Daily Prelims Notes 6 July 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

6 July 2024

1. What is Aphelion?

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Space sector

Context:

• Earth had reached aphelion on 5th July which is the farthest distance from the Sun.

About Aphelion:

• Aphelion, in astronomy, the point in the orbit of a planet, comet, or other body most distant from the Sun. 
• When Earth is at its aphelion in early July, it is about 4,800,000 km farther from the Sun.
• Earth reaches aphelion every July.
• That Earth has an aphelion is a result of its orbit being elliptical, rather than circular. 
• All planets in the solar system travel in elongated circles around the Sun, rather than perfect ones.
• Jupiter exerts the most influence because it is the most massive planet in our solar system.
• The higher the eccentricity, the more elliptical the orbit (Earth’s eccentricity is 0.017).

How far is the Earth from the Sun at aphelion?

• Aphelion refers to the point in Earth’s orbit when it is farthest from the Sun, occurring around July 4 each year.
• At aphelion, Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 152.1 million km.
• On January 3rd, Earth is closest to the sun and the distance is around 147.5 million Kilometers. This is called Perihelion.

Does aphelion affect temperatures on Earth?

• A common misconception is that Earth’s varying distance from the Sun is what gives rise to the seasons.
• We get 7% less sunlight at aphelion compared to what we are exposed to at perihelion, leading to slightly milder summers and winters in the Northern Hemisphere.
• This effect is offset by Earth’s tilt on its axis  at different points along its orbit.

What would happen if there were no aphelion?

• If our planetary orbit were a perfect circle, the seasons’ lengths would be exactly the same.
• Currently, spring and summer are a few days longer than fall and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But not much else would change.
• But if something made Earth’s orbit grow more eccentric, the consequences could be catastrophic.
• Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere would become too extreme — summers would be unbearably hot, and winters would be intolerably cold.
• This could lead to crop failures and freezes.

What is Perihelion:

• The term “perihelion” refers to the point in the orbit of a planet or other astronomical body, at which it is closest to the sun. 
• The word comes from Greek and literally means around (peri) the sun (helios).

2. After 2019 ban on colistin, Centre recommends prohibiting use of 2 more antibiotics in food-producing animals

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Health

Context:

• Apex advisory body Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) has recommended a complete ban on the import, production, distribution and sale of two antibiotics i.e. chloramphenicol and nitrofurans  for use in food animal production systems.

More on news:

• The DCC’s decision stems from concerns raised by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the nodal agency for the development of the seafood industry in India, especially focusing on exports of marine products.
• Earlier in 2019, MoHFW banned colistin which is a last-resort antibiotic listed as a highest priority critically important antimicrobial (HPCIA) by the World Health Organization (WHO), in food-producing animals, poultry, aquaculture, and animal feed supplements.
• The notification established stringent maximum residue limits of 0.001 milligrams per kilogram for these antibiotics, except for chloramphenicol, which has an even stricter limit of 0.0003 mg/kg.

Substances Banned:

• As per Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) guidelines, 20 antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances are banned for use in shrimp aquaculture. 
• This includes chloramphenicol and types of nitrofurans, including furaltadone, furazolidone, furylfuramide, nifuratel, nifuroxime, nifurprazine, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone. 
• Their detection in exported shrimp is a matter of significant concern, leading to shipment rejections, especially for markets with strict regulations like the European Union, United States and Japan.
• This poses a barrier to expanding trade into these markets.

About Chloramphenicol:

• Chloramphenicol is recognised by the WHO as a Highly Important Antimicrobial (HIA).
• It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for various infections, including superficial eye infections, enteric fever, typhoid fever and central nervous system infections such as acute bacterial meningitis.

About Nitrofuran:

• Nitrofuran derivatives are classified as Important Antimicrobials (IA) by WHO.
• Nitrofurantoin, a type of nitrofuran derivative, is used for treating urinary tract infections. 
• Many countries, including parts of the European Union and the USA, have already banned the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals.

Medically important antimicrobials:

• WHO publishes an updated list of medically important antimicrobials.
• The medically important antimicrobials group is further divided into “highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA),” “critically important antimicrobials (CIA),” “highly important antimicrobials,” and “important antimicrobials.”

CDSCO:

• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India’s national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• It serves a similar function to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States or the European Medicines Agency of the European Union.
• It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Within the CDSCO, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices.
• The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC).

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA):

• The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 enacted by the Parliament of India on 23 June 2005 provides for the establishment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas.

3. Trinamool MLAs sworn in by Speaker; Governor cries foul

Sub: Polity

Sec: Parliament and Legislature

Context:

• West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on 5th July cried foul as the Speaker administered the oath to two newly elected Trinamool Congress legislators, instead of the Deputy Speaker who had been authorized by the governor for the job.

Key Highlights:

• A report is being sent to the Hon’ble President about the Constitutional impropriety of the Speaker in administering the oath of affirmation to the newly elected MLAs.
• The oath was administered under rule 5 of the Rules of Procedural Conduct of Business of The West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
• Governor cited that the oath was violative of Article 188 of the Constitution.
• Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that the administering of the oath to the MLAs was done by an illegal process and he would take it up in his official capacity.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 188 of the Constitution states that every member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the Governor, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.

4. Radiation Biodosimetry: the ABCs of responding to a mass radiological event.

Sub: IR

Sec: Health

Context:

• Radiation biodosimetry is extremely important in responding to a large-scale radiological event, such as an Improvised Nuclear Device or reactor accident.
•  It helps in the assessment of the level of radiation and the administration of drugs in accordance with the exposure levels.

What is biodosimetry?

• Biodosimetry allows the measurement of the amount of radiation to which an individual was exposed based on changes in blood, urine, or hair.
• It would be particularly useful in a radiological event where the exposed individuals do not carry any personal radiation monitoring devices.

Methods employed in biodosimetry:

1. Gold standard biodosimetry assay/Dicentric Chromosome Assay (DCA)

• The gold standard biodosimetry assay is measurement of chromosome aberrations, in white blood cells.
• The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements and International Atomic Energy Agency have issued guidance on performing biodosimetry and interpreting data.
• When irradiated, DNA in the blood cells gets broken and is repaired within a few hours.
• In some cases, there is an incorrect repair, joining fragments from different chromosomes, forming a ‘DicentricChromosome (DC)’ – a chromosome with two centromeres.
• DC can only be formed by radiation, measuring these chromosomes is a specific and sensitive indicator of past radiation exposure.
• In order to measure DC, lymphocytes from the exposed individuals are cultured to begin division and then the chromosomes are spread on a slide and stained.
• The Dicentric Chromosome Assay (DCA) has been successfully employed in many radiation accidents, where the number of exposed people is small.

2. Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus Assay (CBMN)

• In Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus Assay (CBMN), the white blood cells are made to divide, but arrested before division is complete. 
• This forms a cell with two nuclei. 
• Post exposure to radiation, some DNA is ejected during division forming a ‘micronucleus‘
• This ‘micronucleus‘ helps in determining the exposure to radiation.
• Measurement on the phosphorylated form of specific histone protein an inherent component of chromosomes known as the “gamma-H2AX’ assay has the potential to segregate the exposed from that of unexposed and those exposed to low dose versus high dose without culturing cells, within 6-8 hours of time.

About Rapid Automated Biodosimetry Tool (RABiT):

• The Rapid Automated BIodosimetry Tool (RABIT) is designed to be a completely automated, ultra-high throughput robotically-based biodosimetry workstation.
• It analyzes fingerstick-derived blood samples (30 μl, essentially a single drop of blood), either to estimate past radiation dose, or to identify individuals exposed above or below a cutoff dose.
• The first iteration of the Rapid Automated Biodosimetry Tool (RABiT) used custom robotics to perform the CBMN assay with a target throughput of 6000 samples per day per machine.

About High-throughput screening:

• HTS(High-throughput screening)systems use robotics, liquid handling devices and automated microscopes to quickly conduct millions of chemicals, genetic, or pharmacological tests.

5. Migrants face ‘unimaginable horrors’ crossing Africa says U.N.

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• Refugees and migrants face extreme violence, abuse and exploitation on land routes crossing Africa to get to the Mediterranean, with far more believed to be dying there than at sea, a U.N.-backed report said.

Details:

• Causes of migration: The eruption of conflicts across the Sahel region and in Sudan, new and long-running violence in the Horn of Africa and the east of the continent, the devastating impact of climate change and disasters, as well as xenophobia and racism.
• Tunisia has overtaken Libya as the main departure point for migration towards Europe.
  • The water between Tunisia and the Italian island Lampedusa, is now named the “Tunisian Corridor”.
• Major destinations: Italy (Lampedusa, Catania, and Milan) and Greece (the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos).

Source: TH

6. 75th anniversary of NATO on April 4 2024

Sub: IR

Sec : Int org

Context:

• 75th anniversary of NATO.
• Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared, “NATO is bigger, stronger, and more united than ever” with its 32 member-states.
• Challenges: Despite the expansion, NATO faces challenges such as contributing to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

About NATO:

• Founded: April 4, 1949, with 12 members (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the US).
  • Apart from the original 12, members include Greece and Turkey (1952); West Germany (1955; later as Germany); Spain (1982); the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland (1999); Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004); Albania and Croatia (2009); Montenegro (2017); North Macedonia (2020); Finland (2023); and Sweden (2024).
• Treaty Basis: Washington Treaty, empowered by Article 51 of the UN Charter for collective defence.
• Core Principle: Collective security – an attack on one member is an attack on all, requiring collective action.
• Cold War Context: Formed to counter Soviet expansion and control in Europe.
• Article 5: Invoked only after the September 11, 2001 attacks, leading to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
• Structure:
  • Political Leadership: The North Atlantic Council (NAC) serves as NATO’s principal political decision-making body, composed of ambassadors from all member countries.
  • Military Command Structure: NATO’s military command structure includes Strategic Commands (e.g., Allied Command Operations) responsible for operational planning and execution, as well as Regional Commands and Force Headquarters.
  • Integrated Military Forces: NATO maintains integrated military forces, allowing member countries to contribute personnel and assets to collective defence efforts under NATO command.

Current Challenges

• Internal Tensions:
  • Disagreements on military spending, with only a few members meeting the 2% GDP defence spending target.
  • Conflicts over member state policies and strategic coordination (e.g., Turkey’s resistance to Sweden and Finland’s membership).
  • French President Macron noted strategic coordination issues between European allies and the US/Turkey.
• Impact of Ukraine Conflict:
  • Finland and Sweden’s move towards NATO due to Russian aggression.
  • Disagreements on funding and support for Ukraine.
  • Stoltenberg proposed a $107 billion fund for Ukraine and ensuring 18 NATO members meet the 2% spending limit by 2024, drawing mixed reactions.

Source: IE

7. Central Travancore a sitting duck for avian flu

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Health

Context:

• Kerala’s Kuttanad region is battling another devastating outbreak of bird flu (H5N1), but this time the disease has spread beyond the region and infected crows, kites, pigeons and herons, unlike previous times when it was restricted mostly to poultry. For the first time though, there’s fear of the loss of livelihood and anxiety of humans contracting the disease.

Details:

• Crows, herons, kites, pigeons, and even peahen have tested positive, raising concerns about a wider spread caused by a virulent mutation of the virus, challenges in curbing the spread, and a possible jump to humans.
• H5N1 has high pathogenicity.
• Avian influenza poses a potential threat to human beings for two reasons: its ability to mutate rapidly and its propensity to acquire genes from viruses infecting other species such as humans.
• Sporadic bird flu infections have been reported in humans, but no human-to-human transmission has been reported so far.
• It has left Snow White, a duck breed developed by the Niranom farm, on the verge of extinction.
• Chara and Chembally are two local breeds.
• The National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD) is in Bhopal.

Kuttanad region:

• Kerala’s Alappuzha district.
• A below-sea-level region defined by Vembanad Lake, rivers, canals, and swathes of paddy fields, is visited by large flocks of migratory birds.
• Kuttanad Wetland Agriculture System is unique, as it is the only system in India that favours rice cultivation below sea level in the land created by draining delta swamps in brackish waters. As an approach to cope with the imminent climate impacts in coastal areas and evolve efficient methods, it aims to deal with soil availability and flood issues in agriculture.

About Avian Influenza (AI):

• Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds.
• Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza.
• Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). For example, a virus that has an HA 7 protein and NA 9 protein is designated as subtype H7N9.
• Avian influenza virus subtypes include A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2).
  • HPAI A(H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among them.
  • HPAI Asian H5N1 is especially deadly for poultry.
• Prevention: Strict biosecurity measures and good hygiene are essential in protecting against disease outbreaks.
• Eradication: If the infection is detected in animals, a policy of culling infected and contact animals is normally used in an effort to rapidly contain, control and eradicate the disease.

Source: TH

8. President confers Gallantry awards to armed forces, police personnel

Sub: Polity

Sec: Msc

President Draupadi Murmu conferred gallantry awards, including the Kirti Chakras and Shaurya Chakras to the personnel of the armed forces, the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF), and state/Union Territory police during a Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-I) held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday.

Historical Background:

• Three gallantry awards, namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950.
• Thereafter, the other three gallantry awards, i.e. the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted in These awards were renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, respectively, in 1967.The order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra, and the Shaurya Chakra.
• All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
• Persons recommended for the award shall not be involved in any adverse report or should not have been conveyed any displeasure or censure or given any punishment in a court martial proceeding or through administrative action.

Param Vir Chakra

• Highest military decoration in India.
• Awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of courage or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
• Established on 26th January 1950 (retrospectively from 15th August 1947).
• Medal: Circular in shape, made of bronze, one and three eighth inches in diameter, and shall have embossed on the obverse four replicas of “Indra’s Vajra” with the State Emblem embossed in the center. On its reverse, it shall have embossed “PARAM VIR CHAKRA” in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Ribbon: Plain purple colored ribbon.
• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of bravery, as makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the “Indra’s Vajra” in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Mahavir Chakra

• Second highest military decoration in India.
• Awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
• It is the peacetime equivalent of the PVC.
• Medal: Circular in shape is made of standard silver, and is embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim.  The medal shall be one and three-eighth inches in diameter.  The State emblem (including the motto) is embossed in the center-piece which is adorned.  The star is polished and the centre piece is in gold gilt.  On the reverse, it will have embossed Maha Vir Chakra both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English.  The fitting is swivel mounting.
• Ribbon: The ribbon is of a half-white and half-orange color.
• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of bravery, as makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery will be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Vir Chakra

• Third in precedence among wartime gallantry awards.
• Awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
• Medal: Circular in shape is made of standard silver, and is embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim.  The State Emblem (including the motto) is embossed in the domed centerpiece.  The star is polished and the centre piece is in gold gilt.  On the reverse, it will have embossed Vir Chakra both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English wording.  The fitting is swivel mounting.
• Ribbon: The ribbon is half blue and half orange in color.
• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of bravery, as makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery will be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended.   Any such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Peacetime gallantry awards

Ashoka Chakra

• The highest peacetime gallantry award is equivalent to the PVC but awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
• It can be awarded to both military and civilians, including posthumous awards.
• Medal: Circular in shape, one and three-eighth inches in diameter with rims on both sides and will be of gold gilt.  On the obverse, it shall have embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the center surrounded by a lotus wreath.  On its reverse shall be embossed the words “Ashoka Chakra” in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
• Ribbon: Green color ribbon divided into two equal segments by an orange vertical line.
• Bar: If a recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of gallantry as would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of gallantry shall be recognized by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended and, for every subsequent act of gallantry, an additional Bar shall be added.  For every such Bar, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Kirti Chakra

• Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
• Awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
• Medal: Circular in shape and made of standard silver, one and three eight inches in diameter.  On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the center, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words KIRTI CHAKRA both in Hindi and in English the versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
• Ribbon: Green color ribbon divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.
• Bar: If a recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of gallantry as would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recognized by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Shaurya Chakra

• Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
• Awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
• Medal: Circular in shape and of bronze, one and three-eighth inches in diameter. On the obverse of the medal shall have embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the center, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words “SHAURYA CHAKRA” both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
• Ribbon: Green color ribbon divided into four equal parts by three vertical lines.
• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of gallantry as makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of gallantry will be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Other Gallantry Awards

• Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal, and Vayusena Medal: Awarded to members of the Indian army, navy, and air force respectively for devotion to duty or courage as part of military operations.
• Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1980 to recognize the distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities.
• Uttam Yudh Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1980 to recognize the distinguished service of an exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities.
• Yuddh Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1980 to recognize distinguished service of a high order during war/conflict/hostilities.
• Param Vishisht Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1960 as VSM Class-I to recognize the distinguished service of the most exceptional order.
• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1960 as VSM Class-II for distinguished Service of an exceptional order.
• Vishisht Seva Medal: Medal and Ribbon Instituted in 1960 and as VSM Class-III to recognize the distinguished service of a high order.
• Mention in Dispatches: Recognizes distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and combat zones that are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry awards.

Eligibility and Procedure

The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice in a year from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of Home Affairs for gallantry awards.

• Personnel from all branches of the Indian armed forces, paramilitary forces, and civilians are eligible for these awards.
• The awards are typically announced biannually – on Republic Day (26th January) and Independence Day (15th August).
• The selection process involves recommendations from the chain of command, with final approval by the Awards Committee, headed by the Defence Minister and ratified by the President of India.