15 Jan | UPSC Current Affairs: Thiruvalluvar Day, RoDTEP Scheme, Esterase Enzyme, Nag Mark 2, and More

UPSC GS 1

Thiruvalluvar Day

  • News: PM Modi recently remembered the great Tamil philosopher, poet and thinker Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day.ย 
  • About Thiruvalluvar Day:
    • Initially celebrated on May 17 and 18 in 1935.
    • Currently observed on either January 15 or 16 in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal festivities.
    • The day is dedicated to and commemorates the poet Thiruvalluvar.
  • Who was Thiruvalluvar?
    • Thiruvalluvar was a revered poet and philosopher who holds a significant cultural status among Tamils.
    • He is affectionately known as Valluvar by the Tamil community.

Thiruvalluvar Day

  • Notable Work โ€“ Thirukkural:
    • Thirukkural is Thiruvalluvarโ€™s most celebrated work, consisting of couplets focusing on ethics, politics, economy, and love.
    • The text comprises 1,330 couplets (kurals) organized into 133 sections, with each section containing 10 couplets.
    • The content is divided into three main themes:
    • Dharma (virtue)
    • Artha (wealth)
    • Kama (love)
    • Each section provides a comprehensive range of topics, offering moral, ethical, and practical insights.
    • The concise and poetic style of the couplets ensures they are easily remembered and quoted.

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Rat-hole Mining

  • News: The rat-hole mining tragedy in Assamโ€™s Dima Hasao district in which a number of workers have lost their lives is not the first of its kind.
  • Definition:
    • The term “rat hole” refers to narrow pits excavated into the ground, just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal.
    • This method involves digging small tunnels, typically 3-4 feet in diameter, where workers, often children, extract coal.

Rat-hole Mining

  • Prevalence in Northeastern India:
    • Geographical and Geological Constraints:
      • The terrain and coal deposits in the Northeast are unsuitable for large-scale commercial mining.
      • The coal seams are extremely thin, making methods like open-cast mining economically impractical.
    • Coal Quality:
      • Coal in the region contains high levels of sulfur and is considered low-grade, discouraging significant private investment.
    • Tribal Land Ownership:
      • Under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, land in tribal states like Meghalaya is privately owned.
      • Coal mining is carried out by private parties who lack the capacity for large-scale investment.
    • Economic Dependence:
      • Locals view these mines as a source of livelihood, offering employment opportunities and financial benefits in underdeveloped areas with minimal investment.
  • Types of Rat-Hole Mining:
    • Side-Cutting Mining: Conducted on hill slopes by following coal seams. Narrow tunnels are excavated horizontally until coal is located.
    • Box-Cutting Mining: Involves digging a circular or square pit, about 5 square meters wide, up to a depth of 400 feet. Once the coal seam is discovered, horizontal tunnels are created for extraction.
  • Health and Safety Concerns:
    • Poor ventilation increases the risk of asphyxiation for workers.
    • Lack of structural support may lead to mine collapses.
    • The mines are prone to flooding, endangering workers’ lives.
  • Environmental Impact:
    • Leads to severe land degradation.
    • Contributes to deforestation in mining areas.
    • Causes water pollution due to the leaching of pollutants.
  • Present Status:
    • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014, reiterating the ban in 2015.
    • The ban was based on the practice being deemed unscientific and unsafe for workers.
    • A committee led by Justice (Retired) BP Katakey, appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, was tasked with recommending measures to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court and NGT directives.
    • The committee highlighted ongoing illegal mining activities and the unchecked flow of coal to markets despite the ban.

UPSC GS 2

RoDTEP Scheme

  • News: Amid global economic uncertainties, the industry has urged the government to extend key export-boosting scheme Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) for export-oriented units (EOUs) and special economic zones (SEZs) till September 2025.
  • Introduction and Implementation:
    • The RoDTEP scheme was introduced as an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20.
    • It became effective from January 1, 2021, covering eligible exports from that date.
  • Objective:
    • The scheme aims to offset taxes and duties embedded in exported goods that are not eligible for credit, reimbursement, or refunds through other mechanisms.
    • It seeks to reduce the tax burden on exports, thereby promoting export-friendly conditions and enhancing the volume of exports from India.

RoDTEP Scheme

  • Administration:
    • It is managed by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
  • WTO Compliance:
    • The scheme aligns with global trade principles, ensuring that taxes and duties are not exported.
    • RoDTEP replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) after the WTO dispute panel ruled against India, following a challenge by the US regarding Indian export subsidies under MEIS.
  • Tax Reimbursement under RoDTEP Scheme:
    • Coverage of Reimbursement:
    • Taxes, duties, and levies incurred at the central, state, and local levels that are not refunded by any other mechanism are covered under the scheme.
    • This includes both direct costs borne by exporters and prior-stage cumulative indirect taxes on goods.
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Applicability:
    • Open to all sectors engaged in the export of goods, irrespective of turnover, provided the goods are manufactured in India.
    • Both merchant exporters and manufacturer exporters are eligible, provided the goods are directly exported by them.
    • Exports through e-commerce platforms are also included under the scheme.
    • Priority Sectors:
    • Labor-intensive sectors, previously benefiting under MEIS, are prioritized for benefits under this scheme.
    • Ineligible Products:
    • Re-exported goods do not qualify for benefits under this scheme.
    • Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export-Oriented Units (EOUs):
    • Units operating within SEZs and EOUs are eligible to claim benefits.
  • Process of Refund:
    • Rebates are provided as a percentage of the freight on board (FOB) value of eligible exports.
    • Benefits are issued in the form of transferrable e-scrips, which are managed electronically in a credit ledger maintained by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
  • Usage of e-Scrips:
    • These e-scrips can be utilized to pay basic customs duties on imported goods.
    • Alternatively, they can be transferred electronically to another party.

UPSC GS 3

Esterase Enzyme

  • News: ย Aย teamย ofย researchers has successfully usedย anย enzyme esterase enzymeย toย break down diethyl hexyl phthalateย (DEHP)ย plasticizer.ย 
  • Source of Production: The esterase enzyme is produced by soil bacteria Sulfobacillus acidophilus.
  • Structural Characterization: The enzyme’s structure was determined through X-ray crystallography.

Esterase Enzyme

  • Activity and Efficiency:
    • It remains active for approximately one month.
    • The enzyme efficiently catalyzes the degradation of diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer.
  • Mechanism of Action: The enzyme breaks down DEHP into two products:
    • Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP).
    • 2-ethyl hexanol.

Mechanism of Action

  • Complete Degradation Process:
    • When combined with other enzymes identified by researchers, this enzyme can convert high molecular weight phthalate plasticizers into water and carbon dioxide.
  • Additional Enzymes:
    • Researchers utilized three other enzymes in sequence from Comamonas testosteroni bacteria to enhance degradation.
    • These enzymes, when combined with esterase, can accelerate the breakdown process.
  • Integration with Bacteria:
    • Integrating all five enzymes into bacteria significantly extends their activity, allowing for continuous use in degrading plasticizers.
    • Bacteria containing the enzymes can maintain activity for longer periods, making the degradation process more sustainable.
  • Standalone Enzyme Use:
    • Without bacterial integration, the enzymes remain active only for a short duration.
    • To continue the degradation process in such cases, fresh batches of enzymes must be produced.

Trichophyton Indotineae

  • News:ย  Dermatologists from the India and 13 other counties, including Germany, have objected to the region-specific nomenclature given to a novel species of fungus,ย Trichophyton (T.) indotineae.
  • Definition:
    • Trichophyton indotineae is a fungal pathogen known to cause challenging skin infections, frequently reported from India.
  • Naming and Origin:
    • The fungus was named after India in 2020 by a Japanese research group.
    • This naming was based on isolates obtained from India and Nepal, following the academic tradition of naming new pathogens after the region where they are first identified.
  • Global Presence:
    • The fungus has been documented in more than 40 countries.
  • Classification:
    • It belongs to the dermatophyte group of fungi.
    • Dermatophytosis refers to superficial infections of the skin, hair, and nails caused by dermatophyte fungi.
  • Symptoms and Effects:
    • T. indotineae leads to inflammatory and itchy dermatophytosis, often spreading to the groins, gluteal area, trunk, and face.
    • It affects individuals of all ages and genders.
  • Mode of Transmission:
    • The fungus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact.
    • It can also be transmitted via contaminated objects like towels and clothing.
  • Drug Resistance:
    • The pathogen exhibits resistance to terbinafine, which is a commonly used first-line antifungal medication.

Nag Mark 2

  • News: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted field evaluation trials of India’s indigenous Anti-Tank Missile – Nag Mark 2 at the Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan.
  • Definition:
    • Nag Mark 2 is an indigenously developed third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile.
    • The missile represents India’s increasing self-reliance in advanced defence technology.
    • It has been developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Nag Mark 2

  • Capabilities:
    • The missile system has proven its operational range by successfully striking targets at both maximum and minimum distances.
    • Its expected range is between 7 and 10 kilometers.
  • Fire-and-Forget Technology:
    • This technology allows operators to lock onto a target before launch, ensuring high precision and accuracy during strikes.
  • Versatility:
    • Nag Mark 2 is designed to neutralize advanced armored threats, including vehicles equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA).
  • Warhead Configuration:
    • It is equipped with a High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead, enabling it to effectively penetrate and strike vulnerable parts of enemy armored targets.

See more: Minimum Support Price (MSP) โ€“ Key for UPSC Preparation

Facts for Prelims

Indian Army Dayย 

  • News: ย The celebrations of the 77th Indian Army Day, commemorated each year on January 15, will include a grand light and sound show in Puneย .
  • Date of Celebration: Celebrated annually on January 15.
  • Theme for Indian Army Day 2025: โ€˜Samarth Bharat, Saksham Senaโ€™

Indian Army Day

  • Historical Significance: Indian Army Day was initiated in 1949, marking the transfer of command of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher (a British Army officer) to Lieutenant General KM Cariappa (an Indian Army officer).
  • About Lieutenant General KM Cariappa:
    • He was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
    • He hailed from the state of Karnataka.
    • He was one of only two individuals to receive the prestigious title of Field Marshal of India, alongside Sam Manekshaw.
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