UPSC Daily Current Affairs: 12 August 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS2/Polity

Waqf Amendment Bill

Source: Times of India

Why in News?

The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) by the Union government following opposition from various political parties.

What is Waqf?

• Definition: In Islamic law, a "waqf" denotes a property dedicated to God for religious or charitable purposes.
• Types of Assets: It can include movable and immovable assets set aside for public welfare.
• Creation: Establishing a waqf is an act of piety allowing Muslims to continue charitable contributions beyond their lifetime.
• Usage: Income from waqf properties typically supports mosques, educational institutions, and the needy.
• Restrictions: Once designated as waqf, a property cannot be inherited, sold, or transferred.

Regulation of Waqf in India

• Legal Framework: Governed by the Waqf Act of 1995.
• Identification: Properties identified through state-conducted surveys.
• Management: Each waqf overseen by a mutawalli responsible for administration.
• State Waqf Boards: Established in each state to manage waqf properties.

Role of Waqf Board

• Powers: Manage waqf properties and recover lost assets.
• Amendments: Strengthened authority post 2013 amendments.
• Central Waqf Council: Advises on waqf-related issues at a national level.

Amending the 1995 Waqf Act

• Proposed Changes: Enhancing Centre's regulatory authority and including non-Muslim members in boards.
• Key Amendments: Revised definition of 'Waqf,' role of district collectors, inclusion of non-Muslim members.
• Financial Oversight: Introducing audits and penalties for non-compliance.
• Judicial Review: Increased judicial oversight over waqf decisions.

GS3/Economy

How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme Plans to Boost Production of Fruits?

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at increasing the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India.

About Clean Plant Programme:

• The Clean Plant Programme (CPP) is an initiative by the Indian Government aimed at boosting the availability of disease-free and high-quality planting material for horticultural crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
• It was first announced in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's interim Budget speech in February 2023.
• The program's primary focus is to enhance the productivity and quality of horticultural produce by ensuring that farmers have access to certified, disease-free planting material, which can significantly reduce crop losses and improve yields.
• The Ministry of Agriculture has sought an allocation of Rs 1,765 crore for the programme. One half of this will be sourced from the budget of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), while the other half will be in the form of a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Implementation of CPP:

The programme consists of three key components designed to help farmers access virus-free, high-quality planting material for vegetative propagation, aimed at boosting crop yields and enhancing income opportunities:

• Establishment of Nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs):
  • These centres will offer disease diagnostics and treatments, develop mother plants for nurseries, and quarantine all domestic and imported planting materials intended for commercial propagation and distribution.
• Infrastructure Development:
  • This includes setting up large-scale nurseries to efficiently multiply clean planting material. The mother plants produced by the CPCs will be propagated in these nurseries and then distributed to farmers.
• Regulatory and Certification Framework:
  • A robust regulatory and certification process will be created to ensure complete accountability and traceability in the production and distribution of planting material.

What is the Need for CPP?

• India, the world's second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables after China, has seen significant growth in horticulture over the past decade.
• From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the area under horticulture crops expanded from 24 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares, with production rising from 277.4 million metric tonnes to 352 million metric tonnes.
• India is also a significant player in the global fruit market, both as an importer and exporter.
• In the financial year 2023-24, India exported fresh fruits worth $1.15 billion and imported fruits valued at $2.73 billion.
• With increasing domestic consumption, there has been a growing demand for planting materials of foreign apples and exotic fruits like avocados and blueberries.
• Between 2018-20, the import of planting materials saw a substantial rise, with apple plant imports increasing from 21.44 lakh in 2018 to 49.57 lakh in 2020.
• Avocado plant imports surged from 1,000 to 26,500, and blueberry plant imports grew from 1.55 lakh to 4.35 lakh during the same period.
• Currently, the import process for plants is lengthy, requiring a two-year quarantine period.
• The introduction of Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) aims to reduce this quarantine period to six months, making it easier for farmers to access disease-free and authentic planting material.
• CPCs are modelled after successful projects in countries like the US, Israel, and the Netherlands.

GS3/Environment

Japan Issues its First-Ever 'Megaquake Warning'

Source: Times of India

Why in News?

A recent earthquake (of magnitude 7.1 on Richter scale) in southern Japan was promptly followed by a major warning from Japan's meteorological agency, stating that there was a heightened risk of a first-ever "mega earthquake".

• Earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 8 (on Richter scale) are classified as megaquakes.

What is the Ring of Fire?

Japan is situated on the Ring of Fire:

• Though Japan is no stranger to seismic activity (experiencing approx. 1,500 earthquakes annually), most of these tremors cause minimal damage.
• There have been devastating exceptions, such as the magnitude 9.0 quake that struck in 2011, triggering a tsunami and nuclear disaster that claimed over 18,000 lives along the north-east coast.

The Nankai Trough:

• The Nankai Trough, situated off the southwest Pacific coast of Japan, is a significant geological feature that extends for roughly 800-900 km.
• This trough is formed by the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
• The convergence of these two tectonic plates along the Nankai Trough results in the accumulation of immense tectonic strains over time.
• These built-up strains have the potential to trigger a devastating megaquake approximately once every 100 to 150 years.

GS3/Economy

Waiving Clinical Trials for Drugs Approved in Select Countries

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

The Central government has decided to waive the need for clinical trials in India if the drugs are approved in the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and EU. This move could make drugs made outside of India more accessible and affordable in the local market.

What are Clinical Trials?

• In a clinical trial, investigators enroll participants who meet certain qualifying criteria, then administer the intervention being tested, and finally measure the outcomes.
• Trials can test drugs, medical devices, and even procedures, which should help investigators determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention to a reasonably high degree of confidence.

Present Situation of Clinical Trials in India

• In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) maintains an online public-record system called the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI).
• Hosted by the ICMR's National Institute of Medical Statistics, the CTRI is a free, online public-record system to register clinical trials being conducted in India.
• Several medicines already approved by other regulatory authorities in the US, the UK and the EU are not immediately available for Indian patients.
• This is because of certain regulatory requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and rules made thereunder.

Waiving Clinical Trials in India

• Legal provisions: According to an order issued by India's drug regulatory agency - Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Central government has authorized the exemption of local clinical trials for approval of new drugs, 'as per Rule 101'.
• 5 categories of drugs that will be considered under the waiver: Orphan drugs for rare diseases, Gene and cellular therapy products, New drugs used in pandemic situations, New drugs used for special defence purposes, and New drugs having significant therapeutic advances over the current standard care.
• Need for the waiver: It has been a long-standing demand of the pharmaceutical companies and health experts for enhanced drug accessibility for patients.
• Significance of the waiver for Indian patients: This will significantly benefit both domestic and foreign drug manufacturers by expediting the approval process and facilitating faster access to essential medications for treating diseases.

GS3/Environment

Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project

Source: Economic Times

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh has commissioned the largest floating solar project in central and north India, generating 90 MW at Omkareshwar.

About Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project:

• It is situated in Omkareshwar in Khandwa District, Madhya Pradesh.
• The floating power station was built on the reservoir of Omkareshwar dam, which is located on the Narmada River.
• It stands as the largest solar park in India and the biggest floating solar initiative in central and northern India, producing 90 MW of power.
• This initiative was carried out under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy.
• The project is managed by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, a partnership between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
• Project Cost:646 crores
• It is estimated to produce 196.5 million units of electricity in its first year of operation and a total of 4,629.3 million units over 25 years.
• Upon completion, it will lower carbon emissions by 2.3 lakh tons and significantly support the Indian government's target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070.
• The project will also aid in water preservation by diminishing water evaporation.
• The development of this project was carried out through competitive tariff bidding on a Build Own and Operate basis for 25 years at a rate of Rs 3.26 per unit.

GS1/Geography

Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

Studies have shown that with temperatures soaring across the world, wildfires are becoming more common and intense, which could be spiking the occurrence of pyrocumulonimbus clouds.

What is a Cumulonimbus Cloud (Cb)?

• A cumulonimbus cloud is a large and tall cloud that resembles a mountain or a massive tower. It is often linked with intense rain, lightning, and thunder.
• Commonly referred to as thunderclouds, cumulonimbus clouds are the only type of clouds capable of producing hail, thunder, and lightning.
• The base of a cumulonimbus cloud typically appears flat, with a dark wall-like structure hanging beneath it, sometimes hovering just a few hundred feet above the Earth's surface.
• Cumulonimbus clouds can reach a vertical height ranging from 3 kilometers to occasionally more than 15 kilometers (10,000 to 50,000 feet).
• Cumulonimbus clouds form under specific circumstances:
  • There needs to be a thick layer of air that is not stable.
  • The air should be warm and damp.
  • Some triggering event must cause the warm, moist air to rise, such as:
    • Heating of the air close to the ground's surface.
    • Elevated terrain forcing the air upward (orographic uplift).
    • A front pushing the air upwards. 

About Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

• Thunderclouds form from the Earth's heat.
• Like cumulonimbus clouds, but made by fire from big wildfires or volcanoes.
• 'Pyro' is used as a prefix, means fire in Greek.
• They look darker due to lots of smoke and ash.
• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds hold pollutants like smoke and ash in the upper atmosphere.
• They can even start fires with lightning.

GS1/Geography

Tantalum

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

The Central Government recently notified a list of 24 minerals, including Tantalum, in Part D of the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) Act, 1957, as Critical and Strategic minerals.

About Tantalum:

• Tantalum: A rare metal denoted by the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. 
• Occurrence: Raw tantalum is not commonly found naturally but is usually discovered in the ore called columbite-tantalite, also known as coltan. 
• Major Producers: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Brazil, and Nigeria are the primary producers. 
• Properties:
  • Tantalum is categorized as a transition metal and remains solid at room temperature.
  • It is a shiny, silvery metal that is soft in its pure form.
  • Resistant to chemical attacks at temperatures below 150 degrees Celsius.
  • Virtually corrosion-resistant due to an oxide film on its surface.
  • When pure, it is ductile, allowing it to be stretched into thin wires without breaking.
  • Belongs to refractory metals, known for their resistance to heat and wear.
  • Has an exceptionally high melting point, surpassed only by tungsten and rhenium.
• Applications:
  • Primarily used in the electronics industry.
  • Tantalum capacitors can store more electricity in smaller sizes with minimal leakage, making them ideal for portable electronic devices like smartphones and laptops.
  • Due to its high melting point, it serves as a cost-effective substitute for platinum.
  • Utilized in manufacturing components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aircraft, and missiles.
  • Non-reactive with bodily fluids, it is employed in the production of surgical equipment and implants such as artificial joints.
  • Tantalum Carbide (TaC) combined with graphite forms one of the hardest materials, used in high-speed machine tool cutting edges.

GS2/Indian Polity and Governance

Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act

Source: Live Law

Why in News?

The Supreme Court recently held that the disclosure made by an accused under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act is irrelevant if the fact was previously known to the police.

About Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act:

• This part makes a special case about when confessions made by someone to a police officer while in custody can't be used as evidence.
• Sections 25 and 26 protect against self-incrimination and misuse of power by the police, saying confessions made in police custody without a magistrate present can't be used in court.
• But, Section 27 makes a different rule, allowing confessions that help find out facts to be admitted.
• Section 27 says: "When a person in police custody confesses and that leads to revealing a fact, that confession can be used as evidence."
• In simpler words, if a confession in police custody reveals something not known before and helps find evidence or witnesses, it can be used in court.
• The confession must be about something that was not already known to the police and helped find evidence or witnesses.
• The confession should be directly related to the fact found. So, the details in the confession must be specific and important to the discovery.
• The confession must be given willingly. This means the person shouldn't be forced or threatened to confess.
• Section 27 is all about confirming confessions through what happens later.
• In the Asar Mohd. v. State of U.P. case, the Supreme Court said "fact" in Section 27 isn't just physical things but also mental facts related to the case.
• The confession can't prove someone's guilt unless there is other evidence supporting it.

GS1/Geography

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

Recently, three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean for which the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) have awarded names originally proposed by India.

About UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission:

• It promotes cooperation between nations in marine sciences to improve the management of the sea, shorelines, and marine wealth.
• The International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) aids 150 Member States, with India becoming a member in 1946.
• The IOC works together on various projects like building skills, monitoring the ocean, conducting scientific studies, issuing tsunami warnings, and educating about the ocean.
• The IOC supervises the organization of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, referred to as the "Ocean Decade."

 Key facts about underwater structures

• There are seven structures in the Indian Ocean. They are named after Indian scientists or have names suggested by India for this part of the Indian Ocean.
• Three recently discovered structures were found by scientists from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa.
• These structures are situated in the Southwest Indian Ridge area and were identified as part of an international exploration program.
• Since 2004, India, in collaboration with NCPOR, has been conducting the Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme.
• Previously named structures include: 
  • Raman Ridge (named in 1992): Discovered in 1951 by a US oil vessel, it was named after the physicist and Nobel Laureate, Sir CV Raman.
  • Panikkar Seamount (named in 1993): Discovered by the Indian research vessel Sagar Kanya and named after the renowned oceanographer NK Panikkar.
  • Sagar Kanya Ridge (named in 1991): A seamount named after the research vessel itself.
  • DN Wadia Guyot: Named after geologist DN Wadia, this underwater volcanic mountain was discovered in 1992 by Sagar Kanya.
• Recent additions include two structures named after the rulers of the Mauryan dynasty: Ashoka Seamount and Chandragupta Ridge, along with Kalpataru Ridge in the Indian Ocean.