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| Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: Plastic Pollution and BioE3 Policy for the UPSC Exam? Why are topics like Road Safety in India and Parliamentary Committees important for both preliminary and main exams? Discover more insights in the UPSC Exam Notes for September 10, 2024 |
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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on September 10, 2024
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India tops plastic pollution rankings, emitting a fifth of global plastic waste
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment & ecology
Context:
India is now the biggest plastic polluter in the world, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) annually. This amounts to roughly one-fifth of global plastic emissions.
Read about:
What is a microplastic?
What is nanoparticle?
Key takeaways:
Microplastics refer to tiny plastic particles, usually less than 5 millimeters in diameter, that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are produced as small particles in products like cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes. They are a major environmental concern due to their persistence, widespread distribution, and impact on ecosystems
Key Aspects of Microplastics:
- Primary microplastics: These are manufactured as small particles, such as microbeads in personal care products or fibers from synthetic textiles.
- Secondary microplastics: These originate from the degradation of larger plastic products like bottles, bags, and fishing nets due to exposure to sunlight, ocean waves, and other environmental factors
- Marine pollution: Microplastics have been found in oceans, rivers, and even in polar regions, severely affecting marine life. Fish, birds, and marine mammals often mistake them for food, leading to ingestion and potential poisoning.
- Soil contamination: Microplastics are also found in agricultural soils due to the use of plastic mulch and sewage sludge. This can affect soil health and potentially enter the food chain.
- Microplastics have been found in drinking water, food, and even the air. While the full extent of their impact on human health is still under research, there are concerns about toxicity and the chemicals associated with plastics entering the human body
- Some countries have introduced bans on products containing microplastics, such as microbeads in cosmetics.
- International efforts are underway to reduce plastic pollution, including commitments to reduce single-use plastics and improve waste management systems
Types of Nanoparticles:
- Natural nanoparticles: These occur naturally in the environment, such as volcanic ash, ocean spray, and combustion by-products.
- Engineered nanoparticles: These are intentionally designed and manufactured for specific applications, including in medicine, electronics, and cosmetics. Examples include carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
- Incidental nanoparticles: These are by-products of industrial processes, such as those produced during fuel combustion or manufacturing
Environmental and Health Concerns:
- Toxicity: Due to their small size, nanoparticles can easily enter living organisms and tissues, potentially causing harm. Some nanoparticles may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, or other toxic effects in humans, animals, and plants.
- Environmental impact: Nanoparticles can accumulate in ecosystems, leading to unknown long-term environmental consequences. Their persistence and behavior in soil, water, and air need more research to understand their full ecological impact.
- Regulation: There is a need for strict regulation of the use and disposal of nanoparticles to mitigate potential risks. Governments and international organizations are still working on standard guidelines for nanoparticle safety
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Answer (D)
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The government recently introduced the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) policy, which at first glance seems focused on boosting growth in the biotech industry. However, its true aim is to overhaul traditional industrial and manufacturing processes to make them more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and resource-efficient. The policy promotes the use of biotechnology to develop manufacturing techniques that imitate natural biological processes. Officials see this as a crucial step toward the "industrialization of biology," a shift that could significantly impact the economy.
Potential Benefits of Biotechnology
- Biotechnology, which involves manipulating organisms and biological systems to create desired products or solutions, spans fields like genomics, genetic engineering, and synthetic biology.
- This science has already provided breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, and genetic treatments. Innovations such as gene editing, protein synthesis, and enzyme production—enhanced by artificial intelligence and data processing—are pushing the boundaries of what biotechnology can achieve.
- Environmentally friendly alternatives to products like synthetic clothing, plastics, and even food are now possible thanks to advances in biotechnology. Precision fermentation, for instance, can create animal-free milk that is nutritionally identical to natural milk but with a smaller carbon footprint.
- Biodegradable plastics made from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane offer a greener alternative to traditional plastics, which are petroleum-based and harmful to the environment.
- Biotechnology also offers new ways to capture and utilize carbon dioxide, such as using microorganisms to convert CO2 into biofuels, avoiding the need for long-term storage. In the emerging field of synthetic biology, scientists are creating new organisms from scratch to perform specific functions, such as growing organs in laboratories through organogenesis, potentially revolutionizing organ transplants.
- While some biotech innovations are already on the market, like animal-free milk, many are still in the development phase, facing challenges related to scalability, cost, and regulation.
How Can BioE3 Policy Benefit India?
- The BioE3 policy aims to prepare India for an economy shaped by biomanufacturing—the industrial production of goods using biological processes. Government estimates predict that biomanufacturing alone could generate an economic impact of $2-4 trillion over the next decade.
- Although the policy is not expected to yield immediate economic gains, it focuses on building research capabilities, fostering innovation, and training talent to ensure India is ready to capitalize on these technologies when they mature.
- Similar to other government initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence Mission, the Quantum Mission, and the Green Hydrogen Mission, BioE3 is designed to position India at the forefront of futuristic technologies that address critical issues such as climate change and energy security.
- The policy includes plans to establish biomanufacturing hubs across India where industries and start-ups can collaborate to produce bio-based chemicals, smart proteins, enzymes, and more.
- These hubs will focus on six key areas: bio-based chemicals, functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture, and advanced marine and space research.
- One goal of the marine and space research is to develop systems that recycle waste and generate oxygen and food for space missions, potentially using algae or special plants. Meanwhile, marine organisms could inspire new pharmaceuticals or cosmetic compounds.
- The BioE3 policy represents a forward-thinking approach to using biotechnology to meet future economic and environmental challenges
1.According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (UPSC 2020)
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
B. 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
C. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
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Answer (A)
According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, raw materials that can be used for the production of biofuels include:
Groundnut seeds (3) and Horse gram (4) are not typically used for biofuel production under the policy. Groundnut seeds are primarily used for oil extraction and food products, while horse gram is a legume used for food |
The "India Status Report on Road Safety 2024," compiled by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, highlights the country’s slow progress in achieving international targets for reducing road accident fatalities. The report underscores the relationship between road construction, mobility, and the need for a tailored approach to reduce road accidents.
Key Findings of the Report
The report examines road safety in India using First Information Reports (FIRs) from six states, along with audits of state compliance with Supreme Court road safety directives. It reveals disparities in road traffic death rates across states, highlighting the vulnerability of motorcyclists and the high fatality rates in crashes involving trucks. Road traffic injuries continue to pose a significant public health challenge in India, with limited progress in reducing fatalities, despite developments in other sectors. Most Indian states are unlikely to meet the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety target of halving traffic fatalities by 2030.
In 2021, road traffic injuries ranked as the 13th leading cause of death in India and the 12th leading cause of health loss, measured by Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). In six states (Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh), these injuries were among the top 10 causes of health loss.
Why Crash Surveillance is Crucial
India's road safety data systems are inadequate for shaping effective policy. The country lacks a national database of individual crash data. Current road safety statistics are aggregated from police station records at various levels before being published, allowing for only basic analysis, which hinders the creation of effective interventions. Additionally, comparisons with other datasets, such as the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and the Sample Registration System (SRS), show inconsistencies, particularly concerning the mode of transport involved in accidents—a critical element in road safety management.
Due to the absence of a comprehensive crash surveillance system, the report relied on FIRs from six states and road safety governance audit reports.
State-Level Road Safety Performance
The report highlights significant variations in road safety across India, with death rates per capita differing by more than threefold between states. In 2021, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh recorded the highest fatality rates, with 21.9, 19.2, and 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively, while West Bengal and Bihar had the lowest rates, at 5.9 per 100,000. Six states—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu—accounted for almost half of all road fatalities in India.
The report also notes that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized two-wheeler riders are the most frequent victims of road accidents, while trucks are responsible for the majority of collisions. Despite the proven effectiveness of helmets in reducing fatalities, helmet usage among motorized two-wheeler riders exceeds 50% in only seven states. Additionally, many states lag in basic road safety measures, such as proper signage, road markings, and traffic calming techniques. Rural areas suffer from low helmet usage and inadequate trauma care facilities, necessitating region-specific strategies to address these issues.
Global Comparison and India’s Road Safety Challenges
When compared to developed nations like Sweden and other Scandinavian countries that have excelled in road safety, India fares poorly. In 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident than a person in these countries; by 2021, this disparity had increased to 600%, highlighting the sharp rise in road fatalities. The report questions whether better vehicle safety features alone can address this issue, as two-wheeler riders and cyclists constitute the majority of road fatalities.
The Path Forward
The report calls for central and state governments to scale up road safety initiatives. Establishing a national database for fatal crashes would provide crucial insights into the risks faced by road users and the effectiveness of various interventions across states. Public access to this data could further improve road safety measures and policy implementation
The Universal Evolution of Parliamentary Committees
- In his analysis of the British parliamentary system, Walter Bagehot remarked, "A big meeting never does anything," in The English Constitution (1867). The committee system, however, is not unique to the British parliamentary framework. Committees play a pivotal role in legislatures around the world.
- Former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson once highlighted the importance of committees by stating that 'Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work,' referring to these bodies as 'little legislatures.'
- Parliamentary committees are crucial mechanisms designed to address the limitations of large legislative bodies by tackling complex organisational and technical issues. Independent India adopted the modern committee system from the British model but also developed new approaches to manage the substantial workload of its extensive Parliament effectively.
The Origins of India’s Parliamentary Committee System
- India's parliamentary committee system traces its roots to the British colonial era. The first committee, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), was set up in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919, also known as the Montford Reforms.
- After the first Lok Sabha election in 1952, the unelected standing advisory committees were dissolved, leaving the PAC and the Estimates Committee (created in 1950) to operate under the direct authority of the Lok Sabha Speaker. By convention, the chair of the PAC is usually from the opposition.
- In addition to financial committees, the Rules Committee was active in the First Lok Sabha, while innovations such as the Business Advisory Committee (chaired by the Speaker) and the Committee on Government Assurance were established. Another significant milestone was the formation of the Committee on Public Undertakings during the third Lok Sabha.
Expansion of the Committee System
- In the 1990s, the parliamentary committee system in India underwent a significant expansion. The Rules Committee approved the creation of three departmental standing committees—agriculture, science and technology, and environment and forest—in 1989.
- By 1993, this was extended to 17 departmental-related standing committees (DRSCs), each comprising 45 members.
- The goal was to make parliamentary work more efficient, enhance executive accountability, and incorporate expert and public opinion into the legislative process.
- The creation of DRSCs coincided with the rise of coalition politics, frequent disruptions in Parliament, declining legislative oversight, and the expedited passage of legislation through ‘guillotine’ procedures.
- There are two main types of committees: standing committees, which are permanent and reconstituted annually, and ad hoc committees, which are formed for specific tasks and dissolved once their work is completed. Principal ad hoc committees include select and joint committees on bills.
- Parliamentary committee members, referred to as panels of MPs, are appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker. These committees operate under the Speaker’s guidance and submit reports to either the House or the Speaker. Their authority is derived from Article 105 (regarding MPs' privileges) and Article 118 (allowing Parliament to regulate its procedures and conduct).
Significance of Parliamentary Committees
- The increasing complexity of modern governance has rendered traditional legislative control over the executive inadequate. MPs find it difficult to scrutinise every aspect of government operations in the limited time available during parliamentary sessions. Committees help bridge this gap by allowing members to spend more time on specific issues and examine them in detail.
- Parliamentary committees also enable members to consult experts in relevant fields and engage with stakeholders during deliberations. This process often helps MPs from different political parties reach a consensus on challenging issues.
- Additionally, committees foster collaboration between the two Houses of Parliament, which is rare in other circumstances, and provide opportunities for MPs not included in coalition government cabinets to contribute to governance.
- Since the establishment of DRSCs in 1993, the committee system has proven to be one of the most effective components of India’s parliamentary system, as demonstrated by the frequency of meetings and the number of reports submitted to Parliament
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Answer (B)
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Why is the spread of mpox concerning?
Mpox, first identified in humans in 1970, has gained attention due to the spread of a new variant, Clade Ib. Organisms in a clade share a common evolutionary origin, and for mpox, there are two distinct clades: Clade I and Clade II, with Clade I being more severe. The Clade Ib variant appears to spread more quickly among humans than earlier variants, including transmission through sexual contact. In contrast, Clade Ia primarily originates from animals, as reported by Nature. The new variant has also impacted more women and children in African countries, raising concerns. Scientists are still investigating the factors driving this change in transmission patterns.
What vaccines are being used against mpox?
- Currently, three vaccines are available to combat mpox, all of which are modified versions of vaccinia, a live virus that was also the foundation of the smallpox vaccine. Although mpox is less severe and has lower fatality rates compared to smallpox, its rapid spread is attributed to its animal reservoirs, which smallpox lacked.
- The most widely used vaccine is Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), produced by Bavarian Nordic in Denmark. This vaccine is approved for mpox by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and has been distributed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Another vaccine, LC16m8, is manufactured by KM Biologics in Japan and has been approved for mpox by Japan’s regulatory body.
- The third vaccine, ACAM2000, is produced by U.S.-based Emergent BioSolutions and was recently approved for mpox by the FDA.
- In addition to these, new mpox vaccines are under development. BioNTech, a German biotech firm, has a vaccine in early clinical trials. Serum Institute of India (SII) has also announced it is working on an mpox vaccine and expects positive results within a year. Furthermore, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has called for pharmaceutical companies and research organizations to collaborate on developing mpox vaccines and diagnostic kits on a royalty basis
Why did Africa face delays in receiving mpox vaccines?
- Mpox vaccines currently available are priced between $50 and $75 per dose, making them prohibitively expensive for many African countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Consequently, these nations usually depend on donations from wealthier countries and vaccine manufacturers or on purchases facilitated by organizations like the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) and UNICEF.
- However, Gavi and UNICEF can only procure vaccines that have received either full approval or an Emergency Use Listing from the WHO. For this approval, vaccine manufacturers must submit data on the efficacy and safety of their products. Some experts have criticized the WHO for being slow to grant these approvals.
- In response, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the delay was due to vaccine companies not completing the necessary documentation. He assured that once the paperwork is complete, the WHO would issue approvals within weeks and had already given Gavi and UNICEF permission to begin the procurement process in the meantime
1.Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (UPSC CSE 2019)
- Genetic predisposition of some people
- Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
- Using antibiotics in livestock farming
- Multiple chronic diseases in some people
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
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Answer (b)
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| Subject | Topic | Description |
| History | Modern Indian History | Company rule and Crown rule 1773 - 1947 |
| History | Modern Indian History | Fall of Mughals |
| History | Modern Indian History | Establishment of British rule in India |
| History | Modern Indian History | Economic Policies of the British |
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