt to placate criticism of China’s silence on Russia’s actions and was perceived as skewed in favor of Moscow.

How did Ukraine and Russia respond to China’s peace plan?

• Ukraine rejected China’s 12-point plan outright, as it did not adequately address its concerns and demands.
• Russia saw the plan as a potential basis for certain peace processes but found some provisions, like a ceasefire, to be “impossible” to implement.
• China’s paper was also seen as an attempt to position itself as a responsible power in the Global South and the UN Security Council.

What peace initiatives were proposed by African countries and Brazil?

• In June, seven African countries proposed a 10-point plan, recognizing Russia and Ukraine’s sovereignty and calling for prisoner release.
• The conflict impacted African economies with shortages of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia.
• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested a “peace club” of non-involved countries to mediate discussions between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to restore Brazil’s global relevance after Bolsonaro’s regime.

What is known about the upcoming talks in Jeddah?

• The talks are seen as a constructive way of promoting third-party mediation by players apart from the West.
• Observers are not expecting an overall breakthrough in achieving peace, given the entrenched positions of both Russia and Ukraine.
• Russia, which rejected Ukraine’s peace plan, is not among those invited, but it has expressed interest in understanding the meeting’s goals.
• Any attempt to promote a peaceful settlement deserves a positive evaluation, according to the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.

14. The ‘Temporary’ Nature of Article 370 and Its Constitutional Challenge

Subject: Polity

Section: Constitution

Context:

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court commenced the hearing of the constitutional challenge regarding the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

What was Article 370 and its features?

• Article 370: 
  • It was a provision in the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Temporary Provision: 
  • Article 370 was intended to provide temporary provisions for the governance of Jammu and Kashmir following its accession to India in 1947.
• Autonomy:
  • The provision allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have their own constitution, a separate flag, and a high degree of autonomy in matters of governance.
• Limitations: 
  • However, defense, communication, and foreign affairs were not under the purview of the state and were controlled by the Indian government.
• Special Laws:
  • Article 370 allowed the state to have its own laws and regulations for permanent residents, which included restrictions on outsiders purchasing land or settling in the region.

What were the main changes brought about by its abrogation in August 2019?

• On August 5, 2019, the Indian government abrogated Article 370 through a presidential order.
• End of Special Status:
  • The abrogation resulted in the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, effectively ending its autonomy.
• Reorganization: 
  • Following the abrogation, the state was reorganized into two separate union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Why is Article 370 referred to as a “temporary provision”?

• Article 370 is in Part XXI of the Constitution, titled “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions”. 
  • 370(3) reads:

“Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify: Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in Clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.”

• due to the specific provisions laid out within the article itself, allowing the President to make it inoperative or operative with certain exceptions and modifications.
• The framers of the Constitution designed Article 370 with the intention of it being a temporary provision to facilitate the process of integrating Jammu and Kashmir into India.

Why Article 370 considered permanent?

• Clause (3) of Article 370 provided that any change to the relationship between the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian Union could only be brought about on the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly.
• As per petitioners: 
  • The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, which had the power to recommend changes to Article 370, ceased to exist after adopting the State’s Constitution.
  • Senior advocate argued that once the Constituent Assembly ceased to exist, the power to recommend changes to Article 370 also ended.

The story of accession and after

15. Room-temperature Superconductivity

Subject :Science and technology

Section: Msc

Context:

The South Korean researchers claimed to have developed a lead-based compound, LK99, that exhibits superconducting properties at room temperature and under normal pressure conditions.

What is a Superconductivity and Superconductor?

• Superconductivity is a physical phenomenon observed in certain materials at very low temperatures.
• A superconductor is a material that exhibits zero electrical resistance to the flow of electric current.
• It can conduct electricity without any loss of energy due to resistance.
• Superconductors have unique magnetic properties, such as the Meissner effect and flux pinning.
  • Meissner effect – the ability to expel magnetic fields
  • Flux pinning – the capability to trap magnetic flux in specific patterns

What are the applications?

• MRI machines for medical imaging.
• Maglev trains for high-speed transportation.
• Efficient electricity transmission.
• Particle accelerators for research.
• Quantum computing
• Energy storage
• Advancements in scientific research.

What are the current limitations of superconductors?

• High cost of production.
• Cooling requirements using liquid nitrogen or helium.
• Limited critical temperature range for practical applications.
• Sensitivity to magnetic fields, limiting high-field use.
• Some superconducting materials are brittle and mechanically sensitive.
• Superconducting wires are often rigid and difficult to shape.
• Limited availability of materials due to rare elements.
• Cooling systems can consume significant energy, affecting overall efficiency.
• Risk of sudden loss of superconductivity (quenching) in some systems.

What has been discovered so far?

• Early Discoveries:
  • First discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, who observed the abrupt drop in electrical resistance of mercury when cooled to very low temperatures.
  • However, these required extremely low temperatures close to absolute zero, making them impractical for most applications.
• High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS): 
  • In 1986, a breakthrough occurred with the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxide (cuprate)
  • Could achieve superconductivity at significantly higher temperatures (up to around -123°C or -189°F), enabling the use of liquid nitrogen for cooling instead of the much costlier liquid helium. While this was a significant advancement, it was still far from room temperature.

What is room temperature superconductivity?

• Room temperature superconductivity occurs at typical room temperature (20-25 degrees Celsius).
• It allows materials to conduct electricity with zero resistance.
• No extreme cooling is required for this phenomenon.
• The discovery of room temperature superconductivity has the potential to revolutionize various industries and technologies.

What are the challenges in achieving room-temperature superconductivity?

• Finding materials that can exhibit superconductivity at higher temperatures is a primary challenge.
• Room-temperature superconductors are complex and difficult to synthesize and stabilize.
• Understanding the underlying physics and mechanisms is a significant obstacle.
• Competing phases or properties in materials hinder their practical use.
• Reproducing experimental results consistently is challenging, leading to skepticism among researchers.

What is LK99?

• LK99 is a material developed by South Korean scientists.
• It is a copper-doped lead apatite, a type of phosphate mineral.
• The scientists claim that LK99 shows superconducting properties at room temperature and under normal pressure conditions.
• However, the claim is yet to be peer-reviewed and independently validated by other researchers.

What are Apatites?

• Apatites are minerals with a phosphate scaffold, and their properties vary based on the atoms between the pyramids.
• The researchers started with lead apatite and substituted some lead atoms with copper, creating a material known as LK99.
• Tests revealed that LK99 emerged when 10% of the lead atoms were replaced with copper.

What is the critical current in a superconductor?

• The critical current is the maximum current that a superconductor can carry without losing its superconducting properties.

How LK99 is different from earlier superconductors?

• LK99 claims to be a room-temperature superconductor, unlike earlier discoveries that required extremely low temperatures.
• It operates under normal pressure conditions, setting it apart from previous superconductors that needed high-pressure environments.

Why there is skepticism about LK99?

• It claims to be a room-temperature superconductor, which has been an elusive goal in the scientific community.
• Previous claims of room-temperature superconductivity have faced controversies and were not validated upon further scrutiny.
• The claim of LK99 is yet to undergo peer review and independent verification by other researchers.
• Some experts raise concerns about potential technical errors or incomplete data in the published work.

What is the way forward?

• Until the results are reproduced and confirmed by other scientific groups, skepticism remains regarding the authenticity and uniqueness of LK99 as a room-temperature superconductor.