Prelims Nuggets

Bharat 6G Alliance

Context: Department of Telecommunications under Ministry of Communications has launched Bharat 6G Alliance to drive innovation and collaboration in next-generation wireless technology.

Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)

It is a collaborative platform consisting of public & private companies, academia, research institutions and standards development organisations to drive the design, development and deployment of 6G technologies in India.
This body is expected to promote universal and affordable connectivity, technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, creating a culture of technology innovation, reducing imports, boost exports and augment creation of IPR around 6G technology and systems.

Objectives of Bharat 6G Alliance

Understand the business and societal needs of 6G beyond technology requirements, foster consensus on these needs and promote high impact open R&D initiatives.
Positioning India at forefront of 6G innovation: Accelerate 6G standards related patent creation in India and actively contribute to international standardisation organisations such as 3GPP & ITU.
Forge coalitions and synergies with other 6G Global Alliances, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Facilitate market access for Indian telecom technology products and services.

Grants from Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)

6G Terrahertz testbed with Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) & Multiplexing through consortium of SAMEER, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati & IIT Patna.

About Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)

TTDF scheme was launched by Department of Telecommunications in 2022.
Under the scheme, 5% of annual collections from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) will be available for TTDF scheme for funding R&D of technologies, products and services.
Grants are given out of TTDF to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor made to meet domestic needs. Funds will also be used to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots and proof of concept testing etc.
The scheme is envisaged to bridge digital divide by developing and manufacturing state of art technologies to form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutions and industry to build and develop telecom ecosystem.

Alluri Sitarama Raju and Rampa Rebellion

Context: The President of India Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to Alluri Sitarama Raju, the freedom fighter at the closing ceremony of his 125th birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad.

About Alluri Sitaram Raju

Alluri Sitaram Raju was an influential Indian revolutionary who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence.
Born on July 4, 1897, in a modest middle-class family near the Coastal city of Visakhapatnam, Raju developed a strong sense of patriotism from an early age.
His dedication to the freedom movement and his efforts to improve the lives of the Adivasi communities left a lasting impact on Indian history.

Advocating for Adivasi Rights and the Freedom Struggle

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement, Raju initially encouraged the tribals to seek justice in local panchayat courts and boycott colonial courts.
However, these measures failed to alleviate their suffering. Determined to make a difference, Raju decided to reside in the Adivasi areas of the Eastern Ghats, specifically the forest region along Visakhapatnam and Godavari districts.
He dedicated himself to the Adivasis, who were living in dire poverty and facing exploitation by the police, forest officials, and revenue authorities. Raju provided much-needed support to the Adivasis through education and medical assistance, utilizing the knowledge he acquired during his extensive travels.
This region became the epicentre of his fight against the British rule. Raju learned from the Adivasis and combined their time-tested war methods with his own tactics, creating a formidable resistance against the British.
In August 1922, he launched the Rampa Rebellion, gaining substantial local support and successfully evading British authorities for an extended period.

British Response

Raju's armed struggle against the British frustrated the authorities to such an extent that they offered a reward for his capture, dead or alive.
Meanwhile, the British continued to inflict misery on the Adivasis. Seeking justice and fairness, Raju eventually surrendered, hoping for a fair trial in return.
However, on May 7, 1924, he was treacherously trapped and shot dead.

Legacy

Recognizing his courage and indomitable spirit, he was bestowed with the title "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungle).
Every year, on July 4th, the Government of Andhra Pradesh commemorates his birth date as a state festival, honoring his contributions to the nation's freedom struggle.

The Rampa Rebellion:

The Rampa Rebellion, also known as the Manyam Rebellion, was a significant tribal uprising led by Alluri Sitarama Raju in the Godavari Agency of Madras Presidency, British India.
Spanning from August 1922 to May 1924, this rebellion marked a critical chapter in the fight against British colonial rule.

Causes of Unrest

The Rampa administrative area, encompassing approximately 700 square miles, was home to around 28,000 tribal inhabitants. These tribes relied on the ‘podu system’, where they burned sections of the forest each year for cultivation, ensuring their food requirements were met.
However, the British authorities sought to exploit the lands of the Godavari Agency for commercial purposes, disregarding the needs of the tribal communities.
With the implementation of the Madras Forest Act in 1882, the Adivasis' free movement in their forest habitats was restricted, preventing them from practicing their traditional podu agricultural methods.
The tribal people faced starvation as their economic situation deteriorated, exacerbated by forced labor demands for road construction and perceived biases in the legal system.

Convergence of Discontent

Simultaneously, the muttadars, who had been hereditary tax collectors and rulers in the hills, experienced discontent due to their loss of power and status under British rule.
Previously acting on behalf of the rajas, the rulers of the plains, the muttadars found themselves marginalized and controlled by the colonial administration.
Their shared grievances with the tribal hill people created a common ground for resistance against the British.

Alluri Sitarama Raju's Leadership

He harnessed the discontent of the tribal communities, combining anti-colonial zeal with accommodation for sympathetic muttadars.
Raju's followers comprised primarily tribal members, but he also garnered support from influential individuals within the muttadar class.
While some muttadars remained ambivalent, Raju's overarching vision of liberation from colonial rule united these disparate groups.

The Rebellion

The rebellion commenced in August 1922, taking the form of guerrilla warfare.
The tribal fighters, adept at navigating the challenging terrain, proved resilient against British suppression efforts.
The prevalence of diseases in the region, to which the tribal people had developed immunity, further hindered the colonial authorities' attempts to quell the rebellion.

Conclusion

The Rampa Rebellion, led by Alluri Sitarama Raju, stands as a testament to the determination of tribal communities and their fight against British colonial rule. This uprising highlighted the grievances caused by the imposition of laws that restricted traditional practices and disrupted the economic stability of the Adivasis. Although the rebellion ultimately faced suppression, it left a lasting impact on the collective memory of the struggle for independence in India.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Context: As per a report only 75% of households are likely to have a water connection by March 2024. The delay is due to several factors, including the pandemic, which slowed operations, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused a shortage in raw materials for manufacturing metal pipes.

About Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM)

It is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household functional tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through greywater management, water conservation, rainwater harvesting.
It will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education, and communication as a key component of the mission.
It looks to create a Jan Andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
Launched in 2019 and comes under the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jalshakti.
It adopted the principle of 'equity and inclusion', i.e., ensuring ‘no one is le out’ from getting tap water connection and regular water supply in the village, especially weaker and marginalized sections.
The fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.

Reforms taken under JJM

Shift of focus for water supply from 'habitations to households': So far,drinking water supply was provided at a habitation level and Under JJM, provision of tap water is being made in every rural home.
Focus on 'service delivery' & 'functionality' – public utility: Under JJM, the focus has shifted to the assured supply of potable water to every home rather than the mere creation of water supply infrastructure.
Community ownership to ensure 'long-term sustainability of water supply schemes: To ensure transparency and give back power to people, water supply work is taken up as per the demand and need of the local community. A water supply scheme is planned and implemented by following a decentralised, demand-driven, community-managed approach.
Central role of women and weaker sections in managing water supply: Minimum 50% members of Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samtis are to be women and proportionate representation of weaker sections of society.
Special focus on children – piped water supply in schools, Anganwadi centres and ashram shalas.
Potable drinking water in quality-affected habitations: Infants and children are more susceptible to water-borne diseases: Under JJM, the provision of piped water supply in schools, Anganwadi centers and ashram shalas (residential tribal schools) is to be made on priority.
Surveillance of water quality by the local community involving women: Enlightened citizenry is necessary for assured service delivery. Keeping this in view, at least five persons in every village, preferably women, are to be trained in using Field Test Kits (FTKs) for testing water quality at the village level.
Convergence for long-term drinking water security: Every village is to prepare a Village Action Plan (VAP) focusing on drinking water sources, water supply systems, grey water reuse, and operation & maintenance of these systems for long-term and regular tap water supply in every home
Making water everyone’s business: JJM is implemented in a participatory manner and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), NGOs, community-based organisations, voluntary organisations, etc. are to play a major role in raising awareness, community mobilisation and handholding.
Technological interventions for transparency and accountability: To ensure transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of funds and service delivery, the following steps are undertaken:

A robust JJM–IMIS to capture physical and financial progress under JJM, in real-time and a dedicated 'Dashboard' in the public domain;
A dedicated 'Mobile App' developed for the use of all stakeholders,
Sensor-based IoT solution for measurement and monitoring of water supply for quantity, quality, and regularity in villages on a real-time basis;
Provision of geo-tagging every asset created under JJM;
Linkage of tap connection with Aadhar number of the 'head of household';
All transactions through Public Finance Management System (PFMS);
A comprehensive JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (JJM - WQMIS) was developed.

Performance of JJM

Despite several disruptions in recent years due to the Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict etc., States/ UTs have made persistent efforts to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission. The country crossed with over 11.66 Crore (60%) rural households provided with tap water supply in their homes.
5 states of Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, and Punjab and 3 Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli and Puducherry have reported 100% coverage. The country is steadily progressing towards covering all the rural households will have safe drinking water through taps.
More than 1.55 lakh villages, (25% of the total number of villages), in India have so far reported ‘Har Ghar Jal’, i.e., every household in these villages has access to clean drinking water through taps at their household premises
In just about 3 years, more than 8.42 crore rural households with more than 40 crore people (@4.95 persons per rural household, source IMIS) have benefitted under the programme.

The legality of Delhi Ordinance

Context: Despite the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Delhi Government over control of services including the transfers and postings of its officers, the Union Government has introduced an ordinance under Article 123 of the Constitution of India to bypass the judgment as it re-empowers the Centre over the services under Delhi Government.

Ordinance Constitutes ‘National Capital Civil Services Authority’ (NCCSA)

The Central Government has issued an ordinance to constitute ‘National Capital Civil Services Authority’ in Delhi.
As per the ordinance, the authority will be headed by Delhi Chief Minister, and will comprise of Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of the Delhi government.
The authority is to now decide on the transfer and posting of Group ‘A’ officers and DANICS officers serving in Delhi government.
NCCSA shall decide matters before it through majority of votes of its members present and voting.
The stated authority will give effect to the intent and purpose behind Article 239AA and that it is being introduced to make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance, and other incidental matters.

Other provisions of the Ordinance

It introduced a new procedure for summoning and proroguing a session of the Assembly.
The proposal for convening the Assembly shall be submitted through the Chief Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister for their ‘opinion’ before issuing the summons.

Judgement with respect to Ordinance

DC Wadhwa vs. State of Bihar, 1987: SC said that the legislative power of the executive to promulgate Ordinances is in the nature of emergency power and is to be used in exceptional circumstances and not as a substitute for the law-making power.

Why frequent resorting to Ordinance Route?

Reluctance to face the legislature on particular issues.
The government may face difficulty in obtaining the required majority or consensus in Parliament to pass particular legislation.
Repeated and willful disruption by opposition parties.
Sometimes, the government may need to implement certain policies or reforms within a specific timeframe. Issuing an ordinance allows the government to expedite the implementation process.

Issues on Excessive Use of Ordinance

The executive’s power to issue ordinances goes against the Philosophy of separation of powers between the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
It bypasses the democratic requirements of argument and deliberation.
Re-promulgation defeats the constitutional scheme under which a limited power to frame ordinances has been conferred on the President and the Governors.
It poses a threat to the sovereignty of Parliament and the state legislatures which have been constituted as primary lawgivers under the Constitution.

The Constitution has provided for the Separation of Power where enacting laws is the function of the legislature. The executive must show self-restraint and should use ordinance-making power only as per the spirit of the Constitution and not to evade legislative scrutiny and debates.

Karnataka High Court Judgement on Twitter

Context: On June 30, 2023, the Karnataka High Court dismissed Twitter’s challenge to the issuance of blocking orders by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) concerning the taking down of Twitter accounts and specific tweets. The High Court admonished Twitter for not complying with the orders and imposed an astounding cost of ₹50 lahks on the United States-based social media company.

Judgement of Karnataka High Court

On the issue of locus standi: It observed that users of Twitter were not “downtrodden” or did not “suffer from some handicap” that prevented them from accessing the appropriate remedies available to them. Additionally, the High Court held that claims of users whose tweets or accounts were blocked could not be espoused by Twitter and that none of the affected users had approached the High Court.
Observation on Shreya Singhal case: Karnataka High Court has held that observations in Shreya Singhal cannot be construed to mean providing notice to the users of the content, and that even if reasons are recorded in writing, they may not be conveyed to the user.
Observation on Art 19(2): High Court’s reproduction of certain portions of blocking orders in its judgment reveals that one of the reasons was that the content could lead to the spread of “fake news” and “misinformation”, which had the potential to disturb “public order” and threaten the “security of [the] State”.

Issues related to the case

Petitioner being a foreign company cannot avail any remedy of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 (1) and Article 21 of the Constitution.
Twitter, being an intermediary, can it be made responsible for the speech of individuals on its platform?

Procedural Safeguards against online speech

Art 19: No person shall be denied freedom of speech of expression except the ground mentioned in 19(2)
Art 21: No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law
Sec 79(1) of IT Act 2000: Provide for exemption from liability of intermediary in certain cases famously known as “Safe Harbour Clause”.

Regulation of the online content

Section 69 of the IT act, 2000 gives the Central and State government the power to issue directions for the interception, monitoring, or decryption of any information through any computer resource.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 issued under section 87(2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deals with due diligence by Intermediaries and GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM (under Part II) and with the blocking of information in case of emergency (Rule 16).

Other Cases Related to Freedom in the online sphere

Shreya Singhal case

Section 66 of the IT Act was abrogated in its entirety for infringing Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution and not protected under Article 19(2).

Anuradha Bhasian case

Court said that nowadays the internet has become an essential part of everyday life and thereby freedom of speech and expression and freedom to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business over the Internet is a part of the fundamental rights under Part III of the Constitution.

Why HC dismissed the twitter's challenge?

The High Court rejected Twitter’s contention that Section 69A only permits the blocking of specific tweets not wholesale blocking.
The content posted could lead to the spread of “fake news” and “misinformation”, which had the potential to disturb “public order” and threaten the “security of [the] State”.

Suggestion:

“The Online Harms White Paper” of UK parliament

The Paper proposed a single regulatory framework to tackle a range of harms. At its core would be a duty of care for internet companies, including social media platforms. An independent regulator would oversee and enforce compliance with the duty.

India supports 2016 Arbitral Award against China on South China Sea Dispute

Context: During the official visit of Foreign Minister of Philippines to India for Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation with India's External Affairs Minister, India upgraded its position and explicitly called for abiding by the 2016 arbitration award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the UNCLOS. The arbitral award came on a petition by Philippines to the Permanent Court of Arbitration and ruled in favour of Philippines. China did not participate in the arbitration process neither does it recognise the legality of the Award.

What is the dispute regarding the South China Sea?

South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea in the western Pacific Ocean.
Following countries share the littoral of South China Sea: China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei.
China has been making claim over the vast majority of South China Sea on the basis of historic entitlements. China claims over an area known as Nine Dash Line, which is based on the drawing a EEZ around disputed islands over which China claims its fishermen went on fishing and hence, it's sovereign territory.
Name of the disputed islands are:
- Paracel Islands
- Scarborough Shoal
- Spratly Islands
China wants to pursue one to one negotiations with countries of the littoral, where it thinks it can muscle through it demands due to vast asymmetric power difference between China and these countries.

Salient Features of the 2016 Arbitration Award

No legal basis for China's 'Nine-Dash Line' which is based on historic rights which China enjoyed during ancient times in South China Sea. According to the Award, UNCLOS defines the scope of maritime rights of littoral states in South China Sea.
None of the land features claimed by China in the South China Sea (Spratly & Scarborough Shoal) are 'islands' for the purposes of UNCLOS. Since they are not islands, they cannot generate an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. UNCLOS defines islands as 'a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which is above water at high tide' and only islands have claim over territorial sea, contiguous land and 200 nautical miles of EEZ and continental shelf. On the other hand, a "rock" is a category of island which "cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of [its] own" and carries no entitlement to an EEZ or continental shelf.
UNCLOS provides that any decision rendered by a court or Tribunal having jurisdiction is final and binding between the parties. Thus, China's not adhering to the Award against it goes against liberal economic order and adherence to international law.
China through its maritime surveillance vessels, promulgation of a fishing moratorium in South China Sea, and construction of artificial islands and installations, had interfered with the exercise of the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its EEZ and continental shelf with respect to fishing, oil exploration, and navigation;
China failed to prevent exploitation of Philippines’ living resources by Chinese fishing vessels in the Philippines' EEZ;
China interfered with the traditional fishing activities of Philippine fishermen at Scarborough Shoal;
China failed to protect and preserve the marine environment by tolerating and actively supporting Chinese fishermen in the harvesting of endangered species and the use of harmful fishing methods that damaged the fragile coral reef ecosystem in the South China Sea;
China inflicted severe harm on the marine environment by constructing artificial islands and engaging in extensive land reclamation at seven reefs in the Spratly Islands; and
China through the activities of its law enforcement vessels, created serious risk of collision and danger to Philippine vessels and personnel.

India's evolving position on South China Sea

Earlier Position

In earlier statements, India called for peaceful resolution of disputes among the countries of South China Sea littoral.
India called for freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce based on international law in the South China Sea region.
India has criticised unilateral use of force and abiding by principles of UNCLOS to amicably resolve the disputes between ASEAN countries of South China Sea Littoral and China.

Present Position

The present joint statements is the first time India has officially asked parties to adhere to the Arbitral Award i.e., India is expressly siding with Philippines and against China on the South China dispute. The reasons for the same are:

Changing policies in Philippines: Earlier, Philippines government under President Duterte tried to court China and put the issue of 2016 award on the backburner. However, present Philippines government under President Marcos Junior has taken the award more seriously and consider its ruling as final.

Geopolitical changes: USA and Quad countries have been backing India to play a larger role in the dispute resolution of South China Sea. China's increasing belligerence on India's territorial borders of Ladakh and Arunachal have also compelled India to take a more confrontational stand against territorial claims of China elsewhere.
Bolstering defence of Vietnam & Philippines: India has been selling weapons to Veitnam and Philippines, countries party to the South China Sea dispute against China to bolster their defences. India is considering to sell Brahmos missiles and Tejas airplanes to both Vietnam and Philippines. This will also boost indigenous defence industry and boost defence exports.

Way Forward:

India should focus on assisting ASEAN countries with all resources and technological knowhow to defend their territory. India has been a votary of ASEAN centrality while dealing with South China Sea dispute and this position should be continued.
India should contribute and facilitate quick finalisation of Code of Conduct among the Littoral Parties of South China Sea, which will ensure long term peace and amity in the region.
Ensure that South China Sea remains open for maritime shipping and overflight.

T.N. Governor ‘dismisses’ Minister, backtracks later

Context: Tamil Nadu Governor R. Ravi’s decision to unilaterally dismiss with immediate effect arrested Minister V. Senthilbalaji from the Council of Ministers only to hurriedly backtrack his decision tests the constitutional limitations on the role of the Governor and pushes the Raj Bhavan into uncharted political territory. So, the primary question which emanates is whether withdrawal of pleasure by the Governor unilaterally allowed under the constitutional set-up?

About Governor

The State Executive consists of the Governor, who is the head of the State, and the Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at its head. The Governor acts as:

Constitutional Head of a State under Article 153 and 154, and as
An agent of the Centre as he holds office during the pleasure of the President under Article 156.
The governor is neither directly elected by the people nor indirectly elected by a specially constituted electoral college as is the case with the president.
Under Article 155, Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. In a way, he is a nominee of the Central government.
Under Article164, Governor appoints the Chief Ministers and other Ministers and the Ministers holds office during the pleasure of the Governor.

Meaning of Withdrawal of pleasure

“Pleasure of the Governor” did not mean the Governor has the right to dismiss the Chief Minister or Ministers at will. The “pleasure” of the Governor is understood to flow from the fact that the government enjoys majority on the floor of the House. The Governor can have his pleasure if the government enjoys a majority in the House.
The Governor can withdraw his pleasure only when the government loses majority but refuses to quit. Then he withdraws the pleasure and dismisses it. Without the advice of the Chief Minister, a Governor can neither appoint nor dismiss a minister.
Surya Narain Choudhary vs Union of India (1981) - Rajasthan High Court held that the pleasure of the President was not justiciable, the Governor had no security of tenure and can be removed at any time by the President withdrawing pleasure.

Supreme Court to Aid & Advice under Art. 163

Article 163 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion. However, the discretion as such has neither been elaborated nor provided explicitly under the Indian Constitution.

Shamsher Singh v State of Punjab –

Seven Judge Constitution Bench held that the Governor must exercise “formal constitutional powers only upon, and in accordance with the aid and advice of their ministers, save in a few well-known exceptional situations.
These exceptions relate to dismissal of a government that has lost its majority or decision to invite a party to form the government. In both these circumstances, the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers becomes unavailable or unreliable.
Court also held that the Governor has no right to refuse to act on the advice of the Council of Ministries. Such a position is antithetical to the concept of ‘responsible government’.”
Similar issue arose when Governor of Kerala withdrew pleasure from Finance Minister KN Balagopal - Responding to this, constitutional law expert and former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha Mr. PDT Achary said that a Governor can take such a decision only on the advise of Chief Minister.

Way Forward

The Supreme Court, in its recent ruling in Shiv Sena case relating to the political crisis in the Maharashtra government, cautioned against the Governor stepping in to settle political rivalry.
Thus, Governor must act according to the mandates of the Constitution and should avoid political confrontation with the elected government especially with respect to withdrawal of pleasure.

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

Context: An international team of astronomers from India, Japan, and Europe has published the results from monitoring pulsars, called nature’s best clocks, by using six of the world’s most sensitive radio telescopes, including India’s largest telescope, the Pune-based Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) provides evidence confirming the presence of nano-hertz (ultra-low frequency) gravitational waves using pulsar observations.

About GMRT

It is a low-frequency radio telescope that helps investigate various radio astrophysical problems ranging from nearby solar systems to the edge of the observable universe.
It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45-metre diameter, observing at metre wavelengths. It is the largest and most sensitive radio telescope array in the world at low frequencies.
It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
It is located near Narayangaon, Pune.
Astronomers from all over the world regularly use this telescope to observe many different astronomical objects such as HII regions, galaxies, pulsars, supernovae, and Sun and solar winds.
It was recently upgraded with new receivers, after which it is also known as the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT).

About Pulsar

Pulsars are a type of rapidly rotating neutron stars that are essentially embers of dead stars which are present in our galaxy. It is like a cosmic lighthouse as it emits radio beams that flashes by the Earth regularly akin to a harbour lighthouse.

Debrigarh Sanctuary

Context: Debrigarh, a wildlife sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district, has been made completely free from any human settlement following one of the country’s largest ‘peaceful’ relocations of forest-dwellers.

About Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary:

As per the Odisha Forest and Environment department, Debrigarh Sanctuary, which is proposed to be a tiger reserve, has high prey base (46 animals per sq. km).
It is located in the Bargarh district in the Indian state of Odisha, covering a total area of 346.91 km2
The sanctuary is flanked by Hirakud Reservoir which is a Ramsar Site and International Bird Area.
It boasts of having 82 leopards and one Royal Bengal Tiger, besides wild animals such as Bison, Leopard, Sambar, wild boar, spotted deer, wild dog, porcupine and Nilgai.
The sanctuary is home to more than 40 species of mammals, 234 species of birds, 41 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, 65 species of fishes and 85 species of butterflies

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About Hirakud Reservoir

It is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in India, built across the Mahanadi River.
The reservoir helps regulate the water level of the river and moderates the impact of floods in the Mahanadi Delta.

The complete removal of human settlements from Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha's Bargarh district has several positive impacts on the sanctuary and its inhabitants:

Conservation of biodiversity: By removing human settlements, the sanctuary can now be better protected and conserved as a natural habitat for various wildlife species. It allows for the restoration and preservation of the ecological balance, ensuring the survival and well-being of the flora and fauna in the area.
Habitat restoration: The removal of human settlements enables the natural habitats within the sanctuary to recover and regenerate. The absence of human activities such as agriculture, grazing, and infrastructure development allows the ecosystem to rejuvenate, promoting the growth of native plant species and enhancing the overall health of the habitat.
Wildlife protection: The relocation of forest-dwellers helps reduce human-wildlife conflict significantly. It provides a safer environment for wildlife by minimizing the chances of poaching, illegal hunting, and encroachments. Animals can roam freely without disturbance, ensuring their natural behaviour and population growth.

Example- The positive impact of this relocation was immediately evident when a tiger from the neighbouring Chhattisgarh crossed over into Debrigarh which is spread over 353.81 sq. km area and there was visible drop in incidences of man-animal conflict.

Ecotourism and research opportunities: The transformation of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary into a human-free zone creates opportunities for ecotourism and scientific research. The sanctuary's pristine state and undisturbed ecosystems attract nature enthusiasts, researchers, and wildlife experts, who can study the unique flora and fauna, contributing to scientific knowledge and eco-consciousness.
Water conservation: The absence of human settlements reduces anthropogenic activities that may impact water sources such as rivers, streams, and wetlands. This can help in maintaining the water quality, preserving water bodies, and sustaining the overall hydrological balance within the sanctuary.
Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation: The restoration of the sanctuary allows for the growth and preservation of forests, which act as crucial carbon sinks. By maintaining and expanding the forest cover, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary contributes to mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Education and awareness: The successful relocation of forest-dwellers from Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary serves as an example of sustainable conservation practices. It raises awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats and encourages people to adopt similar measures in other regions, promoting a culture of environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation.

PM-PRANAM

About PM-PRANAM Scheme

PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth

It would promote use of nutrient-based, biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture.
It would have a total outlay of ₹3,70,128.7 crore.
Under this Centre would incentivise States which would adopt alternative fertilizers with the subsidy that was saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.

How it works:

If a State was using 10 lakh tonnes of conventional fertilizers and reduced its consumption by three lakh tonnes, then the subsidy saving would be ‚Çπ3,000 crore.
Out of that subsidy savings, the Centre will give 50% of it - ‚Çπ1,500 crore to the State for promoting the use of alternative fertilizer and other development works.
It will incentivize states to promote alternative fertilizers and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

Other Important Decisions taken by Cabinet:

Urea subsidy scheme

It approved continuation of the urea subsidy scheme for three years to ensure constant availability of urea to the farmers.
This is apart from recently approved nutrient-based subsidy of ₹38,000 crore for the Kharif season for 2023-24.
By 2025-26, eight nano urea plants with production capacity of 44 crore bottles, equalling to 195 lakh tonnes of conventional urea, will be commissioned.

Promoting organic fertiliser

It approved ₹1,451.84 crore has been approved for Market Development Assistance (MDA) for promoting organic fertilizers from Gobardhan plants.
Fermented Organic Manures (FOM)/Liquid FOM/Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM) produced as by-product from bio-gas plants/Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants set up under umbrella Gobardhan initiative will be promoted.
Such organic fertilizers would be branded in the names of Bharat Brand FOM, LFOM and PROM.
This on one hand will facilitate in addressing the challenge of management of crop residue and problems of stubble burning, and will also help in keeping the environment clean and safe and at the same time provide an additional source of income for farmers.

Increased the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)

It hiked the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane by ₹10 per quintal. The FRP for the sugar season 2023-24 (October-September) will be ₹315 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%. Last year, the amount was ₹305.
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP): the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers. It is determined by the Government based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

MQ-9B Drones

Context: The Prime Minister’s visit to the US has set the stage for the acquisition of 31 of these armed UAVs, 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians — eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force.

The MQ9Bs, which will be assembled in India. As part of this plan, General Atomics will also establish a Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India in support of India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities.

About MQ-9B

It is an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
It is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance.
It is a larger, heavier, more capable aircraft than the earlier General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and can be controlled by the same ground systems.
It has been developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
It is a variant of the MQ-9 Reaper.

It has two variants the Sky Guardian and the Sea Guardian, its maritime variant.
It is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40 hours, depending on configuration, in all types of weather, and safely integrate into civil airspace.
The MQ-9 “Reaper” is a significant technological leap from the original RQ1/MQ1Predator that heralded the arrival of long-endurance armed drones at the end of the twentieth century. Armed with AGM114 Hellfire missiles.
The Reaper is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons, it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets.

Significance

Enhance Capability of Armed Forces: These drones will enhance the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces across domains.
Lower Operational Costs: The MQ9B can provide roughly 80% of the capability of a large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft at about 20% of its cost per hour. That makes it much more economical for navies to, for example, send out SeaGuardians to clear big volumes of air or sea and then, if anything of interest is discovered, vector in a human-crewed aircraft to save it the time, cost, and wear that it otherwise might have expended.
Reduce Human Fatigue: This is the primary reason the Indian Navy is keen on these UAVs as it significantly reduces the wear and tear on manned aircraft, its fleet of 12 P8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, as well as reduce crew fatigue in keeping an eye over the wide expanse of the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
Provides Round-the-clock Surveillance: For the Army and Air Force, the MQ9Bs can provide round-the-clock surveillance looking far beyond the borders, for instance on the movement of Chinese military buildup and troop movement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and deep inside.
Integration with existing platforms: It also seamlessly integrates with other U.S.origin platforms that India operates, the P8Is, AH64 Apache attack helicopters, MH60R multirole helicopters among others expanding MQ9B’s multidomain mission set.

About MQ-9B SkyGuardianIt is the next generation of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), delivering persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) around the globe.About MQ-9B Sea GuardianIt is the maritime-focused sibling of the revolutionary SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS).It not only integrates the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, but it is also the first RPAS in its class to enable real-time search and patrol above and below the ocean’s surface.Its configuration can include a 360-degree surface-search maritime radar, automatic identification system, sonobuoy monitoring system, and sonobuoy dispensers for persistent anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.

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Euclid Space Telescope

Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to survey billions of galaxies using the Euclid Space Telescope, which is due to launch on July 1 from Cape Canaveral in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Euclid Mission:

The mission is part of ESA’s ‘Cosmic Vision’ programme which plans to explore the origin and components of the Universe and the laws that govern it.

The payload will have a 1.2 metre-wide telescope, a visible-wavelength camera (VISible) and a near-infrared camera/spectrometer (NISP).
- VISible will look for tiny distortions in the shapes of distant galaxies from different points in time to understand the tussle between the pull of gravity and the push of dark energy.
- NISP will look at how quickly galaxies are moving away from each other, offering scientists insights into the effects of gravity.
Stationed 1.5 million km away from the Earth, the telescope is expected to deliver images at least four times sharper than ground-based observatories.
The Euclid mission hopes to understand the evolution of the Universe by looking at the light emitted from galaxies 10 billion years ago. Euclid's main objective is to better understand dark matter and dark energy, which together make up 95% of the universe.

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Dark Energy:

Around 68% of the Universe is made of dark energy while dark matter makes up 27%. Only the remainder is composed of fermionic matter, i.e., things on the Earth, planets, stars, etc.
Scientists theorised the existence of dark energy 25 years ago when a team of researchers found that instead of slowing down due to gravity (inwards pulling force), the expansion of the Universe was speeding up. Scientists hypothesised that this was happening due to a mysterious form of energy called dark energy.
- The expansion of the universe is accelerating. Previously it was thought that the pull of gravity will either slow down or even retract the expansion.
- Dark energy has been hypothesised as a repulsive force — a sort of anti-gravity. As our universe is expanding, it indicates that Dark Energy has a greater abundance than dark matter.
Dark energy is a property of space so does not get diluted as space expands. As more space comes into existence, more of this energy-of-space appears. As a result, dark energy causes the universe to expand faster and faster.
While Dark matter exerts a “pull” on the universe, Dark Energy has a contrasting expansionary effect.

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Dark Matter:

Dark matter has not yet been observed directly. It does not interact with matter and is completely invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation making it impossible to detect.
Scientists are confident it exists because of the gravitational effects it has on galaxies and galaxy clusters.