Daily Prelims Notes 30 August 2020

August 30, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

1. T-cell Immunity and cross reactive memory

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Scientists have found that 20-50% people who have not been infected with novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) still harbour memory T cells derived from previous exposures to common cold coronaviruses. The memory T cells were found to cross-react with SARS-CoV-2

Concept:

Pre-existing T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 could be relevant because it could influence COVID-19 disease severity.
It is plausible that people with a high level of pre-existing memory CD4+ T cells that recognise novel coronavirus could mount a faster and stronger immune response upon exposure to the virus and thereby limit disease severity
T cells originate in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus. In the thymus, T cells multiply and differentiate into helper, regulatory, or cytotoxic T cells or become memory T cells.
They are then sent to peripheral tissues or circulate in the blood or lymphatic system. Once stimulated by the appropriate antigen, helper T cells secrete chemical messengers called cytokines, which stimulate the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells (antibody-producing cells).
Regulatory T cells act to control immune reactions, hence their name.
Cytotoxic T cells, which are activated by various cytokines, bind to and kill infected cells and cancer cells.

2. United Nation 10 Principle on disability

Subject: IR

Context:

The United Nations has released its first-ever guidelines on access to social justice for people with disabilities to make it easier for them to access justice systems around the world.

Concept:

The guidelines outline a set of 10 principles and detail the steps for implementation. The 10 principles are:

Principle 1 All persons with disabilities have legal capacity and, therefore, no one shall be denied access to justice on the basis of disability.
Principle 2 Facilities and services must be universally accessible to ensure equal access to justice without discrimination of persons with disabilities.
Principle 3 Persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, have the right to appropriate procedural accommodations.
Principle 4 Persons with disabilities have the right to access legal notices and information in a timely and accessible manner on an equal basis with others.
Principle 5 Persons with disabilities are entitled to all substantive and procedural safeguards recognized in international law on an equal basis with others, and States must provide the necessary accommodations to guarantee due process.
Principle 6 Persons with disabilities have the right to free or affordable legal assistance.
Principle 7 Persons with disabilities have the right to participate in the administration of justice on an equal basis with others.
Principle 8 Persons with disabilities have the rights to report complaints and initiate legal proceedings concerning human rights violations and crimes, have their complaints investigated and be afforded effective remedies.
Principle 9 Effective and robust monitoring mechanisms play a critical role in supporting access to justice for persons with disabilities.
Principle 10 All those working in the justice system must be provided with awareness-raising and training programmes addressing the rights of persons with disabilities, in particular in the context of access to justice.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted in 2007 as the first major instrument of human rights in the 21st century
It defines persons with disabilities as those “who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”

3. Independence of SC

Subject: Polity

Context:

Supreme Court is in news for various issues.

Concept:

The Supreme Court has been assigned a very significant role in the Indian democratic political system. It is a federal court, the highest court of appeal, the guarantor of the fundamental rights of the citizens and guardian of the Constitution. Therefore, its independence becomes very essential for the effective discharge of the duties assigned to it. It should be free from the encroachments, pressures and interferences of the executive (council of ministers) and the Legislature (Parliament). It should be allowed to do justice without fear or favour.
The Constitution has made the following provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of the Supreme Court:
- Mode of Appointment: The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President (which means the cabinet) in consultation with the members of the judiciary itself (i.e, judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts). This provision curtails the absolute discretion of the executive as well as ensures that the judicial appointments are not based on any political or practical considerations.
- Security of Tenure: The judges of the Supreme Court are provided with the Security of Tenure.They can be removed from office by the President only in the manner and on the grounds mentioned in the Constitution. This means that they do not hold their office during the pleasure of the President,though they are appointed by him. This is obvious from the fact that no judge of the Supreme Court has been removed (or impeached) so far.
- Fixed Service Conditions: The salaries, allowances, privileges, leave and pension of the judges of the Supreme Court are determined from time to time by the Parliament. They cannot be changed to their disadvantage after their appointment except during a financial emergency. Thus, the conditions of service of the judges of the Supreme Court remain same during their term of Office.
- Expenses Charged on Consolidated Fund:The salaries, allowances and pensions of the judges and the staff as well as all the administrative expenses of the Supreme Court are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Thus, they are non-votable by the Parliament (though they can be discussed by it).
- Conduct of Judges cannot be Discussed: The Constitution prohibits any discussion in Parliament or in a State Legislature with respect to the conduct of the judges of the Supreme Court in the discharge of their duties, except when an impeachment motion is under consideration of the Parliament.
- Ban on Practice after Retirement: The retired judges of the Supreme Court are prohibited from pleading or acting in any Court or before any authority within the territory of India. This ensures that they do not favour any one in the hope of future favour.
- Power to Punish for its Contempt:The Supreme Court can punish any person for its contempt.Thus, its actions and decisions cannot be criticised and opposed by any body. This power is vested in the Supreme Court to maintain its authority, dignity and honour.
- Freedom to Appoint its Staff: The Chief Justice of India can appoint officers and servants of the Supreme Court without any interference from the executive. He can also prescribe their conditions of service.
- Its Jurisdiction cannot be Curtailed: The Parliament is not authorised to curtail the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court. The Constitution has guaranteed to the Supreme Court, jurisdiction of various kinds. However, the Parliament can extend the same.
- Separation from Executive: The Constitution directs the State to take steps to separate the Judiciary from the Executive in the public services. This means that the executive authorities should not possess the judicial powers. Consequently, upon its implementation, the role of executive authorities in judicial administration came to an end.

4. N95 masks

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

In the case of infectious diseases like COVID-19, hospitals have to make sure that their patient-facing employees are safe by using Personal Protective Equipment, in particular, N95 mask.

Concept:

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles
N95 mask named because it is able to block at least 95% of particles in the air that are of the size 0.3 microns or bigger (1 micron is a millionth of a metre).
A single SARS-CoV2 virus is typically up to 0.2 microns in size, so it can possibly penetrate the N95 mask.
Virus is enclosed in air droplets that are much bigger in size. Since droplets are getting spread which are a few microns in size, it is very unlikely that there are droplets that are less than 0.3 microns in size.
So that way the N95 is a very good barrier to virus entry
N:This is a Respirator Rating Letter Class. It stands for “Non-Oil” meaning that if no oil-based particulates are present, then it can be used in the work environment.
Other masks ratings are R (resistant to oil for 8 hours) and P (oil proof).

5. Anti-dumping duty

Subject: Economy

Context:

Major textile bodies has appealed to the Centre to remove anti-dumping duty on Viscose Staple fibre (VSF) to create a level playing for the entire textile value chain.

Concept:

An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.
Dumping is a process where a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges in its own home market.
The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as Directorate General of Trade Remedies, in India.
The imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime.

6. Reasons for rupee upswing

Subject: Economy

Context:

The rupee rose nearly two per cent to 73.40 against the US dollar last week.

Concept:

FPIs have bought Rs 46,602 crore worth of shares so far in August, the highest monthly inflow in calendar year 2020.
Analysts said dollar inflows into the stock market and gains in other Asian currencies boosted the rupee’s value.