30 APR | UPSC Current Affairs | Avars, Bru Community, NOTA, WEC, AEO, Solar, Biohacking and More

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GS Paper 1

Avars

  • News:  Insights into the social life of Avars have been uncovered through DNA analysis of ancient graves.
  • Who were the Avars?
    • The Avars were a nomadic people originating from eastern central Asia.
    •  From the 6th to the 9th century CE, they wielded power over much of eastern central Europe.
  • Successors of the Huns: 
    • Avars are viewed as successors of the Huns due to similarities in lifestyle and warfare tactics. 
  • Ethnic Origin and Military Reputation: 
    • They are believed to be of Turkic or Mongolic descent.
    • Renowned for military prowess and expansionist tendencies.
  • Migration and Establishment of Empire
    • Avars originated from the Eurasian Steppe.
    • They migrated westward and founded a dominant empire in Pannonia.
    • Pannonia roughly corresponds to modern-day Hungary and its surrounding regions
  • Patrilineal Descent:
    • Strict adherence to patrilineal descent, tracing lineage through the father’s line. 
  • Intermarriage Practices:
    • Avoided inbreeding within their society.
    • Men maintained lineage within their paternal community.
    • Women ensured social cohesion through marrying outside their family’s community, known as female exogamy.
    • Engaged in limited intermarriage with non-Avar groups. 
  • Levirate Unions:
    • Avars included the practice of a widow marrying a male from the family of her deceased spouse, often a brother. 
    • It was similar to the Niyoga tradition observed in ancient India. 
    • Not widely common in Europe but established among steppe peoples from Asia, as noted by researchers. 

Bru Community

  • News: Bru migrants residing in Tripura exercised their voting rights for the first time in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the northeastern state.
  •  Brus (Reangs):
    • They are indigenous tribal community from northeast India. 
    • They have historical presence in Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam. 
    • They are designated Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tripura. 
  • Historical Displacement and Persecution: 
    • Most Brus residing in Tripura have suffered internal displacement.
    • Being ethnically distinct from the majority Mizos, the Brus are often referred to as “Vai” in the state, meaning outsiders or non-Mizos.
    • The dispute started in 1995 when the Young Mizo Association demanded that Brus be eliminated from Mizoram’s electoral rolls as they were not indigenous inhabitants. 
    • Tensions escalated after Brus retaliated against Mizos’ attempts to disenfranchise them.
    • Formation of the Bru National Liberation Front and the Bru National Union in response to the conflict.
    • Demand for the creation of a separate Bru Autonomous District Council (ADC) in western Mizoram under the Indian Constitution’s sixth schedule.
    • In 2020, a quadripartite agreement was reached involving the Central government, the governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and representatives of the Bru-Reang community. 
      • This agreement aimed to facilitate the permanent settlement of Bru refugees in Tripura.

GS Paper 2

NOTA (None of the above) Option

  • News: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea calling for fresh elections if the ’none of the above’ (NOTA) option gets maximum votes.
  • Definition:
    • NOTA is a ballot option allowing electors to express their negative opinions and lack of support for the contenders in an election.
  • Implementation and Availability:
    • In September 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of including the ‘none of the above’ option in ballots, mandating the ECI to incorporate a button for NOTA in all EVMs.
    • The button for NOTA is available at the bottom of all the EVMs.
    • NOTA was first available during the Assembly elections in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh in 2013.
  • NOTA and Rule 49-O:
    • While NOTA has been in force since 2013, Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, allows electors to decide not to vote.
    • Under Rule 49-O, if a voter chooses not to vote, the presiding officer notes it in the remarks section next to their name in the voter list, along with their signature or thumb impression.
    • However, this violates the secrecy of the vote, unlike the anonymity provided by NOTA.
  • What Happens If NOTA Gets The Most Votes?
    • Votes cast as NOTA are counted but are considered ‘invalid votes.’
    • Even if NOTA receives the highest number of votes in a constituency, the candidate with the second-highest number of votes is declared the winner.
    • Therefore, votes for NOTA do not alter the outcome of the election.

Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions

  • News:  The meeting of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the UN-recognised Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) worldwide will be held soon.
  • Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI):
    • Foundation: Established in 1993 as the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) for the promotion and protection of human rights (ICC).
    • Transformation: Renamed as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in 2016.
    • Aim: To unite, promote, and strengthen NHRIs to operate in line with the UN Paris Principles.
    • Representation: Represents National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) worldwide.
    • Members: GANHRI is composed of 120 members. 
  • Accreditation by the GANHRI: 
    • In a unique peer-review-based accreditation process, GANHRI ensures individual NHRIs’ compliance with Paris Principles to ensure their independence, pluralism and accountability.
      • The Paris Principles set out internationally agreed minimum standards that NHRIs must meet to be considered credible.
      • The six principles require a country‘s human rights agency to be independent from the government in its structure, composition, decision-making and method of operation. 
      • The principles were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
    • GANHRI,  through the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), is responsible for reviewing and accrediting NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles.
    • NHRIs that are assessed as complying with the Paris Principles are accredited with ‘A status’, while those that partially comply are accredited with ‘B status’.
    • This accreditation status affects a country’s ability to vote at the UN Human Rights Council and some UNGA bodies.
  • India’s NHRC: India’s NHRC got ‘A’ status of accreditation for the first time in 1999, which it retained in 2006, 2011, and in 2017 after it was deferred for a year.
    • India’s NHRC’s ratings were put on hold in 2023 over concerns on:
      •  composition procedure, 
      • presence of police personnel in human rights investigations, and 
      • lack of gender and minority representation

Debunking the Myth: UPSC Civil Services Exam is Not Just for the Super-Intelligent

World Energy Council (WEC)

  • News: The 2024 World Energy Congress is coming to closure. 
  • Establishment and Membership: 
    • The World Energy Council was formed in 1923. 
    • It has nearly 3,000 member organizations including governments, private and state corporations, academia, NGOs. 
  • The Energy Trilemma:  The WEC’s central concept is the “Energy Trilemma,” which highlights the need to balance energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability.
  • Influencing Energy Strategies: WEC informs global, regional, and national energy strategies through high-level events, authoritative studies, and an extensive member network, facilitating energy policy dialogue worldwide.
  • World Energy Congress: Organizes the World Energy Congress, a major global event on energy issues.
  • Headquarters: London, UK

GS Paper 3

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Status

  • News:  The Central Government has extended Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status to the gem and jewellery sector.
  • Definition: AEO is a programme under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade.
  • Aim: The aim is to enhance international supply chain security and facilitate movement of legitimate goods.
  • Approval Process: Under this programme, an entity engaged in international trade is approved by the Customs as compliant with supply chain security standards, and granted AEO status and certain benefits.
  • India’s AEO Programme:  The AEO programme was introduced as pilot project in 2011 by the Customs department as part of a broader framework for ease of doing business.
    • AEO is a voluntary compliance programme. 
    • It enables the Indian Customs to enhance and streamline cargo security through close cooperation with the principal stakeholders of the international supply chain viz. importers, exporters, logistics providers, custodians or terminal operators, custom brokers and warehouse operators.

Bima Vistaar

  • News: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed the pricing for Bima Vistaar.
  • Bima Vistaar: 
    • It is an industry-wide, tech-enabled distribution and servicing platform.
    • It is a bundled product which will provide life, health, casualty and property cover in a single insurance policy at an affordable price.
  • Target Group: Primarily aimed at India’s rural population. 
    • The product is meant to enhance their access their access to adequate coverage against death, sickness, accident and damage to property.
  • Product Offerings and Pricing:
    • Life cover: Rs 820 premium, Rs 2 lakh sum assured
    • Health cover: Rs 500 premium, Rs 500 sum assured for 10 days, max Rs 5,000 without bills
    • Personal accident cover: Rs 100 premium, Rs 2 lakh sum assured
    • Property cover: Rs 80 premium, Rs 2 lakh sum assured
    • Family floater policy: Rs 2,420 for entire family, additional Rs 900 for rest of family members.
  • Bima Trinity: Bima Vistaar forms part of IRDAI’s Bima Trinity initiative, the other two are: 
    • Bima Sugam, the digital Amazon like platform for insurance products
    • Bima Vahak, a women-centric distribution channel to focus on reaching untapped/rural areas (aiming for one Bima Vahak in every Gram Sabha).
  • Importance: 
    • Bima Vistaar is considered as a mass product for increasing insurance penetration in the country. 
    • This initiative not only encourages more people to invest in insurance for their protection but also promotes financial inclusion. 
  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI): It is a statutory body set up for protecting the interests of the policyholders and regulating, promoting and ensuring orderly growth of the insurance industry in India.

Solar Photovoltaic  Potential

  • News: A recent study has highlighted that with a decreased trend in solar radiations in India, the solar power potential in India has decreased over the last three decades.
  • Definition:
      • SPV refers to the amount of radiation available for conversion to electricity by solar panels.
      • It is based on the photovoltaic effect, where light exposure generates voltage and electric current in a material.
  • Measurement and Unit:
      • SPV is quantified as kilowatt hours per installed kilowatt of capacity (KWh/kWp).
  • Determining Factors:
      • Solar radiation levels
      • Angle and orientation of solar panels
      • Shading
      • Weather patterns (with decreased efficiency at higher temperatures)
  • Factors Causing Decrease  in SPV in certain parts of India:
  • Air Pollution: Pollutants like dust particles and aerosols act as a barrier in the atmosphere, scattering and absorbing sunlight.
  • Fine particles from fossil fuel burning and industrial emissions particularly contribute to reducing SPV.
  • Increased Cloud Cover: Clouds obstruct direct sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels and diminishing SPV.
  • Solar Energy Capacity in India
      • India’s solar energy capacity: approximately 81 GW
      • Potential peak capacity: 748 GW
      • Global ranking: 5th in solar power capacity
  • Government Initiatives:
    • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
    • Solar Park Scheme

World Coral Conservatory Project

  • News: Self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project have been added to Europe’s largest reef at Burgers’ Zoo in the Netherlands, offering hope amid declining coral populations worldwide.
  • Initiation in Monaco (2019): Launched by the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert II Foundation, and other partners in Monaco in 2019.
  • Objective of the Project: Aims to safeguard a diverse collection of coral species through the cultivation of samples taken from the natural environment, focusing on breeding coral for conservation purposes.
  • First Project with Known Origin: Marks the beginning of initiatives where corals are kept with a known origin, enhancing transparency and accountability in coral conservation efforts. 
  • Addressing Decline of Coral Reef Populations: Part of a global effort to combat the decline of coral reef populations, primarily due to bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures.
  • Partnerships with Aquariums: 
    • Collaborates with both public and private aquariums to preserve living colonies of corals.
    • Shares these colonies for conservation efforts, enhancing collaborative conservation initiatives.
  • Collaboration with Zoos and Scientific Centers:
    • Collaborates with two zoos in France and the Monaco Scientific Center, the originator of the project.
    • A zoo in the eastern Netherlands has also participated, taking in over a dozen coral fragments from the coast of Seychelles in East Africa.
  • Creation of Coral Bank:
    • Aims to establish a bank of corals in aquariums across Europe.
    • Intends to use this bank to repopulate wild coral reefs in case they are adversely affected by climate change or pollution.
  • Role of Corals in Marine Ecosystems:
    • Vibrant and healthy reefs form through a symbiotic relationship between coral and algae, specifically zooxanthellae.
    • Coral provides protection and compounds necessary for photosynthesis to the algae.
    • Algae produce carbohydrates and aids in waste removal for the coral.
    • Corals are considered keystone marine species, playing a central role in marine ecosystems.
  • Coral Bleaching Phenomenon:
    • Bleaching occurs when stressed corals expel the algae responsible for their vibrant colors.
    • The algae also serve as a food source for the coral.
    • Prolonged or severe bleaching can lead to coral death.
    • In 2022, bleaching affected 90% of the coral assessed in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem.
    • Significant bleaching was also observed in the Florida Coral Reef, the third-largest reef system, in the previous year.

Biohacking

  • News:   The practice of biohacking is gaining traction in India, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Delhi and Mumbai. Its influence is gradually spreading to Tier II and III cities nationwide.
  • Definition:
    • It is a practice of biomaking that involves making incremental changes to bodies, diets, and lifestyles to enhance health, performance, or well-being.
    • It is also known as DIY (do-it-yourself) biology.

biohacking

  • Scope and Targets of Biohacking:
      • Targets various goals, from boosting energy and cognitive function to optimizing sleep and achieving longevity.
      • Activities range from taking supplements to experimental practices like gene editing and blood transfusions.
  • Categories and Mechanisms:
    • Age Biohacking: Focuses on cellular senescence, particularly popular among individuals aged 35 to 50. Aimed at maintaining cellular health and regeneration to mitigate signs of aging.
    • Energy Biohacking: Prioritizes proper rest, sleep, and stress relief practices to conserve energy.
    • Intertwining Food and Biohacking: Synergizes dietary habits with biohacking to enhance aspects like digestion, weight loss, and metabolic efficiency.
    • Diet and Nutrition Biohacking: Involves consuming supplements, using metabolism monitoring devices, and practicing intermittent fasting.
  • Regulatory Status in India: India currently does not have targeted regulations addressing the practice of biohacking.
    • FSSAI Regulations: Introduced regulations for nutraceuticals in 2016, but enforcement is uncertain.
    • CDSCO Guidelines: Provides guidelines for biological products like vaccines and gene therapies but lacks comprehensive coverage of all biohacking practices.

Mephedrone

  • News: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a network of clandestine mephedrone manufacturing laboratories in Gujarat.
  • Mephedrone: Known by street names such as M-CAT, meow meow, or drone, mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant drug.
  • Chemical Classification:
    • Classified as part of the amphetamine and cathinone class.
    • Shares a similar chemical structure with amphetamines (e.g., ecstasy) and cathinones (found in the khat plant).
  • Legal Status:
    • Mephedrone is illegal in many countries, including India, where it is banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
  • Health Impacts:
    • Individuals under the influence may experience anxiety, paranoia, nausea, and insomnia.
    • Prolonged use has been linked to more severe consequences, including cardiovascular issues and hallucinations.
    • Raises concerns about addiction potential and long-term psychological harm, including instances of aggressive behavior.
  • Narcotics Control Bureau:
    • It was created in March 1986 in terms of Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
    • It is a Central Authority for the purpose of effectively preventing and combating abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their illicit trade.
    • It falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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