28th March 2024 – Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs Reverse Engineering

Care (28-03-2024)

 

 

News at a Glance

 

National: Ladakh’s Demand for the Sixth Schedule and Statehood
Science and Technology: AI in Mental Healthcare
Economy: Government of India Treasury Bills
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in news
Environment and Ecology: Black Carbon Emissions

 

 

Ladakh’s Demand for the Sixth Schedule and Statehood

Source: Down to Earth

Context: Renowned environmentalist and innovator, Sonam Wangchuk, recently made headlines by embarking on a 21-day hunger strike to express the anguish of Ladakhis.

 UPSC Syllabus Relevance GS – 2 (Federalism Co-operative Federalism Constitutional Amendments Issues)

Why in news

  • 21-day hunger strike by environmentalist and innovator, Sonam Wangchuk followed a series of talks between Ladakhi leaders and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which hit a deadlock on March 3, 2024.

Challenges in Ladakh

  • The Ladakhi leaders approached the MHA with four demands, including statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, setting up a separate public service commission for Ladakh, and two parliamentary seats for Ladakh.
  • Ladakh faces several challenges, particularly after the administrative changes following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019, which transitioned Ladakh into a Union Territory without a legislative body.
  • The region is vulnerable to bureaucratic dominance and potential exploitation by industrial interests without adequate safeguards for its environment and people.
  • Additionally, the dilution of the Autonomous Hill Councils’ authority and environmental and ecological challenges further compound the region’s predicament.

Need for Sixth Schedule Status

  • Civil society organizations and local bodies have advocated for Sixth Schedule status to provide constitutional safeguards, aiming to protect Ladakh’s delicate ecosystem and cultural integrity.
  • The urgent need for protective measures under the Sixth Schedule is to ensure sustainable development, safeguard the environment, and preserve Ladakh’s cultural and natural heritage.
  • Without such protection, the region risks irreversible damage, threatening its status as a unique and vibrant part of India’s and the world’s natural and cultural landscape.

Major Lakes and Protected Areas in Ladakh

  • Ladakh is home to several major lakes, including Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri (a Ramsar site), Tso Kar (also a Ramsar site), Yaye Tso, and Chagar Tso.
  • Additionally, the region boasts significant protected areas such as the Hemis National Park, known for its snow leopards, and the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, which is an important wildlife sanctuary due to its migratory population of the Chiru or Tibetan Antelope.
  • The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar Site, is another notable protected area in Ladakh, known for its high-altitude lakes and diverse fauna, including the snow leopard, kiang, and argali.
  • These demands and challenges underscore the significance of Ladakh’s unique ecological and cultural heritage, and the need for constitutional safeguards to ensure its sustainable development and preservation.

 

 

 CARE MCQ  UPSC PYQ
Q1. Protection measures have been taken in relation to the indigenous population under the 6th Schedule:

1. Cultural

2. Linguistic

3. Land rights

Code

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

 

Q. Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void? (UPSC Prelims 2019)

A. Third Schedule

B. Fifth Schedule

C. Ninth Schedule

D. Twelfth Schedule

Ans: B

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Ans 1 D

Explanation

·         Safeguards under the 6th Schedule: Advocating for Constitutional provisions under the 6th Schedule to protect the cultural, linguistic, and land rights of the indigenous population.

·         Reservation of Jobs: Calling for reservations in employment opportunities for the youth of Ladakh, ensuring equitable access to economic resources and opportunities.

·         Creation of Separate Parliamentary Constituencies: Proposing the establishment of distinct Parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil, reflecting the unique demographic and geographical characteristics of each region.

·         Therefore, option D is correct answer.

 

 

AI in Mental Healthcare

Source: The Hindu

Context: Natural Language Processing (NLP) a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), enables computers to understand and interpret human language, mirroring human comprehension.

UPSC Syllabus relevance: GS 3 (Health and AI Innovation)

Why in news

  • In mental healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving with various use cases, offering affordable access to therapy and better support for clinicians.

Benefits of AI in Mental Healthcare

  • External and internalized stigma persists across demographics and countries.
  • NLP programs on text-based platforms offer privacy and anonymity, encouraging help-seeking behavior.
  • Chatbots provide support by reframing thoughts, validating emotions, and offering personalized care, especially when human support is unavailable.
  • Chatbots contribute to improved patient health outcomes similar to in-person care and offer coping resources for distress, grief, and anxiety.
  • They are scalable, cost-effective, and available 24×7, suitable for integration into existing health programs.
  • Companies developing chatbots should proactively expand service delivery through partnerships for follow-up services like referrals and in-person treatment.

 

AI’s Impact on Clinicians

  • Mental health illnesses have complex causes of origin, making it difficult to design a straightforward protocol or make a quick and accurate diagnosis.
  • AI tools can help summarize information, including clinical notes, patient conversations, neuroimages, and genetic information, enabling clinicians to get up to speed with the entire patient history, saving valuable time during sessions.
  • Recent advancements in NLP programs have demonstrated the ability to forecast responses to antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs by analyzing brain electrical activity, neuroimages, and clinical surveys.
  • Such predictive capability can streamline treatment decisions and minimize the risk of ineffective interventions.
  • Some chatbots are also creating e-triaging systems that can significantly reduce wait time and free up valuable clinical person-hours.

Challenges of AI in Mental Healthcare

  • Privacy and Data Security: Protecting sensitive mental health data from unauthorized access.
  • Transparency and Informed Consent: Establishing patient trust through transparency on how AI algorithms process patients’ information.
  • Fair Application of AI Technologies: Guarding against bias proves difficult when considering cultural and demographic factors.
  • Debates on Accountability: AI-driven mental health decisions do not have a clear person responsible.
  • Reliability and Validation: Concerns about the reliability of mental health-oriented AI algorithms continue to emerge.

The Way Forward

  • Companies should refine applications by utilizing diverse population-wide datasets to minimize bias and incorporate a broader set of health indicators for comprehensive patient care.
  • Governments and institutions should prioritize user safety and well-being by ensuring adherence to global compliance standards.
  • It’s crucial to update beliefs, governing laws, and regulations, and demand better standards of care as these applications evolve.

 

 

 CARE MCQ  UPSC PYQ
Q2. How does Natural Language Processing (NLP) contribute to mental healthcare?

A. By analysing brain electrical activity exclusively.

B. By enabling computers to understand and interpret human language.

C. By providing physical therapy sessions.

D. By offering only in-person support to patients.

 

Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC Prelims 2020)

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units

2. Create meaningful short stories and songs

3. Disease diagnosis

4. Text-to-Speech Conversion

5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

B. 1, 3 and 4 only

C. 2, 4 and 5 only

D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: B

 

 

 

Answer 2– B

Explanation –

·         Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a field of artificial intelligence (AI) and computational linguistics that focuses on the interaction between computers and human language.

·         NLP seeks to enable computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that is both valuable and meaningful.

·         Therefore, option B is correct answer.

 

 Government of India Treasury Bills

Source: PIB

 

Context: Treasury Bills are short-term borrowing instruments issued by the Government of India or RBI that allow investors to store short-term surplus funds while lowering market risk.

 UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 3 (Indian Economy)

Why in News

  • The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, notified the calendar for the issuance of Treasury Bills for the quarter ending June 2024.

About Treasury Bill

  • Treasury Bills are short-term (up to one year) borrowing instruments issued by the Government of India or the central bank of the country that allow investors to store short-term surplus funds while lowering market risk.
  • In 1917, India was the first country to print Treasury bills. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) auctions them at regular intervals and issues them at a discount to face value.
  • In India, the bill market is a subset of the money market. Treasury bills and commercial bills are the two types of bills.
  • While the central government issues Treasury Bills, or T-Bills, financial entities issue Commercial Bills.’
  • T-bills have an advantage over conventional bills in that they have no risk-weighting attached to them.
  • They are issued by the government and have no risks attached to them.
  • They have high liquidity due to their short maturities of 14 days, 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days.
  • T-Bills can be purchased by individuals, trusts, organizations, and banks. Financial institutions, on the other hand, are normally in charge of them. Beyond investment products, they play a critical function in the financial market.
  • To get money under repo, banks give the RBI treasury bills. They can also hold it if they need to meet their Statutory Liquid Ratio (SLR) standards.

Types of Treasury Bills

  • Treasury Bills issued in India by the Reserve Bank of India is of the following types.
  • 14-day treasury bill
  • 91-day treasury bill
  • 182-day treasury bill
  • 364-day treasury bill

Yield on Treasury Bills

  • The yield generated by a Treasury Bill can be computed using the following formula:

 

Y= (F-P)/P X 365/D X 100.

Where Y denotes the percent of return.

F = face value of the treasury bill

P = Purchase price of a security at a discount, and

D= The term of a bill

For a better understanding, let’s look at a treasury bill example.

If the RBI issues a discounted 91-day treasury bill, the face value of the bill is Rs. 100, whereas the discount price of the bill is Rs. 98.

Yield = (100-98)/98 X 365/91 x 100 = 8.19%

Features

  • Minimum investment: Individuals interested in purchasing a short-term treasury bill must invest a minimum of Rs 25,000, according to RBI regulations.
  • Any additional investment must be made in multiples of Rs. 25, 000.

Zero-coupon rate securities

  • On total deposits, treasury bills pay no interest. Rather, investors will benefit from capital gains as a result of such events.
  • As a result, securities are sold in the market at a discounted rate. When this bond is redeemed, the entire par value is returned to you.
  • Bonds are paid to investors, allowing them to make significant gains on their whole investment.

Trading

  • The manner of investment is an important aspect of treasury bill information.
  • The RBI auctions such securities in the market every week (on Wednesday) on behalf of the central government, based on the total bids placed on major stock exchanges.
  • Investors can purchase government assets through depository participant commercial banks or other registered primary dealers (PDs).

 

 

 CARE MCQ  UPSC PYQ
Q3. In the context of the treasury bills, which of the following is/are correct?

1. Treasury Bills are short-term (up to one year) borrowing instruments issued by the Government of India or the central bank of the country.

2. In 1917, UK was the first country to print Treasury bills.

3. T-Bills can be purchased by organizations, and banks, but not by individuals.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

 

 

Q. In the context of Indian economy, ‘Open Market Operations’ refers to (UPSC Prelims 2013)

A. borrowing by scheduled banks from the RBI

B. lending by commercial banks to industry and trade

C. purchase and sale of government securities by the RBI

D. None of the above

Ans: C

 

 

 

 

Answer 3 A

Explanation

·         Treasury Bills are short-term (up to one year) borrowing instruments issued by the Government of India or the central bank of the country that allow investors to store short-term surplus funds while lowering market risk. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

·         In 1917, India was the first country to print Treasury bills. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) auctions them at regular intervals and issues them at a discount to face value. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

·         T-Bills can be purchased by individuals, trusts, organizations, and banks. Financial institutions, on the other hand, are normally in charge of them. Beyond investment products, they play a critical function in the financial market. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

·         Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

 

 

 

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in news

Source: PIB

Context: Functions and Responsibilities of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

 UPSC Syllabus Relevance:  GS – 3 (Infrastructure, Transport Policy)

Why in News

  • DGCA derosters IndiGo pilots after flight grazes wingtip of Air India Express plane at Kolkata airport.

 

Key highlights

  • The wingtip of an IndiGo aircraft grazed against that of a stationary Air India Express plane at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport while the former was taxiing towards the runway.
  • Both the aircraft had passengers on board but there were no reports of any passenger or crew member sustaining injuries.
  • The incident prompted aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to launch a probe, and it also de-rostered both indigo pilots.

About Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

  • It is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
  • It is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.
  • It also coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

Functions and Responsibilities of the DGCA

  • One of the main functions of the DGCA is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on all flights operating in India.
  • The organization conducts regular safety inspections of all airlines and aircraft to meet the required safety standards.
  • It also investigates any incidents or accidents that occur within the Indian airspace and takes appropriate action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
  • In addition to safety, the DGCA also plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the Indian aviation industry. The organization works closely with airlines and airport operators to promote the industry’s growth and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
  • The DGCA also plays a crucial role in developing new airports and modernizing existing facilities to ensure that they can meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.
  • The DGCA is also responsible for the regulation of air traffic in India. It works closely with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure air traffic is managed safely and efficiently.
  • The DGCA also plays a key role in developing new air traffic control systems and technologies to improve the overall efficiency of Indian airspace.
  • The DGCA is also responsible for issuing licenses and certificates to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and other aviation personnel.

 

About Airports Authority of India (AAI)

  • It is a statutory body under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
  • It was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April, 1995, by merging the erstwhile National Airports Authority and the International Airports Authority of India.
  • The merger brought into existence a single Organization entrusted with the responsibility of creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country.
  • AAI manages 137 airports, which include 24 International Airports,  10 Customs Airports , 80 Domestic Airports, and 23 Domestic Civil Enclaves at Defence airfields.

 

 

 

 CARE MCQ  UPSC PYQ
Q4. Which of the following statements regarding the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is/are correct?

1. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is a constitutional body.

2. DGCA investigates aviation accidents and incidents to maintain aviation safety standards and regulations in India.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

 

 

Q. With reference to ‘National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2017)

(1) It is an organ of NITI Aayog.

(2) It has a corpus of Rs. 4, 00,000 crore at present.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer D

 

 

Answer 4 A

Explanation

  • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, as the statutory body regulating civil aviation in India. The DGCA is headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in various parts of India. It is headed by the Director General of Civil Aviation, who is a career bureaucrat. So, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP). So, statement 2 is correct.
  • Therefore, option A is correct answer.

 

 

 

Black Carbon Emissions

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Syllabus relevance: GS 3 (Industrial pollution and its Impact)

Context: At the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in November 2021, India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070

Why in news

  • According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India had installed a renewable energy capacity of over 180 GW by 2023 and is expected to meet its target of 500 GW by 2030.

Types of Carbon

  • Black Carbon (BC)
  • It is a component of fine particulate matter of the size 2.5 μm. It consists of pure carbon, which originates from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, coal, biofuel, biomass, wood, rubber, etc. It is emitted in the form of soot.
  • Brown Carbon (BrC)
  • It is brown smoke released by the combustion of organic matter. It coexists with black carbon when released into the atmosphere.
  • It Is one of the significant warming factors as it disturbs the temperature pattern of the atmosphere and the cloud-forming process.
  • It also changes the solar absorption pattern and the nature of clouds.
  • Blue Carbon (BlC)
  • It is the carbon captured by the world’s oceans and coastal ecosystems.
  • This carbon is captured by living organisms in oceans and is stored in the form of aquatic biomass.
  • Seagrasses, mangroves, and marshes are types of vegetated coastal blue carbon ecosystems, these habitats have a cover of approximately 49 million hectares worldwide.
  • Blue carbon ecosystems act as the major sink for capturing atmospheric carbon and reducing warming effects.
  • Green Carbon (GrC)
  • It is the carbon captured into terrestrial plant biomass in photosynthesis and stored in the plants and soil of natural ecosystems and is a vital part of the global carbon cycle.

Relevancy of Black carbon

  • Black carbon is a significant environmental and health concern, emitted from the incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels.
  • It has been linked to global warming and various health risks, including heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
  • In India, a substantial portion of black carbon emissions comes from the residential sector, primarily due to the use of traditional cookstoves burning biomass like cow dung or straw.
  • A 2016 study Indicates that the residential sector accounts for 47% of India’s black carbon emissions, followed by industries at 22%, diesel vehicles at 17%, open burning at 12%, and other sources contributing 2%.
  • While decarbonisation efforts have reduced emissions from industry and transport, reducing residential black carbon emissions remains a significant challenge.

 

 

 CARE MCQ  UPSC PYQ
Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. Black carbon is a component of fine particulate matter emitted from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, consisting of pure carbon.

2. Brown carbon is emitted from the combustion of organic matter and coexists with black carbon.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

 

Q. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (UPSC Prelims 2016)

A. pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East

B. plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change

C. capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

D. plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals

Ans: B

 

 

 

Answer 5– C

Explanation

  • Black carbon is a component of fine particulate matter emitted from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, consisting of pure carbon. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • Brown carbon is emitted from the combustion of organic matter and coexists with black carbon, contributing to the warming effects by disturbing the atmosphere’s temperature pattern and cloud-forming process. So, statement 2 is correct.
  • There for option C is correct answer.

 

 

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