Daily Prelims Notes 18 March 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

18 March 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Disinvestment of IDBI Bank
2. ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes
3. Horseshoe crabs
4. World Weather Attribution
5. Run-up to UN Water Conference
6. Death of the Nile
7. Seven states to get textile parks
8. Starberry-Sense: A low-cost Star Sensor
9. Sokra Misawa Festival
10. Congress moves privilege motion against PM
11. BJP move to get Rahul Suspended: Special Probe Panel
12. Erdogan asks turkey parliament to vote on Finland bid to join NATO
13. Dabur India used bio resources without approval – NBA
14. NASA unveils new Space Suits for Moon Missions
15. Artworks for new Parliament building
16. Senior Advocate Designation Process
17. Appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts
18. Asset Liability

1. Disinvestment of IDBI Bank

Subject: Economy

Section: Fiscal Policy

Context: The government on Friday said the disinvestment of IDBI Bank is on track as per the defined strategic sale process. Debunking media reports which indicated a possibility of deferment of IDBI Bank disinvestment, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said the stake sale is in the post-EoI stage

Concept:

Disinvestment

• Disinvestment means sale or liquidation of assets by the government, usually Central and state public sector enterprises, projects, or other fixed assets.
• The government undertakes disinvestment to reduce the fiscal burden on the exchequer, or to raise money for meeting specific needs, such as to bridge the revenue shortfall from other regular sources. In some cases, disinvestment may be done to privatise assets.
• However, not all disinvestment is privatisation.
• Some of the benefits of disinvestment are that it can be helpful in the long-term growth of the country; it allows the government and even the company to reduce debt. Disinvestment allows a larger share of PSU ownership in the open market, which in turn allows for the development of a strong capital market in India.
• There is a separate department under the Ministry of Finance which handles all disinvestment-related works for the government.
• On 10 December 1999, the Department of Disinvestment was set up as a separate department and later renamed as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.
• Disinvestment targets are set under each Union Budget, and every year the targets change. The government takes the final decision on whether to raise the divestment target or not.
• As per the latest policy, disinvestment now covers two types: (1) disinvestment through minority stake sale and (2) strategic disinvestment.
• Public Sector Undertakings are the wealth of the Nation and to ensure this wealth rests in the hands of the people, promote public ownership of CPSEs;
• In the case of disinvestment through minority stake (share) sale in listed CPSEs, the Government will retain majority shareholding, i.e. at least 51 per cent of the shareholding and management control of the Public Sector Undertakings;
• Strategic disinvestment by way of sale of substantial portion of Government shareholding in identified CPSEs up to 50 per cent or more, along with transfer of management control.

DIPAM

• Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) deals with all matters relating to management of Central Government investments in equity including disinvestment of equity in Central Public Sector Undertakings. The three major areas of its work relates to Strategic Disinvestment and Privatisation, Minority Stake Sales and Capital Restructuring. All matters relating to sale of Central Government equity through offer for sale or private placement or any other mode in the Central Public Sector Undertakings as well as strategic disinvestment of CPSEs is dealt with in DIPAM. DIPAM is a Department under the Ministry of Finance.

2. ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes

Subject: International relations

Section: International organisation

Context: The International Criminal Court said Friday it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine

International Criminal Court  (ICC):

• ​The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
• It is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.
• The Court is participating in a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again.
• ​​The Court cannot reach these goals alone. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national Courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.
• Funding: Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities.

Composition and voting power:

• The Court’s management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party.
• Each state party has one vote and “every effort” has to be made to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote.
• The Assembly is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, who are elected by the members to three-year terms.

Crimes:

The Court’s founding treaty, called the Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes.

First, the crime of genocide is characterised by the specific intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group by killing its members or by other means: causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Second, the ICC can prosecute crimes against humanity, which are serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population. The 15 forms of crimes against humanity listed in the Rome Statute include offences such as murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement – particularly of women and children, sexual slavery, torture, apartheid and deportation.

Third, war crimes which are grave breaches of the Geneva conventions in the context of armed conflict and include, for instance, the use of child soldiers; the killing or torture of persons such as civilians or prisoners of war; intentionally directing attacks against hospitals, historic monuments, or buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes.

Finally, the fourth crime falling within the ICC’s jurisdiction is the crime of aggression. It is the use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, integrity or independence of another State. The definition of this crime was adopted through amending the Rome Statute at the first Review Conference of the Statute in Kampala, Uganda, in 2010.

On 15 December 2017, the Assembly of States Parties adopted by consensus a resolution on the activation of the jurisdiction of the Court over the crime of aggression as of 17 July 2018.

Jurisdiction

The Court may exercise jurisdiction in a situation where genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes were committed on or after 1 July 2002 and:

• the crimes were committed by a State Party national, or in the territory of a State Party, or in a State that has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court; or
• the crimes were referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pursuant to a resolution adopted under chapter VII of the UN charter.

As of 17 July 2018, a situation in which an act of aggression would appear to have occurred could be referred to the Court by the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, irrespective as to whether it involves States Parties or non-States Parties.

In the absence of a UNSC referral of an act of aggression, the Prosecutor may initiate an investigation on her own initiative or upon request from a State Party. The Prosecutor shall first ascertain whether the Security Council has made a determination of an act of aggression committed by the State concerned. Where no such determination has been made within six months after the date of notification to the UNSC by the Prosecutor of the situation, the Prosecutor may nonetheless proceed with the investigation, provided that the Pre-Trial Division has authorized the commencement of the investigation. Also, under these circumstances, the Court shall not exercise its jurisdiction regarding a crime of aggression when committed by a national or on the territory of a State Party that has not ratified or accepted these amendments.

Trust Fund for Victims

Though the Trust Fund for Victims is separate from the Court, it was created in 2004 by the Assembly of States Parties, in accordance with article 79 of the Rome Statute. The Fund’s mission is to support and implement programmes that address harms resulting from genocide, crimes of humanity, war crimes and aggression. To achieve this mission, the TFV has a two-fold mandate: (i) to implement Court-Ordered reparations and (ii) to provide physical, psychological, and material support to victims and their families. By assisting victims to return to a dignified and contributory life within their communities, the TFV contributes to realizing sustainable and long-lasting peace by promoting restorative justice and reconciliation.

Ten key facts about the legal process

Further to the Key Features listed above, here are some of the basics you may want to know:

• The ICC does not prosecute those under the age of 18 when a crime was committed.
• Before the Prosecutor can investigate, she must conduct a preliminary examination considering such matters as sufficient evidence, jurisdiction, gravity, complementarity, and the interests of justice.
• When investigating, the Prosecutor must collect and disclose both incriminating and exonerating evidence.
• The defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof lies with the Prosecutor.
• During all stages of proceedings (Pre-Trial, Trial and Appeals), the defendant has the right to information in a language he or she fully understands, thus the ICC proceedings are conducted in multiple languages, with teams of interpreters and translators at work.
• Pre-Trial judges issue warrants of arrest and ensure there is enough evidence before a case can go to trial.
• Before a case is committed to trial (during the Pre-Trial phase), the defendant is referred to as a suspect. Once the case is committed to trial, since at that point the charges have been confirmed, the defendant is referred to as the accused.
• Trial judges hear the evidence from the Prosecutor, Defence, and the Victims’ lawyers, render a verdict, and if a person is found guilty, the sentence and decision on reparations.
• Appeals judges render decisions on appeals from the Prosecutor or Defence.
• If a case is closed without a verdict of guilt, it can be reopened if the Prosecutor presents new evidence.

3. Horseshoe crabs

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: Horseshoe crabs disappearing off Odisha has scientists alarmed.

More on the News:

• Horseshoe crabs, medicinally priceless and one of oldest living creatures on the earth, appear to be disappearing from their familiar spawning grounds along Chandipur and Balaramgadi coast in Odisha’s Balasore district.
• Scientists have urged Odisha government to immediately come up with a robust protection mechanism before the living fossil becomes extinct due to destructive fishing practices.
• Palaeontological studies say the age of Horseshoe crabs is 450 million years. The creature has lived on earthy without undergoing any morphological change. Scientists are surprised to find strong immune system in animal that helped it survive millions of years. The animal is critical for human health. If we don’t put any efforts now, Horseshoe crabs would not be found in India in next few years.

Horseshoe crabs

• Horseshoe crabs are ancient marine arthropods that have been around for more than 450 million years. They are found in shallow waters along the Atlantic coast of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico and are known for their unique appearance, with a hard exoskeleton and a long, pointed tail.
• The crabs are represented by four extant species in the world. Out of the four, two species are distributed along the northeast coast of India.
• Only T gigas species of the horseshoe crab is found along Balasore coast of Odisha.
• The crab was included in the Schedule IV of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972, under which, the catching and killing of a horseshoe crab is an offence.
• Horseshoe crabs play an important ecological role as a food source for migratory shorebirds and other animals, and their eggs are an important food source for fish and other marine animals.
• Horseshoe crabs are also important to the biomedical industry because of their blue blood, which contains a substance called Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) that is used to test for bacterial contamination in medical equipment and vaccines. It is such an important animal that all COVID-19 vaccines were tested against blood of Horseshoe crabs to ascertain if the vaccine was free from any contamination.
• However, horseshoe crab populations have been in decline in recent years due to overharvesting for bait and biomedical purposes, habitat loss, and pollution.
• Conservation efforts have been undertaken to protect horseshoe crab populations, including regulations on harvesting, habitat restoration, and research into alternatives to LAL testing.

4. World Weather Attribution

Subject :Environment

Section: Environmental Organisation

World Weather Attribution

• World Weather Attribution (WWA) is an international collaboration of climate scientists who conduct rapid assessments of extreme weather events to determine the extent to which climate change may have contributed to them.
• The World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative, a collaboration between climate scientists at Imperial College London in the UK, KNMI in the Netherlands, IPSL/LSCE in France, Princeton University and NCAR in the US, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, IIT Delhi in India and climate impact specialists at the Red Cross / Red Crescent Climate Centre (RCCC) around the world, has been founded to change this, and provide robust assessments on the role of climate change in the aftermath of the event.
• The initiative is led by Drs Friederike Otto at Imperial College, and Sjoukje Philip and Sarah Kew at KNMI.
• The primary objective of WWA is to provide timely and scientifically rigorous information about the links between extreme weather events and climate change. Its work is aimed at informing policymakers, the media, and the public about the potential impacts of climate change and the urgent need to take action to mitigate its effects.
• WWA uses a standardized, transparent methodology to conduct its analyses, which includes comparing the likelihood and severity of an extreme weather event in a world with climate change versus a world without it. The organization collaborates with climate scientists from around the world to conduct these analyses, and all results are subject to peer review to ensure scientific rigor.
• WWA response to an extreme meteorological event has three parts:
  • Define the event: the geographic region affected, which weather parameters are of interest.
  • Gather historical data: weather data from the region from 1950 to the present. From this historical data statistics on normal and extreme weather patterns for the locale can be computed.
  • Simulate the event many times with computer models, comparing simulations with present-day greenhouse gas conditions against previous greenhouse-gas conditions.

Methods used by World Weather Attribution

• Observational Data: WWA uses observational data from weather stations, satellites, and other sources to analyze the characteristics and intensity of extreme weather events.
• Climate Models: WWA uses climate models to simulate the weather patterns and conditions that would have occurred in a world without climate change, and compares these results to the observed weather patterns to determine the extent to which climate change may have contributed to the event.
• Statistical Methods: WWA uses statistical methods to analyze the probability of an extreme weather event occurring in a world with and without climate change, and to estimate the potential influence of climate change on the event.
• Attribution Methods: WWA uses a range of attribution methods to determine the extent to which climate change may have contributed to an extreme weather event. These methods include event attribution, probabilistic event attribution, and causal inference.
• Ensemble Methods: WWA uses ensemble methods to account for the uncertainty in climate models and observations. Ensemble methods involve running multiple climate models with different parameters to generate a range of possible outcomes and reduce the uncertainty in the analysis.
• Peer Review: WWA’s analysis is subject to peer review by independent climate scientists to ensure scientific rigor and accuracy.
• Finally, these results are disseminated through media channels, making our expertise available to provide additional explanations and context.

5. Run-up to UN Water Conference

Subject :Environment

Section: International Environmental Conventions

Context: Expansion of bottled water industry works against achieving the Sustaianable Development Goal to supply safe drinking water to all by affecting investments.

More on the News:

• The rapidly growing bottled water industry is helping mask a crippling world problem: the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all, a review report published in the run-up to the United Nations 2023 Water Conference next week.
• Supply of reliable drinking water is a key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. But, the expansion of the bottled water industry works against achieving it or at slowing progress towards it.
• This, it does by adversely affecting investments and the role of the state in long-term public water supply infrastructure development and improvement, according to Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends.
• The UN conference in New York City from March 22-24 is likely to raise awareness on global water crisis and decide on concerted action to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets.

Findings in the report:

• Half of what the world pays for bottled water annually at present would pay to provide clean and long-term public water supply for hundreds of millions of people without it.
• The report has mapped and ranked the top 50 countries in the world by total and per capita bottled water sales both in dollars and litres.
• The Asia-Pacific region constitutes about half of the global bottled water market, and the Global South countries together make up about 60 per cent.
• The report noted that like many other industries, the bottled water industry was a high consumer of water. The main source of water that is bottled across the globe is groundwater.
• Groundwater is a precious resource with over two billion worldwide relying on it as their primary water source. The report noted that in certain areas, the amount of groundwater extracted exceeded the amount that was recharged naturally.

United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH):

• UNU-INWEH is a research and training institute established in 1996 to address global water and environmental challenges. It is hosted at McMaster University in Canada and operates under the auspices of the United Nations University, which is a global network of research and training centers focused on sustainable development.
• Funding: UNU-INWEH is funded by a combination of government contributions, philanthropic donations, and research grants. Its work is supported by a range of international organizations, foundations, and academic institutions.
• UNU-INWEH employs a team of researchers, technicians, and support staff from around the world. Its staff includes experts in fields such as hydrology, environmental engineering, public health, and social sciences.
• UNU-INWEH works closely with a range of partners, including other United Nations agencies, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. It is also a member of several global networks focused on water and environmental issues.
• UNU-INWEH produces a range of publications, including research reports, policy briefs, and academic articles. It also hosts a series of webinars and other events to share its research findings and engage with stakeholders.
• Some key areas of research and expertise at UNU-INWEH include:
  • Water security: UNU-INWEH works to promote sustainable and equitable management of water resources, particularly in developing countries where water scarcity and poor water quality are major challenges.
  • Environmental health: UNU-INWEH studies the impacts of environmental factors, such as air and water pollution, on human health and wellbeing. It also explores the links between environmental health and social and economic development.
  • Ecosystem services: UNU-INWEH investigates the ways in which ecosystems provide benefits to human societies, such as clean water, food, and climate regulation. It also explores strategies for sustainable management of these services.
  • Climate change adaptation: UNU-INWEH works to promote resilience to climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable communities and regions.

UN Water

• UN-Water is the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues.
• It was established in 2003 with the aim of strengthening coordination and cooperation among UN agencies and other international organizations working on water and sanitation issues
• UN-Water has 32 UN agency members and 41 international partners. It is chaired by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and has a secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• UN-Water works closely with a range of partners, including governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. It also collaborates with other UN initiatives and programs, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
• UN-Water aims to promote coherence and collaboration among UN agencies and other organizations working on water and sanitation issues. It also seeks to enhance policy dialogue, advocacy, and knowledge management in this area.
• UN-Water’s priorities include achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, promoting integrated water resources management, improving water governance, and building resilience to water-related disasters and climate change.
• UN-Water carries out a range of activities, including supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation, coordinating UN-wide activities on World Water Day, and producing reports and assessments on water-related issues.
• UN-Water produces a range of reports and assessments on water-related issues, such as the World Water Development Report, the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report, and the Integrated Monitoring Report for SDG 6.
• UN-Water has launched a number of initiatives aimed at addressing specific water-related challenges, such as the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the United Nations International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015.

UN Water Conference:

• The Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands, will feature an opening and closing ceremony, six plenary meetings and five multi-stakeholder interactive dialogues. It will also feature a number of high-level special events and side events organized by Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders.
• The outcome of the Conference will be a summary of the Conference proceedings and new commitments, pledges and actions by Governments and all stakeholders towards achieving SDG 6 and other water-related goals and targets, compiled in the Water Action Agenda.
• The UN 2023 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda will unite the world for water. The key building blocks of the Water Action Agenda are:
  • commitment to action
  • sustained and scalable implementation
  • follow-up and review processes

6. Death of the Nile

Subject :Geography

Section: Places in news

Context: Mega dams have killed the river’s ability to flush carcinogens, slowly killing its delta

More on the News:

• Large-scale pollution from untreated agricultural drainage and wastewater is putting existential pressure on the delta system of the world’s longest river, according to a new study.
• Pollution, coastal erosion and seawater intrusion challenge the sustainability of the delta, on which the population of Egypt rely for food security, noted the document published in the journal Earth’s Future.
• In this study, the researchers evaluated the levels of heavy metal pollution along the two delta branches of the iconic river to identify their sources and explore the implications of damming on heavy metal concentration.
• They arrived at this conclusion after analysing eight heavy metals — lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese and nickel — present in samples of sediment collected from the bottom of two branches of the river’s delta.
• The high concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc are carcinogenic and can adversely affect plant and human health. They can drastically harm plant growth, causing necrosis and chlorosis in leaves and death of the plant as well.
• Mega-dams built upstream disrupt the river’s natural flow; sediments thus accumulated adversely affect its ability to flush contaminants out into the Mediterranean Sea, leaving toxins to build up in bottom sediment over time.
• Alarmingly, much of this contamination by heavy metals is irreversible. However, the study claimed that science-based conservation measures could alleviate environmental degradation and restore the Nile delta’s ecosystem to relatively healthy levels.

River Nile:

• The River Nile is one of the world’s longest rivers, flowing through 11 countries in Africa, including Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
• The Nile River has two major tributaries: the White Nile, which originates in East Africa and flows through Sudan, and the Blue Nile, which begins in Ethiopia and joins the White Nile in Sudan before flowing into Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Nile is known for its annual flooding, which has been an important natural cycle for agricultural production in Egypt and other countries along the river for thousands of years. However, the construction of dams and other water infrastructure has disrupted this natural cycle in some areas.
• The ancient Egyptian civilization, which flourished along the Nile River, is one of the oldest and most significant in world history. The Nile provided water for irrigation, transportation, and other activities that supported the development of this civilization.
• The Nile Delta, where the river meets the Mediterranean Sea in northern Egypt, is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. It is home to a variety of crops, including cotton, wheat, and citrus fruits.
• The Nile Basin is home to over 300 million people, many of whom depend on the river for their livelihoods.
• One of the most controversial dam projects on the Nile is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is being built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, a major tributary of the Nile. The GERD has been a source of tension between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, as downstream countries fear the dam will impact their water supply.

7. Seven states to get textile parks

Subject : Schemes

Concept :

• The Centre has selected sites in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP and UP to set up new textile parks, a year and a half after the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme was announced.

PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Scheme

• The Ministry of Textiles has launched (2021) the scheme to strengthen the Indian textile industry by way of
• Enabling scale of operations,
• Reducing logistics cost by housing entire value chain at one location,
• Attracting investment,
• Generating employment and augment export potential.
• The Scheme has a budget outlay of 4445 Crore including administrative expenses of Rs 30 crore over 7-year period up to 2027-28.
• The scheme will develop an integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility (parks) for total value-chain (spinning, weaving, processing, printing, etc) of the textile industry.
• These parks are envisaged to be located at sites which have inherent strengths for the textile industry to flourish and have necessary linkages to succeed.
• The scheme envisages to leverage the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for fast paced implementation in a time-bound manner.
• PM MITRA mega textile parks will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.

Implementation

• These parks will be set up on the basis of proposals received from State Governments having ready availability of contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcels of minimum 1000 acres.
• The State Government will transfer land to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which will be a legal entity (with 51% equity shareholding of State and 49% of Central Government).
• The selection of PM MITRA Park sites will be done in a two stage (Selection of Sites, Development of the Park) selection process on Challenge Method.
• The “Challenge Method” is a type of selection process that is often used in competitions and challenges to determine the best candidate or solution.

Significance

• The textile industry has been unorganised in the country and increased wastage and logistical costs impacts the competitiveness of the country’s textile sector.
• This cluster-based approach will solve several problems of the sector and will function as centres of opportunity to create an integrated textiles value chain.
• The parks in the seven selected States would provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for the textiles sector, attract an investment of nearly ₹70,000 crore into these parks, with employment generation for about 20 lakh people.
• The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the form of Development Capital Support upto ₹500 crore per park to the Park SPV.
• A Competitive Incentive Support (CIS) upto ₹300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park shall also be provided to incentivise speedy implementation.
• Convergence with other Government of India schemes shall also be facilitated in order to ensure additional incentives to the Master Developer and investor units.

8. Starberry-Sense: A low-cost Star Sensor

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Space Technology

Concept :

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have developed a low-cost star sensor for astronomy and small CubeSat class satellite missions.

Star Sensor

• Any satellite needs to know where it is pointed in space, and the instrument used for this purpose is called a star sensor.
• The position of stars in the sky is fixed relative to each other and can be used as a stable reference frame to calculate the orientation of a satellite in orbit.
• This is done by correctly identifying the stars in the sky towards which the star sensor is pointed.
• The star sensor is essentially a celestial compass.

High cost of Star Sensors

• In recent years CubeSats and small satellite missions have gained huge popularity. These missions utilize commercially available components for their design and development, but the typical cost of a commercially available star sensor often exceeds the total budget for a CubeSat.

Starberry-Sense

• Based on commercial/off-the-shelf components, this star sensor costs less than 10% of those available in the market.
• It is made from a single-board Linux computer called Raspberry Pi, which is widely used among electronics hobby enthusiasts.
• The star sensor has successfully undergone the vibration and thermal vacuum test that qualifies it for a space launch and operations.
• These tests were conducted in-house at the environmental test facility located at the CREST Campus of IIA in Hosakote.

Applications

• Starberry-Sense can help small CubeSat class satellite missions find their orientation in space.
• Its modular design allows for quick and easy customization for various requirements.
• For e.g., even though StarBerry-Sense is meant for space-based applications, a modified version will be interfaced with the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE), located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle, Ladakh.
• The Starberry-Sense is ready for launch on the PS4-Orbital Platform by ISRO and can be used for CubeSats and other small satellite missions in the future.

CubeSats

• CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites.
• CubeSats are built to standard dimensions (Units or “U”) of 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.
• They can be 1U, 2U, 3U, or 6U in size, and typically weigh less than 1.33 kg per U.
• These are employed for the In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of miniaturised technologies and for small payload-driven missions.
• CubeSats reduce launch costs in two fundamental ways.
• They don’t weigh that much, which means a rocket doesn’t need a lot of fuel to heft them.
• In most cases, they also share a rocket with a larger satellite, making it possible to get to space on the coattails of the heavier payload.
• There are some design challenges with cubesats.
• However,the electronics are smaller and are therefore more sensitive to radiation. Their low cost also means they are generally designed to last for a shorter duration of time.

9. Sokra Misawa Festival

Subject :  History

Section: Art and Culture

Concept:

• Sokra Misawa Festival is celebrated by Tiwas tribals in Karbi Anglong district, Assam.
• Tiwa tribal boys wearing headgears called Sakrashata which is made of the inner part of a tree and perform their traditional rituals during the Sokra Misawa festival.
• It is believed that people of Tiwa community who inhabit in the hills are not permitted to prepare their paddy field for the next harvest before performing this ritual.
• It is a spring time festival of the Tiwas where they worshipped the deities of nature.

10. Congress moves privilege motion against PM

Subject : Polity

Section: Parliament

Concept :

• Congress leader KC Venugopal moved a motion of privilege against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha for his alleged defamatory remarks against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in his speech at the last Parliament session.

Privilege motion

• Privilege motion is concerned with the breach of parliamentary privileges by a minister.
• Breach of Privileges
• Parliamentary Privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can “effectively discharge their functions”.
• When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament.
• A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.
• Role of the Speaker/Rajya Sabha (RS) Chair
• The Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.
• The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
• If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under relevant rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.
• Rules governing Privilege
• Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege.
• Rules say that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or a committee thereof.
• Privilege Committee
• It is a Standing Committee.
• It examines the cases of breach of the privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate action.
• The Lok Sabha committee has 15 members, while the Rajya Sabha committee has 10 members.

11. BJP move to get Rahul Suspended: Special Probe Panel

Subject : Polity

Concept :

• The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has asked the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to set up a special committee of Lok Sabha to explore whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should be suspended for allegedly insulting the country.

Special Probe Panel

• The House can set up a special committee could be formed by moving a motion for the establishment of such a committee and its terms of reference.
• It is a type of inquiry committee which is set up to look into a particular issue.
• The committee, after the probe is over, submits a report to the House. The committee usually submits its report in a month.
• For example, in 2005, Lok Sabha set up a special probe panel to look into the ‘cash for votes’ scam.

Under What Rules MPs can be Suspended from Lok Sabha?

• The general principle is that it is the role and duty of the Presiding Officer — Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha — to maintain order so that the House can function smoothly.
• In order to ensure that proceedings are conducted in the proper manner, the Speaker/ Chairman is empowered to force a ember to withdraw from the House.
• Rule Number 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business says –
• The Speaker, if he is of the opinion that the conduct of any Member is grossly disorderly, may direct such Member to withdraw immediately from the House.
• Any Member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall remain absent during the remainder of the day’s sitting.
• Rule Number 374 says –
• The Speaker may, if deems it necessary, name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business thereof.
• If a Member is so named by the Speaker, the Speaker shall, on a motion being made forthwith put the question that the Member (naming such Member) be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.
• A member suspended under this rule shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House.

Under What Rules MPs can be Suspended from Rajya Sabha?

• In the Rajya Sabha, the suspension of a member is governed by Rule 256.
• Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha Chairperson does not have the power to suspend a member.
• The Rajya Sabha Chair can only suspend a member through a motion.
• The Chair names a member, following which the House takes up a motion to suspend that member for a period not more than the remaining of the session, according to Rule 256(2).
• While the Chair cannot suspend a member by themselves, the Chair can ask the member to leave the House.
• Rule 255 dictates –
• The Chairman may direct any member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Council.
• Any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day’s meeting.

12. Erdogan asks turkey parliament to vote on Finland bid to join NATO

Subject : International Relations

Concept :

• Turkish President Erdogan said that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises.
• Background
• Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia announced its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year.
• The membership requires approval from all 30 member countries.
• Though Finland received the backing of all members, Sweden has faced objections from Turkey on terrorism-related issues.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

• It is an intergovernmental military alliance.
• Established by Washington treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.
• Headquarters — Brussels, Belgium.
• Headquarters of Allied Command Operations — Mons, Belgium.
• It constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.
• Composition:
• Since its founding, the admission of new member states has increased the alliance from the original 12 countries to 30.
• The most recent member state to be added to NATO was North Macedonia on 27 March 2020.

NATO membership — Process

• NATO has what it calls an “open door policy” on new members — any European country can request to join, so long as they meet certain criteria and all existing members agree.
• A country does not technically “apply” to join; Article 10 of its founding treaty states that, once a nation has expressed interest, the existing member states “may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty … to accede.”
• Ratification of new members could take a year, as the legislatures of all 30 current members must approve new applicants.
• Both Finland and Sweden already meet many of the requirements for membership, which include
• having a functioning democratic political system based on a market economy;
• treating minority populations fairly;
• committing to resolve conflicts peacefully;
• the ability and willingness to make a military contribution to NATO operations; and
• Committing to democratic civil-military relations and institutions.

What does NATO membership entail?

• The reason most countries join NATO is because of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which stipulates that all signatories consider an attack on one an attack against all.
• Article 5 has been a cornerstone of the alliance since NATO was founded in 1949 as a counterweight to the Soviet Union.
• The point of the treaty, and Article 5 specifically, was to deter the Soviets from attacking liberal democracies that lacked military strength.
• Article 5 guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance — including the massive US military — can be used to protect any single member nation, such as smaller countries who would be defenseless without their allies. Iceland, for example, has no standing army.

13. Dabur India used bio resources without approval – NBA

Subject : Governance

Concept :

• Dabur India had been accessing biological resources for commercial purposes without obtaining required approvals, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• The board’s response came after Dabur India had filed an appeal before the tribunal saying the NBA had unilaterally imposed 0.5% of annual gross ex­factory sale price of the product as a benefit sharing component under Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of the Biological Diversity Act.
• Under the Biological Diversity Act, an Indian entity has to give intimation to the State Biodiversity Board while obtaining any bio­ resources for commercial utilisation.

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

• The act was enacted in 2002, it aims at the conservation of biological resources, managing its sustainable use and enabling fair and equitable sharing benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.

Salient Features of the Act

• The Act prohibits the following activities without the prior approval from the National Biodiversity Authority:
• Any person or organisation (either based in India or not) obtaining any biological resource occurring in India for its research or commercial utilisation.
• The transfer of the results of any research relating to any biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India.
• The claim of any intellectual property rights on any invention based on the research made on the biological resources obtained from India.
• The act envisaged a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources:
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
• The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level)
• The Act provides these authorities with special funds and a separate budget in order to carry out any research project dealing with the biological natural resources of the country.
• It shall supervise any use of biological resources and the sustainable use of them and shall take control over the financial investments and their return and dispose of those capitals as correct.
• Under this act, the Central Government in consultation with the NBA:
• Shall notify threatened species and prohibit or regulate their collection, rehabilitation and conservation
• Designate institutions as repositories for different categories of biological resources
• The act stipulates all offences under it as cognizable and non-bailable.
• Any grievances related to the determination of benefit sharing or order of the National Biodiversity Authority or a State Biodiversity Board under this Act, shall be taken to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

14. NASA unveils new Space Suits for Moon Missions

Subject : Science and technology

Concept :

• Nasa unveiled the first prototype for a newly designed next-generation spacesuit specially tailored and accessorised for the first astronauts expected to venture back to the moon’s surface in the next few years.
• The latest in moon-wear was displayed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston during an event hosted for the media and students by Axiom Space, the Texas-based company contracted by Nasa to build suits for Artemis, successor to the Apollo moon program.

About the Suit

• “Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit,” or AxEMU for short, the new suits are more streamlined and flexible than the old Apollo suits, with greater range of motion and variability in size and fit.
• They are designed to fit a broad range of potential wearers, accommodating at least 90% of the US male and female population, Nasa said. They also will incorporate advances in life-support systems, pressure garments and avionics.
• The suits to be worn on the lunar south pole by astronauts will be white because that is the best colour to reflect the harsh sunlight on the moon’s surface and protect the wearer from extreme heat.
• The Axiom suits will be worn during the Artemis III mission, the program’s first moon landing, which is scheduled for 2025.

Artemis Mission

• NASA’s Artemis mission is touted as the next generation of lunar exploration, and is named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology.
• Artemis is also the goddess of the moon.
• It is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars.
• With the Artemis programme, NASA aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of colour on the moon.
• NASA will establish an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and a gateway (the lunar outpost around the Moon) in lunar orbit to aid exploration by robots and astronauts.
• The gateway is a critical component of NASA’s sustainable lunar operations and will serve as a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the moon.

Other space agencies are also involved in the Artemis programme.

• Canadian Space Agency has committed to providing advanced robotics for the gateway,
• The European Space Agency will provide the International Habitat and the ESPRIT module, which will deliver additional communications capabilities among other things.
• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to contribute habitation components and logistics resupply.

Artemis I Mission

• Artemis I is an uncrewed mission of NASA.
• Named after the sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, it is NASA’s successor to the Apollo lunar missions from fifty years ago.
• It will test the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule.
• The SLS is the largest new vertical launch system NASA has created since the Saturn V rockets used in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to build a long-term human presence at the Moon for decades to come.
• The primary goals for Artemis I are to demonstrate Orion’s systems in a spaceflight environment and ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery prior to the first flight with crew on Artemis II.
• It is only a lunar Orbiter mission even though, unlike most Orbiter missions, it has a return-to-Earth target.
• Significance
• Artemis I is the first step into that new space age of achieving the promise of transporting humans to new worlds, of landing and living on other planets, or maybe meeting aliens.
• The CubeSats it will carry are equipped with instruments meant for specific investigations and experiments, including searching for water in all forms and for hydrogen that can be utilised as a source of energy.
• Biology experiments will be carried out, and the impact of deep space atmosphere on humans will be investigated through the effect on dummy ‘passengers’ on-board Orion.

Upcoming Artemis Missions

• Artemis II:
• It will take off in 2024.
• Artemis II will have a crew aboard Orion and will be a test mission to confirm that all of the spacecraft’s systems will operate as designed when it has humans on board.
• But the Artemis II launch will be similar to that of Artemis I. A crew of four astronauts will be aboard Orion as it and ICPS orbit the Earth twice before moving to the direction of the Moon.
• Artemis III:
• It is scheduled for 2025, and is expected to ferry astronauts to the moon for the first time since the apollo missions.

15. Artworks for new Parliament building

Subject : History

Section: Art and Culture

Concept :

• An official vision document entailing the objectives of artwork at the upcoming Parliament building shows that artworks and their installation represent Sanatan parampara and Vasstu shastra that continued over 5000 years of Indian Civilization.
• Sanatan parampara broadly refers to Hindu culture, which is believed to have been in continuity for centuries.
• Vaastu shastra is the traditional Indian system of architecture based on ancient texts that describe principles of design, layout, measurements, space arrangement and spatial geometry.

Highlights of Ancient Artworks model:

• The new building is going to have six entrances to exhibit “guardian statues showing auspicious animals.
• These “auspicious animals” have been chosen based on their importance in Indian culture, vaastu shastra and traits such as wisdom, victory, power and success.
• Each animal chosen to be installed in the building possesses a set of affirmations, spreading well-being and harmony.
• Importance of Direction:
• The North: Guarding the ceremonial entrance to the north is the gaja (elephant), which represents wisdom, wealth, intellect and memory.
• According to vaastu shastra, the northern direction is associated with Mercury, which is the source of higher intellect.
• The South: The southern entrance is the ashva (horse), which is symbolic of endurance, strength, power and speed — describing the quality of governance.
• The East: Soaring at the eastern entrance is the garuda (eagle), which symbolises the aspirations of the people.
• In vaastu shastra, the east is associated with the rising sun, representing victory.
• The northeastern entrance has hamsa (swan), representing discernment and wisdom.
• The remaining entrances showcase the Makara (a mythical aquatic creature that is a combination of the body parts of different animals), which represents unity in diversity, and the shardula (a mythical animal that is said to be the most powerful of all living beings), which symbolises the power of the people of the country.
• Remains of India’s freedom struggle:
• The new building will have six granite statues devoted to personalities involved in the freedom struggle and making of the Constitution, four galleries each for the two Houses, three ceremonial foyers, as many India galleries and one Constitution gallery.

Depicting Art and Culture:

• Inside the building, each wall will have a theme reflecting a certain aspect, such as contributions by tribal and women leaders.
• The artworks used indicate the 5000 years old culture of India.
• There will be an adequate focus on Indian knowledge traditions, the Bhakti tradition, Indian scientific traditions as well as monuments.

For further notes on Central Vista project, refer – https://optimizeias.com/from-kingsway-to-rajpath-to-kartavya-path-of-central-vista-a-short-history-of-delhis-century-old-stretch/

16. Senior Advocate Designation Process

Subject :Polity

Section: Judiciary

Context:

• The Supreme Court, commenced with the hearing of the pleas seeking modification to the extant guidelines regarding the process of designation of Senior Advocates practicing before the Supreme Court as well as the High Courts,

More about the news:

• The Supreme Court, commenced with the hearing of the pleas seeking modification to the extant guidelines regarding the process of designation of Senior Advocates practicing before the Supreme Court as well as the High Courts, which was set out in its 2017 judgment, Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India.
• A Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ahsanuddhin Amanullah and Justice Aravind Kumar heard the arguments put forth by Senior Advocate, Ms. Indira Jaising, who is a petitioner herself.

What is Indira Jaising Case:

• India’s first woman Senior Advocate Indira Jaising filed a petition in SC challenging the existing process of designation.
• She termed this process as opaque, arbitrary and fraught with nepotism and sought greater transparency in the process of designating.
• As a result, the Apex Court decided to lay down guidelines for itself and all High Courts on the process of designating senior advocates.

What was the verdict in Indira Jaising Case

• The judgment decided the setup:
  • A permanent committee, and
  • a permanent secretariat,
• Secretariat was tasked with receiving and compiling all applications for designation with relevant data, information, and the number of reported and unreported judgments.
• Besides creating permanent bodies, the verdict laid down the procedures and assessment criteria for the designation process.

Who are Senior advocates/lawyers in India:

• Under Section 16 of the Advocates Act 1961 two classes of advocates are classified; Senior Advocate and Junior or those who are not designated as seniors.
• The Senior advocates play the role of legal experts in India who have significant knowledge in the field of law.
• They are associated with many prominent cases as they are good contributors to the principle of Rule of Law.

What are the legal provisions related to the Designation of Senior Counsel:

• Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Rule 2(a) of Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 1966 provide certain guidelines to be followed for the designation of a senior counsel.
• As per these provisions:
  • The Chief Justice and other judges of the concerned court should believe that a particular advocate is fit to hold the position of a senior advocate.
  • The concerned advocate should have exceptional legal expertise and knowledge of the law.
  • The consent of such an advocate should be obtained prior.
  • The selection should be on the sole ground of his knowledge and expertise in the area of law.

What are the restrictions imposed on a Senior Advocate:

• A senior advocate is not permitted to appear without an Advocate-on-record or any junior.
• He/she is refrained from drafting pleadings or affidavits before any court or authority mentioned under Section 30 of the act.
• He/she shall not accept directly from a client any brief or instructions to appear in any Court.
• A senior cannot file any pleading or represent his client nor can draft an application by his own handwriting.
• The senior advocate must maintain a code of conduct, different from the other advocates.

17. Appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts

Subject :Polity

Section: Judiciary

Context:

• Congress MP Manish Tewari had asked the government whether it is a practice to seek R&AW reports for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court.

What was Government Response:

• The government told the  Parliament that except for cases related to national security, it is not a practice to seek R&AW reports on proposals for appointment of judges.
• As per the Memorandum of Procedure for Appointment of Judges the proposals recommended by the Collegium for appointment as Supreme Court and High Court judges , are to be considered in the light of such other reports/inputs as may be available to the government for assessing the suitability in respect of the names under consideration. Accordingly, IB inputs are obtained and provided to the SCC for making assessment on the recommendees,

What is the Memorandum of Procedure(MoP):

• The MoP is the playbook agreed upon by the government and the judiciary on the appointment of judges. It is a crucial document because the Collegium system of appointing judges is a judicial innovation that is not mandated through legislation or text of the Constitution.
• The MoP has evolved as the standard based on three decisions of the Supreme Court, known as the First Judges Case (1981), Second Judges Case (1993) and the Third Judges Case (1998). These three judgments form the basis of a peer selection process for the appointment of judges.
• The MoP was first drawn up in 1999. It was re-negotiated in 2016 following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)

Process of Appointment of Judges:

• Article 124(2) says that the President of India Shall appoint the judges after consultation with such a number of Judges of the SC/HC as he deems necessary. For appointment of any Judge of SC (other than CJI), the CJI must be consulted.
• The three Judges case of 1981, 1993 & 1998 has formalised the collegium system for the purpose of consultation.
• The collegium for appointing SC judges consists of the CJI and 4 senior-most judges of SC.
• Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) was set up after the Third Judge Case of 1998 to provide the process of how the Collegium would recommend names to the Executive.

The President of India can either accept the recommendation or send it back for reconsideration. The reconsidered advice must be accepted by the President.

18. Asset Liability

Subject : Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: The recent developments in the US banking system drive home the importance of ensuring prudent asset liability management, robust risk management and sustainable growth in liabilities and assets in the banking sector, among others, according to Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das.

Concept:

Banks’ asset-liability profiles 

• A balance sheet is an accounting tool that lists assets and liabilities.
• Every scheduled bank is required to furnish in the prescribed form  to the Reserve Bank of India on a fortnightly basis on reporting Fridays and Last Fridays of the month statement showing its liabilities and assets in India in terms of Section 42(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• This return provides up-to-date information on deposits, advances and investments etc of banks.