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Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 4th August 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test -Click Here

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd August 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) The technology powering hybrid electric vehicles Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology Mains – GS 3 (Science & Technology) In News: In recent months, automakers have launched hybrid electric vehicles in India, offering car buyers more choices in the nascent electric vehicle market. These new hybrid electric vehicles from different automakers, are relying on hybrid technology and its advantages over conventional internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles to change car buyers’ minds. What is a hybrid electric vehicle? A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uses an ICE (a petrol/diesel engine) and one or more electric motors to run. It is powered by the electric motor alone, which uses energy stored in batteries, by the ICE, or both. The powertrain of the HEV is more complex than a regular ICE-powered car as it has EV components and a conventional ICE. That means a typical HEV will have a low-voltage auxiliary battery, a traction battery pack to store electricity for the electric motor, an electric generator, an AC/DC converter, a power electronics controller, a thermal system to maintain working temperature, an ICE, a fuel tank, fuel filler, a transmission and an exhaust system. How do HEV powertrains work? HEV powertrains are designed to power cars in a series, parallel or series-parallel (power split) methods. A series HEV uses only the electric motor to drive the wheels, while the ICE powers the generator, which in turn recharges the battery. A parallel HEV, based on the driving condition, uses the best power source to power the vehicle. It will alternate between the electric motor and the ICE to keep the car moving. A series-parallel HEV offers a combination of both models and allows to split power, wherein power is routed from the ICE alone or from the battery to the electric motor to drive the vehicle. Moreover, in all three designs, the battery is charged through regenerative braking technology. Regenerative braking Regenerative braking recovers some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise turn into heat and instead converts it into electricity. Regenerative braking is a way of taking the wasted energy from the process of slowing down a car and using it to recharge the car’s batteries. On a normal car, braking simply wastes energy – but with regenerative braking, some of the energy is able to be reused. How does regenerative braking work? A regenerative braking system (RBS) used in automotive applications has several advantages like better braking efficiency in stop-and-go traffic which enhances fuel economy and also helps in reducing carbon emissions. Besides, RBS also helps in energy optimisation resulting in minimum energy wastage. The efficiency of HEVs and EVs will in large part be determined by their ability to recover as much energy as possible while braking, with a higher degree of energy recovery lowering fuel consumption. The adoption of regenerative braking technology in the auto industry is increasing on account of the operating efficiency of vehicles through reduced fuel consumption and the extended range of batteries. The technology is also used in electric railways. Rail transit can be described as frequent acceleration and braking of trains across many stations. This increases the potential for braking energy recovery using energy storage systems, which can recuperate and reuse braking energy from metro cars, further enhancing energy efficiency. What are the different types of HEVs? The HEVs can be categorised into micro, mild and full hybrid vehicles, based on the degree of hybridisation. A full HEV will have a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor compared with a mild HEV. As a result, a full HEV can power the vehicle for longer distances using just electric mode, A mild HEV cannot drive using only the electric motor and uses the battery at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic to support the ICE. Micro hybrids do not offer electric torque assistance as they lack an electric motor, but they have an idle stop-start system and energy management functions. There are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that are just like full HEVs, but they can be charged using a wall outlet, as they have an onboard charger and a charging port. PHEVs generally use the electric motor until the battery is almost drained, and then automatically switch to the ICE. What are the main advantages of using hybrid technology? Most vehicles with hybrid technology offer better fuel efficiency, more power, and minimum emissions. The design of hybrid vehicles for reduced engine size and car weight as compared to ICE vehicles, translates into increased mileage to favour the demand for these vehicles. Moreover, with the increase in total power and torque, HEVs can deliver instant torque and provide high torque even at low speeds. What are some challenges of hybrid technology? In a price-sensitive market like India, one of the major challenges for HEVs is the high vehicle cost. Battery, a vital component of an HEV, increases the cost of the vehicle, making it pricier than vehicles powered only by an ICE. The RBS also adds to the higher cost of an HEV. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of (2021) Digital security infrastructure Food security infrastructure Health care and education infrastructure Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Security) In News: The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, was passed in Rajya Sabha. The Bill amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005. The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities (such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer) related to weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery. Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. Amendments Prohibition on financing certain activities: The Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. To prevent persons from financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly). It may also prohibit persons from making finances or related services available for the benefit of other persons in relation to any activity which is prohibited. Source: Indian Express Kerala opposes changes to MMDR Act Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 1 (Geography); GS 3 (Economy, Security) In News: The Kerala government has opposed the new set of proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The State Industries Minister stated that the amendments are a breach of States’ rights as minerals come under the purview of States. The Centre had invited suggestions from the public to the draft amendments to the MMDR Act. Proposed amendments The main objection is against the sixth item in the note for consultation sent to the State governments that will empower the Centre to auction some minerals from the list of atomic minerals. Kerala strongly opposes the proposed amendment as State governments are the owners of the mines and minerals located within the territory of the State concerned, and under Entry 23 of List II of the Constitution and the Constitutional right of the State under Article 246(3), State Assemblies can make laws on such minerals. Must Read: MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 Ownership of Mineral: The State Governments are the owners of minerals located within the boundary of the State concerned, under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. However, for minerals specified in the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 approval of the Central Government is necessary. The Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India. Schedule I contains minerals such as coal and lignite, minerals of the “rare earths” group containing Uranium and Thorium. Atomic Minerals Uranium and Thorium are the main atomic minerals. Other atomic minerals are beryllium, lithium and zirconium. Thorium Thorium is a chemical element with symbol Th and atomic number 90. It is one of only two significantly radioactive elements that still occur naturally in large quantities. Thorium is estimated to be about three to four times more abundant than uranium in the Earth’s crust, and is chiefly refined from monazite sands. Monazite is a widely scattered on the Kerala Coast Thorium is predicted to be able to replace uranium as nuclear fuel in nuclear reactors. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Q.1) With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs: (2010) Mineral         90% Natural sources in Copper: Jharkhand Nickel:     Orissa Tungsten: Kerala Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following minerals: (2020) Bentonite Chromite Kyanite Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals? 1 and 2 only 4 only 1 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only GST collections continue to surge Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs – Economy Mains – GS 3 (Economy) In News: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) yielded ₹1,48,995 crore in revenues during the month of July, the second-highest monthly collections since the launch of the GST regime and the highest in three months. July’s GST collection is 28% higher than the same month last year, driven by a 48% surge in revenues from import of goods, while revenues from domestic transactions, including import of services are 22% higher than a year ago. Reasons High inflation rate, buoyancy in consumption patterns triggered by the economic recovery, alongside greater enforcement actions against anti-evasion activities have contributed to the rise in GST collections. What do the improved revenues signify? Experts say that action against tax evaders, including steps being taken by state authorities, have resulted in better compliance and helped push the growth in GST collections along with economic recovery and higher inflation rate. It will help boost the government’s GST collections beyond the budgeted figures. After the end of the compensation regime for states in June 2022, the higher GST revenue growth is expected to ease the revenue concerns for some states going ahead. Must Read: GST- Five years on + Centre and States have equal powers to make GST-related laws Source: Indian Express The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (2017) It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves. It will enormously increase the growth and size of economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 African swine fever Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: After Wayanad, African swine fever has been confirmed at a private pig farm in Kannur district, after more than 15 pigs on the farm had died due to the disease in the last ten days. African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, whose mortality rate can reach 100%. It is not a danger to human health, but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy. There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF. The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon. Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken. Source: The Hindu ISRO to undertake maiden flight of SSLV on August 7 Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: ISRO will undertake the maiden flight of its newly developed Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on August 7. On its first flight, the SSLV will carry one of India’s Earth Observation Satellites – EOS-2 – that will have applications in mapping and developing various GIS applications. It will also carry the AzadiSat, a satellite developed by 750 rural students from across the country coordinated by SpaceKidz India. SpaceKidz India is a space start-up creating “Young scientists” for the “Country” and spreading awareness among children for a “borderless world”. Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) SSLV is a rocket that is designed to orbit satellites weighing less than 500kg in Low Earth Orbit and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). It is a 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage. Key Features SSLV is the smallest vehicle at 110-ton mass at ISRO. It will take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken now for a launch vehicle. Only six people will be required to do the job, instead of 60 people. The other features include: flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, Launch on demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. Significance Seamless launch of small satellites The SSLV is intended to cater to a market for the launch of small satellites into low earth orbits with a quick turn-around time. Suited for launching multiple microsatellites & supports multiple orbital drop-offs. Shift the burden of commercial launches from PSLV The SSLV is likely to cost a fourth of the current PSLV. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018) PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 1 and 2 3 only AlphaFold Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: DeepMind, a company based in London and owned by Google, announced that it had predicted the three-dimensional structures of more than 200 million proteins using AlphaFold. This is the entire protein universe known to scientists today. What is AlphaFold? AlphaFold is an AI-based protein structure prediction tool. It is based on a computer system called deep neural network. Inspired by the human brain, neural networks use a large amount of input data and provides the desired output exactly like how a human brain would. The real work is done by the black box between the input and the output layers, called the hidden networks. AlphaFold is fed with protein sequences as input. When protein sequences enter through one end, the predicted three-dimensional structures come out through the other. How does AlphaFold work? It uses processes based on “training, learning, retraining and relearning.” The first step uses the available structures of 1,70,000 proteins in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to train the computer model. Then, it uses the results of that training to learn the structural predictions of proteins not in the PDB. Then, it uses the high-accuracy predictions from the first step to retrain and relearn to gain higher accuracy of the earlier predictions. By using this method, AlphaFold has now predicted the structures of the entire 214 million unique protein sequences deposited in the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) database. What are the implications of this development? Proteins are the business ends of biology, meaning proteins carry out all the functions inside a living cell. Therefore, knowing protein structure and function is essential to understanding human diseases. The development of AlphaFold is a watershed movement in science and structural biology in particular. AlphaFold has already helped hundreds of scientists accelerate their discoveries in vaccine and drug development since the first public release of the database nearly a year back. What does this development mean for India? The Indian community of structural biology is strong and skilled. It needs to quickly take advantage of the AlphaFold database and learn how to use the structures to design better vaccines and drugs. India will also need to speed up its implementation of public-private partnerships in the sciences. The public-private partnership between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute and DeepMind made the 25-terabyte AlphaFold dataset accessible to everyone in the scientific community at no cost. India could facilitate joint collaborations with the prevalent hardware muscle and data science talent in the private sector and specialists in academic institutions to pave the way for data science innovations. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) The term ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of (2021) genes introduced in the genetically modified plants development of India’s own satellite navigation system radio collar for wildlife tracking spread of viral diseases Pendency of Cases Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Polity – Judiciary) In News: Union Law Minister tabled data on pendency of cases in High Court and number of female judges in Judiciary in a reply to question in Rajya Sabha. Pendency of cases Over 59 lakh cases were pending in the High Courts until July 22. Allahabad High Court has the highest number of pending cases at over 10 lakh. Next are the High Courts of Rajasthan (just over 6 lakh) and Bombay (just under 6 lakh). Women judges The 4 women judges in the Supreme Court are against a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, and the 96 women judges in the High Courts are against a sanctioned strength of 1,108 judges. Out of the 96 women judges in the High Courts, Delhi and Madras HCs between them account for one-fourth, at 12 women judges each. Must Read: Judicial Accountability Source: Indian Express Baba’s Explainer – Antarctic Regulation Antarctic Regulation GS-3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Context: The Parliament has passed the Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 to assist in protecting the frozen continent where India operates two research centres and is part of several scientific explorations. Till date, India neither has any laws governing its activities on the continent, nor any authority to issue permits for any kind of expeditions. Antarctica is the southernmost continent and does not have any indigenous population. The entire region is demilitarised and is used for scientific and peaceful purposes as per the Antarctic Treaty Read Complete Details on Antarctic Regulation Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Which of the below given pairs is/are correctly matched? Port Country Astrakhan port Russia Anzali port Azerbaijan Bandar Abbas Iran Choose the correct code: 3 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 2 only Q.2) Consider the following statements The State Governments are the owners of minerals located within the boundary of the State concerned To grant mineral concessions for minerals specified in the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 approval of the Central Government is necessary Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statemnets about Regenerative braking It recovers some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise turn into heat and instead converts it into electricity. A regenerative braking system (RBS) used in automotive applications leads better braking efficiency in stop-and-go traffic which enhances fuel economy Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’2nd August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 1st August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – d Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;}

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Antarctic Regulation

 ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Context: The Parliament has passed the Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 to assist in protecting the frozen continent where India operates two research centres and is part of several scientific explorations. Till date, India neither has any laws governing its activities on the continent, nor any authority to issue permits for any kind of expeditions. Antarctica is the southernmost continent and does not have any indigenous population. The entire region is demilitarised and is used for scientific and peaceful purposes as per the Antarctic Treaty About Antarctica Antarctica is a vast ice-covered landmass surrounded by sea (unlike the Arctic, which is an ice-covered ocean surrounded by land). It’s bigger than Europe, and in summer, it’s still 62 times the size of the UK! Antarctica is the world’s highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent. Its record low temperature is -94°C. But it doesn’t actually snow much – the Antarctic is so dry it’s classed as a polar desert. And it’s in darkness part of the year. There are no trees, or shrubs, and only two kinds of native flowering plant. Not surprisingly there are no people permanently living or native to Antarctica – although there can be up to 5,000 scientists and researchers based there Antarctica has no land-based mammals – just some hardy flightless insects – but it’s rich in sealife, including seabirds like penguins, whales, seals and shrimp-like krill. Why the Antarctic is so important? The huge frozen landmass at the bottom of our planet is more than just spectacular icing on the globe. It could be vital for our survival too. Moderating Global Temperature: The Antarctic ice deflects some of the sun’s rays away from the Earth, keeping temperatures liveable. Sea Level Rise: Although it’s not predicted that the massive Antarctic ice sheets are likely to melt completely, even small-scale melting would raise global sea levels, and cause flooding around the world. Supports Marine Life: The ocean surrounding the continent also support masses of the world’s sealife – including 15 species of whale and dolphin, and five species of penguin. The nutrient-rich waters encourage blooms of tiny plankton, the basis of the ocean food chain. Natural laboratories: The Antarctic is one of the world’s least disturbed places. It is helping us understand global climate change now, the unique archive locked in Antarctica’s nearly 4km thick ice sheet tells us what our planet’s climate has been like over almost a million years. Antarctic continental ice contains climate records extending back more than 800,000 years, which have been obtained from ice cores. Sensitive indicators of present-day environmental change: Antarctic science has also revealed much about the impact of human activity on the natural world. The discovery in 1985 of the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica revealed the damage done to the Earth’s atmosphere by man-made chemicals. Common Resource: The continent is a no-man’s land — a natural reserve that belongs to no country. It is only governed by global agreements. However, it is increasingly vulnerable, especially to global warming, climate change, Pirate fishing, pollution and unsustainable exploration of minerals. How has Indian role in Antarctic evolved over the years? In February 1956, at the instance of Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon, that India became the first country in the world to request for an item on the agenda of the 11th UN General Assembly entitled “The Question of Antarctica”. The reasoning behind Antarctica wanting to be discussed in UN was to ensure that the vast areas and its resources (particularly atomic energy minerals) were used entirely for peaceful purposes (possible experimentation of atomic weapons) and for general welfare. But India did not press the point further because it got caught up later in the year with the almost simultaneous crises in the Suez and Hungary But the Nehru-Menon initiative, twelve countries who believed that they had a direct stake in Antarctica started discussions among themselves and on December 1, 1959 the Antarctica Treaty was signed in Washington DC. The Twelve countries included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR Not surprisingly, since its moves at the UN had irked a number of countries including the USSR, India was neither involved nor invited. Subsequently, Antarctica faded from the Indian geopolitical gaze. However, the morning of January 9, 1982, transformed the international discourse when news of India’s first Antarctic expedition reaching its destination stunned the world. No other Asian country, including China, had a presence there. A second expedition landed in Antarctica on December 10, 1982. With two expeditions successfully completed within a span of 11 months, India finally became a member of the Antarctic Treaty in August 1983 and China followed in 1985. 1984 saw two more striking Indian achievements: its first Antarctic team started wintering there from March 1, 1984 and a few months afterwards an unmanned Antarctic research base named as Dakshin Gangotri was established Since then, India has set up two manned esearch stations in Antarctica — Maitri in 1988 and Bharati in 2012. Forty expeditions to the continent have taken place. The major thrust areas of the Indian Antarctic Programme are climate processes and links to climate change, environmental processes and conservation and polar technology. The operational expenditure of the Antarctic expedition is ₹90-110 crore annually depending on the projects and services. National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities. It was established in 1998. What is Antarctic Treaty? The Antarctic Treaty came into force on June 23, 1961 after ratification by the 12 countries then active in Antarctic science. The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude. Its headquarters is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Currently it has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983. Of the 54 signatory countries, 29 have ‘consultative’ status that give them voting rights. Its key objectives are to demilitarise Antarctica to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica to set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty. Neutralising territorial sovereignty, this means a limit was placed on making any new claim or enlargement of an existing claim. The Treaty parties meet each year at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. They have adopted over 300 recommendations and negotiated separate international agreements. However, a key reason why the treaty has been able to survive has been its ability to evolve through a number of additional conventions and other legal protocols. These have dealt with the conservation of marine living resources, prohibitions on mining, and the adoption of comprehensive environmental protection mechanisms. As disputes have arisen over the years, many have been addressed through the expansion of the treaty framework with these agreements. This framework is now referred to as the Antarctic Treaty System. Antarctic Treaty System is the whole complex of arrangements made for the purpose of regulating relations among states in the Antarctic. Its purpose is to ensure in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord. It is a global achievement and has been a hallmark of international cooperation for more than 50 years. These agreements are legally binding and purpose-built for the unique geographical, environmental and political characteristics of the Antarctic and form a robust international governance framework for the region. Major International Agreements of the Treaty System: The 1959 Antarctic Treaty. The 1972 Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. The 1980 Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. What are the key feature of the 2022 bill passed by Parliament? The Bill passed by Parliament has been under discussion in the government for over five years at least. It provides a detailed legal framework for India’s Antarctic activities that is consistent with its international treaty obligations. Objective: The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.   It also seeks to protect the Antarctic environment and regulate activities in the region. Applicability: The provisions of the Bill will apply to any person, vessel or aircraft that is a part of an Indian expedition to Antarctica under a permit issued under the Bill.  Areas comprising of Antarctica include: the continent of Antarctica, including its ice-shelves, and all areas of the continental shelf adjacent to it, and all islands (including their ice-shelves), seas, and air space south of 60°S latitude Central committee:The central government will establish a Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection.  The Committee will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.  10 members, not below the rank of joint secretary, will be nominated from various Ministries and organisations. Need for permit: A permit by the Committee will be required for various activities. Before a permit is granted by the Committee, the applicant has to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the proposed activities.  Moreover, a permit must not be granted unless a waste management plan has been prepared for the expedition by the Committee. Prohibited activities: The Bill prohibits certain activities in Antarctica including: (i) nuclear explosion or disposal of radioactive wastes, (ii) introduction of non-sterile soil, and (iii) discharge of garbage, plastic or other substance into the sea which is harmful to the marine environment. Offences and penalties: Drilling for mineral resources or introducing non-native animals or plants in Antarctica without a permit will be punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. conducting a nuclear explosion in Antarctica will be punishable with an imprisonment of 20 years and Rs 50 Crore fine. The central government may notify one or more Sessions Courts to be the Designated Court under the Bill and specify its territorial jurisdiction to try offences punishable under the Bill. What are the benefits of the Antarctic Bill, 2022? Specific Legal Framework: The bill provides a regulatory framework for India’s Antarctic activities through legal mechanisms which will help in the efficient operation of the Indian Antarctic Programme. Accountability of Activities: The enforcement of such laws will confer jurisdiction on the courts of India to deal with any dispute or crimes committed in parts of Antarctica. Legislation of such a kind will bind the citizens to the policies of the Antarctic treaty system. The bill will be applicable on Indian citizens, as well as foreign citizens, and any company registered in India or any sea vessel registered in India. Builds India’s Credibility: Legislation of such a kind will bind the citizens to the policies of the Antarctic treaty system. This will be useful to increase India’s international visibility and credibility in Polar governance for cooperation in scientific studies and logistics. Sustainable Development: The bill plans to facilitate India’s involvement in the management of tourism in the Antarctic and the sustainable development of fisheries. Ensures De-militarisation: The bill aim is to ensure de-militarisation of the (Antarctic) region along with getting rid of mining or illegal activities. What lies ahead? The issue of a polar research vessel, however, still needs to be addressed immediately. So far, India has been chartering such ships from countries like Russia and Norway while China has raced ahead and has two of its own. The acquisition of a vessel on a permanent basis is a logical next step to the passage of the Bill as also the revamp of the quite old Maitri research station. The polar research vessel will also be required as India expands its association with and involvement in the Arctic as well. India’s research station there called Himadri was inaugurated in July 2008 and five years later India got observer status at the eight-country Arctic Council. Mains Practice Question – As a country with global ambitions, India’s polar engagement can be seen as representing its own aspirations. Comment. Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section.  

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 3rd August 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test -Click Here

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 3 Questions [3rd August, 2022] – Day 39

Hello Students  TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers and is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standards before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (The RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2023 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here - CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) - CLICK HERE To Access Day 39 Questions - CLICK HERE  P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st August 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Space Liability Convention of 1972 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology Mains – GS 3 (Science & Technology) In News:  The debris from a large Chinese rocket – the Long March 5B — crashed to earth over the Pacific and the Indian oceans. As the 22-tonne core stage of the rocket hurtled uncontrollably back to earth, there were fears that it might hit a populated area. What is an uncontrolled re-entry? Generally, the core or first stage of a rocket is made up of heavy pieces that usually don’t reach orbit after liftoff, and fall back safely along a near-precise projected trajectory. If they do enter an orbit, then a costly de-orbit manoeuvre is required for a steered, controlled return using engine burn. Without a de-orbit manoeuvre, the orbital core stage makes an uncontrolled fall. Gigantic remnants from China’s Long March 5B rockets’ core stage are known to make such fiery, out-of-control descents back to earth. The reason is a difference in the mission sequence where the core stage reaches orbit, and then crashes back. Most nations’ rockets separate the launcher from the payload before leaving the atmosphere. An extra engine then gives the payload a final boost. But China’s 5B series does not use a second engine and pushes right into orbit Previous incidents In May 2020, Long March 5B debris had apparently fallen in Ivory Coast; and a year later in May 2021, remains of a Chinese rocket had dived uncontrolled into the Indian Ocean near Maldives. Why is it difficult to track uncontrolled descents? The variables involved make it difficult to precisely track the re-entry time and drop zone of rocket debris in uncontrolled descents. The factors that make this prediction extremely challenging include atmospheric drag, variations in solar activity, angle and rotational variation of the object among others. A miscalculation of even a minute in re-entry time could result in the final resting place of the debris changing by hundreds of kilometres. Are there laws regulating space junk? The Space Liability Convention of 1972 defines responsibility in case a space object causes harm. The treaty says that a launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its faults in space. The Convention also provides for procedures for the settlement of claims for damages. However, there is no law against space junk crashing back to earth. In April this year, suspected debris from a Chinese rocket was found in two Maharashtra villages. In 1979, re-entry of NASA’s 76-ton Skylab had scattered debris over uninhabited parts of Australia, and the space agency was fined $400 for littering by a local government. The only settlement using the Liability Convention was between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Canada over debris of Soviet Cosmos 954 falling in a barren region. Canada was paid CAD 3 million in accordance with international law for cleaning up the mess Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: (2018) IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only None Q.2) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022) A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same surface. speed and places a probe on its Electoral bonds Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) In News: Donations to political parties through electoral bonds (EBs) have crossed the Rs 10,000-crore mark, with parties getting another Rs 389.5 crore through such bonds in the 21st sale of EBs conducted between July 1 and 10. With this, the total amount collected by parties has gone up to Rs 10,246 crore from various anonymous donors in 21 phases since 2018 when the EB scheme was introduced. As per the provisions of the EB Scheme, only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly, as the case may be, are eligible to receive electoral bonds. Electoral Bond Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. These bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit. State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance. These bonds are only redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party. The bonds are available for purchase by any citizen of India for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government. A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. The donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond. Donors who contribute less than Rs. 20,000 to political parties through purchase of electoral bonds need not provide their identity details such as PAN, etc. The central idea behind the electoral bonds scheme was to bring about transparency in electoral funding in India. Source: Indian Express CoWin App Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: After the success of the Co-WIN platform, the government is looking to repurpose the technology for various healthcare cases. CoWIN is currently being repurposed for the universal immunisation program (UIP). It will bring the ease of discovery of vaccination centres/camps and reminders for subsequent vaccinations for preventable diseases for mothers. The addition of digitally verifiable certificates for routine immunisation would be the first of its kind globally and a great way to start building longitudinal health records for a child right from its birth. In addition to immunisation, the platform would also be considered for the use-cases of blood donation and organ donation in the months to come. Co-WIN App (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) The technology has been integral to India’s fight against COVID-19 and the CoWIN platform was developed in no time, leveraging experience in developing and implementing large scale applications such as Aadhaar, UPI, GST, etc Co-WIN, a cloud-based IT platform, is supposed to handle minute details for India’s Covid-19 immunisation programme, including registering beneficiaries, allocating vaccination centres, sending text messages with name of their vaccinator to beneficiaries and live monitoring of vials in cold storage. The Co-WIN platform is owned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and was earlier the platform used for conducting Pulse Polio and other crucial immunisation programmes across the country. The same platform has been expanded for distribute Covid-19 vaccines and the Ministry of Electronics and IT along with the National Informatics Centre are handling the backend and the tech infrastructure for it. Functions Monitoring and tracking – It enables monitoring the inoculation drive and tracking the listed beneficiaries for vaccination on a real-time basis. Thus, it also helps to counter proxy vaccinations. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following: (2022) Aarogya Setu COWIN DigiLocker DIKSHA Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms? 1 and 2 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 India’s ‘wheat waiver’ WTO demand is risk-fraught Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (International Relations) Mains – GS 3 (Economy – Agriculture) Context: One of the cardinal demands of India in the World Trade Organization (WTO) — and rightly so — has been to find a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding (PSH) of food to protect India’s food security (PSH policy). What it is all about? India’s PSH policy is based on procuring food from farmers at an administered price (MSP), which is generally higher than the market price. The PSH policy serves the twin objectives of Offering remunerative prices to farmers and Providing subsidised food to the underprivileged. WTO law Such price support-based procurement from farmers is counted as a trade-distorting subsidy, and if given beyond the permissible limit, breaches WTO law. Currently, India has temporary relief due to a ‘peace clause’ which bars countries from bringing legal challenges against price support-based procurement for food security purposes. However, a permanent solution to this issue is still not in the offing. Recent WTO ministerial meeting The WTO ministerial meeting in June at Geneva did precious little to address this issue. The declaration on food security adopted at the Geneva ministerial states that “we recognize that adequate food stocks can contribute to the realization of Members’ domestic food security objectives and encourage Members with available surplus stocks to release them on international markets consistently with WTO rules.” India’s concern is that it should have the policy space to hold public food stocks using the MSP, which is a price support instrument. However, there is no mention of price support in the Geneva declaration. New dimension India’s demand for a permanent solution to the PSH policy has acquired a new dimension. India insists that it should also be allowed to export food, most notably wheat, from the pool of the foodgrain procured under the MSP. This demand was recently re-articulated by Finance Minister at the G20 meeting in Indonesia. The Russia-Ukraine war has unleashed a food crisis in many countries. India perhaps wishes to capitalise on this opportunity. However, WTO law proscribes countries from exporting foodgrain procured at subsidised prices. There is a sound economic rationale behind it. Allowing a country to export foodgrain procured at subsidised prices would give that country an unfair advantage in global agricultural trade. As per the WTO Agreement, waivers can be adopted only in “exceptional circumstances”. Thus, the possibility of it recognising an ongoing war between two nations as an “exceptional circumstance” to adopt a waiver for permitting wheat exports from public stocks is profoundly remote. What the focus should be? India should revisit its stand on asking for a waiver for wheat exports from its public stockholding, which, in any case, was not a part of India’s PSH policy. The Government’s wheat procurement has been 57.5% less than the original target for this season. So, if the public procurement has been so low, there is no point in asking for a waiver to export wheat from the public stock. Spending scarce negotiating capital on this issue might dilute India’s core agenda of pushing for a permanent solution for its PSH programme to attain the goal of food security and providing remunerative prices to the farmers. The laudable objective of helping countries facing food crises can be accomplished by strengthening India’s commitment to the United Nations World Food Programme. If the domestic situation ameliorates, India can lift the ban imposed on private traders to export wheat. Negotiations at the WTO require crystal clarity of the core objectives that should be relentlessly pursued. Adding newer objectives and shifting goalposts might result in falling between two stools. Peace Clause Peace clause refers to article 13 of the Agreement on Agriculture of the World Trade Organisation. According to this clause, export subsidies and support measures, given by a WTO member to its producers, that are considered legal under the Agreement on Agriculture cannot be challenged as being illegal under other WTO agreements. The original peace clause expired in 2004. In the 2013 Bali Conference, another temporary clause of this kind was put in place. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2017) India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of WTO. TFA is a part of WTO’s Bali Ministerial Package of 2013. TFA came into force in January 2016. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 The need for a distinction between blasphemy and hate speech Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Society); GS 2 (Polity) What is Blasphemy and Hate Speech? Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. Hate Speech is an abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice against a particular group or an individual, especially on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation. Laws in India Section 295 (A) of IPC As far as laws in India go, there isn’t formal legislation against blasphemy. The closest equivalent to a blasphemy law is Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which punishes any speech, writings, or signs that with premeditated and malicious intent insult citizens’ religion or religious beliefs with a fine and imprisonment for up to three years. The legality of Section 295(A), which had been challenged in the Ramji Lal Modi case (1957), was affirmed by a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court. The apex court reasoned that while Article 19(2) allows reasonable limits on freedom of speech and expression for the sake of public order, the punishment under Section 295(A) deals with aggravated form of blasphemy which is committed with the malicious aim of offending the religious sensibilities of any class. How has the legislation been interpreted? In the case of Superintendent, Central Prison, Fatehgarh vs Ram Manohar Lohia the Supreme Court stated that the link between the speech spoken and any public disorder caused as a result of it should have a close relationship for retrieving Section 295(A) of IPC. By 2011, it concluded that only speech that amounts to “incitement to impending unlawful action” can be punished. That is, the state must meet a very high bar before using public disturbance as a justification for suppressing expression. Should there be a difference between blasphemy laws and hate speech laws? The wording of Section 295(A) is considerably too wide. The Supreme Court has said on several occasions that perhaps the goal of hate speech statutes in Section 295(A) is to prevent prejudice and ensure equality. Unfortunately, there is a huge disparity between this interpretation and the actual wording due to which the law is still being exploited at all levels of administration. Are hate speech cases rising? As per the data given by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there has been a huge increase in cases registered promoting hate speech and fostering animosity in society. The data reads that while there were only 323 cases registered in 2014, it had increased to 1,804 cases in 2020. This is because section 295(A) is now usually used to penalise religious dissent, satire, and any comedic content with religious references. Many cases show how regulations don’t draw a line between criticism and premeditated hate speech. Failing to articulate these distinctions diminishes fair use of the Section and makes it more difficult to define and penalise the actual crime of hate speech. Source: The Hindu Bringing Eurasia closer Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (International Relations); GS 3 (Economy – Trade, Connectivity etc) In News: Recently, International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was launched. Last week, RailFreight.Com reported that two 40-ft containers of wood laminate sheets crossed the Caspian Sea from Russia’s Astrakhan port, entered Iran’s Anzali port, continued their southward journey towards the Arabian Sea, entered the waters at Bandar Abbas and eventually reach Nhava Shiva port in Mumbai. The journey signalled the launch of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km multi-modal transport corridor that combines road, rail and maritime routes connecting Russia and India via central Asia and Iran. INSTC The legal framework for the INSTC is provided by a trilateral agreement signed by India, Iran and Russia at the Euro-Asian Conference on Transport in 2000. Since then Kazakhstan, Belarus, Oman, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Syria have signed instruments of accession to become members of the INSTC. Once fully operational, the INSTC is expected to reduce freight costs by 30% and journey time by 40% in comparison with the conventional deep sea route via the Suez Canal. Indeed, the need for an alternative route was deeply felt last year, when the Ever Given container ship was stuck in the Suez, halting maritime traffic between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. India’s investment in the INSTC is exemplified by its involvement in Iran’s Chabahar port and the construction of a 500-km Chabahar-Zahedan railway line. Once completed, this infrastructure will allow India access to Afghanistan and central Asia, a prospect strengthened by the Taliban government’s support for the project. A special economic zone around Chabahar will offer Indian companies the opportunity to set up a range of industries. Lines of credit will be extended to Iran by Exim Bank. The INSTC, thus, provides an opportunity for the internationalisation of India’s infrastructural state, with state-run businesses taking the lead and paving the way for private companies. Significance – Non-alignment to multi-alignment For India, the INSTC achieves several things all at once. Firstly, India can now bypass Pakistan to access Afghanistan, central Asia and beyond. Second, the INSTC can shape a north-south transport corridor that can complement the east-west axis of the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India’s founding role in both the INSTC and the Quad exemplify its departure from non-alignment to multi-alignment. The INSTC offers a platform for India to closely collaborate with Russia, Iran and Central Asian republics. That two of its partners are subject to Western sanctions hasn’t prevented India from collaborating with the U.S., Japan and Australia as part of the Quad to create and safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific. Indian policymaking in international affairs has often been criticised for its moral indecisiveness, diplomatic reticence and ideological confusion. These critics have failed to observe the subtle shifts in Indian foreign policy from non-alignment to multi-alignment. As a transcontinental multi-modal corridor that aims to bring Eurasia closer together, the INSTC is a laudable initiative in its own right. That it helps India consolidate its multi-alignment strategy sweetens the deal. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India? (2017) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase. India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.  Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India. PM and President’s photos in govt ads Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) In News: The on Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to include the photographs of the President of India and Prime Minister in advertisements on the 44th Chess Olympiad underway in Chennai. The HC relied on a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that issued guidelines on government spending on advertisements. What was the 2015 ruling? In Common Cause v Union of India, the SC sought to regulate the way the government spends on advertisements. It essentially regulated the 2007 New Advertisement Policy of the Government of India. The petitioners had argued that there is arbitrary spending on advertisements by the government. The allegations ranged from wastage of public money for political mileage to using advertisements as a tool to manipulate media. The court ruled that Since the primary cause of government advertisement is to use public funds to inform the public of their rights, obligations, and entitlements as well as to explain Government policies, programs, services and initiatives, however, when these requisites are not fulfilled in a government advertisement then the whole purpose would be frustrated Patronization of any particular media house(s) must be avoided and award of advertisements must be on an equal basis to all newspapers who may, however, be categorized depending upon their circulation. The DAVP (Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity) guidelines do not deal with the said aspect of the matter and hence the necessity of incorporating the same in the present directions to ensure the independence, impartiality and the neutrality of the fourth estate which is vital to the growth and sustenance of democracy will have to be weighed and considered by us The bench also had set up a committee to suggest a better policy. What did the committee suggest? The three-member committee — comprising Prof N R Madhava Menon, T K Viswanathan, and senior advocate Ranjit Kumar — suggested a fresh policy — the Government Advertisements (Content Regulation) Guidelines 2014 with five broad principles: Advertising campaigns are to be related to government responsibilities Materials should be presented in an objective, fair manner and designed to meet objectives of the campaign Advertisements must not directed at promoting political interests of a party campaigns must be justified and undertaken in a cost-effective manner Advertisements must comply with legal requirements and financial regulations What did the Supreme Court rule? It largely accepted the committee report except on a few issues. The ruling mandated that government advertisements will not contain a political party’s symbol, logo or flag and are required to be politically neutral and must refrain from glorifying political personalities. What about photographs in advertisements? The SC agreed with the committee’s suggestion that photographs of leaders should be avoided and only the photographs of the President/ Prime Minister or Governor/ Chief Minister shall be used for effective government messaging. Then Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had opposed the recommendation arguing that if the PM’s photograph is allowed in the advertisement, then the same right should be available to his cabinet colleagues as the PM is the “first among the equals”. The court, while restricting the recommendation to the photos of the President and Prime Minister, added the photograph of the Chief Justice of India to that list of exceptions. In 2018, the Centre and some states sought a review of the verdict on the ground that not permitting the publication of the CM’s photograph would violate the federal structure. An SC Bench relaxed the bar, allowing pictures of Union ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors and State ministers in government advertisements. What are the takeaways from the SC ruling? The SC ruling did not mandate publication of the photograph of the PM and President, but only restricts publication of photos of government officials other than the President, PM, CJI, CM and the Governor. Source: Indian Express India’s unique jobs crisis Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Employment) Context: India is currently facing a unique job crisis because, while fewer people are employed in agriculture today, the transformation has been slow. Stats Between 1993-94 and 2018-19, agriculture’s share in India’s workforce came down from 61.9% to 41.4%, roughly a third in 25 years. Given its level of per capita GDP in 2018 – and comparing with the average for other countries in the same income bracket – India’s farm sector should be employing 33-34% of the total workforce. 4% may not be a substantial deviation from the average. Weak structural transformation There’s been a reversal of the trend in the last two years, which has seen the share of those employed in farms rise to 44-45%. This has primarily to do with the Covid-induced economic disruptions. Even the movement of workforce from agriculture that India has witnessed over the past three decades or more does not qualify as what economists call “structural transformation”. Such transformation would involve the transfer of labour from farming to sectors –manufacturing and modern services – where productivity, value-addition and average incomes are higher. The share of manufacturing (and mining) in total employment has actually fallen along with that of agriculture. The surplus labour pulled out from the farms is being largely absorbed in construction and services. While the services sector does include relatively well-paying industries — such as information technology, business process outsourcing, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, education and public administration — the bulk of the jobs in this case are in petty retailing, small eateries, domestic help, sanitation, security staffing, transport and similar other informal economic activities. Simply put, the structural transformation process in India has been weak and deficient. The surplus labour isn’t moving to higher value-added non-farm activities, specifically manufacturing and modern services (the familiar ‘Kuznets Process’ named after the American economist and 1971 Nobel Memorial Prize winner, Simon Kuznets). Instead, the labour transfer is happening within the low-productivity informal economy. The jobs that are getting generated outside agriculture are mostly in low-paid services and construction; the latter’s share in employment has even overtaken that of manufacturing. Weak structural transformation and persistence of informality also explains the tendency, especially by rural families, for pursuing multiple livelihoods. Many of them cling on to their small plots of lands, even while earning incomes wholly or predominantly from non-farm sources. A picture in contrast IT industry adding jobs: The IT industry is clearly an isolated island of the Indian economy that added jobs during the pandemic and is continuing to do so. The five companies (Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra) have more employees than the 12.5 lakh and 14.1 lakh currently on the rolls of the Indian Railways and the three defense services, respectively. Much of the IT sector’s recent success is courtesy of exports. These have, in fact, boomed due to Covid’s triggering increased demand for digitisation even among businesses that were hitherto slow in adoption. India’s net exports of software services have surged from $84.64 billion in 2019-20 to $109.54 billion in 2021-22. India’s unique job crisis The manufacturing sector is potentially best placed to absorb agricultural labourers. However, there is a lack of jobs in the manufacturing sector. The more educated are not qualified to be programmers or develop software programs which are essential for the IT industry. They aim to join the armed forces or to sit for the Railway Recruitment Board’s exams. However, there is not much recruitment in these sectors these days. So, the Indian workforce possesses skill sets for the sectors where there is a lack of job opportunities. And sectors that generate excess jobs require particular skill sets that the majority of the Indian workforce lacks. As a result, the Indian economy is unable to absorb excess labour. Source: Indian Express Baba’s Explainer – Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. GS-3: Infrastructure and Economic Development GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Context: In recent months, automakers Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda have launched hybrid electric vehicles in India, offering car buyers more choices in the nascent electric vehicle market. Read Complete Details on Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements about Space Liability Convention of 1972 The Launching States are liable for the damage caused by their space objects only on the surface of the earth but for the damage in space. The convention also holds the Launching States responsible for the space junk crashing back to earth. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Electoral bonds Only State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds. These bonds are only redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party. The donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 1 and 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Which of the below given pairs is/are correctly matched? Exercise Country VINBAX Vietnam Nomadic Elephant Mongolia AL NAJAH-IV Oman Choose the correct code: 1 only 2 and 3 2 only 1, 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’1st August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 30th JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – a Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;}

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. GS-3: Infrastructure and Economic Development GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Context: In recent months, automakers Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda have launched hybrid electric vehicles in India, offering car buyers more choices in the nascent electric vehicle market. What is an electric car? Electric cars run on electricity instead of gasoline, and are also known as “electric vehicles” (EVs). That means they emit no tailpipe pollution or greenhouse gas emissions and tend to be quieter and smoother than other vehicles. Most electric cars have batteries that have to be recharged from an outside source of electricity. Electric cars are quieter, have no exhaust emissions, and have lower emissions overall. Notably, some countries have legislated to phase out sales of fossil fuel cars. What are the different types of electric vehicle? There are four types of electric vehicles available: Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):Fully powered by electricity. These are more efficient compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrids. Hybrid Electric Vehicle: Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): The vehicle uses both the internal combustion (usually petrol) engine and the battery-powered motor powertrain. The petrol engine is used both to drive and charge when the battery is empty. These vehicles are not as efficient as fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): Uses both an internal combustion engine and a battery charged from an external socket (they have a plug). This means the vehicle’s battery can be charged with electricity rather than the engine. PHEVs are more efficient than HEVs but less efficient than BEVs. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV):Electric energy is produced from chemical energy. For example, a hydrogen FCEV. What is a hybrid electric vehicle and how do they work? Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, which uses energy stored in batteries. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine. The extra power provided by the electric motor can potentially allow for a smaller engine. Key Components of a Hybrid Electric Car Battery (auxiliary): In an electric drive vehicle, the low-voltage auxiliary battery provides electricity to start the car before the traction battery is engaged; it also powers vehicle accessories. Traction battery pack: Stores electricity for use by the electric traction motor Electric generator: Generates electricity from the rotating wheels while braking, transferring that energy back to the traction battery pack. Some vehicles use motor generators that perform both the drive and regeneration functions. Electric traction motor: Using power from the traction battery pack, this motor drives the vehicle’s wheels. Some vehicles use motor generators that perform both the drive and regeneration functions. Fuel tank (gasoline): This tank stores gasoline on board the vehicle until it’s needed by the engine. Internal combustion engine (spark-ignited): In this configuration, fuel is injected into either the intake manifold or the combustion chamber, where it is combined with air, and the air/fuel mixture is ignited by the spark from a spark plug. Power electronics controller: This unit manages the flow of electrical energy delivered by the traction battery, controlling the speed of the electric traction motor and the torque it produces. Thermal system (cooling): This system maintains a proper operating temperature range of the engine, electric motor, power electronics, and other components. Transmission: The transmission transfers mechanical power from the engine and/or electric traction motor to drive the wheels. How do hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains work? HEV powertrains are designed to power cars in a series, parallel or series-parallel (power split) methods. A series HEV uses only the electric motor to drive the wheels, while the ICE powers the generator, which in turn recharges the battery. A parallel HEV, based on the driving condition, uses the best power source to power the vehicle. It will alternate between the electric motor and the ICE to keep the car moving. A series-parallel HEV offers a combination of both models and allows to split power, wherein power is routed from the ICE alone or from the battery to the electric motor to drive the vehicle. Moreover, in all three designs, the battery is charged through regenerative braking technology. How does regenerative braking work? Hybrid and electric vehicles apply battery technology, aerodynamics, and other engineering advancements to achieve efficiency in driving. One such feature employed by these energy-saving vehicles is regenerative braking. Regenerative braking captures energy that is otherwise lost during braking and then uses this power to help recharge the vehicle’s battery. Understanding how regenerative braking works first requires knowledge of how a conventional braking system operates. When you step on a vehicle’s brake pedal, the discs and the brake pads create friction as they meet. In turn, the friction creates kinetic energy that dissipates into the environment in the form of heat. Regenerative braking recovers some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise turn into heat and instead converts it into electricity. In this system, the motor drives the wheels during acceleration or cruising, but the wheels drive the motor while decelerating. This two-way energy flow allows the motor to act as a generator, resisting the rotation of the wheels and creating electricity to recharge the vehicle’s battery. There are two conditions when regeneration occurs: When the driver applies the brake pedal When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle is coasting In both cases, the system creates electricity to recharge the battery The amount of electricity the system generates is proportional to the level of braking force. That means the stronger the braking force, the greater the electrical current. Ultimately, the amount of energy the system captures is dependent on the vehicle’s speed and the duration of brake application. The efficiency of HEVs and EVs will in large part be determined by their ability to recover as much energy as possible while braking, with a higher degree of energy recovery lowering fuel consumption. While regenerative braking systems are already available in most EVs, the technology is also used in electric railways. Rail transit can be described as frequent acceleration and braking of trains across many stations. This increases the potential for braking energy recovery using energy storage systems. What are the advantages of regenerative braking system? Better braking efficiency in stop-and-go traffic which enhances fuel economy Also helps in reducing carbon emissions. RBS also helps in energy optimisation resulting in minimum energy wastage. What are the different types of HEVs? The HEVs can be categorised into micro, mild and full hybrid vehicles, based on the degree of hybridisation. A full HEV will have a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor compared with a mild HEV. As a result, a full HEV can power the vehicle for longer distances using just electric mode. A mild HEV cannot drive using only the electric motor and uses the battery at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic to support the ICE. Micro hybrids do not offer electric torque assistance as they lack an electric motor, but they have an idle stop-start system and energy management functions. The hybrid variants of the Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara and the Toyota’s Urban Cruiser Hyryder can be classified as full and mild hybrids. Full HEVs offer better fuel economy compared with the other two types of HEVs but they also cost more than them. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are just like full HEVs, but they can be charged using a wall outlet, as they have an onboard charger and a charging port. PHEVs generally use the electric motor until the battery is almost drained, and then automatically switch to the ICE. PHEVs accounted for about 23% of 1.95 million global EV shipments in the first quarter of 2022 What are the advantages of Hybrid Technology? Fuel efficiency: The design of hybrid vehicles for reduced engine size and car weight as compared to ICE vehicles, translates into increased mileage. More power: With the increase in total power and torque, HEVs can deliver instant torque and provide high torque even at low speeds. Minimum emissions: Better fuel efficiency means less carbon footprint of these vehicles, thus helping move towards the goals set out in Paris Climate Accord. To ensure a positive growth rate towards achieving India’s Net Zero Emissions by 2070, a transportation revolution is required in India. The transition to electric mobility is a promising global strategy for decarbonising the transport sector. Disruption-free Technology Transition: HEV helps in creating a local EV parts manufacturing eco-system while simultaneously protecting the huge existing investments and jobs related to ICE parts manufacturing thus ensuring a faster and disruption-free technology transition. What are some challenges of hybrid technology? In a price-sensitive market like India, one of the major challenges for HEVs is the high vehicle cost. Battery, a vital component of an HEV, increases the cost of the vehicle, making it pricier than vehicles powered only by an ICE. The RBS also adds to the higher cost of an HEV. What initiatives are taken by government to promote Electric Vehicle Ecosystem? India is among a handful of countries that support the global EV30@30 campaign, which aims for at least 30% new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. The remodeled Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) scheme. The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments i.e. 2 Wheeler, 3 Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4 Wheeler Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses. The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles. Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) for the supplier side It aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units. Government has also launched PLI scheme for Auto and Automotive Components for manufacturers of electric vehicles. The automotive industry is transitioning, with an increasing focus on hybrid and battery electric vehicles (BEVs or EVs). Meanwhile, the rise in fossil fuel prices, increase in the adoption of clean mobility solutions, and stringent government norms for emission control drive the growth of the global EV market. Mains Practice Question – What are Hybrid Electric Vehicles? How do they function? What challenges does it possess for wide scale adoption in India? Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section.  

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2nd August 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test -Click Here

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 3 Questions [2nd August, 2022] – Day 38

Hello Students  TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers and is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standards before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (The RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2023 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here – CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) – CLICK HERE To Access Day 38 Questions – CLICK HERE  P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th July 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) INDIA’s FIRST INTERNATIONAL BULLION EXCHANGE (IIBE) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: Prime Minister of India launched the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), India’s first International Bullion Exchange, and NSE IFSC-SGX Connect. India is the world’s second biggest consumer of gold and the move to set up the IIBX is seen as India’s effort to bring transparency to the market for the precious metal. Setting up of IIBX could lead to standard gold pricing in the country and make it easier for small bullion dealers and jewellers to trade in the precious metal. India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) It is a platform that not only enrols jewellers to trade on the exchange, but has also set up necessary infrastructure to store physical gold and silver. IIBX will facilitate efficient price discovery with the assurance of responsible sourcing and quality, apart from giving impetus to the financialisation of gold in India. IFSCA is entrusted with notifying the eligible qualified jewellers in India for directly importing gold through IIBX. International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) PM also laid foundation stone of the headquarters building of the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) in GIFT City, Gandhinagar. The IFSCA works as a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions at the IFSC at GIFT city in Gandhinagar. NSE IFSC-SGX Connect It is a framework between NSE’s subsidiary in the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX). Under Connect, all orders on NIFTY derivatives placed by members of Singapore Exchange will be routed to and matched on the NSE-IFSC order matching and trading platform. Broker-Dealers from India and across international jurisdictions are expected to participate in large numbers for trading derivatives through Connect. It will deepen liquidity in derivative markets at GIFT-IFSC, bringing in more international participants and creating a positive impact on the financial ecosystem in the GIFT-IFSC. GIFT City GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) City is located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It consists of a multi-service Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which houses India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and an exclusive Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). GIFT city (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) is envisaged as an integrated hub for financial and technology services not just for India but for the world.  International Financial Services Centres Authority It was established in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Functions: The Authority shall regulate all such financial services, financial products and Financial Institutions in an IFSC. It may also recommend to the Central Government such other financial products, financial services and financial institutions which may be permitted in the IFSCs. Powers: All powers exercisable by the respective financial sector regulatory (viz. Reserve Bank of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India, IRDAI, etc.) under the respective Acts shall be solely exercised by the Authority in the IFSCs in so far as the regulation of financial products, financial services and FIs that are permitted in the IFSC are concerned. Source: Pib.Gov The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022) In India, credit rating agencies are regulated by Reserve Bank of India. The rating agency popularly known as ICRA is a public limited company. Brickwork Rating is an Indian credit rating agency. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Floating Solar Power Plant - KAYAMKULAM Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the 92-MW floating solar power project set up at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Kayamkulam unit in Kerala. PM stated that so far, about 170 GW capacity has been installed from non-fossil sources in India. India is among the top four-five countries in terms of installed solar capacity. The Kayamkulam plant is the second-largest floating solar power project of the NTPC after the 100-MW plant at Ramagundam in Telangana. The floating solar system was built on a 450-acre lake area adjacent to the NTPC’s Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (RGCCPP). Implemented at a cost of ₹465 crores, the project consists of around three lakh Made in India solar PV panels floating on water. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022) Gujarat has the largest solar park in India Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only Draft e-waste Rules Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Environment Poll) In News: Recently Environment Ministry has released Draft E-waste Management Rules, 2022, for public comments. Proposed Features + Concerns Stats The Environment Ministry estimated 7,70,000 tons of e-waste to have been generated in 2018-19 and around one million tons in 2019-20 of which only a fifth (about 22% in both years) has been confirmed to be “dismantled and recycled.” Background A proposed framework by the Centre for regulating e-waste in India has upset a key link of India’s electronic waste collection system and threatens the livelihood of thousands. Electronic waste that are past their shelf life is largely handled by India’s vast informal sector. Many of these units are run out of unregulated sweatshops that employ child labour and hazardous extraction techniques. This electronic detritus also contributes to contaminating soil as well as plastic pollution. To address all of this, the environment ministry brought the E waste (Management) Rules, 2016, that introduced a system of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compelling makers of electronic goods to ensure a proportion of the goods they sold every year was recycled. They are expected to maintain records annually demonstrating this. Most companies however didn’t maintain an in-house unit in charge of recycling and this gave rise to network of government-registered companies, called Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) who acted as an intermediary between manufacturers of electronic goods and formal recycling units that were technologically equipped to safely and efficiently recycle end-of-life electronic goods. As of March, the Central Pollution Control Board has registered 74 PROs, and 468 authorised dismantlers who have a collective recycling capacity of about 1.3 million tons. Draft Rules Recently the Environment Ministry issued a draft notification that does away with PRO and dismantlers and vests all responsibility of recycling with authorised recyclers, only a handful of whom exist in India. Recyclers will source a quantity of waste, recycle them and generate electronic certificates. Companies can buy these certificates equivalent to their annual committed target and thus do not have to be involved with engaging PROs and dismantlers. T Several PROs have mailed their objections to the Environment Ministry arguing that dismantling a fledgling system was detrimental to the future of e-waste management in India. Under the new rules, recyclers will likely establish their own supply chains and companies will no longer bear any responsibility for ensuring that their produce is recycled. Concern Five years of investing and putting in place a system to collect and channelise waste was under threat as about 25,000-30,000 were employed in this sector. E-waste Management Rules, 2016: The Central Government, in the exercise of the powers provided under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, had notified e-waste management rules in 2016. These rules supersede the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. The rules aim to enable the recovery and/or reuse of useful material from e-waste, and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all types of waste of electrical and electronic equipment. For the first time, the rules brought the producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), along with targets. Producers have been made responsible for the collection of E-waste and for its exchange. The manufacturers, dealers, e-retailers, and refurbishers have been brought under the ambit of these rules to ensure that the e-waste is effectively channelized and disposed of. The urban local bodies have been assigned the responsibility of collecting back the e-waste arising from the orphan products and channelizing it to authorized dismantler or recycler. Amendment to EWM Rules, 2016: In 2018, the EWM Rules were further amended. The new E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018 has the provision of introduction of Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) registration. PRO is defined as a professional organization which can take the responsibility for collection and channelization of e-waste to ensure environmentally sound management of such e-waste. PROs are now required to register with CPCB under the new Rules. PROs will also have to prove that all collection is legitimate and share proofs for such collection. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? (2013) Beryllium Cadmium Chromium Heptachlor Mercury Lead Plutonium Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only 2, 4, 5 and 7 only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Q.2) In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following? (2019) The Bio-medical Waste (management and handling) rules,1998 The Recycled Plastic (manufacturing and usage) rules, 1999 The e- Waste (Management and handling) rules, 2011 The food safety and standard regulations, 2011 Pingtan Islands Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography (Places in News) In News: China announces military exercise opposite Taiwan China’s military exercise comes ahead of U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plans to visit to the island country. The ruling Communist Party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, was conducting “live-fire exercises” near the Pingtan islands off Fujian province, China. China says Taiwan has no right to conduct foreign relations. I t sees visits by American officials as encouragement for the island to make its decades-old de facto independence official. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war that ended with a communist victory on the mainland. The two governments say they are one country but disagree over which is entitled to national leadership. They have no official relations but are linked by billions of dollars in trade and investment. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (2022) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them. Military Exercises Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Ex VINBAX 2022 In News: The 3rd Edition of Vietnam India Bilateral Army Exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022” is scheduled to be conducted at Chandimandir from 01 to 20 Aug 2022. The exercise is a sequel to previously conducted bilateral exercise in Vietnam in 2019 and a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam. India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. Vietnam is an important partner in India’s Act East policy and the Indo-Pacific vision. The theme of Ex VINBAX – 2022 is employment and deployment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team as part of United Nations Contingent for Peace Keeping Operations. Al NAJAH-IV In News: The 4th Edition of India Oman Joint Military Exercise ‘AL NAJAH-IV’ between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan) from 01 to 13 August 2022. The joint exercise would focus on Counter Terrorism Operations, Regional Security Operations and Peace Keeping Operations under United Nations charter apart from organising joint physical training schedules, tactical drills, techniques and procedures. The joint military exercise aims to enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman and will further manifest in enhancing the bilateral relations between the two nations. Source: Pib.Gov Pib.Gov Chabahar Day Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations Mains – International Relations In News: ‘Chabahar Day’ observed to promote Chabahar – Link to INSTC – Connecting Central Asian Markets. Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in association with India Ports Global observed ‘Chabahar Day’ to mark the Chabahar – Link to INSTC – Connecting Central Asian Markets in Mumbai. Dignitaries from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were present on the occasion. The Chabahar Port located in Iran is the commercial transit center for the region and especially Central Asia. Minister in his address stated that our vision is to make Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar a transit hub and linking it to INSTC to reach out to Central Asian Countries. During the event, the delegates from the Central Asian countries highlighted how Chabahar link with INSTC can play a vital role in boosting EXIM trade in their regions and its potential to further boost development in the landlocked countries. The port is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost trade ties among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. Chabahar Port Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in south-eastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. It serves as Iran’s only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. It is considered to be a major transit point to connect with several Central Asian countries. The port of Chabahar is located on the Makran coast of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, next to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of Strait of Hormuz. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean. Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan etc., it has been termed the “Golden Gate” to these land-locked countries. International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): It is a multi-modal transportation established on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States. The INSTC was expanded to include eleven new members, namely: the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Ukraine, Republic of Belarus, Oman, Syria, Bulgaria (Observer). It envisions a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail and road route for transporting freight, aimed at reducing the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30% and bringing down the transit time from 40 days by more than half. This corridor connects India Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via the Islamic Republic of Iran and then is connected to St. Petersburg and North Europe via the Russian Federation. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India? (2017) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase. India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.  Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India. Shaheed Udham Singh Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – History In News: Prime Minister salutes Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day. Udham Singh Singh was born on December 26, 1899, to a very poor family in the Sangrur district of Punjab. His birth name was Sher Singh. Singh joined the British Indian Army during the First World War as a manual labourer, serving overseas. It was after his return to India in 1919 that his life as a revolutionary began. In the two decades of political activism that followed – activism that spanned four continents and more than 20 countries – Singh took on different names and occupations. At one point, he was known as Ude Singh; at another, Frank Brazil. His last nom de guerre was Mohammad Singh Azad, a name he considered a symbol of communal harmony and anti-colonialism. A revolutionary career Udham Singh’s lifelong association with the Ghadar Party began in 1919 after he returned from his second stint in the British Indian Army in Mesopotamia. After serving for two years, he had merely Rs 200 to his name. This sense of betrayal at the hands of the British, alongside anger at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, pushed Singh towards Ghadar revolutionaries. In Ghadar He quickly became one of their campaigners, distributing their revolutionary literature throughout Punjab’s villages. He opened a shop in Amritsar, which became the centre of his revolutionary activities. During this time, he also got in touch with the militant Babbar Akali movement and began organizing with them. However, it was during his time in the United States that he got deeply involved in the Ghadar movement and became one of its prominent activists. Singh illegally migrated to the US in 1924 via Mexico, eventually settling in San Francisco, the epicentre of the Ghadar movement in North America. He was sponsored by the Ghadar Party to visit [numerous cities in America] to give them a first-hand account of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to promote the growth of local branches of the party, and to raise funds. In addition to his involvement with the Ghadar Party, Singh also launched his own party, the Azad Party, as an offshoot of the Ghadar movement. The party had the twin objectives of campaigning for Indian freedom and collecting funds for revolutionary groups in India. Singh was firmly embedded in an international network of Ghadar revolutionaries. Aresst He arrived in India with the intention of accelerating and radicalising the anti-colonial struggle, bringing with him arms and Ghadarite propaganda. However, on 30th August 1927, he was arrested in Amritsar under the Arms Act for the possession of two revolvers, one pistol, ammunition, and copies of the prohibited paper, Ghadr-di-Gunj. Along with Ghadr-di-Gunj, other “seditious” literature was found in his possession Udham Singh was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Since he was a difficult prisoner for the authorities to manage, he was transferred from one jail to another. It was in one of those jails that he met Bhagat Singh. Udham Singh quickly befriended Bhagat Singh and was so captivated by his charisma that he called him his “guru” and “best friend”, and carried a photo of him in his wallet. In line with HSRA revolutionaries, Udham Singh too tried to use his trial as a platform to put forward his political and revolutionary ideas and undertook a forty-day-long hunger strike. Two years after being released from prison in 1931, Udham Singh left for England. A footloose labourer Throughout much of his life, Udham Singh was not only a revolutionary: he was also a migrant worker. After arriving in London in the autumn of 1934, Singh continued to work various working-class jobs. He worked as a peddler, a carpenter and as an electrician. In London, he also joined the Indian Workers Association (IWA), an organisation formed by Surat Ali, a communist and a trade unionist associated with the Communist Party of Great Britain. The IWA had the twin objectives of improving the conditions of Britain’s migrant working classes, alongside campaigning for India’s freedom. The assassination He is known as the “patient assassin” or the “lone assassin” who shot dead Michael O’Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab under whose administration the infamous Amritsar massacre took place and who later even endorsed Brigadier-General Dyer, the perpetrator of the killings. On July 31, 1940, Udham Singh was hanged for this assassination. Source: newsonair.gov.in Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following freedom fighters: (2022) Barindra Kumar Ghosh Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee Rash Behari Bose Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party? 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only Monkey pox Vaccine Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: With the WHO declaring monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and cases rising globally to around 19,179 in 78 countries as of July 27, governments around the world are initiating steps towards developing or even sourcing a vaccine against monkeypox. Are there vaccines for monkeypox? The monkeypox virus belongs to a family of viruses called orthopoxviruses, which is different from that of the coronaviruses. According to the WHO, it is a viral zoonosis — a virus transmitted to humans from animals — with symptoms similar, but less severe to smallpox. It is also an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus, unlike the RNA virus, that makes it far more stable and less prone to rapid mutations. There are two distinct genetic clades of the monkeypox virus: the central African (Congo Basin) clade and the West African clade. The Congo Basin clade has historically caused more severe disease and was thought to be more transmissible. Vaccine There is yet no dedicated monkeypox vaccine In 2019, the USFDA, approved the JYNNEOS vaccine for the prevention of smallpox, monkeypox and other diseases caused by orthopoxviruses, including vaccinia virus. How does JYNNEOS work? JYNNEOS, developed by Danish biotechnology company, Bavarian Nordic, contains a live vaccinia virus that does not replicate efficiently in human cells. The vaccinia virus is the smallpox virus but made incapable of replicating within the body. It is administered as two injections 28 days apart. The immune response takes 14 days after the second dose. The vaccine’s effectiveness was inferred only indirectly by comparing the immunogenicity of JYNNEOS to a licensed smallpox vaccine (ACAM2000) based on a laboratory test called the Plaque Reduction Neutralisation Test (PRNT). This test evaluates what quantity of the vaccine was needed to kill the virus made to replicate in a petri-dish. There is no data yet on JYNNEOS’ effectiveness. This is because smallpox has been eradicated and the monkeypox outbreak has risen too rapidly for a traditional phase 3 trial to have evaluated the vaccine’s effectiveness. What about India? Health Ministry officials said discussions were in progress with international and local companies for a vaccine. The genomic sequence of the Indian strain has a 85% match with the West African strain circulating globally. The ICMR has invited tenders from local companies to develop a vaccine. Orthopoxvirus Orthopoxvirus is a genus of viruses in the family Poxviridae and subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. Vertebrates, including mammals and humans, and arthropods serve as natural hosts. There are 12 species in this genus. Diseases associated with this genus include smallpox, cowpox, horsepox, camelpox, and monkeypox. The most widely known member of the genus is Variola virus, which causes smallpox. It was eradicated globally by 1977, through the use of Vaccinia virus as a vaccine. The most recently described species is the Alaskapox virus, first isolated in 2015. Must Read: Monkey Pox Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2021) Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Which one of the following statements is not correct? (2019) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV. Hepatitis B. unlike Hepatitis C does not have a vaccine. Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses arc several times more than those infected with HIV. Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years. State Assemblies Sittings Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) In News: PRS Legislative Research, a New Delhi-based think tank released its study on the functioning of State Assemblies for 2021. Findings Kerala, which slipped to the eighth slot in holding the sittings of the State Assembly during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, got back to the first place in 2021, with its House sitting for 61 days, the highest for any State. Despite enjoying the record of having the highest number of sittings during 2021 for any State legislature, Kerala had promulgated 144 ordinances, also the highest in the country last year. Odisha followed Kerala with 43 sitting days; Karnataka – 40 and Tamil Nadu – 34 days. Of the 28 State Assemblies and one Union Territory’s legislature, 17 met for less than 20 days. Of them, five — Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Delhi — met for less than 10 days. Ordinance As for the ordinance route, which should be, according to the Supreme Court, used under exceptional circumstances, 21 out of 28 States promulgated ordinances last year. Andhra Pradesh with 20 ordinances and Maharashtra with 15 followed Kerala, wherein Bills replacing 33 ordinances became Acts. Passage of Bills A perusal of the manner of adoption of Bills by the State Assemblies would reveal that 44% of the Bills adopted by 28 State Assemblies were passed within a day of their introduction. Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar were among the eight States which passed all Bills on the day of introduction. On the contrary, five States — Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha and Rajasthan — took more than five days to pass a majority of their Bills. In Kerala, 94% of the Bills were passed after at least five days of their introduction in the legislature. In respect of Meghalaya, it was 80% and in the case of Karnataka, 70%. Subjects Covered Of the subjects covered by the Bills passed in 2021, education accounted for 21% followed by taxation – 12%, local government – 10%, and land and law and order – 4% each. Source: The Hindu Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Ramagundam floating Solar Power Plant, recently seen in news is located in which of the following state? Andhra Pradesh Telangana Karnataka Gujarat Q.2) Which of the below given pairs is/are correctly matched? Places in News Country Pingtan Islands China Oromia Ethiopia Kurung Kumey Myanmar Choose the correct code: 1 and 2 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Shaheed Udham Singh He was the founder of the Azad Party, an offshoot of the Ghadar movement He called Bhagat Singh as his Guru In line with HSRA revolutionaries, Udham Singh tried to use his trial as a platform to put forward his political and revolutionary ideas. In London he was associated with Indian Workers Association (IWA). Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 2 and 3 4 only None Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’30th JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 28th JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – b Q.3) – c table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;}