Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Prime Minister paid tributes to India’s first President Rajendra Prasad and lauded him as a legendary leader who epitomized courage and scholarly zeal.

About Dr. Rajendra Prasad

• Rajendra Prasad was born in Zeradai, District Siwan in Bihar on 3 December 1884.
• His father Mahadev Sahai was a scholar of Persian and Sanskrit. His mother Kamleshwari Devi was a pious lady.

Education

• He joined the famed Calcutta Presidency College in 1902.
• In 1915, Prasad appeared in the examination of master’s in law from the Department of Law, University of Calcutta, passed the examination and won a gold medal.
• In 1916, he commenced his legal career in the Patna High Court. He completed his Doctorate in Law from Allahabad University in 1937.

Indian National Movement

• Prasad attended the 1906 Calcutta session of Indian National Congress.
• He joined the party in 1911 and later elected to the All India Congress Committee after which he met Mahatma Gandhi.
• He was highly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi and he supported Gandhi during the Satyagraha Movement against Indigo Planters in Champaran, Bihar.
• He later quit his lucrative career as a lawyer in 1920 and jumped into Freedom Struggle Movement and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• He led the Non-Cooperation Movement in Bihar holding meetings, touring state and making speeches. He urged people to boycott government schools, colleges, jobs.
• Prasad was elected as the President of the Bombay Session of the Indian National Congress in October 1934.
• He was also elected as the President for second time in 1939 after Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from his post and third time President of INC in 1947 when J.B.Kripalani resigned from his post.
• Prasad was arrested several times during the national struggle and imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Dr. Prasad & Constituent Assembly:

• In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, he was elected its President.
• Committees of Constituent Assembly under the chairmanship of Dr. Prasad includes:

• Ad hoc Committee on the National flag
• Committee on the Rules of Procedure
• Finance and Staff Committee
• Steering Committee

• Two and a half years after independence, on 26th January 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and he was elected India’s First President.

Question: Write about the contribution of Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the India independence and constitution making.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

India to assume chairmanship of Wassenaar arrangement on 1 Jan 2023. India has also assumed the presidency of the UNSC.

About Wassenaar Arrangement

• The Wassenaar Arrangement was founded in 1996, and is clubbed with mechanisms such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Australia Group
• Its stated aim is “to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilising accumulations.”

Procedure

• Wassenaar members lack veto authority over other member’s proposed exports.
• Its predecessor was the Cold War-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM), which was created to restrict exports to the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc.
• The plenary comprising all 42 countries of the group, is the primary decision-making body and is chaired on a rotation basis annually.
• The decisions of the plenary are taken by consensus.

Significance

• India will get access to high technology, which will help address the demands of Indian space and defence sectors
• It help India to raise its stature in the field of non-proliferation, even though it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT
• It will also boost New Delhi’s chances of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
• It will facilitate high technology tie-ups with Indian industry and ease access to high-tech items for our defence and space programmes
• While membership of the Arrangement would not automatically entail any preferential treatment from other WA members, it would create the grounds for realignment of India in the export control policy framework of other WA members, including eligibility for certain licensing exceptions

The Wassenaar Arrangement will embed India deeper in the global non-proliferation architecture and enable access to critical technologies in the defence and space sectors.

Question: What is nuclear doctrine of India? Discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The Supreme Court (SC) exempted Maharashtra’s Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) from its June 3 order mandating the creation of a one-kilometre eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around all Protected Areas in India.

• It also stated that practical difficulties and ground realities will have to be taken into account before having a uniform order for creating ESZs as mandated by the June 3 order.
• The bench is hearing applications filed in the TN Godavarman Thirumalpad case that has sought exemption from the order.
• We are all for the protection of the environment. But at the same time, we cannot halt development.

About Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2003.
• It is in the suburbs of Mumbai.
• Tungareshwar is a mountain plateau situated between Virar and Vasai.
• Spread over 85 sq.km, it forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park (also known as Borivali National Park) and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.
• There are three different types of forests – Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen.
• It is a popular picnic destination.
• On the periphery of Mumbai, in Vasai, lies Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• Spread over 85 sq.km, it forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park (also known as Borivali National Park) and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• There are three different types of forests – Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen. 
• The region is rich in biodiversity: the Leopard, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Langur, Bonnet and Rhesus Macaque, and Black-naped Hare, as well as a multitude of birds, including the Crested Serpent-eagle, Jungle Owlet, White-eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Emerald Dove and Heart-spotted Woodpecker can be found here.
• However, the sanctuary is not without its share of problems. Irresponsible tourism, deforestation, illegal construction, encroachment for agriculture, and hunting have taken a toll on its natural beauty.

Question: What are eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) and highlight their environmental significance.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The leakage of 27 tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide Corporation in Bhopal 38 years ago is still wreaking havoc on the city. The latest is the spike in incidences of fungal infection among survivors, according to the Sambhavna Trust.

About the Bhopal Gas Tragedy

• Post-midnight on December 3, 1984, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) (Chemical formula- CH3NCO or C2H3NO) leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals), an MNC, in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.
• It is estimated that about 40 tonnes of gas and other chemicals leaked from the Union Carbide factory.
• Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic gas and if its concentration in the air touches 21ppm (parts per million), it can cause death within minutes of inhaling the gas.
• It is one of the worst chemical disasters globally and still continues to have its ill effects on the people of the affected areas.
• After the tragedy, the government of India enacted a Public Liability Insurance Act (1991), making it mandatory for industries to get insurance the premium for this insurance would contribute to an Environment Relief Fund to provide compensation to victims of a Bhopal-like disaster.

About Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)

• Methyl isocyanate is a colourless highly flammable liquid that evaporates quickly when exposed to the air. It has a sharp, strong odour.
• It is used in the production of pesticides, polyurethane foam, and plastics.
• The chemical is highly reactive to heat. When exposed to water, the compounds in MIC react with each other causing a heat reaction.
• Immediate health effects include ulcers, photophobia, respiratory issues, anorexia, persistent abdominal pain, genetic issue, neuroses, impaired audio and visual memory, impaired reasoning ability, and a lot more.
• Long-term health effects include chronic conjunctivitis, decreased lung function, increased pregnancy loss, increased infant mortality, increased chromosomal abnormalities, impaired associate learning and more.

About Fungal Infection

• The fungal infections will add to the long list of illnesses already present among survivors. 
• These include problems with the respiratory tract, neurological system, psychological problems, increased incidences of cancer, blindness, birth defects and growth impairments.
• The illnesses are due to the accumulation of toxic material in the soil and groundwater over the years after the leakage that had instantly killed over 3,000 people.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research had projected that till 2009, 23,000 deaths may have occurred, but the numbers vary and are a topic of debate.
• Ringworm disease, caused by a fungus called tinea, is on the rise.
• Red itchy patches occur in the groin, on the head or in different places of the body. The rash spreads if left untreated.
• Yeast infection candida albicans is also being reported to the Sambhavna Clinic by female survivors.

Question: Discuss the safety initiatives taken in India to address chemical risk under National Disaster Management Authority.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

A recent study has found that not a single coal-based thermal power plant in West Bengal has installed flue gas desulphurisation (FDG), a technology to eliminate sulphur compounds from exhaust emissions.

• Plants that contribute to 40% of coal-based power generation capacity in the State have not yet been awarded the contracts for FDG units whereas the remaining power production facilities were not able to complete the installation of the technology within the allotted time frame.
• The total coal-based electricity generation capacity of plants in the State is 13,686 megawatts (MW). None of the major plants connected to the power grid has installed FGD units or direct sorbent injection (DSI) technology to control sulphur dioxide emissions.
• The country’s first emission norms for control of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury from coal-fired power plants were notified in December 2015 and since then the deadline for installation of pollution control equipment has been extended three times by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) shows that till February 2021, of the 600 units contributing the total thermal power of 211. 6 GW (gigawatts) in the country; only 20 units contributing 8.2 GW have installed FDGs.

Particulate Matter

• A significant portion of the overall Particulate Matter (PM) concentration in ambient air is made up of secondary particles, which are created when sulphur dioxide combines with other contaminants. 
• Well-known dangerous particulate matter PM2.5 causes millions of fatalities each year both globally and in India. 
• Controlling sulphur dioxide emissions from coal-based power plants at the source will significantly reduce the overall amount of air pollution in the State and beyond.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation(FGD)

• Flue-gas desulfurization(FGD) is a set of technologies used to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants and from the emissions of other sulfur dioxide-emitting processes such as waste incineration.
• FGD systems may involve wet scrubbing or dry scrubbing.
• In wet FGD systems, flue gases are brought in contact with an absorbent, which can be either a liquid or a slurry of solid material. The Sulphur dioxide dissolves in or reacts with the absorbent and becomes trapped in it.
• In dry FGD systems, the absorbent is dry pulverized lime or limestone; once absorption occurs, the solid particles are removed by means of baghouse filters.

About Sulphur Dioxide

• It is an inorganic compound, heavy, colourless, and poisonous gas. It is produced in large quantities in intermediate steps of sulphuric acid manufacture.
• It has a pungent, irritating odour, similar to the smell of a just-struck match.
• In nature, it occurs in volcanic gases and in a solution of some water warm springs.
• Usually, it is prepared industrially by the burning in air or oxygen of sulphur or such compounds of sulphur as iron pyrite or copper pyrite.
• In large quantities, sulphur dioxide is formed in the combustion of sulphur-containing fuels.
• It can combine in the atmosphere with water vapour to form sulphuric acid which is a major component of acid rain.
• Under moderate pressures at room temperatures, sulphur dioxide can be liquified and the liquid freezes at -73 degree Celsius and boils at -10 degree Celsius under atmospheric pressure.

Sulphur Dioxide uses are:

• It is used in the preparation of sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide, and sulphites.
• It is also used as a disinfectant.
• It is used in a refrigerant, a reducing agent, a bleach, and food preservation mainly in dried fruits.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Air Pollution:

• SO2 emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution. High concentrations of SO2 in the air generally lead to the formation of other Sulfur Oxides (SOx).
• SOx can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small particles. These particles contribute to Particulate Matter (PM) pollution.
• Small particles may penetrate deeply into the lungs and in sufficient quantity can contribute to health problems.
• Air Pollution is a huge public health concern, with 91% of the world’s population living in areas where outdoor air pollution exceeds guideline limits by the World Health Organization (WHO) and as a result, 4.2 million people die prematurely every year.
• The greatest source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and other industrial facilities.
• Other sources include industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore, natural sources such as volcanoes, and locomotives, ships and other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn fuel with high sulphur content.

Question: Define Flue Gas Desulphurisation. Why is it important to installed in thermal power station? Also shed the light on government guidline about it.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Citizens join hands to preserve the geological marvel of Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam. 

About Erra Matti Dibbalu

• Erra Matti Dibbalu, a geological marvel unique to the coast of Visakhapatnam. 
• Located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu are rare red sand dunes that are a reminder of the million years of geological processes, and among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India. 
• The width of the dunes, which runs for five kilometres along the coast, varies from 200 metres to two kilometres. 
• Located at a distance of 16 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, the towering red sand dunes with patches of greenery is like a meandering maze, which takes one on a fascinating journey into one of the best kept secrets of the geological world, formed millions of years ago.
• The dunes comprise a light yellow sand dune at the top followed by a brick red sand unit, and a reddish brown concretion bearing sand unit with yellow sand at the bottom.
• Studies indicate that the area was tectonically active between 2.5 million years and 11,000 years ago and the sediments are mainly derived from the Khondalite rocks from the hinterland of the Eastern Ghats. 
• Geologically these red sand dune sediments particularly hold significance as they are the result of the combined effect of numerous factors including global climatic changes, sea-level variations, monsoonal variability and as a result serve as valuable paleo-environment indicators.
• It is interesting to note that the region was also the home to the prehistoric man as the excavations dug at several places in the region revealed stone implements of three distinctive periods and also the pottery of the Neolithic man.

• Such sand deposits have been reported only from three low latitude tropical regions in South Asia — the Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu, the Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh and Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka.

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.  
• Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. 
• These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical etc.  
• GSI uses latest computer-based technologies for dissemination of geoscientific information and spatial data, through cooperation and collaboration with other stakeholders in the Geo-informatics sector.  
• Its headquarters is in Kolkata. 
• GSI an attached office to the Ministry of Mines has regional offices in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Shillong. 
• GSI also has unit offices in almost all States of the country.

Question: Discuss the significance of Geological Survey of India.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

A mysterious and intensely bright flash of light coming from halfway across the universe earlier this year had stunned astronomers worldwide. The source of the intense beam has now been identified — a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star, pointing directly at Earth.

Tidal Disruption Event (TDE)

• The jet of light was brighter than 1,000 trillion suns. 
• Scientists from multiple institutions, including India, helped trace the activity powered by the black hole, 8.5 billion light years away from Earth.
• The activity is called a tidal disruption event (TDE), which happens when a black hole shreds a nearby star as it feeds on it. 
• As this happens, the supermassive black hole spews a jet of particles moving close to the speed of light.
• This signal was detected in February 2022. Soon, astronomers turned multiple telescopes, scanning the light in various wavelengths: X-ray, ultraviolet, optical and radio bands. 

About Blackholes

• A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot escape.
• The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.

Visibility:

• Because no light can get out, they are invisible.
• Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes.
• The gasses swirling around actually help in getting their images.

Example: The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy is called Sagittarius A.

• It has a mass equal to about 4 million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million Earths.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

According to the World Bank from 2030 onwards, more than 160 to 200 million people could be exposed to a lethal heat wave in India every year, and around 34 million Indians will face job losses due to heat stress-related productivity decline. By 2037, the demand for cooling is likely to be eight times more than current levels.

Key findings

• In this scenario, it is imperative for India to deploy alternative and innovative energy efficient technologies for keeping spaces cool.
• According to the report, “Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector”, this could open an investment opportunity of $1.6 trillion by 2040 besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly and creating 3.7 million jobs.
• With the demand for cooling shooting up, there will be a demand for a new air-conditioner every 15 seconds, the report said, leading to an expected rise of 435% in annual greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades.
• There is a need to shift to a more energy-efficient pathway which could lead to a substantial reduction in expected CO2 levels.
• The report proposes a roadmap to support New Delhi’s India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) 2019, through new investments in three major sectors: building construction, cold chains and refrigerants.

Heat Waves

• According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a Heat wave occurs if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions. There are other criteria as well:

Based on Departure from Normal Temperature

• Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.5°C to 6.4°C 
• Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.4°C 

Based on Actual Maximum Temperature 

• Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45°C 
• Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47°C 

Heat Wave is declared if above criteria are met in at least 2 stations in a Meteorological subdivision for at least two consecutive days.

Reasons behind the increasing frequency of Heat Waves

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The primary driver is rising greenhouse gas emissions and the consequent change in the entire climate system.
• Erratic Nature of Monsoon: Many experts have deduced that rising instances of unusually long dry phases during Monsoons mean that soil moisture drops to a remarkably low level. This reinforces the heat waves.
• Urbanization: The urban centres are full of concrete structures that enhance the occurrence of heat waves and create an urban heat island effect. 
• Demand for Air Conditioning: With a rise in temperature and an enhancement of per capita income of masses, a rise in installation and usage of air conditioners is witnessed in residential and commercial spaces.

Suggestive measures proposed in the report:

• The report proposes a road map to support New Delhi’s India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), 2019, through new investments in three major sectors: building construction, cold chains and refrigerants.
• Adopting climate-responsive cooling techniques as a norm in both private and government-funded constructions can ensure that those at the bottom of the economic ladder are not disproportionately affected by rising temperatures.
• The report suggests that India’s affordable housing programme for the poor, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), can adopt such changes on scale.
• It proposed enacting a policy for “district cooling”, which could lead to the consumption of 20-30% less power than the most efficient conventional cooling solutions.
• Apart from this, guidelines for implementation of local and city-wide urban cooling measures such as cool-roofs should also be considered.

Question: Define heat wave. What are the reasons behind the rising number of heat waves in recent years? Suggest measures to tackle it.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Coming to the rescue of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the Supreme Court  mooted the idea of launching ‘Project GIB’ on the lines of ‘Project Tiger’, which was started in 1973 to save the big cats, and sought the government’s view on the proposal.

About The Great Indian Bustard

• It is one of the heaviest flying birds (weighing up to 15kgs). 
• They inhabit dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: It is a Critically Endangered species with less than 150 birds left in the wild.
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972: Schedule I

Habitat:

• It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found in Rajasthan (Desert National park), Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh in India and parts of Pakistan.

Characteristics

• Great Indian Bustards are tall birds with long legs and long necks; the tallest individuals may stand up to 1.2 metres (4 feet) high.
• Both the male and female are roughly the same size, with the largest individuals weighing 15 kg (33 pounds).
• Males and females are distinguished by the colour of their feathers.
• Food Habits: Great Indian Bustards are omnivores. They prey on various arthropods, worms, small mammals, and small reptiles.

Threats

• Death by collision with infrastructure, particularly power lines and wind turbines
• Depletion of grasslands
• Hunting
• Development of mines and human habitation in and around their habitats among others.

Conservation Initiatives:

Project Great Indian Bustard

• It was launched by Rajasthan Government with the objective of conservation of the remaining population of critically endangered Great Indian Bustard(Ardeotis nigriceps) locally called Godawan.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

• WWF-India has provided inputs in developing the ‘Guidelines for the State Action Plan for Resident Bustard Recovery Programme’.
• It has played an important role in raising awareness about the declining populations and highlighting the importance of implementing a focused bustard conservation programme at the national level.
• WWF-India, is undertaking initiatives towards conservation of GIB in and around Desert National Park.

Question: Discuss the efforts and steps taken by government to save tiger under Project Tiger.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it would start using the term “mpox” for monkeypox, which has infected about 80,000 people in the first major outbreak of the viral disease outside Africa that began early this summer.

• The change of name, announced after a series of consultations with global experts, has been provoked by the racist connotations that “monkeypox” sometimes carries.
• Monkeypox, which was named in 1970 because the virus that causes the disease was first discovered in captive monkeys in 1958, does not have much to do with monkeys. 

Monkeypox

• Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease (a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans) that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
• Monkeypox belongs to the orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus which causes smallpox.

Symptoms

• It begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, and exhaustion. 
• It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which smallpox does not.

Source of Transmission: 

• Human-to-human transmission is very limited. However, transmission, when it occurs, can be through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.

Outbreaks

• The first case of monkeypox was reported in 1958 in monkeys and in humans in 1970 in the western Africa.
• Nigeria witnessed the biggest outbreak of the disease in 2017.
• Thereafter, the disease has been reported in many countries including the USA, Singapore, UK.

Incubation Period

• The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.

Treatment

• There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox yet. The WHO recommends supportive treatment depending on the symptoms. Awareness is important for the prevention and control of the infection.

Difference from smallpox

• The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that the latter causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not.

Present Cases

• The majority of reported cases of monkeypox currently are in males, and most of these cases occur among males who identified themselves as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), in urban areas, and are clustered in social and sexual networks.

Question: What are the symptoms of monkeypox? How does it different from smallpox.