26 th May 2021
Total Lunar Eclipse and Supermoon
Recently, a super-celestial event took place as the first lunar eclipse of 2021 took place.
- The event was more special as it coincided with a supermoon, a total lunar eclipse and a red blood moon all at once.
Supermoon
- NASA notes that a supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time that the Moon is full.
- As the Moon orbits the Earth, there is a point of time when the distance between the two is the least (called the perigee) and a point of time when the distance is the most (called the apogee).
- When a full Moon appears at the point when the distance between the Earth and the Moon is the least, not only does it appear to be brighter but it is also larger than a regular full moon.
- According to NASA, the term supermoon was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.
- In a typical year, there may be two to four full supermoons and two to four new supermoons in a row.
Lunar Eclipse
- It is a phenomenon which occurs when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth.
- The phenomenon occurs during the full moon.
- A full moon happens when the Moon and the Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth which allows the person to see the entire lit-up side, which looks like a round disc in the night sky.
- The moon will also appear to be red because of the total lunar eclipse.
Why does the moon look red?
- It is because the Earth will block some of the light from the Sun from reaching the moon and as the Earth’s atmosphere filters the light, it will soften “the edge of our planet’s shadow” “giving the Moon a deep, rosy glow”.
- Sunlight has all colors and while passing through the atmosphere of the Earth, the blue light is filtered while the red part passes through it.
- It is because of this the sky looks blue and redness prevails at sunrise and sunset.
- In the case of a lunar eclipse, the red light passes through the earth's atmosphere and it turns towards the moon while the blue light remains out of it which makes the moon look completely red.
Reclining Buddha and other depictions in art
Recently, India’s largest statue of the Reclining Buddha was to have been installed at the Buddha International Welfare Mission temple in Bodh Gaya on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
- The ceremony has been put off due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Reclining Buddha
- The reclining Buddha statue or image represents The Buddha during his last illness, about to enter Parinirvana.
- Parinirvana the stage of great salvation after death that can only be attained by enlightened souls.
- Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha is supposed to be a very important event that happened in Kushinagar; it is not simply a demise, it is the great demise, after which there is no rebirth for him.
- The Buddha’s death came when he was 80 years old, in a state of meditation, in Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh, close to the state’s border with Bihar.
- It signifies the Buddha’s last deeksha i.e. even while on his deathbed, he took a follower into the fold.
Iconographic representation of Reclining Buddha
- The statues and images of the Reclining Buddha show him lying on his right side, his head resting on a cushion or on his right elbow.
- It is a popular iconographic depiction in Buddhism, and is meant to show that all beings have the potential to be awakened and be released from the cycle of death and rebirth.
- The Reclining Buddha was first depicted in Gandhara art, which began in the period between 50 BC and 75 AD, and peaked during the Kushana period from the first to the fifth centuries AD.
Reclining Buddha outside India
- In Sri Lanka and India, the Buddha is mostly shown in sitting postures, while the reclining postures are more prevalent in Thailand and other parts of South East Asia.
- The largest Reclining Buddha in the world is the 600-foot Winsein Tawya Buddha built in 1992 in Mawlamyine, Myanmar.
- In the late 15th century, a 70-metre statue of the Reclining Buddha was built at the Hindu temple site of Baphuon in Cambodia’s Angkor.
- The Bhamala Buddha Parinirvana in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which dates back to the 2nd century AD, is considered the oldest statue of its kind in the world.
- There are several statues of the Reclining Buddha in China, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Reclining Buddha in India
- Cave No. 26 of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ajanta contains a 24-foot-long and nine-foot-tall sculpture of the Reclining Buddha, believed to have been carved in the 5th century AD.
- It shows the Buddha reclining on his right side, and behind him are two sala trees.
- At the base of the sculpture are his begging bowl, a water pitcher and walking stick.
- Kushinagar, where the Buddha actually attained parinirvana, has a 6-metre-long red sandstone monolith statue of the Reclining Buddha inside the Parinirvana Stupa.
Other depictions of the Buddha
- In India, there are a lot of Buddhas in sitting postures, mostly pertaining to his Enlightenment rather than to his demise.
- At the Mahabodhi temple, the Buddha is sitting in the bhoomi-sparsha mudra, where his hand is pointing towards the ground.
- At Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, the stone statue has a hand gesture called the dharma-chakra mudra, which signifies preaching.
- It is also the most popular depiction in India, along with the Bodhi tree depiction.
- The Buddha statues found in South East Asia are an amalgamation of all his various postures and life events, including mahaparinirvana, but not limited to it.
Whatsapp v/s Traceability Clause of IT Rules
Recently, the Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is taking the Indian government to court over the traceability clause in the new IT Rules 2021.
- The new IT rules include a traceability clause that requires social media platforms to locate “the first originator of the information” if required by authorities.
- It should be noted that this rule will impact most messaging apps such as Signal, Telegram, Snapchat, Wire and others.
What does WhatsApp’s lawsuit state?
- WhatsApp is invoking the 2017 Justice K S Puttaswamy vs Union of India case to argue that the traceability provision is unconstitutional and against people’s fundamental right to privacy.
- The plea states that the court should declare the traceability clause as “unconstitutional” and should not allow it to come into force.
- It is also challenging the clause which puts “criminal liability” on its employees for non-compliance.
Arguments of WhatsApp on Traceability
- The requirement to ‘trace’ chats would be the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on WhatsApp”
- It would mean that the platform will have to break end-to-end encryption, which is turned on by default for all messages.
- The traceability would mean re-engineering the app just for the Indian market, which is unlikely to happen.
- The end-to-end encryption ensures that no third-party, not even the messaging app itself can track or read messages.
- It says it is all for “reasonable and proportionate regulations”, but cannot support eroding privacy for everyone, violating human rights, and putting innocent people at risk.
Why is WhatsApp against finding the originator of a message?
- The end-to-end encryption ensures that no one can read the message, except for the sender and the receiver which includes WhatsApp itself.
- The app does not keep a log of who is sending what message and to whom.
- It cannot read the contents of a message and finding the originator is even harder.
- WhatsApp says that if it had to trace an originator, then it would have to “store information” and it will have to add some sort of “permanent identity stamp” or effectively ‘fingerprint’ each message.
WhatsApp’s resistance on imposing traceability
- Its argument is that traceability, even if enforced, is not foolproof and could lead to human rights violations.
- They will have to turn over the names of people who shared something even if they did not create it, shared it out of concern, or sent it to check its accuracy.
- It notes that innocent people could get caught up in investigations, or even go to jail, for sharing content that later becomes problematic in the eyes of a government.
- It also adds that such an approach will violate recognised principles of free expression and human rights.
Arguments on digital fingerprinting
- The internet experts have also argued against digital fingerprinting techniques to achieve traceability, cautioning these can be easily impersonated.
- The experts have warned that innocent users could get implicated for activities carried out by cyber criminals who might use more sophisticated techniques to impersonate a sender.
- The experts are clear that fingerprinting techniques are open to abuse, and in the end will undermine encryption entirely.
Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code
Recently, the new rules for social media platforms and digital news outlets, called the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, came into effect.
- In February 2021, the guidelines had asked all social media platforms to set up a grievances redressal and compliance mechanism.
- It included appointing a resident grievance officer, chief compliance officer and a nodal contact person.
- The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology had also asked these platforms to submit monthly reports on complaints received from users and action taken.
- A third requirement was for instant messaging apps was to make provisions for tracking the first originator of a message.
- The failure to comply with any one of these requirements would take away the indemnity provided to social media intermediaries under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
What is Section 79 of the IT Act?
- It says any intermediary shall not be held legally or otherwise liable for any third party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted on its platform.
- The Act says that the protection shall be applicable if the said intermediary does not in any way:
- Initiate the transmission of the message in question;
- Select the receiver of the transmitted message; and
- Does not modify any information contained in the transmission.
- It implies that that as long as a platform acts just as the messenger carrying a message from point A to point B, without interfering in any manner, it will be safe from any legal prosecution.
- The protection accorded under Section 79 is not granted if the intermediary, despite being informed or notified by the government or its agencies, does not immediately disable access to the material under question.
- The intermediary must not tamper with any evidence of these messages or content present on its platform, failing which it lose its protection under the Act.
Need for protection under Sector 79 of IT Act
- The need to provide protection to intermediaries from actions of third parties came into focus following a police case in 2004.
- In November 2004, an IIT student posted an obscene video clip for sale on bazee.com, an auction website.
- The case against the website was made out for listing of the video clip and its content, which were pornographic in nature, while the CEO of the website was held liable under Section 85 of the IT Act.
- It says that when a company commits an offence under the IT Act, all executives in-charge at that time should be held liable and proceeded against.
- The decision was overturned in 2012 by the Supreme Court, which held that the website could not be held accountable since they were not directly involved in the said transaction.
- The IT Act was amended to introduce Section 79 following the decision of the Supreme Court.
What happens if a social media firm is no longer protected under Section 79?
- The social media intermediaries will continue to function as they were, without any hiccups.
- People will also be able to post and share content on their pages without any disturbance.
- The social media intermediaries have so far not appointed a resident grievance officer, chief compliance officer and a nodal contact person as requires under the new rules.
- They have also failed to submit monthly action taken reports on grievances and complaints submitted to them by users and the protection under Section 79 of the IT Act does will not hold for them.
- The Rule 4(a) of the IT Rules, which mandates that significant social media intermediaries must appoint a chief compliance officer (CCO) who would be held liable in case the intermediary fails to observe the due diligence requirements, also undermines the safe harbour protections.
- The absence of the umbrella protection of Section 79 could also lead to situations where employees of the platform may be held liable for no fault on their part.
- It could lead to a situation where employees of social media giants could be held personally liable for failing to ensure that their employer complied with the statutory provisions.
Global norms on safe harbour protection for social media intermediaries
- The Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act provides internet companies a safe harbour from any content users post of these platforms.
- It states that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.
- It effectively means that the intermediary shall only be like a bookstore owner who cannot be held accountable for the books in the store.
Victory of Pulakeshin II over Harshvardhana
Recently, the coinciding lunar eclipse and Buddha Purnima had led to remembering of an event which took place 1402 years ago in which Pulakeshin II emerged victorious over Harshvardhana.
- The inscriptions on a copper plate owned by Mumbai-based Raghuveer Pai became a vital link in establishing the day and year in which Chalukya king Pulakeshin II emerged victorious over emperor Harshvardhana.
- Pulakeshin II held forts of almost the entire Deccan region of southern India, whereas Harshvardhana’s empire extended across the present-day North and Northwest regions of India.
- Until 2016, the historic battle was believed to have taken place sometime between 610 CE (Common Era) and 634 CE.
- It is believed that these copper plates, highlighting the victory, were commissioned by Pulakeshin II on Vaishakh Purnima in 619 CE.
- The battle ended with a historic geographical demarcation i.e. Narmada River became the boundary between the southern territory of Chalukyas and Vardhanas’ empire in North India.
Evidence related to war between Pulakeshin II and Harshvardhana
- The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II, according to which, was crowned by the aura of the crown of the feudatories reared by immense opulence.
- Charan Kamal, which looked terrible due to the killing of the army of elephants in the battle.
- According to Hsuansang’s travel description Si-yu-ki after his ascension, Harsh waged many wars for 6 consecutive years.
- But Mo-Ho-L-Ch-A means the ruler of Maharashtra was brave and self-respecting.
- He did not accepted subordination of Harsh.
Pulakeshin II
- He was one of the greatest King of Chalukya Dynasty and he began his rule in the year 620 A.D.
- The chief aim of Pulakeshin II was to convert the Chalukya Kingdom into a big southern empire.
- Pulakeshin II also described his military achievements in his famous Aihole Prasasti or Inscription.
- The date of the Aihole Stone Inscription falls on 634-35 A.D.
First PPP Research Reactor for production of Nuclear Medicines
Recently, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has informed that the design, regulatory clearances and other preparatory work for the Research Reactor is moving at a good pace.
PPP Research Reactor
- It will be first of its kind PPP in the world.
- It will be one of the largest single facilities for production/processing of isotopes in the world in terms of volume.
- It is India’s first public-private-partnership research reactor for production of nuclear medicines.
- It is evolved by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
- The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will be taking the responsibility of constructing the Reactor, including the upfront capital expenditure for construction.
Significance of PPP Research Reactor
- It will be a major step towards making India self-reliant in key radio isotopes used in medical and industrial applications.
- It will increase the availability of effective and affordable treatments for cancer.
- It will enable India to become a significant global player in the growing nuclear medicine market.
Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) portal and Ayush Sanjivani App
Recently, the Ministry of AYUSH has launched the Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) portal and Ayush Sanjivani App.
Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) Portal
- It is the dedicated section for reporting and publishing details of Covid 19 cases treated through Ayush Systems.
- It is conceptualized and developed by the Ministry of Ayush as a platform to support both Ayush practitioners and the public.
- It welcomes Ayush practitioners from all over the world to enroll and share information about successfully treated cases for the benefit of all.
- It covers all the seven systems of Ayush viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy and Sowa Rigpa.
Significance of Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) Portal
- It aims to aggregate information about clinical outcomes achieved by Ayush practitioners on a large scale.
- It will facilitate not just dissemination of information but also further analysis and research.
- It is expected to document the strengths of Ayush systems for treatment of various disease conditions.
Ayush Sanjivani App
- It facilitates a significant study/ documentation regarding the efficacy of selected Ayush interventions, including Ayush 64 and Kabasura Kudineer medicines.
- It will help to generate data on acceptance and usage of AYUSH advocacies and measures among the population and its impact in prevention of COVID 19.
- It is developed by Ministry of AYUSH and MEITY and shall reach out to a target of 50 lakh people.
National Mission on use of biomass in thermal power plants
Recently, the Ministry of Power has decided to set up a National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants.
- In 2019, MNRE had issued a notice clarifying the eligibility of power generated from the co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants as renewable energy.
- The government has stated that the power generated from the co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants is renewable energy and is eligible for meeting the non-solar renewable purchase obligations.
- In 2020, the MNRE had extended the validity of its biomass-based cogeneration program.
- The program was extended until March 31, 2021, or until the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission come into effect, whichever comes first.
National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants
- It is being envisaged that the Mission would have a Steering Committee headed by Secretary (Power).
- It will constitute all stakeholders including representatives from Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) etc.
- The Executive Committee would be headed by Member (Thermal), CEA.
- The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will play a larger role in providing logistic and infrastructure support in the proposed National Mission.
- The duration of proposed National Mission would be a minimum 5 years.
- The following Sub-Groups are also proposed to be formed under the Mission:
- Sub-Group 1: To be responsible to carry out research on properties/ characteristics of biomass.
- Sub-Group 2: To carry out technical specification and safety aspects including research in boiler design etc. to handle the pilot project for higher amount of co-firing of biomass with coal in pulverized coal (PC) fired boilers.
- Sub-Group 3: For resolving the issues of supply chain during the mission period and sensitization programme.
- Sub-Group 4: To select designated labs and certification bodies for testing of Agro-based biomass pellets and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) pellets
- Sub-Group 5: Be formed on regulatory framework and economics of biomass co-firing in coal based Thermal power plants.
Objectives of National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants
- To increase the level of co-firing from present 5% to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon neutral power generation from the thermal power plants;
- To take up R&D activity in boiler design to handle the higher amount of silica, alkalis in the biomass pellets;
- To facilitate overcoming the constraints in supply chain of bio mass pellets and agro- residue and its transport upto to the power plants; and
- To consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing
Purpose of National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants
- It aims to address rampant air pollution caused by the burning of farm stubble and reduce the carbon footprint in thermal power generation.
- It aims to contribute to the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
- It would further support the country’s energy transition targets and move towards cleaner energy sources.
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