Daily Prelims Notes 18 September 2020

September 18, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

Subject: IR

Context:

The U.S. is keen that India sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA), at the next India-U.S. 2+2 ministerial dialogue likely to held in October end.

Concept:

Beginning 2016, India has signed three foundational agreements:
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)
- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). An extension to the GSOMIA, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed at the last 2+2 dialogue.

BECA

BECA will allow the United States to share satellite and other sensor data with India in order to improve the Indian military’s targeting and navigation capabilities.

2+2 dialogue

It is a format of dialogue where the defense and foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.
2+2 Ministerial is the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries.
India holds such talks with Australia, at the foreign secretary and defense secretary level but with Japan and the US at the ministerial level

2. Convalescent Plasma Therapy

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Not all plasma from those who’ve recovered from COVID-19 in India may contain enough protective antibodies, says a multi-institutional study led by researchers in the country and the United States.

Concept:

Convalescent plasma therapy involves transfusing certain components of blood of people who have had the Covid-19 virus and recovered to people who are sick or those at high risk of getting the virus.
As people fight the Covid-19 virus, they produce antibodies that attack the virus. These antibodies are secreted by immune cells known as B lymphocytes, which is found in plasma or liquid part of blood that supports immunity.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved use of such therapy in clinical trials and for critically ill patients
Convalescent plasma was used in outbreaks of the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic in 2009, SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 and the MERS-CoV epidemic in 2012. It was also used to help stop outbreaks of measles and mumps before vaccines were available

Image Source: TOI

3. Initiatives to improve the global ranking of Indian education institutions

Subject: Schemes

Context:

Government has taken various initiatives to improve the global ranking of Indian education institutions said Education Minister in Rajya sabha

Concept:

Indian government is committed to the nation to empower Higher Educational Institutions to help them become world class teaching and research institutions.

Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme

It has been launched in the year 2017 under which UGC has declared 10 Public and 10 Private institutions as IoEs .
The objective of the scheme is to enable them to achieve rankings within top 500 in any of the world renowned ranking frameworks. Government Institutions will get financial assistance of 1000 crores over a period of five years in addition to the grant already being received.
The institutions selected from the private sector will have autonomy to promote innovation and creativity. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has taken various quality initiatives such as examination reforms, mandatory internship, induction program for students,revision of model curriculum, internship, industry readiness accreditation, start-up and national initiative for Teachers’ Training etc to provide a thrust to improve quality of technical education in the country.

Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT)

Adopting engineering and technology as the vehicle to addressing the societal needs and achieving national prosperity, MHRD has drafted a new and catalytic scheme called IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology or IMPRINT.
IMPRINT is a first-of-its-kind Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to solve major engineering and technology challenges in selected domains needed by the country.
The ten domains represent the most important areas relevant to our country in order to enable, empower and embolden the nation for inclusive growth and self-reliance.

4. NPPA

Subject: Government Organisations

Context:

To ensure accessibility of necessary medical devices to the common man at genuine cost National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has extended ceiling prices of Knee Implants for another one year, i.e. till 14thSeptember 2021.

Concept:

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) in 1997 under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
It fixes ceiling prices of scheduled essential drugs and monitors Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of remaining non-scheduled medical devices, which have been regulated as drugs.

Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO)

The Drugs Prices Control Order, 1995 is an order issued by the Government of India under Sec. 3 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the prices of drugs.
The Order inter alia provides the list of price controlled drugs, procedures for fixation of prices of drugs, method of implementation of prices fixed by Govt., penalties for contravention of provisions etc.
For the purpose of implementing provisions of DPCO, powers of Government have been vested in NPPA.

5. New arctic climate

Subject: Environment

Context:

Global warming has dramatically changed the Arctic’s climate, adding a rainy season almost equal to India’s and up to 10 months without snow

Concept:

There are regions of our planet that have continued to be pristine for millions of years, like Antarctica and the Arctic. These regions are the barometer to gauge the severity of human-induced climate change.
If the climate in these regions changes, the planet would be up for a completely different climate, with disruptive consequences.
Both polar regions are under intense observation and have been showing signs of climate change impacts.
The Arctic particularly showed late signs of change due to the global warming caused by human-emitted greenhouse gases that ultimately lead to change in climate. But in recent years, this process has gathered speed.
The current generation became the first in human memory to witness exposed earth in this snow-covered part of the planet. In all probability, human witness a completely new climate in the Arctic. By the end of this century, the Arctic would be ice-free for up to 10 months.
In fact, the northern polar region might have already entered into a ‘new Arctic climate’ phase. The ‘new’ climate in the snow-capped pole is warmer, rainier and without its pivotal snow that plays a key role in its overall climate.
The Arctic has now warmed so significantly that its year-to-year variability is moving outside the bounds of any past fluctuations, signaling the transition to a ‘new Arctic’ climate regime.
It means weather events like the highest temperature or least snow in winter that the region has been reporting, are going to be the new normal.

6. 7th Schedule and Interstate Council

Subject: Polity

Context:

India’s response to Covid-19 reflects the power, problems, potential of federalism

Concept:

Interstate Council

Article 263 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council.
The text of the Article reads as under: “263. Provisions with respect to an inter-State Council – If at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council charged with the duty of –
- inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States;
- investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest; or
- making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject,
- it shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organization and procedure.”
The Commission on Centre-State Relations under the Chairmanship of Justice R. S. Sarkaria in its report in January 1988 recommended that:
- A permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) should be set up under Article 263.
- The IGC should be charged with the duties set out in clauses (b) and (c) of Article 263, other than socio-economic planning and development
- Government of India accepted the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission to set-up an Inter-State Council and notified the establishment of the Inter-State Council
The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India on 1990
The Council consists of:-
- Prime Minister – Chairman
- Chief Ministers of all States – Members
- Chief Ministers of Union Territories having a Legislative Assembly and Administrators of UTs not having a Legislative Assembly – Members
- Six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister – Members

7. Solar cycle

Subject: Geography

Context:

Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced their predictions about the new solar cycle, called Solar Cycle 25, which they believe has begun. Solar cycles have implications for life and technology on Earth as well as astronauts in space

Concept:

Since the Sun’s surface is a very active space, electrically charged gases on its surface generate areas of powerful magnetic forces, which are called magnetic fields.
Since the gases on the Sun’s surface are constantly moving, these magnetic fields can get stretched, twisted and tangled creating motion on the surface, which is referred to as solar activity. Solar activity varied with the stages of the solar cycle.
The solar cycle is based on the Sun’s magnetic field, which flips around every 11 years, with its north and south magnetic poles switching places.
Scientists track a solar cycle by using sunspots, which are the dark blotches on the Sun that are associated with solar activity.
A Sunspot is an area on the Sun that appears dark on the surface and is relatively cooler than the surrounding parts. These spots, some as large as 50,000 km in diameter, are the visible markers of the Sun’s magnetic field, which forms a blanket that protects the solar system from harmful cosmic radiation. When a Sunspot reaches up to 50,000 km in diameter, it may release a huge amount of energy that can lead to solar flares.
The beginning of a solar cycle is typically characterised by only a few sunspots and is therefore referred to as a solar minimum.
Scientists predict a solar maximum (middle of the solar cycle) will be reached by July 2025 and that this solar cycle will be as strong as the last solar cycle, which was a “below-average cycle” but not without risks.
Scientists track solar activity because it can have effects on Earth.
For example, when charged particles from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) reach areas near the Earth, they can trigger intense lightning in the skies referred to as auroras.
When CMEs are particularly strong, they can also interfere with the power grids, which can cause electricity shortages and power outages. NASA notes that solar flares and CMEs are the most powerful explosions in our solar system.
Further, solar flares can have a major effect on radio communications, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) connectivity, power grids, and satellites.

8. Commonwealth nations

Subject: IR

Context:

Before it celebrates its 55th anniversary of independence from British rule in November 2021, the prosperous West Indies nation will make history by becoming the first country in almost three decades to sever ties with the British royal family and become a republic.

Concept:

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal countries.
It is home to 2.4 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 32 of our members are small states, including many island nations.
The Commonwealth is one of the world’s oldest political associations of states. Its roots go back to the British Empire, when countries around the world were ruled by Britain.
The 1926 Imperial Conference was attended by the leaders of Australia, Canada, India, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand and South Africa.
At the 1926 conference Britain and the Dominions agreed that they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire. They all owed allegiance to the British king or queen, but the United Kingdom did not rule over them. This community was called the British Commonwealth of Nations or just the Commonwealth.
The Dominions and other territories of the British Empire gradually became fully independent of the United Kingdom.
India became independent in 1947. India wanted to become a republic which didn’t owe allegiance to the British king or queen, but it also wanted to stay a member of the Commonwealth.
At a Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting in London in 1949, the London Declaration said that republics and other countries could be part of the Commonwealth. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was born.
Since 1949 independent countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific have joined the Commonwealth. Membership today is based on free and equal voluntary co-operation.
The last 2 countries to join the Commonwealth – Rwanda and Mozambique – have no historical ties to the British Empire.
The Commonwealth Secretariat was created in 1965 as a central inter governmental organisation to manage the Commonwealth’s work.

9. Human Capital index

Subject: Index

Context:

India has been ranked at the 116th position in the latest edition of the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index that benchmarks key components of human capital across countries.

Concept:

The 2020 Human Capital Index update includes health and education data for 174 countries covering 98 per cent of the world’s population up to March 2020, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education of children
India’s score increased to 0.49 from 0.44 in 2018, as per the Human Capital Index report released by the World Bank.
The HCI has three components:
- Survival, as measured by under-5 mortality rates
- Expected years of Quality-Adjusted School which combines information on the quantity and quality of education: quality is measured by harmonizing test scores from major international student achievement testing programs and quantity from the number of years of school that a child can expect to obtain by age 18 given the prevailing pattern of enrolment rates across grades in respective countries
- Health environment is measured by adult survival rates and the rate of stunting for children under age 5.