UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 30th January 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-II

Idate Commission

Subject: Polity

Why in News?

Recently, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) emphasised the importance of executing the recommendations of the Idate Commission report.

Background:-

• NHRC organized an open house discussion on the Protection of Nomadic, Semi Nomadic and De-Notified Tribes in India and forward trajectory.

About Idate Commission:-

• Established: 2014.
• Headed by: Bhiku Ramji Idate.
• Objective: to compile a statewide catalogue of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
• In May 2018, the National Commission for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, submitted its report.
• The commission was constituted for a three-year temporary term.
• It had to submit its report identifying these communities state-wise, assessing their development status, and recommending ways to uplift them.

Important Recommendations:-

• The report has called Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes poorest of the poor, most marginalised and most downtrodden communities who are subject to social stigma, atrocity and exclusion.
• The commission has recommended giving protection to Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in the communities under the Atrocities Act.
• The Idate Commission has recommended a Constitutional amendment so that Scheduled NT/ DNT/ SNT can be added as a third category after Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Act.
• Assign individuals not identified in the SCs/STs/OBCs list to the OBC category.
• Create a permanent commission with legal standing for the DNTs, SNTs, and NTs.
• Form a distinct department to address the welfare of these communities in states with significant populations.
• Undertake a thorough survey of DNT families to determine their estimated numbers and distribution.

Major Committees/Commissions for NTs, SNTs, and DNTs Communities:-

• The Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee, 1947.
• Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee, 1949.
• Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission), 1953.
• The B P Mandal Commission, 1980.

Source: NHRC

Rajya Sabha seats go to polls in February

Subject: Polity

Why in News?

The Election Commission notified elections to 56 Rajya Sabha seats that will be held on February 27.

Uniqueness of Rajya Sabha Elections

• Retirement Cycle: One-third of Rajya Sabha members from each State retire every two years, necessitating elections to fill vacancies.
• Eligible Voters: Only elected members of State Legislative Assemblies are eligible to vote in Rajya Sabha elections.
• Six-Year Term: Newly elected members serve a six-year term, with vacancies arising due to resignation, death, or disqualification filled through by-polls.

Election of Rajya Sabha Members

• Blocs and Elections: A group of MPs from one or more parties can elect a member if they possess the required numbers.
• Avoiding Majority Rule: This approach ensures that ruling party candidates do not monopolize elections.
• Union Territories Representation: Delhi and Puducherry Assemblies elect members to Rajya Sabha to represent the respective Union Territories.

Electoral Process

• Polling Condition: A Rajya Sabha election requires polling only when the number of candidates surpasses the available vacancies.
• Predictable Strength: Parties estimate their potential seats based on their strength in the Assembly.
• Contesting Candidates: Parties field candidates based on their strength; additional candidates trigger a contest.
• Candidate Nomination: Political party candidates must be proposed by at least 10 Assembly members or 10% of the party’s House strength, whichever is lower.
• Independent Candidates: Independents require 10 proposers, all Assembly members.

Voting Procedure

• Single Transferable Vote: Rajya Sabha elections employ the single transferable vote system, based on proportional representation.
• Preferences Voting: Electors can vote for multiple candidates in order of preference.
• Winning Requirement: Candidates need a specific number of first preference votes to win, with each first choice vote valued at 100 in the initial round.
• Qualification: To qualify, a candidate must secure one point more than the quotient obtained by dividing the total value of seats available in the election plus one.

Transparency in RS Elections

• Open Ballot System: Rajya Sabha elections employ an open ballot system with limited transparency.
• Preventing Cross-Voting: Showing marked ballots to the party’s authorized agent (Whip) is mandatory; not following this rule renders the vote invalid.
• Secrecy for Independents: Independent candidates are prohibited from showing their ballots to anyone.
• NOTA in Rajya Sabha: Initially, Rajya Sabha members had the option to use the NOTA (None of the Above) button during elections, as per circulars issued by the Election Commission.
• Supreme Court Ruling: However, in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that NOTA is only applicable in general elections and cannot be used in indirect elections based on proportional representation.

Consequences of Cross-Voting

• Supreme Court’s Stand: The Supreme Court clarified that not voting for the party candidate in Rajya Sabha elections does not trigger disqualification under the anti-defection law.
• Legislators’ Freedom: MLAs retain the freedom to vote for a candidate of their choice.
• Party Action: Parties are free to take disciplinary action against legislators who vote against their candidate.

Voting Eligibility before Taking Oath

• Voting Without Oath: The Supreme Court ruled that members can participate in Rajya Sabha elections even before taking the oath as legislators.
• Non-Legislative Activity: Rajya Sabha voting is considered a non-legislative activity, allowing members to vote without taking the oath.
• Membership Status: A person becomes a member as soon as the Election Commission notifies the list of elected members.
• Proposal Rights: Members can also propose a candidate before taking the oath of office.

Other facts

• Limited Union Territories (UTs): Only two Union Territories participate in Rajya Sabha elections, not all of them.
• Conditional Polling: Polling occurs only if the number of candidates exceeds the available vacancies.
• Independent Members: Independent candidates can also be elected to Rajya Sabha.

Source: Indian Express

GS-III

'K-shaped' recovery

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Recently, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman challenged the narrative that India’s economy has seen a ‘K-shaped’ recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background:-

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said that a narrative is being built that the Indian economy is not in good shape.

About’K-shaped’ recovery:-

• A K-shaped recovery occurs when, following a recession, different parts of the economy recover at different rates, times, or magnitudes.
• This is in contrast to an even, uniform recovery across sectors, industries, or groups of people.
• Economic Recovery is the business cycle stage following a recession that is characterized by a sustained period of improving business activity.
• Economic recovery can take many forms, which is depicted using alphabetic notations.
• For example, a Z-shaped recovery, V-shaped recovery, U-shaped recovery, elongated U-shaped recovery, W-shaped recovery, L-shaped recovery and K-shaped recovery.
• A K-shaped recovery leads to changes in the structure of the economy or the broader society as economic outcomes and relations are fundamentally changed before and after the recession.
• This type of recovery is called K-shaped because the path of different parts of the economy when charted together may diverge, resembling the two arms of the Roman letter “K.”

Source: India Today

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Recently, the US blocked a fresh proposal to restart the dispute settlement mechanism at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Background:-

• This is the 73rd occasion when a proposal moved by Guatemala, a Central American country, on behalf of 130 members was not able to launch the selection processes.
• The US has been blocking the appointment of new judges to the WTO’s seven-member appellate court since 2017 on grounds of judicial activism at the WTO and concerns over US sovereignty.

About World Trade Organization (WTO):-

• Established: 1995.
• HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members: 164 members.
• India is a member of WTO. 
• The WTO operates the global system of trade rules.
• It helps developing countries build their trade capacity.
• It also provides a forum for its members to negotiate trade agreementsand resolve the trade problems they face with each other.

Historical Background:-

• It was established following the Marrakesh Agreementwhich was ratified on April 15, 1994.
• The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade was substituted by the Marrakesh Agreement.
• The GATT was only a set of rules and multilateral agreements and lacked institutional structure.
• The GATT 1947 was terminated and WTO preservedits provisions in the form of GATT 1994 and continues to govern trade in goods.
• It is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

Functions of WTO:-

• Establishing and Enforcing Rules for International Trade
• Negotiating trade rules
• Overseeing WTO agreements
• Maintaining open trade
• Settling disputes
• Collaboration Between International Economic Institutions
• Safeguarding The Trading Interest of Developing Countries

Source: Indian Express

Sloth bears

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Recent reports show Sloth bears mostly coexist peacefully with humans in Karnataka.

Background:-

• Enhancing habitat connectivity, minimising human-wildlife interaction zones, and implementing responsible waste management practices key to mitigating conflict, says survey.

About Sloth bears:-

• Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus.
• Distribution:India, Sri Lanka, and southern Nepal.
• Population: 90% of the globalSloth Bear population is found in India.
• Habitat:dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs, and trees provide shelter.
• Size:5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters).
• Weight:90 to 140 kilograms.
• Food:They primarily eat termites and ants.
• They have poor senses of sightand hearing.
• They have a good sense of smell.
• Sloth bears’ nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.

Threats:-

• Habitat loss.
• Poaching for body parts.
• Human action: are sometimes captured for use in performances or hunted because of their aggressive behavior and destruction of crops.

Protection Status:-

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES listing:Appendix I
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule

Source: DTE

Pioneering Collaboration for Lab-Grown Fish

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), headquartered in Kochi, collaborated with Neat Meatt Biotech, a private-sector start-up specializing in lab-grown meat technology.

• This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks the first initiative of its kind in India.

Understanding Lab-Grown Fish

• Lab-Grown Fish Definition: Lab-grown fish, a type of cultivated or cultured meat, is seafood produced in a laboratory setting without the need to raise and slaughter animals.
• Production Process: Specific fish cells are isolated and grown in a controlled laboratory environment using animal-free media. The goal is to replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional qualities of traditional fish meat.

Roles of CMFRI and Neat Meatt

• CMFRI’s Responsibilities: Under the MoU, CMFRI will focus on genetic, biochemical, and analytical aspects of the project. Its cell culture lab will research early cell line development for high-value marine fish species, including pomfret, kingfish, and seerfish.
• Neat Meatt’s Expertise: Neat Meatt, with expertise in cell culture technology, will lead in optimizing cell growth media, developing scaffolds or microcarriers for cell attachment, and scaling up production via bioreactors. The company will also provide consumables, manpower, and additional equipment.

Addressing the Need for Lab-Grown Fish

• Growing Demand: The demand for seafood is increasing, creating pressure on wild resources.
• Overfishing Consequences: Overfishing has led to population declines in certain species and negatively impacted marine ecosystems.
• Environmental Benefits: Lab-grown fish meat can reduce the reliance on traditional fishing, offering antibiotic-free, contamination-free, and pollution-free alternatives.

Global Pioneers in Lab-Grown Fish

• Leading Nations: Several countries are advancing lab-grown fish technology. Israel is a frontrunner, followed by Singapore, the United States, and China.
• Recent Developments: Israel-based Forsea Foods successfully produced lab-grown freshwater eel meat. Israel’s Steakholder Foods, in collaboration with Umami Meats in Singapore, 3D printed the first-ever ready-to-cook fish fillet from laboratory-grown animal cells.

Bridging India’s Gap

• Accelerating Development: The CMFRI-Neat Meatt partnership aims to expedite India’s progress in lab-grown seafood to ensure it doesn’t lag behind countries like Singapore, Israel, and the USA.
• Leveraging Expertise: CMFRI’s marine research and Neat Meatt’s technological prowess form a collaboration that promises a sustainable future for seafood production in India.
• Timeline Expectation: Dr. Sandeep Sharma of Neat Meatt anticipates establishing the project’s proof of concept within a few months.

Expanding Lab-Grown Meat

• Wide Range: Beyond fish, lab-grown meat development encompasses chicken, pork, lamb, beef, and more.
• Global Industry Growth: The lab-grown meat industry has expanded to over 150 companies across six continents, with $2.6 billion in investments.
• US Regulatory Clearance: In June 2023, the US Department of Agriculture approved the sale of lab-grown chicken meat, allowing companies like Good Meat and Upside Foods to supply it to restaurants and supermarkets.

Source: Times of India

Mitochondrial coxiella effector F (MceF)

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

Researchers recently discovered a previously unidentified protein named mitochondrial coxiella effector F (MceF) with antioxidant properties produced by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium.

About Mitochondrial coxiella effector F (MceF):

• It is a bacterial protein capable of keeping human cells healthy even when the cells have a heavy bacterial burden. 
• It is produced by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium.
• After invading host cells, Coxiella burnetii releases MceF into cells.
• MceF interacts with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an antioxidant enzyme located in the mitochondria, to improve mitochondrial function by promoting an anti-oxidizing effect that averts cell damage and death, which may occur when pathogens replicate inside mammalian cells.

Key Facts about Coxiella burnetii:

• It is a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium.
• It is the causative agent of a serious infection called Q fever, a zoonotic disease that can affect humans and animals.
• The bacterium is primarily transmitted to humans through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols from infected animals, particularly through the air-borne particles from placental tissues, urine, faeces, and milk of infected domestic animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.
• It causes atypical pneumonia in humans and coxiellosis in some animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats.
• It is highly adapted to invade and control macrophages and monocytes–white blood cells that are part of the organism’s front-line immune defence–inhibiting the host’s responses to the infection.
• Unlike other bacteria, which cause disease only when they multiply to reach large numbers, a single C. burnetii is enough to make a healthy person sick.

Source: Sci Tech Daily

Generative AI

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

A new report predicts that Generative AI (genAI) is poised to become a $100 billion industry by 2026.

About Generative AI:

• Generative AI, or generative artificial intelligence, is a form of artificial intelligence (AI) in which algorithms automatically produce content in the form of text, images, audio, and video.
• Unlike traditional AI systems that are designed to recognize patterns and make predictions, generative AI creates new content.
• Generative AI is powered by foundation models (large AI models) that can multi-task and perform out-of-the-box tasks, including summarization, Q&A, classification, and more. 
• These systems have been trained on massive amounts of data.
• It works by using a Machine Learning (ML) model to learn the patterns and relationships in a dataset of human-created content. It then uses the learned patterns to generate new content. 
• Typically, it starts with a simple text input, called a prompt, in which the user describes the output they want. Then, various algorithms generate new content according to what the prompt is asking for.
• Popular Generative AI Tools:
  • ChatGPT: ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI, with a unique ability to not only generate written content but also converse with users fluently.
  • Bard: Bard is a generative AI chatbot created by Google, based on LaMDA language model technology. It can answer questions asked by users or create new content from text or image prompts.

What is Machine Learning (ML)?

• It is defined as a discipline of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides machines with the ability to automatically learn from data and past experiences to identify patterns and make predictions with minimal human intervention.
• Machine learning methods enable computers to operate autonomously without explicit programming.
• ML applications are fed with new data and they can independently learn, grow, develop, and adapt.
• ML algorithms use computation methods to learn directly from data instead of relying on any predetermined equation that may serve as a model.

Source: ABP Live