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Time: 40 Min. Date: 08-07-2021

Internal Security

Spyware Pegasus Syllabus: GS3/ Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks, Basics of

Cyber Security

In News Recently, an online database about the use of the spyware Pegasus was launched. About

● It is launched by Forensic Architecture, Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab to document attacks against human rights defenders.

● It showed the connections between ‘digital violence’ of Pegasus spyware and the real-world harms lawyers, activists, and other civil society figures face.

Significance of Database ● The online platform is one of the most comprehensive databases on NSO-related

activities, with information about- ○ export licenses, ○ alleged purchases, ○ digital infections, and ○ the physical targeting of activists after being targeted with spyware, including

intimidation, harassment, and detention. ● The platform also sheds light on the complex corporate structure of NSO Group, based on

new research by Amnesty International and partners. Spyware Pegasus

● Pegasus is spyware that can be installed on devices running some versions of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, as well on devices running on Android.

● It was developed by the Israeli cyberarms firm NSO Group. ● Functioning: It mainly uses Exploit Links for its working. Clicking on such links

automatically installs Pegasus on the user's phone. The method of Social Engineering is used.

○ In the context of information security, social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information.

○ This differs from social engineering within the social sciences, which does not concern the divulging of confidential information.

DAILY CURRENT

AFFAIRS

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Challenges with Pegasus ● Unlimited access to target's mobile devices: It collects information remotely and covertly

about target's relationships, location, phone calls, plans, and activities whenever and wherever they are. It tracks targets and gets accurate positioning information using GPS.

● Intelligence gaps: Collects unique and new types of information (e.g., contacts, files, environmental wiretap, passwords, etc.) to deliver the most accurate and complete intelligence.

● Intercepting calls: It transparently monitors voice and VoIP calls in real-time. ● Decoding encrypted content: It overcomes encryption, SSL, proprietary protocols and

any hurdle introduced by the complex communications world. ● Application monitoring: Monitors a multitude of applications including Skype,

WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook and Blackberry Messenger (BBM). ● Bypassing Service provider: No cooperation with local Mobile Network Operators

(MNO) is needed to attack. It constantly monitors the device without worrying about frequent switching of virtual identities and replacement of SIM cards

● Avoids unnecessary risks: The spyware eliminates the need for physical proximity to the target or device at any phase.

● Terrorist activities: Terrorists and other anti-social elements have started using more cyberspace which provides them with more getaways.

● Digital Attacks: Pegasus had been used in some of the “most insidious digital attacks” on human rights activists in the world.

Ways to Secure Devices from Pegasus ● Regular Updates: Always update the operating system to the latest version. Apple and

Google regularly release updates which include security patches for vulnerabilities and malware. Both Apple and Google have released fixes for Pegasus.

● Remain Careful & Vigilant: Pegasus spyware (as well as all sorts of other malware) infiltrates phones by way of the phone user clicking a link in a text message, email, Twitter post, or any other means. When receiving any message with a link, make sure one is familiar with the person sending the link and actually verify that the message along with the link is coming from the authorized person.

● Secure Communications: It is critical to maintain secure communications including calls and messages that are not vulnerable to Pegasus and other malware. Secure calls and messages will ensure secure communication even when spyware infiltrates phones and one is “under mobile surveillance.”

Source: TH

Polity and Governance

Radio Dhimsa in Odisha Syllabus: GS 2, Government Policies & Interventions, Education, Social Justice

In News

Recently, Dhimsa Community Radio Station has successfully brought school lessons to the

poor tribal students in Odisha’s Koraput district who do not have internet access or cannot

afford a smartphone.

Background

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● In June 2021, Odisha State School Education Programme Authority started

streaming live classes on YouTube.

● However, hundreds of students (mostly from the tribal districts like Koraput,

Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh and Keonjhar) do

not have the internet connectivity to access the lessons.

○ Odisha’s telephone density was 76.46 per cent against the national average of

87.37 per cent as on March 2020, according to Odisha Economic Survey,

2020-21.

○ Similarly, 43.95 per cent of the population were Internet subscribers compared to

the national average of 55.12 per cent.

● Also, the poor tribals cannot afford the expensive smartphone sets to continue their

classes.

About Radio Dhimsa

● Dhimsa Community Radio Center was set up by South Odisha Voluntary Action

(SOVA), which is a Koraput based non-profit organisation (NPO).

● It initially started broadcasting educational content for students in 2016.

● It started focusing on special education programmes when the classroom studies

stopped, after the outbreak of the Covid-19, with an aim to close the digital divide in

education.

● Currently, it broadcasts educational content to over 2,000 students of Classes I-V in

62 villages of six panchayats in Koraput and Lamptaput blocks.

● SOVA has developed education programmes on Mathematics and English for

primary levels with the help of school teachers and education experts of the district

resource group.

● The radio streams educational content for nine hours every day in which one hour of

live programme and two hours of pre-recorded sessions, covering a lesson daily.

○ The same programmes are repeated in the afternoon and evening to ensure

that all the community members get the benefit of the programme.

● All programmes are designed in Odia and Desiya dialects as entire tribes and non-

tribes do use Desiya as a common communication dialect.

● 82 listeners clubs have been set-up in the areas for smooth access of the programme.

● The channel also has shows to create awareness on Covid-19 appropriate behaviour

and vaccination programmes in collaboration with the Koraput administration.

● Most of the beneficiaries are the children of Paraj (also called Paroja/Parja/Paraja) ,

one of the tribal communities in the state.

Impact of Covid-19 on Education

● A sizable number of children will be deprived of formal education and will remain

outside the ambit of education.

● Students lack laptops, tablets or personal mobiles along with the poor or no net

connectivity, concerns of distraction on the phones.

● Due to the lack of physical classroom teaching, a feeling of isolation is developing

in the minds of students.

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● The trauma of the second wave will put a deep imprint on the student’s mind, leading

to an irreconcilable contradiction and ordinary family members will not be in a position

to address the issue.

● Educational institutes and teachers also face technical constraints and a majority of

them are not able to use them with ease.

● Parents face difficulty in adjusting to the whole online system, amid the added

household responsibilities.

● A lot of subjects need practical and physical teaching including beauty culture,

fashion design and tailoring, office management, travel and tourism, web design etc., so

it is difficult to teach them online.

Suggestions

● Quality Online Education

○ The focus should be on imparting quality education to young minds and the

whole teaching community should be prepared to face the challenges,

mechanically as well as emotionally.

○ It should visualise and set a goal to develop the logical framework and

reasoning capability in the young minds in stages.

● Physical Schooling

○ The centre of attraction should remain the physical school for students and

school education. For that, the whole infrastructure should be fully utilised,

and if necessary, many more facilities should be invested in or created to

impart education.

● New Content Generation

○ New content generation for each subject is needed to overcome the absence

of classroom teaching within the framework of the existing syllabus.

○ This content could be of a new type, self-explanatory and has to be attractive

considering the lowest IQ of the class and should produce the same effect on

the minds of the students that the best book imparts on the thinking faculty.

○ The education board and the government will have to channelise the work to

advance the cause of education.

● Evaluation System

○ The evaluation should be based on the capacity of analysis, and the questions

should be framed in such a way that students need to apply their minds to

answer the questions on each subject.

○ Such questions will play a big role in advancing the logical reasoning process

in the student’s mind.

● Vaccine Coverage

○ The government should take the responsibility to vaccinate the whole teaching

community as fast as possible to advance the learning process.

Initiatives to Boost Education Sector

● PM e-VIDYA: Launched to enable multi-mode access to education.

● DIKSHA Platform: ‘One nation-one digital platform’ for providing quality e-content in

school education.

● One class-One Channel: Dedicated TV channel per grade for each of the classes 1 to

5

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● E-PG Pathshala: An initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to

provide e-content for studies.

● NEAT: Aims to use Artificial Intelligence to make learning more personalised and

customised as per the requirements of the learner

● SWAYAM: Integrated platform for online courses for school and higher education.

● IITPAL: For the preparation of IITJEE/NEET.

● PRAGYATA: Under it, only 30 minutes of screen time per day for interacting with

parents is recommended for kindergarten, nursery and pre-school.

● Digitally Accessible Information System: Study material for the differently-abled

persons with sign language.

● Manodarpan Initiative: Provides support related to mental health and emotional

wellbeing through a website, a toll-free helpline and chat.

● New National Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework: It is rooted in the Indian

ethos and integrated with global skill requirements.

● National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission: Ensures that every child in

the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy in Grade 3 by 2020.

● Other Initiatives: National Project on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL),

National Knowledge Network, (NKN) and National Academic Depository (NAD), etc.

Paraj Tribe

● Distribution

○ It is one of the well-known major Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Odisha, which

has the largest concentration of this tribe.

■ According to the 2011 Census, its population in the state was 3,74,628,

with more concentration in undivided Koraput district.

■ This tribe has maintained a healthy sex ratio of 1000 males to 1080

females.

■ The overall literacy percentage of the tribe is 34.92 per cent with 46.44

per cent of males and 24.44 per cent of females of this tribe are literate.

○ They are also found in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh,

Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam.

● Nomenclature

○ Paraj is a local Odia and Desia term, which appears to have been derived

from the Sanskrit word ‘Praja’ which literally means the common people,

who are citizens under King or Raja.

○ The term ‘Paraja’ also has another meaning in Odia denoting the tenant or the

Royat.

● Society

○ They live in big and small settlements in the company of other communities,

in the plains, on foot hills and nearby forests in close proximity to hill

streams.

○ Family is the smallest unit in their society and is patrilineal and patriarchal

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○ Marriage within the clan is prohibited and monogamy is the rule, although

in the exceptional cases polygamy is practiced.

○ Each Paraja village has two separate dormitories, known as ‘dhangda basa’

for boys and ‘dhangdi basa’ for girls, where grown up unmarried boys and

girls meet to know each other.

■ These dormitories help in creating an intimacy between the boys and

girls to select their life partners and act as the centers of socio-

cultural activities of the Paraja society.

● Economy

○ The economy of Paraja tribes are primarily agro and forest based.

○ Their lands are not so fertile, mostly unirrigated and are of low

productivity, so they are marginal & small farmers.

○ They adopt primitive methods of cultivation like both wet cultivation and

shifting cultivation.

● Culture

○ Attire: The traditional dress consists of loin cloth and napkins for men and

coarse and cheap sarees for women. However, they have started using

modern dresses because of external contact.

○ Festivals: Paraja observe many seasonal festivals. Important ones are

Asadha Parab, Nuakhia, Diali Parab, Push Parab, Chaita Parab, etc.

○ Music and Dance

■ The male members use the musical instruments like dhola, tamaka,

dungdunga and mahuri.

■ Dhemsa dance, Khadumara dance, Dungdunga dance are some of the

popular dances of the tribe.

■ Their dance, music and songs are highly inspired by elements of nature

like the Sun, the Moon, the sky, the wind, the rain and the trees,

streams, flowers, birds and animals etc.

● Important Places in Villages

○ Berna Munda is the place comprising stone slabs where the village headman

and leaders sit at dawn to discuss village affairs.

○ Nissani Munda is the seat of the village deity called ‘Hundi Debta’.

● Traditional Village Functionaries

○ Jani is the sacred head and the custodian of the religions and moral life of the

village community.

○ Muduli is the secular head of the village who is assisted by Challan.

○ Besides these, Disari, Gurumai, Gunia and Bhatta Nayak are the important

functionaries.

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(Image Courtesy: KBK)

Source: DTE

Polity and Governance

Governors of the States

Syllabus: GS 2, Parliament & State Legislatures, Executive, Functions & Responsibilities of the

Union & the States

In News

Recently, the Union Government has transferred or appointed Governors of eight States.

About Governor

● He/she is the Chief Executive Head of a State.

○ Like the President of India, he is a nominal (titular or constitutional) head and

also acts as an agent of the central government. Therefore, the office of

governor has a dual role.

● Articles 153 to 167 in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the State Executive, which

comprises the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers and the Advocate

General of the State.

○ There is no office of Vice-Governor (in the state) like that of Vice-President at

the Centre.

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○ Usually, there is a governor for each state, however, the 7th Constitutional

Amendment Act, 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as a

governor for two or more states.

● Appointment

○ The Governor is neither directly elected by the people nor indirectly elected

by a specially constituted electoral college as is the case with the President.

○ He/she is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

■ As held by the Supreme Court in 1979, it is an independent

constitutional office and is not under the control of or subordinate to the

Central government.

○ While drafting the Constitution, the Canadian model of Governor’ appointment

by the Centre was accepted in the Constituent Assembly.

● Oath

○ The Governor has to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation, which is

administered by the Chief Justice of the concerned State’s High Court and

in his/her absence, the senior-most judge of that court available.

● Qualifications

○ The Constitution lays down only two qualifications for the appointment of a

person as a governor.

■ He/she should be a citizen of India.

■ He/she should have completed the age of 35 years.

○ Additionally, two conventions have also developed in this regard over the years.

■ He/she should be an outsider, meaning not belonging to the State of

appointment so as to remain free from the local politics.

■ While appointing the Governor, the President is required to consult the

Chief Minister of the State concerned, so that the smooth functioning of

the constitutional machinery is ensured.

● Conditions

○ Should not be a member of either House of Parliament or a House of the

state legislature. If any such person is appointed as governor, he/she is

deemed to have vacated his/her seat in that House on the date on which he/she

enters upon the office as the Governor.

○ Should not hold any other office of profit.

○ Entitled without payment of rent to the use of official residence (the Raj

Bhavan).

○ Entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined

by Parliament.

○ When the same person is appointed as the governor of two or more states, the

emoluments and allowances payable to him are shared by the states in such

proportion as determined by the President.

○ Emoluments and allowances cannot be diminished during his term of office.

○ During the term of office, he/she is immune from any criminal proceedings, even

in respect of personal acts and cannot be arrested or imprisoned.

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■ However, after giving two months’ notice, civil proceedings can be

instituted against during the term of office in respect of his personal acts.

● Tenure

○ A Governor holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he/she

enters upon the office.

○ However, this term of five years is subject to the pleasure of the President.

■ However, the Constitution does not lay down any grounds upon which a

Governor may be removed by the President.

■ The Supreme Court in 2010 held that the Governors cannot be

changed in an arbitrary and capricious manner with the change of

power. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G

Balakrishnan held that a Governor can be replaced only under

“compelling” reasons for proven misconduct or other irregularities.

○ Further, he/she can resign at any time by addressing a resignation letter to

the President.

○ The President may transfer a Governor appointed to one state to another state

for the rest of the term. Further, a Governor whose term has expired may be

reappointed in the same State or any other State.

● Functions and Powers

○ Executive Powers

■ All executive actions of the State Government are formally taken in

his/her name.

■ Can make rules for more convenient transactions of the business of a

State government.

■ Appoints the Chief Minister and other ministers and Advocate

General who hold office during his/her pleasure.

■ Appoints the State Election Commissioner (SEC). However, the SEC

can be removed only in like manner and on the like grounds as a judge of

a high court.

■ Appoints the Chairman and members of the State Public Service

Commission, who can be removed only by the President and not by a

Governor.

■ Can recommend the imposition of constitutional emergency in a State

to the President. During the period of the President's rule in a state, the

Governor enjoys extensive executive powers as an agent of the

President.

■ Acts as the Chancellor of universities in the State and appoints the

Vice-Chancellors (VCs).

○ Legislative Powers

■ Can summon or prorogue the State Legislature and dissolve the State

Legislative Assembly.

■ Can address the State Legislature at the commencement of the first

session after each general election and the first session of each year.

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■ Can appoint any member of the State Legislative Assembly to

preside over its proceedings when the offices of both the Speaker and

the Deputy Speaker fall vacant and has similar powers with respect to the

State Legislature Council.

■ Nominates one-sixth of the members of the State Legislative Council

from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience

in literature, science, art, cooperative movement and social service.

■ Can nominate one member to the State Legislature Assembly from

the Anglo-Indian Community.

■ Decides on the question of disqualification of members of the State

Legislature in consultation with the Election Commission.

■ When a bill is sent to the governor after it is passed by the State

Legislature, he/she can give assent to the bill or withhold assent to the

bill or return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for reconsideration.

● However, if the bill is passed again with or without

amendments, the Governor has to give assent to the bill or

reserve it for the consideration of the President.

● Such reservation is obligatory if the bill passed endangers the

position of the state high court, is against the provisions of the

Constitution, opposes Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP),

is against the larger interest of the country, of grave national

importance or deals with compulsory acquisition of property

■ Can promulgate ordinances when the State Legislature is not in session

and can also withdraw an ordinance anytime. This is the most important

legislative power of the Governor.

■ Lays the reports of the State Finance Commission, the State Public

Service Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor-General relating to

the accounts of the state, before the state legislature.

○ Financial Powers

■ Sees that the Annual Financial Statement (State Budget) is laid before

the State Legislature.

■ Money bills can be introduced in the State Legislature only with his/her

prior recommendation.

■ No demand for a grant can be made except on his/her recommendation.

■ Can make advances out of the Contingency Fund of the State to meet

any unforeseen expenditure.

■ Constitutes a Finance Commission after every five years to review the

financial position of the panchayats and the municipalities.

○ Judicial Powers

■ Can grant pardons, reprieves, respites and remissions of punishment

or suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of

any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive

power of the State extends.

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● Though the Governor has the power to pardon, he/she cannot

pardon a death sentence.

■ He/she is consulted by the President while appointing the judges of the

concerned State High Court.

■ Makes appointments, postings and promotions of the district judges in

consultation with the State High Court and appoints persons to the

Judicial Service of the State.

○ The Governor has no diplomatic, military or emergency powers like the

President.

Related Constitutional Articles

● Article 153: Governors of states

● Article 154: Executive power of state

● Article 155: Appointment of Governor

● Article 156: Term of office of Governor

● Article 157: Qualifications for appointment as Governor

● Article 158: Conditions of Governor’s office

● Article 159: Oath or affirmation by the Governor

● Article 160: Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies

● Article 161: Power of the Governor to grant pardons and others

● Article 162: Extent of executive power of state

● Article 163: Council of ministers to aid and advise the Governor

Source: IE

Biodiversity and Environment

Climate Trends Report

Syllabus: GS3/ Environmental Pollution and Degradation

In News A recent Report by Climate Trends flags that Climate crisis intensifies: Coastal areas may become unlivable by 2100. Key Findings

● The report stated that people living in and near the coastal areas in India may be compelled to stay indoors during working hours for more than half of 2100.

○ Severe heat conditions, and not the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, would be driving people to do so.

● Most parts of India experience 12-66 days of potentially deadly heat and humidity combinations in a year — expressed by ‘wet bulb temperature’. It is an index that measures the impact of heat and humidity on the human body.

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Image Courtesy: TOI

● A temperature increase of 4.3 degrees Celsius by 2100 relative to pre-industrial temperatures may happen under RCP (representative concentration pathway) 8.5 scenario. The wet bulb temperature will cross the deadly threshold for six months or more by another nine decades.

● Even fit and acclimatised people can’t work at a wet bulb temperature of 32°C; at 35°C, even fit and acclimatised people sitting in the shade die within six hours.

● The report warned of a substantial worsening of the situation even by 2050. Kolkata may experience 176 deadly heat-humid days; the Sundarbans 215; Cuttack 226; Brahmapur 233; Thiruvananthapuram 314; Chennai 229; Mumbai 171; and New Delhi 99.

● India experienced 73 heat wave spells in 2019 against an average of 17 as measured during 1986-2016.

Heat Wave ● A heat wave is a period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high

humidity, especially in oceanic climate countries. ● While definitions vary, a heat wave is usually measured relative to the usual weather in

the area and relative to normal temperatures for the season. ● It is considered extreme weather that can be a natural disaster, and a danger because

heat and sunlight may overheat the human body. ● Heat waves can usually be detected using forecasting instruments so that a warning call

can be issued. ● Heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches:

○ at least 40 degree C or more for Plains ○ at least 30 degree C or more for Hilly regions.

Categories of Heat Wave ● Based on Departure from Normal

○ Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.5 degree C to 6.4 degree C ○ Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.4 degree C

● Based on Actual Maximum Temperature

○ Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45 degree C

○ Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47 degree C

Favorable conditions for Heat Wave ● Transportation / Prevalence of hot dry air over a region (There should be a region of warm

dry air and appropriate flow pattern for transporting hot air over the region). ● Absence of moisture in the upper atmosphere (As the presence of moisture restricts the

temperature rise).

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● The sky should be practically cloudless (To allow maximum insulation over the region). ● Large amplitude anticyclonic flow over the area.

○ Heat waves generally develop over Northwest India and spread gradually eastwards & southwards but not westwards (since the prevailing winds during the season are westerly to north westerly).

○ But on some occasions, heat waves may also develop over any region in situ under the favorable conditions.

Impact of Heat Exposure ● There are five physiological mechanisms which are triggered by heat exposure:

○ Ischemia (reduced and restricted blood flow), ○ heat cytotoxicity (cell death), ○ inflammatory response (swelling), ○ disseminated intravascular coagulation (abnormal blood clotting), and ○ rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibres).

● These mechanisms affect seven vital organs: Brain, heart, intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs and pancreas.

● There are 27 lethal combinations of these mechanisms and organs that have been shown to be caused by heat.

● Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of deaths from hyperthermia, and widespread power outages due to increased use of air conditioning.

● The signs and symptoms are as follows: ○ Heat Cramps: Ederna (swelling) and Syncope (Fainting) generally accompanied

by fever below 39°C i.e.102°F. ○ Heat Exhaustion: Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting,

muscle cramps and sweating. ○ Heat Stroke: Body temperatures of 40°C i.e. 104°F or more along with delirium,

seizures or coma. This is a potential fatal condition. Way Ahead

● Identifying the heat hotspots by proper tracking of meteorological data and providing necessary relief.

● Encourage traditional methods of handling heat waves like wearing cotton clothes etc. ● Reviewing labour laws and other regulations taking climatic conditions into account. ● Improving the infrastructure setup like including shadowed windows, insulated houses

etc.

Indian meteorological Department ● Established in 1875 ● The India Meteorological Department is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences

of the Government of India. ● It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather

forecasting and seismology. Monitoring of heat wave

● IMD has a big network of surface observatories covering the entire country to measure various meteorological parameters like Temperature, Relative humidity, pressure, wind speed & direction etc.

● Based on daily maximum temperature station data, climatology of maximum temperature is prepared for the period 1981-2010 to find out the normal maximum temperature of the day for a particular station.

● Thereafter, IMD declares a heat wave over the region as per its definition.

Sources: DTE

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Indian Economy

GI Certified Bhalia Wheat

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture, Major Crops & Cropping Patterns of India

In News

Recently, the first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat

was exported to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat.

About

● In 2020-21, the wheat exports from India witnessed a significant growth of 808 per cent

to INR 4034 crore from INR 444 crore reported in the previous fiscal.

● India exported a substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries - Yemen,

Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia, and Myanmar during 2020-21.

Bhalia Variety of Wheat

● It is a variety of wheat that received GI certification in July 2011.

● It has high protein content and is sweet in taste.

● The crop is grown mostly across the Bhal region of Gujarat which includes

Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts.

● This variety is grown in rainfed conditions without irrigation.

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

● GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess

qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

● It is a part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention

for the Protection of Industrial Property.

● In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical

Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.

● The Geographical Indications Registry is located in Chennai.

● Items Covered: Agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and

industrial products.

● Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

(APEDA) promotes exports of agricultural & processed food items (including GI

products) by providing assistance to the exporters.

○ Recently, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota (chikoo) has been exported to the United

Kingdom.

International Protection for GI:

● Internationally GI is covered as a component of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) under

the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

● The Paris Convention, adopted in 1883, applies to industrial property in the widest

sense, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, service marks,

trade names, geographical indications and the repression of unfair competition.

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● GI is also governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-

Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

Benefits:

● It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India

● Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others

● It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications which in turn boost

exports.

● It promotes the economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical

territory.

Wheat Cultivation in India

● Wheat is the second most important staple food after rice consumed by 65% of the

population in India.

● Rabi Crop: It is sown in October-December and harvested during April-June.

● Temperature: Between 23±3°C and for good tillering temperature should range

between 16-20°C.

● Rainfall: 50 cm to 100 cm rainfall.

● Soil Type: Soils with a clay loam or loam texture, good structure and moderate water

holding capacity are ideal for wheat cultivation.

● Wheat growing states in India: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,

Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat.

○ India is the second-largest producer of wheat worldwide after China.

● Major Export Destinations (2019-20): Nepal, Bangladesh Pr, UAE, Somalia, Korea.

○ India exported wheat to seven new countries like Yemen, Indonesia,

Philippines, Bhutan, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21.

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Image Courtesy: intechopen

● Important Initiatives: Green Revolution, National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-

Wheat and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Source: BL

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Facts in News

Bunder Diamond

Mining Project

Recently, it has been highlighted that the proposed Bunder

diamond mining project in the Buxwaha protected forest

region in Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) may have a greater

ecological impact on the region.

● The project was awarded to Essel Mining & Industries

Limited, which stated that to meet water requirements

and protect the mine from inundation, a seasonal nullah

(stream) will be converted into a dam.

● Concerns

○ Tailings are disposed of in dams or ponds

usually built around the mining site and contain

process-affected water, dissolved metals and

various toxic ore processing reagents that can

seep into the ground.

■ Diamond extraction, a water-intensive

process, is not mechanical and requires a

lot of chemicals besides water, which

leak out and impact animals, humans and

the environment.

■ Two major kinds of waste are generated

during the excavation of any ore. One,

overburden (OB) waste which lies over

the ore, such as rocks and soil. The other

is tailings or the remains of the mineral

after the economically valuable

components have been extracted from the

finely milled ore.

○ Around 200,000 trees also will be felled for the

excavation.

○ It threatens to further deplete the already

scarce water reserve of the drought-prone

Bundelkhand region.

■ Chhatarpur was categorised as a semi-

critical region by the Central Ground

Water Authority in 2017.

● Suggestions

○ Identify location for tailing ponds and proper

management.

○ Apart from spatial requirements for storage,

tailings also require long-term management and

rehabilitation.

18

Maritime

Partnership

Exercise

Recently, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar has entered the Port

of Naples, Italy as part of the ongoing deployment to the

Mediterranean.

● On departure from port, the ship also undertook a

Maritime Partnership Exercise with ITS Antonio

Marceglia (F 597), a frontline frigate of the Italian Navy,

in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

○ The exercise covered a wide range of naval

operations including air defence procedures,

replenishment at sea, communication drills and

cross deck helo operations by day and night.

○ Significance: It was mutually beneficial in

enhancing interoperability and towards

consolidating combined operations against

maritime threats.

INS Tabar

● INS Tabar, is a Talwar-class stealth Frigate built for

Indian Navy in Russia.

● It is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and

sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the

Indian Navy.

● It is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is

based at Mumbai under Western Naval Command.

● Deployment

○ INS Tabar has been on a prolonged deployment

since June 2021 with the aim to enhance

military cooperation with friendly nations.

○ During port visits, it will conduct professional,

social and sporting interactions and will also

participate in joint exercises.

○ It will transit across the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea,

Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea

and Baltic Sea while making port calls at

Djibouti, Egypt, Italy, France, UK, Russia,

Netherlands, Morocco, and Arctic Council

countries like Sweden and Norway.

○ In addition to PASSEX with host navies, it is also

scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises like

Ex Konkan with the Royal Navy, Ex Varuna

with French Navy and Ex Indra with Russian

Federation Navy.

Tyrrhenian Sea

● It derives its name from the Tyrrhenian people, a non-

Greek people largely considered Sea People.

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● Location: Along the western shoreline of Italy and is

considered part of the larger Mediterranean Sea.

● It is situated over the boundary between the Eurasian

and African tectonic plates.

● Bordered by: Italy to the east, Islands of Corsica, which

is a French territory and Sardinia, which is an Italian

territory to the west.

● The Ligurian Sea meets the Tyrrhenian Sea along its

northwest corner.

(Image Courtesy: WorldAtlas)

20

Grand Ethiopian

Renaissance Dam

Recently, Ethiopia has started the second phase of filling the

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

● Led by Ethiopia, the 145 meter tall hydropower

project will be Africa’s largest dam after completion.

● It is located in the Horn of Africa which is a peninsula

and the easternmost extension of African continent,

consisting of the countries namely, Djibouti, Eritrea,

Ethiopia, and Somalia.

(Image Courtesy: ECSS)

● The construction was initiated in 2011 on the upper

Blue Nile tributary.

○ The Nile, the longest river in the world, has been

at the center of a dispute involving several

countries that are dependent on the river’s

waters.

■ The main waterways of the Nile run

through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan

and Egypt and its drainage basin runs

through several countries in East Africa,

including Ethiopia.

○ Blue Nile and White Nile are two tributaries of

the Nile.

■ While the White Nile is the longer

tributary, the Blue Nile is the main

source of water and fertile soil.

■ The White Nile is called so because of the

light-coloured clay sediment in the

water giving the river a light grey colour.

■ The Blue Nile flows for about 1,400 km to

Khartoum from Lake Tana which is 1,800

metres above sea level in the Ethiopian

mountains.

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■ The White Nile and Blue Nile merge near

Khartoum, becoming the proper Nile.

● GERD Dispute

○ Ethiopia and Egypt are at the forefront of this

dispute and Sudan’s location between Egypt

up north and Ethiopia down south has caused

it to become an inadvertent party to this dispute.

○ Given the dam’s location, it would potentially

allow Ethiopia to gain control of the flow of

the river’s waters and could result in lower water

levels within Egypt’s borders.

○ Egypt, which lies further downstream, has

consistently objected to the dam’s construction.

(Image Courtesy: BBC)

22

Black Panther

Sighted in

Navegaon Nagzira

Reserve

● A rare melanistic leopard, popularly called black

leopard, was spotted in the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger

Reserve (NNTR) of Maharashtra.

○ Earlier also, it has been reported in Tadoba

Andhari Tiger Reserve and Pench Tiger Reserve.

Black Panther (Melanistic Leopards)

About:

● The term black panther is most frequently applied to

black-coated leopards of Africa and Asia and jaguars of

Central and South America.

● Melanistic leopards have a recessive mutation in the

ASIP gene (which is related to skin/ eye/ hair

pigmentation).

● In each species, a certain combination of alleles

stimulates the production of large amounts of dark

pigment melanin (Melanism) in the animal’s fur and

skin.

Image Courtesy: Britannica

Geographical Presence:

● They have been documented mostly in tropical forests of

Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Peninsular

Malaysia and Java.

● In India, they are mostly reported from densely forested

areas of south India, from the states of Karnataka,

Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam as well.

Threats:

● Habitat Loss

● Poaching

● Illegal smuggling of their skins

● Diseases

● Man-Animal Conflicts (like collision with Trains,

encroachment to human areas)

Conservation Status:

● IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

● CITES: Appendix I.

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● Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

● In 1970, the forest area of Nagzira was declared a

Wildlife Sanctuary. It was notified as to the 46 Tiger

Reserve (TR) of India in December 2013.

● Location: Gondia and Bhandara Districts in North-

Eastern Maharashtra.

● Nagzira got its name from the snake or nag temple

here and Zira, which means a perennial source of

water referring to the stream from a hill in Pongezara.

● Connectivity with: Kanha and Pench TR in Madhya

Pradesh, Pench and Tadoba-Andhari TR in

Maharashtra, Indravati TR in Chhattisgarh and indirectly

with the Kawal & Nagarjuna Sagar TR in Telangana &

Andhra Pradesh and Achanakmar TR in Chhattisgarh.

● Fauna

○ Home to a large variety of wildlife like Indian wild

boar, Mouse deer, Sambar deer, Bengal tiger,

leopard, chitkul and much more.

● Flora

○ The major forest type is "Southern Tropical Dry

Deciduous Forest".

○ Trees like Mahua, Bamboo, Jamun, Ain &

Bombax & grasslands, weeds, teak forests &

around 200 species of plants of medicinal &

economic importance.

24

Maitree Power Project

● Also known as Rampal Power Station. ● Bangladesh's largest power plant. ● Joint venture (50:50): India's National Thermal Power

Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh's Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

● Capacity: 1320 MW ● Completion: The first unit of this project would be

commissioned in December 2021. ● Significance:

○ A symbol of successful cooperation between India and Bangladesh for development of the Bangladesh power sector.

○ It will coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebration of Victory Day of Bangladesh.

○ An environmentally friendly supercritical technology based thermal power plant.

25

'Matsya Setu' App

● It is a mobile app. ● Aim: To disseminate the latest freshwater aquaculture

technologies to the aqua farmers of India. ● Developed by: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater

Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, ● Funding support by: National Fisheries Development

Board (NFDB), Hyderabad. ● Features:

○ It has species-wise/ subject-wise self-learning online course modules.

○ Better Management Practices to be followed in maintaining the soil & water quality, feeding and health management in aquaculture operations.

○ Quiz/Test options were also provided for self-assessment.

○ An e-Certificate upon successful completion of each course module.

○ Doubts resolution and specific advisories from experts.

● Fisheries in India: ○ Presently India is the second largest fish

producing and second largest aquaculture nation in the world after China.

○ It is also the 4th largest exporter of fish worldwide because it contributes 7.7% in global fish production.

○ Fisheries and aquaculture production contribute about 1% to India’s GDP and 5% to agricultural GDP. This sector provided employment to 28 million people in India.

● Challenges ○ Low yield ○ Poor infrastructure like cold chains ○ Lack of access to quality seed and feed ○ Loss of habitat and indiscriminate fishing