Topic 1: Strategic Partnership Council
Why in news: Saudi Arabia and India co-chaired the first summit-level meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).
About the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council
- The India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council was set up in 2019, making India the fourth country with which Saudi Arabia formed such a partnership, after the UK, France, and China.
- Aim:
- The Strategic Partnership Council essentially aimed to establish a high-level council to steer the Indo-Saudi relationship.
- Two pillars of SPC:
- Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation
- Committee on Economy and Investments
- Both sub-committees have four functional levels of engagements:
- Summit level (Prime Minister & Crown Prince);
- Ministerial-level;
- Senior Officials’ Meetings;
- Joint Working Groups (JWGs).
Significance of SPC:
- India and Saudi Arabia decided to expedite implementation of the $50-billion West Coast refinery project.
- The West Coast refinery project is a 60 million tonnes refinery-cum-petrochemical complex to be built on the Maharashtra coast by companies of India and Saudi Arabia.
- The two sides agreed to diversify the current status of their hydrocarbons relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership.
- Both countries inked eight pacts to boost cooperation in a range of areas, including digitisation and investment.
- The two sides also held deliberations on power grid, gas grid, optical grids and fibre networks for possible cooperation.
Topic 2: National disaster tag
Why in news: Himachal Pradesh Chief has requested Prime Minister of India to declare the destruction caused by heavy rains in the state a national disaster.
Why the demand:
- Himachal Pradesh suffered losses of Rs 10,000 crore due to rain-related incidents this monsoon.
- It is demanded that the calamity be declared a national disaster and a special disaster package be announced.
How are states assisted during natural disasters?
- There is no official or defined category of “national disasters”.
- Disasters of this nature come under the 2005 Disaster Management Act.
- It defines a “disaster” as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in:
- substantial loss of life or human suffering or
- damage to, and destruction of, property, or
- damage to, or degradation of, environment,
- It is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.
- It defines a “disaster” as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in:
- The Act saw the creation of:
- the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), to be headed by the Prime Minister, and
- State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers.
- The Act also led to the National Disaster Response Force.
- It has several battalions or teams, which are responsible for on-ground relief and rescue work in several states.
| About NDRFThe National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) is mentioned in the 2005 Disaster Management Act.SDRFs exist for the states and are the primary funds available to state governments for responses to notified disasters.The Central Government contributes 75% to the SDRF in general states and 90% in northeastern and Himalayan states.The SDRF is to be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims of notified calamities like:cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloud bursts, pest attacks and frost/cold waves.The state government is primarily responsible for undertaking rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in the event of a disaster.These can be supplemented with Central assistance from National Disaster Response Fund, after following the laid down procedure. |
About a national calamity:
- The 10th Finance Commission examined a proposal that a disaster be termed a national calamity of rarest severity if it affects one-third of the population of a state.
- It did not define a calamity of rare severity but stated that it have to be adjudged on a case-to-case basis based on the severity of the calamity.
- When a calamity is declared to be of a severe nature, support to the state government is provided at the national level.
- The Centre considers additional assistance from the NDRF.
- A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is set up, with the corpus shared 3:1 between Centre and state.
- When resources in the CRF are inadequate, additional assistance is considered from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), funded 100% by the Centre.
- Relief in repayment of loans or for grant of fresh loans to the persons affected on concessional terms, too, are considered once a calamity is declared “severe”.
What is a severe calamity?
- A calamity is declared to be of “rare severity”/”severe nature” based on undefined criteria, but factors such as the intensity and magnitude of the calamity, level of assistance needed, etc. are looked at.
How a severe calamity is classified?
- This classification is based on a specific procedure, where the state government needs to submit a memorandum indicating the sector-wise damage caused by a disaster and its requirement of funds.
- Afterwards, an inter-ministerial central team is constituted and it conducts an on-the-spot assessment of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations.
- Specific committees examine these assessments and submit their reports.
- A High-Level Committee must approve the quantum of immediate relief to be released from the NDRF.
- The Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs will then provide support and monitor the utilisation of funds.
How funding is done:
- The 15th Finance Commission (for 2021-22 to 2025-26) adopted a new methodology for state-wise allocations, based on factors like past expenditure, risk exposure (area and population) hazard and vulnerability of states.
- The annual Central contribution is released in two equal instalments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.
- These are released on the receipt of a Utilisation Certificate of the amount released in the earlier instalment and the receipt of a report from the state government on the activities undertaken by SDRF.
- However recently these requirements were waived in view of the urgency during extreme rainfall in many states.
Topic 3: Ancient Red Sea trade route
Why in news: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced at the G20 Summit harkens to an ancient trade route between the subcontinent and the Roman Empire – the ancient red sea trade route.
About the ancient Red Sea trade route
- According to latest estimates, custom taxes on the Red Sea trade with India, Persia, and Ethiopia may have generated as much as one-third of the income of the Roman exchequer.
- The principal source for this striking figure is the Muziris Papyrus — a document taken out by an Alexandria-based Egypto-Roman financier for the purchase of goods from an Indian merchant based in far-away Muziris on the coast of Kerala.
What was being traded on this route?
- There was a great demand across the Roman Empire for luxuries from India:
- the cinnamon-like plant called malabathrum, whose leaves were pressed to create perfume,
- ivory, pearls, and precious gemstones.
- A famous ivory figure of a voluptuously pouting yakshi fertility spirit, found in the ruins of Pompeii, can be dated to this period.
- There was also demand for exotic goods, such as wild animals like elephants and tigers.
- Spices
- India’s biggest export by far was pepper, large quantities of which have been found during excavations.
- By the end of the first century, Indian pepper became almost as readily available as it is today.
- Around 80 per cent of the 478 recipes included in the Roman cookbook of Apicius included pepper.
Trade from Rome to India
- The flow of goods from Rome to India was more limited.
- It was mainly gold that went to India, which was a problem for the Roman economy because the balance of trade was firmly in India’s favour.
- There are records of Indians having a taste for Roman wine.
- There was also some trade in olive oil and Garum, an ancient Roman fermented fish paste, like the Tabasco or garam masala of the day, evidence of which has been found in Arikamedu and the sites in Kerala.
Was there trade on this route before the Common Era?
- There is evidence of an Indian diaspora in the Middle East even at the time of Meluha (the Indus Valley Civilisation, c. 3300-1300 BCE).
- But it seems to have been more coastal and involved small quantities of goods.
- In Roman times, this expanded to a vast trade with huge cargo ships moving directly between the subcontinent and the Roman Empire.
- The Romans industrialised the trade, partly because they were rich enough to buy the luxuries that India had to offer.
Organisation of trade:
- The trade was highly organised.
- Contracts were written between merchants in Kerala and shippers in Alexandria.
Roles Indians had in this trade
- There are pictures in Ajanta of large double-masted ships.
- Ships were a common insignia in many early Indian coins.
- The coins of the Satavahanas, for instance, have images of ships on them.
- There are also a lot of evidence of Indian sailors being very prominently involved in the trade.
- Graffiti left by Indian sailors (mostly Gujaratis from Barigaza, modern-day Bharuch) from this period has been recently found in the Hoq caves on the island of Socotra, a popular stopover at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.
- Socotra, an island on the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, used to be a popular stopover point for those undertaking a voyage between India and the Red Sea ports in Egypt.
- Of the 219 inscriptions here, dating from the second to the fifth century CE, 192 are in the Indian Brahmi script, and one each in Bactrian and Kharosthi.
- They give names that are unquestionably Indian:
- “Vishnu, son of the merchant Ganja”,
- “Skandabhuti, the Sea Captain”, or
- Graffiti left by Indian sailors (mostly Gujaratis from Barigaza, modern-day Bharuch) from this period has been recently found in the Hoq caves on the island of Socotra, a popular stopover at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.
- There are also images of Buddhist stupas, Shaivite tridents, swastikas, Syrian Christian crosses, and pictures of large three-masted Indian ships, as well as prayers to Krishna and Radha, and invocations to the Buddha.
Comparison with the Silk Road
- Despite its modern popularity, the idea of a Silk Road (an overland trade route supposedly stretching all the way across Asia from Xian in China to Antioch in Turkey) was completely unknown in ancient or mediaeval time.
- Not a single ancient record, either Chinese or Western, refers to its existence.
- In fact, even Marco Polo, the man now most closely associated with the Silk Road, never once mentions it.
- The term was first coined in 1877 by the Prussian geographer Baron von Richthofen who was charged with dreaming up a route for a railway linking Berlin with Peking.
- It certainly existed during the Mongol period (13th and 14th centuries CE) when the whole area between China and the Mediterranean was under one Mongol Empire.
- But talking about the Roman period, there’s no evidence that China and Europe knew of each other’s existence beyond the realm of legend.
- Chinese silk seems to have reached Rome during this period via the ports of India.
- For instance, overland through Kushana territory in northern India, to the ports of Gujarat and the mouth of the Indus.
Topic 4: Special Campaign 3.0
Why in news: Carrying forward the momentum of Special campaign 2.0, the Deptt. of Biotechnology was able to minimize pendency of various matters and hence pushing forward to the Special campaign 3.0.
Key details:
- Best practices adopted under the campaign are:-
- Launch of Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal (BioRRAP):
- It is a single window platform for all Biological research regulatory approval across scientific Ministries/Deptts.
- Ensuring delayering with regard to decision making in the Deptt.
- Migration to e-office version 7.0
- Endeavour to ensure 100% e-receipts and e-files in the Department.
Topic 5: Transformative Programs to Empower Individuals with Disabilities
Why in news: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) launches Transformative Programs to Empower Individuals with Disabilities
Key details:
- DEPwD’s Five Pioneering Initiatives to Foster Inclusivity and Empower Persons with Disabilities:
- MOU with Council of Architecture:
- DEPwD has joined hands with the Council of Architecture (COA) to introduce universal accessibility courses within Bachelor of Architecture programs.
- This collaboration extends to the development of a certified course for architects and civil engineers, equipping them with the skills to conduct accessibility audits in built environments, thereby ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.
- Releasing of Anonymous Data of UDID:
- DEPwD’s release of anonymous data through the Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal for research purposes represents a significant leap in data-driven decision-making within the disability sector.
- This initiative provides invaluable insights at various levels, facilitating a deeper understanding and informing targeted interventions.
- PM Daksh (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal:
- DEPwD introduces the PM Daksh-DEPwD Portal, a comprehensive digital platform designed to empower Persons with Disabilities in their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities.
- The portal offers:
- seamless registration through UDID,
- access to location-based skill training options,
- a wide array of job listings from across India,
- streamlined administrative processes.
- Pathways to Access – Courts on Disability Rights:
- DEPwD has compiled notable judgments from India’s Supreme Court and High Courts concerning disability rights into a comprehensive booklet.
- This resource serves as a valuable reference guide for persons with disabilities and stakeholders in the disability sector.
- Online Case Monitoring Portal by CCPD:
- The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has adopted a cutting-edge application for handling grievances filed by persons with disabilities.
- This initiative streamlines the entire process, making it paperless and efficient.
- MOU with Council of Architecture:
Topic 6: IISc develops novel approach to detect, kill cancer cells
Why in news: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) scientists have developed a new approach to potentially detect and kill cancer cells, especially those which form a solid tumour mass.
Key details:
- The scientists have created hybrid nanoparticles made of gold and copper sulphide, which can kill cancer cells using heat, and enable their detection using sound waves.
- Significance:
- Early detection and treatment are key in the battle against cancer.
- Copper sulphide nanoparticles have previously received attention for their application in cancer diagnosis.
- Gold nanoparticles, which can be chemically modified to target cancer cells, have shown anticancer effects.
- In the current study, the IISc team decided to combine these two into hybrid nanoparticles.
- How it works:
- These particles have photothermal, oxidative stress, and photoacoustic properties.
- When light is shined on these hybrid nanoparticles, they absorb the light and generate heat, which can kill cancer cells.
- These nanoparticles also produce singlet oxygen atoms that are toxic for the cells.
- Both these mechanisms are supposed to be used to kill the cancer cell.
- Diagnosis of cancer:
- The nanoparticles can also help diagnose certain cancers.
- Existing methods such as standalone CT and MRI scans require trained radiology professionals to decipher the images.
- The photoacoustic property of the nanoparticles allows them to absorb light and generate ultrasound waves, which can be used to detect cancer cells with high contrast once the particles reach them.
- The ultrasound waves generated from the particles allow for a more accurate image resolution as sound waves scatter less when they pass through tissues compared to light.
- Scans created from the generated ultrasound waves can also provide better clarity and can be used to measure the oxygen saturation in the tumour, boosting their detection.
Topic 7: Gresham’s law
Why in news: The law came into play most recently during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka last year, during which the Central Bank of Sri Lanka fixed the exchange rate between the Sri Lankan rupee and the U.S. dollar
Origins of the term
- Gresham’s law is named after English financier Thomas Gresham who advised the English monarchy on financial matters.
- It applies not just to paper currencies but also to commodity currencies and other goods.
- In fact, whenever the price of any commodity is fixed arbitrarily such that it becomes undervalued when compared to the market exchange rate, this causes the commodity to disappear from the formal market.
- The only way to get hold of an undervalued commodity in such cases would be through the black market.
- Gresham’s law can be seen at play whenever a government fixes the exchange rate (or price) of a commodity money (such as gold and silver coins) far below than the market price of the commodity backing them.
- In such cases, people who hold the commodity money would stop offering the money at the price fixed by the government.
- They may even melt such commodity money to derive pure gold and silver that they can sell at the market price, which is higher than the rate fixed by the government.
About the law:
- Gresham’s law refers to the dictum that “bad money drives out good.”
- Gresham’s law comes into play when the exchange rate between two moneys or currencies is fixed by the government at a certain ratio that is different from the market exchange rate.
- The market exchange rate is essentially an equilibrium price at which the supply of a currency is equal to the demand for the currency.
- Such price fixing causes the undervalued currency (that is, the currency whose price is fixed at a level below the market rate) to go out of circulation.
- The overvalued currency, on the other hand, remains in circulation but it does not find enough buyers.
- The supply of a currency in the market rises as its price rises and falls as its price falls;
- On the other hand, the demand for a currency falls as its price rises and rises as its price falls.
- So, when the price of a currency is fixed by the government at a level below the market exchange rate, the currency’s supply drops while demand for the currency rises.
- Thus a price cap can lead to a currency shortage with demand for the currency outpacing supply.
Driving out the dollar in Sri Lanka
- The law came into play most recently during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka last year, during which the Sri Lankan central bank fixed the exchange rate between the Sri Lankan rupee and the U.S. dollar.
- People were banned from paying more than 200 Sri Lankan rupees for a dollar, thus causing the rupee to be overvalued and the U.S. dollar to be undervalued when compared to the market exchange rate.
- This caused the supply of dollars in the market to fall and the U.S. dollar to be gradually driven out of the formal foreign exchange market.
- People who wanted U.S. dollars to purchase foreign goods then had to purchase dollars from the black market by paying far more than 200 Sri Lankan rupees for each U.S. dollar.
Limitation of the law:
- Gresham’s law holds true only when the exchange rate between currencies is fixed under law by the government and the law is implemented effectively by authorities.
- In the absence of any government decree fixing the exchange rate between currencies, it is good money that eventually drives bad money out of the market and not the other way round.
- When the exchange rate between currencies is not fixed and people have the choice to freely choose between currencies, people gradually stop using currencies that they consider to be of poor quality and adopt currencies that are found to be of better quality.
- This phenomenon wherein “good money drives out bad” is called Thiers’ law (named after French politician Adolphe Thiers) and it is seen as a complement to Gresham’s law.
- Example:
- The rise of private cryptocurrencies in recent years has been cited by many analysts as an example of good money issued by private money producers driving out bad money issued by governments.
Topic 8: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awards
Why in news: After nearly a year’s delay, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has publicised the list of winners of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) awards for 2022.
About the awards:
- It is considered among the prestigious prizes for science in India.
- This year’s awardees constitute 12 scientists below the age of 45.
- The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize is instituted in the memory of the first Director-General (D-G) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
- The award in India given annually by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in:
- biology,
- chemistry,
- environmental science,
- engineering,
- mathematics,
- medicine, and
- physics.
- The prize recognizes outstanding Indian work in science and technology.
- Eligibility for the award
- Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years.
- Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are also eligible.
- The Prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done primarily in India during the five years preceding the year of the Prize.
| About CSIR The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was established in 1942 as an autonomous body.CSIR is also among the world’s largest publicly funded R&D organisation.Organisational Structure:President : Prime Minister (Ex-Officio)Vice President : Minister of Science & Technology (Ex-Officio)Governing Body :The Director General is the head of the governing body.The other ex-officio member is the finance secretary (expenditures).Other members’ terms are three years.CSIR Advisory Board :15-member body composed of prominent members from respective fields of science and technology.Its function is to provide S&T inputs to the governing body.Member terms are three years. |
