Daily Prelims Notes 25 December 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

25 December 2024

Table Of Contents

1. What is quantum computing?
2. Understanding Age-Related Muscle Loss: The Role of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations
3. Khel Ratna Award Controversy
4. Taxing Popcorn in India: GST Controversy

1. What is quantum computing?

Sub: Sci

Sec: Computer and IT

Quantum Computers: 

• Quantum computers are revolutionary devices that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than classical computers.
• Proposed by Richard Feynman in 1982, the idea arose from the realization that classical computers struggle to simulate quantum systems.

Basics of Quantum Computing:

• Classical Computers:
  • Operate on bits (0 or 1).
  • Use the binary system to represent information.
• Quantum Computers:
  • Use qubits, which can exist in states 0, 1, or a mix of both simultaneously (superposition).
• Rely on two fundamental principles:
• Superposition:
  • Allows qubits to hold multiple states at once.
  • For example, it is like a spinning coin that is both heads and tails until measured.
• Entanglement:
  • Links qubits so the state of one instantly reveals the state of another, regardless of distance.
  • Example: Like knowing the pair of a glove in another box once one is opened.
• These principles enable quantum computers to perform multiple computations simultaneously and solve problems faster than classical computers.

Progress in Quantum Computing:

• 1994: Shor’s Algorithm: Demonstrated quantum computers’ ability to factor large numbers quickly, with implications for data security.
• 2019: IBM’s Q System One: The first circuit-based commercial quantum computer, using quantum gates to manipulate qubits.
  • Google’s Sycamore Processor: Achieved quantum supremacy, solving a problem in 200 seconds that would take a supercomputer 10,000 years.
• 2023: Google’s Willow Quantum Chip:
  • Introduced error-corrected qubits that improve with scaling.
  • Completed a calculation in 5 minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 trillion trillion years.

Present Limitations:

• Cost and Complexity: Building quantum computers is expensive and technologically challenging.
• Stability Issues:
  • Qubits are prone to errors and decoherence (loss of superposition due to environmental noise).
  • Error correction remains a significant hurdle.
• Scale Requirements: Practical applications like drug discovery or astrophysics require millions of qubits, which are currently unfeasible.

India’s Quantum Mission:

• Recognizing the potential of quantum computing, India launched the National Quantum Mission (2023), allocating ₹6,000 crore over eight years.

Key Objectives of NQM

• Development of Quantum Technologies:
  • Build quantum computers with 50-1,000 physical qubits over the next 8 years.
  • Focus on scalable quantum hardware and error correction mechanisms.
• Quantum Communication:
  • Create a secure quantum communication network between strategic locations.
  • Develop satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) systems for enhanced data security.
• Quantum Materials and Sensors:
  • Design and fabricate quantum materials for advanced applications.
  • Develop sensors for precision measurements in areas like meteorology, healthcare, and navigation.
• Quantum Algorithms and Applications:
  • Research quantum algorithms for optimization problems, cryptography, and artificial intelligence.
  • Apply quantum solutions to drug discovery, climate modelling, and financial modelling.

Source: TH

2. Understanding Age-Related Muscle Loss: The Role of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• Recent research published in the journal Genome Research by scientists from the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Alberta, Canada, reveals a significant link between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion mutations and biological aging. This study sheds light on why humans lose muscle mass with age and offers insights into the mechanisms underlying this process.

Mitochondrial DNA and Aging:

• As humans age, deletion mutations in mtDNA accumulate, particularly in tissues like skeletal muscle and the brain. These mutations impair mitochondrial function, leading to cell death and muscle mass loss.

About Mitochondrial DNA:

• The nuclear genome comprises approximately 3.2 billion base pairs and encodes 20,000 protein-coding genes.
• In contrast, the mtDNA is much smaller, consisting of 16,569 base pairs and encoding 13 protein-coding genes.
• Mitochondria are inherited exclusively from the mother’s egg.
• Mitochondria evolved from free-living bacteria that became symbiotic with early single-celled organisms.
• Over time, most mitochondrial genes were transferred to the nuclear genome, leaving only a small subset in the mtDNA.
• Importance of Mitochondria: Mitochondria are known as the “powerhouses of the cell” because they synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for cellular functions.
• Mitochondria have their own genome (mtDNA), which encodes essential proteins for their function.

Mechanisms Behind Muscle Loss:

• Deletion mutations involve the loss of thousands of base pairs from mtDNA, resulting in smaller, mutated mtDNA molecules. These defective mtDNA molecules outcompete normal mtDNA during cell replication, disrupting mitochondrial function.
• Deletion mutations can bring together sequences of different mtDNA genes, creating novel “chimeric” genes. These chimeric genes interfere with the normal function of mtDNA, exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction.
• When too many mtDNA molecules are damaged, mitochondria fail to produce sufficient ATP, causing muscle cells to lose their ability to contract and eventually die. This process underpins age-related muscle mass loss.

3. Khel Ratna Award Controversy

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Awards

Why in News

• Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist in shooting, was reportedly excluded from the list of nominees for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour. This exclusion sparked controversy, leading to clarifications from both Bhaker and the Sports Ministry.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award:

• Named After: Major Dhyan Chand (1905–1979), a legendary Indian field hockey player.
• Established: 1991–1992, originally called Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, renamed in 2021.
• It is India’s highest sporting award conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

Eligibility:

• Awarded to sportspersons with outstanding performance at international competitions (Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cups, etc.) over the last four years.
• Achievements from Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games are also considered during the respective years.
• Athletes under doping charges or ongoing investigations are ineligible.

General Conditions:

• No individual can receive the award more than once.
• Only one award is given per year, with exceptions in extraordinary cases.
• Posthumous awards can be given if necessary.
• The Government can cancel or annul the award for reasons such as doping violations.

Benefits:

• Cash Prize: ₹25,00,000 (exempt from income and wealth tax).
• Certificate of Honor: Awarded to the sportsperson.
• Medal: Conferred to the recipient.

4. Taxing Popcorn in India: GST Controversy

Sub: Eco

Sec: Fiscal Policy

Context:

The GST Council introduced differential tax rates on popcorn based on its content:

• Non-branded, salted/spiced popcorn: 5% GST
• Pre-packaged and branded popcorn: 12% GST
• Caramel popcorn (sugar confectionery): 18% GST

Rationale: Finance Minister Sitharaman explained that products with added sugar are taxed at higher rates.

Criticism

• Complexity:
  • Taxing popcorn based on content and branding adds unnecessary complexity to the GST system.
  • Critics argue it undermines the original intent of GST.
• Minimal Revenue Impact:
  • Former Chief Economic Advisers questioned its negligible revenue contribution versus the inconvenience caused.
• Enforcement Challenges:
  • Classifying popcorn varieties (e.g., salted caramel popcorn) complicates compliance and enforcement.
• Media Backlash:
  • Criticism highlights the absurdity of having three tax slabs for popcorn.

Goods and Services Tax (GST): 

The 101st Constitutional Amendment Act (2017) introduced GST, a comprehensive indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services.

Key Features

• One Nation, One Tax:
  • Replaces multiple indirect taxes (e.g., excise duty, VAT, service tax) with a single framework.
• Dual Structure:
  • Central GST (CGST): Levied by the Central Government.
  • State GST (SGST): Levied by State Governments.
  • Integrated GST (IGST): Applicable to inter-state transactions, collected by the Centre and apportioned to states.
• Destination-based Tax:
  • GST is levied at the place of consumption rather than the place of origin.
• Tax Slabs:
  • Ranges from 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% depending on the nature of goods/services.
• Governance:
  • GST Council: Apex decision-making body.
  • Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN): Provides IT infrastructure for GST operations.

Key Achievements

• Increased Taxpayer Base:
• Elimination of Cascading Effect: Input tax credit ensures taxes are levied only on value addition.
• Simplified Compliance for Small Taxpayers: Initiatives like the Composition Scheme reduce tax burdens and compliance hassles.
• Streamlined Transactions: Introduction of e-way bills facilitates inter-state and intra-state commerce.

Challenges faced so far:

• Multiplicity of Tax Slabs:
  • Complexity in classification (e.g., popcorn taxation controversies).
• Excluded Products:
  • Certain products like alcohol and petroleum remain outside GST’s purview.
• Reduced Taxation Power for States:
  • States face constraints in levying their own indirect taxes.
• Revenue Shortfalls for States:
  • Delayed compensation for states’ revenue losses hampers fiscal planning.