[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 22 May 2023

GS Paper 2

 Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings Affecting India’s Interests

Source: TH

 Context: In order to give the necessary fillip to enhance Quad cooperation in biotechnology, India should be an ideal choice for the establishment of a Quad-led biomanufacturing hub.

Background:

• In 2021, the Quad set up a Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group to facilitate cooperation related to developments in critical and emerging technologies, including biotechnology.
• However, the Quad countries do not collaborate enough in biotechnology yet.

Biomanufacturing:

• Meaning: It uses living systems, particularly microorganisms and cell cultures, to produce molecules and materials on a commercial scale.
• Potential:
  • It can transform the global industrial system, with up to 60% of physical inputs to the global economy.
  • Countries like the US and China have designed specific policies to shape their bio-economies.

Case of India:

• The National Biotechnology Development Strategy envisions the country as a “Global Biomanufacturing Hub” by 2025.
• While the strategy sets a target of $100 billion for the hub, it is important to recognize that India’s ambitions require external support.

India’s strengths:

• Existing infrastructure, pharmaceutical manufacturing expertise, and skilled manpower.
• India is among the top performers in the field of biomanufacturing in both the quality of research and research publications.
• India also has significant potential in low-cost biomanufacturing (33% lower than the U.S.), particularly in the production of enzymes, reagents, research materials, and equipment.

Challenges:

• India still requires significant capability and capacity uplifts to become a world leader.
• China has expressed its intention to capture this market, similar to how it dominated small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
• Such dependence on the biomanufacturing sector will be detrimental to both India and the Quad.

How does Quad complement these strengths?

• The U.S. has significant funding capability.
• Japan, Australia and the U.S. possess advanced biotechnology innovation ecosystems and intellectual property.

Advantages of the proposed hub for India and Quad:

• Can help facilitate technology transfer,
• Connect investors,
• Establish a biomanufacturing fund that is administered through the Quad,
• Support efforts to reduce dependency on China.

Way ahead for India:

• Strengthening physical infrastructure.
• A scheme on the line the PLI scheme allocated $2 billion to the pharmaceutical sector to make biopharmaceuticals, APIs, etc.
• Boosting the workforce by enabling access to cutting-edge technology and training, with a focus on commercialising R&D.

Conclusion:

• The proposed hub in India can capitalise on the economic potential of the biomanufacturing industry and address existing and potential vulnerabilities in the global system.
• Through cross-Quad collaboration, India may emerge as a major force in the field of biomanufacturing and assist the Quad in competing in this key area.

Insta Links:

India’s Biotech Sector

Mains Links:

‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)’ is the transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times – Discuss. (UPSC 2020)

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Industrial Growth/ Governance

Source: IE

 Context: The article emphasizes the need to improve India’s drug regulatory regime to ensure credibility in the pharmaceutical industry.

Status of India’s pharmaceutical industry:

Various issues associated with regulating the pharmaceutical industry in India:

In India, drugs and cosmetics are regulated by:

• Act: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945: It assigns various responsibilities to central and state regulators.
• Agencies:
  • Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI): It is responsible for approving licenses for specified categories of drugs, setting standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India, and heads the department of CDSCO.
  • Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO): It prescribes standards for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics, and devices. It also regulates the market authorization of new drugs and clinical trial standards.
  • National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA): It controls the pricing of pharmaceutical drugs in India

Steps that can be taken by the government:

Conclusion:

Indian government can enhance the quality and regulation of the pharmaceutical industry through legislative amendments, centralized drug databases, and the merging of regulators. It will build confidence, ensure high-quality generics, and uphold India’s reputation as a reliable supplier, benefiting both domestic and global healthcare while protecting public health.

Insta Links:
Spurious Drug Menace

Mains Links:

India enjoys an important position in the global pharmaceuticals sector. Analyse the strength and weaknesses of India in this sector. Suggest steps to overcome the weaknesses. (250 Words)

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Source: DTE 

Context: According to a new study, only 13% of methane emissions are covered by global methane mitigation policies.

Highlights of the study:

• Since the 1980s, the rate of increase in methane emissions is higher than ever before.
• Methane policies are actions by governments that explicitly aim to monitor, prevent, or reduce methane emissions from anthropogenic sources.
• 90% of identified national policies were from three regions: North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
• The policies targeting fossil methane (coal, oil, and gas) are lower than biogenic methane (released by living organisms).

Concerns:

• This trend has emerged despite readily available solutions to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector.
• Impact of methane mitigation policies on industries (like agriculture) important to the national economy, energy and food security or rural poverty considerations.

India-specific findings:

• No effective policies targeting methane emissions from rice cultivation and biomass burning (burning of crop residues).
• While policies targeting biomass burning have quite broad coverage, their implementation remains challenging.
  • For example, the 1997 Coalbed methane policy was ineffective in incentivising coalbed methane production.

Way ahead:

• The policies should focus on super emitters, which are facilities, equipment, and other infrastructure, typically in the fossil-fuel, waste, or agriculture sectors, that emit methane at high rates.
• While reducing livestock or rice-production-related emissions is challenging, India can contribute by reducing emissions associated with coal production.

Insta Links:

Fossil fuels firms failed to curb methane emission: What IEA’s annual report says

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: IE

Maria Mies, a Marxist Feminist scholar, recently passed away. She was known for her extensive work on how patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism exploit women and nature.

Her works:

• Ecofeminism: She co-wrote the book “Ecofeminism” with Vandana Shiva, a scientist and activist. Ecofeminism recognizes the interconnectedness of humans with nature and women.
• Mies’s work emphasized women’s contributions to the economy.
• “Indian Women and Patriarchy”: In this book, she highlighted how capitalism and Patriarchy undermine women’s control over various sectors such as farming.
• Impact of climate change on women: Climate change disproportionately impacts women, denying their knowledge and vulnerability to climate disasters.

Usage: Her works and views can be directly quoted in the Essay/Indian Society/ Sociology paper.

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: IE

Technophobia is the tendency of individuals or societies to exhibit resistance, fear, or negative attitudes toward emerging technologies.

Examples of Technophobia:

Reason for “technophobia”: It can be attributed to various factors such as complexity, lack of knowledge, fear of losing control, and emotional responses.

Usage: Such terms and related examples can be used in the Essay to highlight psychological fear related to ‘new technologies’.

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TH

Ganga Prahari refers to the volunteers (about 4000 in number) who are part of the task force called “Guardians of the Ganga.” They are individuals who have joined the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Namami Gange initiative to protect and preserve the Ganga River in India.

Training: The Wildlife Institute of India provides training in conserving biodiversity as well as livelihood training opportunities to the volunteers.

Responsibilities: Monitoring the river, preventing littering, and reporting instances of poaching.

The United Nations in December 2022 recognised the Namami Gange initiative as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships involved in reviving the natural world.

Usage: This example can be quoted in the Essay/Ethics and Environment paper. Also, Ganga Prahari shows the values of Environmental Stewardship, Respect for Life, Civic Duty, Courage and Resilience, Collaboration and Community Engagement, etc.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

 Context: The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently struck down a government order that aimed to regulate public meetings, processions, and assemblies on roads, highways, and streets.

What was the issue involved?

The Andhra Pradesh government contended that its action was necessary to regulate these activities in light of recent accidents caused by processions on roads. However, the Andhra High Court struck down the government order, stating that the tradition of public meetings and assemblies holds historical, cultural, and political significance in the country.

What did Andhra HC say:

Facts for Prelims:

Source: TH

Context: Visakhapatnam City police is set to introduce e-Malkhana in all police stations by June this year.

What is e-Malkhana?

e-Malkhana is a scientific storage system implemented by the Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate to preserve and organize items and evidence recovered from crime scenes.

Features:

The system uses standardized cardboard boxes labelled with unique numbers and QR codes for easy retrieval and access to case-related information.

• Benefits: It enhances efficiency, transparency, and the chain of custody for law enforcement officials.

Other such measures are: Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO), Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS), etc.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context: The Ukraine-Russia war had a significant impact on sunflower oil consumption in India.

Status of Sunflower Oil:

 Globally:

• Ukraine (the highest producer) and Russia account for 60% of the world’s sunflower oil production
• Other top producers of sunflower oil globally include Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, Romania, and Bulgaria

In India:

• Sunflower oil is the fourth most consumed edible oil in India, following mustard, soybean, and palm oil.
• Domestic production of sunflower oil has significantly declined over the past decade, unlike soybean oil, which has expanded its cultivated area.
• India imports a substantial amount of sunflower oil due to limited domestic production.
• Major producers: Karnataka (highest producer in India); Telangana and Maharashtra
• Major Consumer: Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra

About Sunflower: 

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), popularly known as “Surajmukhi” (it follows the sun by day) is an annual flowering plant, native to North and Central America but is now cultivated worldwide for its versatile uses. It is known for its large, bright yellow flowers.

Sunflowers are relatively easy to grow and are adaptable to different climates and soil types. They require full sun exposure and well-drained soil. They are known for their ability to extract heavy metals from the soil, making them useful in phytoremediation efforts to clean up polluted areas.

Source: TH

Context: A recent peer-reviewed study suggests that even low levels of arsenic consumption, commonly found in contaminated groundwater in India, can impact cognitive function in children, adolescents, and young adults.

What does the study say:

• Arsenic exposure leads to reduced grey matter in the brain, affecting concentration, information storage, and switching between tasks.
• At the population level, contamination leads to increased school failures, diminished economic productivity, and a higher risk of criminal and antisocial behaviour.
• The major factor for contamination: Arsenic intake from food, primarily through rice consumption; using contaminated groundwater.

Remedy: Modifying food preparation techniques, such as cooking rice in a specific way, can significantly reduce arsenic levels; promoting piped water access and installing arsenic removal plants; encourage extraction from aquifers (water channels below the ground) that are deeper than 100 m.

About Arsenic:

Arsenic is an odourless and tasteless metalloid found naturally in the earth’s crust and groundwater. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form and can cause arsenic poisoning. Arsenicosis, the accumulation of high levels of arsenic in the body, leads to adverse health effects and can result in multi-system organ failure and death. Efforts have been made under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to provide safely managed drinking water free of arsenic contamination. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural and urban India by 2024.

Facts for Prelims:

Source: TH

 Context: The WHO’s new guidelines advise against the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) as a “healthy” alternative to sugar.

Source: TH

 Context: A recent study has proposed using calcium-41 as a new method for radiometric dating, similar to carbon-14 dating but with several advantages.

What is radiocarbon dating?

Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a method used to determine the age of organic materials that originated from living organisms. It relies on the radioactive isotope carbon-14, which is a variant of the element carbon. Carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay over time.

Limitations of Carbon-14 dating:

• Limited Time Range: Carbon-14 dating is effective for objects up to approximately 50,000 years old due to the short half-life of carbon-14 (5,700 years).
• Contamination Issues: Contamination from modern carbon sources can affect the accuracy of carbon-14 dating, leading to inaccurate age estimates.
• Incomplete Preservation: Organic materials must be well-preserved to contain sufficient carbon-14 for dating. Poor preservation or exposure to environmental factors can compromise the reliability of carbon-14 dating.

Advantages of Calcium-41:

• Longer Half-Life: Calcium-41 has a much longer half-life of 99,400 years, allowing for the dating of much older materials compared to carbon-14.
• Abundance in Earth’s Crust: Calcium-41 is found in the Earth’s crust, making it available for dating various geological materials, including fossilized bones and rocks.
• Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA): The technique of ATTA enables the detection of calcium-41 atoms with high sensitivity and selectivity, improving the accuracy of dating methods.
• Potential for Extension: The successful application of ATTA to calcium-41 opens the possibility of using similar techniques for other metal isotopes, expanding the range of dating methods available.
• Earth-Science Applications: Calcium-41 and ATTA can be used to study geological processes, such as determining how long rocks have been covered by ice, providing valuable insights into Earth’s history and climate changes.

Facts for Prelims:

Source: TH

Context: Scientists have disputed the idea that as the planet warms, the bodies of cold-blooded marine species, including fish, will contract.

Conventional understanding: Warming temperatures lead to smaller body sizes in cold-blooded marine animals, suggesting that they may actually grow larger in response to warmer waters.

The recent study challenges the expectation due to several reasons:

• Warm water pollution: The study suggests that warm water pollution, caused by the discharge of warm pollutants, can actually contribute to the growth of aquatic animals.
• Accelerated growth at younger age: Contrary to previous assumptions, the study found that cold-blooded animals, or ectotherms, experience faster growth at a younger age in warm waters.
• Sustained growth throughout life: The study discovered the positive effect of warmer waters on growth and they continue to experience growth throughout their lives, leading to a larger maximum body size.
• Survival trade-off: While the warmer waters provide favourable conditions for growth, they also come with higher death rates.
• Influence of warm water on young populations: The research revealed that even if the water becomes inhospitable to the fish due to excessive warmth, the growth boost is significant enough to create a larger population of young-and-large fish.

Highlights of the study: Aquatic animals/ectotherms/cold-blooded animals such as fish would actually grow larger due to warm water pollution, i.e. water heated by warm pollutants.

Source: TH

Context: India and the U.S. are exploring the possibility of co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles with the upcoming launch of INDUS-X.

What is INDUS-X?

 It is a major upcoming initiative under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), with the aim to promote partnerships and collaboration between the defence innovation ecosystems of both countries.

• INDUS-X is focused on advancing high-tech cooperation and exploring opportunities for joint research, development, and production in the defence sector.

About iCET dialogue:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: NIA

 Context: NIA’s Operation Dhvast was a nationwide operation targeting terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers. It involved raids at 129 locations across multiple states, resulting in three arrests.

Aim: The operation aimed to dismantle the terror nexus involved in targeted killings, terror funding, extortion, and smuggling of drugs and weapons.

About NIA:

The National Investigation Agency (founded 31^st Dec 2008; HQ: New Delhi; Under Home Ministry) is the primary anti-terror investigation task force of India. The agency is empowered to deal with the investigation of terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the states under a written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has the authority to take over cases from state police forces and other agencies. It seeks the sanction of the Central government for prosecuting accused individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other scheduled offences.