DURGAVATI RANI
In News, why?
To honour the life and legacy of the Mughal-resistance-fighting queen Rani Durgavati, who lived in the 16th century, the Madhya Pradesh government recently organised the Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatra, a six-day procession.
Rani Durgavati, who was she?
About:
Rani Durgavati, who was born in 1524 in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty (in modern-day Uttar Pradesh, close to the Madhya Pradesh border), was a representation of India’s struggle for independence. In the eleventh century, Chandelas were credited with constructing the well-known Khajuraho temples. Belonged to the Gond tribe, a well-known tribe in central India renowned for their voluminous cultural legacy and tenacity. After the death of her husband in 1550, she vigorously and bravely controlled the kingdom of Garha-Katanga by marrying Dalpat Shah, the son of Gond King Sangram Shah. The Narmada Valley and a portion of northern Madhya Pradesh were both part of the Garha-Katanga Kingdom. According to government records, the queen and her generals ran the kingdom’s affairs for 16 years.
Garha-Katanga’s Mughal Attack:
In the middle of the 16th century, Rani Durgavati, the courageous ruler of Garha-Katanga, resisted the growth of the Mughal Empire. When defeating the Malwa Sultan Baz Bahadur and Asaf Khan, the commander of Akbar, Rani Durgavati showed exemplary leadership. She initially won the conflict against Asaf Khan’s invasion of her realm. The Mughals, however, recovered and outnumbered her soldiers. Rani Durgavati decided to give her life in sacrifice rather than give in.
Recognition and Legacies:
revered as a patriotic leader who represented India’s right to self-government.
Abul Fazl, the court historian of Akbar, described her as combining beauty, grace, boldness, and fearlessness.
She will be honoured for her sacrifices and for standing up for her culture.
Origin: IE
LESSONS FROM THE TITANIC FOR THE PROPOSED INDIAN SUBMERSIBLE DIVE
In News, why?
In late 2024, scientists want to do a Deep Sea Dive using the Matsya-6000 vehicle, which will be akin to the Titan submarine that just vanished. The Matsya-6000 project, part of India’s Deep Ocean Mission, will investigate the Indian Ocean at a depth of roughly 6,000 metres and is expected to launch in late 2024. The crew’s safety systems will be reviewed to guarantee their efficiency in light of the recent Titan Submersible incident.
What are the Titan Submersible’s Key Points?
About:
The privately held American business OceanGate, which arranges underwater trips for both science and tourism, operates the Titan submarine. Compared to other deep diving submersibles, it is lighter and more affordable because it was constructed using “off-the-shelf” parts. Titan weighs 10,432 kilogrammes and is comprised of titanium and carbon fibre. It can travel 4,000 metres beneath the ocean’s surface and travels at a speed of three knots per hour (5.56 kph).
Objective:
The Titan Submersible was on its way to the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Titanic’s wreckage, which is located approximately 4,000 metres beneath the icy North Atlantic Ocean. Contact with Titan was lost after a travel of one hour and 45 minutes.
Concerns:
OceanGate attempted to reach 4,000 metres despite the forward viewport of the submersible only being authorised for 1,300 metres. It’s possible that the submersible’s technology and parts didn’t adhere to strict safety requirements. Inadequate hull testing increases the possibility of failure and puts occupants in peril. Because titanium and carbon fibre have differing properties in deep diving settings, the pressure vessel’s odd composition presents questions.
How did the Titan fare?
The U.S. claims that the underwater vehicle “Titan” went through a “catastrophic implosion.” Cutter Guard. The five people inside are assumed to have perished in the implosion. The opposite of an explosion is an implosion. The force moves inwards during an implosion as opposed to moving outwards during an explosion. The force on a submersible’s surface caused by water pressure increases as it descends deeper into the ocean. The ship violently implodes when this force exceeds what the hull can withstand. The pressure goes up by roughly one atmosphere for every 10 metres you descend into the ocean. The average atmospheric pressure at sea level is 101.325 kilopascals (kPa), or 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi), which is comparable to one atmosphere.
What are titanium and carbon fibres?
Carbon Fibre: Despite being lightweight, carbon fibre is a polymer with a reputation for being fairly robust. It can be up to five times stiffer and stronger than steel. In comparison to titanium, a carbon-fibre composite is significantly stiffer and lacks the same degree of flexibility.
Titanium: Titanium is around 45% lighter than steel while still being as robust. According to the United States Geological Survey, it is just 60% heavier and twice as strong as aluminium. At 3,800m, the depth at which the Titanic wreck lay, a titanium or thick steel pressure tank is typically spherical in shape to withstand the crushing forces. Since titanium is elastic, it can adjust to a wide range of loads without experiencing any detectable long-term strain after returning to air pressure. It contracts to counteract pressure forces and then expands once the pressure is released.
Submersible vs. Submarine
A submarine is an underwater vehicle that is largely independent and has power reserves to allow it leave a port or return to the port after an excursion, however the two categories can often overlap. A submersible, on the other hand, must work with a ship in order to be launched and recovered because it is often smaller in size and has less power. Working with a ship called Polar Prince was the missing submarine Titan.
What are the Matsya-6000’s Key Points?
About:
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in India is creating the indigenous Matsya-6000 deep-sea dive submersible. It is intended to dive to a depth of roughly 6,000 metres in the Indian Ocean to explore its depths. Three Indian navigators will be sent on the trip to a location around 1,500 kilometres from Kanyakumari, India.
Objective:
The mission’s main goals are to investigate ocean resources and serve India’s energy needs. India wants to start mining polymetallic nodules that include rich materials including copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. This project is in line with the Deep Ocean Mission of the Indian government, which intends to create machines and technology for ocean mining and scanning.
Submersible features include:
The titanium hull of the submersible is spherical, which is essential for withstanding the intense pressure at high depths. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) makes the titanium shell because no local commercial fabricators could make one. A single hull, which acts as the principal barrier between the crew and the surrounding water columns, is made by joining two hemispheres of titanium alloy.
Understanding the Titan Incident
The most recent occurrence has brought attention to the necessity of thorough safety assessments and frequent testing. There are concerns raised by the submersible’s failure to be located despite having several communication systems on board. To assist in determining the cause of such mishaps, future submersibles might have “black box” equivalents, similar to those present in aircraft. It is important to carefully consider the use of syntactic foam, titanium for the submersible’s container, and acoustic communication and tracking devices.
Question from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination
Which one of the following is abundantly found in ilmenite and rutile, both of which are found along several Indian coastlines? (2023)
- Aluminium
Copper (b)
(c) Iron
Titanium (d)
Ans: (d)
Exp:
India is blessed with abundant heavy mineral resources, which are primarily found along its coastline. Ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, garnet, monazite, and leucoxene (brown ilmenite) are the seven minerals that make up heavy mineral sands. Both rutile (TiO2) and ilmenite (FeO.TiO2) are important mineral sources for titanium. As a result, choice (d) is accurate.
Origin: TH
2023–2024: SPECIAL SUPPORT TO STATES FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT
In News, why?
For 16 states in the current fiscal year 2023–24, the Department of Expenditure of India’s Finance Ministry has accepted capital investment plans totaling Rs. 56,415 crore. Under the umbrella of the central programme known as “Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023–24,” these loans are made available. Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal are among the sixteen states.
What does Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023–24 entail?
Scheme?
Background:
Following the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Ministry of Finance first established the Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Investment/Expenditure in 2020–21. This programme has provided a much-needed boost to state capital spending.
About:
The programme was unveiled in the Union Budget for 2023–2024 as a continuation of the previous three years’ comparable push for capex. According to the plan, the state governments will receive special assistance in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan up to a total of Rs. 1.3 lakh crore in the fiscal year 2023–2024.
Parts:
Eight sections make up the plan, with Part I receiving the largest amount of Rs. 1 lakh crore. According to the decision of the 15th Finance Commission, this sum has been distributed among the states in proportion to their share of federal taxes and duties. Other components of the plan are either related to reforms or are for projects in certain industries.
States are given incentives under Part-II to destroy old cars and set up automated vehicle testing facilities.
States are encouraged to change urban planning and finance through Parts III and IV;
Funds from Part-V are used to expand the number of homes available to police officers and their families inside of police stations in urban regions.
Part-VI of the programme serves the goals of Make in India, One District One Product, and national integration by highlighting cultural variety and regional goods through Unity Mall initiatives.
Part-VII provides states with financial support in the amount of Rs. 5,000 crore to build digital libraries at the Panchayat and Ward levels, especially for the benefit of kids and teenagers.
Goals of the Scheme:
The plan is anticipated to boost the economy’s multiplier effect by increasing demand and generating employment. By providing money to cover the state portion, the programme also seeks to speed up initiatives in important industries like Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gramme Sadak Yojana. In order to enhance the standard of living and governance in cities, the programme also aims to encourage governments to implement reforms in urban planning and urban financing.
What does India’s capital expenditure mean?
Capital Investment (Capex):
It refers to the money set aside by the government for the purchase, erecting, or upgrading of tangible assets including infrastructure, structures, tools, and equipment. As it increases the economy’s capacity for production and creates money and jobs in the long run, it is regarded as productive and growth-enhancing. The finance minister presents the Indian government’s yearly budget, which allocates capital expenditures. With a remarkable gain of 33% over the previous three years, the capital investment outlay has increased to Rs 10 lakh crore, accounting for 3.3% of the GDP (Union Budget 2023–24).
Actual Capital Expenditure
The government’s spending on acquiring capital assets through grants-in-aid to states and other agencies is not included in the capital expenditures listed in the budget. Although these grants are categorised in the budget as revenue expenditures, they also help build fixed assets like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, etc. Therefore, the notion of “effective capital expenditure” has been created in order to accurately reflect the genuine level of public investment made by the central government.
The total of capital expenditures and grants for the creation of capital assets is referred to as effective capital expenditure. In the Union Budget for 2023–24, it is planned at Rs. 13.7 lakh crore, or 4.5% of GDP.
Questions from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam (PYQ)
- Which of the following item(s) is/are included in the Government of India’s capital budget? (2016)
- spending towards the purchase of assets including buildings, machines, and roads.
- Loans from international governments
- To the States and Union Territories: Loans and Advances
Using the code below, choose the right response:
(a) 1 alone
(b) Only 2 and 3
(c) Only 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Origin: PIB
Impact of ART Regulations on Cost and Opportunities for Conception
In News, why?
Insiders in the business have recently expressed worry over the limitations imposed by the rules of the Health Ministry’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulations Act, 2021. Despite the restrictions intending to improve medical care and security for donors and patients, these worries relate to the increasing expenses and constrained conceiving options encountered by couples seeking ART procedures.
What does assisted reproduction technology entail?
ART refers to medical methods that assist single people or married couples in become parents. In vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), gamete donation, intrauterine insemination, pre-implantation genetic screening, surrogacy, and altruistic surrogacy are some of the techniques used.
People or couples struggling with infertility, genetic problems, or anomalies of the reproductive system frequently use ART.
During ART techniques, sperm, eggs, or embryos are frequently altered in a lab environment before being implanted in the uterus of the woman.
What Characteristics Define the ART Regulations Act of 2021?
Registration: The National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India, which maintains a central database, requires that every ART facility and bank be registered.
The initial registration is good for five years and can be extended for an additional five.
Registration may be cancelled or suspended for violations of the Act.
Registered ART banks are permitted to screen, collect, and store sperm from men between the ages of 21 and 55. Women aged 23 to 35 can store their eggs.
Oocyte donors must be ever-married mothers with at least one child under the age of three who is still living. A donor’s lifetime donation is limited to one donation, and a maximum of seven oocytes can be retrieved.
Gamete Supply: Only one commissioning couple (couple requesting services) may get gametes from a single donor at a time from an ART bank.
Parental Rights: Donors have no parental rights to children born via ART, who are considered the couple’s biological children.
Written informed permission is necessary for ART operations from the donor as well as the couple.
Regulation of ART Procedures: ART services will be governed by the National and State Boards established under the Surrogacy Act 2021.
Insurance Protection: Any parties requesting ART services are required to offer insurance protection for the oocyte donor, which would pay for any loss, harm, or death of the donor.
Preventing Sex Selection: To ensure non-discriminatory practises, clinics are not allowed to offer to give children of a specific sex.
The exploitation of the couple or donor, the sale or exchange of embryos, or the abandonment or exploitation of children born through ART are all crimes.
The penalty consists of 8–12 years in prison and a fine of Rs. 10–20 lakhs.
Sex-selective ART cannot be advertised or provided by clinics or banks.
5–10 years in prison and a fine of Rs. 10–25 lakhs are the penalties for crimes.
What are the ART Regulations, 2021 Challenges and Concerns?
Cost Surcharge: Because of the additional requirements, such as insurance, testing, and registration fees, the restrictions may result in higher treatment costs.
Reduced Availability: There may be a lack of acceptable donors due to restrictions on the number of donors and cycles per donor, making it more difficult for couples to obtain compatible gametes. India’s and the world’s dropping fertility rates make it difficult to find donors, which is a major issue.
Finding Suitable Donors May Be Difficult: Due to the constraints, it may be difficult for doctors and couples to find donors who satisfy their requirements or preferences.
Potential Donor Discouragement: Potential donors may be put off from contributing to ART by worries about the consequences on the legal and social fronts as well as a lack of incentives.
Way ahead
increase affordability through partnerships and subsidies.
Increase the donor pool with community support and awareness efforts.
Utilise a centralised platform and cutting-edge technologies to streamline donor matching.
Encourage innovative thinking and research for therapies that are affordable.
Create a supporting legal system that upholds rights and addresses ethical issues.
Question from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination
Prelims
- “Pronuclear Transfer” is employed in the context of recent developments in human reproductive technologies for (2020)
(a) in vitro egg fertilisation with donor sperm
(b) altering the genetic makeup of cells that produce sperm
(c) creating functioning embryos from stem cells
(d) protecting children from mitochondrial disorders
Ans: (d)
Exp:
Pronuclear transfer refers to the exchange of pronuclei between zygotes. The mitochondrial donor’s healthy donated eggs must first be fertilised with the sperm of the intended male parent. The intended father’s sperm fertilises the impacted oocytes of the intending mother simultaneously. The maternal DNA is inserted into a donor woman’s egg through a procedure known as “Maternal Spindle Transfer,” which is followed by the use of the father’s sperm to fertilise the egg. The method was created to aid existing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures if the moms are suffering from mitochondrial illnesses. The heterogeneous collection of disorders known as mitochondrial disease, which can cause early mortality, sometimes in infancy or childhood, is caused by mutations in the maternal DNA. Women who carry the causative mutations are at a significant risk of passing the disorders on to their offspring, and the majority of mitochondrial diseases do not have specific therapies. As a result, choice (d) is the right response.
Origin: TH
CSR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING PORTS
In News, why?
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways recently unveiled “Sagar Samajik Sahayyog,” its new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) standards, with the goal of enabling ports to deal with regional community issues more quickly and cooperatively.
What are the Guidelines’ Main Points?
CSR Finance:
Indian ports will set aside a particular portion of their net annual profit for CSR initiatives. According to each port’s individual annual turnover, the CSR budget will be divided as follows:
Ports with annual revenues of less than 100 crores of rupees would invest 3 to 5% in CSR.
Ports with annual revenue between 100 and 500 crores will spend 2 to 3 percent.
Ports will invest 0.5–2% if their annual revenue exceeds Rs 500 crores.
To enable successful implementation and monitoring of the corresponding CSR projects, the ports will allocate 2% of the total CSR costs to project monitoring.
The CSR Committee
To plan and carry out CSR efforts, each Major Port will create a committee for corporate social responsibility, which will be led by the vice chairperson of the Major Port.
Two more people will make up the committee. Major ports must incorporate CSR initiatives that address social and environmental issues related to their operations into their business objectives.
Each financial year will also require the creation of a CSR plan.
Allocation and Areas of Focus:
The Major Port Authorities Act of 2021’s Section 70 activities will be the main focus of the CSR projects and programmes.
The organisation may use its finances to provide social benefits, such as the establishment of infrastructure in the areas of education, health, housing, skill development, training, and recreational activities for its own employees, clients, etc., in accordance with Section 70 of the Act.
The National Maritime Heritage Complex, the Sainik Kalyan Board at the district level, and the National Youth Development Fund shall each receive 20% of the CSR costs.
Additionally, 78% of the funding should be used for community-based social and environmental welfare projects.
Projects in the areas of drinking water, education, career development, alternative and renewable energy sources for power, health and family welfare, the promotion of livelihoods for members of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), community centres, and hostels are among them.
Project monitoring is funded by the ports’ CSR programmes with 2% of the total CSR costs.
What are the Guidelines’ Importance?
The standards give ports the ability to carry out CSR initiatives directly, promoting community development and welfare. CSR has the capacity to affect positive change and function as a vital driver for advancement by adopting a structure that counts local communities as partners. The goals of the guidelines are to develop CSR into a powerful force for progress. The government’s dedication to strong community engagement and effective governance is reflected in this effort.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is what, exactly?
About:
The premise behind corporate social responsibility (CSR) is that businesses should evaluate their effects on the environment and social welfare, accept responsibility for those consequences, and work to promote favourable social and environmental change. Following are the four primary forms of corporate social responsibility:
Responsibility for the environment
Moral Responsibilities
Responsibility for Giving
Financial Responsibilities
Companies with an annual revenue of Rs. 1,000 crore or more, a net worth of Rs. 500 crore or more, or a net profit of Rs. 5 crore or more are subject to the Corporate Social Responsibility provisions of the Companies Act of 2013. According to the Act, businesses must form a CSR committee that will advise the board of directors on a corporate social responsibility policy and periodically review it.
CSR activities include:
Some significant activities listed under Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013 are:
eliminating malnutrition, hunger, and poverty while advancing education
gender parity.
Humans are battling AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
illnesses such as the immunodeficiency virus
Environmental Sustainability Assurance
Protection of the nation’s artistic, cultural, and historical heritage, including the restoration of pieces of art and historic structures.
measures that will help veterans of the armed forces, war widows, and their dependents.
Promotional training for local sports, national sports, paralympic sports, and Olympic sports
Contribution to the National Relief Fund established by the PM or to any other fund established by the Central Government for socioeconomic development and relief.
Question from the previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination
- Yes, corporate social responsibility helps businesses become more sustainable and profitable. Analyse. (2017)
Origin: PIB