UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (16TH SEPTEMBER, 2023)

      OIML Certificate

      Syllabus: GS-3/Economy

      In News

      • India has become the 13th internationally accepted authority for issuing International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) certificates.

      What is Legal Metrology?

      • Legal Metrology is the application of legal requirements to measurements and measuring instruments.
      • The objective of Legal Metrology is to ensure public guarantee from the point of view of security and accuracy of the weighments and measurements.
      • The specifications for weighing and measuring instruments have been prescribed in the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.

      What is the OIML certificate?

      • An OIML certificate is issued for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world. 
      • To sell a weight or measure in the International market an OIML Pattern Approval certificate is mandatory, which will be issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs. 
        • India follows OIML recommendations and procedures of testing and calibration of weights and measures.
      • The domestic manufacturers of weighing and measuring equipment, like BP meters, oximeters and cloth scales, can now get the instruments tested in India itself before selling them in the international market.

      What is the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML)?

      • It is an intergovernmental treaty organization, established in 1955 in order to promote the global harmonization of legal metrology procedures that underpin and facilitate international trade.
      • It plays a crucial role in harmonising national laws and regulations on performance of measuring instruments like clinical thermometers, alcohol breath analysers, radar speed measuring instruments, ship tanks found at ports, and petrol dispensing units.
      • India became a member of the OIML in 1956. In the same year, India signed the metric convention with the standards of Weights and Measures Act.
      • Other Countries that can issue this certificate are Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and Slovakia.

      Upgraded Compensation Scheme for Women Victims

      Syllabus :GS 2/Welfare Schemes 

      In News

      • The Manipur government has notified an upgraded compensation scheme for women victims and survivors of sexual assault and other crimes.

      About the scheme 

      • The Manipur government was notifying the upgraded scheme in compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court in matters connected to the ethnic conflict in the State. 
      •  The government has allowed applications for the compensation, ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, to be filed physically before the State Legal Services Authority or the District Legal Services Authority or online from anywhere in the country. 
      • The notification set out the schedule of injuries and crimes for which women victims will be given compensation, with the amount varying depending on the nature of the crime, the severity of the injury, loss of employment, and other associated factors. 
      • The scheme is being notified after being upgraded in accordance with the National Legal Services Authority’s scheme. 

      Other related initiatives The Manipur government also notified the creation of the Women Victims Compensation Fund, to be under the control of the Manipur State Legal Services Authority, and issued details of compensation amounts for about 20 different kinds of injuries and crimes.

      The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) 
      – It has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society.
      – The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and the Senior most Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the Authority.

      Functioning of NALSA
      – NALSA lays down policies, principles, guidelines and frames effective and economical schemes for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the Legal Services Programmes throughout the country.
      – Primarily, the State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities, Taluk Legal Services Committees, etc. have been asked to discharge the following main functions on regular basis:
      -> To Provide Free and Competent Legal Services to the eligible persons;
      -> To organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes and
      -> To organize legal awareness camps in the rural areas.

      Yashobhoomi

      Syllabus:GS3/ Infrastructure

      News

      • PM Modi will inaugurate a state-of-the-art convention center named YashoBhoomi under the first phase of India International Convention and Expo Centre in Delhi. 

      About

      • The convention center is Built across more than 73,000 sq m of area and boasts of having one of the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities and the largest LED media facade in the country.
      • Architecture:The Convention Center Comprises 15 convention rooms including the Main auditorium, the Grand ballroom and 13 meeting rooms with a total capacity of holding 11,000 delegates.
      • Cost: Yashobhoomi’, is developed at a cost of around  Rs. 5400 crore. It is the second convention center with world class infrastructure for exhibitions and conferences, after the Bharat Mandapam.
      • Material used: Consisting of materials and objects inspired from Indian culture, the center incorporates terrazzo floors and brass inlay representing rangolis patterns. 
      • Commitment to sustainability: Yashobhoomi is equipped with a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system with 100% wastewater reuse and provisions of rainwater harvesting. Also its campus has received Platinum certification from CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
      • YashoBhoomi also offers one of the largest exhibition halls in the world, which could be utilized for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs, and business events.

      Monoclonal Antibodies

      Syllabus: GS3/Developments in Science and Technology

      News: 

      • India has reached out to Australia seeking to restock monoclonal antibody doses to combat the Nipah virus.

      About:

      • The monoclonal antibody has passed the phase-one trial and has been administered to 14 persons globally till now.
      • Since the mortality among the infected is very high in Nipah — between 40% and 70%, the priority as of now is to ensure that the Nipah virus is contained as fast as possible, and antibodies could be one of the ways to reduce the mortality rate.

      Monoclonal antibodies

      • Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in laboratories that act like antibodies in our bodies.
        • Antibodies are parts of your immune system. They seek out the antigens (foreign materials) and stick to them in order to destroy them. 
        • Laboratory-made monoclonal antibodies help stimulate the immune system.
      • The word “monoclonal” refers to the fact that the antibodies created in the laboratory are clones. 
      • Monoclonal antibodies are used for diagnosis, disease treatment and research.

      Monoclonal antibodies have already been tried and tested for the treatment of Covid 19 virus.

      • Though it is made available to India for compassionate use, the antibody is not a treatment. There is no authorised treatment for Nipah. It has to be administered in the early stage of the infection.
      • So far the information available says that it is safe but can’t say about its  effectiveness.
      • The antibody is used in Australia for the Hendra virus, which is bat-borne. Two doses of the antibody have to be given per person.

      Double-decker Buses

      Syllabus: GS3/Urban Infrastructure/Transportation

      Context:

      • Iconic double-decker buses of Mumbai retire after 8 decades of service.

      About the iconic double-decker buses:

      • It was introduced in 1937, which was based on London’s double-decker. It primarily covered the routes in south Bombay, and by the early 1990s, nearly 900 double-decker buses as part of its fleet to commute throughout the Mumbai city.
        • Currently, the fleet includes a total of seven double-decker buses, including three open-deck buses.
      • It had driven home its own unique flavour of love, laced with the struggles of Mumbai’s middle class across many films by the mid-70s.

      Phasing out:

      • The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) authorities have decided to phase out diesel-run, non-air-conditioned double-decker buses as part of modernisation and operational cost-cutting measures.
      • BEST started replacing these iconic buses with leased battery-run red and black double-decker buses, equipped with modern facilities such as automatic doors and CCTV cameras.
      • These buses are likely to help BEST in reducing its carbon footprint

      Swachhata Hi Seva – 2023

      Syllabus: GS2/Social Sectors

      Context:

      • The Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS), an annual pan-India Swachhata Pakhwada, 2023 campaign was organised by Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Grameen between 15th Sept to 2nd Oct ‘23.

      About:

      • It aims to mobilise the participation of crores of citizens across the country via various activities such as Indian Swachhata League 2.0, SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir and mass cleanliness drives.
      • It was launched virtually from Jaipur, Rajasthan.
      • SBM-Grameen and SBM-Urban have partnered with other key Ministries and Departments to amplify participation and community mobilisation in SHS 2023.
      • It also witnessed the launch of logo, website and portal of SHS- 2023.
      • Theme of SHS-2023 is ‘Garbage Free India’ with focus on visual cleanliness and welfare of SafaiMitras.
      • People participation is key to revive and rejuvenate water bodies by removing the garbage.

      Key activities organised under SHS- 2023:

      • Swachhata Hi Seva – Fortnight long Cleanliness Drives;
      • Indian Swachhata League 2.0;
      • SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir.

      Role of States:

      1. Ensuring community mobilisation and participation, a ‘Jan Andolan’ towards Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus villages;
      2. Reinforcing the concept of ‘Sanitation as everyone’s business’ and,
      3. Commemorating Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October) at the village level.

      International Day of Democracy

      Syllabus: GS2/Polity

      In News

      • The International Day of Democracy is celebrated around the world on 15 September each year.

      About

      • It was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy.
      • The International Day is an opportunity to review the state of democracy around the world. Each year highlights a specific theme. 
      • Theme 2023: “Empowering the next generation,” focuses on young people’s essential role in advancing democracy and ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world.

      Rosh Hashanah

      Syllabus: GS1/Culture

      Context

      • The Prime Minister of India extended greetings to Jewish people around the world on Rosh Hashanah.

      About Rosh Hashanah

      • It is a Hebrew phrase that means ‘the head of the year‘, and followed as  a ‘new year day’ in Judaism. It begins on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
      • As it is celebrated for 48 hours, it is also called ‘yoma arichta’, meaning ‘a long day’.

      Origin

      • It is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah (Judaism’s founding religious text) and appears under different names in the Bible.
      • However, Torah mentions a sacred occasion that starts on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar around the time Rosh Hashanah is scheduled.
      • Though the holiday was likely well established by the sixth century B.C., the phrase “Rosh Hashanah” shows up for the first time in the Mishna, a Jewish code of law compiled in 200 A.D.

      How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

      • Jewish people blow a Shofar, a curved ram’s horn, and pray near a body of water in a Tashlich ceremony.
      • They eat apples and honey together to symbolise a sweet new year, and eat pomegranate seeds that represent the 613 mitzvot, or commandments.

      First RajBhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23

      Syllabus: Miscellaneous

      In News

      • Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has been conferred the prestigious First Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23.

      About

      • This is the second consecutive year wherein Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has received the honor of being the best performing Department in the category of Ministries/ Departments with less than 300 employees.
      • The RajBhasha Kirti Puraskar is a prestigious award conferred every year on a department which stands first among all the Ministries/Departments with less than 300 employees during the Akhil Bhartiya Raj Bhasha Sammelan and Hindi Diwas celebrations organized by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs. 

      Examples of Ethics

      GS Paper 4 Syllabus: Applications of Ethics

      Example 1: China Xi’s Purges

      Context: Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has reportedly been detained as part of ongoing corruption investigations. This follows the disappearance of Foreign Minister Qin Gang earlier, with no explanation provided for his removal from office.

      • These developments raise questions about Xi’s control over the military and ongoing political purges in China.

      Ethical Issues with the Purges:

      Ethical IssuesDescription
      Lack of TransparencyThe sudden disappearance of officials without clear explanations raises concerns about transparency
      Political PurgesRemoval of high-ranking officials may indicate an attempt to consolidate power and eliminate rivals.
      Rule of LawDetaining officials in corruption investigations should adhere to the rule of law.
      Lack of Due ProcessDetentions without clear legal processes raise concerns about due process and human rights.
      SecrecyProviding vague explanations like “health reasons” contributes to a lack of trust.
      “Chilling Effect” on BureaucracyThis may create fear in the minds of government officials while making a decision and lead to policy paralysis

      Example 2: “Corporate Greed is the Problem”

      Context: Over 13,000 workers from major US automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis) going on strike due to issues with contract negotiations. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is seeking higher wages, better benefits, and the reversal of concessions made during the companies’ financial difficulties.

      Ethical IssueExample
      Income InequalityCEOs earn millions while workers struggle for fair wages.
      Worker ExploitationFor automakers, worker’s compensation makes up just 4 to 5% of their total cost. Despite this, companies underpay workers, provide poor working conditions, or foster job insecurity to cut labour costs.
      Unfair Labor PracticesDespite the three companies making over USD 164 billion in profit last year, they are resisting fair wage increases and better benefits.
      Environmental ImpactCompanies prioritise profits over sustainability.
      Social ResponsibilityCompanies neglect their role in society and their impact on workers.

      Facts for Prelims (FFP)

      National Judicial Data Grid

      Context: Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has announced that the Supreme Court of India has now joined the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) portal, which serves as a national repository of case-related data from courts across the country.

      About National Judicial Data Grid:

      • The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) is an online platform created under the eCourts Project in India.
      • It serves as a comprehensive database that contains information about orders, judgments, and case details from District and subordinate Courts and High Courts across the country.
      • The NJDG is managed as part of the e-Courts project, which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the in-house software development team of the Computer Cell, Registry of the Supreme Court.

      Significance:

      • Easy access to case-related informationstatistics, and year-wise breakdowns of Supreme Court cases.
      • Enhancing transparency, accountability, efficiency, coordination, informed decision-making, and optimal resource deployment.

      Critical Raw Materials Act

      Context: The European Parliament has approved the Critical Raw Materials Act.

      • The legislation aims to reduce the European Union’s (EU) reliance on China for critical minerals, essential for green technologies like solar panels, windmills, and electric car batteries.

      The EU currently depends on China for 99% of rare earth metals. The regulation sets the framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of these raw materialsdiversifying imports, and increasing processing capacity along the value chain 

      About Critical Raw Materials: 

      Critical raw materials are natural resources that are of strategic importance to a country or region due to their economic, industrial, and geopolitical significance.

      These materials are essential for various industries, including technology, manufacturing, energy, and defence, and their availability can impact a nation’s economic security and competitiveness.

      Examples of critical raw materials may include rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, graphite, platinum group metals, and certain minerals and metals that are essential for advanced technologies and clean energy solutions.

      Rubber

      Context: The Rubber Board, is undertaking a project to increase the area under natural rubber cultivation in the northeastern states of India, excluding Sikkim but including West Bengal

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