Current Affairs 16-September-2023 (The Hindu)

Genetic Modification vs. Mutation

(D Pg-6.)

Genetic Modification (GM):

GM is a technology that involves inserting DNA into the genome of an organism. To produce a GM plant, new DNA is transferred into plant cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in tissue culture where they develop into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will inherit the new DNA.

• Human Interference: GM is the result of human intervention in the genetic makeup of an organism. An example is Bt Cotton, which incorporates the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene to make cotton pest-resistant.

Mutation:

• Random Alteration to Genome: Mutation, on the other hand, is a natural, random alteration to an organism's DNA. It occurs spontaneously and can lead to genetic diversity.
• Naturally Occurring: Mutations are natural processes that have been shaping the genetic diversity of species for millions of years.

DMH-11 (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11):

• DMH-11 is a hybrid mustard variety developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at the University of Delhi.
• It is a cross between Varuna and Heera-2, a combination that couldn't occur naturally due to mustard's self-pollinating nature.
• The introduction of the Barnase and Barstar genes from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens allows for hybridization.
• Barstar suppresses the activity of barnase, restoring fertility in the next generation.
• DMH-11 also possesses herbicide-resistant traits.

Timeline of Events:

• October 2022: Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee approves GM Mustard.
• November 2022: The Supreme Court orders the Union Government to halt the release of GM Mustard.
• The Government agrees to maintain the status quo.
• August 2023: The Government withdraws its oral undertaking.

Need for GM Mustard:

• Self-Sufficiency in Mustard Production:
• Increased productivity.
• Reduced edible oil imports, cutting forex outflow.
• Boosting Farmer Income.
• Reduced Herbicide Usage:
• Positive environmental impact.
• Improved soil moisture and nutrient content.
• Creating New Hybrids:
• Utilizing barnase-barstar-based hybrid production for better yield, disease tolerance, and oil quality.

Issues with GM Mustard:

• Creating Herbicide Resistance in Weeds.
• Public Skepticism about GM Mustard for Human Consumption.
• Reduced Diversity among Indian Mustard Species.
• Questioning the Hurried Approval by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee.
• Lack of Long-Term Impact Studies.

Sangeet Natak Academy and Lalit Kala Academy

(D Pg-8.)

Sangeet Natak Academy (SNA)

• Apex body for performing arts.
• Established - 1952.
• Control - Ministry of Culture.
• Chairman of the Academy – appointment by the President of India for a 5-year term.
• Created - National School of Drama (NSD) in 1959 to focus on drama.

Centres of SNA

• Kutiyattam Kendra - Thiruvananthapuram.
• Sattriya Kendra - Guwahati.
• North-East Centre - Guwahati.
• North-East Documentation Centre - Agartala (Tripura).
• Chhau Kendra - Chandankiyari (Jharkhand).

Lalit Kala Academy

• National Academy of Art.
• Established - 1954.
• Inaugurated - Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• Headquarters - Delhi.
• Regional centers in Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Shimla, Shillong, and Bhubaneswar.
• Autonomous organization - Ministry of Culture.
• 1st organization in India - focus on visual arts.

Awards and Honors of Sangeet Kala

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards - highest national recognition for practicing artists.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.

National Medical Commission

(D Pg-10.)

National Medical Commission

• Constituted by National Medical Commission Act of 2019.
• Headquarters - New Delhi.
• Replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Composition of NMC

• 33-member body appointed by the Central Government.
• Head - Chairperson with outstanding ability and ten ex-officio members from various medical-related fields.

Composition of NMC (Part-time Members)

• 22 part-time members nominated by state governments and Union Territories.

Medical Advisory Council (MAC)

• Advises the NMC on medical education standards.
• Provides a platform for states to give their opinions to the NMC.

Functions of NMC

• Frame policies to ensure high-quality standards in medical education and practice.
• Assess the requirements of the healthcare sector.
• Frame guidelines for the proper functioning of Autonomous Boards and the State Medical Councils and ensure coordination among them.
• Act as an appellate body for various medical Autonomous Boards throughout India.

Additional Functions of NMC

• Frames policies and codes related to professional ethics.
• Provides guidelines for the determination of fees for half of the medical seats in private medical colleges.
• Oversees the NEET and NEXT exams for medical students.

Freedom of Press

(D Pg-8.)

Freedom of Press

Freedom of the press is the right to engage in the collection, dissemination, and publication of information without government censorship or interference.

Significance:

• Transparency
• Accountability
• Flow of information
• Sign of modern democracy

Freedom of Press in India

• Protected under Article 19(1)(a).
• Key legal cases:
• Romesh Thapar vs State of Madras (1950) case
• Indian Express Newspapers vs. Union of India (1985) case
• Vinod Dua v. Union of India and Others (2021) case
• Press Freedom Index 2022 - India's rank: 150

Challenges to Freedom of Press

• Silencing journalists through legal measures like Section 153A of IPC, sedition law, defamation law, and UAPA.
• Influencing newspapers through government control over advertising revenue.
• Online harassment against journalists, especially women.
• Ownership concentration.
• Political party control over TV channels.

Press Council of India

• Established under the Press Council Act, 1978.
• Quasi-judicial body and regulatory authority for print media.
• Aim: Protect the freedom of the press and ensure professional standards.

Editors Guild of India

• Founded in 1978.
• Non-profit organization of journalists.
• Aim: Protect the freedom of the press and raise the standards of newspapers and magazines.

Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF)

• International non-governmental organization.
• Aim: Defend free press and ensure the safety of journalists.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)

(Chennai Edition Pg-9.)

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and the Tribal Ministry. It was founded in 1998 and is registered under the Income Tax Act of 1961. WTI is headquartered in NOIDA and is known for its significant contributions to wildlife conservation in India.

Functions of WTI

• Organizes Natural Heritage campaigns to raise awareness about India's rich natural heritage.
• Main focus on the recovery of threatened species listed in the IUCN Red List.
• Engages in the conservation of protected areas, such as the "Greater Manas Conservation Project" in Manas National Park.
• Operates the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, to ensure the safe passage of animals.

Contributions of WTI

1. Initiated the process for the reintroduction of cheetah in India.
2. Collaborated with IUCN to establish the Species Survival Center in Nagpur, the first-ever species survival center in South Asia.
3. Implemented measures to prevent elephant deaths due to train accidents.
4. Played a role in restoring mangrove forests in the Kerala coastal region.
5. Contributed to the relocation of distressed Hoolock gibbons in Arunachal Pradesh to protect their habitat.

Hydrogen

(Chennai Edition Pg-7.)

Hydrogen

• Chemical element - non-metal.
• Exists as a gas at room temperature.
• Colorless, odorless, and flammable gas.
• Hydrogen is considered a clean fuel because it produces only water during combustion.
• Hydrogen rarely exists in a free state.
• Hydrogen production from a variety of resources, including natural gas, nuclear power, and renewable sources like solar and wind.
• Types of hydrogen based on production methods: grey, blue, green, black, brown, red, and pink.

Black Hydrogen

• Produced using black coal.

Brown Hydrogen

• Produced using lignite (brown coal).

Red Hydrogen

• Produced using biomass like leaves, wood, and rice straw.

Pink Hydrogen

• Generated through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.

Green Hydrogen

• Produced from water using the electrolysis process.
• Electrolysis uses electricity to split compounds.
• Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen.
• Green hydrogen is produced when the electrolysis process uses electricity obtained from cleaner renewable sources.

Advantages of Green Hydrogen (GH)

• 100% sustainable because GH does not emit greenhouse gases (GHG) during combustion or production.
• Used as a fuel in trains, ships, and planes, leading to no GHG emissions from vehicles.
• Used as a raw material for the chemical, petrochemical, cement, and steel industries, reducing the use of fossil fuels and GHG emissions.

Disadvantages

• Green hydrogen is more expensive to obtain due to the higher cost of generating energy from renewable sources and expensive electrolysers.
• Safety issues because hydrogen is highly volatile and flammable.

Steps taken by the government to promote Green Hydrogen

• National Green Hydrogen Mission with a budget of approximately ₹19,700 crore.
• Time period: FY 2023-24 to FY 2029-30.
• Objective: Make India a global hub for production, usage, and export of GH.

Aim

• Achieving a GH production capacity of 5 MMT per annum by 2030.
• Phasing out 50 MMT of CO2 emissions per annum by 2030 through the use of GH.