25, March 2019 25/03/2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rise in Sea Level

 

News Flash

Rising sea levels to affect water table along Chennai’s shoreline.

  • According to Department of Geology at Anna University, City’s east coast road is under threat due to rise in sea levels in the next few decades.
  • As per Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment, there is a rise in sea level by 2-3mm every year.
  • Assessment has forecast the impact of sea level rise on the coastal in the comig years, till 2100.

 

Impact

  • It would slowly replace the freshwater at the bottom.
  • It would also force the water table along the coastline to move upwards.
  • The volume of fresh water would gradually reduce in the coastal areas.
  • Salt water intrusion increasing rapidly in areas from the Adyar river to Palavakkam.

 

Submerging of land

As the sea is moving closer to the land every year, we would loss 1.5 sq.Km. of land along the coastline by 2100.

 

Prevention

  • Change in land-use pattern along shoreline to tackle impact of climate change.
  • Areas closer to the coast must adopt water conservation measures to sustain groundwater.
  • Only minimal groundwater extraction through open wells must be allowed.
  • Water pumped in residencies along the shoreline must be replenished through rainwater harvesting.

 

Salt water facts

  • Saltwater is denser than fresh water because of its salt content.
  • When it rains the freshwater reduces the saltiness of the saltwater on the surface.
  • Saltwater is made when freshwater moves over land. The minerals in rocks are eroded by flowing water and combine with the water which eventually enters earthʼs oceans.

 

Sea Level Rise

  • Warmer temperature cause ice on land like glaciers and ice sheets to melt.
  • Warm water expands and takes up more space than colder water, increasing the volume of water in the sea.

Source: The Hindu

 

 

Powers and duties of Lokpal

 

News Flash

Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed as India’s first Lokpal.

 

Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013

The Act seeks to provide for the establishment of Lokpal at the centre and Likayuktas in the states to inquire into allegation of corruption against certain categories of public servants.

 

Lokpal Jurisdiction

  • Lokapl may ask into charge of corruption against any individual who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, just as authorities of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.
  • Lokpal can also cover chairpersons, individuals, officers and chiefs of any board, organization, society, trust or self-sufficient body either settled by an Act of Parliament or completely or partly subsidized by the Center.
  • It likewise covers any general public or trust or body that gets foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh.


What if charge is made against Prime Minister?

The Lokpal can’t ask into any corruption accusation against the Prime Minister if the allegations are identified with international relations, external and internal security, public order, nuclear vitality, atomic energy and space, except if a full Bench of the Lokpal, comprising of its chairman and all other members, thinks about the initiation of a probe, and at least two-third of the members approve it. Such a hearing ought to be held in camera, and if the complaint is expelled, the records will not be published or made available to anybody.

 

How can a complaint be made?

A complaint under act should be in prescribed form and must pertain to an offence under Prevention of Corruption Act. Anyone can make complaint.

 

Role of CBI & CVC

  • When a complaint is received, the Lokpal may order a preliminary inquiry by its Inquiry Wing, or refer it for investigation by any agency, including the CBI.
  • Complaints with respect to Central government servants, may refer the complaints to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
  • The Inquiry Wing or any other agency will have to complete its preliminary inquiry and submit a report to the Lokpal within 60 days.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

 

The Belt and Road Initiative

News Flash

China is pushing hard for Belt and Road initiative.

  • The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as the One Belt One Road Initiative.
  • BRI was formally launched in Kazakhstan in 2013, encompass infrastructure investments in the construction, transport, aviation, telecommunications and energy sectors stretching across many countries in Asia and Africa.

 

Why did China push for it?

  • Increase economic growth.
  • It is a big way to boosting the global competitiveness of domestic businesses.
  • More focus on economic cooperation initiatives rather than a geopolitical alliance.
  • Large infrastructure investments in the least developed countries.
  • Beijing to leverage its influence around the world.
  • Creation of an energy route from the Middle East and Africa.
  • Promotion of Chinese-led financial institutions (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank).
  • Maritime power in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

 

Aim

Aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.

 

BRI projects

  • It is hard to put a precise number on them.
  • BRI project is the $60+ billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
  • Project on Greek harbour of Piraeus.
  • East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
  • Malaysian gas and oil pipeline projects.
  • Gwadar city port.

 

Advantages for India if joined BRI

  • Land boundary related issues and differences can be resolved.
  • Boost in trade and investments.
  • Direct access to Central Asia.
  • Energy benefits: this would remove the obstacles in implementation of energy projects such as Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.

Source: The Hindu

 

 

Periodic Labour Force Survey

 

News Flash

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-2018 report by NSSO, which the government has retained shows decline in jobs is more acute in the working age group of 15-59 years.

  • Rural female participation rate fell from 49.4 per cent in 2004-05 to 24.6 per cent in 2017-18 (participation of rural women of working age has been halved).
  • In the urban segment, female participation increased by 0.4 percentage points in the six years ending 2017-18.
  • As per PLSF, the share of regular wage for women shows rise since 2011-12.
  • Among urban female workers, the share of non-agricultural informal sector and enterprises such as manufacturing garments, paper and straw products etc. dropped sharply by 13.6 per cent point.
  • The share of non-agricultural informal sector has also slipped by 13.4 percentage point among rural female workers.

 

Factors affecting females work Participation

  • Absence of comprehensive and rational policy for women’s liberation through training and education.
  • Gender based division of work.
  • Government programmes seen at providing more benefits to ladies and focused more on employment opportunities for men’s.
  • Sometime safety issues also come in the way of female participation in employment.


Periodic Labour Force Survey by NSSO

  • The PLFS was launched from 1st April 2017 with its primary aim to provide quarterly employment and unemployment. It is also the primary source for statistic about current employment and un-employment situation in the country.
  • The survey is based on few parameters which include Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Unemployment Rate (UR), Distribution of workers by industry, occupation, workers employed in informal sector and conditions of employment of the workers.

Source: Indian Express

 

 

 

Qualifications for Legislature Candidate

 

News Flash

Today a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will hear a petition to direct political parties to field only candidates who have at least a college degree and are below 75 years. The petition, filed by a lawyer, Ashwini Kumar, says that since a legislator’s functions are vital to democracy, to have one who has not even gone to college is unacceptable.

 

Education Criteria in some states 

  • Candidates fighting for Municipal council and gram panchayat elections are needed to have at least a class XII pass certificate.
  • In Assam besides education other conditions for candidates in gram panchayat elections are mandated : candidates who have more than two living children are disqualified, for instance.
  • Recently, the newly elected Congress government in Rajasthan reversed the minimum qualification requirement for local body elections mandated by the Vasundhara Raje administration.

In a participatory democracy, in which everyone is deemed equally qualified, and an effective one based on the assumption that education helps legislators perform better, is a difficult one and it will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court interprets the issue.

In 2014 Supreme Court observed, ‘the time has come for Parliament to prescribe some minimum qualifications for Parliamentarians/Legislators as prescribed in other fields’

 

Qualifications for MPs (Loksabha) and MLAs

  • The candidate must be a citizen of India. (for MLAs Article 173a and for MPs article 84a of Indian Constitution)
  • The age must be 25 years and above. (MLAs -Article 173b and MPs article 84b)
  • As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the candidate must be an elector for any constituency in the State he is representing from.
  • The candidate must not hold an office of interest under the Government of India.
  • The candidate must be of sound mind.
  • Representation of the People Act, 1951, states that any MLA/MPs found guilty and convicted by court cannot remain in the post.
  • Candidate must make and subscribe before some person authorized in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule to the Constitution.
  • If candidate fighting for a general seat in a state assembly , that is to say, for a seat not reserved as aforesaid, then candidate must be elector form any constituency of the state. For Loksabha candidate can be elector for any parliamentary constituency.

In September 2018 supreme court also gave directions regarding a candidate facing criminal charges :

(i) Each contesting candidate shall fill up the form as provided by the Election Commission and the form must contain all the particulars as required therein.

(ii) It shall state, in bold letters, with regard to the criminal cases pending against the candidate.

(iii) If a candidate is contesting an election on the ticket of a particular party, he/she is required to inform the party about the criminal cases pending against him/her.

(iv) The concerned political party shall be obligated to put up on its website the aforesaid information pertaining to candidates having criminal antecedents.

(v) The candidate as well as the concerned political party shall issue a declaration in the widely circulated newspapers in the locality about the antecedents of the candidate and also give wide publicity in the electronic media.

Source: Business Standard

 

 

 

EMISAT

 

News Flash

India on April 1 will launch an electronic intelligence satellite Emisat for the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) along with 28 third party satellites and also demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of PSLV rocket.

  • The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement.

 

Defence Benefit

  • The satellite will help to detect enemy radars and sensors deployed along the border.
  • These satellites will identify the exact topography of enemy areas and find out how many communication devices are active in the area.
  • The satellite will help India to keep an eagle eye on hostile nations.
  • The satellite will help in collecting imagery and communication intelligence.
  • Advanced electronic satellites can even decode the conversation between two users of communication devices
  • Earlier this year, DRDO had launched Microsat-R which had the capability of capturing images at night.
  • India currently has six-eight satellites which are entirely used for military and surveillance purposes.
  • Cartosat-2 series satellites (2C, 2D, 2E, 2F), with their high-resolution panchromatic (PAN) cameras can take black and white pictures of the earth and can cover swath of 9.6 km at a time.

 

What

  • According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a new variant of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket will first put the 436 kg Emisat into a 749 km orbit.
  • After that, the rocket will be brought down to put into orbit the 28 satellites at an altitude of 504 km.
  • This will be followed by bringing the rocket down further to 485 km when the fourth stage/engine will turn into a payload platform carrying three experimental payloads:

(a) Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO for Maritime satellite applications capturing messages transmitted from ships

(b) Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India – to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data.

(c) Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) – for the structural and compositional studies of ionosphere.

 

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

  • Automatic Identification System (AIS) as specified by IMO, is a ship and shore based broadcast system, operating in the VHF maritime band.
  • AIS is capable of sending and receiving ship information such as identity, position, course, speed, ship particulars and cargo information to and from other ships and shore stations
  • It can handle over 4,000 reports per minute and updates information as often as every two seconds.
  • AIS uses Self-Organising Time Division Multiple Access (SOTDMA) technology. “Cells”
  • Shipboard AIS provides automatic and accurate information regarding risk of collision by calculating Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and Time to Closest Point of Approach (TCPA)

 

Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT

Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. Data can include object Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, weather station telemetry, text messages, announcements, queries, and other telemetry. APRS data can be displayed on a map, which can show stations, objects, tracks of moving objects, weather stations, search and rescue data, and direction finding data.

 

ARIS (Advanced Retarding potential analyser for martial Ionospheric Studies)

ARIS (Advanced Retarding potential analyser for martial Ionospheric Studies), an ionospheric plasma and electrostatic instrument used for the structural and compositional studies of Martial Ionosphere, is a payload in the upcoming MOM (Mars Orbital Mission)-2 of ISRO. ARIS uses a Dual-Retarding Potential Analyser (RPA) configuration which consist of two RPAs in its architecture, Ion mode-RPA(I-RPA) and Electron mode-RPA(E-RPA). RPA is a plasma diagnostic tool that measures ion/electron energy distribution, which consists of a collector shielded from the plasma by a series of biased grids. It acts as a high pass filter which allows particles with energy to charge ratios greater than the retarding potential to pass and reach the collector.

 

Source: Live mint

 

 

 

GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty

 

News Flash

For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014. At 1.3 gigavolts (GV), this cloud had 10 times higher potential than the previous record in a cloud.

Clouds have negative charges along their lower side and positive charges on top and can be several kilometres thick. Though it was known that thunderstorms had an effect on muon intensity, it had not been probed in detail earlier. The way the muon intensity dipped briefly in a manner correlated with the thunderstorm made it possible to measure the electrical potential of thundercloud.

 

How it works 

Muons and other particles are produced when cosmic rays bombard air particles surrounding the earth. The muons produced can have positive or negative charge. When a positively charged muon falls through a cloud, it loses energy. If its energy falls below 1 giga electron volt (GeV), which is the threshold of detection of the GRAPES-3 muon telescope, it goes undetected. On the contrary, a negatively charged muon gains energy when falling through the cloud and gets detected. Since there are more positive than negative muons produced in nature, the two effects don’t cancel out, and a net change in intensity is detected.

 

How it Benefits

  • This method can be used to solve a 25-year-old puzzle of terrestrial gamma ray bursts — huge flashes of light that accompany lightnings.
  • Learning about the properties of thunderclouds can be useful in navigation of aircraft.
  • Preventing short circuits.

Source: The Hindu