Daily Prelims Notes 27 June 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

27 June 2024

1. Read the rocks to improve India’s geological literacy

Sub: Geography

Sec: Geomorphology

India’s Geological Diversity and Heritage:

• India showcases a diverse morphology with landscapes ranging from the world’s greatest peaks to low-lying coastal plains.
• The country features a variety of rocks, minerals, and distinctive fossil assemblages that tell the geological history of India.
• These geological features are part of India’s non-cultural heritage and serve as educational spaces for geological literacy.

Scant Traction in Geological Conservation:

• Geological conservation in India aims to preserve the best examples of geological features for future generations.
• Despite international progress, geo-conservation has not gained much traction in India.
• Many fossil-bearing sites have been destroyed due to development, real estate growth, and destructive stone mining activities.
• The magnitude of stone-mining operations covers more than 10% of India’s total area.
• Important geological sites, like the Dhala meteoritic impact crater (Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh) and the Lonar crater (Buldhana district of Maharashtra), are not widely known or protected.

Importance of Shared Geological Heritage:

• The importance of shared geological heritage was first recognized in 1991 at a UNESCO-sponsored event ‘First International Symposium on the Conservation of our Geological Heritage’ in Digne, France.
• The event endorsed the concept of a shared legacy and foresaw the establishment of geo-parks to commemorate unique geological features and educate the public.

Development of Geo-heritage Sites Worldwide:

• Countries like Canada, China, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom have developed geo-heritage sites as national parks.
• UNESCO has prepared guidelines for the development of geo-parks.
• Many countries have legislation to protect and designate geo-parks, with Europe celebrating its geological heritage across 73 zones.
• Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam have implemented laws to conserve their geological and natural heritage.
• Although India is a signatory, it lacks legislation or policy for geo-heritage conservation.

Need for Sustainable Conservation Approaches:

• India has formulated approaches to protect biodiversity, such as the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, resulting in 18 notified biosphere reserves.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has notified 34 geological monuments but lacks regulatory powers for preservation.
• An example is the cliff in Varkala, in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, declared a geological heritage site but partially demolished due to landslide hazards.

Half-hearted Measures and the Way Forward:

• The Government of India attempted to address these concerns by proposing a National Commission for Heritage Sites in 2009, but the Bill was withdrawn.
• In 2022, the Ministry of Mines prepared a draft Bill for preservation and maintenance, but no progress has been made.
• India needs to create an inventory of prospective geo-sites, frame geo-conservation legislation, and establish a National Geo-Conservation Authority.
• The new authority should avoid red tape and respect the autonomy of researchers and private collectors.

Geo-Heritage Site/National Geological Monuments:

• Geoheritage refers to sites or areas with significant scientific, educational, cultural, or aesthetic value due to their geological features.
• These sites may have unique rock formations, fossils, or landscapes that are important for education, research, cultural significance, or visual appeal. They can also contribute to local and regional economies as tourist destinations.
• GSI or the respective State governments take necessary measures to protect these sites.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares geo-heritage sites/national geological monuments for protection and maintenance.
• GSI is a scientific agency that was founded in 1851 to find coal deposits for the Railways. The GSI is headquartered in Kolkata and is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines. Its main functions include creating and updating national geoscientific information and assessing mineral resources.

List of 34 Geo-Heritage sites in India:

Source: TH

2. India’s largest leopard safari opens at Bannerghatta

Sub: Environment

Sec: Protected Area

Context:

• Inauguration of South India’s First and Country’s Largest Leopard Safari at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in Karnataka.

Details:

• A safari area of 20 hectares is demarcated and fenced as per Central Zoo Authority guidelines.
• Currently, eight leopards are released in the open forest area.
• Bannerghatta has a significant population of free-ranging leopards (Panthera pardus).
• Terrain: undulating with natural rocky outcrops and semi-deciduous forest.
  • Enclosed with a 4.5-metre high vertical chain-link mesh, MS sheets at a 30° inclined angle of 1.5 metres.
• Leopard cubs rescued across the State will be raised and shifted to the safari to educate visitors about big cats and human-animal conflicts.
• Four acres within the safari are separated by a solar fence for acclimatisation.

Additional Initiatives Inaugurated by Minister Khandre at BBP:

• Renovated elephant weaning centre.
• Babycare room at the butterfly park.
• Children’s play area.
• Entrance arch.
• Flagging off of electric buggies and zoo installations.
• Naming of a male elephant calf as Swaraj.
• Release of six hamadryas baboons for public display.

Future Developments Proposed at BBP

• New naturalistic enclosures for emus and rheas costing ₹50 lakh.
• Hunting cheetah enclosure estimated at ₹1.5 crore.
• Hamadrya and olive baboon enclosure at ₹1.5 crore.
• Indian grey wolf enclosure at ₹1.5 crore.
• Development of skywalks to connect the zoo and the butterfly park.

Details of species in the news:

Species	Description
Emus	The emu is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia, where it is the largest native bird. It is the only extant member of the genus Dromaius and the second-tallest living bird after its African ratite relative, the common ostrich. The emu’s native ranges cover most of the Australian mainland. The Tasmanian, Kangaroo Island and King Island subspecies became extinct after the European settlement of Australia in 1788.
Rheas	Rheas, also known as ñandus or South American ostrich, are moderately sized South American ratites (flightless birds without a keel on their sternum bone) of the order Rheiformes. They are distantly related to the African ostriches and Australia’s emu (the largest and second-largest living ratites, respectively), with rheas placing just behind the emu in height and overall size.
Hamadryas Baboon	The hamadryas baboon is a species of baboon within the Old World monkey family. It is the northernmost of all the baboons, being native to the Horn of Africa and the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula. These regions provide habitats with the advantage for this species of fewer natural predators than central or southern Africa where other baboons reside. The hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians and appeared in various roles in ancient Egyptian religion, hence its alternative name of ‘sacred baboon’.
Olive Baboon	The olive baboon, also called the Anubis baboon, is a member of the family Cercopithecidae Old World monkeys. The species is the most wide-ranging of all baboons, being native to 25 countries throughout Africa, extending from Mali eastward to Ethiopia and Tanzania. Isolated populations are also present in some mountainous regions of the Sahara. It inhabits savannahs, steppes, and forests. The common name is derived from its coat colour, which is a shade of green-grey at a distance. A variety of communications, vocal and non-vocal, facilitate a complex social structure.
Indian grey wolf	The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a subspecies of grey wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent. It is intermediate in size between the Himalayan wolf and the Arabian wolf and lacks the former’s luxuriant winter coat due to it living in warmer conditions. Within this subspecies, the “Indian plains wolf” is genetically basal to all other extant Canis lupus apart from the older lineage Himalayan wolf, with both proposed as separate species. The Indian wolf is one of the most endangered populations of grey wolf in the world.

Source: TH

3. Cauvery delta farmers are gaining resilience by cultivating indigenous rice varieties

Sub: Geography

Sec: Agriculture

Context:

• The Cauvery delta has been crucial for food security in southern India for centuries, with its fertile lands supporting lush paddy fields and vital canals.

Challenges faced by paddy cultivators along Cauvery delta:

• In the last decade, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and poor irrigation have impacted rice production.
• Smallholder paddy cultivators struggle with costly, water-intensive modern rice varieties, compounded by high costs of fertilizers and pesticides, reducing the economic viability of rice cultivation.

Revival of Traditional Farming Practices:

• Farmers in the Cauvery Delta are turning to traditional farming methods and resilient rice varieties, inspired by initiatives like the ‘Save our Rice’ campaign.
• Of the 186,000 acres planted with traditional paddy in Tamil Nadu, 42,000 acres are in the Cauvery delta.
• Traditional practices integrate soil, water, and livestock, offering potential solutions to modern agricultural challenges.
• Traditional varieties of paddy: Mappillai Samba, Karuppu Kavuni, Thooya Malli, Thanga Samba, and Kichadi Samba.
• Other varieties like Kullakaar, Thooyamalli, and Karunkuruvai

Advantages of Traditional Rice Varieties:

• Traditional rice yields may be lower per acre, but they offer fewer challenges and cost savings, such as using their seeds each season.
• Some traditional varieties can sprout again without replanting, reducing labour.
• Traditional rice is found in multiple hues (white, red, black, brown), each with unique nutritional and health benefits.
• Traditional rice varieties are drought-tolerant and require less frequent watering than hybrid varieties.

Environmental and Health Benefits:

• Traditional rice farming uses organic methods, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which benefits the environment and soil health.
• These methods also support biodiversity by using only insect repellants and not harming beneficial insects.
• Traditional rice is seen as healthier, addressing modern dietary issues and lifestyle diseases.

Marketing and Economic Challenges

• Marketing traditional rice is challenging due to competition from cheaper, chemically-grown rice.
• Farmers face difficulties selling their produce at fair prices and often need to transport their rice to specific mills for proper processing.
• Mudfield Natural Farming in Pattukkottai helps over 100 farmers grow and market traditional rice organically, targeting urban consumers.

Source: DTE

4. How well is India tapping its rooftop solar potential?

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Renewable energy

Context:

• The country’s installed RTS capacity increased by 2.99 GW in 2023-2024, the highest growth reported in a year.

Statistics regarding RTS:

• As of March 31 this year, the total installed RTS capacity in India was 11.87 GW, per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 
• In 2015, the government revised this target to 100 GW by 2022, including a 40 GW RTS component, with specific yearly targets for each State and Union Territory. 
• In December 2022, India achieved an installed RTS capacity of about 7.5 GW.
• It extended the deadline for the 40 GW target to 2026.

What is the RTS programme?

• The Indian government launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010. 
• It was the first major initiative to promote the growth of solar energy.
• The main objective was to produce 20 GW of solar energy (including RTS) in three phases: 2010-2013, 2013-2017, and 2017-2022.
• Rooftop solar (RTS) has the potential to revolutionize India’s energy landscape, offering a sustainable, decentralized, and affordable solution to meet the country’s growing electricity needs and making consumers self-reliant.
• Based on the RTS capacities calculated as of March 31, 2024, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have taken big strides.
• India’s first solar-powered village, is in Gujarat and has 1,300 RTS systems of 1 kW each.
• Maharashtra, with an RTS capacity of 2,072 MW, is one of the top performing states owing to its robust solar policies and conducive regulatory environment.
• Rajasthan being the largest state by area and with a high solar irradiance, boasts of the highest RTS potential in the country, with a capacity of 1,154 MW.

Various schemes regarding solar rooftop:

The ‘Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: 

• Muft Bijli Yojana’ is a flagship initiative to fit 1 crore households with RTS systems and help them get up to 300 units of free electricity every month. 
• The scheme Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crores, aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• The scheme aims to incentivise the adoption of solar energy among residential consumers, promoting sustainability and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.
• It is a grid connected rooftop solar PV system, where the DC power generated from a solar panel converted to AC power using a power conditioning unit/Inverter and is fed to the grid.
• An average system size of 2 kW for the targeted households will result in a total RTS capacity addition of 20 GW.
• Under the ‘Suryamitra’ (solar PV technician) training programme initiated in 2015, more than 51,000 technicians had been trained as of December 2022. 
• As the implementation of the ‘Muft Bijli Yojana’ goes into full swing, RTS policies including net-metering regulations, grid-integration standards, and building codes should be reviewed and updated.
• The virtual net-metering and group net-metering options need to be fast-tracked for consumers with inadequate roof space for RTS installations.

5. ‘Multi-omics’ is changing how India spots and treats TB, cancers

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Biotech

Context:

• In January 2024, the Department of Biotechnology said it had completed sequencing 10,000 genomes from 99 ethnic groups under its ‘Genome India’ project.

More on news:

• In October 2020, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had reportedly sequenced the entire genomes of 1,008 individuals in India representing diverse ethnic groups in six months.
• This effort was part of a mission called ‘IndiGen’ aimed to create a pilot dataset with which researchers could analyze the epidemiology of genetic diseases and help develop affordable screening approaches, optimize treatment, and minimize adverse events for them.
• Researchers have also been able to extract more value from these using artificial intelligence and machine learning, and by combining their contents with other extensive datasets on proteins (proteomics), gene expression in cells (transcriptomics), and chemical changes that regulate gene expression (epigenomics) to develop a ‘multi-omics’ approach to tackle diseases.

What is the Genome India Project?

• Genome India Project is a research initiative led by the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Science’s Centre for Brain Research and involves over 20 universities across the country in an effort to gather samples, compile data, conduct research, and create an ‘Indian reference genome’ grid.
• This national initiative aims to develop a reference genome for Indian people, which will help design genome-wide and disease-specific ‘genetic chips’ for low-cost diagnostics and research.

What are Multiomics?

• Multi Omics is a new approach where the data sets of different omic groups are combined during analysis.
• The different omic strategies employed during multi omics are genome, proteome, transcriptome, epigenome, and microbiome.

Treatment for Tuberculosis:

• The Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS) comprises 10 Report India sites covering eight states for tuberculosis, with the goal of sequencing around 32,000 tuberculosis clinical strains from active patients, and developing a centralized biological repository of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in India.
• Other major objectives vis-à-vis tuberculosis include mapping the genetic diversity of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary isolates of the tuberculosis bacterium from newly reported active cases in India.
• The project’s ultimate goal is to validate identified mutations to develop a sequence-based method to determine drug resistance.

Rare genetic disorders:

• India has also launched a pan-country mission for Pediatric Rare Genetic Disorders (PRaGeD), which, despite their rarity, have become a common public health concern.
• Mission PRaGeD is planning to create awareness, perform genetic diagnosis, discover and characterize new genes or variants, provide counselling, and develop new therapies for rare genetic diseases that afflict India’s children.
• The mission will incorporate IndiGen data in its in-house bioinformatic pipelines it will use to analyze the parts of a genome that code for proteins (exome).

Cancers:

• Several Indian institutions have established the ICGC-like genomic data repositories to facilitate cancer research and precision medicine initiatives that cater to the genetic makeup of Indian people.
• Indian Cancer Genome Atlas project, a not-for-profit public-private-philanthropic initiative that is trying to create a comprehensive catalog of genomic alterations across various cancer types prevalent in India.

Antimicrobial resistance:

• Genomics and metagenomics are coming in handy to analyze antimicrobial resistance and understand the possibility of rapid spread of any antibiotic resistance functions between bacterial species.

AI, ML, and multi-omics:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms are lending a helping hand to genomics in analyzing the extensive datasets.
• Multiomics (multiple ‘omics) provides a more complete way to understand the contribution of genetic variants to biology, disease and their mechanism of action.

6. Rise in Indian Coffee Exports in Response to EUDR

Sub: IR

Sec: Grouping

Context:

Indian coffee exporters have experienced a surge in demand from European buyers. This trend is attributed to the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aims to minimize the importation of products linked to deforestation.

EUDR Overview

• Objective: To reduce deforestation by enforcing strict due diligence and traceability requirements for commodities like coffee.
• Implementation Deadline: Businesses must comply with the EUDR requirements by December 30, 2024.
• Products Covered: Includes cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood.

Impact on Coffee Exports

• Increase in Demand: European buyers are building up their inventories ahead of the EUDR compliance deadline.
• Shift in Strategy: Traditionally, buyers followed a just-in-time strategy for procurement. Now, due to EUDR, they are shifting towards maintaining higher inventory levels.

Export Statistics

• Overall Growth: Coffee shipments from India increased by 16% to over 237,000 tonnes from January 1 to June 21 this year, compared to 204,000 tonnes in the same period last year.
• Re-exports Growth: Re-exports grew by 18.3% to 53,497 tonnes during this period, up from 45,213 tonnes last year.
• India-grown Coffee: Shipments of India-grown coffee increased by 15% to over 183,000 tonnes, compared to 159,000 tonnes a year ago.

Exporters’ Perspective

• Inventory Build-up: Exporters report that European customers are front-loading coffee orders and preferring to hold more inventory due to the EUDR regulations.
• Extended Peak Season: Normally peaking between February and May, the export season extended into June this year.
• Logistical Challenges: Exporters face logistical issues such as container shortages and increased freight rates due to disruptions in the Red Sea region.

Market Position

• Global Standing: India is the seventh-largest producer and the fifth-largest exporter of coffee, following Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia.
• European Market: Over two-thirds of Indian coffee is exported, with about 60% destined for Europe. Italy, Germany, and Belgium are the major buyers.

Conclusion

The EUDR is driving a significant shift in the coffee export landscape, with European buyers moving away from just-in-time procurement to building larger inventories to ensure compliance with upcoming regulations. Indian coffee exporters are benefiting from this increased demand but continue to face logistical challenges.

European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

The EUDR aims to remove deforestation from the supply chains of everyday items in the EU. This regulation seeks to ensure that products imported into the EU do not contribute to deforestation, promoting sustainable land use and environmental protection.

Legislation

• Adoption: The legislation was adopted in Brussels in 2023.
• Target Year: The target year for full compliance is 2030.
• Focus Areas: Biofuels, palm oil, and deforestation are key areas under the Palm Oil Policy and Deforestation Legislation.

Key Requirements

• Deforestation-Free Products: Firms must ensure that products exported to the EU have been grown on land that has not been deforested after December 31, 2020.
• Due Diligence and Traceability: The regulation imposes strict due diligence and traceability requirements for commodities such as coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, rubber, wood, and cattle.
• Administrative Burdens: Palm oil exporters, in particular, face significant administrative burdens to meet the EUDR requirements.

Compatibility and Impact

• WTO Compatibility: The EUDR is not compatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and is considered a non-tariff barrier.
• Impact on Exporters: Exporters, particularly from developing countries, face increased administrative and compliance costs to meet the stringent requirements of the EUDR.

7. Sri Lanka’s Debt Restructuring Deal

Sub: IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

• In the wake of an unprecedented financial crash in 2022, Sri Lanka faced a severe debt crisis, leading to a default on its external debt.

Recent Developments:

• Debt Restructuring Agreement: Sri Lanka announced a final agreement with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) to restructure $5.8 billion of its bilateral debt. The OCC includes 17 countries such as India and members of the Paris Club, like Japan.
• Significance: The agreement aims to provide significant debt relief, allowing Sri Lanka to allocate funds to essential public services and secure concessional financing for development needs.

Private Creditors:

• Pending Negotiations: Sri Lanka is still in the process of reaching an agreement with its bondholders. The second round of direct talks to finalize the treatment of $12 billion owed to private creditors is scheduled this week. These creditors hold the largest portion of Sri Lanka’s external debt through international sovereign bonds.

IMF’s Role:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasizes the necessity of timely debt restructuring as a critical component of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery program.

Impact on Population:

• Despite ongoing negotiations and agreements, large sections of the Sri Lankan population continue to suffer from the effects of the financial crisis.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s recent agreements with bilateral lenders, including India and China, mark significant steps toward addressing its debt crisis. However, the country still faces substantial challenges in reaching agreements with private creditors and achieving economic stability. The involvement of the IMF underscores the importance of these restructuring efforts in Sri Lanka’s broader economic recovery plan.

Official Creditor Committee (OCC)

• Formation: The OCC was formed in response to Sri Lanka’s request for debt treatment during the economic crisis last year.
• Co-Chairs: The committee is co-chaired by India, Japan, and France (the chair of the Paris Club).
• China’s Participation: Although China is Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, it chose not to participate in the OCC but attended meetings as an observer.

India’s Assistance to Sri Lanka

• Financial Support: India provided $4 billion in assistance under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, using credit lines and currency support.
• IMF Financing Assurance: India was the first bilateral creditor to convey financing assurance to the IMF, facilitating a formalized program for Sri Lanka.
• Vision Document for Economic Partnership: India released a comprehensive vision document outlining specific areas of cooperation for sustainable economic development and prosperity in Sri Lanka.
• Special Grant Package: During President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India, a special grant package of SLR 3 billion was announced for multi-faceted projects in the Indian Ocean Territory (IOT) community.

Paris Club

What is it?

1. Informal Group of Creditor Countries: The Paris Club is an informal group of creditor countries whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.
2. History: It was gradually created starting in 1956, when the first negotiation between Argentina and its public creditors took place in Paris.

Member Countries

1. Permanent Members: The Paris Club currently has 22 permanent members: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2. OECD Membership: All member countries are also members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
3. India’s Status: India is not a member of the Paris Club.

Key Features

1. Principles of Consensus and Solidarity: The Paris Club operates on the principles of consensus and solidarity. Any agreement reached with the debtor country applies equally to all its Paris Club creditors.
2. Basis for Bilateral Arrangements: The outcome of the negotiation is not a legally binding agreement but forms the basis for legally binding bilateral arrangements between the debtor country and its Paris Club creditor countries.

8. Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition

Sub: Polity

Sec: Legislature

Who can serve as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

The position of Leader of Opposition was officially described in The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

The Act describes the Leader of Opposition as a “member of the Council of States or the House of the People, as the case may be, who is, for the time being, the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such by the Chairman of the Council of States or the Speaker of the House of the People”.

What position does the Leader of Opposition have in the House?

• The Leader of Opposition sits in the front row to the left of the Chair, and enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occasions like escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum.
• The Leader of Opposition is also entitled to a seat in the front row during the Address by the President to both Houses of Parliament.
• The main duty of the Leader of Opposition is to serve as the voice of the opposition in the House.
• An official booklet on Parliament published in 2012 says the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha “is considered as a shadow Prime Minister with a shadow Cabinet, ready to take over the administration if the Government resigns or is defeated on the floor of the House”.
• Since the parliamentary system is based on “mutual forbearance”, the Leader of Opposition lets the Prime Minister govern and is, in turn, permitted to oppose.
• His/ her proactive role in facilitating smooth functioning of the business of the House is as important as that of the Government,” the booklet says.

What is the role and responsibility does the Leader of Opposition have?

• Most importantly, the Leader of Opposition is the opposition’s representative in the high-powered committees headed by the Prime Minister for appointment to key posts such as the Director of CBI, the Central Vigilance Commissioner and Chief Information Commissioner, the Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission, and the Lokpal.
• As the Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019, Kharge had alleged that the government repeatedly tried to keep the opposition out of the selection of the Lokpal on the ground that there was no Leader of Opposition.
• In order of precedence, the Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha come at No. 7, along with Union Cabinet Ministers, the National Security Advisor, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog, former PMs, and Chief Ministers.