Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

What is in news : ECI allots election symbols to parties for By poll elections in Bihar

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order of 1968:

• Order to provide for specification, reservation, choice and allotment of symbols for the recognition of political parties.
• Applicable to both parliamentary and assembly elections.
• As per the order a symbol shall be allotted to a contesting candidate in accordance with the provisions of this Order and different symbols shall be allotted to different contesting candidates at an election in the same constituency.
• Classification of Symbols: There are two types of symbols i.e reserved and free.
• A reserved symbol is a symbol which is reserved for a recognised political party for exclusive allotment to contesting candidates set up by that party.
• A free symbol is a symbol other than a reserved symbol.
• Classification of Political Parties: These are either recognised political parties or unrecognised political parties.
• A recognised political party shall either be a National party or a State party, rest all are unrecognised parties.
• Choice of symbols by candidates of National and State Parties and allotment thereof:
• A national party candidate has to mandatorily use its party symbol.
• A state party candidate has to mandatorily use its party symbol.
• No other person is allowed to use a national or state party symbol or national party symbol irrespective of that party contesting or not.
• It also gives EC power to suspend or withdraw recognition of a recognised political party for its failure to observe Model Code of Conduct or follow lawful directions and instructions of the Commission.

What :

• 11.9 million leaked files from 14 global corporate services firms which set up about 29,000 off-the-shelf companies and private trusts in not just obscure tax jurisdictions but also countries such as Singapore, New Zealand, and the United States, for clients across the world.
• Relate to the ultimate ownership of assets ‘settled’ (or placed) in private offshore trusts and the investments including cash, shareholding, and real estate properties, held by the offshore entities.
• Atleast 380 persons of Indian nationality in the Pandora Papers.

What do they reveal:  How the rich, the famous and the notorious, many of whom were already on the radar of investigative agencies, set up complex multi-layered trust structures for estate planning, in jurisdictions which are loosely regulated for tax purposes, but characterised by air-tight secrecy laws.

How is Pandora different from the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers:

• The Panama and Paradise Papers dealt largely with offshore entities set up by individuals and corporates respectively. The Pandora Papers investigation shows how businesses have created a new normal after countries have been forced to tighten the screws on such offshore entities with rising concerns of money laundering, terrorism funding, and tax evasion.
• The Pandora Papers pierce the corporate veil and reveal how trusts are prolifically used as a vehicle in conjunction with offshore companies set up for the sole purpose of holding investments and other assets by business families and ultra-rich individuals.

What is a trust :

• Described as a fiduciary arrangement where a third party, referred to as the trustee, holds assets on behalf of individuals or organisations that are to benefit from it. It is generally used for estate planning purposes and succession planning. It helps large business families to consolidate their assets — financial investments, shareholding, and real estate property.
• Comprises three key parties: ‘Settlor’ — one who sets up, creates, or authors a trust; ‘trustee’ — one who holds the assets for the benefit of a set of people named by the ‘settlor’; and ‘beneficiaries’ — to whom the benefits of the assets are bequeathed.
• Not a separate legal entity, but its legal nature comes from the ‘trustee’. At times, the ‘settlor’ appoints a ‘protector’, who has the powers to supervise the trustee, and even remove the trustee and appoint a new one.

Is setting up a trust in India, or one offshore/ outside the country, illegal: No. The Indian Trusts Act, 1882, gives legal basis to the concept of trusts. While Indian laws do not see trusts as a legal person/ entity, they do recognise the trust as an obligation of the trustee to manage and use the assets settled in the trust for the benefit of ‘beneficiaries’. India also recognises offshore trusts i.e., trusts set up in other tax jurisdictions.

What is in news : 40th India International Trade Fair 2021 to be held from November 14-27 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

About :

• Theme - “Atmanirbhar Bharat”
• Organised  as  integral part  of “ AzadiKaAmritMahotsava”- commemoratingthe 75thyear celebration  of  India‘s Independence in newly built halls of International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC)
• Manifests undying spirit of business fraternity who faced tremendous challenges due to the pandemic
• Showcase excellence of brands and create a new opportunity for growth and attain self-reliance in sectors like agriculture, micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME), power, tourism, etc.
• With B2B and B2C components is one of the largest integrated trade fairs in South- Asian region
• The format has business; social, cultural and educational dimensions that are weaved together where visitors and exhibitors, media persons, marketing professional, social activists, NGOs etc. all converge to explore their objectives. Domestic as well as overseas buyers source their needs
• Apart from trade and industry related conference and seminars, the fair offers branding opportunity on large LED screens installed at strategic locations in fair premises. Branding sites available at specific locations
• Mobile application, investment and joint-venture opportunities, transfer of technology option, start ups and SMEs cultural and State Day celebrations.

What is in news :  The first consignment of Kashmiri walnuts was recently flagged off from Budgam. A truck carrying 2,000 kgs was despatched to Bengaluru, Karnataka under the One District, One Product (ODOP) Initiative of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

About ODOP

ODOP is basically a Japanese business development concept, which gained prominence in 1979. It is aimed at promoting a competitive and staple product from a specific area to push sales and improve the standard of living of the local population. Over time, it has been replicated in other Asian countries as well.

The main objectives of the One District One Product Scheme of Uttar Pradesh are as follows:

• Preservation and development of local crafts / skills and promotion of the art.
• Increase in the incomes and local employment (resulting in decline in migration for employment).
• Improvement in product quality and skill development.
• Transforming the products in an artistic way (through packaging, branding).
• To connect the production with tourism (Live demo and sales outlet – gifts and souvenir).
• To resolve the issues of economic difference and regional imbalance.
• To take the concept of ODOP to national and international level after successful implementation at State level.

ENVIRONMENT & GEOGRAPHY

FOREST

• A forest is a complex ecological system in which trees are the dominant life-form.
• A forest is nature’s most efficient ecosystem, with a high rate of photosynthesis affecting both plant and animal systems in a series of complex organic relationships. Forests can develop under various conditions, and the kind of soil, plant, and animal life differs according to the extremes of environmental influences.
• Covering nearly 30% land surface of the earth, forests around the globe provide a wide variety of ecosystem services and support countless and diverse species. They also stabilise the climate, sequester carbon and regulate the water regime.

DECLINE OF FOREST AREA

• The State of the World’s Forests report 2020, says that since 1990, around 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through deforestation, conversion and land degradation.
• Nearly 178 million hectares have decreased globally due to deforestation (1990-2020).
• India lost 4.69 MHA of its forests for various land uses between 1951 to 1995.

RESTORATION OF FORESTS

• Forest restoration activities including tree planting to become increasingly popular and declaring 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration for improving environmental conditions and enhancing human communities.
• Restoration in laymen’s terms is bringing back the degraded or deforested landscape to its original state by various interventions to enable them to deliver all the benefits.
• Building and maintaining activities help to improve ecological functions, productivity and create resilient forests with multifarious capabilities.
• India’s varied edaphic, climatic and topographic conditions are spread over 10 bio-geographical regions and four biodiversity hotspots, sheltering 8% of the world’s known flora and fauna.

SUCCESS SEEN BY INDIA

• Dependence on forests by nearly 18% of the global human population has put immense pressure on ecosystems; in India, this has resulted in the degradation of 41% of its forests.
• To combat this, India joined the Bonn Challenge with a pledge to restore 21 MHA of degraded and deforested land which was later revised to 26 MHA to be restored by 2030.
• The first-ever country progress report under the Bonn Challenge submitted by India by bringing 9.8 million hectares since 2011 under restoration is an achievement.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Planting a forest in the wrong places such as savannah grasslands could be disastrous for local biodiversity. Recent research has shown that naturally regenerated forests tend to have more secure carbon storage. Being less tech-sensitive, cost-effective and conserving more biodiversity, natural forest restoration is becoming more widely accepted. However, it is fundamental to consider the local ecology before implementing any restoration efforts to retain their biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
• Restoration, being a scientific activity, needs research support for its success. Whether one goes for active restoration which includes planting or passive restoration with more focus on halting environmental stressors or adopting an intermediate approach of aided natural regeneration, it needs critical examination before putting restoration interventions into practice.

SITUATION IN INDIA

• Nearly 5.03% of Indian forests are under protection area (PA) management needing specific restoration strategies. The remaining areas witness a range of disturbances including grazing, encroachment, fire, and climate change impacts that need area-specific considerations.
• Much of the research done so far on restoration is not fully compatible with India’s diverse ecological habitats hence warranting due consideration of local factors. So, the relevance of local research duly considering ecological aspects, local disturbances and forest-dependent communities is vital to formulate guidelines for locally suitable interventions and to meet India’s global commitment.
• There is continued degradation and a growing scarcity of natural resources. The intricate link between poverty and environmental degradation was first highlighted by India at the first UN global conference on the human environment in Stockholm. Out of its 21.9% population living under the poverty line, nearly 275 million people including local tribals depend on the forest for subsistence.

STRATERGY TO BE ADOPTED

• Further, encroachment of nearly 1.48 MHA of forest and grazing in nearly 75% of forest area is also linked to the livelihood of local communities. Linked with the degradation of forests, this dependency, along with various social-political and economic factors, complicates the issue manifold. The participation of local communities with finances for incentives and rewards is essential to redress this complex riddle.
• There have been remarkable initiatives to involve local people in the protection and development of forests by forming joint forest management committees (JFMC). More than 1,18,213 JFMCs involving around 20 million people manage over 25 MHA of forest area.
• Negotiations with a wide range of stakeholders including these committees for resolving conflicts and fulfilling restoration objectives are a must and a challenging feat to reach a suitable trade-off.
• Adequate financing is one of the major concerns for the success of any interventions including restoration. The active approach of restoration which includes tree planting and the involvement of communities seeks incentives and rewards and make the whole affair quite cost-intensive. The contribution of corporates in restoration efforts so far has been limited to 2% of the total achievement. Hence, alternate ways of financing such as involving corporates and dovetailing restoration activities with ongoing land-based programmes of various departments can help to make it easy for operation.
• Apart from these specific challenges, the common barriers to restoration as identified globally also need critical review before placing the required methodologies and area-specific strategies in place. The involvement of multiple stakeholders in forest restoration is bound to cause a conflict of interests among different stakeholders; along with low priority and insufficient funding, it becomes even more challenging.
• Active engagement of stakeholders including non-governmental organisations, awareness and capacity building of stakeholders with enabling policy interventions and finance can help a lot to achieve the remaining 16 MHA restoration objectives for India. The need of the hour is an inclusive approach encompassing these concerns with the required wherewithal.

What is in news : Two new smog towers have been recently inaugurated in Delhi. Bengaluru and Chandigarh also installed smog towers this year.

Why is it unscientific :

• While these efforts indicate that governments are taking cognisance of air pollution, the deployments are often driven by symbolism rather than science. For example, the Delhi government claims that the newly installed smog tower in Connaught Place could reduce air pollution levels by 80%. But there is no scientific evidence of smog towers or any other outdoor air filtration units improving air quality in cities.
• The smog tower installed in China’s Xi’an and another one installed in Beijing did not prove to be effective and were not scaled up.
• Data on the effectiveness of the newly installed smog towers should be made available publicly for independent evaluation. Until there is scientific consensus on their effectiveness, every new tower installed is just a violation of taxpayers’ money and citizens’ trust.

SOLUTIONS

POLICY MAKING

• Policymakers should expand air pollution monitoring in areas with limited or no air quality monitoring and strengthen forecasting capacity across cities. Of the 132 cities in the country that currently don’t meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 75 do not have a single real-time monitoring station.
• For areas with no monitoring infrastructure, alternatives like low-cost air quality monitors in combination with satellite observations should be explored to plug the existing data gaps. Simultaneously, cities should strengthen their air quality forecasting systems by collaborating with scientific institutions that are transparent about their approach and findings.
• These forecasts should be used in rolling out preventive measures such as travel restrictions, pausing commercial activities or encouraging working from home, on anticipated high pollution days.

EMISSION INVENTORIES

• City-level emission inventories must be updated periodically. Until last year, over 75% of our city clean air plans did not contain vital information on emissions from different polluting sources.
• These data are critical to identify key sources of air pollution and design effective clean air plans as per the local context. While several academic institutions carry out emission inventory and source apportionment studies, these studies should not become a one-time exercise.

IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

• Targeted efforts must be made to improve air quality for urban slum dwellers who have no access to clean cooking energy.
• In a recent study, it was found that nearly half the urban slum households in six States still rely on biomass and other polluting fuels for their cooking needs.
• Also, household emissions increase during winter, especially when fuel requirement for non-cooking tasks like space heating increases. This increases exposure to indoor air pollution and poses health risks.
• Hence, policymakers must focus on providing LPG connections to these households along with ensuring sustained usage of LPG as the primary fuel.

CONCLUSION

Cities should strengthen their enforcement capacity by investing in people and systems that can keep a round-the-clock watch on both egregious and episodic polluters. India is witnessing a rising democratic demand for clean air. But this cannot be met by unproven technological fixes. Instead, we must vigorously pursue solutions that are rooted in science to bring back blue skies.

What is in news : U.S. scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian on Monday won the Nobel Medicine Prize for discoveries on receptors for temperature and touch.

NOBEL PRIZE:

• The Nobel Prize award was first conferred in 1901. It is given in the name of Alfred Nobel who was a Swedish inventor.
• The season for Nobel Prize begins in October every year.
• The Nobel Prize is awarded yearly to the individuals or organizations who do an extraordinary job in the field of Physics, chemistry, literature, peace, physiology or medicine and Economics.
• All the Nobel Prizes are given at Stockholm, Sweden except for the Nobel Peace Prize which is awarded at Oslo, Norway.
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine field is awarded by the Karolinska Institute. While in Physics, Chemistry and economics the prize is awarded by Royal Swedish academy of science.
• The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by Norwegian Nobel Committee. In Literature, the Swedish Academy grants the Nobel Prize while the Sveriges Riksbank prize is given in the field of Economic Sciences.
• Three people at maximum can share a Nobel Prize.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

Sensors

• Artificial sensors are familiar in today’s world. A thermometer is a very common temperature sensor.
• Similarly, in the human body, all the molecules do not sense heat when they are exposed to it. Only very specific proteins do, and it is their job to relay this signal to the nervous system, which then triggers an appropriate response. Scientists knew that such sensors must exist, but were not able to identify them until Julius discovered the first heat receptor.
• In 1997, Dr. Julius and his team published a paper in Nature detailing how capsaicin, or the chemical compound in chilli peppers, causes the burning sensation. They created a library of DNA fragments to understand the corresponding genes and finally discovered a new capsaicin receptor and named it TRPV1. This discovery paved the way for the identification of many other temperature-sensing receptors.
• Independently of one another, both David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian identified another new receptor called TRPM8, a receptor that is activated by cold.
• Ardem Patapoutian further studied if these receptors can be activated by mechanical stimuli. His team poked cells with a micropipette and identified a cell line that produced an electric signal in response. They identified a single gene, which when silenced made the cells insensitive to the poking. They named this new mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1.
• knowledge of the TRPV1, TRPM8 and Piezo channel is being used to develop treatments for a wide range of disease conditions, including chronic pain

What is in news : Defence Minister felicitated the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ Contest organised by Defence Research & Development Organisation

Details :

• Awards were given to 40 winners, including 22 in Individual category and 18 in Start-up category.
• On the occasion, ‘Dare to Dream 3.0’ was also launched to promote innovators & start-ups and provide a platform for the young ignited minds in the country.
• Minister also presented “DRDO Young Scientists awards” for the year 2019. 16 DRDO scientists, aged under 35 years, were awarded for their outstanding contribution in fields of their expertise.
• Dare to Dream Contest : Was launched by DRDO across India to promote Indian academicians, individuals and start-ups for developing emerging defence and aerospace technologies or systems. Under the contest, DRDO provides technical and financial support to the winners, in a bid to realise their ideas under “Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme”.
• On the occasion, three indigenously developed products or systems by DRDO were handed over to Armed Forces:
  • ARINC818 Video Processing and Switching Module: It has been developed for Indian Air Force. The state-of-the-art module comprises of high bandwidth, channel bonding, low latency and easy networking. It was provided for 5thgeneration aircraft development programmes.
  • Sonar Performance Modelling System: It was developed for the Indian Navy. It is useful for Indian Naval Ships, submarines as well as under water surveillance stations etc.
  • Bund Blasting Device Mk-II: This device has been developed for Indian Army. It will help in reducing the height of Ditch-cum-Bund obstacles for enhancing mobility of mechanised infantry during wartime.

HISTORY – ART - CULTURE

What is in news : The Prime Minister has paid tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Jayanti.

About :

• Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857 – 1930) was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer and journalist.
• Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS): It was an Indian organisation founded in London in 1905 that sought to promote the cause of self-rule in British India. The organisation was founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma, with support from Bhikaji Cama, Dadabhai Naoroji and S.R. Rana.
• India House: He founded India House in London. It was a student residence that existed between 1905 and 1910 which was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in Britain.
• Indian Sociologist: He founded Indian Sociologist in London. The monthly Indian Sociologist became an outlet for nationalist ideas.

What is in news : World Animal Welfare Day is observed all over the world every year on October 4.

About :

• This particular date was chosen in honour of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. This international day of action for the welfare of animals falls on the feast day of Francis of Assisi.
• The announced theme for 2021 is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Plant”. Animal Day is celebrated in various countries around the world by organizing campaigns, contests, events, workshops, etc.
• The day aims at ensuring the rescue shelters for the animals, raising funds, launching animal welfare, and conducting activities that will help in raising awareness regarding the better conditions of animal living.
• The main objective behind celebrating is to raise the status of the animals and help in the improvement of their welfare standards across the world.

• Karnataka legislators to get Constitution Club for at Balabrooie guest house
• Health Minister launched the ICMR’s drone response and outreach in the north-east (i-Drone)
• Japan’s parliament on Monday elected Fumio Kishida, as Prime Minister.
• 53rd Foundation Day celebrations of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) was recently held
• The fourth Conclave in DD News’ Conclave series was held onthe topic ‘Yuva Shakti: From Sports to Startups’.
• Minister of State for Tourism flags off the Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour from New Delhi today to help tap potential of Buddhist tourism
• Russia has successfully test-fired Hypersonic missile from a nuclear submarine for the first time on October 4, 2021. Key Facts The missile, named Zircon missile, was launched from the Severodvinsk.  submarine. Zircon hit a designated target in the Barents Sea.