Daily Prelims Notes 28 February 2025

Daily Prelims Notes

28 February 2025

Table of Contents

1. Deep-Sea Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Gulf of Mannar
2. African Giant Pouched Rats: A Novel Approach to TB Diagnosis
3. No negotiation over annexed Ukrainian territory: Kremlin
4. Canada wants new pipelines to avoid tariffs; nobody wants to build them
5. Thailand deports 48 Uyghurs to China, raising concerns
6. Olive Ridley Turtle Population in India: Trends and Challenges
7. Centre seeks to reduce the share of States in federal tax revenues

1. Deep-Sea Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Gulf of Mannar

Sub :Env

Sec :Protected Areas

Why in News

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has included a 9,990.96 sq km deep-sea region in the Gulf of Mannar in its latest hydrocarbon exploration tender. This inclusion is part of the 10th round of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), the largest such bid under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).

Key Points of Hydrocarbon Exploration Tender:

• India launched its largest oil & gas bid round, covering 25 blocks spanning 1.91 lakh sq. km, primarily in offshore regions.
• Identified reserves are located off the Tamil Nadu coast, particularly in the Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts.
• Geographical Distribution:
  • The 25 blocks are spread across 13 sedimentary basins.
  • 19 offshore&6 on-land blocks.
  • 75 lakh sq. km (91%) of total area is offshore.
  • ‘No-Go’ Area Inclusion: 16 blocks (97,919.6 sq. km, 51%) were previously restricted (‘No-Go’)
• The Oilfields (Regulation & Development) Act (December 2024) was passed to streamline regulations& improve investment climate.

Environmental Concerns in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve:

• Seismic Surveys: The high-intensity sound waves used for locating hydrocarbon reserves may disturb marine mammals and disrupt their communication.
• Chemical Pollution: Oil and gas extraction may lead to chemical discharge, affecting fish populations and marine ecosystems.
• Livelihood Threats: Fishing communities could face significant economic loss due to the decline in fish stocks and habitat destruction.

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GoMBR):

• It is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South East Asia.
• Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is a protected area located in the southeastern coast of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It was established in 1989.
• The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve includes a marine national park, 21 islands, and the adjacent coral reefs.
• The area is known for its high marine biodiversity and is home to many threatened species, including the sea cow (dugong) and various species of sea turtles.
• Apart from the marine ecosystem, the reserve also includes several terrestrial ecosystems such as mangroves, forests, and grasslands. The reserve is home to many endemic plant species, including the mangrove palm and the sea hibiscus.
• The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

2. African Giant Pouched Rats: A Novel Approach to TB Diagnosis

Sub :Sci

Sec :Health

Why in News

• A non-profit organization, APOPO, based in Tanzania, has successfully trained African giant pouched rats to detect tuberculosis (TB) as a secondary diagnostic tool. Recent studies indicate that these rats can detect TB twice as effectively as conventional testing methods, particularly in children.

Global and Indian TB Burden:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, with over 10 million new cases annually.
• India accounts for 28% of global TB cases.
• Around 5 lakh deaths occur due to TB in India each year, equating to one death per minute.
• Refer: About Tuberculosis (TB)

Key challenges in TB detection:

• Difficulty in diagnosing TB in early stages and in children.
• Low bacillary loads (M. tuberculosis concentration in sputum) remain undetected.
• Reluctance for secondary testing after an initial negative result.
• Lack of accessible diagnostic facilities in rural and remote areas.
• High cost of travel despite free treatment.

The Role of African Giant Pouched Rats in TB Detection:

• APOPO, a Tanzanian non-profit, trains African giant pouched rats (nicknamed HeroRATS) to detect TB in sputum samples.
• These rats possess highly sensitive olfactory receptors, allowing them to sniff out TB with remarkable accuracy.
• Training Process of HeroRATS: The rats are bred and trained at a specialized facility starting at 2-3 months old.
• Identified samples undergo further confirmation using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and fluorescent microscopy.

Disease Detection by Animals:

• Dogs: Have 125-300 million olfactory receptors and a Jacobson’s organ to detect pheromones and chemical signals. Used for detecting Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses.
• Ants: Quick learners and cost-effective for cancer detection. A French study (Science Direct) found ants detected cancer cells within three days using chemical cues and sugar rewards.
• Honeybees:Have highly sensitive olfactory lobes.Research from Michigan State University found they can detect lung cancer biomarkers with 88% accuracy.Can distinguish between small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Olfactory Receptors:

• Olfactory receptors are specialized protein molecules found in the sensory neurons of the nose.
• They detect and respond to chemical odorants in the air, enabling the sense of smell.
• These receptors are part of the olfactory system and are linked to the brain’s olfactory bulb.
• Humans have around 400 types of olfactory receptors, while animals like dogs have up to 300 million.

African Giant Pouched Rats (HeroRATS):

• Scientific Name: Cricetomys ansorgei
• Native to sub-Saharan Africa.
• Large-sized rodents with highly developed olfactory senses.
• Used for detecting landmines in war-affected regions.
• Ongoing research on their potential for detecting drug-resistant TB.

3. No negotiation over annexed Ukrainian territory: Kremlin

Sub :IR

Sec : Places in news

Context:

• Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the possibility of exchanging territory with Russia as part of potential peace negotiations.
• The Kremlin has rejected any negotiations over the status of five Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed, despite not fully controlling four of them.
• Russia has declared that the annexed territories are an integral part of Russia, as enshrined in its Constitution, making any negotiations over them unacceptable.

History of annexation:

• In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea following a brief military operation and a controversial referendum that Ukraine and Western powers declared as illegitimate. This move marked the beginning of Russia’s territorial claims on Ukrainian land.
• The referendum, held under duress, resulted in a vote that declared Crimea’s integration into Russia.
• Following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia declared the annexation of four Ukrainian regions Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in September 2022.
• Russian forces have achieved varying levels of control, with most of Donetsk and Luhansk under Russian control, but only parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
• Russian forces have largely controlled the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for years, but the annexation was formalized in 2022.

Ukrainian Advancements:

• Ukraine has taken control of hundreds of square kilometres in Russia’s Kursk region, and Zelensky has suggested a potential “exchange” of territory with Moscow, an idea that Russia has rejected.

4. Canada wants new pipelines to avoid tariffs; nobody wants to build them

Sub :IR

Sec : Places in news

Context:

• With U.S. President Donald Trump threatening tariffs on Canadian oil exports, several Canadian politicians have advocated for new pipelines to coastal export terminals to reduce dependency on the U.S. market.
• Oil is Canada’s most valuable export, with the country being the fourth-largest oil exporter in the world, sending around 4 million barrels per day to U.S. refineries, making up 90% of Canada’s oil exports.

Private Sector Reluctance and Past Failures:

• Despite the calls for new pipelines, no private company has shown recent interest in taking on such a costly, multi-billion-dollar project. Experts believe it could take up to a decade to complete.
• The last decade saw the cancellation of two major east-west pipeline projects, and a Canadian company faced significant financial losses when former U.S. President Joe Biden revoked the Keystone XL pipeline permits in 2021.
• Trump expressed support for Keystone XL and pledged easier regulatory approvals but also indicated that tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada would go into effect in March, which would hurt Canadian oil demand.
• Regulatory uncertainty, lengthy permitting processes, and environmental opposition also complicate pipeline construction.

• To move forward, experts suggest that the Canadian government must amend the Impact Assessment Act, collaborate with provinces, and make policy changes to support energy infrastructure.
• Moreover, companies need confidence in the oil sands industry’s ability to increase output, although Canada has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, which conflicts with increased oil production.

Existing Pipeline: Trans Mountain System

• Canada’s current option to bypass the U.S. is the Trans Mountain pipeline system, running from the oil-producing province of Alberta to the British Columbia west coast, allowing crude exports to overseas markets.

5. Thailand deports 48 Uyghurs to China, raising concerns

Sub :IR

Sec :Places in news

Context:

• Thailand deported dozens of Uyghurs to China recently, despite warnings from human rights organizations that they would face persecution upon their return. This decision drew immediate condemnation from the United Nations and international rights groups.

Background:

• China has been accused of committing human rights abuses in its Xinjiang region, including the detention of approximately one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
• The Chinese government denies these allegations, asserting that its actions are part of counterterrorism efforts.

About Xinjiang:

• Xinjiang is an autonomous region within China.
• It is officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
• It shares borders with eight countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to the northwest, Pakistan and India to the southwest, Mongolia to the northeast, Russia to the north, and Afghanistan to the west.

Who are Uyghurs:

• The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, primarily living in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of Chin, whose origins can be traced to Central and East Asia.
• The Uyghurs are considered to be one of the 55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China.  However, China recognises the community only as a regional minority and rejects that they are an indigenous group.

6. Olive Ridley Turtle Population in India: Trends and Challenges

Sub : Env

Sec :Species in news

Context:

• A 16-year-long assessment (2008-2024) indicates that the Olive Ridley turtle population in India is “steady or growing.”
• Rising sand temperatures due to climate change are causing a higher proportion of female hatchlings, raising concerns about long-term population viability.

Study and Findings

• Conducted by Dakshin Foundation in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and multiple State Forest Departments.
• Provides insights into population trends, conservation challenges, and environmental impacts on India’s mainland and island coasts.
• Along with Olive Ridley turtles, the study includes:
  • Leatherback turtles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Green turtles of the Lakshadweep Islands.

Importance of Long-Term Monitoring

• Sea turtles are long-lived, late-maturing, and highly migratory species.
• Population changes occur over decades, making long-term monitoring crucial.

Arribada: Mass Nesting Phenomenon

• Arribada refers to the simultaneous mass nesting of tens or hundreds of thousands of female turtles.
• Gahirmatha and Rushikulya (Odisha) are among the world’s largest nesting grounds, alongside Mexico and Costa Rica.
• In February 2024, Rushikulya witnessed one of the largest arribadas, with 400,000 to 500,000 turtles nesting within days.

Conservation and Concerns

• The Olive Ridley population appears stable or increasing, but challenges remain.
• Arribada does not occur every year, despite evidence of a large number of turtles offshore.
• Coastal and oceanic habitat threats necessitate continuous monitoring and conservation efforts.

Conclusion

• While the current population trend is positive, the impact of climate change on sex ratios and habitat threatspose long-term risks.
• Sustained conservation efforts and monitoring are essential for maintaining a healthy turtle population.

7. Centre seeks to reduce the share of States in federal tax revenues

Sub : Eco

Sec : Fiscal Policy

Why in News?

• The Union Government plans to reduce the States’ share of tax revenues from 41% to at least 40%.
• This proposal will be sent to the Finance Commission of India, led by Arvind Panagariya, which will submit its binding recommendations by October 31, 2025.

Proposed Reduction in States’ Tax Share

• Current share: 41% of federal tax revenues go to States.
• Proposed reduction: At least 40% (1% reduction).
• Reason: To provide the Centre with greater fiscal flexibility.
• Impact: A 1% reduction would allow the Centre to retain approx. ₹35,000 crore based on current tax projections.

Finance Commission’s Role

• The 16th Finance Commission (2026-2031), headed by Arvind Panagariya, will evaluate and make recommendations and recommendations are binding and will take effect from FY 2026-27.

Fiscal Impact

• Increased funds for the Centre could be used for infrastructure, welfare schemes, and fiscal consolidation.
• States may oppose the move, arguing that it reduces their ability to finance development projects.

Potential Implications

Centre’s Perspective

• More funds available for national projects, fiscal deficit management, and flagship schemes.

States’ Concerns

• Reduced fiscal autonomy and lower allocations for State-led welfare schemes.
• Potential strain on State budgets, affecting healthcare, education, and infrastructure spending.