03 OCT 2020

 

03 October 2020: Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Exam

General Studies-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

 

Topic: Social Issue

1) Annual Crime Report of India

In News

The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) has released its 2019 'Crime in India' report.

• The report indicated how the women in India are increasingly becoming unsafe.

Key Findings

• Crime against women increased 7.3 per cent from 2018 to 2019.
• Crimes against Scheduled Castes also went up 7.3 per cent from 2018 to 2019.
• In terms of absolute numbers, Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of cases in both (against women and against SCs) these categories.
• Assam reported the highest rate of crimes against women (per lakh population), while Rajasthan had the highest rate of crimes against Scheduled Castes.
• A total of 4,05,861 cases of crime against women were registered during 2019, showing an increase of 7.3% over 2018.
• Majority of cases under crime against women under IPC were registered under ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives’ (30.9%), followed by ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ (21.8%), ‘kidnapping & abduction of women’ (17.9%) and ‘rape’ (7.9%).
• The crime rate registered per lakh women population is 62.4 in 2019 in comparison with 58.8 in 2018.
• UP reported the highest number of crimes against women (59,853), accounting for 14.7 per cent of such cases across the country.
• It was followed by Rajasthan (41,550 cases; 10.2 per cent) and Maharashtra (37,144 cases; 9.2 per cent).
• Assam reported the highest rate of crime against women at 177.8 (per lakh population), followed by Rajasthan (110.4) and Haryana (108.5).
• Rajasthan reported the highest number of rapes with 5,997 cases, followed by UP (3,065) and Madhya Pradesh (2,485).
• In terms of rate of rape cases, Rajasthan was the highest at 15.9 (per lakh population), followed by Kerala (11.1) and Haryana (10.9).
• UP also had the highest number of crimes against girl children under the POCSO Act with 7,444 cases, followed by Maharashtra (6,402) and MP (6,053).
• The highest rate of these crimes were in Sikkim (27.1 per lakh population), MP (15.1), and Haryana (14.6).
• UP had the highest number of dowry cases (2,410), at a rate of 2.2 (per lakh population), followed by Bihar (1,120).
• According to the report, 150 acid attacks were reported in 2019, of which 42 took place in UP and 36 in West Bengal.
• The report, says a total of 45,935 cases were registered as crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs), showing an increase of 7.3% over 2018 (42,793 cases).
• Crime rate registered showed an increase from 21.2 (per lakh population) in 2018 to 22.8 in 2019.
• Crime head-wise cases revealed that simple hurt with 28.9% (13,273 cases) formed the largest chunk of cases of crimes/ atrocities against Scheduled Castes during 2019.
• It was followed by cases under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act with 9.0% (4,129 cases), and cases under rape with 7.6% (3,486 cases).
• UP reported the most cases against Scheduled Castes – 11,829 cases, accounting for 25.8 per cent of the cases across the country.
• It was followed by Rajasthan (6,794 cases; 14.8 per cent) and Bihar (6,544; 14.2 per cent).
• However, the rate of such cases was highest in Rajasthan at 55.6 (per lakh population), followed by MP (46.7) and Bihar (39.5).
• Rajasthan also had the highest number of rapes against Dalit women (554), followed by UP (537) and MP (510).
• The rate of rape against Dalit women was highest in Kerala at 4.6 (per lakh population), followed by MP (4.5) and Rajasthan (4.5).

Cognizable crimes

• India recorded a 1.6% rise in the number of cognizable crimes between 2018 and 2019.
• These cognisable crimes include those covered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as those covered under various Special and Local Laws (SLL). While the first category saw a rise of about 3%, the number of cases under the second decreased by 0.6%.

 

 

• Nearly every third case registered under the IPC in 2019, or about 1.1 million, was regarding offences affecting the human body such as murder, rape, causing death, kidnapping, etc.
• Offences against property, such as theft and criminal breach of trust, comprised about 26% or 0.9 million cases.
• Offences against property increased by 6.5% - it includes theft which increased by 8% and was the single most committed crime in India comprising 21% of all IPC crimes.

 

 

The crimes against women, children, senior citizens, and people belonging to the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities increased between 2018 and 2019 at varying degrees. Crimes against women increased by 7.3%.

 

 

Cruelty by husband or his relatives was the single most committed crime against women in 2019, comprising 31% of all crimes against women.

• Rape comprised about 8% of crimes against women.

 

 

Among crimes against children, kidnapping and abduction, and sexual offences were the two most committed crimes.

 

 

National Crime Records Bureau

• NCRB is an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).
• NCRB is headquartered in New Delhi and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• NCRB was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• It was set up based on the recommendation of the Task force,1985 and National Police Commission,1977 by merging the Directorate of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Inter State Criminals Data Branch of CBI and Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evolution of NCRB

 

 

 

Source: Indian Express, Hindustan Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Studies-III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

 

Topic: Environment safety

2) Open Defecation Free Cities

In News

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announced that over 99 per cent of cities across country become Open Defecation Free, ODF.

• The ministry celebrated six years of Swachh Bharat Mission (urban) and organised a webinar on ‘Swachhata ke 6 saal, Bemisaal’.

Background

The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014, with the vision of achieving Clean India by October 2, 2019, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Details

• The 4,372 cities in India to be made ODF, 4,323 stand declared as ODF, which is 99 per cent. Of them 4,204 (about 96 per cent) stand as ODF verified cities.
• India has claimed that as of last year, all 5,99,963 villages of the country have attained ODF status by construction of the required toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission-Rural scheme.
• Solid waste management processing has gone up to 67 per cent from 18 per cent in 2014.
• The target is to reach 100 per cent by the time India celebrates 75 years of Independence in 2022 in the 500 Indian cities under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

Swachh Bharat Mission/ Clean India Mission

• It is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management (SWM).
• The mission aimed to achieve an "open-defecation free" (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Phase 1 of the mission lasted till October 2019. Phase 2 will be implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
• The objectives of the first phase of the mission also included eradication of manual scavenging, generating awareness and bringing about a behavior change regarding sanitation practices, and augmentation of capacity at the local level.
• The second phase of the mission aims to sustain the open defecation free status and improve the management of solid and liquid waste.
• The mission is aimed at progressing towards target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals Number 6 established by the United Nations in 2015.

Swachh Bharat Awards-2020

• Union Jal Shakti Minister gave away the Swachh Bharat Awards-2020 to States, Districts, Blocks and Village Panchayats.
• The awards were given particularly under the drinking water and cleanliness categories.

Details

• The government had earlier launched three missions under Swachh Sundar Samudayik Shouchalaya, Samudayik Shouchalaya Abhiyan and Gandagi Mukth Bharat.
• Under the Swachh Sundar Samudayik Shouchalaya category Gujarat bagged the first position at state level whereas Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu got the Award for cleanliness at District Level. Khachrod block in Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh was awarded the first position and Chinnanur Village in Tamil Nadu bagged the top slot at Gram Panchayat level.
• Under the Samudayik Shouchalaya Abhiyan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh were awarded as the best performing states whereas Prayagraj and Bareilly got it for being the best performing districts.
• Under the Gandagi Mukth Bharat Mission, Haryana and Telangana were awarded the top slot.

 

Source: Indian Express, News On Air

 

 

Topic: Environmental Development

3) Aerial Seeding

In News

The Indian Navy has partnered with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to undertake Aerial Seeding at Visakhapatnam.

• The initiative is aimed to enhance the green cover in and around Visakhapatnam.
• This initiative is taken to plant saplings in order to prevent soil erosion, global warming and to protect environment.

Details

• Two UH3H helicopters with 2 tons of seed balls undertook the aerial seeding.
• Naval helicopters will be airdropping a total of 50,000 seed balls weighing approx. 6.25 tonnes in 5 locations identified by GVMC.

 

 

What is aerial seeding?

Aerial seeding is a technique of plantation wherein seed balls – seeds covered with a mixture of clay, compost, char and other components – are sprayed on the ground using aerial devices, including planes, helicopters or drones.

How does this technique work?

• Seeds balls or seed pellets are dispersed in a targeted area by the low-flying drones, falling to the ground with the help of the coating of clay, compost, char and other material, that provides the required weight for seeds to drop on a predetermined location rather than disperse in the wind.
• These pellets will then sprout when there is enough rain, with the nutrients present within them helping in the initial growth.

What are the advantages of this technique?

• The efficient coverage of a large area in the least amount of time.
• Aerial seeding facilitates seeding in areas that otherwise would be impossible to seed with traditional methods, such as land that is too hard to reach by non-aircraft or ground conditions being far too wet.
• Aerial seeding may be used when existing crops are already planted.
• The process of the seed’s germination and growth is such that it requires no attention after it is dispersed – the reason why seed pellets are known as the “fire and forget” way of plantation.
• They eliminate the need for ploughing and digging holes in the soil and the seeds do not need to be planted, since they are already surrounded by soil, nutrients, and microorganisms.
• The clay shell of these pellets along with the other items in the mixture also protects them from birds, ants and rats.

Source: The Hindu

 

 

 

 

Topic: S&T

4) Kalpana Chawla cargo spacecraft

In News

NASA launched a commercial cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station (ISS) named after Indian Origin deceased NASA Astronaut “Kalpana Chawla”.

• The S.S. Kalpana Chawla launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Details

S.S. Kalpana Chawla will deliver approximately 3,630 kilograms of cargo to the station.

It includes:

• The test of a biologic drug that could be used for the treatment of leukemia.
• A plant growth study that will cultivate radishes as a model for future crops in space.
• A compact toilet for astronauts to use on deep-space exploration missions.
• A 360-degree virtual reality camera that will be used to film during a spacewalk for an immersive cinematic production.
• Cargo aircraft also carries a component of new spacesuit that we'll be testing in microgravity on the space station.
• An advanced particulate monitor to measure airborne particulates and several things.

Kalpana Chawla (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003)

• Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana.
• In 1976, Chawla graduated from the Tagore School.
• After getting a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India, she moved to the United States in 1982 and obtained a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984.
• Chawla went on to earn a second Masters in 1986 and a PhD[16] in aerospace engineering in 1988 from the University of Colorado Boulder.
• Kalpana Chawla was an American astronaut, engineer, and the first woman of Indian origin to go to space.
• She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator.
• Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor,[6] and several streets, universities, and institutions have been named in her honor.

 

Source: Economic Times

 

 

 

Topic: Military Exercise

5) Bongosagar

In News

India and Bangladesh are to hold a mega military exercise in Bay of Bengal as part of the annual 'Bongosagar' exercise whose first edition was held in October 2019.

Details

• It is aimed at developing inter-operability and joint operational skills.
• Ships from both navies will participate in surface warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and helicopter operations.
• The exercise will be followed by the third edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in Northern Bay of Bengal on October 4 and 5. Conduct of CORPAT has strengthened understanding between both the navies and instituted measures to stop conduct of unlawful activities.
• The Indian Navy will deploy anti-submarine warfare corvette Kiltan and guided-missile corvette Khukri in the 'Bongosagar' exercise.
• The Bangladeshi navy will be represented by guided-missile frigate Abu Bakr and guided-missile corvette Prottoy.
• Maritime patrol aircraft as well as a number of helicopters from both navies would also be participating in the exercise.

Importance of exercise

• It is important for both India and Bangladesh to hold such frequent exercises for the countries to counter terror operations.
• These exercises will boost the capabilities of the defence forces to work together.
• The Jamaat-ul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul Jihad are some of the terrorist organizations causing troubles along the international border of the countries.

 

 

Source: News18

 

 

 

Topic: Health safety

6) ICMR develops “Purified Antisera”

In News

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with a Hyderabad-based biopharmaceutical company has developed "highly purified antisera" (raised in animals), which can be a potential treatment for COVID-19.

• Antisera are blood serum high in antibodies against specific antigens and are injected in humans to help kickstart the immune system to fight specific infections.

Details

• The "antisera" is yet to undergo human clinical trials to establish its safety and efficacy.
• The new therapy works just like that of plasma therapy. But here the plasma is obtained from animals.
• In this new therapy, the serum is raised from horses that have recovered from viral infection and found to hold antibodies against the virus in their system. The antibodies from horses are called “Equine Antisera” and are common.
• The antibodies obtained from animals have earlier been used to control several viral infections such as Hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus, diphtheria and botulism.

 

Antiserum

• Antiserum is human or nonhuman blood serum containing monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies that is used to spread passive immunity to many diseases via blood donation (plasmaphoresis).
• Passive Immunity is transferring active human immunity of ready-made anti bodies. It naturally occurs when the antibodies of a mother is transferred to the baby through placenta.

Antibodies

An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to neutralize pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

 

Source: NDTV

 

 

Topic: E&E

7) Wildlife week

In News

Wildlife Week is observed from October 2 to 8 every year with the view to preserve the fauna means the animal life of the India.

Details

• It was first started in the year 1952 with the great vision of saving the life of the Indian animals.
• The Indian Government has established an Indian Board of Wild Life which works to improve the awareness as well as the consciousness of the Indian people towards the wildlife preservation.

Objectives of Celebrating Wild Life Week

• To make people more aware of the conservation and protection of the wild life.
• To focus the people’s attention towards the importance of conservation of the wild life.
• To implement more services to preserve the wild life.
• To discuss all the issues related to the preservation of the wild life.

 

Source: New Indian Express