Daily Current Affairs UPSC 19 March 2024

Papikonda National Park

• More than 200 bird species have been seen in Papikonda National Park (Andhra Pradesh) during an IISER-Tirupati bird survey.
• Located in the northern Eastern Ghats
• Spreads over the Papi Hills and crosses the Godavari river
• Designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area
• Home to a unique dwarf breed of goat called "kanchu mekha"
• Forest Types in PNP
• Dry Mixed Teak Forests
• Dry mixed deciduous forests
• Moist mixed deciduous forests
• Fauna in PNP: - Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Hyena, sambar, barking deer, Black-bellied Tern, and more species are found in the park.

Air Quality Report 2023

• The Air Quality Report 2023 was published by the Swiss organization IQAir.
• India ranked third in terms of worst air quality, following Bangladesh and Pakistan.
• New Delhi was named the most polluted capital city in the world.
• Begusarai in Bihar was identified as the most polluted metropolitan area globally.
• Over 1 billion people in India are exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO recommendations.
• Only seven countries met the WHO annual PM 2.5 guideline.
• French Polynesia was found to have the least polluted air quality.

Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction (SAKHI) App

• It was created by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, which is situated at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, to assist the astronauts on the Gaganyaan expedition.
• The Gaganyaan Mission project aims to launch a three-person crew into a 400-kilometer orbit in order to demonstrate human spaceflight capability.
• Benefits of Technology:
  • Monitors health of astronauts (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.)
  • Provides seamless communication link between crew, onboard computer, and ground-based stations
  • Maintains mission log in multiple formats (voice records, texts, images)

Tobacco Board Crop Authorization

• Authorizes 100 million kg crop size for Karnataka during 2024-25
• Headquarters in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
• Statutory body established in 1976 under Tobacco Board Act, 1975
• Functions include export promotion of all tobacco varieties, production, distribution, and regulation of Flue Cured Virginia tobacco
• Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• In 2021, India ranked as the 2nd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco in the world.

Ketamine

• Elon Musk defends ketamine use, calling it 'beneficial' for investors
• Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic with hallucinogenic effects
• Usage includes pain relief, depression, treatment of suicidal ideation, and epileptic states
• Causes patients to feel cut off from their surroundings and their discomfort.
• Side effects include unconsciousness and slowed breathing in case of overdose
• Ketamine is classified as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

Chemicals in plastic

• European scientists identified over 16,000 chemicals in plastics, from food packaging to toys to medical devices
  • United Nations Environment Programme previously identified around 13,000 plastic chemicals
• More than a quarter of these chemicals are considered hazardous to human health and the environment
• Important plastic chemicals include Diethylhexyl phthalate, Bisphenol A (BPA), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), Dechlorane Plus, etc.

Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP)

• Paytm has obtained a third-party application provider (TPAP) license from the National Payments Corporation of India.
• TPAPs provide UPI-compliant apps like mobile wallets and merchant apps for users to make UPI-based payment transactions.
• TPAPs work with a Payment Service Provider (PSP) bank to participate in the UPI system.
• PSP banks connect to the UPI platform to offer UPI payment services to themselves and TPAPs.
• The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system created by NPCI.

Exercise Tiger triumph – 24.

• Tiger Triumph - 24 is an India-United States bilateral tri-service exercise including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

Potti Sriramulu (1901 - 1952)

• Recently observed birth anniversary of Potti Sriramulu
• Known for being an ardent Gandhian, eminent social reformer & activist.

• Key Contributions of Potti Sriramulu:
  • Participated in Indian Independence Movements like Salt Satyagraha, Individual satyagraha, Quit India movement
  • Undertook three fasts in support of Dalits entering temples
  • Died after 58 days of fasting for a separate Andhra from Madras Presidency, revered as 'Amarajeevi'
• Ethical Values of Potti Sriramulu: Demonstrated leadership and courage in his actions

ICAR Celebrating Golden Jubilee of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)

• India's first pilot KVK was established in 1974 by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)
• India now has a network of 731 KVKs serving over 5000 farmers each
• About KVKs:
  • Objective: Reduce time lag between technology generation and application in farmer fields
  • Established on recommendation of Education Commission and committee headed by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta (1973).
  • The National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARS) includes KVKs.
  • NARS oversees conducting agricultural research activities to produce a range of crops for the benefit of Indian farmers.
  • Part of NARS responsible for agricultural research activities
  • Key activities include on-farm testing and providing training to farmers
• Key Achievements:
  • Implementation of in-situ Crop Residue Management program in Punjab, leading to reduction of residue burning
  • District Agricultural Meteorological Units (DAMU) providing Agro-met Advisory Services under KVKs
  • KVKs linked with Common Service Centres (CSCs) programs to improve access to government services for farmers
  • Promotion of value addition in agricultural produce and diversification in agriculture through activities like mushroom cultivation and beekeeping.

About Indian Council of Agriculture Research:

• ICAR is an independent organization established as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It serves as the top authority for coordinating, directing, and overseeing research and education in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences.
• ICAR operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

NABARD is set to launch ₹1000-crore blended fund for Agritech-startups

• Funding to support technology-driven agricultural startups and rural enterprises
• Investment to help startups overcome challenges in scaling up operations due to limited access to funding
• Agritech startups utilize technology to improve productivity, efficiency, and output in agriculture sector
• Services Provided by Agritech-startups:
  • Promoting Smart Agriculture: Providing information on crop yields, rainfall patterns, pest infestation, and soil nutrition to help farmers make informed decisions.
  • Farming as a Service: Offering farming services and machinery rentals on a pay-for-use basis, like EM3 Agri Services.
  • Big Data Analytics: Developing farm-specific, data-driven diagnostics using technologies like Artificial Intelligence to improve productivity and farmer income.
• Challenges Faced by Agritech-startups: insufficient initial funding, a lack of mentorship, the incubators' inexperience (they are still in the early stages of their learning curve), and the business model's inability to relate to the actual issues encountered by a wide number of stakeholders.

Key Initiatives Taken:

• Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM): - Includes India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA), Farmers Database, Funding to the States on the new Technology (NeGPA) etc.
• Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development Programme:- Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19 to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship.
• Priority Sector Lending for Agri-Startups: - Agri-startups can avail loans under Priority Sector lending facility by Banks as per direction of RBI.
• NIDHI Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP): - Under Department of Science & Technology (DST) to support innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture.

2024 Amendments to Patents Rules Notified by DPIIT

• In compliance with the Patents Act of 1970, regulations have been introduced to modify the Patents Rules of 2003.
• Rules are designed to satisfy the Viksit Bharat Sankalp by streamlining the process of obtaining and managing patents.
• Key provisions:
  • Certificate of Inventorship introduced to recognize inventors' contributions.
  • Time limit for examination request reduced from 48 to 31 months.
  • 10% renewal fee discount for early electronic payments for at least 4 years.
  • Statements of working of patents now required once every three financial years, instead of annually.
• Support for promoting Patents through various initiatives:
  • National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM)
  • Patent Facilitation Programme
  • Scheme for Pedagogy & Research in IPRs for Holistic Education and Academia (SPRIHA)
  • Establishment of Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Property and Patent Analysis Management System (PAMS) by MeitY

Overview of Patents:

• A statutory right granted by governments
• Gives exclusive rights and prevents others from using patented inventions without permission
• Time period: 20 years
• Criteria for Patents: - Must be novel, involve an inventive step, and capable of industrial production
• Patent Situation in India
• India has ratified the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
• The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has been approved by India.
• Between March 2023 and March 2024, the Indian Patent Office granted over one lakh patents.

UN Secretary-General urges for disarmament in Security Council meeting held in Japan

• Disarmament Urged Across Six Areas
• Dialogue for transparency and prevention of accidental use
• Stop threats to use nuclear weapons
• Re-affirm moratoria on nuclear testing
• Fulfill disarmament commitments
• Joint no first-use agreement
• Resumption of Talks for Nuclear Stockpile Reduction
• US and Russia should resume talks under New START treaty.
• New START Treaty signed in 2010 for nuclear arms reduction between US and Russia.

Global treaties for Nuclear Disarmament:

• Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT): Implemented in 1963, this treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons.
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT): Established in 1967, this treaty aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): Adopted in 1996, this treaty prohibits all nuclear test explosions, although it has not yet come into force.
• Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW): Enacted in 2017, this treaty prohibits the development, testing, possession, and use of nuclear weapons, and it entered into force in 2021.
• Of the three, only the Partial Test Ban Treaty was signed and ratified by India.

The new ILO policy brief calls for domestic workers to be included in care policies

• Definition of care policies: Public policies that provide resources for care and access to care rights
• Examples of care services: Early childhood care, long-term care services, etc.
• Definition of domestic worker: Someone engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship
  • Number of domestic workers in India: 4.75 million, with 3 million being women.
• Issues faced by Domestic workers:
  • Lack of labor rights and social protection due to informal employment
  • Domestic work is a sector with high rates of forced labor
  • Other issues include low pay, discrimination, and sexual exploitation
• Recommendations:
  • Recognize domestic workers as care workers and include them in national care policies and social security systems
  • Ratify the ILO Convention 189 to protect the rights of domestic workers
  • Implement skills recognition and training initiatives to formalize the valuation of their work
  • Raise awareness about the important role of domestic workers

Steps by India:

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013: Ensures protection for female domestic workers against sexual exploitation in the workplace.
• Code on Wages, 2019: Includes provisions for domestic workers who are engaged as workers.
• Code on Social Security, 2020: Offers social security benefits to all unorganized workers, including domestic workers.

Supreme Court (SC) refuses to stay H.P. Assembly Speaker order disqualifying MLAs.

• Disqualification of MLAs under anti-defection law: - MLAs were disqualified for not following party's instructions to vote in favor of government
• Anti-defection law: - Law that addresses members switching parties in Parliament or state legislatures
• Disqualification Criteria for Members of Political Parties
• Giving up membership or joining another political party voluntarily
• Voting or abstaining from voting against party directive
• Exception: Member not disqualified if permission is obtained or condoned by party within 15 days Independent candidate joining a political party after election
• Nominated member joining a political party after six months from taking seat.
• Exemption: Legislative party members are immune from disqualification if at least two-thirds of them have consented to combine with another party.
• Speaker's role: The Chairman or Speaker of the House has the authority to make decisions in matters involving the disqualification of members for defecting.
• Problems: Wide power to the Speaker, mass defection from mergers, and restrictions on the rights of individual MPs and MLAs.

(SC) Judgements on defection cases:

• In Kihoto Hollohon v. Zachilhu and ors (1992), the Speaker's decisions on defection cases are subject to judicial review by the high court and SC.
• Ravi S Naik vs Union of India (1994) clarified that giving up membership can be inferred from a member's conduct, not just formal resignation.