Daily Prelims Notes 9 July 2024

July 9, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

9 July 2024

Table Of Contents

1. What are new provisions for police officers under BNSS?

Sub: Polity

Sec: legislation in news

Context:

The new criminal laws have become effective from July 1.
SOPs have been issued by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) to guide police officers in implementing the new provisions.

New provisions for police officers

Rules for registering FIRs:

Under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 173 provides for registration of FIR irrespective of jurisdiction.
The officer in-charge of a police station cannot refuse to register an FIR on the basis of lack of jurisdiction or disputed jurisdiction.
He is legally bound to register (popularly known as a zero FIR) and transfer such a case to the respective police station.
The information can be given orally, written or in electronic mode.
The electronic mode by which information may be given must be decided by the agencies, such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) portal, the police website or officially published email IDs.

Rules for videography:

The BNSS mandates videography during a search conducted by the police under Section 185.
A cloud-based mobile app, ‘eSakshya’ has been designed by the National Informatics Centre for enforcement agencies, which allows capturing multiple photos and videos.
Since eSakshya is an initiative under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), this data will be available to other agencies such as the judiciary, prosecution and cyber forensic experts.

Provisions of arrest:

Information about arrested persons is to be mandatorily displayed in police stations.
Section 37 of the BNSS requires a police officer in every police station, not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector, to be responsible for maintaining and prominently displaying information about the arrested persons.
Boards (including in digital mode) containing names, addresses and the nature of the offense must be put up outside police stations and district control rooms.
Permission of an officer not below the rank of DySP is mandatory for arresting a person charged with an offense punishable for imprisonment of less than three years if such person is infirm or is above 60 years of age.
Law now provides for the use of handcuffs in certain cases, the IOs(Investing Officer) must use them cautiously.

Rules related to timelines:

In case of medical examination of a victim of rape, the registered medical practitioner need to forward the medical report to the IO within seven days.
The investigation of POCSO cases is required to be completed within two months of recording the information of the offense.

Rules regarding terrorism:

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) defines what is a ‘terrorist act’ and imposes the duty on an officer, not below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), to decide whether to register a case under this Section or the UAPA.

2. In an electric vehicle, what is regenerative braking?

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Basic science

Context:

What is braking?

Braking is the mechanism by which an automotive vehicle in motion slows down.
A vehicle moving faster has more kinetic energy than a vehicle moving slower, so the process of braking removes (mostly) kinetic energy from the vehicle.

What is regenerative braking?

Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy or potential energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed.
It works by driving an electric motor in reverse to recapture energy that would otherwise be lost as heat during braking, effectively turning the traction motor into a generator.
During regenerative braking, the motor operates as a generator, turning mechanical energy back to electrical energy.
In addition to improving the overall efficiency of the vehicle, regeneration can significantly extend the life of the braking system.

How it is different from conventional braking systems:

Regenerative braking system contrasts with conventional braking systems, where excess kinetic energy is converted to unwanted and wasted heat due to friction in the brakes.
Similarly, with rheostatic brakes, energy is recovered by using electric motors as generators but is immediately dissipated as heat in resistors.

Does regenerative braking have downsides?

Regenerative braking alone often doesn’t suffice to bring an electric vehicle to a halt.
It has to be used together with a conventional system that dissipates some of the kinetic energy as heat.
A regenerative brake can mostly be beneficial for an electric vehicle’s energy-use efficiency in stop-start traffic.

3. Scientists find proof pain-sensing cells are either male or female.

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Health

Context:

A study led by University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers, recently published in the journal Brain, demonstrated for the first time functional sexual dimorphism in nociceptors, the nerve cells responsible for perceiving pain.

Why do we perceive pain?

Nociceptor cells have bare nerve endings and they are found across our skin, bones, joints, and muscles.
The receptors detect extreme pressure, temperature, and chemical signals released by the body when it is injured, turn them into electrical signals, and relay them to the brain via the spinal cord.
The brain finally reads the message and perceives pain.
Activation of nociceptors likely produces the same perception of pain in men and women with the only difference lies in the manner of their activation.

The nociceptor response threshold:

Previous studies have reported that the nociceptor response threshold in females is lower than that in males.
This difference could be due to peripheral nociceptor sensitisation where the threshold for pain is lowered by external factors.
To understand sexual dimorphism in nociceptors sensitisation, the research team investigated how easily pain receptors in the dorsal root ganglion — a cluster of nerve cells located near the spinal cord — could be excited.
Dr. Porecca’s lab in 2022 found that prolactin, a hormone responsible for the growth of breast tissue, also selectively promoted pain responses in female rodents.
Receptors for prolactin were expressed more in female-specific pain disorders such as endometriosis.

What is the new study?

In the new study, the researchers studied how prolactin and orexin-B affect nociceptor activation thresholds in the nerve cell samples.
On adding the sensitizing substances that lower these thresholds for activation researchers found that prolactin only sensitizes female cells and not male cells, and orexin B only sensitizes male cells and not female cells.
Studies of sleep and chronic pain also established that Orexin B, a neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness, produced sensitisation in male rodents but not female rodents.
Study concluded that nociceptors, the fundamental building blocks of pain, are different in males and females.

Benefit of research:

It will encourage medical practitioners to factor in the sex of a patient when making decisions about pain therapies.
In clinical trials of therapies with new pain treatment mechanisms, researchers will have to be more careful about the number of men and women in the trial so that they might be alerted to effects that may only occur in one sex.

4. What are the laws preventing tree felling in Delhi?

Sub: Environment

Sec: Env legislation and org

Context:

On June 26, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to enhance the national capital’s green cover amidst an extreme heat wave.

Extent of Green Cover:

According to the ‘India State of Forest Report 2021’ (ISFR), Delhi has the largest forest cover among seven major megacities, with 195 sq. km, followed by Mumbai (110.77 sq. km) and Bengaluru (89.02 sq. km).
Delhi’s forest cover constitutes 13.15% of its geographical area, while its tree cover spans 147 sq. km (9.91%).
Despite extensive urban development, Delhi’s overall green cover has increased from 151 sq. km (10.2%) in 2001 to 342 sq. km (23.6%) in 2021.

Protection of Trees:

The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994 provides legal protection to trees against actions that could harm their growth or regeneration.
Section 2 (h) of the Act defines “to fell a tree” to include severing the trunk, uprooting, cutting, burning, or any other damaging method.
Section 8 mandates no tree or forest produce can be removed without prior permission from the ‘Tree Officer’, even on the privately owned property.
Violating the Act may result in imprisonment for up to one year, a fine up to ₹1,000, or both.
The Act establishes a ‘Tree Authority’ for tree censuses, managing nurseries, and reviewing construction proposals.
Delhi’s Tree Transplantation Policy, 2020 mandates 80% of identified trees for felling must be transplanted. An affidavit revealed only 33.33% survival rate of transplanted trees.

Significance of Urban Forests:

Urban forests act as carbon sinks, essential for cities with unhealthy air quality indices like Delhi.
Trees reduce the urban heat island effect by lowering temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration.

Source: TH

5. How climate change fuelled Hurricane Beryl’s record early intensification

Sub: Geography

Sec: Phy Geo

Hurricane Beryl’s Record-Breaking Impact:

Hurricane Beryl became the earliest storm on record during the Atlantic hurricane season to reach Category 5.
The storm caused at least 11 deaths and severe damage across Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and northern Venezuela.
It made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm, causing extensive flooding and power outages affecting over two million people.

Unprecedented Early Category 5 Status:

Typically, the first major hurricanes in the Atlantic form in September due to ocean temperatures.
Beryl’s early formation as a Category 5 hurricane is linked to unusually warm ocean temperatures.
Record-breaking ocean heat content (OHC) has contributed to the storm’s intensity.
Deep warm water prevented cooling at the surface, allowing the storm to maintain its strength.

Formation of Hurricanes:

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters near the equator when warm, moist air rises, creating a low-pressure area.
As air from surrounding areas fills in and rises, it cools, forming clouds and thunderstorms.
This system gains strength from the ocean’s heat and water evaporation.
Storms with wind speeds of 119 kmph and above are classified as hurricanes, using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Category 1 to Category 5).
Category 5 hurricanes have winds of 252 kmph or higher and are considered major hurricanes.

Climate Change and Future Hurricanes

Scientists agree that climate change contributes to the rapid intensification of hurricanes.
A 2023 study indicates an increase in rapid intensification events in the Atlantic from 1971 to 2020.
As oceans warm, more powerful hurricanes like Beryl are likely to form.
The increasing frequency and intensity of such events pose significant future risks.

Source: IE

6. Goa & Karnataka at loggerheads again over Kalasa-Banduri project as central body inspects Mahadayi basin

Sub: Geography

Sec: Indian Physical Geo

Context:

On July 7, 2024, a team from the Progressive River Authority for Water and Harmony (PRAWAH) visited the Belagavi district, part of a tour of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra through which the Mahadayi River flows.
The visit rekindled a four-decade-old dispute between Karnataka and Goa over sharing the Mahadayi River.
Environmental concern includes Deforestation and its impact on tiger conservation, although no tiger presence was reported in the Kanakumbi forest.

Mahadayi River dispute:

In 1985, Karnataka proposed a 350 MW hydroelectric project to divert half of the Mahadayi River’s water for irrigation, sparking long-standing protests from Goa over potential water security issues.
PRAWAH officials inspected Chorla Ghat and Haratala Nala and met with state irrigation officials, discussing the Kalasa and Banduri projects.

Dispute and Tribunal Verdict:

The Mahadayi Water Tribunal, established under the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, allocated water to Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in 2018.
The tribunal allowed Goa to use 24 tmcft, Karnataka 5.4 tmcft, and Maharashtra 1.33 tmcft.
Karnataka appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming the allocation was unfair.
In February 2020, the central government allowed Karnataka to draw 13.42 tmcft of water, including 8 tmcft for power generation, but no water has been received yet.

Mahadayi river:

The Mandovi or Mahadayi, formerly known as the Rio de Goa, is a river described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa.
- The Mandovi and the Zuari are the two principal rivers in the state of Goa.
The Mandovi joins with the Zuari at a common creek at Cabo Aguada, forming the Mormugao harbour.
- Cumbarjua Canal links both the river.
Panaji, the state capital and Old Goa, the former capital of Goa, are both situated on the left bank of the Mandovi.
Origin: A cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats of Belgaum district in Karnataka state.
Major waterfalls: Dudhsagar Falls and Varapoha Falls
Mouth: Arabian Sea
Tributaries: Nerul River, St Inez Creek, Rio de Ourém, Mapusa River, Valvanti River, Udnai River, Dudhsagar River, Ragada River and Kotrachi Nadi.
Islets: Three large freshwater isles — Divar, Chorão and Vanxim are present in the Mandovi near the town of Old Goa. The island of Chorão is home to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the renowned ornithologist Salim Ali.

Source: DTE

7. SEBI’s Uniform Charge Structure for Stockbrokers

Sub: Economy

Sec: Capital MARKET

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated stock exchanges and other market institutions to implement a “uniform and equal” charge structure for all stockbrokers, irrespective of the nature of the transaction.

Current Charging Mechanism

Volume-Based Charges: Currently, stock exchanges impose charges on stockbrokers based on the volume of transactions. Higher transaction volumes attract lower per-unit charges.
Discrepancy in Charge Collection: SEBI observed discrepancies in how charges are collected daily from clients by brokers and how brokers pay these charges monthly to exchanges. This has led to brokers collecting more in aggregate than they pay.

SEBI’s Directive

Uniform Charge Structure:
All members (stockbrokers) must be charged equally, with no differentiation based on transaction volume or activities.
True to Label Charges:
Charges recovered from clients must reflect the actual charges imposed by the exchanges.
End clients should benefit from reduced charges starting from the per-unit level.

Impact on Stockbrokers

Revenue Streams:
- The difference between charges paid to exchanges and those recovered from clients is a significant revenue stream for brokers. SEBI’s directive could impact this revenue stream.
- The impact will vary among brokers depending on their reliance on this income.
Specific Cases:
- Zerodha: Currently earns about 10% of its revenue from this difference. Might have to introduce brokerage fees for equity trading, which is currently free, due to the potential loss of revenue.
- Geojit Financial: Reported that the difference income constitutes a minor part of their total income and profit. Expects an increase in brokerage rates offered by discount brokers.

Stockbrokers and Their Brokerage Charges

Stockbrokers are intermediaries that facilitate the buying and selling of securities (such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) on behalf of investors. They provide various services, including executing trades, providing investment advice, and managing client portfolios. Brokerage charges are the fees that brokers charge for their services.

8. Behind Russia’s High Income

Sub: Economy

Sec: National Income

Recent Upgrade by the World Bank

Russia’s Status: Upgraded from an ‘upper-middle income’ to a ‘high-income’ country.
Previous Status: Last had high-income status in 2014.
Determining Factors:
- Growth in Trade: +6.8%
- Financial Sector: +8.7%
- Construction: +6.6%
- Real GDP: Increased by 3.6%
- Nominal GDP: Increased by 10.9%

Economic Context

Impact of War Economy: The growth is attributed to a significant increase in military-related activities.
IMF Assessment: Signs of overheating in the Russian economy.

Classification Criteria

World Bank’s Classification: Based on per-capita gross national income (GNI) in US dollars.
Threshold for High-Income: $14,005 or more.
Russia’s Per-Capita GNI: $14,250.
Other New High-Income Countries: Bulgaria ($14,460) and Palau ($14,250).

Ukraine’s Economic Upgrade

New Status: From lower-middle-income to upper-middle-income.
Growth Factors:
- Resumption of Economic Activity: Especially in western and northern parts of Ukraine.
- Real GDP Growth: 5.3% in 2023.
- Population Decline: More than 15% since the invasion.
- Construction Activity: 24.6% increase.
- Investment Spending: 52.9% increase.

Global Context

2023 Income Levels:
- South Asia: Only 13% low-income.
- Middle East and North Africa: 10% low-income.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: 44% high-income.
- Europe and Central Asia: 69% high-income.

Resilience of Russia’s Economy

Sanctions Impact: Russia under more individual sanctions than Iran, Cuba, and North Korea combined.
Recovery Factors:
- Fiscal Stimulus: Including military spending and credit expansion.
- Trade Diversion: Shift to China, India, Türkiye, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus.
- Currency Shift: Trade in sanctioning countries’ currencies fell from 80% in 2021 to less than 30% in 2023.
- Job Market: Strong with record low unemployment and rising wages.
- Consumer Spending: Propelled by a strong labor market.

Why Sanctions Haven’t Worked

Oil Sector:
- Sanctions Design: Not as tight as those on Venezuela or Iran.
- Global Oil Prices: Elevated prices and reduced discount on Russian oil.
- Export Volumes: Steady with increased exports to China and India.
Investments:
- Corporate Investment: Recovered since 2022, contributing 4.5% to GDP growth.
- Manufacturing and Defense: Increased investments.
- Domestic Goods Substitution: Investments in new production facilities.
- Multinational Corporations: Some have stayed, anticipating an end to the war.
Consumption:
- Private Consumption: Recovered strongly, adding 2.9% to GDP growth.
- Government Spending: Fiscal impulse of 1.2% of GDP in 2023, with 7% of GDP on defense spending.

World Bank Group Country Classifications by Income Level

The World Bank classifies economies into four income groups based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

The four income groups are:

Low-Income Countries (LICs)

GNI per Capita: $1,135 or less.
Characteristics: These countries often face significant challenges related to poverty, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Economic growth is typically slow, and they rely heavily on agriculture and basic industries.

Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMCs)

GNI per Capita: $1,136 to $4,465.
Characteristics: These countries are usually in a transitional phase, experiencing moderate economic growth. Industrialization is increasing, and there are improvements in infrastructure and education, but challenges remain in addressing widespread poverty and inequality.

Upper-Middle-Income Countries (UMCs)

GNI per Capita: $4,466 to $13,845.
Characteristics: These countries have more advanced industrial bases and diversified economies. They typically have better infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems, and a significant portion of their populations enjoys a higher standard of living. However, disparities in wealth distribution can still be a concern.

High-Income Countries (HICs)

GNI per Capita: $13,846 or more.
Characteristics: These countries have highly developed economies with strong industrial and service sectors. They offer high standards of living, advanced infrastructure, comprehensive healthcare, and education systems. Economic growth is often stable, though some high-income countries may face challenges such as aging populations and maintaining economic competitiveness.

Purpose and Utilization

Policy Formulation and Aid Allocation:
Comparative Analysis for economic performance and development progress

9. Centre set to tweak criteria for according classical language status

Sub: History

Sec: Art and Culture

Context : Amid a clamour for classical status for many languages, the Central government has decided to tweak the criteria for giving this special tag.

The Linguistics Expert Committee of the Union Culture Ministry submitted a report on October 10 last year, suggesting some tweaks and changes in the criteria for according classical status to any language,

The matter had been taken up after the Centre asked them to reconsider the rules. The issue was taken up first at a meeting on June 21, 2023. The new set of criteria will be officially notified by a gazette notification after it is approved by the Union Cabinet.

This in effect means that classical language status for certain languages, chiefly Marathi, which are under the consideration of the government, might have to wait till the new criteria is notified.

The Linguistics Expert Committee comprises representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture and four to five linguistic experts at any given time. It is chaired by the president of the Sahitya Akademi.

Over the years, there have been demands from some States and literary circles for classical status to languages such as Marathi, Bengali, Assamese and Maithili. Of these, the case of Marathi has been pending for more than a decade.

About Classical language

Currently there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India:
- Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages.

Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’

High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;
A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community;
The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

Benefits of classical language

Once a language is notified as a Classical language, the Human Resource and Development Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it:
- Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages
- A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages is set up
- The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared.