14th edition of World Spice Congress begins in Navi Mumbai

World Spice Congress (WSC)

• It was planned and conceived in 1990 as a forum for discussion and interaction between the importers and exporters of spices.
• It is the conglomeration of the global spice industry that has become the most apt platform to deliberate the concerns and considerations of the sector over its three-decades-long presence.
• Since its inception, it has been Organized under the leadership of the Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• The theme of the WSC 2023 is VISION 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S, which stands for sustainability, productivity, innovation, collaboration, excellence and safety.

Spices Board of India

• It was constituted on 26th February 1987 under the Spices Board Act 1986with the merger of the erstwhile Cardamom Board (1968) and Spices Export Promotion Council (1960).
• It is functioning under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• It is responsible for the export promotion of the 52 scheduled spices and the development of Cardamom (Small and large).
• The Board is a link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad.
• Main Functions
  • Research, Development and Regulation of domestic marketing of Small & Large Cardamom
  • Post-harvest improvement of all spices
  • Promotion of organic production, processing and certification of spices
  • Development of spices in the North East
  • Provision of quality evaluation services

Rubber Board to increase area under rubber in Northeast

Natural Rubber

• Natural rubber is a polymer made up of a chemical molecule called isoprene.
• It is a native of the Amazon basin, which was introduced to countries in the tropical belts of Asia and Africa in the late nineteenth century.
• Climatic conditions required for Rubber cultivation
  • Rubber trees require moist and humid climates with heavy rainfall of more than 200 cm.
  • It grows well in equatorial climates and temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.
  • Soil: Well-drained, weathered soils.

Rubber plantation in India

• India is the third largest producer, the fourth largest consumer of natural rubber and the fifth largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber together in the world.
• Rubber Growing Areas in India
  • Traditional Areas: Primarily in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari District and Kerala.
  • Non-traditional regions: Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra’s Konkan Region, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the northeastern provinces, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, among other places.

Rubber Board

• It is a statutory organisation constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947.
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Functions:
  • It is responsible for the development of the rubber industry in the country by assisting and encouraging research, development, extension and training activities related to rubber.
  • It also maintains statistical data of rubber, takes steps to promote the marketing of rubber and undertakes labour welfare activities.
• Composition
  • The Board is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
  • It has 28 members representing various interests in the natural rubber industry.
• Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala.

India Seeks 20 More Doses Of Monoclonal Antibody From Australia To Combat Nipah Virus Outbreak

Monoclonal Antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies (also called moAbs or mAbs) are proteins made in laboratories that act like proteins called antibodies in our bodies.
• Antibodies are parts of our immune system. They seek out the antigens (foreign materials) and stick to them in order to destroy them.
• The word “monoclonal” refers to the fact that the antibodies created in the laboratory are clones. They are exact copies of one antibody.
• Production:
  • They are produced by cloning a single type of immune cell, known as a B cell, to generate large quantities of identical antibodies.
  • This process creates highly specific antibodies that target a particular antigen, which could be a virus, bacteria, cancer cell, or other disease-related molecule.
• Specificity: They can be designed to recognise and bind to a particular target molecule with great precision. This specificity reduces the risk of unintended side effects.
• They are used in a variety of medical applications, including the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases.
• Monoclonal antibodies vs. Polyclonal antibodies:
  • Monoclonal antibodies are clones of just one antibody, and they bind to one antigen only.
  • Polyclonal antibodies come from several different types of immune cells and will bind to more than one antigen.

Nipah virus

• Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted from animals to humans.
• The organism that causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is closely related to Hendra virus.
• It first broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999.
• It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found in several species of domestic animals, including dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep.
• Transmission:
  • The disease spreads through fruit bats, or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses.
  • The virus is present in bat urine and, potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids.
• Symptoms: Typically, the human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death.
• Mortality Rate: 40% to 70%
• Treatment: There is no definitive treatment available for the virus.

All reported births, deaths to be digitally registered from October 1

Digital birth certificates

• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023that paves way for digital birth certificates
• It will be a single document to be used for admission to educational institutions, applications for driving licences, government jobs, passports or Aadhaar, voter enrolment, and registration of marriage, among others.
• The centralised database will also update the National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, property registration and electoral rolls.
• It will be compulsory for States to register births and deaths on the Centre’s Civil Registration System (CRS) portal and share data with the Registrar General of India (RGI).

National Population Register

• It is a register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area within a ward in a town or urban area.
• It was first prepared in 2010 and updated in 2015 under Sub-rule (4) of Rule 3 of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• To incorporate the changes due to birth, death and migration, the NPR would be updated along with the House listing and Housing Operations of the forthcoming Census.
• The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive database of usual residents in the country.
• No document will be collected during this exercise.

Govt launches Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics to improve data management in agriculture sector

Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics

• This innovative platform is designed to streamline and enhance data management in the agricultural domain
• It marks a significant step towards a more efficient and responsive agricultural policy framework.
• It is a crucial component of the Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture.
• It is an initiative by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to streamline data management in the agriculture sector.
• It aims to provide real-time, standardised, and verified data on agricultural commodities, facilitating data-driven decision-making for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders.
• This initiative aligns with the principles of e-governance, bringing smartness, transparency, and agility to India''s agriculture sector.
• Key Features of the UPAg Portal
  • Data Standardization: The portal standardises data on prices, production, area, yield, and trade, making it accessible in one location eliminating the need to compile data from multiple sources.
  • Data Analysis: The UPAg Portal will perform advanced analytics, offering insights such as production trends, trade correlations, and consumption patterns, aiding policymakers in making informed decisions.
  • Granular Production Estimates: The portal will generate granular production estimates with increased frequency, enhancing the government''s ability to respond to agricultural crises swiftly.
  • Commodity Profile Reports: Commodity profile reports will be produced using algorithms, minimising subjectivity and providing users with comprehensive insights.
  • Plug and Play: Users will have the flexibility to use the portal''s data to prepare their own reports, promoting data-driven decision-making.

Boat carrying 32 children capsizes in Bagmati river in Bihar''s Muzaffarpur

Bagmati River

• It is a transboundary river between Nepal and India.
• Origin: It rises in the Shivapuri Hills to the north of Kathmandu and flows southward through the city.
• It passes across the Kathmandu Valley, which is situated in Nepal.
• It gets divided from Kathmandu through Patan, passing via Province No. 2 of the Southern region of Nepal that eventually seeps into the Bihar state of India.
• This river is assumed to be sacred by a pair of religions, Hindus as well as Buddhists.
• Major tributaries – Bishnumati, Hanumante, Dhobikhola and Tukucha, Origin
• The River ultimately joins the Narayani River, located in southern Nepal.
• The merged waters of the Bagmati and Narayani eventually make their way southward and into the Ganges.

Vivek Bhasin assumes charge as BARC director

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

• BARC is India’s premier nuclear research establishment, having its headquarters in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It operates under the Department of Atomic Energy, which the Prime Minister of India directly oversees.
• History:
  • Homi Jehangir Bhabha conceived the nuclear program in India.
  • Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to carry out nuclear science research in 1945.
  • To intensify the effort to exploit nuclear energy for the benefit of the nation, Dr Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), in January 1954 for a multidisciplinary research program essential for the ambitious nuclear program of India.
  • After the demise of Bhabha in 1966, AEET was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
• Functions:
  • It is engaged in research with the objective of generating knowledge and techniques for nuclear power production, the advancement of nuclear science, the use of radioisotopes in industry, health and agriculture and research in frontier areas of science and technology.
  • It is responsible for the design and development of nuclear reactors, fuel cycle technologies, radiation protection, and safety systems.
  • BARC also plays an important role in nuclear education and training. It offers various training programs for scientists, engineers, and technicians in the areas of nuclear science and technology.

Rajnath unveils multi-terrain unmanned ground vehicle developed in Pune by Bharat Forge

Enhanced Collaborative Autonomous Rover System (ECARS)

• It is a cutting-edge 4×4 multi-terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).
• It was developed by Pune’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge.
• Features:
  • It is armed with an enhanced collision avoidance system and advanced mission planning capabilities, rendering it a dependable resource for a wide range of military situations.
  • The speed ranges between 16 and 20 kilometres per hour.
  • It has a payload capacity of 350 Kg and a towing payload capacity of 500 Kg.
  • One of the key features of ECARS is its compatibility with various systems, including Remote Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS), Water Jet machines, and the transportation of heavy materials across border and water channels.
• Functions: Border surveillance, strategic asset perimeter security, riot control operations, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) incidents, fire-fighting, chemical spraying, and meeting various payload requirements.

North-Tech Symposium 2023:

• It was jointly organised by the Indian Army''s Northern Command, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and IIT-Jammu.
• The event comprised exhibitions, product launches, one-on-one structured interactions, technical seminars, ideas and innovation displays, as well as military equipment displays.

INS Sumedha Participates In 6-Nation Exercise Bright Star

INS Sumedha

• INS Sumedha is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV).
• It was indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on March 7, 2014.
• It is part of the Indian Navy''s Eastern Fleet, based in Visakhapatnam.
• Primary Functions: To undertake EEZ surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, provide maritime security to offshore assets and carry out escort operations for high-value assets.
• Features:
  • It has a displacement of 2,230 tonnes and measures 105 metres in length and 12.9 metres in beam.
  • It is fitted with a state-of-the-art weapon and sensor package.
  • It can carry an Advanced Light Combat Helicopter onboard.
  • The ship is propelled by two diesel engines, the largest of their kind ever deployed in the Indian Navy, which allow it to reach a top speed of 25 knots.
  • With a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h), the offshore patrol vessel is suitable for extended missions and operations.

Exercise Bright Star-23

• It is a biennial multinational tri-service exercise.
• It is conducted in northern Egypt and led by the US and Egyptian armed forces.
• It is the largest-ever joint military exercise in the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Since its inception in 1980, it has occurred 18 times.
• This edition of the exercise saw participation from 34 countries, including India.

''Don''t want to ''court controversy'': Chief Justice opts out of speaking on Basic Structure

Basic Structure Doctrine

• In 1973, a 13-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court (SC) ruled in Kesavananda Bharati State of Kerala that Article 368 of the Constitution does not enable Parliament to amend the basic framework of the document.
• The historic ruling came to be known as the “basic structure” doctrine — a judicial principle that the Constitution has certain basic features that cannot be altered or destroyed by amendments by Parliament.
• Over the years, various facets of the basic structure doctrine have evolved, forming the basis for judicial review of Constitutional amendments.
• How did it evolve?
  • In I.C. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab (1967), the SC held that Parliament could not curtail fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
  • The then government enacted a series of constitutional amendments following successive rulings against it.
  • The 24th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 25th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, and 29th Constitutional (Amendment) Act gave Parliament uncontrolled power to alter or even abolish any fundamental right.
  • The Kesavananda Bharati case was the culmination of a conflict between the judiciary and the then-Indira Gandhi-led government.
  • Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973):
    • The case is also known as the Fundamental Rights Case.
    • In 1970, Kesavananda Bharti, the head of a math in Kerala, challenged the Kerala Land Reforms Act related to restrictions on the management of religious property.
    • The case was heard by the largest-ever Constitution Bench of 13 judges.
    • It upheld the validity of the 24th Constitutional Amendment Act (1971) and stated that Parliament is empowered to abridge or take away any of the Fundamental Rights.
    • As per 24th C.A.A., Constitutional Amendments were not considered laws under Article 13. This amendment gave unlimited power to the Parliament to amend or repeal any part of the Constitution of India.
    • However, the Court laid down a new doctrine of the ‘basic structure’ (or ‘basic features’) of the Constitution.
    • The SC in the Kesavananda Bharti case held that although Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution, it could not use this power to alter or destroy its “basic structure.
    • The Court propounded what has come to be known as the “Basic Structure of the Constitution”.
    • Thus, this landmark judgment meant that every provision of the Constitution could be amended, but these amendments could be subjected to judicial review to ascertain that the Basic Structure of the Constitution remains intact.
  • The Parliament reacted to this judicially innovated doctrine of ‘basic structure’ by enacting the 42nd Amendment Act (1976).
  • This Act amended Article 368 and declared that there is no limitation on the constituent power of Parliament, and no amendment can be questioned in any court on any ground, including that of the contravention of any of the Fundamental Rights.
  • However, the SC in the Minerva Mills case(1980**) invalidated this provision as it excluded judicial review, which is a ‘basic feature’** of the Constitution.
  • Again in the Waman Rao case (1981), the SC adhered to the doctrine of the ‘basic structure’ and further clarified that it would apply to constitutional amendments enacted after April 24, 1973. It is the date of the judgement in the Kesavananda Bharati case.
• Which features of the constitution constitute the Basic Structure? The components of the Basic Structure provided in the constitution have been recognized by the judiciary in various cases to date. Some of these components are
  • Supremacy of the Constitution
  • Sovereign, democratic and republican nature of the Indian polity
  • Separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary
  • Judicial review
  • Parliamentary system
  • Rule of law
  • Principle of equality
  • Free and fair elections
  • Independence of Judiciary
  • Limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution