Supreme Court quashes Andhra HC order expressing disapproval of Collegium and castigating Jagan.

About Supreme Court Collegium:

• It is a system under which appointments and transfers of judges are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court (SC).
• It is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
• What does the Constitution actually prescribe?
• Article 124deals with the appointment of SC judges. It says the appointment should be made by the President after consultation with such judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court as the President may deem necessary. The CJI is to be consulted in all appointments, except his or her own.
• Article 217deals with the appointment of High Court judges. It says a judge should be appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI and the Governor of the state. The Chief Justice of the High Court concerned too should be consulted.
• Evolution of the Collegium System:
• Since the Constitution mandates consultation with the CJI is necessary for appointments to the judiciary, the collegium model evolved.
• It has its genesis in a series of three judgments that are now clubbed together as the Three Judges Cases.
• First Judges Case (1982):
• The SC held that "consultation" of judges does not mean concurrence.
• Hence, it gave primacy in the appointment of judges to the Executive.
• Second Judges Case (1993):
• The court reversed its earlier ruling by changing the meaning of "consultation" to concurrence.
• With this, the advice tendered by CJI became binding. However, the CJI would have to take into account the views of two of his senior most colleagues.
• Third Judges Case (1998):
• The court gave primacy to the opinion of the CJI in the matter of the appointment of Judges.
• However, the CJI must consult four senior-most judges of SC.
• Opinions of all members of the collegium should be in writing.
• In case of a difference of opinion, the majority view will prevail.
• Even if two judges in the collegium give an adverse opinion of a person for appointment as the SC judge, the CJI should not send the recommendation to the government.
• These three cases established that the collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India would have primacy in the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.
• This collegium makes recommendations to the government for the appointment of judges to the SC and of Chief Justices of High Courts, and the transfers of HC judges.
• Executive role:
• Judges of the higher judiciary are thus appointed only through the collegium system, and the government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegiums.
• The government’s role is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) if a lawyer is to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court.
• The government can also raise objections and seek clarifications regarding the collegium’s choices, but if the collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound to appoint them.

Govt’s Fund of Funds for Startups scheme: Rs 17,534 crore invested in 938 startups, says Crisil-SIDBI report

About Fund of Funds Scheme:

• The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme was approved and established in 2016 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore,
• Funding to startups: Under FFS, the Scheme does not directly invest in startups, instead provides capital to SEBI-registered AIFs, known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money in growing Indian startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been given the mandate of operating this Fund through selection of suitable daughter funds and overseeing the disbursal of committed capital.
• AIFs supported under FFS are required to invest at least 2 times of the amount committed under FFS in startups.

Key facts about the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

• It was established under an Act of Parliament in 1990.
• It is the Principal Financial Institution engaged in the promotion, financing & development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) sector and the coordination of the functions of the various institutions engaged in similar activities.
• Objective: To offer loans (both direct and indirect) to MSMEs to help in addressing the development and financial gaps in the ecosystem of MSMEs. 
• It helps MSMEs in acquiring the funds they require to grow the market, develop and commercialise their technologies and innovative products. 
• It was made responsible for administering the Small Industries Development Fund and National Equity Fund.

Dhokra Shilpkala: How Chhattisgarh''s Ocher Studio is helping to preserve India''s 4,000-year-old craft

About Dhokra Shilpkala:

• The word "Dhokra" is believed to be derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes, who are the traditional metal smiths of Central India.
• The origins of Dhokra Shilpkala can be traced back to the tribal communities residing in the regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, where it evolved as an integral part of their cultural and religious practices.
• Technique and Process: What sets Dhokra Shilpkala apart is its remarkable technique of metal casting, which involves using the lost wax casting method, also known as cire perdue.
• Artistry and Designs:
• Its design has rustic charm and the organic nature of its designs.
• Artisans draw inspiration from nature, mythology, and everyday life, incorporating motifs such as animals, birds, deities, and tribal symbols into their creations.
• From miniature figurines and jewellery to larger-than-life sculptures and functional objects, Dhokra Shilpkala encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions. 
• Issues: The rapid pace of urbanisation, coupled with the rise of mechanised production techniques, has threatened the livelihoods of traditional artisans and endangered this ancient craft.

What is the Lost wax method?

• The process begins with the creation of a clay core, which serves as the base for the final metal sculpture.
• Artisans then coat this clay core with a layer of beeswax, meticulously sculpting the intricate designs and patterns by hand.
• Once the wax model is complete, it is covered with layers of clay, forming a mould around the wax pattern.
• The entire structure is then heated, allowing the wax to melt and drain out, leaving behind a cavity in the shape of the original sculpture.
• Molten metal, typically a combination of brass and bronze, is poured into this cavity, filling the space left by the melted wax.
• After cooling and solidifying, the clay mould is broken away, revealing the final metal casting.

New niche base station solutions by TIH to realise government vision of affordable connectivity for all

About Open Radio Access Network:

• It is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network. 
• It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices.
• The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
• ORAN base station
• ORAN base station solutions represent a pivotal element in the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure.
• This innovation aims to deliver high-speed and dependable connectivity at a feasible cost, particularly targeting underserved and remote regions, as per a recent press release.
• Its focus lies in creating efficient wireless communication technology for 5G and 5G-advanced radio networks, ensuring spectral and energy efficiency.
• Significance
• A new niche technological solution for Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) base stations will help to facilitate high-speed and reliable connectivity at a cost that is viable for unconnected and far-flung areas.
• It provides access to different components of the network infrastructure making it easier, efficient and more economically viable to provide internet in remote areas.
• The breaking down of the Radio Access Network (RAN) functions help in bringing down network cost and complexity.
• Open RAN removes vendor lock-in and can facilitate smooth interoperation between cellular network equipment provided by different vendors.
• COMET, one of the 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH) set up under the National Mission for Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for enhancing the nation''s capabilities in Advanced Communication Systems.
• The ORAN base station radio unit developed at IIT Hyderabad (IITH) introduced a revolutionary ORAN technology harnessing a multitude of antennas on cell towers.