DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th March 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –Polity and Environment and Ecology

Context: Recently, a high-powered committee, led by a former judge, was tasked with the procurement or welfare of wild animals by any rescue or rehabilitation centre or zoo.

About the Justice Deepak Verma Committee :-

• It is set up under the chairmanship of former judge Justice Deepak Verma.

Other Members of the Committee —

• Director General of Forest
• Head of Project Elephant Division (MoEFCC)
• Member Secretary (Central Zoo Authority of India)
• Chief Wild Life Warden(s) of the State(s) to which the issue relates will be co-opted as Members.

Objective: The HPC was initially constituted to oversee the transfer of captive wild elephants from the north-eastern States and its ambit was restricted to Tripura and Gujarat.

• The jurisdiction has been expanded to cater to all wild animals in need of rehabilitation or rescue anywhere in India.

Powers of the committee:

• The Committee may consider the request for approval, dispute, or grievance, concerning transfer or import into India or procurement or welfare of wild animals by any rescue or rehabilitation centre or zoo.
• State and Central authorities should report the seizure of wild animals or abandonment of captive wild animals to the committee.
• The committee shall be at liberty to recommend the transfer of ownership of captive animals or of seized wild animals to any willing rescue centre or zoo for their welfare, care, and rehabilitation

MUST READ: Wildlife Protection and Environment Ministry reconstitutes Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements : (2022)

1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government.
2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled to equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside.
3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3
4. 3 only

Q.2) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?(2020)

1. Corbett
2. Ranthambore
3. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
4. Sunderbans

Syllabus

• Prelims –Art and Culture

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister greeted the Sikh community on commencement of Nanakshahi Sammat 555.

About Nanakshahi Sammat 555:-

• It is a calendar system that was introduced by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 2003.
• It is named after the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji to mark his  500th birth anniversary.
• It is a tropical solar calendar used in Sikhism.
• The reference epoch of the Nanakshahi calendar is the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, corresponding to the year 1469 CE.
• It is based on the “Barah Maha” (Twelve Months), a composition composed by the Sikh gurus reflecting the changes in nature conveyed in the twelve-month cycle of the year.
• The year begins with the month of Chet, with 1 Chet corresponding to 14 March.
• This year’s Nanakshahi calendar has been dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the martyrdom of Akali Baba Phula Singh, the 300th anniversary of the birth of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarh and the 100th anniversary of the Jaito front.

MUST READ: Saka Panja Sahib

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following was given classical language status recently? (2015)

1. Odia
2. Konkani
3. Bhojpuri
4. Assamese

Q.2) Consider the following languages: (2014)

1. Gujarati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘classical language/languages’ by the Government?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Syllabus

•    Prelims –Defense

Context: The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra held recently.

About Exercise Bold Kurukshetra:-

IMAGE SOURCE: 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue held | IASbaba

• Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is a bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and the Singapore Army.
• The 13th edition of the exercise was held at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
• The exercise was first conducted in 2005.
• The 13^th edition was hosted by the Indian Army and the exercise involved soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, and an Armoured Brigade of the Indian Army.
• This joint exercise aimed to enhance cooperation, build a common understanding of mechanized warfare, combat emerging threats and adapt to evolving technologies.
• It involved an understanding of mechanized warfare in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing interoperability.

MUST READ: Bilateral Relations between India and Singapore

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In which one of the following groups are all four countries members of G20? (2020)

1. Argentina Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.
2. Australia Canada, Malaysia, and New Zealand
3. Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam
4. Indonesia Japan Singapore and South Korea

Q.2) Consider the following countries : (2018)

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA

Which of the above are among the ‘free-trade partners’ of ASEAN ?

1. 1, 2, 4 and 5
2. 3, 4, 5 and 6
3. 1, 3, 4 and 5
4. 2, 3, 4 and 6

Syllabus

•     Prelims –Polity

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition filed by the Karnataka Lokayukta, challenging the pre-arrest bail granted to an MLA of Karnataka by the state High Court.

About Pre-arrest bail or Anticipatory Bail:-

• Bail is the conditional release of a person from confinement or custody during investigation and trial.
• The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) defines a bailable offense as an offense that is shown as bailable in the First Schedule of the CrPC, or which is made bailable by any other law for the time being in force and a non-bailable offense means any other offense.
• The provision for anticipatory bail was introduced under Section 438 of the CrPC after the 41st Law Commission Report in 1969 recommended the need for a measure that protects against arbitrary violation of one’s personal liberty, such as when politicians detain their opponents in false cases.
• It protects individual liberty ( mentioned in Art. 21 of the Indian constitution).
• Its practice is the very essence of Art 22 (2) of the Indian constitution.
• Anticipatory Bail is envisaged under section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• It enables the accused to approach a session court or High court seeking a direction to release him on bail in case he is arrested on a non-bailable offense.
• The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) differentiates between “bailable” and “non-bailable” offenses.
• It also defines three kinds of bail that can be granted — regular bail under Sections 437 and 439; interim bail or short-term bail which is given when regular or anticipatory bail application is pending before the court; and anticipatory or pre-arrest bail.

Conditions for granting an Anticipatory bail:-

• Nature and gravity of the accusation
• Previous cases of applicant
• The court can impose certain terms and condition
• Restriction on travel abroad
• It denied a person can be arrested without a warrant

MUST READ: The Bail Laws

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is locked up in a police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? (2019)

1. Protection against the tyranny of political rulers
2. Absence of restraint
3. Opportunity to do whatever one likes
4. Opportunity to develop oneself fully

Syllabus

• Prelims –Environment and Ecology, Government schemes

Context: Recently the Union Power & NRE Minister announced that 3377 MW capacity has been allocated to States under the ROOFTOP SOLAR SCHEME.

About ROOFTOP SOLAR SCHEME:-

• It is under the  Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The ministry has announced Phase II of the scheme.

Objectives:-

• To generate solar power through the installation of solar panels on the roof of houses.
• To achieve the final capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by 2022.
• To promote the grid-connected SPV rooftop and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial, and commercial establishments.
• To mitigate the dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity generation and encourage environment-friendly Solar electricity generation.
• To create an enabling environment for investment in the solar energy sector by the private sector, state government, and individuals.

Implementation: This scheme is being implemented in the state by distribution companies (DISCOMs).

Benefits: Under this scheme, the Ministry is providing a 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW and a 20% subsidy beyond 3 kW and up to 10 kW of solar panel capacity.

Under Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II:-

• A Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of up to 40% of the benchmark cost is provided for the installation of Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects upto 3 kW capacity and 20% for capacity beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW for individual households in the residential sector.
• For Group Housing Societies/Residential Welfare Associations (GHS/RWA), CFA is limited to 20% of the benchmark cost for installation of an RTS plant of capacity up to 500 kW for the supply of power to common facilities.

MUST READ: India’s solar power energy targets and Solar Energy in India

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022)

1. The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and running them.
2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”.
3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1,2, 4 and 5
2. 1,3 and 4 only
3. 2,3 and 5 only
4. 1,2, 3, 4 and 5

Q.2) Which one of the following is the purpose of `UDAY’, a scheme of the Government? (2016)

1. Providing technical and financial assistance to start-up entrepreneurs in the field of renewable sources of energy
2. Providing electricity to every household in the country by 2018
3. Replacing coal-based power plants with natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind, and tidal power plants over a period of time
4. Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies

Syllabus

•    Prelims –Science and technology

Context: Rare diseases has been in news recently as a cause of health concern.

About Rare diseases:-

IMAGE SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES

• Rare diseases are a serious public health concern in India.
• It has an estimated burden of about 80 to 96 million cases reported annually.
• Moreover, 70-80% of rare diseases are of genetic nature and thus are asymptomatic.
• A rare disease is a disease that affects a small percentage of the population.
• Most rare diseases are genetic in origin and are present throughout a person’s life even if symptoms do not immediately appear but it usually appears early in life.
• About 30% of children with rare diseases may die before reaching their 5th birthday.
• As per National Consortium for Research and Development on Therapeutic for Rare Diseases, approximately 450 rare diseases have been identified and reported in India.
• 80% of all rare disease patients are affected by approximately 350 rare diseases.
• The most common rare diseases that have clinically actionable treatment regimens include Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle-cell Anaemia and Primary Immuno Deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease, Gaucher’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemangiomas and certain forms of muscular dystrophies.

MUST READ: National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 released

SOURCE: THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements (2021)

1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of the egg.
2. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from the mother and not from the father.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Which of the following statements is not correct? (2017)

1. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.
2. Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.
3. Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses is several times more than those infected with HIV.
4. Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.

Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment and Ecology

Context: A global study published recently showed that 58 per cent of people from 31 countries are seriously concerned about freshwater shortages, whereas 30 per cent claim to be greatly impacted by it.

About UN-Water:-

• UN-Water is a ‘coordination mechanism’.
• It coordinates the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation.
• There is no single United Nations Agency, Fund or Programme dedicated exclusively to water issues.
• Over 30 United Nations organizations carry out water and sanitation programmes because these issues run through all of the United Nations’ main focus areas.

Composition: It is comprised of United Nations entities (Members) and international organizations (Partners) working on water and sanitation issues.

Objective: UN-Water’s role is to ensure that Members and Partners ‘deliver as one’ in response to water-related challenges.

Functioning:-

UN-Water has three lines of work:

• Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues
• Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation
• Building knowledge and inspiring people to act

Members and Partners:-

• All activities outlined in UN-Water’s Work Programme are primarily implemented through its Members and Partners.
• UN-Water’s Members: are United Nations agencies, programmes and funds with a water-related mandate.
• UN-Water’s Partners: are international organizations, professional unions, associations or other civil society groups that are actively involved in water.

MUST READ: Water Crisis  in India

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a (2022)

1. Database created by a coalition of research organisations
2. Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”
3. Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”
4. Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Q.2) Consider the following statements : (2020)

1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1 and 3 only

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3 (Science and Technology)

Context: The Ministry of Electronics and IT has recently established a task force to draft a roadmap for the artificial intelligence ecosystem. The task force will focus on boosting research and facilitating tools for startups and IT companies.

About Artificial Intelligence:

Source: Granta Innovation

• It is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs.
• It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.
• AI would not replace people but create new opportunities in various fields.
• It works on data, and if we could train our machines, it could do wonders for us in milliseconds by automating processes.
• AI is creating new opportunities which could not be achieved by traditional technology.

Significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for India:

• Economic Growth: AI is expected to contribute significantly to India’s economic growth by creating new job opportunities, increasing productivity, and fostering innovation.
• Governance: AI can help in improving governance by increasing transparency, reducing corruption, and improving service delivery by better fraud detection, resource allocation, and decision-making.
• Healthcare: AI has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare sector by improving patient outcomes, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs through better disease diagnosis, drug development, and personalized treatment.
• Agriculture: AI can improve agricultural practices by optimizing crop yields, reducing waste, and increasing profitability through accurate weather predictions, soil analysis, and crop monitoring to help farmers make informed decisions.
• Education: AI can enhance the quality of education by providing personalized learning experiences, automating administrative tasks, and improving student outcomes.
• Smart homes, cities and infrastructure: Smart thermostats learn from our behaviour to save energy, while developers of smart cities hope to regulate traffic to improve connectivity and reduce traffic jams.
• Automobiles: While self-driving vehicles are not yet standard, cars already use AI-powered safety functions. The EU has for example helped to fund VI-DAS, automated sensors that detect possible dangerous situations and accidents. Navigation is largely AI-powered.
• Cybersecurity: AI systems can help recognise and fight cyberattacks and other cyber threats based on the continuous input of data, recognising patterns and backtracking the attacks.
• Fighting disinformation: Certain AI applications can detect fake news and disinformation by mining social media information, looking for words that are sensational or alarming and identifying which online sources are deemed authoritative.
• Speech Recognition: It is also known as automatic speech recognition (ASR), computer speech recognition, or speech-to-text, and it is a capability which uses natural language processing (NLP) to process human speech into a written format.
  • Many mobile devices incorporate speech recognition into their systems to conduct voice search—e. Siri—or provide more accessibility around texting.

Challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Need for Massive Data Centres: AI requires massive computational capacity, which means more power-hungry data centres and a big carbon footprint.
• Skilled workforce: There is a shortage of skilled professionals in the AI industry in India and the demand for skilled professionals still outstrips the supply.
• Data quality and availability: The lack of standardization and structure in data sets, particularly in sectors like healthcare and education, can limit the effectiveness of AI solutions.
• Infrastructure: The availability of computing infrastructure is essential for the development and deployment of AI solutions and India needs to invest in improving its computing infrastructure to support the growing demand for AI solutions.
• Funding: Despite the potential benefits of AI, funding for AI startups and research in India is relatively low compared to other countries for which more funding is needed to support the development and growth of the AI industry in India.
• Ethical and social implications: AI can have significant ethical and social implications, such as bias, privacy concerns, and job displacement.

Way Forward

The NITI Aayog’s Report recognises that our digital future cannot be optimised for good without multi-stakeholder governance structures that ensure the dividends are fair, inclusive, and just.  NITI Aayog has decided to focus on five sectors that are envisioned to benefit the most from AI in solving societal needs:

• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Education
• Smart cities and infrastructure
• Smart mobility and transportation.

Therefore, AI can play a crucial role in driving India’s growth and development in various sectors, and the draft proposal by the Indian government is a step in the right direction.  The roadmap for the artificial intelligence ecosystem will help promote the development and adoption of AI in India and is expected to have a significant impact on the growth of the AI industry in the country.

Source: Business Standard

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 1 (Society and social Issues)

Context: A recent petition in the supreme court on same-sex marriage was transferred to the Constitutional Bench of five judges.

About Same-Sex Marriage:

• It is the practice of marriage between two men or between two women.
• Same-sex marriage has been regulated through law, religion, and custom in most countries of the world.
• As of 2023, marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 34 countries, constituting some 1.35 billion people (17% of the world’s population), with the most recent being Andorra.

Government’s stance on same-sex marriages:

• The government has a stance that same-sex marriage is not compatible with the concept of an “Indian family unit“, which it said consists of “a husband, a wife, and children.
• It necessarily presupposes a biological man as a ‘husband’, a biological woman as a ‘wife’, and the children born out of the union between the two – who are reared by the biological man as a father and the biological woman as a mother”
• Despite the decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the petitioners cannot claim a fundamental right for same-sex marriage to be recognized under the laws of the country.

Petitioner’s Arguments:

• Petitioners argued that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of the dignity and self-fulfilment of LBTQ+ couples.
• It demanded that the Special Marriage Act, 1954 should grant same-sex couples the same protection it allowed inter-caste and inter-faith couples who want to marry.

Legal status of same-sex marriage in India:

• Marriages in India are categorized under Hindu Marriage Act, Christian Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, and Special Marriage Act.
• None of this permits marriage between same-sex couples.

Various supreme court verdicts for the LGBTQ community:

• 2014: The Supreme Court of India laid the groundwork by giving legal recognition to non-binary or transgender persons as a “third gender.”
• 2017: It strengthened the right to privacy, and also recognized sexual orientation as an essential attribute of an individual’s privacy and dignity.
• 2018: The 2018 Navtej Singh Johar judgment decriminalised homosexuality, but it did not mention/legitimise same-sex marriage.
  • The court, while decriminalising homosexuality, had never accepted same-sex marriage as part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • It decriminalized homosexual sex, overturning a British colonial-era law, and expanded constitutional rights for LGBTQ people.
• 2022: It instituted protections for what it called “atypical” families. It’s a broad category that includes single parents, blended families or kinship relationships — and same-sex couples.
  • Such non-traditional manifestations of families are equally deserving of benefits under various social welfare legislation.

Arguments in favour of legalising Same-Sex Marriage:

• Fundamental Right: Right to marry a person of one’s choice is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
  • Members of the LGBTQ+ community have the same human, fundamental and constitutional rights as other citizens.
• The Special Marriage Act of 1954: It provides a civil form of marriage for couples who cannot marry under their personal law.
• Right to equality: The petitioners have argued that barring them from marriage violates their right to equality.
• Global practice: According to global think tank Council of Foreign Relations, same sex marriages are legal in at least 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and France.

Arguments against Same Sex Marriage:

• Social Stigma: Apart from the harsh legal scenario, homosexuals face social stigma.
  • Any instance of sexual relations between a couple of the same sex draws hatred and disgust.
  • Intimacy of any sort is not approved of unless it is legitimized in the form of marriage where socially approved sexual access takes place.
• Patriarchal Society: Indian society is patriarchal which believes that heterosexual marriage was the norm throughout history and are “foundational to both the existence and continuance of the state.
• Rising activism: Campaigns for lesbian and gay rights taken on an increasingly radical character, arguing for an end to all forms of discrimination against homosexuality.
• Progeny Issues: Gay and lesbian couples are also not allowed to have children born with the help of an Indian surrogate mother.
  • An LGBTQ+ person can apply to the Central Adoption Review Authority for adoption only as a single parent.

Way Forward:

• Petitioners have argued that denying the community the same rights as heterosexual couples violates a clutch of fundamental rights on life and liberty including Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which India is a signatory.
• Legalizing same-sex marriages would have a profound bottom-up effect being felt in the social structure, starting from the individual level and couple level, followed by the family, community, and finally at the level of society.
• By legalising same-sex marriage, India can join the 30-odd countries which allow it, and lead from the front in Asia where only Taiwan has legalised it.
• As people’s relationships change, and society undergoes transformation, constitutional rights on freedoms and liberties must extend to every sphere, including a same-sex couple’s life.

Source: The Hindu

Q.1) Consider the following:

1. Haemophilia
2. Thalassemia
3. Sickle-cell Anaemia
4. Pompe disease
5. Hirschsprung disease

Which of the above are examples of rare diseases as per National Consortium for Research and Development on Therapeutic for Rare Diseases?

1. 1 3 and 4 only
2. 2 4 and 5 only
3. 1 2 and 5 only
4. 1 2 3 4 and 5

Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding Rooftop Solar Programme:

1. The scheme will be implemented in the states by distribution companies (DISCOMs).
2. It is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.3) With reference to India, consider the following statements:

1. Anticipatory Bail is envisaged under section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
2. The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) clearly differentiates between “bailable” and “non-bailable” offenses.
3. Anticipatory Bail enables the accused to approach a session court or High court seeking a direction to release him on bail in case he is arrested on a bailable offense.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1 2 and 3

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 16th March 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – b