Daily Prelims Notes 20 March 2025

Daily Prelims Notes

20 March 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Sunita Williams’s unscheduled nine months long space stay may be a blessing in disguise for researchers
2. Days after peace deal, clashes in Manipur kill one
3. Contradiction Between High Per Capita Income and High BPL Population: Supreme Court
4. UPI Incentive Scheme

1. Sunita Williams’s unscheduled nine months long space stay may be a blessing in disguise for researchers

Sub : Sci

Sec : Space sector 

Context:

• American astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after spending an unscheduled and extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
• They had originally travelled to the ISS in June 2024, with the expectation of returning after a week.
• The primary objective of Williams and Wilmore’s mission was to validate Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for future crewed missions to the ISS.
• However, their return was delayed when the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which had taken them there, developed issues and was deemed unsafe for their return.

SpaceX Involvement:

• While Starliner itself returned safely to Earth in September 2024, Williams and Wilmore were left stranded on the ISS.
• An alternative solution was found through a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which was on a routine mission to the ISS.
• This spacecraft carried Williams and Wilmore back to Earth alongside two other astronauts, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, who had completed their missions on the ISS.

Duration of stay in Space:

• Williams and Wilmore returned after spending 286 days (over nine months) in space, which is not the longest stay in space but still significant.
• The record for the longest continuous stay in space is held by Soviet cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 438 days on the Mir space station in the 1990s.
• Other astronauts, such as Frank Rubio, have also spent extensive time in space, with Rubio staying 371 days at the ISS.

Previous Space Experiences:

• This mission marks the third space journey for both Williams and Wilmore.
• Williams had previously spent 196 days on her first mission (2006-2007) and 127 days on her second mission (2012).
• Wilmore, on the other hand, had spent 178 days in space across his two prior missions (2014 and 2015).

Contribution to NASA’s ongoing Research on Long-Term Space Missions:

• NASA’s study on the effects of long stays in space benefited from the extended time Williams and Wilmore spent on the ISS.
• The astronauts were not initially prepared for such a prolonged stay, and their experience could offer valuable data on the physical and psychological effects of space travel.
• Long-term space travel can cause various health issues, such as bone density loss, muscle deterioration, altered brain fluids, and potential changes in brain structure.
• Additionally, extended periods in space could increase the risk of heart disease.
• NASA uses astronauts like Williams and Wilmore to study these effects in preparation for long-duration missions, such as those planned for a permanent lunar science station.
• Another key area of research is the psychological effects of being stranded in space for an indefinite period.
• The extended stay of Williams and Wilmore provided a unique opportunity for NASA to study how astronauts cope with isolation, uncertainty, and the challenges of living in space for extended periods.

Importance of Space Travel for Future Missions:

• NASA’s ongoing research on long-duration space travel is vital for upcoming missions, particularly those aiming for the Moon and Mars.
• As part of its Artemis program, NASA plans to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, which will require astronauts to remain in space for extended periods.
• The insights gained from studying astronauts like Williams and Wilmore will be crucial for preparing astronauts for these long-duration missions.

2. Days after peace deal, clashes in Manipur kill one

Sub : Geo

Sec : Human Geo

Context:

• Recently, fresh violence erupted between the Hmar and Zomi communities in Churachandpur district, Manipur, just hours after an agreement was reached for peace between the two groups.
• The clashes followed the hoisting of a Zomi community flag, which was opposed by the Hmar community.

Hmar tribe:

• The Hmar are an indigenous ethnic group primarily residing in Northeast India, specifically in the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, and Meghalaya.
• They are part of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes and are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.
• A large portion of the Hmar community is Christian.

Zomi tribe:

• The Zomi are an ethnolinguistic group primarily residing in northeastern India, western Myanmar, and southeastern Bangladesh.
• The term “Zomi,” meaning “Zo people,” serves as a collective identity for various tribes that speak Kuki-Chin languages.
• This designation emerged as some groups sought to move away from colonial-era labels like “Kuki” and “Chin,” which they viewed as imposed during British rule.
• Today, Christianity is the predominant religion among the Zomi, particularly Protestantism.

Indigenous Tribes of Manipur:

• There are 33 recognized tribes in Manipur which either fall under the Nagas or the Kukis, the two different conglomerates of Manipur tribals.
• The two communities are differentiated mainly from their distinctive dialects, costumes, cultures and traditions.
• The recognized tribes are Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Inpui, Hmar, Kharam, Khoibu, Koirao, Kom, Lamkang, Liangmai, Mao, Maram, Maring, Mate, Monsang, Moyon, Paite, Poumai, Purum, Ralte, Rongmei (Kabui), Simte, Suhte, Tangkhul, Tarao, Thadou, Thangal, Vaiphei, Zeme and Zou.

3. Contradiction Between High Per Capita Income and High BPL Population: Supreme Court

Sub : Eco

Sec : National Income

Context:

• The Supreme Court questioned the contradiction in states claiming high per capita income while having around 70% of their population Below Poverty Line (BPL).
• The court was hearing petitions seeking ration cards for migrant workers to ensure food security.

Concern Over Distribution of Subsidised Food Grains

• The court expressed doubts about whether subsidised ration distribution actually reaches the poor.
• Justice Surya Kant observed that governments use development claims for political mileage, yet poverty remains high.

Growing Inequality in the Country

• Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl D’Souza, representing activists, highlighted rising inequality.
• A small group of people possess wealth in lakhs of crores, while a vast majority survive on ₹30-40 per day.

Political Considerations in Ration Card Issuance

• The court questioned whether ration card distribution was influenced by political motives.
• Justice Kant remarked that executive inefficiency and corruption prevent benefits from reaching the poor.

Fundamental Right to Food Security

• The Supreme Court asserted that access to food is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The poor must have the right to at least two square meals a day.

Government’s Obligation Under the National Food Security Act

• Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati stated that:
  • The National Food Security Act (NFSA) covers 35% of the population.
  • Additional provisions exist for 11 crore people under the Anganwadi scheme.
  • Another 22 crore people receive coverage under different programs.

Impact of COVID-19 on Employment and Food Security

• Bhushan argued that the pandemic worsened unemployment, increasing dependence on food security.
• He emphasized the need for states to distribute ration cards to migrants so that the Centre can release ration.
• Delays in food distribution could amount to a violation of Article 21 and discrimination.

Delay in Implementation of Supreme Court’s Previous Orders

• The Supreme Court had ordered in April 2023 that ration cards be issued to 8 crore migrant workers registered on the e-Shram portal.
• The Centre reported:
  • 6 crore total registrants on the e-Shram portal.
  • 63 crore were linked with ration card data.
• Bhushan contended that over 10 crore workers might still be excluded due to outdated Census 2011 data.

Welfare State’s Responsibility

• The court stressed that a welfare state must ensure all migrant workers are included in ration distribution.
• It emphasized the urgency of implementing food security measures for all eligible individuals.

4. UPI Incentive Scheme

Sub : Eco

Sec : Monetary policy

Context:

• The Union Cabinet has approved an incentive scheme for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments of less than ₹2,000 for FY 2024-25.
• The scheme has an outlay of ₹1,500 crore to promote digital payments.

Key Features of the Incentive Scheme

• Eligibility: Payments made to small merchants using UPI.
• Incentive Structure:
  • Banks will receive a 15% incentive for eligible transactions.
  • One-fifth of this incentive is linked to the performance and reliability of the bank’s UPI infrastructure.
• Exclusions: No incentive is provided for transactions above ₹2,000.

Objective of the Scheme

• Encouraging wider UPI adoption among banks and merchants.
• Ensuring cost-free acceptance of small digital payments by merchants.
• Reducing the financial burden on small retailers, as card transactions typically involve a merchant fee.

Government’s Rationale

• The incentive is structured to balance UPI transaction growth and minimize fiscal burden.
• The outlay has been gradually reduced as digital transactions have increased.

Target for FY 2024-25

• The government aims for 20,000 crore in total transaction volumes during the financial year.

Previous Incentive Payouts

• FY 2023-24: ₹3,631 crore was paid to banks, which is higher than the previous two years combined.
• This includes incentives for transactions made using RuPay debit cards, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as a domestic alternative to Visa and Mastercard.