Daily Prelims Notes 5 November 2023

November 5, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

5 November 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Miyanwali

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context: Militants attack Pakistan Air Force training base in Miyanwali.

Some facts about Miyanwali:

Miyanwali is a city located in Punjab province of Pakistan, on the west bank of the Indus River.
It is the capital of Miyanwali District.
It is located in the Potohar Plateau region of Punjab.
The Mangla Dam, a large reservoir on the Jhelum River, is located here.
The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant is a large commercial nuclear power plant located in the vicinity of Chashma colony in Mianwali District Punjab in Pakistan.

2. Court in The Hague rejects Indian govt plea against $111-million award to Devas investors

Subject: IR

Section: International organisation

Context: Court in The Hague rejects Indian govt plea against $111-million award to Devas investors

More about the news:

The district court of The Hague has rejected India’s request to set aside a compensation award of $111 million, awarded to foreign investors in the Bengaluru satellite services startup Devas Multimedia, over the cancellation of a 2005 satellite deal with ISRO’s Antrix Corporation.
The tribunal’s award was made in favor of three Mauritius-based investors in Devas Multimedia in 2020.
India’s plea was based on a Supreme Court order from January 2022, upholding the liquidation of Devas Multimedia on charges of fraud.
The district court ruled that the allegations of fraud had already been considered and rejected by the Court of Appeal of The Hague, and thus the award stands.

What is United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL):

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly.
Its mandate is to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade.
It is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law.
UNCITRAL was established by the UN General Assembly in 1996.
The Commission is composed of seventy Member States elected by the General Assembly.
Membership is structured so as to be representative of the world’s various geographic regions and its principal economic and legal systems.
Members of the Commission are elected for terms of six years, the terms of half the members expiring every three years.

3. Legislature can enact new law, cannot over directly rule court judgment

Subject: Polity

Section: Parliament

Context: Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud discussed the separation of powers, noting that the legislature can create new laws to address legal gaps but cannot directly overturn a court judgment.

More about the news:

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud emphasized the separation of powers and explained that the legislature can create new laws to address legal gaps but cannot directly overturn court judgments.
He mentioned the example of the Parliament amending the law to introduce reservations in educational institutions following a Supreme Court decision.
He highlighted the difference between the judiciary’s focus on constitutional morality and the elected government’s responsiveness to popular morality.
The CJI addressed issues of gender and marginalized community representation in the judiciary, acknowledging structural barriers in the legal profession and the need for a level playing field.
He discussed efforts to improve people’s access to justice, such as translating judgments into regional languages and using technology for transparency.
Regarding the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, he noted that it’s a matter for Parliament to decide, emphasizing the importance of passing on responsibilities to succeeding generations.

What is the Doctrine of Separation of Powers:

Separation of powers is the division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate and independent bodies.
The Legislature is responsible for legislating, the Executive for executing laws, and the Judiciary for interpreting and upholding the law.
The primary objective of this separation is to mitigate the potential for government abuse of power.
By distributing power across multiple branches, it acts as a check against the abuse or concentration of power in a few hands, ensuring protection against arbitrary government authority.

What are the various Constitutional Provisions involving separation of Power:

Article 50 directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive.
Articles 74 and 163 restrict the courts from inquiring into the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers to the President and the Governor.
Articles 122 and 212 restrict the courts from questioning the validity of proceedings in the Parliament and the Legislatures.
Articles 121 and 211 restrict the Parliament and the State Legislature from discussing the Judicial conduct of a judge of the Supreme Court and the High Courts unless the resolution of removal of the judge is under consideration.
Article 361 provides immunity to the President or the Governor from being answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office.

What are the various judicial pronouncements on the doctrine of separation of powers in India:

In the case of Ram Jawaya Kapoor vs State of Punjab (1955), it was established that the Indian Constitution doesn’t rigidly adhere to the doctrine of separation of powers, but it effectively distinguishes the functions of various branches of the government.
In Golak Nath vs State of Punjab (1967) emphasized that the three government organs should operate within their designated boundaries, respecting the constitutional framework.
In the landmark case of Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain (1975), a clause in Article 329A meant to shield the Prime Minister’s election dispute from judicial review was invalidated by the Supreme Court, highlighting the inclusion of the separation of powers as an essential part of the Constitution’s Basic structure.
In Kartar Singh vs State of Punjab (1994) articulated the distinct roles of the legislature, executive, and judiciary, clarifying that the legislature makes laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary interprets them while adhering to constitutional limits.

4. Can a trans woman invoke the Domestic Violence Act

Subject: Polity

Section: legislation

Context: The Supreme Court recently agreed to examine whether a transgender woman can claim maintenance under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act)

More about the news:

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether a transgender woman who underwent sex-reassignment surgery can be considered an “aggrieved person” under the Domestic Violence Act of 2005.
This decision comes in response to an appeal filed by the transgender woman’s husband against a Bombay High Court ruling that upheld her status as an “aggrieved person” based on her self-identified gender.

What is the case all about:

A trans woman and her male partner, who got married in 2016 but faced marital differences, entered a legal dispute.
The trans woman filed a plea for interim maintenance under the 2005 Domestic Violence Act, leading to a trial court’s order for the husband to pay Rs. 12,000 per month.
After his appeal was dismissed, the husband argued in the Bombay High Court that the trans person did not qualify as an “aggrieved person” as the term referred to “women” in domestic relationships.
He also claimed that the trans woman did not possess a certificate issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and thus could not be considered a woman under the DV Act.

Who is an “aggrieved person”:

Section 2(a) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 defines an “aggrieved person” as a woman who has experienced domestic violence in a domestic relationship with the respondent.
A “domestic relationship,” as per Section 2(f) of the Act, pertains to individuals who have lived together in a shared household due to consanguinity, marriage, a marriage-like relationship, adoption, or as family members in a joint family.
The 2005 Act was created to enhance the protection of women’s rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and includes provisions for monetary relief provided to an aggrieved person by the respondent, following a Magistrate’s order, to cover expenses and losses caused by domestic violence.
In this specific case, a trans woman who underwent sex reassignment surgery in June 2016 claimed eligibility as an “aggrieved person” under the DV Act, asserting a transition from transgender to female.

What is the process for a transgender person to change their gender:

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, gives transgender individuals the right to be recognized according to their own sexual orientation
Section 5 of the Act allows transgender persons to apply for an “identity certificate” through a district magistrate, to be supported by the necessary documents
Section 7 of the Act defines the procedure for changing gender. It allows trans individuals undergoing gender affirmation surgery to apply for an “amended certificate” from a county judge. This certificate allows them to change their first name on their birth certificate and other official documents related to their identity.

What is Domestic Violence Act(DV Act):

The Domestic Violence Act was enacted by the Indian Parliament on September 13, 2005, and it applies throughout the entire country.
The primary purpose of the DV Act is to safeguard wives or female live-in partners from violence inflicted by their husbands, male live-in partners, or their respective relatives.
Domestic violence, as defined by the Act, encompasses actual physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, economic abuse, or threats thereof. It also includes harassment related to dowry demands.
The Act extends its coverage to all women, including mothers, sisters, wives, widows, or partners living in a shared household. This may involve relationships resembling marriage or adoption, as well as those within families living together as a joint family.
Any woman who claims to have experienced domestic violence by an offender or any person can file a complaint. A child is also entitled to relief under the DV Act, and their mother can file on their behalf.
The Act does not allow female relatives of the husband or male partner to file a complaint against the wife or female partner.
Complaints can be filed against adult males who have been in a domestic relationship with the woman, as well as relatives of the husband or male partner, encompassing both male and female relatives.
The DV Act provides several remedies, including Protection Orders, Residence Orders for staying in the matrimonial house, Monetary Orders for maintenance of the woman and her children, temporary custody of children, and compensation orders for damages.
Criminal action is taken against the respondent when the orders granted by the courts are violated.
Protection Officers appointed under the DV Act assist aggrieved women in filing cases. They are associated with the Magistrates of the courts within their designated areas, providing legal aid and court relief assistance.
Aggrieved individuals have the option to file petitions before the Judicial Magistrate Court, service providers, or nearby police stations.
Service Providers, members of recognized Non-Governmental Organizations, collaborate with various stakeholders to seek justice and relief for victims of domestic violence. They assist aggrieved women in filing Domestic Incident Reports, offer accommodation in short-stay homes for women and their children, provide counseling, facilitate medical treatment, and offer vocational training for employment and income generation.

5. UNESCO declares Gwalior the ‘city of music’

Subject: International Relations

Section: International organisation

Context: UNESCO declares Gwalior the ‘city of music’

What is the story of Gwalior musical past:

Gwalior, known for its rich musical history, played a pivotal role in the development of the Gwalior gharana, one of the oldest and most influential gharanas in Hindustani classical music.
Raja Man Singh Tomar, a patron of music and a ruler of Gwalior during the 15th century, made significant contributions to the gharana’s growth.
He inherited his musical lineage from his great-grandfather, Dungarendra Singh Tomar, who was a musician and scholar.
Dungarendra composed Vishnupadas and introduced a unique singing style that he passed down to Man Singh.
Man Singh is also credited with the invention of dhrupad, a classical musical genre, and he wrote Manakutuhala, the first music treatise in Hindi, making classical music more accessible to a wider audience.
His efforts to promote Indian music extended to replacing Sanskrit songs with simpler Hindi compositions and conducting music sessions in grand music halls within his palace.
His musical contributions were appreciated not only by his subjects but also by Sufis and Muslim Sultans.

The glory of the Gwalior gharana:

Gwalior, the first significant gharana of Hindustani classical music, played a pivotal role in the evolution of the musical genre.
Under Mughal rule, early ustads like Naththan Khan and Naththan Pir Baksh, along with his grandsons, contributed to the gharana’s development.
The gharana was instrumental in transforming dhrupad into khayal singing, incorporating elements of qawwali.
Ustad Naththan Pir Baksh was a key figure in the creation of khayal, a structured raga presentation system that gained immense popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries and remains relevant today.
Notably, Gwalior gharana incorporated Persian words into its compositions and introduced the concept of bandish ki thumri, a structured form of thumri or love song.
Despite the diversity of artists from Gwalior gharana, they maintained a distinctive yet unified style.

What are some famous name from Gwalior gharana:

The Gwalior gharana produced influential figures in Hindustani classical music, including Bade Inayat Hussain Khan, Vasudeva Buwa Joshi, Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar, BR Deodhar, and Farida Khanum.
The next generation featured artists like Pt Kumar Gandharv, Malini Rajurkar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, and Pt Venkatesh Kumar, who incorporated elements of Kirana gayaki.
Their techniques and nuances continue to influence students of Hindustani classical music to this day.

Some facts about Tansen the Gwalior’s crown musician:

Mian Tansen, born as Ramatanu, was a celebrated musician who trained under Swami Haridas and Sufi saint Mohommad Ghous in the Gwalior gharana style.
He served as the court musician for King Ram Chandra Singh of Rewa before joining the Mughal court of Akbar at the age of 60.
Akbar’s admiration for Tansen is well-documented in Abul Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari, with many stories about the musician’s musical brilliance and knowledge.
Tansen’s legacy remains an integral part of Indian musical history and culture.
Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior.
Among the many works attributed to him are a treatise named the ‘Rāgamala’, many ‘Dohas’ describing the ‘lakshanas’ or the attributes of rāgas, ‘Sangeet Saar’, and ‘Shri Ganesh Stotra’
The Gharana of Tansen is known as Senia Gharana.

6. What is the Advocate-on-Record system in the Supreme Court

Subject: Polity

Section: Judiciary

Context: The Supreme Court pulled up an Advocate-on-Record (AoR) for filing a frivolous case and dismissed the public interest litigation.

Who is an Advocate-on-Record (AoR):

“Advocate on record” is a title given to an advocate who can represent a cause or pleading before the SC.
Only these advocates are entitled to file any matter or document before the SC. They can also file an appearance or act for a party in the SC.

How does one become an Advocate-on-Record(AoR):

To become an Advocate-on-Record (AoR) in India, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria set out in the Order IV Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.
This includes completing one year of training with a court-approved AoR and having a minimum of four years of legal practice.
To qualify for the AoR examination, an advocate needs to achieve a score of at least 60%, with a minimum of 240 out of 400 marks, and at least 50% in each subject, including Practice and Procedure, Drafting, Professional Ethics, and Leading Cases.
Approximately 200-250 lawyers successfully clear the exam to attain the AoR designation.
Furthermore, an AoR must maintain an office in Delhi within a 16-kilometer radius of the Supreme Court and commit to employing a registered clerk within one month of AoR registration.
Once registered, an AOR is issued a unique identification number that must be used on all documents filed in the SC.

What are the rules governing the AoR system:

Section 30 of the Advocates Act in India grants all lawyers enrolled with the Bar Council the right to practice law before any court or tribunal nationwide.
However, this provision explicitly recognizes the Supreme Court’s authority to create rules under Article 145 of the Constitution.
Article 145 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to establish rules and regulate its own procedures for case hearings.
The Advocate-on-Record (AoR) system in India is akin to the British legal practice of barristers and solicitors. Barristers argue cases, while solicitors handle client representation.
In the former Federal Court, the precursor to the Supreme Court, “agents” managed cases, and barristers presented arguments.
The AoR system is rooted in the historical context of India’s legal practices, maintaining a distinction between those arguing cases and those handling client matters.
Senior advocates in India, designated by the Court, follow a model similar to barristers, without soliciting clients and instead being engaged by other lawyers, including AoRs.
The Supreme Court meticulously maintains its rules and advocates’ registrations in accordance with its historical traditions and procedures.

7. Enemy property Butler Palace to turn into a tourist haven

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

Butler Palace in Lucknow, a century-old structure, is undergoing a facelift to become a tourist attraction.

More About News:

Owned by the royal family of Mahmudabad, which migrated to India in the 13th century and settled in Lucknow in the 16th century.
Declared “enemy property” by the Indian government after the India-Pakistan war in 1965.
Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) received a no-objection certificate from the Custodian of Enemy Property Department for renovation.
LDA plans to rejuvenate the Butler lake, construct pathways, landscaping, lighting, and a cafeteria for visitors.
The project aims to create a tourist attraction with a heritage look.
The legal battle over the property is ongoing in the Supreme Court, involving the former royal family.
The palace has historical significance and was frequented by notable figures before and after Independence.

About Enemy property:

The enemy properties are those left behind by the people who took citizenship of Pakistan and China after leaving India during the partition and after 1962 war.
The enemy properties are vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), an authority created under the Enemy Property Act 1968.
The 2017 amendment to the Act (Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017) stated that the successors of those who migrated to Pakistan and China ceased to have a claim over the properties left behind in India.
The amended law stated that enemy property should continue to vest in the Custodian even if the enemy, enemy subject, or enemy firm ceases to be an enemy due to death, extinction, business winding up, or change of nationality or if the legal heir or successor is an Indian citizen or a citizen of a non-aggressive country.
Of the total 9,406 enemy properties in India, 9,280 are left behind by Pakistani nationals and 126 properties by Chinese nationals.
Maximum number of enemy properties is in Uttar Pradesh – 4,991. Bengal has 2,735, and Delhi has 487.

8. Decline in water availability in the Southern hemisphere

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

Driven in part by large scale atmospheric climate modes, the Southern hemisphere accounts for more than 95% of the recent decline in global water availability, according to a new study.

More About News:

Global land water availability has varied due to climate change and increased human water use.
In the Northern hemisphere, there is negligible change in land water availability.
The new analysis reveals a strong decrease in water availability in South America, most of Africa, and central and northwestern Australia.
However, some regions such as the southern part of South America will have more water available.
South America includes the Amazon rainforest, which is a key regulator for the climate, as well as a globally important habitat for species and home to many Indigenous communities.
Drying of the rainforest would reduce vegetation and increase the risk of fire. This would be bad news for humans and animals that live in the forest, and has the potential to release billions of tons of carbon currently locked into forest vegetation and soils.
The experts suggest the principal cause is the weather phenomenon known as El Nino, which occurs every few years when ocean water in the eastern Pacific is warmer than usual.

El Nino

About: It is the name given to the occasional development of warm ocean surface waters along the coast of Ecuador and Peru.
Frequency: El Niño events occur irregularly at intervals of 2–7 years, although the average is about once every 3-4 years.
Impact of El Nino across the globe: El Nino impacts ocean temperatures, the speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and local weather.

9. 157 killed as strong earthquake jolts Nepal’s mountainous western region

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake, the worst since 2015, struck Nepal’s remote mountainous region.

Details:

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was in Jajarkot district, about 500km west of Kathmandu.
Areas affected: Jajarkot and Rukum districts of Nepal, New Delhi and neighbouring areas of India.

Earthquake:

Earthquakes are natural geological phenomena that occur when there is a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust.
Epicenter: The epicentre is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the underground point where an earthquake originates. It is the location where the seismic waves, generated by the release of energy during the earthquake, first reach the Earth’s surface.
Hypocenter (or Focus): The hypocenter, also known as the focus, is the actual point within the Earth where the seismic energy is released during an earthquake. It is underground, and its depth can vary. Earthquakes can have shallow hypocenters, which are closer to the Earth’s surface, or deep hypocenters, which are further below the surface.

Why is Nepal prone to so many earthquakes?

Nepal lies in one of the most active tectonic zones (seismic zone IV and V) of the world, making the country extremely vulnerable to earthquakes.
Large tectonic plates make up the crust of the Earth. These land masses, which contain entire continents, are in motion and colliding with one another all the time.
Earthquakes are common in Nepal which is situated on the ridge where the Tibetan and Indian tectonic plates meet and advance two meters closer to one another every century which results in pressure which is released in the form of earthquakes.
- A collision between the Indian and Tibetan plates has been going on underground for a long time which has accumulated tremendous energy due to which western Nepal is under the threat of bigger earthquakes.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranks Nepal 11th on the list of the most vulnerable countries to earthquakes and Nepal’s capital Kathmandu is one of the top cities prone to earthquakes.

Source of this article: The Hindu

10. Elephant corridor report plagued with inconsistencies, could escalate conflict with humans, says expert

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Areas

Context:

An expert has flagged multiple inconsistencies in the recently published report on elephant corridors of India by the central government.

Details:

The central government released a report titled Elephant Corridors of India, 2023, which mentioned an increase of 62 ‘corridors’ in the country since 2010, bringing the total to 150 — an increase of 40 per cent.
Raman Sukumar, elephant expert and professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), brought up inconsistencies in the definition of corridors in the report during a standing committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife.
The report has classified landscapes and habitats as corridors.
A corridor in Jharkhand was documented as being about 46 km long but 30 metres wide. This means that if a herd of elephants has to walk in this corridor, they should move in a single file. This is a complete anomaly. Similarly, there are anomalies in the case of Odisha where the corridor is 75 km long.
The areas in West Bengal close to Odisha and Jharkhand, like Mayurjhirna, have only small patches of forest cover that are fit for elephants. The rest of the areas where elephants move in south Bengal are human-dominated agricultural fields. The elephants go to Bankura, East Midnapur, West Midnapur and even Bangladesh.

What is an elephant corridor?

A corridor is supposed to be a small patch of land that provides connectivity for elephant movement across habitats, largely within a landscape of the elephant reserve.
Landscapes, being an overarching geographical entity, are partly fragmented due to agricultural contingencies. The corridors then serve as crucial links between habitats spread across these landscapes.
The Project Elephant in 2005-06 issued directives to states concerned over corridors for elephants. The ones in forest areas shall be notified under the rules mentioned under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
While for the areas with revenue lands, private lands, must be notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as eco-sensitive, for which the red-category industries may be prohibited.

Impact of Elephant Corridor Expansion:

Increase in human-elephant conflict
Elephant deaths due to electrocution,
Falling into wells and
Entering human-dominated agricultural landscapes

Source of this article: Down To Earth

11. Intercepting the illegal capture of migratory birds in south-central West Bengal

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Illegal trapping and trading of migratory birds:

For several years, migratory birds are poached during their winter stop at wetlands (beel in Bengali) and open fields in the central-south Bengal districts of Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum and Bardhaman. These wetlands and fields are covered with nets that turn into death traps. The trapped birds are illegally sold in the market as delicacies.
Exotic birds are those that are bred in captivity. According to the Wild Life Protection Act in 2022, people can sell exotic birds after obtaining a breeder’s license. But the wild birds cannot be caught, sold, bought or killed. The migratory birds, including short-toed larks, fall under the wild category.
- Larks, which resemble sparrows are called bogari or math chorui in Bengali.
The majority of the rescued birds were short-toed larks, a migratory species that arrive in India to escape the harsh winters of their native habitats in Mongolia, China and Russia.
Unprotected wetlands and agricultural fields are the main trapping points for these birds.
Poaching is mainly from Kandi, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Kurul, Patan Beel, Khargram and Bharatpur areas. They were booked under various sections of the Wild Life Protection Act, of 1972.

Migratory birds and habitats in south-central West Bengal:

The 2020 edition of the Asian Waterbird Census, conducted in 142 wetlands in 19 states and union territories in India, recorded the highest number of waterbirds (30,235) in 24 wetlands in West Bengal. Of them, the highest number (3,715) was recorded at Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Birbhum district.
Patan beel, a wetland sprawling over more than 100 hectares, in Murshidabad district in central West Bengal. Black-headed ibis and Asian woolly neck were found in Patan beel.

Avian hotspot Murshidabad:

Murshidabad is one of the epicentres of poaching of migratory birds.
There are 53 species of birds, of which 17 are migratory, 7 are local migrants and 29 are residential. The ferruginous duck, black-headed ibis, hen harrier and Asian woolly neck are a few of them.
Most of the rescued birds are Mongolian short-toed larks or Skyes’s short-toed larks, there also were other migratory birds such as oriental skylark, olive-backed pipit, rosy pipit, red-throated pipit, common snipe and cotton pygmy-goose.
These birds are listed as ‘least concern’ by the IUCN.
Belun Beel is in Kandi.
Karul beel, also called Sahapur beel, attracts 5,000-10,000 migratory ducks in the winter and is the largest wintering population of garganey in West Bengal.

Paving a future for protected birdlife in West Bengal:

In 2000, the Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute proposed a scheme for segregating Belun beel into three parts – one for use as an irrigation reservoir and capture fisheries, another as an aquaculture ponds and another as a bird sanctuary.

Larks:

Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae.
Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa.
Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield’s bush lark occurs in Australia.
Habitats vary widely, but many species live in dry regions. When the word “lark” is used without specification, it often refers to the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis).

Kolkata-based Human & Environment Alliance League (HEAL):

It is a non-profit organization established as a charitable trust in January 2017.
Our work is focused on biodiversity conservation, mitigation of human-animal conflict and enforcement of wildlife and environmental laws. Our current area of work is South Bengal.
Conservation strategy:
- Awareness initiatives and conservation-oriented workshops designed to educate people from different sections of society;
- Empowering and training local communities to take up and pursue conservation initiatives;
- Scientific studies to garner data which can be used as a basis for initiating environmental policy changes;
- Documentation and field investigation of wildlife and environmental crimes;
- Liaison with the enforcement agencies for implementation of the law;
- Initiation of public interest litigation (PILs) to seek implementation of environmental and wildlife laws; and
- Engagement with government agencies and policymakers to ensure that they give due priority to the environment and wildlife while formulating practices.

12. Elvish Yadav case: How is snake venom used as a recreational drug?

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Snake venom is often used as a recreational drug. Its smuggling is a multi-million dollar illicit industry, media reports suggest.

Details:

Not enough scientific studies have been done on the recreational use of snake venom, according to a 2018 study, ‘Snake Venom Use as a Substitute for Opioids: A Case Report and Review of Literature’, published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine.

Snake venom:

Snake venom is a highly toxic saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates the immobilization and digestion of prey. This also provides defence against threats. Snake venom is injected by unique fangs during a bite, whereas some species are also able to spit venom.
The glands that secrete zootoxins are a modification of the parotid salivary glands found in other vertebrates and are usually located on each side of the head, below and behind the eye, and enclosed in a muscular sheath. The venom is stored in large glands called alveoli before being conveyed by a duct to the base of channelled or tubular fangs through which it’s ejected.
Venom contains more than 20 different compounds, which are mostly proteins and polypeptides.

How is snake venom consumed?

Snakes were deliberately made to bite on the consumer’s feet or tongue. Snakes like cobras and Indian kraits were most commonly used for this purpose.

How does snake venom affect the human body?

The snake bite was associated with jerky movements of the body, blurring of vision, and unresponsiveness, i.e. ‘blackout’, heightened arousal and sense of well-being, which lasted for 3–4 weeks, happiness, grandiosity, and excessive sleepiness.
Once the effect of the bite wore off, the person began to experience irritation and lethargy and craved drugs.

Why does snake venom give a high?

It may be due to the neurotoxin nature of snake venom that causes analgesia, or the inability to feel pain.
Forms of a neurotoxin found in cobra venom, particularly, bind on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that are widely distributed in the human brain area and are involved in the euphoric or rewarding experience.
Once the venom enters human blood, it releases active metabolites like serotonin that have different psychotropic effects such as hypnotic and sedative.

Why is using snake venom as a recreational drug dangerous?

It isn’t well known what quality of venom can be fatal for humans. Therefore, recreational use of snake venom can lead to not only addiction but also death.

Source of this article: Indian Express

13. Why did India abstain from the call for a truce?

Subject: IR

Section: international organisation

Context:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” in the hostilities, that was voted for by 120 member countries, while 14 countries voted against it. India was amongst 45 countries that abstained.

Why did the government abstain from voting?

India’s external Minister said that India’s vote was consistent with its stand on terrorism, adding that India takes a strong position on it because Indians are “big victims of terrorism”.
UNGA resolution (A/ES-10/L.25) lacked an explicit condemnation of the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.
- The UNGA resolution did condemn acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians “including terrorism”, and also called for the immediate unconditional release of the hostages.
India has not as of yet designated Hamas a terror group, something Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has demanded.

Is India’s vote a break from the past?

Historically, India voted against the partition of Palestine and the creation of a separate state of Israel in 1948, and was the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the representative of the people, and to recognise Palestine in 1988, and consistently voted against Israel at the United Nations.
In the 1990s, once India established full diplomatic ties with Israel, India started abstaining from many votes that directly criticised Israel.
In December 1991, just weeks before India and Israel opened their embassies, India was part of a majority that voted at the UNGA to revoke an earlier resolution that equated Zionism with “racism and racial discrimination”.
India raised its annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from a million dollars each year to five million dollars a year.
India voted against the U.S.’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
In 2016, India even voted against a UNHRC resolution that called for an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Israeli war crimes, and voted with Israel at the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2019 to stop a Hamas-linked NGO from receiving observer status.

What does India’s stand signify?

Among countries that abstained were India’s other Quad partners Australia and South Korea, and NATO members, including Canada and European countries.
Countries that voted for the resolution: Bhutan, ASEAN countries (exceptthe Philippines, which abstained), all other 11 members of the newly extended BRICS grouping, the entire Arab world (except Tunisia) and most countries of the ‘Global South’.

Source of this article: The Hindu

14. Oz billionaire turns climate evangelist, cautions against ‘lethal humidity’

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

Andrew Forrest, Australia’s second richest man and Chairman of the Fortescue group of companies, has been going around the world flagging an under-realised consequence of climate change—lethal humidity.

Lethal humidity:

The term was coined by Andrew Forrest.
It refers to a very bad situation of rising humidity because of hot air scooping more ocean waters. With high humidity, our sweat cannot cool us.
Such high humidity could be lethal. Rising body temperatures result in endotoxins released from gut flora, poisoning the bloodstream—the first to die are babies and the elderly.
No country or city is free from the risk of ‘lethal humidity’.

Andrew Forest’s efforts for environmental conservation:

The carbon-centric lifestyle of the developed world was chiefly responsible for climate change.
He is emphasizing the decarbonisation of the company’s operations—running mining equipment on green fuel or buying green power for its operations.
One of its tricks is a freight train that runs downhill one way and uphill the other—batteries on the train charge themselves while the train is sliding downhill; the stored energy is used to run the train on the return journey.

High humidity and human health:

High humidity can have an adverse effect on the human body. Because the air feels warmer than the official, recorded temperature, it can contribute to feelings of low energy and lethargy.
In addition, hyperthermia, or overheating as a result of your body’s inability to effectively let out heat, can negatively impact your health in conditions of high humidity. Some health risks which result from overexposure to humidity (hyperthermia) include:
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Fainting
- Heat stroke

Source of this article: TH Businessline

15. PCR-based Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Biotechnology

In the news-

The team of researchers from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) Kolkata, developed a two-step PCR-based assay to detect Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and to identify the clarithromycin-resistant bacteria.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative spiral-shaped bacteria that colonies the gastric mucosa.
The bacteria adapts to survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and with the help of various adhesins/receptor molecules, it attaches to the host cells.
Most of the infections by pylori are asymptomatic and approximately 10-15% of them develop peptic ulcers.

H. pylori colonization in gastric epithelial cells is more prominent in developing countries mostly due to contaminated food, water, and poor hygiene. In India, 60-70% of the population is affected with the H. pylori infection, which is often acquired during childhood and remains in the stomach throughout life.

Diagnosis of H. pylori infection

The diagnosis is mainly done in two ways-

Non-Invasive tests: The non-invasive diagnostic tests are done without performing endoscopy. The urea breath test (UBT), stool antigen test (SAT), serological tests, and tests using molecular methods are all non-invasive tests
Invasive tests: The invasive diagnostic available methods are endoscopic imaging, histology determination, rapid urease testing, and tests using culture and molecular methods.

Limitations of previously used diagnosis

The tests are not specific and sensitive to H. pylori.
The tests are expensive.
The culture of H. pylori is slow-growing, hence the diagnosis takes several days (sometimes even more than a week).
Not effective in identifying the drug-resistant strains.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Mukhopadhyay’s (NICED) research: The team from NICED identified that the drug resistance in the bacteria is due to a point mutation (A to G mutation at 2143 position) in the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene.

Bioinformatics study revealed that drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains had very different binding affinities for the drug – “the drug’s binding affinity to mutant was weaker compared with the drug-sensitive bacteria”.

The team developed a two-step PCR-based assay to first detect H. pylori and then to differentiate resistant isolates from biopsy samples.

I^st step: 617 base pair segment containing the point mutation was amplified using DNA from biopsy samples.

2^nd step: 183 base pairs amplified by the first PCR step are used as a template and two allele-specific primers are used for amplification.

Benefits of the PCR-based assay:

It is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool.
100% specificity and sensitivity in detecting pylori infection.
The assay can distinguish between drug resistance and drug-sensitive bacteria.

Conclusion

The progressive increase in antibiotic resistance represents a real and serious health problem. The improvement and development of diagnostic methods, such as PCR-based molecular techniques, are promising tools to detect antibiotic resistance at an individual level and, thus, can offer targeted antibiotic treatment.

16. What is the status of Kavach installations?

Subject: Science and tech

Sections: Defence

Context:

The deadly collision between two passenger trains in southern India’s Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh which killed 14 people and injured fifty persons could have been averted if Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) were in place.
East Coast Railway officials indicated that the indigenously developed TCAS called ‘Kavach,’ was not installed on the route where the Visakhapatnam Palasa and Visakhapatnam Rayagada trains collided.

What is TCAS Kavach?

Kavach is a cab signaling train control system with anti collision features.
It plays the role of a watchdog over the existing signalling system.
It was developed over a period of 10 years, starting in 2012, by the Indian

Railways Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).

Kavach is designed to give out warnings to the loco pilot in case he does not notice the ‘red signal,’ and instead of stopping, is going to overshoot the signal.
After giving warnings on the locopilot’s display, if the pilot does not slow down below 15 kilometers per hour, the Kavach system automatically applies brakes to bring the train to a halt.

How is the Kavach system deployed?

In the Kavach setup, the railway stations along the route where this tech is sanctioned to be deployed are provided with three components.
First is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the tracks.
RFID tech uses radio waves to identify people or objects. It uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and read information contained in a wireless device from a distance without making physical contact or requiring a line of sight.
Secondly, the locomotive, which is the driver’s cabin, is provided with RFID readers, computer, and brake interface equipment.
Finally, radio infrastructure which are towers and modems are installed at railway stations.

How does Kavach infrastructure work?

The three components of Kavach on rail tracks, locomotives and at railway stations are communicating with each other to monitor train movements, and transmit signals ahead to locomotives.
Their function is not affected by visual interferences like hilly geography or haze.
There is direct loco to loco communication and information regarding location and track IDs are exchanged, in case it is noted that both trains are on the same line.
The locomotives have antennas which communicate with towers on railway stations and display warnings to the driver on his monitor.

How much does the Kavach system cost?

Deploying Kavach costs ₹50 lakh per kilometer for the Indian Railways.
Experts say present coverage for Kavach is only 1,500 km and at this rate, it may take many years to ensure Kavach even on high density routes as Railways has a total route length of 68,000 kms.
Current Kavach coverage includes the 1,400 km stretch in South Central Railway and 200 to 250 km routes from Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Kolkata where it is still under testing in patches, installed in 100 kms here and there, not in continuous sections and not operational.

17. ‘Oligopolies’ control over rare earths is key green transition snag

Subject: Economy

Section: National Income

Context:

Countries energy transition efforts face significant uncertainty due to the oligopolistic control over mining and processing of rare earth elements that were critical to scale up green technologies, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran observed, adding that external funding to help developing countries move away from fossil fuels could also be potentially weaponised.

What can be done:

Investors in green transitions should avoid excessive greed and prioritize public goods creation.
Public investment is essential for green transitions, similar to past major transformations like post-World War II reconstruction and space exploration.
Market-based solutions to carbon emissions have limitations; focusing on economic growth is important.
Capital market liberalization may not precede economic evolution and can lead to over-financialization.
Supporting countries in prioritizing economic growth is crucial for climate security.
Access to rare earth elements and critical minerals is vital for green technologies but is controlled by an oligopoly so there is a need for decentralization.

About Rare Earth Minerals:

Rare Earth Elements or Rare Earth Metals are a set of 17 elements in the periodic table – the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium, which tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides, and have similar chemical properties.
They are used in production in a huge number of sectors, including renewable energy technology, oil refinery, electronics, and the glass industry.
Rare Earth elements are used in space shuttle components, jet engine turbines, and drones.
Cerium, the most abundant Rare Earth element, is essential to NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme.
Although called “rare”, they are actually found relatively abundantly in the Earth’s crust.
However, they are hazardous to extract, and there are relatively few places in the world that mine or produce them.
According to the Rare Earth Technology Alliance (RETA), the estimated size of the Rare Earth sector is between $10 billion and $15 billion. About 100,000-110,000 tonnes of Rare Earth elements are produced annually around the world.