Daily Prelims Notes 4 October 2022

October 4, 2022
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

4 October 2022

Table Of Contents

1. Medicine Nobel goes to Svante Pääbo: What his research tells us about human evolution

Context–

The Nobel Prize 2022 for Medicine was awarded to Swedish academic Svante Pääbo“for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution.”
Through his pioneering research, Svante Pääbo has successfully sequenced the genome of the Neanderthal, an extinct relative of present-day humans.
He also made the sensational discovery of a previously unknown hominin, Denisova.
The Nobel Assembly said Svante Pääbo’s discoveries on evolution have helped “provide the basis for exploring what makes us uniquely human”.

His work, explained

Hominins refer to the now-extinct species of apes that are believed to be related to modern humans, as well as modern humans themselves.
Pääbo also found that gene transfer had occurred from these now extinct hominins to Homo sapiens following the migration out of Africa around 70,000 years ago.
This ancient flow of genes to present-day humans has physiological relevance today, for example affecting how our immune system reacts to infections.

Relation between evolution and biology–

Svante Pääbo established an entirely new scientific discipline, called paleogenomics, that focuses on studying the DNA and genetic information of extinct hominins through reconstruction.
Archaic gene sequences from our extinct relatives influence the physiology of present-day humans.
An example of this linkage is when Pääbo extracted DNA from bone specimens from extinct hominins, from Neanderthal remains in the Denisova caves of Germany.
The bone contained exceptionally well-preserved DNA, which his team sequenced.
It was found that this DNA sequence was unique when compared to all known sequences from Neanderthals and present-day humans.
Pääbo had discovered a previously unknown hominin, which was then given the name Denisova.
Comparisons with sequences from contemporary humans from different parts of the world showed that gene flow, or mixing of genetic information among a species, had also occurred between Denisova and Homo sapiens – the species of modern-day humans.
This relationship was first seen in populations in Melanesia (near Australia) and other parts of South East Asia, where individuals carry up to 6% Denisova DNA.
The Denisovan version of the gene EPAS1 confers an advantage for survival at high altitudes and is common among present-day Tibetans.

Challenges in carrying out such research–

With time DNA becomes chemically modified and degrades into short fragments.
The main issue is that only trace amounts of DNA are left after thousands of years, and exposure to the natural environment leads to contamination with DNA from bacteria and contemporary humans, making research complex.
Remarkably, when he managed to sequence a region of mitochondrial DNA from the 40,000-year-old Denisovan piece of bone, it marked the first time researchers had access to a sequence from an extinct relative.

2. Paddy stubble decomposer trials in Punjab fail to impress-

Subject :Environment

Context:

The workshop was organised by Delhi-based organisation Climate Trends, which works on environment-related communications and capacity-building initiatives, Panjab University, and PGIMER, Chandigarh.
The results of trials in previous years of bio-decomposers to decompose paddy stubble after the kharif harvest “are not very encouraging” and “overall decomposition was not very significant”, as per a presentation made by Punjab Pollution Control Board.
During the kharif season last year, bio-decomposers were used on an area of 7,000 acres.
In 2020-21, two bio-decomposers were evaluated at five locations “but the overall decomposition” was not significant.
This year, trials will be organised collectively by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab Agricultural University, IARI and private players to “help all stakeholders to arrive at a common viewpoint regarding bio-decomposer effectiveness in the State”.
After a discussion with the Delhi government, which has been spraying the decomposer on paddy stubble in the city for the past two years and has announced another round this year, Punjab government announced last month that the decomposer would be sprayed on 5,000 acres of farmland in Punjab this year.

Present situation–

This year, the paddy crop has been grown on around 31.13 lakh hectares in Punjab, up from 29.61 lakh hectares in 2021, with the increase being mainly in areas under non-basmati cultivation.
Consequently, the paddy straw generated this year is also going to be a little higher – 19.76 million tonnes compared to 18.75 million tonnes last year.
After the harvest, stubble burning to clear the land before the next crop is sown contributes to air pollution levels in the NCR in winter.
The burnt area last year was 14.17 lakh hectares, which is around 47% of the total area sown with paddy.
This is lower than the 17.42 lakh hectares burnt in 2020.
The highest burnt area last year was in Patiala, followed by Sangrur and Ludhiana.

Strategy to manage stubble residue–

According to an action plan that was prepared by the government of Punjab to prevent and control stubble burning and was submitted to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the ‘strategies’ to prevent crop residue burning include increasing utilisation of crop residue management machinery and providing “door-step access” of such machinery to small and marginal farmers.
On ex-situ management, the Punjab PCB has said that around 12.91 lakh tonnes of paddy straw was being used in industrial boilers and biomass-based power plants and compressed biogas plants.
The total expected usage this year by December is around 21.06 lakh tonnes, with thermal power plants set to use around 4.25 lakh tonnes of paddy straw this year.

3. Centre asks OTT platforms, TV channels to stop betting site ads

Subject: Governance/Social Issue

Context: Satellite TV and streaming services like Netflix and other digital media must immediately stop airing advertisements promoting gambling and betting aimed at the Indian audience, or face penal action, the information and broadcasting ministry.

Concept :

Ministry observed that some online offshore betting platforms have started using news websites as a surrogate product to advertise betting platforms on digital media.
According to Central Consumer Protection Authority guidelines for the prevention of misleading advertisements and endorsements 2022 (under Consumer Protection Act, 2019), surrogate advertisements are prohibited.
It prescribes monetary penalties to the tune of Rs 10 lakh for the first offense, which can go up to Rs 50 lakh for subsequent offenses, and imprisonment of up to two years under Section 89 of the Act.

Surrogate advertising

Surrogate advertising is the strategy of advertising a product that cannot be advertised openly. Advertisers instead create ads that help in building a brand and often involve popular celebrities – all without naming the actual product that is being indirectly advertised.
As per the new guidelines, a surrogate ad will refer to an ad which indicates directly or indirectly to consumers that it is an advertisement for the goods whose advertising is prohibited.
Using any brand name, logo, colour, etc. associated with goods whose advertisement is banned is also not allowed.

Central Consumer Protection Authority:

It is a regulatory body established in 2020 based on the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, of 2019 and works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
It frames the guidelines and rules for compliance

4. Pahari community

Subject: Social Issue

Context: Paharis eagerly await Amit Shah’s J&K visit, hope to get his backing on Scheduled Tribe status.

Concept :

As the BJP’s latest moves aim to earn the goodwill of Gujjars and Paharis in J&K ahead of the Assembly elections, all eyes are on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming two-day visit to the Union Territory.
Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis are non-Kashmiri speaking populations of J&K and there is a long pending demand for inclusion of these communities under the Scheduled Tribes list.

Pahari Community

The Pahari community, a linguistic group mainly residing in the Pir Panjal valley comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Paharis are also spread in parts of the Kashmir valley.
Paharis also comprise both Hindus and Muslims unlike Bakerwals and Gujjars, two prominent nomadic clans.

Gujjars and Bakarwals

The Gujjars and Bakarwals are the two unique ethnic nomadic groups that rear flocks of sheep and goat between high and low altitudes of Western Himalayas.
In summer, these groups migrate to upper reaches of the valley and in winter, they take their flocks to the lower areas of the valley to protect themselves from the harsh cold. This is called
The habitat of these people is in the hilly terrain of the North-Western Himalayas.

Mapping

The PirPanjal Range is a group of mountains in the Lesser Himalayan region, running from east-southeast (ESE) to west-northwest (WNW) across the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan administered Kashmir.
The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and PirPanjal ranges.
PirPanjal is the largest range of the Lesser Himalayas.
Near the bank of the Sutlej River, it dissociates itself from the Himalayas and forms a divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab on the other.
The renowned Galyatmountains are also located in this range.
The region is connected to the Valley of Kashmir via Mughal Road and used to be the historical connection of Kashmir with India.
DeoTibba (6,001 m (19,688 ft)) and Indrasan (6,221 m (20,410 ft)) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range.
The hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range.
The PirPanjal Pass (also called Peer Ki Gali) connects the Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at 3,490 m (11,450 ft) and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley.
The Jawahar Tunnel is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long tunnel through PirPanjalmountain under the Banihal pass connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain.

5. IAF gets first made-in-India Light Combat Helicopters

Subject : Defence

Context: THE Indian Air Force Monday formally inducted the indigenously developed multi-role Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Prachand.

Concept :

The formal induction of the LCH comes after the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved in March the procurement of 15 LCH Limited Series Production (LSP) for Rs 3,887 crore along with allied infrastructure sanctions worth Rs 377 crore.

About Light Combat Helicopters

The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is an Indian multi-role attack helicopter designed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The LCH has been ordered by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
Its flight ceiling is the highest among all attack helicopters.
The twin-engine LCH, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is a 5-8 tonne class dedicated combat helicopter.
It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 m with a considerable load of weapons and fuel, significantly augmenting the firepower of the IAF and the Army in high-altitude areas.
It is best suited for operating on high-altitude battlefields, and capable of destroying enemy air defence and engaging in counter-insurgency operations.

6. Between 2012 and 2021 PM 10 level in capital dropped 40%

Subject : Environment

Context:

The PM 10 level in Delhi has fallen by around 40% between 2012 and 2021 and the PM2.5 level has fallen by around 31% over the same time period, based on data of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

The data presented at the inauguration of the ‘Green War Room’ ahead of the annual winter spike in air pollution levels showed that annual average PM 10 level in 2012 was 368 µg/m3, while annual average was 221 µg/m3 in 2021.
The level in 2012 was an increase from 277 µg/m3 in 2011.
The PM 2.5 level in 2012 was 164 µg/m3, while the annual average PM 2.5 level in 2021 was 113 µg/m3.
PM 2.5 levels saw a similar rise in 2012 compared to 2011, when the figure was 136 µg/m3.

Concepts:

About Green War Room-

The ‘Green War Room’ is being used to monitor measures being taken this winter to mitigate air pollution levels, and track AQI and instances of stubble burning.
The war room began functioning 3 october 2022 onwards.
It will function round-the-clock.

Particulate matter

Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.
Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time.
Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with a microscope.
Many manmade and natural sources emit PM directly or emit other pollutants that react in the atmosphere to form PM.

PM 2.5

Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) are referred to as “fine” particles and are believed to pose the greatest health risks.
Because of their small size (approximately 1/30th the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deeply into the lungs.
It is the most dangerous pollutant because it can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system, causing cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers. It affects more people than other pollutants and has health impacts even at very low concentrations
Particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as “coarse” particles.
PM 2.5 particles can only be detected with the help of electron microscope.

Sources of PM

Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion activities (motor vehicles, power plants, wood burning, etc.) and certain industrial processes.
Sources of coarse particles include crushing or grinding operations, and dust from paved or unpaved roads.
Other particles may be formed in the air from the chemical change of gases. They are indirectly formed when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor. These can result from fuel combustion in motor vehicles, at power plants, and in other industrial processes.

7. Making every drop count: On the Jal Jeevan Mission

Subject : Government schemes

Introduction–

One of the most significant commitments of the Union government is to ensure piped water to every rural household by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission, led by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Its stated aim is to ensure at least 55 litres per person per day of potable water to every rural household — which implies a mere connection does not suffice.

Current status of the scheme–

The Government claims,10.2 crore rural households, or about 53% of the eligible population, now have tap water access, which is a 37-percentage point rise from 2019 when the scheme was announced.
On average, households got water for three hours every day.

The Government commissions annual surveys to evaluate the success of the scheme-

A recent audit, by a private agency, found that around 62% of rural households in India had fully functional tap water connections within their premises.
A report of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources in March, based on numbers provided by the nodal Jal Shakti Ministry, stated that 46% households had such fully functional tap water connections.
It is important to note that for the purposes of the survey, only 3% of rural households were surveyed by the agency for the updated numbers and so the margin of error may be substantial and subject to the way the survey was designed.
If the numbers are accurate, however, this represents an impressive rise in potable, tap water accessibility and suggests that the mission is well on its way to meeting its 2024 target.

Wide disparities in implementation–

Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Puducherry reported more than 80% of households with fully functional connections while less than half the households in Rajasthan, Kerala, Manipur, Tripura, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim had such connections.
About 75% of households received water all days of the week, and only 8% just once a week.
On average, households got water for three hours every day.
Moreover, the report mentions a problem of chlorine contamination.
Though 93% of the water samples were reportedly free of bacteriological contamination, most of the anganwadi centres and schools had higher than the permissible range of residual chlorine.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Vision

Every rural household has drinking water supply in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in living standards of rural communities.

Mission

Jal Jeevan Mission is to assist, empower and facilitate:

States/ UTs in planning of participatory rural water supply strategy for ensuring potable drinking water security on long-term basis to every rural household and public institution, viz. GP building, School, Anganwadi centre, Health centre, wellness centres, etc.
States/ UTs for creation of water supply infrastructure so that every rural household has Functional Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024 and water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality is made available on regular basis.
States/ UTs to plan for their drinking water security
GPs/ rural communities to plan, implement, manage, own, operate and maintain their own in-village water supply systems
Capacity building of the stakeholders and create awareness in community on significance of water for improvement in quality of life

Objectives

To provide FHTC to every rural household.
To prioritize provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages in drought prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings
To monitor functionality of tap connections.
To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan)
To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term
To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone’s business

Components under JJM

Efforts should be made to source funds from different sources/ programmes and convergence is the key
Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household
Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system
Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household
Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue
Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level of 55 lpcd;
Greywater management
Support activities, i.e. IEC, HRD, training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, capacity building of communities, etc.
Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues emerging due to natural disasters/ calamities which affect the goal of FHTC to every household by 2024, as per guidelines of Ministry of Finance on Flexi Funds
Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states,and 100% for Union Territories.
For the implementation of JJM, following institutional arrangement has been proposed:
- National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) at the Central level
- State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at the State level
- District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at the District level
- Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) at Village level