Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

The National Commission for Minorities today held a meeting with the Sikh Intelligentsia for inviting suggestions and advice to make the commemoration of the Veer Bal Diwas more meaningful.

• The Prime Minister had announced the 26th of December to be observed as Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji. 
• They were martyred in Sirhind after being sealed alive in a wall on the 26th of December, 1704. Thereafter, the Central Government decided to commemorate the day as Veer Bal Diwas.

About National Commission of Minorities(NCM):

• National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body set up in 1993 under the National Commission for Minorities(NCM) Act, 1992.
• Section 2 of the NCM Act stipulates that ‘Minority’ for the purposes of the Act means a community notified as such by the Central Government.
• Initially, five religious communities namely Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians(Parsis) were notified as minority communities. In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.

Composition:

• The Commission consists of: Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson, and five Members.
• Hence, a total of 7 persons are to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability, and integrity.
• Each Member holds office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office.

Functions of NCM:

• Evaluate the progress of the development of minorities under the Union and States;
• Monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures;
• Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments;
• Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities
• Recommend measures for the removal of problems arising out of any discrimination against minorities;
• Conduct studies, research, and analysis on the issues relating to the socio-economic and educational development of minorities;
• Suggest appropriate measures in respect of any minority to be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Governments;
• Make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to minorities and in particular difficulties confronted by them; and
• Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.

Question: Discuss the composition and powers of the National Commission for Minorities. 

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

The government has introduced paperless entry at select airports to make air travel hassle-free. Under this initiative, airports will use a facial recognition software called ‘DigiYatra’ for entry. This means, passengers won’t need to carry their ID card and boarding pass.

What is DigiYatra and how will it work?

• DigiYatra envisages that travellers pass through various checkpoints at the airport through paperless and contactless processing, using facial features to establish their identity, which would be linked to the boarding pass. 
• With this technology, the entry of passengers would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all checkpoints – including entry into the airport, security check areas, aircraft boarding, etc.

Which airports/airlines offer the facial recognition technology?

• The facility will be available for passengers taking domestic flights at Delhi’s Terminal 3, Bengaluru and Varanasi airports. 
• DigiYatra will be launched at four more airports — Hyderabad, Pune, Vijaywada and Kolkata — by next March. 
• Later, DigiYatra will be rapidly rolled out across all other airports.
• Among airlines, passengers travelling Air India, Vistara and IndiGo on their domestic network can avail this facility at the three airports.

How can people avail the DigiYatra facility?

• For availing the service, a passenger has to register their details on the DigiYatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self image capture. 
• In the next step, the boarding pass has to be scanned, and the credentials are shared with airport authorities.
• At the airport e-gate, the passenger has to first scan the bar coded boarding pass and the facial recognition system installed at the e-gate will validate the passenger’s identity and travel document. 
• Once this process is done, the passenger can enter the airport through the e-gate.

How is DigiYatra being implemented?

• The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport. These five shareholders equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares.

Question: What are prospects and challenges of aviation sector in India? Also mention steps taken by the government to promote it.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace scripted history by becoming the first private Indian organisation to launch a rocket from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s launchpad in Sriharikota.

Vikram S rocket:

• It is a part of Mission Prarambh, which means the beginning.
• Prarambh is a Sanskrit word, which means the beginning. So we wanted to call this mission the beginning of a new era or dawn in India’s space industry. 
• Vikram-S was the first launch. 
• It is a sub-orbital rocket, which reached outer space and then splashed into the sea.
• Next launch will be Vikram-1, an orbital vehicle that puts satellites into orbit. 

Mechanism of Vikram S

• There are four spin thrusters, which will generate the rocket’s spin. This gives stability so that it doesn’t deviate much from the trajectory. 
• It experiences Max-Q during the lift-off, which is the maximum stress on the rocket. 
• Many rockets get broken at this point that is 15 seconds down the flight. 
• At around 23 seconds, the rocket motor or the engine burns out. During this time, it just lofts to space and achieves five times the speed of sound or Mach 5.
• It descends after reaching the maximum point called ‘Apogee’ and then it falls back and splashes down into the sea. 
• So, it takes around two and a half minutes to reach the Apogee and another two and a half minutes to splash down. 

Technologies used

• Carbon composites: porous structure made of carbon and carbon fibre and four times lighter and has higher strength than steel.
• The lighter the rocket, the more payload we can use.
• 3D printing: reduces the cycle time by 90 per cent compared with traditional methods and allows to build complex shapes.
• Cycle time is the time required to manufacture a component.
• Cost-effectiveness
• Efficient technology
• Utilising existing govt infrastructure
• Operating out of India

About Skyroot Aerospace

• It is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad.
• Mandates: cutting-edge innovation and cost-effectiveness
• Next launch will be Vikram-1, an orbital vehicle that puts satellites into orbit.
• Vikram-2 will have a higher capacity than Vikram-1.
• Skyroot Aerospace focuses on reusability of rockets.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Nation pays homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

• Lakhs of followers from all over the country gathered at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar in Mumbai to pay tribute to the great leader.
• This year, a large number of people are expected to visit the Chaityabhoomi and other places associated with Dr. Ambedkar as the followers could not visit these places for the past two years due to the global pandemic.

About Dr. B.R.Ambedkar

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
• He was India’s first Law Minister and was Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
• Dr Ambedkar was a jurist, economist, politician and a social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination of downtrodden, women and labourers.
• Known as The Father of the Indian Constitution
• He was conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1990.

Education:

• He completed his matriculation in from Elphinstone High School.
• He completed his Post Graduation in Economics.
• He completed another doctorate from the London School of Economics – thesis “The problem of the rupee: Its origin and its solution”.
• He completed his Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Columbia.

Contributions

• Mahad Satyagraha: It was led by B. R Ambedkar in 1927 to allow the  untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad,Maharashtra.
• He participated in all three round-table conferences.
• Poona Pact: In 1932, Ambedkar agreed on Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi and an agreement was signed between Ambedkar and Madan Mohan Malviya which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes(Communal Award).
• Organisations: Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923), Independent Labor Party (1936), Scheduled Castes Federation (1942).
• Books: Annihilation of Caste, Buddha Or Karl Marx, Buddha and His Dhamma, Who were the Shudras, The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women among others.
• Journals: Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat, Samatha, Equality Janata among others.

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.