Daily Prelims Notes 26 February 2021

February 26, 2021
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

26 February 2021

By

Santosh Sir

All 6 Prelims qualified

4 CSE Mains qualified

If I can do it, you can too

Table Of Contents

1. Extradition

Subject: Government policies

Context: The UK Court delivered the verdict holding that the evidence against NiravModi was prima facie sufficient to order his extradition to India to face the charges.

Concept:

He is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate in a Rs 13,500-crore bank loan fraud case in India.

What next?

The court, however, said Modi would have the right to appeal (on a matter of law or fact or both) to the High Court against the decision to send the case to the Secretary of State. However, this appeal would not be heard until the Secretary of State has made a decision.
If appeal is not made or denied the extradition process will start.

About extradition

Extradition is the legal process to transfer person from one country to another who requires him/her to deal with for crimes of which they have been accused or convicted and are justifiable in the Courts of the other State.
In India it is governed under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962. This is for both extraditing of persons to India and from India to foreign countries.
The Consular, Passport & Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India is the Central/Nodal Authority that administers the Extradition Act and it processes incoming and outgoing Extradition Requests.
The basis of extradition is treaty between two countries.
In the absence of a treaty, a country can still make a request, which the other country will decide in accordance with its laws.

Procedure of extradition

Information about the fugitive criminals is shared with the country of extradition through Interpol (in India CBI has an Interpol wing who does it for request from other countries), who passes to the police departments of that country.
The information is passed to the immigration authorities.
Post this action can be initiated for the extradition.
In between the alleged criminal can utilize the appeal procedure against the extradition in country from where extradition is supposed to be done.

Most treaties generally follow at least five principles:

Extradition applies only to offences stipulated as extraditable
The offences must be covered under the national laws of both countries
The requested country must be satisfied of a prima facie case
The person must be tried only for the offence specified in extradition
There must be a fair trial.

2. Draft Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, for social media platforms, OTT players & digital media

Subject: Polity

Context: The Centre notified new guidelines for intermediaries in “soft touch oversight” rules for fixing accountability for the “misuse and abuse”.

Concept:

The guidelines essentially remove the “safe harbour” provided to these companies — it limited their liability over content that users posted on their platforms — if the platforms do not comply with due diligence norms.
hold social media and other companies accountable for “misuse and abuse”
Big Tech platforms to set up stronger grievance redressal mechanisms, and appoint executives to coordinate with law enforcement in India.

It also mentions three-level grievance redressal mechanism. This will include self-regulation by the publishers; self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the publishers and oversight mechanism.

3. Gelatin sticks

Subject: Science and technology

Context: 20 gelatin sticks were found near the car of Mukesh Ambani who enjoys “Z plus” security (highest security to individual assessed to be facing threat in India)

Concept:

Gelatin sticks are mostly used for blasting purposes in quarries (recent years saw its use in some terror cases).
They need a detonator to be set off.
It is also called as gelignite or simple jelly. it consists of consisting of collodion-cotton (a type of nitrocellulose or guncotton) dissolved in either nitroglycerine or nitrogly col and mixed with wood pulp and saltpetre.
It was invented in 1875, by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, who also invented dynamite.
Its composition makes it easily moldable and safe to handle without protection, as long as it is not near anything capable of detonating it.

4. Section 377 of IPC

Subject: Polity

Context: The Centre in Delhi High court submitted that Same sex marriage is against Indian ethos

Concept:

It deals with consensual private sexual acts between adults and came into force in 1862 and
The archaic, colonial-era law criminalizes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”.

Judiciary and the Law Commission view on Section 377

The 172nd report of the Law Commission of India recommended the deletion of Section 377 but no action was taken.
Naz Foundation Case: the Delhi High Court decriminalized Section 377, ruling that consenting intercourse between two adults was not illegal, and it was violative of Articles 21, 14 and 15 of the Constitution.
Suresh Kumar Koushal case: The 2-bench judgement overturned the judgement of Delhi HC and recriminalized it.
In 2014, in the NALSA judgment, the SC accorded the transgender community the right to be called the third gender, separate from male and female.
Justice (Retired) Puttaswamy case: Right to privacy was a fundamental right and privacy included the preservation of personal intimacies, the sanctity of family life, marriage, procreation, the home and sexual orientation
Again in 2018 a 5-bench judgement of the Supreme Court (SC) decriminalized homosexuality by striking off parts of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which were held violative of Fundamental Rights of LGBTQ Community.

Additional info

Yogyakarta Principles came in 2006 and recognizes freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity as part of Human Rights.

5. Ancient Buddhist Monastery found in Jharkhand/Nagri script

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: The monastery was found near Burhani village near JuljulPahar of Sitagarhi Hills (12 kms from Hazaribagh) in Jharkhand by ASI team.

Concept:

It is believed to be at least 900 years old, buried under a mound in a village.
It is significant for it comes two months after discovery of an ancient Buddhist shrine (three rooms with Central shrine having statue of Tara, and other two subsidiary shrine of Buddha), buried under a similar mound, barely 100 metres away.
On the site ASI team excavated 10 stone statues of deity Tara and the Buddha. Though the scientific findings have yet not confirmed it, possibility is it belonged to Pala empire.
It also found sculpture which appears to be that of Shaivite deity Maheswari – with a coiled crown and chakra – indicating cultural assimilation in the area.
The presence of statues of deity Tara shows possible proliferation of Vajrayana form of Buddhism in this region.
Four statues of deity Tara in Varad Mudra (gesture of hand showing dispensing of boons) and six statues of the Buddha in Bhumisparsa Mudra (gesture of hand showing five fingers of right hand towards the earth symbolising the Buddha’s enlightenment).
It also falls on the old path to Varanasi (Sarnath), where Buddha gave first sermon.
Last year a script was found of 3-4 words as well and was believed to be Nagri script and was dated between 10th century AD to 12th century AD.
Nagri is a previous version of Devnagri script and the words indicate Buddhist religious affiliation.
This time also ASI got Nagri script on a Tara statue.

Vajrayana

Vajrayana is a form of Tantric Buddhism, which flourished in India from 6th to 11th century.

About Tara

Also called Arya Tara, or Shayama Tara or Jetsun Dolma.
Tara is an important figure in Buddhism with particularly reverence in Tibetan Buddhism.
She is the feminine counterpart of the bodhisattva (“buddha-to-be”) Avalokiteshvara.
Popular believe is she came into existence from a tear of Avalokiteshvara, which fell to the ground and formed a lake.
Considered Female bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism. She represents the virtues of success in work and achievements

6. Section 69 of the IT Act

Subject: Polity

Context: Under the guidelines executives of intermediaries which fail to act on an order issued by the government citing threat to sovereignty or integrity, defence, security of the state or public order, can be jailed for up to a period of seven years under Section 69 of the IT Act.

Concept:

It empowers the Central or State Government or any other competent authority to direct any agency of the appropriate government to monitor, intercept or decrypt any information transmitted, generated, received or stored in any computer resource in cases related to:
2018 notification allowed 10 agencies for interception, monitoring and decryption of information under the section 69 of Information Technology (IT) Act.
It adds “investigation of crime” along with provisions in Indian Telegraph Act 1885 which allows for interception and monitoring in following 5 cases

In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India
Security of the State
Friendly relations with foreign states
To maintain public order
Prevent incitement to the commission of an offence

7. Rise in bond yield

Subject: Economy

Context: Rising yields on government securities or bonds in the United States and India have triggered concern over the negative impact on other asset classes, especially stock markets, and even gold.

Concept:

Bond yield is the return an investor gets on that bond or on a particular government security.
The major factors affecting the yield is the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India, especially the course of interest rates, the fiscal position of the government and its borrowing programme, global markets, economy, and inflation.
A fall in interest rates makes bond prices rise, and bond yields fall and vice-versa.
Bond yields are inversely proportional to equity returns: when bond yields decline, equity markets tend to outperform, and when yields rise, equity market returns tend to falter
Thus, when bond yields go up, investors start reallocating investments away from equities and into bonds, as they are much safer. As bond yields rise, the opportunity cost of investing in equities goes up, and equities become less attractive.
Also, a rise in bond yields raises the cost of capital for companies, which in turn compresses the valuations of their stocks
Impact on Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI): Traditionally, when bond yields rise in the US, FPIs move out of Indian equities. Also, it has been seen that when the bond yield in India goes up, it results in capital outflows from equities and into debt.

8. Inscription on Vijayanagar king’s death discovered

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: The first ever Epigraphical reference to the date of death of Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya has been discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district.

Concept:

According to it he died on October 17, 1529, Sunday, and incidentally this day was marked by a lunar eclipse. Normally, the death of kings in India has not been recorded in the inscriptions and this was one of those rare records
The inscription is engraved on a slab kept on the north side of the Gopalakrishna temple at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district and is written in Kannada.
The Kalahasti inscription alsorefered to the date of Achyutaraya’s coronation as October 21, 1529 AD, post Krishnadeva Rai death.

About Krishnadeva Rai

He was one of the greatest King in South India who ruled over Vijaynagarempire and belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
He is known for making some of the finest temples with addition of impressive gopurams.
He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagar called Nagalapuram
He wrote Amuktamalyadam, a literary work in Telugu language which is considered one of the Panchakavyas of Telugu literature. He was conferred with the title Andhrabhoja for this.
He wrote other important or notable literature such asMadalasaCharitra, Ushaparinayam, Jambavatiparinayam, Sakalakathasaram in Telugu language.
He patronized AllasaniPeddana, who wrote Manucharitram in Telugu language which was in form of Prabandha.

About Vijaynagara empire:

Vijayanagara or “city of victory” was both a city and an empire founded in 1336 AD by Harihara and Bukka of Sangama dynasty. Ruled by four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu
They made Hampi as the capital city. In 1986, Hampi was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

9. Osprey

Subject: Environment

Context: The frequency data around waterbodies and wetlands in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur shows that migratory bird Ospery might have found an additional home in this region.

Concept:

Normally, Osprey is considered a migratory bird in India.
However, for reasons still to be known (maybe they have become resident or stayed late or came early) the bird has been sighted at times it is generally not spotted. At the same time no evidence of breeding has also been reported.
Ospreys migrate to India from Russia to escape the harsh winters.
Research has shown that Ospreys migrate alone and the offspring faces a great challenge of not only endurance but also navigation.

Migration of Birds

Migratory birds fly hundreds and thousands of kilometres to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding and raising their young.

About Osprey

It is also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk — is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range (found across or most of the world in appropriate habitats).
It is a large raptor species or “Birds of prey”.
Its IUCN conservation status is “Least Concern”.
It lives in wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.
Osprey are mostly found in area with coastal forest nearby (Pulicat lake provides it here in India).

10. Pandemic generation

Subject: Environment/Science and technology

Context: The pandemic which continues to date has impacted all aspects of our life with the new generation potentially biggest sufferer, called as “pandemic generation”.

Concept:

New generation that has taken birth during the pandemic, those about to be born and children under five will be the worst victims in terms of long-term impacts on growth and development
The importance of this generation comes from the fact that by 2040, they will account for around roughly 46 per cent of the workforce in a country like India.
375 million children (from newborns to 14-year-olds) is likely to suffer long-lasting impacts, ranging from being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education and work productivity, according to the State of Environment Report, 2021, by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
Over 500 million children have been forced out of school globally and India accounted for more than half of them.
115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic – and most of them live in South Asia which will further impact this generation.

11. Who controls Airspace?

Subject: Economy

Context: Recently India allowed Pakistan PM use of its airspace in his trip to Sri Lanka which is part of softening relations slowly due to back channel diplomacy.

Concept:

Every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory (Article 1 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation).
Territory of any state includes 12 nautical miles of territorial waters off the coastline.
Airspace beyond any country’s territorial limit is considered as ‘International Airspace’.
Airspace is a natural resource with finite capacity for which demand from all users is constantly expanding. There has been an increased requirement on airspace use to meet a fast-growing aviation demand.
There are two major airspace users in the world today civil and military.

a. Civil includes; private, commercial and government owned aircraft primarily transporting cargo and passengers.

b. Military aviation includes; state-owned aircraft engaged in transport training, security and defence

In order for international aviation to operate safely and harmoniously, States have agreed to collaborate ATC services, access of airspace and common regulatory infrastructure.
A Flight permit is the permission required by an aircraft to fly over, land or make a stop in the airspace belonging to a specific country.
All the countries have their own regulations regarding the issuance of flight permits. Generally, there are charges to be paid by the companies operating these flights for the use of services which could include:

Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) to be paid for flying over acountry’s airspace
Landing charges and Parking charges
Terminal Navigation and Landing Charges (TNLC

Different types of permits are:

Overflight Permit: This permit is taken to enter the airspace of a sovereign country, fly over it and exit it under Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) which permit flights from other countries. However, a prior approval is required before entering an airspace. In certain cases, conflict with the country of origin or destination, outstanding navigation fees etc. could be the reasons for denial of permission for a particular flight.
Landing Permit: This permit is sought to land at a specific airport facility.
Diplomatic Permit for aircraft belonging to the government or military. Generally provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country over which the aircraft would be flying over.

In India, the DGCA determines the charges to be levied on International flights for using Indian Airspace

12. President’s rule

Subject: Polity

Context: President’s Rule was imposed in the Union Territory of Puducherry and the Legislative Assembly was placed under suspended animation.

Concept:

It was based on the report of administrator of the UT of Puducherry that administration of the Union Territory of Puducherry cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 (20 of 1963)”.

About the President’s rule

It is the suspension of an elected state/UT government and the imposition of direct rule of the Centre, also called as the “state emergency”.
The Constitution provides for the President’s Rule imposition through the invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.
This application of the President’s rule is done after receipt of the report from the Governor of the State or otherwise (Article 365 says that whenever a state fails to comply with or to give effect to any direction from the Centre, it will be lawful for the president to hold that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution), is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution

Parliamentary Approval and Duration of Art 356

Proclamation must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue through simple majority in either House.
It is initially valid for six months and can be extended for a maximum period of three years with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.

Revocation

A proclamation of President’s Rule may be revoked by the President at any time by a subsequent proclamation. Such a proclamation does not require parliamentary approval.
Consequences of President’s Rule
The state governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the state administration with the help of the chief secretary of the state or the advisors appointed by the President.
The President can declare that the powers of the state legislature are to be exercised by the Parliament.
The President either suspends or dissolves the state legislative assembly.