Daily Prelims Notes 17 July 2020

July 17, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Table Of Contents

1. Radio Access Network

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Reliance plans to build home-grown 5G network solution based on an open source telecom platform called Open RAN.

Concept:

A radio access network (RAN) is the part of a telecommunications system that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections.
A RAN resides between user equipment, such as a mobile phone, a computer or any remotely controlled machine, and provides the connection with its core network.
The RAN is a major component of wireless telecommunications and has evolved through the generations of mobile networking leading up to 5G.

Need

This network platform, similar to how open source software became a game changer in the 1990s, attempts to build telecom radio and base stations using non-proprietary technology.
It will help bring down costs drastically compared to buying proprietary gear.

2. Pest Challenge

Subject: Science and tech/ Economy

Context:

Farmers all over India are severely affected by pests.

Concept:

The continuous onslaught of desert locusts swarms has ravaged his early-stage bajra crop. The pesky invaders from Iran and Pakistan have also seriously damaged moong and guar fields.
As if the locust’s menace, which is the worst since 1993, is not bad enough, an infestation of fall army worm (FAW) is now wrecking the kharif crop in Rajasthan.
While the locusts pose a threat to crops such as moong bean, pearl millet and cotton during their early stages, FAW is being mainly seen on maize.
FAW, which first surfaced in kharif 2018 in Karnataka, is a threat in other maize-growing States like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as well.
Although the government machinery has swung into action with drones and helicopters to combat the locust attack, agriculture experts want to declare it a disaster.
The government should declare the locust attack as a natural disaster so that farmers get some compensation under the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana (PMFBY)

3. Non-Personal Data

Subject: Governance

Context:

A government committee headed by Kris Gopalakrishnan has suggested that non-personal data generated in the country be allowed to be harnessed by various domestic companies and entities.

Concept:

Non-personal data is any set of data which does not contain personally identifiable information. This in essence means that no individual or living person can be identified by looking at such data.
The government committee, which submitted its report has classified non-personal data into three main categories.
All the data collected by government and its agencies or any information collected during execution of all publicly funded works has been kept under the umbrella of public non-personal data.
Any data identifiers about a set of people who have either the same geographic location, religion, job, or other common social interests will form the community non-personal data.
Private non-personal data can be defined as those which are produced by individuals which can be derived from application of proprietary software or knowledge.

4. BIS and Basel norm

Subject: Economy

Context:

During BIS’ annual general meeting last month, it discussed actions taken by central banks in various countries in response to pandemic.

Concept:

The Basel Committee – initially named the Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices was established by the central bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries at the end of 1974 in the aftermath of serious disturbances in international currency and banking markets
The BCBS is the primary global standard setter for the prudential regulation of banks and provides a forum for cooperation on banking supervisory matters.
Its mandate is to strengthen the regulation, supervision and practices of banks worldwide with the purpose of enhancing financial stability.
The BCBS does not possess any formal supranational authority.
Its decisions do not have legal force. Rather, the BCBS relies on its members’ commitments
BCBS members include organisations with direct banking supervisory authority and central banks.

Basel Accords

The Basel Accords are three series of banking regulations (Basel I, II, and III) set by the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision (BCBS).
The committee provides recommendations on banking regulations, specifically, concerning capital risk, market risk, and operational risk. The accords ensure that financial institutions have enough capital on account to absorb unexpected losses.
In 2010, Basel III guidelines were concluded. These guidelines were introduced in response to the financial crisis of 2008. The guidelines aim to promote a more resilient banking system by focusing on four vital banking parameters viz. capital, leverage, funding and liquidity.

5. QUAD

Subject:IR

Context:

QUAD grouping is gaining attention in view of growing assertiveness of China in south China sea.

Concept:

The grouping consists of Japan, India, United States and Australia.
All four nations find a common ground of being the democratic nations and common interests of unhindered maritime trade and security.
The idea was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it.

6. Delimitation

Subject: Polity

Context:

A former legal advisor to the Election Commission (EC) has red-flagged the Centre’s order to set up a Delimitation Commission for Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Nagaland and called it “unconstitutional” and “illegal”.

Reasons

In the last delimitation exercise, completed in 2008, Arunachal, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland were kept out due to apprehensions over use of the 2001 Census.
The tribal communities in the four states feared that the delimitation exercise would change the composition of seats reserved for them, hurting their electoral interests. As violence erupted, the Delimitation Act of 2002 was amended to empower the President to postpone the exercise in these states.
Subsequently, Parliament had decided that instead of creating another Delimitation Commission for the limited purpose of redrawing seat boundaries in the four northeastern states, the exercise there would be carried out by the EC.
Section 8A of the RP Act 1950, introduced by Parliament in 2008, states that delimitation in the four northeastern states, when held, would fall within the EC’s remit. Hence, any delimitation exercise in Arunachal, Manipur, Assam and Nagaland by the new Delimitation Commission would be declared void by the courts.

Concept:

Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Parliament by law enacts a Delimitation Act after every census.
The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India
Composition:
Retired Supreme Court judge
Chief Election Commissioner
Respective State Election Commissioners
Functions:
To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies to make population of all constituencies nearly equal.
To identify seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, wherever their population is relatively large.
In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the opinion of the majority prevails.
The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
The present delimitation of constituencies has been done on the basis of 2001 census figures under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002.
Notwithstanding the above, the Constitution of India was specifically amended in 2002 not to have delimitation of constituencies till the first census after 2026.

7. KihotoHollohan VS Zachillhu And Others (1992)

Subject: Polity

Context:

Recent defection trial in Rajasthan has brought to light importance of anti-defection law.

Concept:

A constitutional challenge to the Tenth Schedule was settled by the apex court in KihotoHollohan case.
The principal question before the Supreme Court in the case was whether the powerful role given to the Speaker violated the doctrine of Basic Structure laid down in the landmark judgment in KesavanandaBharati vs State Of Kerala (1973).
The tenth Schedule describes the Speaker’s sweeping discretionary powers that if any question arises as to whether a member of a House has become subject to disqualification under this Schedule, the question shall be referred for the decision of the Chairman or, as the case may be, the Speaker of such House and his decision shall be final.
The petitioners in Hollohan argued whether it was fair that the Speaker should have such broad powers, given that there is always a reasonable likelihood of bias.
The majority judgment authored by Justices M N Venkatachaliah and K Jayachandra Reddy answered that the Speakers/Chairmen hold a pivotal position in the scheme of Parliamentary democracy and are guardians of the rights and privileges of the House. They are expected to and do take far reaching decisions in the Parliamentary democracy. Vestiture of power to adjudicate questions under the Tenth Schedule in them should not be considered exceptionable.So it brought speaker’s decision under judicial review.
Further court envisaged independent adjudicatory machinery for resolving disputes relating to the competence of Members of the House.
Constitutional courts cannot judicially review disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution until the Speaker or Chairman makes a final decision on merits.
The only exception for any interlocutory interference being cases of interlocutory disqualifications or suspensions which may have grave, immediate and irreversible repercussions and consequence.

8. Prevention to cruelty act

Subject: Acts

Context:

Supreme Court is looking for validity of a Kerala law that prohibits animal sacrifice for appeasement of deity in temples.

Concept:

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 prohibits any person from inflicting, causing, or if it is the owner, permitting, unnecessary pain or suffering to be inflicted on any animal.
The Act makes it a crime to beat, kick, torture, mutilate, administer an injurious substance, or cruelly kill an animal.
It is also illegal to over-ride, over-drive, over-load, or work an unfit animal.
It is an offense to cruelly transport, confine, chain or tether an animal.
It is a violation to engage in animal fighting or shooting competitions in which animals are released from captivity to be shot. An owner commits an offense if he or she fails to provide sufficient food, drink or shelter, unreasonably abandons any animal, or permits any diseased or disabled animal to roam or die in any street.
According to Section 4 of this Act, an animal welfare board shall be established by the Central Government purporting to provide for animal welfare and extending protection against animals from unnecessary pain or suffering.
According to Section 14 of this Act; nothing in this Act shall affect the experimentation (including operations) on animals for the purpose of: Advancement through the new discovery of physiological knowledge; or Knowledge which will be useful for decreasing the mortality rate; or Suffering alleviation; or for combating any disease.

9. Biomarkers

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Researchers at the Cancer Institute, Chennai (WIA) have identified a panel of five protein markers in the blood that can help with an early diagnosis of a common and lethal form of ovarian cancer.

Concept:

Biomarker is a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention.
Biomarkers are the measures used to perform a clinical assessment such as blood pressure or cholesterol level and are used to monitor and predict health states in individuals or across populations so that appropriate therapeutic intervention can be planned.
A wide range of biomarkers are used today. Every biological system (for example the cardiovascular system, metabolic system or the immune system) has its own specific biomarkers.
Characteristics of an ideal biomarker
Safe and easy to measure
Cost efficient to follow up
Modifiable with treatment
Consistent across gender and ethnic group

10. MMR

Subject: Economy

Context:

The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016, according to the special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18, released by the Office of the Registrar General’s Sample Registration System (SRS).

Concept:

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period.
The maternal mortality ratio represents the risk associated with each pregnancy, i.e. the obstetric risk.