27 March 2026

1. Liberties Clause or Deviation Clause

Ø News:   Amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, major global shipping companies are invoking the Liberties Clause. 

Ø Definition:

o The Liberties Clause, also known as the deviation clause, is a standard provision included in a Bill of Lading.

o A Bill of Lading is a legal contract between the shipper and the carrier.

o This clause authorises the shipmaster to alter the planned route of a voyage under specific circumstances.

Ø Historical Background:

o The clause traces its origins to maritime practices of the 19th century.

o During that period, sea voyages faced unpredictable risks such as piracy, damage to wooden ships due to weather, and regional conflicts.

Ø Rationale:

o It was introduced to provide shipmasters with legal flexibility to take necessary decisions without breaching contractual obligations.

Ø Aim of the Clause: The clause is intended to shield the carrier from liability for breach of contract when external risks prevent the ship from reaching the originally designated port.

Ø Key Features of the Liberties Clause

o Route Alteration:

§ The clause allows vessels to deviate from their usual or geographically direct route.

§ Such deviation is permitted to avoid conflict zones or other high-risk areas.

o Alternative Discharge:

§ The carrier is permitted to fulfil contractual obligations by unloading cargo at the nearest safe and operational port.

o Cost Responsibility:

§ Once cargo is discharged at an alternative location, the responsibility for further transport, storage, and handling costs shifts entirely to the cargo owner.

o Risk Reallocation:

§ The clause transfers transit-related risks from the carrier to the cargo owner from the moment deviation is invoked.

2. GARBH-INi Initiative

Ø News:   The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology has stated that India’s largest pregnancy cohort study involving 12,000 women under the GARBH-INi initiative aims to develop indigenous AI-based solutions to address preterm births.

Ø Nature of the Initiative:

o GARBH-INi focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes.

o It works towards developing predictive tools for identifying risks related to preterm births.

Ø Full Form and Launch:

o It stands for Group for Advanced Research in Birth outcomes – DBT India Initiative.

o The programme initiated a large cohort study of pregnant women in May 2015.

Ø Objectives of GARBH-INi:

o Knowledge Generation:

§ The initiative aims to develop deep scientific understanding of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and fetal growth restriction.

o Application of Research:

§ It seeks to use this knowledge to design effective and sustainable interventions.

§ These interventions aim to reduce mortality as well as short-term and long-term health complications associated with such conditions.

Ø Institutional Framework:

o Administrative Setup:

§ The initiative is implemented under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

§ It functions as a collaborative and interdisciplinary research programme.

o Lead Institution: 

§ The programme is led by the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute located in the NCR Biotech Cluster, Faridabad.

o Mission Linkage:

§ It is part of the Atal Jai Anusandhan Biotech Mission under the Undertaking Nationally Relevant Technology Innovation framework.

Ø Preterm Birth: Preterm birth refers to babies born alive before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Ø Categories Based on Gestational Age:

o Extremely preterm refers to births occurring before 28 weeks.

o Very preterm refers to births between 28 and 32 weeks.

o Moderate to late preterm refers to births between 32 and 37 weeks.

3. National AI Skilling Initiative

Ø News:  The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting has recently launched the National AI Skilling Initiative.

Ø  Objective of the Initiative: The programme aims to enhance artificial intelligence capabilities in sectors such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and media technology.

Ø Institutional Collaboration: The initiative has been launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with Google and YouTube.

Ø Target Beneficiaries: The initiative intends to train around 15,000 individuals from creative and media-related sectors.

Ø Implementation Agency: The programme is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.

Ø Key Features of National AI Skilling Initiative:

o Phased Implementation:

§ The training programme will be carried out in two distinct phases.

o Phase I – Foundational Learning:

§ The first phase focuses on building basic AI knowledge at scale.

§ It includes courses delivered through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud Generative AI learning pathways.

§ Participants will study modules such as AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, Introduction to Generative AI, and Generative AI Leader Path.

§ Successful completion of this phase is compulsory for advancing to the next stage.

o Phase II – Advanced Training:

§ The second phase emphasises advanced, hands-on, and project-based learning tailored for the creative industry.

o Training Locations:

§ The programme will be conducted in major cities across the country.

Ø Significance of the Initiative:

o Skill Development: The initiative is expected to equip creators, media professionals, students, and developers with future-ready skills in artificial intelligence

4. Minor Planet Centre (MPC)

Ø News:     The Minor Planet Centre has recently reported the discovery of 15 new moons, including four orbiting Jupiter and eleven orbiting Saturn.

Ø Nature of the Institution: The Minor Planet Centre serves as the global repository for observations related to small bodies within the solar system.

Ø Location and Administration:

o It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

o The centre operates under the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and functions in association with the International Astronomical Union.

Ø Process of Object Identification:

o Submission and Verification: 

§ When astronomers identify a new celestial object, they submit observational data to the Minor Planet Centre.

§ Experts at the centre examine and verify these observations.

o Orbit Determination and Naming:

§ The centre calculates the orbital parameters of the object.

§ If the object is confirmed as a new discovery, it is assigned an official designation by the centre.

Ø Functions of Minor Planet Centre:

o Monitoring of Celestial Bodies:

§ The centre plays a key role in tracking asteroids, comets, and moons associated with outer planets.

o Tracking Near-Earth Objects:

§ One of its major responsibilities is monitoring near-earth objects, which are space bodies that could pose a threat to Earth.

o Data Management and Prediction:

§ It maintains an extensive database that enables scientists to predict close approaches of such objects to Earth.

o Scientific Communication:

§ The centre facilitates global scientific collaboration by issuing electronic circulars.

§ These circulars inform researchers about new discoveries and noteworthy astronomical events.

UPSC GS 3

5. Akasha300 3D Printer

Ø News:   A Kerala-based start-up has supplied the Akasha300 3D Printer to Indian Space Research Organisation, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing and self-reliance.

Ø Nature of the Technology: The Akasha300 is a high-temperature, multi-material extrusion 3D printer designed for advanced applications.

Ø Institutional Support: The system has been developed with support from the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and the Kerala Startup Mission.

Ø Features of Akasha300 3D Printer:

o Extrusion Capability:

§ The printer is equipped with dual-extrusion technology capable of operating at temperatures up to 350°C.

§ Future upgrades are planned to extend this capability up to 500°C.

o Modular Design: 

§ It has a modular extruder system that allows the addition of multiple extrusion units.

§ This supports the development of hybrid additive manufacturing processes.

o Thermal Control:

§ The printer includes a heated bed that can reach temperatures up to 110°C, which can be upgraded to 150°C.

§ It also features an enclosed chamber capable of maintaining temperatures up to 80°C.

§ These features enable precise printing of high-performance materials that require controlled thermal environments.

o Industrial Design:

§ The system is designed as an industrial-grade research platform.

§ It incorporates a durable motion system along with integrated air filtration.

Ø Significance:

o The advanced features of the printer make it suitable for research and development activities.

o It enables engineers and scientists to produce functional components and prototypes with improved speed and accuracy.

6. Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP)

Ø News:   The Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises recently informed the Rajya Sabha about the Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme.

Ø Nature of the Scheme:

o The programme is a demand-driven Central Sector Scheme.

o It focuses on promoting the overall development of Micro and Small Enterprises through a cluster-based approach.

Ø Core Aim:

o The scheme seeks to enhance productivity and competitiveness of MSEs by addressing common challenges within clusters.

Ø Implementation Mechanism:

o State Governments submit proposals under the scheme.

o These proposals relate to the establishment of Common Facility Centres and the development or upgradation of infrastructure within clusters.

Ø Objectives of MSE-CDP:

o Productivity and Competitiveness:

§ The programme aims to strengthen the sustainability and growth of MSEs.

§ It addresses shared issues such as technological improvement, skill development, quality enhancement, and better market access.

o Capacity Building:

§ It promotes collective action among MSEs through the formation of self-help groups, consortia, and strengthened industry associations.

o Infrastructure Development:

§ It focuses on creating or upgrading infrastructure in both new and existing industrial clusters and areas.

o Common Facilities:

§ The scheme supports the establishment of Common Facility Centres.

§ These centres provide services such as testing, training, raw material storage, effluent treatment, and support for production processes.

o Promotion of Sustainability:

§ It encourages the adoption of green and sustainable manufacturing practices.

§ This enables enterprises to transition towards environmentally friendly production methods and products.

Ø Components of MSE-CDP:

o Common Facility Centres (CFCs):

§ This component involves the creation of shared tangible assets within industrial estates.

§ These facilities are accessible to multiple enterprises within a cluster.

o Infrastructure Development (ID):

§ This component focuses on developing infrastructure in new or existing notified industrial estates.

§ It also includes the establishment of flatted factory complexes.

Ø Nodal Ministry:  The programme is implemented under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.