UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 13th March 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Subject: History and Culture

Why in News?

The Gorsam Kora festival, signifying the enduring friendship between India and Bhutan, started on March 7 and ended on March 10 this year.

About Gorsam Kora Festival:

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh's Zeminthang Valley along the Nyanmjang Chu River.
• History: This annual event takes place at Gorsam Chorten, a 93-foot tall Stupa constructed in the 13th century AD by a local monk named Lama Pradhar.
• Significance: It served as the first resting place for the 14th Dalai Lama after he fled Tibet in 1959.
• Activities:
  • The festival showcases cultural performances and Buddhist rituals at Gorsam Chorten, an older structure compared to the Tawang Monastery.
  • Visitor Influx: Numerous devotees, including a significant number of Bhutanese nationals, participate in the festival on the final day of the first month of the Lunar calendar.
• Events:
  • The festival is packed with a variety of events, featuring captivating performances by local cultural groups and Indian army bands.
  • Highlights include martial performances such as Mallakhamb and Zanjh Pathaka.

Source: Economic Times

Sabroom Land Port 

Why in News?

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 3rd Land Port at Sabroom in South Tripura.

• In addition to the modern Land Port in Sabroom, the Prime Minister inaugurated 11 projects in Tripura.

About Sabroom Land Port

• The Sabroom Land Port is strategically located in the South Tripura district of the state of Tripura, India, along the international border with Bangladesh.
• It plays a vital role in linking India and Bangladesh, facilitating cross-border trade.
• Sabroom is directly connected to the Chittagong port of Bangladesh via the Maitree bridge over the River Feni, which is approximately 75 km from the proposed land port.
• The land port provides facilities such as a passenger terminal building, cargo administrative building, and warehouse.
• It aims to enhance connectivity and boost trade between India and Southeast Asia.

Source: Times of India

GS-II

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

Recently, the Parliament passed the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, to ensure one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and the Assembly of NCT of Delhi.

Background:

• The Lok Sabha approved the Constitution amendment Bill with overwhelming support, with only two members in opposition, and the Rajya Sabha passed it unanimously.

Key features of the Act:

• The Act introduced Article 330A, mirroring the provisions of Article 330 for SCs/STs, facilitating the rotational allotment of reserved seats for women in states or Union Territories.
• It mandated one-third of seats reserved for SCs/STs to be allocated for women on a rotational basis.
• Article 332A was added, ensuring the reservation of seats for women in every state legislative assembly. It also specified the allocation of seats for women in direct elections to Legislative Assemblies.
• An amendment to Article 239AA granted special status to Delhi as the national capital in terms of administrative and legislative functions.
• Article 334A stipulated that the reservation would be effective post the census following the Act's commencement, lasting for 15 years or until altered by Parliament.
• Seats reserved for women would be rotated after each delimitation, as per Parliament's regulations.

Issues/Concerns with the Act:

• The reservation system contradicts the constitutional principle of equality since it may not always prioritize merit-based competition.
• Reserving seats in the legislature might limit voter choices and challenge the concept of self-determination.
• Women are diverse and not a homogenous group like caste, affecting the applicability of caste-based reservation arguments.
• Broader electoral reform challenges such as criminalization of politics and internal party democracy could hinder women's political empowerment.
• The Act's reservation of 1/3rd seats in all Lok Sabha seats differs from the 2008 bill's provision of reserving 1/3rd seats in each State/UT.
• The rotation of seats after every delimitation, rather than after general elections, is a notable change brought by the Act.
• No provision for women's reservation in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils of States, contrary to recommendations made by the Geeta Mukherjee Committee in 1996.

Source: Indian Express

Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

The Central Government has recently introduced a Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) aimed at regulating the conduct of pharmaceutical companies.

About UCPMP 2024:

• Implemented to monitor and curb unethical activities within the pharmaceutical industry.
• The updated guidelines encompass aspects such as drug promotion, ethical behavior for medical representatives, and the management of relationships with healthcare professionals.

Important Provisions:

• Prohibits pharmaceutical firms from providing gifts and travel perks to healthcare professionals or their families.
• Requires medical representatives to refrain from using any form of inducement to secure meetings and from making payments for access to healthcare professionals.
• Holds companies accountable for the actions of their medical representatives.
• Bans the distribution of free samples to individuals not authorized to prescribe such products.

Details Required by Pharma Companies:

• Pharma companies must maintain records like product names, doctor details, sample quantities provided, dates of sample distribution to healthcare practitioners, etc.
• The value of distributed samples should not exceed two percent of the company's annual domestic sales.

Ethical Committee and Code Implementation:

• All pharmaceutical associations are mandated to establish an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP).
• They must create a dedicated UCPMP portal on their websites and take necessary steps for implementing the code.

Guidelines on Drug Promotion:

• Specifies how drugs should be promoted in both written and audio-visual formats.
• Requires information about drugs to be accurate, timely, and verifiable, without any misleading claims.

Responsibility and Penalties:

• The Chief Executive Officer of pharmaceutical companies is responsible for ensuring compliance with the code.
• Details the penalties for breaching the code and outlines the complaint handling process.

Enforcement and Accountability:

• Violations of the code will be addressed by the ECPMP to ensure accountability and oversight.

Source: Indian Express

GS-III

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

India recently loaded the core of its long-delayed prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) vessel.

Background

• Large-scale use of nuclear power presents a significant challenge: waste management.

About Nuclear Waste

• In a fission reactor, atoms' nuclei are bombarded by neutrons, leading to the creation of different elements.
• For instance, uranium-235 can fission into barium-144, krypton-89, and neutrons, resulting in nuclear waste if the elements cannot undergo further fission.
• Spent fuel from nuclear reactors contains radioactive fission products and elements produced during uranium decay.
• Managing spent fuel is challenging due to its heat and radioactivity, requiring underwater storage before being transferred to dry casks.
• Countries with nuclear power programs have accumulated significant amounts of spent fuel, necessitating long-term storage solutions.
• Storage periods for nuclear waste can extend for millennia, requiring isolation from human contact.

Dealing with Nuclear Waste

• After cooling in a spent-fuel pool, spent fuel can be moved to dry-cask storage, enhancing safety.
• Reprocessing technologies separate fissile from non-fissile material in spent fuel, offering higher fuel efficiency but requiring specialized facilities and personnel.

Source: The Hindu

Agni-5 Missile with MIRV Technology

Subject: Defence and Security

Why in News?

India recently tested the Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology successfully.

Background

• The test was part of India's 'Mission Divyastra'.

About Agni-5

• Agni-5 is an advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) created by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Agni-5 is a fire-and-forget missile, capable of hitting targets over 5000 km away and carrying a warhead of about 1500 kg.
• The Agni series, including Agni-1 to Agni-5, forms India's nuclear launch capability.

MIRV Technology

• Agni-5 is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
• MIRV technology enables a single missile to deploy multiple warheads at different locations simultaneously.
• This capability enhances the missile's effectiveness by allowing it to hit multiple targets at once.
• Agni-5's MIRV capability is primarily aimed at addressing challenges from China.

Global Context

• Only a few countries, such as the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, possess MIRV-equipped missiles.
• Pakistan is developing a similar missile system, and there are suspicions that Israel may also have or be developing one.

Source: Indian Express

Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Subject:  Economy

Why in News?

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has granted an exemption to the import of certain goods from quality control orders (QCOs) under the advance authorisation scheme.

About DGFT:

• Former Identity: Prior to 1991, DGFT was recognized as the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCI&E).
• Role: Positioned as a government entity within India, DGFT operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, overseen by the Director General of Foreign Trade.
• Facilitator: DGFT's primary focus is on facilitating trade activities within India, setting exim guidelines, and supporting both Indian importers and exporters.
• Functions:
  • Implementation of Trade Policies: DGFT executes the Foreign Trade Policy to enhance Indian exports through the introduction of diverse schemes and regulations.
  • IEC Number: Issuance of a unique 10-digit Exporter Importer Code (IEC) to traders and manufacturers for streamlined import and export operations in India.
  • Transit Regulation: Regulating the movement of goods to and from India in accordance with bilateral agreements with neighboring countries.
  • Promoting Trade: Actively encouraging trade partnerships with neighboring nations to foster economic growth.
  • Export Permissions: Granting authorization for free exports as outlined in the Export Policy Schedule 2.
  • Norm Setting: Establishing standard input-output norms falls under the purview of DGFT.
• Headquarters: DGFT operates from its headquarters located in New Delhi.

Source: Indian Express

Hyodol Robot

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

The South Korean government has introduced approximately 7,000 Hyodol robots to address the issue of loneliness among senior citizens. These robots are designed to provide companionship and remind the elderly to take their medications.

About Hyodol Robot

• Hyodol Robot is an AI care robot that delivers personalized care to seniors by utilizing data gathered through interactions and conversations with them.
• It is equipped with advanced features such as the ability to engage in meaningful conversations, a companion app, and a web monitoring platform for caregivers to oversee activities remotely.
• Additionally, it includes safety functions that can trigger alerts in case of prolonged inactivity.
• The robot offers various interactive capabilities like touch interactions, regular check-ins, acting as a health coach, sending voice messages, providing 24-hour reminders, playing music, offering quizzes, suggesting exercises, and more.
• Caregivers using the companion app can exchange voice messages, broadcast group announcements, and monitor movements through motion detection.
• The robot conducts health assessments twice daily through health Q&A sessions and gathers data, both verbal and nonverbal, around the clock using AI technology.

Technology Utilized

• The ability of the AI robot to engage in conversations is made possible by integrating a sophisticated language model.
• These robots offer user-friendly intelligent services, are easily deployable and manageable, and provide seamless integration with smart home devices.
• Furthermore, the AI robot is compatible with various smart home gadgets and features a user-friendly interface for enhanced usability. 

Source: Indian Express