Daily Prelims Notes 24 June 2023

June 24, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

24 June 2023

Table Of Contents

Subject: Economy

Section: Space technology

Context: During his state visit to the United States this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Artemis Accords with the nation’s national space administration, as confirmed by the White House. This agreement holds significant importance for India to establish itself as a global space power.

Furthermore, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have also agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.

What are Artemis Accords?

The Artemis accord outlines the “principles for cooperation in space exploration and the use of the moon, mars, comets, and asteroids for peaceful purposes.”
These principles are non-binding multilateral arrangements between the US government and other governments that wish to participate in NASA’s Artemis programme.

What is the Artemis program?

Nasa’s Artemis program focuses on making new scientific discoveries and expanding the exploration of the lunar surface. By studying the Moon, scientists hope to gain valuable insights and make discoveries that can contribute to advancements in various fields, including technology, medicine, and a better understanding of the workings of the entire universe.
One of its key goals is to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. This historic event will pave the way for greater diversity and inclusivity in space exploration.
Furthermore, the programme aims to land the first astronauts on Mars and eventually on other planets and celestial bodies.

When were Artemis Accords established?

Nasa, in collaboration with the US Department of State, established the Artemis Accords in 2020. The accords are agreements between the United States and seven other founding member nations. They reinforce the commitment to international space treaties and agreements, such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement.
Additionally, the accords emphasise best practices and norms that promote responsible behaviour, including the sharing of scientific data with the public.

What are the guiding principles of the accords?

The Artemis Accords also aims to create a foundation for peaceful and cooperative space exploration. These agreements facilitate progress, ensuring that humanity can explore space while upholding ethical and responsible practices.
Given that multiple countries and private companies are actively involved in lunar missions and operations, the accord lays out a set of shared principles to govern civil exploration and the use of outer space.
According to Nasa, the principles include conducting all activities in space peacefully and with full transparency; this includes sharing findings, registering space objects, and releasing scientific data.
For safety purposes, the accord calls for interoperability and emergency assistance when needed by whichever organisation or nation has the resources and ability to help in respective situations. Furthermore, communication and coordination with countries during exploration are important.
The Accord calls for the protection of sites and artefacts preservation as well as the mindful use of resources during space exploration and development. Finally, Nasa and its partner nations must agree on the efficient disposal of spacecraft and plan to mitigate orbital debris.

What is the budget of Artemis program, and who is funding it?

The US has allocated $7.9 billion toward deep space exploration programmes in the financial year 2024. Out of this, approximately $3.2 billion will go towards the Artemis program.
According to Ars Technica, around $41.5 billion will be spent on the Artemis program between the financial years 2024 and 2028, although it may not be sufficient due to the rising costs of equipment.

Why joining the Artemis Accords is an important step for India?

India’s decision to join the Artemis Accords highlights its dedication to global space cooperation and a keen interest in participating in lunar exploration missions. By becoming a signatory, India can collaborate with other nations, including the United States, in future Moon missions. This collaboration enables the sharing of knowledge and expertise, contributing to the advancement of scientific research, technological development, and the expansion of humanity’s presence in space.

Furthermore, as part of Prime Minister Modi’s state visit, several US companies will partner with India to establish a semiconductor ecosystem that promotes diversification in the supply chain. Micron Technology, with the support of the Indian National Semiconductor Mission, recently announced a significant investment of over $800 million. Alongside additional financial backing from Indian authorities, this investment will create a $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and test facility in India. These developments highlight the growing collaboration between India and the United States in the field of technology and innovation.

Which other nations are a part of the Artemis Accords?

While Nasa is leading the Artemis program, the accords were signed by the directors of the national space agencies of the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates in October 2020. Ukraine signed the accord a month later.
The accords were extended to South Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, the Isle of Man, and Mexico in 2021.
In the following year, 2022, Israel, Romania, Bahrain, Singapore, Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Nigeria, and the Czech Republic also joined the accords.
Spain, Ecuador, and now India have also signed on, making a total of 28 nations so far.
Collaborating with other countries is essential to the accord in order to establish a sustainable and long-lasting presence on the Moon. This presence is crucial to Nasa’s goal of sending astronauts to Mars, marking humanity’s first mission to the red planet.

2. Africa’s largest polio vaccination drive since 2020 targets 21 million children

Subject :Science and technology

Section: Health

Context:

Africa’s largest polio vaccination campaign since 2020 kicks off today in three West and Central African countries viz. Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It will be extended to the Central African Republic next week.

Details:

Type-2 Poliovirus is detected in these countries.
No case of poliovirus is detected in Cameroon, but it has joined the vaccination campaign to avoid any future outbreak.
The initiative is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and comprises synchronized vaccinations and joint plans in border communities to halt polio transmission.
Synchronizing the campaign will ensure that a large cohort of children across the four countries receives the vaccine at the same time to enhance polio immunity in a broad geographic area.

Efforts made by these countries:

All four countries have made huge efforts to bolster polio detection,curb the spread of the virus and protect children from the risk of infection and lifelong paralysis.
- Despite all being certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus (the naturally circulating strain), the ongoing circulating variant poliovirus type 2, the most prevalent form of polio, persists.
The Lake Chad region, which includes three of the four target countries, is grappling with one of the world’s most protracted incidents of armed violence.
It is also home to one of the highest proportions of so-called “zero dose” children globally, who are either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
Governments have continued to improve the quality of immunization activities, bolstered by the broad implementation of supplementary immunization campaigns.
Door-to-door implementation, and with the help of WHO, health workers are now administering the vaccines at home.
The use of Geographic Information Systems tools, including Open Data Kit, is also accelerating the response to alerts of potential polio cases, helping curb the spread of the virus.
International support:
- WHO, Rotary International, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have also joined the initiative.

What is Polio Virus?

Poliomyelitis, also known as polio, is an infection caused by a virus (poliovirus). It is a serious, highly contagious disease that can affect a person’s nervous system.
There are three types of wild poliovirus:
- WPV 1: still exists but efforts are going on to eradicate it.
- WPV 2: eradicated.
- WPV 3: eradicated.
Polio typically affects children aged 5 years or younger. It can result in muscle weakness, permanent disability, and even death.
One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
There is no cure for polio, but there are safe, effective vaccines that, given multiple times, protect a child for life.

As an unintended consequence, type 2 vaccine virus variants (circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses) that mimic wild viruses’ contagiousness and neurovirulence, have been emerging and spreading.

3. Paris finance meet: Momentum builds for polluter taxes to fund green transition

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Events

Context:

The Summit for a New Global Financial Pact was held in Paris to discuss the transformation of global financial architecture. The overarching aim of the summit is to identify financial system reforms for climate and development.

Details:

At a side event titled How to make polluters pay: Climate finance to support global equity, discussions focused on using the ‘polluter pays principle’ to raise more climate finance for global equity.
The principle essentially says that those who pollute should also be liable to bear the costs of managing the pollution and compensate affected parties for the damage caused to the environment and human health.
An estimated $2.4 trillion (Rs 1,96,85,160 crore) per year until 2030 is needed by the developing countries to achieve the tasks set by the Paris climate summit.
Panellists discussed instruments such as shipping levies, financial transaction taxes, fossil fuel taxes, levies on the export of oil, gas and coal and airline levies.
- The shipping industry emits 2.9 per cent of the total global GHG emissions currently. However, the industry has managed to escape taxation as the high seas do not fall under the jurisdiction of any single country’s government.
- There is a high chance that the IMO will introduce a shipping levy of $100 per tonne of carbon dioxide, which will raise approximately $60-70 billion per year, a part of these revenues must go towards the loss and damage fund.
Airline levy can be applied also.
- It would be similar to the airline levy that France instituted in 2006, which raised proceeds for an HIV/AIDS fund.
Fossil fuel companies should be taxed as part of the polluter pays principle.
Research estimates that climate damage caused by fossil fuel companies is around $209 billion.

Climate financing by Multilateral Development Bank (MDB):

Multilateral development banks like the World Bank are expected to find $200 billion in extra firepower for low-income economies by taking on more risk.
China – the world’s largest bilateral creditor – has been pushing for lenders like the World Bank or the IMF to absorb some of the losses, which the institutions and Western countries oppose.
Bridgetown initiative:
- The Bridgetown Initiative is a proposal to reform the world of development finance, particularly how rich countries help poor countries cope with and adapt to climate change.
- Barbados sets out three key steps in the Bridgetown Initiative.
  - The first involves changing some of the terms around how funding is loaned and repaid. The aim is to stop developing nations from spiralling into a debt crisis when their borrowing is forced up by successive disasters like floods, droughts and storms.
  - Secondly, Barbados asks for development banks to lend an additional $1 trillion to developing nations for climate resilience.
  - The third step is to set up a new mechanism – with private-sector backing – to fund climate mitigation and reconstruction after a climate disaster.

4. Ban on more drugs harmful for vultures welcome move, but more stringent steps needed

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Vulture conservationists and experts have welcomed the central government’s move to ban veterinary drugs aceclofenac and ketoprofen which are fatal for vultures, but suggest more needs to be done for creating a safe environment for the bird.

Details:

Ban on three drugs —aceclofenac, nimesulide and ketoprofen– had been requested.
The decision taken on the ban by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board in May is the second big step towards vulture conservation since the banning of Diclofenac in 2006.
Nimesulide continues to possess a threat and should be banned soon
Ketoprofen and aceclofenac in cattle are equally toxic as Diclofenac and can kill vultures.
Studies showed that aceclofenac was rapidly metabolised into diclofenac and ketoprofen is toxic to Gyps vultures.

Vultures:

The vulture is a critically endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Three Gyps species namely long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus), oriental white-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and slender-billed

5. Despite Chamba order, stopping plantations on migratory routes of pastoralists in Himachal is still a long journey

Subject :Geography

Section: Human geography

Context:

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department’s Chamba circle issued an order in November 2022 noting that tree plantation, under various schemes on the migratory routes and halting points of pastoralists, hinders their access to quality fodder.

Details:

The local pastoralists welcomed the order but said that an order by just one circle cannot solve what is now a widespread problem. They demanded other forest circles to extend it in their respective areas.
Even as the forest department claims that there are already instructions by the grazing advisory committee to stop such plantations, compliance with such directions is poor.

Increased vulnerabilities due to plantation:

Expansion of invasive species. Ex: lantana camara.
Hindrance in seamless connectivity to green pastures.
Threaten centuries-old livestock rearing profession, known as Transhumance, practised by the Gaddi tribe and the Gujjar tribe in Himachal Pradesh.
The scarcity of fodder on their migration routes is making the profession very challenging, along with other risk factors such as livestock theft, wildlife-animal conflicts, rising disease load on livestock and less water availability in pastures.

Need for a digitised strategy to ensure livelihood protection

The State Level Grazing Advisory Review Committee instructed not to do any plantation on the migratory routes of the pastoral communities.
However, most of the instructions issued by the grazing committee have remained on paper and were hardly backed by executive orders.
The department does not have requisite data on migratory routes and halting points of the pastoralists in the s

6. What is the Heliopolis Memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1?

Subject :History

Section: World History

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay his respects at the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt, where the names of nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who fought in Word War 1 in Egypt and Palestine are commemorated. The Heliopolis Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery also commemorates 1,700 Commonwealth soldiers who died in World War 2.

Significance of Heliopolis war memorial:

Heliopolis War Cemetery, which includes two relocated memorials – the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, is a war cemetery & memorial in the Heliopolis district of Cairo in Egypt for Commonwealth (Colonial British Empire) personnel of British Indian Army who died in World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII).
The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial is part of the larger Heliopolis Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
- This memorial commemorates the memory of 3,727 Indian soldiers who died fighting in various campaigns in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War.
The original Port Tewfik memorial had been unveiled in 1926 and was situated at the entrance to the Suez Canal.
Port Tewfik is now known as Port Suez. The memorial was destroyed in the Israeli-Egyptian War of 1967 by retreating Egyptian soldiers and a new memorial bearing the names of the Indian soldiers who died in the First World War campaign in Egypt and Palestine was erected in Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in 1980.
While the original memorial, which comprised a central column and two roaring lions crouching to attack, did not include any names of Indian casualties, these names were made part of the new memorial at Heliopolis.

Role of Indian Army in West Asia in First World War:

The Indian troops played a key role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt and in Palestine, where Indian cavalry participated in the Battle of Haifa, commemorated in New Delhi in a war memorial.
Indian soldiers also played a key role in Mesopotamia in the First World War.
Indian regiments that are commemorated at the war memorial:
A large number of Indian Regiments belonging to the Indian Army, as well as to the State Forces of the princely state, are represented in the memorial.
The regiments are:
- 42nd Deoli Regiment, 58th Vaughan’s Rifles (Frontier Force), 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), 1st Battalion 50th Kumaon Rifles, Jodhpur (Imperial Service) Lancers, 3rd Sappers and Miners and many more.
Risaldar Badlu Singh, who was awarded the highest British war time gallantry award, Victoria Cross, posthumously, is commemorated at this war memorial. He had died in battle and was cremated in the field.
- Risaldar Badlu Ram belonged to the 14th (Murray’s) Jat Lancers and was attached with 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) and died fighting on September 13, 1918. The memorial lists him as the son of Lal Singh, of Dhakla, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Punjab.
The names of some of the personnel who died in this theatre of operations and who are commemorated are:
- Sepoy Nazara Singh of 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), son of Mihan Singh, of Sabra, Kasur, Lahore, Punjab.
- Sepoy Nikka Singh of 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), son of Nihal Singh, of Nathana, Moga, Ferozepore, Punjab.
- Havildar Narayan Singh of 1st Battalion 50 Kumaon Rifles, son of Nar Singh, of San, Pithoragarh, Almora, United Provinces.
- Sepoy Gurcharan of 1st Battalion Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides Infantry (F.F.) (Lumsden’s), son of Isar, of Tia Mal, Dehra, Kangra, Punjab.
- Sowar Aidan Singh of Jodhpur (Imperial Service) Lancer, son of Ram Singh, of Parhiyaee, Phalodi, Jodhpur, Rajputana.
- Sapper Bhaguji 3rd Sappers and Miners, son of Mahadeo Kevte, of Mali Wada, Ahmednagar, Bombay.
- Major Mohammad Yusuf Ali Khan of Patiala (Rajindra) Lancers, son of Maihme Khan, of Mahmad Pur, Nabha, Punjab.

7. NATO winds up its largest air exercise in Europe

Subject : International Relations

Section: Groupings

Concept :

Recently, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) successfully concluded its largest-ever air force deployment exercise in Europe.
Known as “Air Defender 23,” the manoeuvres were led by Germany and involved the participation of 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO countries and partner nations such as Japan and Sweden.
With the aim of enhancing interoperability and readiness, the drills saw the involvement of up to 10,000 service members.
Their primary objective was to enhance the collective defence capabilities of NATO territories, particularly in countering the threats posed by drones and cruise missiles.

For further reference on Air Defender Exercise , refer – https://optimizeias.com/nato-to-put-up-biggest-air-deployment-exercise/

8. G-20 trade unions meet emphasises global social security

Subject : International Relations

Section: International Groupings

Concept :

Labour 20

The Labour 20 (L-20) is a subgroup within the G20 grouping. It represents the labour unions from G20 member countries and serves as a platform for discussions and recommendations on labour-related issues.
The L-20 focuses on promoting decent work, workers’ rights, social protection, and inclusive economic growth within the G20 agenda.
During the Labour 20 (L-20) meeting, the Union Minister for Labour and Employment highlighted the adoption of statements by trade unions on universalizing social security and empowering women in the future of work.
The Minister stressed the importance of comprehensive and forward-looking social security policies that adapt to the changing nature of work, urging collaboration between governments, employers, trade unions, and international organisations.
The Minister emphasised that promoting gender parity and equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge are vital for their engagement in the job market.
The summit’s task force on ‘International Portability of social security funds’ recommended the collection and analysis of data on the vulnerabilities and needs of migrants to enhance social protection systems.
It also called for the disaggregation of national data to assess the financial implications of transferable benefits and estimate the coverage of social protection for labour migrants based on citizenship and residency status.

9. Centre defends NFHS questionnaire, says disability data won’t change fast

Subject :Schemes

Concept :

In response to criticism over the exclusion of disability-related questions in the 6th round of NFHS-6, the Union Health Ministry said that there is no need to collect these data every 3 years, as it will not change very fast.
The primary focus of NFHS is maternal and child health and the Survey won’t be able to collect accurate data on disability in its current form.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS):

It is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India.
To collect reliable and up-to-date information on fertility, family planning, mortality and maternal & child health.
Conducted by:
All surveys have been conducted under the stewardship of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
MoHFW designated the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency for the surveys.
NFHS was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with supplementary support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Number of Surveys Conducted:

The First Survey (NFHS-1): Conducted in 1992-93, the survey collected extensive information on population, health and nutrition, with an emphasis on women and young children.
The Second Survey (NFHS-2): Conducted in 1998-99 in all the states of India with added features on the quality of health and family planning services, domestic violence, reproductive health, anaemia, the nutrition of women and the status of women.
The Third Survey (NFHS-3): Carried out in 2005-2006, with the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) providing technical assistance for the HIV component.
The Fourth Survey (NFHS-4): Carried out in 2014-2015, NFHS-4 is the first of the NFHS series that collects data in each of India’s States and UTs.
The 2019-2021 Fifth Survey (NFHS-5): NFHS-5 findings were eventually revealed in December 2020 (Phase-1), based on which MoHFW established a technical expert panel to develop indicators for malnutrition, stunting, anaemia and C-section.
The 2023-24 NFHS-6: The sixth in the NFHS series, provides information on population, health, and nutrition for India and each state and UT. Like NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, NFHS-6 also provides district-level estimates for many important indicators.

10. Strike a fine balance, have a just civil code

Subject : Polity

Section: Constitution

Concept :

The 22nd Law Commission of India has recently announced its intention to gather public opinions and engage with recognized religious organizations regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). T
his move comes as a result of the previous 21st Law Commission’s consultation paper on the Reform of Family Law, which stated that the formulation of a UCC is not necessary or desirable at the present stage.

Law Commission of India

Law Commission of India is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body, it is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India.
The Commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Its membership primarily comprises legal experts.It plays a crucial role in legal reforms and the development of the Indian legal system.
Establishment: The first Law Commission was established in 1955, and since then, there have been several subsequent commissions. The Law Commission operates under the Law Commission Act, 1956.
Composition: The Commission consists of a chairman, who is typically a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court, and other members, including legal experts and scholars.
Role and Functions: The primary function of the Law Commission is to examine and review the existing laws of the country, suggest reforms, and make recommendations for new legislation. It also conducts research, studies, and consultations on various legal issues referred to it by the government.
Research and Reports: The Commission conducts in-depth research on legal matters, examines specific subjects, and prepares detailed reports with recommendations for legal reforms. These reports cover a wide range of topics, including civil and criminal laws, family laws, constitutional law, administrative law, and other legal areas.
Consultation with Stakeholders: The Law Commission seeks public opinion and engages with stakeholders, including government departments, judiciary, legal professionals, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, to gather diverse perspectives on legal issues and proposed reforms.
Implementation of Recommendations: The government reviews the reports and recommendations of the Law Commission and decides on their implementation. While the Commission’s recommendations are not binding, they often influence legislative changes and legal reforms.
Timeframe and Term: Each Law Commission has a specific term, usually three years, during which it functions. At the end of the term, a new Commission may be constituted.
Impact and Significance: The Law Commission’s recommendations and reports have played a crucial role in shaping Indian laws and legal reforms. Many landmark legislations and amendments have been based on the Commission’s suggestions.
Relationship with Judiciary and Parliament: The Law Commission often collaborates with the judiciary, seeking inputs from judges and addressing legal issues raised in court cases. It also interacts with Parliament, which may refer specific matters to the Commission for its expert opinion.
Recent Developments: The Law Commission continues to address contemporary legal challenges, such as reforms in family laws, criminal justice system, electoral laws, and other areas. It adapts to changing societal needs and legal developments to provide relevant recommendations

11. Joint task force on Open RAN

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Awareness in IT and computers

Concept :

Public-private Joint Task Forces launched on the development and deployment of Open RAN systems and advanced telecoms research and development as a part of Joint Statement issued by India and the United States.

About Open RAN

Open-RAN is not a technology, but rather an ongoing shift in mobile network architecture that allows networks to be built using subcomponents from a variety of vendors.
O-RAN has an open, multi-vendor architecture for deploying mobile networks, as opposed to the single-vendor proprietary architecture.
O-RAN uses software to make hardware manufactured by different companies work together.
The key concept of Open RAN is “opening” the protocols and interfaces between the various subcomponents (radios, hardware and software) in the RAN.

Radio Access Network (RAN):

It 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.
As a technical matter this is what the industry refers to as a disaggregated RAN.

Elements of RAN:

The Radio Unit (RU) is where the radio frequency signals are transmitted, received, amplified and digitized. The RU is located near, or integrated into,the antenna.
The Distributed Unit (DU) is where the real-time, baseband processing functions reside. The DU can be centralized or located near the cell site.
The Centralized Unit (CU) is where the less time-sensitive packet processing functions typically reside.

Functioning of Open RAN:

It is the interface between the RU, DU and the CU that are the main focus of Open RAN.
By opening and standardizing these interfaces (among others in the network), and incentivizing implementation of the same, networks can be deployed with a more modular design without being dependent upon a single vendor.
Making these changes can also allow the DU and CU to be run as virtualized software functions on vendor-neutral hardware.

Traditional RAN:

In a traditional RAN system, the radio, hardware and software are proprietary.
This means that nearly all of the equipment comes from one supplier and that operators are unable to, for example, deploy a network using radios from one vendor with hardware and software from another vendor.
Problems:
Mixing and matching cell sites from different providers typically leads to a performance reduction.
The result is that most network operators, while supporting multiple RAN vendors, will deploy networks using a single vendor in a geographic region which can create vendor lock-in with high barriers to entry for new innovators.

Advantages of O-RAN

Innovation and Options:
An open environment expands the ecosystem, and with more vendors providing the building blocks, there is more innovation and more options for the Operators. They can also add new services.
New Opportunities:
It will open new opportunities for Indian entities to enter into the network equipment market.
Cost Saving:
The benefits of this approach also include increased network agility and flexibility, and cost savings.
It’s expected to make 5G more flexible and cost efficient.

12. Liaquat-Nehru pact

Subject : History

Section: Modern India

Concept :

Death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee was marked recently. He resigned from the cabinet of JL Nehru in April 1950 over the controversial Nehru-Liaquat Pact.

About the Nehru-Liaquat pact

The Nehru-Liaquat Pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, was a bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan in order to provide a framework for the treatment of minorities in the two countries.
It was signed by the two country’s prime ministers – Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan.

Need for the pact:

The need for such a pact was felt by minorities in both countries following Partition, which was accompanied by massive communal rioting.
Even in 1950 over a million Hindus and Muslims migrated to and from East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh), amidst unspoken violence and communal tensions.

The agreement:

The Governments of India and Pakistan solemnly agree that each shall ensure, to the minorities throughout its territory:
complete equality of citizenship, irrespective of religion,
a full sense of security in respect of life, culture, property and personal honour,
freedom of movement within each country and
freedom of occupation, speech and worship, subject to law and morality.
Members of the minorities shall have equal opportunity with members of the majority community to:
participate in the public life of their country,
to hold political or other office, and
to serve in their country’s civil and armed forces.

13. U.K. accuses Russia of ‘training combat dolphins’ in Crimea

Subject : International Relations

Section: Msc

Concept :

The Russian Navy has bolstered security at its Black Sea Fleet base in annexed Crimea with the use of trained dolphins, Britain’s defense ministry said Friday.
Citing satellite imagery, the British military said the number of floating mammal pens in the harbor of Crimea’s port city of Sevastopol has nearly doubled from April to June.

Black Sea Fleet:

The Black Sea Fleet has a long history and is considered to have been founded back in 1783.
It comprises warships of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the eastern Mediterranean, and is headquartered at Sevastopol, the major port on the Crimean peninsula.

Sevastopol

Sevastopol is the largest city in Crimea and a major port on the Black Sea.
Due to its strategic location and the navigability of the city’s harbours, Sevastopol has been an important port and naval base throughout its history.
Since the city’s founding in 1783 it has been a major base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and it was previously a closed city during the Cold War

14. Keeladi

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Concept:

Keeladi is a tiny hamlet in the Sivaganga district in south Tamil Nadu. It is about 12 km south-east to the temple city of Madurai and is located along the Vaigai river.
The excavations here from 2015 prove that an urban civilization existed in Tamil Nadu in the Sangam age on the banks of the Vaigai river.

Key Findings

In the eight rounds of excavations, including the first three by the ASI, over 18,000 artefacts have been unearthed from the site and the unique artefacts will be on display at the museum to be opened soon( Ninth round of excavations are going on).
Unearthing of heaps of pottery suggest the existence of a pottery making industry, mostly made of locally available raw materials. Over 120 potsherds containing Tamil Brahmi inscriptions have been found.
Over a thousand inscribed potsherds, found at Keeladi and other sites clearly suggest the long survival of the script.
Spindle whorls, copper needles, terracotta seal, hanging stones of the yarn, terracotta spheres and earthen vessels to hold liquid suggest various stages of a weaving industry. There also existed a dyeing industry and a glass bead industry.
Gold ornaments, copper articles, semi-precious stones, shell bangles, ivory bangles and ivory combs reflect the artistic, culturally rich and prosperous lifestyle of the Keeladi people.
Agate and carnelian beads suggest import through commercial networks while terracotta and ivory dice, gamesmen and evidence of hopscotch have been unearthed revealing their pastime hobbies.

Significance of the Findings

Linkages with Sangam Age:
The Sangam age is a period of history in ancient Tamil Nadu which was believed to be from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE and derives its name from the renowned Sangam assemblies of the poets of Madurai from that time.
A recent ASI report has pushed the Sangam age to 800 BCE based on these archaeological findings.
Keeladi could also provide crucial evidence for understanding the missing links of the Iron Age (12th century BCE to sixth century BCE) to the Early Historic Period (sixth century BCE to fourth century BCE) and subsequent cultural developments.
Potential Linkages with Indus Valley:
The unearthed Keeladi artefacts have led academics to describe the site as part of the Vaigai Valley Civilization. The findings have also invited comparisons with the Indus Valley Civilization while acknowledging the cultural gap of 1,000 years between the two places.
The gap is filled with Iron Age material in south India, which serve as residual links.
According to Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSDA) Keeladi has all the characteristics of an urban civilization, with brick structures, luxury items and proof of internal and external trade.
It comes across as an industrious and advanced civilization and has given evidence of urban life and settlements in Tamil Nadu during the Early Historic Period.

What was the Controversy Surrounding Keeladi?

After reports of possible links with the Indus Valley Civilization, there was “no significant finding” in the third round, which was seen as an attempt to play down the excavation findings.
On the intervention of the Madras High Court, the TNSDA has been carrying out excavations since 4th round instead of ASI to unearth more about the history of Tamil civilization.

Sangam Age

The word ‘Sangam’ is the Tamil form of the Sanskrit word Sangha which means a group of persons or an association.
The Tamil Sangam was an academy of poets who flourished in three different periods and in different places under the patronage of the Pandyan kings.
The Sangam literature which was largely consolidated from the third Sangam, throws information on conditions of life of people around the beginning of the Christian era.
It deals with the secular matter relating to the public and social activities like government, war charity, trade, worship, agriculture, etc.
Sangam literature consists of the earliest Tamil works (such as the Tolkappiyam), the ten poems (Pattupattu), the eight anthologies (Ettutogai) and the eighteen minor works (Padinenkilkanakku), and the three epics.

Tamil-Brahmi Script

The Brahmi script was the earliest script that the Tamils used.
In the late ancient and early medieval period, they started evolving a new angular script, called the Grantha script, from which the modern Tamil is derived.

Vaigai River

It is an east-flowing river.
The Vaigai river basin is an important basin among the 12 basins lying between the Cauvery and Kanyakumari.
This basin is bounded by the Cardamom Hills and the Palani Hills on the West and by the Palk Strait and Palk Bay on the East.

15. Titan tragedy offers lessons for proposed Indian submersible dive

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Msc

Concept :

The Titan, which has previously ferried tourists to view the wreck of the Titanic buried 3,800 metres in the North Atlantic, lost contact with its mothership, Polar Prince, on June 17.

Submersible and Submarines

Unlike submarines that can stay underwater for months and independently travel between ports, submersibles are relatively low-powered and must be ferried to a specific point in the sea by the mothership from where they are lowered into the sea with the crew bolted inside.
After the dive, the submersible resurfaces and the crew is brought back to the ship.

Safety measures taken in Matysa 6000

The Titan consists of a carbon fibre sphere with a titanium casing on the front and back.
“When we were in the planning stage, there was a proposal to use carbon fibre but we firmly ruled it out and insisted on a titanium enclosure,” said G. Ramadass, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
Titanium is stronger than steel but many times lighter — a key criterion that helps the submersible resurface with relative ease from the depths of the open ocean.
While the choice of the material is made depending upon the depth and the cost involved, it is crucial that the submersibe hull is perfectly spherical, so that the extreme pressure at the ocean depth is evenly balanced.

16. NCDRC fines Delhi based hospital ₹1.5 crore for negligence during IVF

Subject :Polity

Section :Legislation in news

Context: A West Delhi based hospital that botched up an in vitro fertilisation procedure (IVF) for a Hyderabad based couple, by using donor semen that did not belong to the husband, has been instructed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to cough up a fine of ₹1.5 crore for negligence and resorting to unethical practices

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:

It is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
Its head office is in New Delhi.
The Commission is headed by a sitting or a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a sitting or retired Chief Justice of the High Court.
The Act mandates the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Centre as well as in each State and District to promote consumer awareness.
The Central Council is headed by the Minister In-charge of the Department of Consumer Affairs in the Central Government, and the State Councils by the Minister In-charge of Consumer Affairs in the State Governments.
It also provides for a 3-tier structure of the National Commission, the State Commissions and the District Commissions for speedy resolution of consumer disputes.

What is in-vitro fertilisation (IVF)?

It is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) where sperm and an egg are fertilised outside of the human body.
It is a complex process that involves retrieving eggs from ovaries and manually combining them with sperm in a lab for fertilisation.
Several days after fertilisation, the fertilised egg (now called an embryo) is placed inside a uterus. Pregnancy occurs when this embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.