Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

• • The Democratic Republic of Congo, home to one of the largest old-growth rainforests on Earth, is auctioning off vast amounts of land in a push to become “the new destination for oil investments,” part of a global shift as the world retreats on fighting climate change in a scramble for fossil fuels.
• The oil and gas blocks, which will be auctioned in late July, extend into Virunga National Park, the world’s most important gorilla sanctuary, as well as tropical peatlands that store vast amounts of carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere and from contributing to global warming.

Virunga National Park

• Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some 20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the winter there.

• Virunga National Park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats that surpass those of any other African park. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks culminate in 5000 m height. 
• The property includes the spectacular massifs of Rwenzori and Virunga Mountains containing the two most active volcanoes of Africa. The wide diversity of habitats produces exceptional biodiversity, notably endemic species and rare and globally threatened species such as the mountain gorilla.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The first two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious Ebola-like disease, have been confirmed officially by Ghana after test results were verified by a Senegal laboratory.

Marburg Virus Disease

• Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans causing viral hemorrhagic fever.
• Rousettus Aegyptiacus, fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, are considered to be natural hosts of Marburg virus and is transmitted to people through contact with materials (fluids, blood, tissues and cells) of an infected host or reservoir or infected person.
• Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
• Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute in the transmission of Marburg.
• People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.

Symptoms

• Incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 day
• High fever, severe headache and severe malaise.
• Severe watery diarrhea (can last for a week).
• Abdominal pain and cramping.
• Nausea and vomiting can begin on the third day.
• Non-itchy rash in most patients between 2 and 7 days after onset of symptoms.
• Hemorrhagic manifestations between 5 and 7 days with fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas.

Transmission:

• Once an individual is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Treatment

• There is no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for MVD as of now.
• It can be managed with supportive care.
• According to the WHO, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms can help prevent death.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

• China launched the second of three modules to its permanent space station, in one of the final missions needed to complete the orbiting outpost by year’s end.
• A Long March-5B Y3 rocket, carrying the Wentian lab module.
• The 23-tonne Wentian (“Quest for the Heavens”) laboratory module launching on the back of China’s most powerful rocket, the Long March 5B,from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island of Hainan.
• The Wentian lab module, 17.9 m long, will provide space for experiments, along with the other lab module yet to be launched — Mengtian (“Dreaming of the Heavens”).
• It will also serve as short-term living quarters for astronauts during crew rotations on the station, which is designed for long-term accommodation of just three astronauts.
• Mengtian is expected to be launched in October and, like Wentian, is to dock with Tianhe, forming a T-shaped structure.
• The construction of China’s space station called Tiangong is expected to be completed this year.
• It will then evolve from a single-module structure into a national space laboratory with three modules — the core module, Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian.
• Once ready, China’s low-flying space station will be the only country to own a space station. The International Space Station (ISS) of Russia is a collaborative project of several countries.
• China Space Station (CSS) is also expected to be a competitor to the ISS built by Russia.
• Once ready, China’s low-flying space station will be the only country to own a space station.
• As the International Space Station (ISS) is a collaborative project of several countries.
• China Space Station (CSS) is also expected to be a competitor to the ISS built by Russia.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Using soil from Alirajpur, the birthplace of Chandrashekar Azad, Madhya Pradesh government will install the freedom-fighter’s statue in Bhopal.

Chandrashekar Azad

• Born on July 23, 1906, at Bhavra, Alirajpur District in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
• He took part in Non Cooperation Movement  when he was 15.
• After the suspension of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 by Gandhi, Azad joined Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). 
• HRA was later reorganised as the Hindustan Socialist Republic Army in 1928.
• On being presented before a magistrate, he gave his name as “Azad” (The Free), his father’s name as “Swatantrata” (Independence) and his residence as “Jail”.
• From that day he came to be known as Chandra Shekhar Azad among the people.
• The group of young patriots started looting government properties to meet their expenses for their revolutionary activities. Azad was involved in the 1925 Kakori Conspiracy.
• He was on their hit list and the British police badly wanted to capture him dead or alive.
• On February 27, 1931 Azad met two of his comrades at the Alfred Park Allahabad.
• Azad fought alone valiantly and killed three policemen.
• But finding himself surrounded and seeing no route for escape, he shot himself. 

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

• The India Hypertension Control Initiative, started in 2018, has been successful in treating and controlling hypertension
• Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death among adults in India.
• One of the major drivers of heart attack and stroke is untreated high blood pressure or hypertension.
• India has more than 200 million people with hypertension, and only 14.5% of individuals with hypertension are on treatment

India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)

• India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a multi-partner initiative involving the Indian Council of Medical Research, WHO-India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and State governments to improve blood pressure control for people with hypertension.
• The project initiated in 26 districts in 2018 has expanded to more than 100 districts by 2022.
• More than two million patients were started on treatment and tracked to see whether they achieved BP control.
• The project demonstrated that blood pressure treatment and control are feasible in primary care settings in diverse health systems across various States in India.
• Before IHCI, many patients travelled to higher-level facilities such as community health centres (block level) or district hospitals in the public sector for hypertension treatment.
• Over three years, all levels of health staff at the primary health centres and health wellness centres were trained to provide treatment and follow-up services for hypertension.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

• The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) agreed at the recently concluded World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting will prohibit subsidies from being provided for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks.
• Under the Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT), Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been allowed a transition period of two years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
• The Agreement also prohibits providing subsidies for fishing on high seas, which are outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
• As per the Agreement, no prohibition has been imposed on a WTO Member regarding granting or maintaining subsidy to its vessel or operator as long as it is not carrying out IUU. 
• Similarly, no prohibition on providing subsidies has been imposed for fishing regarding overfished stocks as long as such subsidies are implemented to rebuild the stock to a biologically sustainable level.

India’s Stand

• India’s stand is that we are one of the lowest fisheries subsidisers despite such a large population and one of the disciplined nations in sustainably harnessing the fisheries resources. 
• India does not exploit the resources indiscriminately like other advanced fishing nations and India’s fisheries sector primarily depends on several millions of small-scale and traditional fishers.

Significance

• The Agreement will eliminate the subsidies granted to fishing vessels or fishing operators engaged in IUU fishing.
• Such disciplining will check large-scale IUU fishing which deprives coastal countries like India of fisheries resources, thereby significantly impacting the livelihoods of our fishing communities.
• This Agreement also provides flexibility to extend subsidies concerning overfished stocks if measures are taken to rebuild fish stocks to a biologically sustainable level, which supports our fishing communities.

National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017  

• • To ensure the health and ecological integrity of the marine living resources of India’s EEZ through sustainable harvests. 

• The strategy would be based on seven pillars, namely

• Sustainable development, 
• Socio-economic Upliftment of fishers
• Principle of Subsidiarity
• Partnership
• Inter-generational equity 
• Gender justice  
• Precautionary approach.  

• The policy would be in line with the FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries on conservation, development and management of fisheries.  
• Some of the provisions of the policy are – 

• • Monitoring, Control and surveillance (to prevent accidents and trespassing) 
  • Chip-based smart registration cards for fishermen and their fishing vessels would be introduced.  
  • Training and awareness would be given to fishermen to avoid crossing the International marine boundary line (IMBL).
  • Integrated approach on fisheries management
  • Species-specific and area-specific management plans with spatial and temporal measures for sustainable utilization of resources.  
  • Conservation of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), endangered species etc. 
  •  It would blend traditional knowledge and scientific business principles. 
  • Use of Information technology and space technology for improving the capacities of the fishing community.
  • Traditional Use Rights for Fisheries 
  • Government would also introduce schemes to skill traditional fishers. 

• Commercializing Fisheries

• • Fisheries Data and Research – Government would implement a National Marine Fisheries Data Acquisition Plan with all stakeholders.  
  • Mariculture – Government will encourage schemes to set up mariculture farms/parks and setting up of hatcheries for supply of seed for development of the sector. 
  • There would also be a focus on preventing post-harvest losses.  
  • Island Fisheries – India’s islands would promote in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).  
  • Fisheries Trade – Government would focus on diversifying trade market, harmonizing FSSAI standards with international bodies, reducing the influence of middlemen and ecolabelling of fishes.  
  • Entrepreneurship development, private investment, public private partnership for marine fisheries sector will be encouraged.  
  • Government with the help of NABARD will provide institutional credit to the fishers. 

• Review and periodically evaluate existing marine protected areas (MPAs).  
• It would provide legislative support to ensure tenure rights of traditional fishermen so that their livelihood is not affected by conservation measures. 

Significance 

• Monitoring and surveillance will ensure that Indian fishing fleet do not engage in ‘Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated’ (IUU) fishing.  
• Women SHGs would be promoted in the women dominated post harvest sector of fisheries.  
• The policy will promote SDG Goal 14 of conserving and sustainably using Oceans, Seas and Marine resources for Sustainable development.  
• It would help in boosting the primary sector of our economy.

B Meenakumari Committee on deep sea fishing 

• Allow fishing in the EEZ – between 22 km and 370 km beyond territorial waters – for vessels with a length of 15 metres or more by getting a “letter of permission” from the Centre.
• These ships can be owned or acquired by Indian entrepreneurs or by joint ventures with up to 49 per cent foreign investment.  
• Create a buffer zone between the near-shore and offshore regions (waters between 200 m and 500 m in depth) along the coast and regulate fishing there “in order to augment resources in the near-shore areas as well as the deep-sea regions in the EEZ”.  

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Lok Sabha on July 22, 2022 passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The bill aims to bring Indian research stations in the Antarctic region under domestic laws of the country.

Important Features

• The Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 seeks to protect the Antarctic environment and regulate activities in the region.  
• The bill will apply to any person, vessel or aircraft that is a part of an Indian expedition to Antarctica. 
• Under the bill’s provisions, the future Indian expeditions to Antarctica will require a permit from the centre’s committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection. 
• Following activities will require permit from the committee-
• An Indian expedition to enter or remain in Antarctica
• An Individual entering or remaining in the Indian station in Antarctica,
• An Indian registered vessel or aircraft entering or remaining in Antarctica.
• An individual or vessel to drill, dredge or excavate for mineral resources or collect mineral samples 
• Activities that may harm native species
• Waste disposal by a person, vessel or aircraft in Antarctica region.
• The Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 prohibits following activities in Antarctica –
• Nuclear explosion or disposal of radioactive wastes
• Introduction of non-sterile soil
• Discharge of plastic, waste, garbage or other substance into the sea that is harmful to the marine environment
• Penalties

The Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 includes penalties for violation of its provisions such as following-

• Imprisonment for 20 years that may extend to life imprisonment and a fine of at least Rs 50 crore for conducting a nuclear explosion in Antarctica.
• Imprisonment up to 7 years and a fine between Rs 10-50 lakh for driilling for mineral resources and introducing non-native animals or plants in Antarctica without a permit.
• The central government may notify Sessions Courts to be the Designated Court under the Bill and specify its territorial jurisdiction to try offences punishable under the Bill.

Central Committee on Antarctica Region

• The centre will establish the special committee for governance and environmental protection of Antarctica region, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.  
• The committee will comprise 10 members, nominated from various ministries and organisations and not below the rank of joint secretary.
• It will also comprise two experts from Antarctic environment and geo-political fields, who will be nominated by the central government.

Functions of the Committee-

• Granting permits for various activities
• Implementing and ensuring compliance of relevant international laws for protection of Antarctic environment
• Obtaining and reviewing relevant information provided by parties to the Treaty, Convention, and Protocol
• Negotiating fees/charges with other parties for activities in Antarctica

Indian Research Stations at Antarctica

India has set up three research stations at Antarctica

• Dakshin Gangotri- 1983-84: It is located at a distance of 2,500 kilometres from the South Pole.
• Maitri- 1988: It is located in an ice-free, rocky area on the Schirmacher Oasis.
• Bharati- 2015: It is located beside Larsmann Hill, between Thala Fjord & Quilty bay, about 3000 km east of Maitri.

Antarctic Treaty

• The Antarctic treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent.
• The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries in Washington on 1st December 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only.
• The twelve original signatories are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the UK and the US.
• It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded by many other nations.
• Currently it has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983.

Its Objectives 

• To demilitarize Antarctica, to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste, and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only;
• To promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica;
• To set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty.
• The Treaty parties meet each year at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
• They have adopted over 300 recommendations and negotiated separate international agreements, of which three are still in use.
• These, together with the original Treaty provide the rules which govern activities in Antarctica.
• Collectively they are known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The Punjab government has announced a Rs 1,500 per acre incentive to farmers for adopting the DSR method.

DSR Technique

Dry and wet-seeding, in which seeds are sown directly in the main field instead of transplanting rice seedlings, are commonly referred to as direct seeding.

• Dry DSR: In Dry-DSR, rice is established using several different methods, including 
• Broadcasting of dry seeds on unpuddled soil after either zero tillage or conversion tillage
• Dibbled method in a well-prepared field and 
• Drilling of seeds in rows after Conservation tillage, minimum tillage using a power tiller-operated seeder.
• Wet DSR: Wet-DSR involves sowing of pregerminated seeds on or into puddled soil. When pregerminated seeds are sown on the surface of puddled soil, the seed environment is mostly aerobic and this is known as aerobic Wet-DSR.

Advantages of Direct Seeding

• To save irrigation water, labour and energy (power).
• It would be instrumental in saving about 30 per cent of water besides cutting the cost of paddy cultivation by nearly Rs 6,000 per acre.
• It has a wider adaptability as it is suitable for medium to heavy textured soils including sandy loam, loam, clay loam and silt loam, which account for 87% area of the State.
• Direct seeding of pre-germinated rice has resulted in to the reduced methane emissions due to a shorter flooding period.

Challenges to Direct Seeding of Rice

• In traditional system, the sapling is taller than the weeds right from the time of transplanting and there is no problem at the time of harvest.
• But in DSR both the weeds and the plant grow simultaneously and it is bound to cause major problem at the time of harvest.
• The farmers have not been trained and guided properly in the DSR. 
• Promoting DSR could corporatise agriculture which will harm the farmer and the country.
• The marginal and small farmers are not in a position to purchase seeding machines and pushing them towards these machines will add to their burden of debt.
• The DSR needs to be first well-established and it needs to be ensured that farmers will get the required seeds and herbicides from the government agencies and not the multinational corporations.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Ayush Mark Certification Scheme is operated by Quality Council of India (QCI) since 2009.

Salient Features of the Scheme

• It is a voluntary certification scheme for ASU&H products having two levels: 
• Ayush Standard Mark 
• Ayush Premium Mark.
• The Ayush Standard Mark is based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines (ScheduleT) as per Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945. AYUSH Premium Mark is based on WHO’s GMP guidelines covering herbal medicines.
• For any manufacturer to qualify for AYUSH Mark Certification, compliance to the domestic regulations is a pre-requisite. 
• The products are certified post regulatory approval given by State Licensing Authority of the state government concerned.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Performance of India

• India has fallen eight places from 150th in the 2022 among the 180 countries.
• India’s position has been consistently falling in the index since 2016 when it was ranked 133.
• The reasons behind fall in ranking is the increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”.

Reasons behind the Fall in Ranking of India

• Pressure from Government
• Faults in Policy Framework
• India is World’s Most Dangerous Countries for Mediapersons
• On Kashmir Issue

Scoring Criteria:

• The Index’s rankings are based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each country or territory, with 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom) and 0 the worst.

Evaluation Criteria:

Each country or territory’s score is evaluated using five contextual indicators : 

• Political Context 
• Legal Framework, 
• Economic Context, 
• Sociocultural Context 
• Safety.

Ranking of Countries:

Top and Worst Performers:

• Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions.
• North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries.
• Russia was placed at 155th position.

India’s Neighbours:

• Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
• The index placed Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Myanmar at 176th position.
• China was ranked at 175th position.

Government Response

• Indian government does not agree with the conclusions drawn by the organisation for various reasons, including “very low sample size, little or no weightage to fundamentals of democracy, adoption of a methodology which is questionable and non-transparent”.
• Government is committed to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution.
• The Press Council of India (PCI) has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country PCI looks into the complaints filed ‘by the Press’ regarding curtailment of press freedom.