1. CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)
Context: The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has urged the government to ensure availability of cotton and manmade fibre (MMF) at internationally-competitive prices to propel the Indian textile industry towards the target of $350 billion by 2030.
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI)
- About: It is the sole National Association representing the entire Textile and Clothing Industry, inclusive of domestic and exporting units, alongside regional and sectoral associations, spanning from farms to garments and textile machinery.
- International Collaborations: CITI has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Thirteen major International Textile Associations, aimed at fostering textiles trade and investment globally.
- Interface with Government: Serving as a crucial interface between the Government of India and the industry, CITI aids in policy formulation, providing policy inputs, supporting the textile and clothing sector, association, capacity building, and awareness creation to bolster industry growth.
- Skill Development: CITI, as a founding member of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and a promoter of the Textile Sector Skill Council, plays a pioneering role in augmenting the availability of skilled workforce for the sector.
- Technological Advancements: As a founding member of the Indian Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME) Society, CITI contributes significantly to technological advancements and enhancements within the textile sector.
Textile Sector in India
- Global Textile Production: India holds the second position in textile production.
- China is a global leader in textiles.
- Exporting Textile Goods: India is also the world's second-largest textile exporter.
- Employment Generation: Second-largest job provider, following agriculture.
- Current Status: The textile and apparel sector contributes approximately 4% to global trade, constituting 7% of industry output by value as of 2023, and contributes about 2% to the GDP, amounting to approximately $60 billion.
o Direct employment in the sector stands at around 35 million people.
o With an expected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10% from 2019-20, the industry is projected to reach US$ 190 billion by 2025-26.
o India holds a 4% share in the global trade of textiles and apparel.
o As the world's second-largest producer of silk, India accounts for 95% of all hand-woven cloth production.
2. STONE AGE (Syllabus GS Paper 1 – History)
Context: New research indicates that the Stone Age a long prehistoric period characterised by the use of stone tools by humans and our ancestors might as accurately be described as the ‘Wood Age’.
Stone Age
- About: It commenced approximately 3.4 million years ago in modern-day Ethiopia with the use of stone tools and lasted until about 6,000-4,000 BP, covering 99% of human history.
- Divisions of the Stone Age
- Palaeolithic Period: This period, lasting until about 11,650 BP in some regions, is marked by rudimentary stone tools and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
- Important sites in India: Sohan Valley in West Bengal now in Pakistan; Kurnool Caves, Gichchlur, Nellure in Andhra Pradesh; Nevasa in Maharashtra; Bellan Valley in U.P and Madhya Pradesh, etc.
- Mesolithic Period: It is a transitional phase between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods.
- Important sites in India: Adamgarh (M.P) and Bagor in Rajasthan – earliest domestication of animals. Bhimbetka caves (Madhya Pradesh), Kharwar, Jaora and Kathotia (M.P), Sundargarh and Sambalpur (Odisha), Ezhuthu Guha (Kerala). Langhnaj (Gujarat), Sarai-Nahar-Rai (Pratapgarh U.P), Paisara (Munger Bihar).
- Neolithic Periode: This period began around 12,000 BP in West Asia and is characterised by sttled agriculture and the domestication of animals.
- Important sites in India: Mehrgarh (located in Baluchistan, Pakistan), Burzahom (Kashmir), Gufkral (Kashmir), Chirand (Bihar), and Utnur (Andhra Pradesh).
3. NEURAL NETWORK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: Neural networks, inspired by the human brain, revolutionize AI technology.
Neural Network
- About: It is a method in artificial intelligence that teaches computers to process data in a way that is inspired by the human brain.
o It is a type of machine learning process, called deep learning, that uses interconnected nodes or neurons in a layered structure that resembles the human brain.
- Composition: They consist of layers of interconnected nodes, or "neurons," which process input data to generate output predictions.
- Neuron Processing: Each neuron receives one or more inputs, applies a weighted sum, and passes the result through an activation function to produce an output.
- Layer Composition: A typical neural network has an input layer, one or more hidden layers, and an output layer.
o The input layer takes in the raw data, while each subsequent hidden layer processes the data further, extracting features and patterns through learned weights and biases.
- Training Mechanism: Training a neural network involves adjusting the weights and biases to minimize the error between the predicted and actual outputs.
o This process is done through an algorithm called backpropagation, which calculates the gradient of the loss function and updates the weights accordingly using an optimization method like gradient descent.
- Application Domains: Neural networks excel in tasks involving large and complex datasets, such as image and speech recognition, natural language processing, and game playing.
- Significance:
o Medical diagnosis by medical image classification
o Targeted marketing by social network filtering and behavioral data analysis
o Financial predictions by processing historical data of financial instruments
o Electrical load and energy demand forecasting.
4. BRAIN EATING AMOEBA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: A five-year-old girl being treated for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and deadly infection caused by the "brain-eating amoeba" Naegleria fowleri, recently passed away.
Brain-Eating Amoeba
- About: Naegleria fowleri lives in warm fresh water and soil around the world.
- Infection: It infects people when it enters the body through the nose.
- Growth Conditions: Higher temperatures of up to 115°F (46°C) are conducive to its growth.
- Survival: It can survive for short periods in warm environments.
- Freshwater Locations
- Natural Bodies of Water: The amoeba can be found in warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers.
o It can also inhabit swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks, or other recreational venues that are poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated.
Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
- About: It is a rare brain infection that is caused by Naegleria fowleri. It is a free-living amoeba or a single-celled living organism.
- Initial Symptoms: Headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- Advanced Symptoms: Stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma.
- Transmission Facts: Infection does not occur from drinking water contaminated with Naegleria fowleri.
o Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is not transmissible between people.
- Treatment: Scientists have not found any consistently effective treatments.
5. ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)
Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed relaxation of rules on valuation of investment portfolio of alternative investment funds (AIFs).
Alternative investment funds (AIF)
- About: AIF means any fund established or incorporated in India which is a privately pooled investment vehicle which collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors.
- Mutual Funds Regulations: AIFs are distinct from funds covered under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, as well as other regulations such as the SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999.
- Exemptions from Registration: Certain entities, such as family trusts for the benefit of 'relatives' as per the Companies Act, 1956, employee welfare trusts, gratuity trusts for employees, and 'holding companies' under Section 4 of the Companies Act, 1956, are exempt from registration under the AIF Regulations.
Categories of AIFs:
- Category I AIFs: Invest in start-ups, early stage ventures, and socially or economically desirable sectors.
o Include venture capital funds like angel funds, SME funds, and social venture funds.
o Not classified under Category I or Category III.
o Do not undertake leverage except for day-to-day operational needs.
o Include real estate funds, debt funds, private equity funds, and funds for distressed assets.
o Employ complex trading strategies and may use leverage.
o Include hedge funds, PIPE funds, and those investing in derivatives.
6. E-VTOL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras-incubated ePlane Company is expected to launch its a-flying taxis in Bengaluru this year but the Indian government has yet to establish clear policies regarding eVTOL flying taxis.
eVTOL Aircraft
- About: An electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft utilizes electric power for vertical hovering, takeoff, and landing, distinguishing it from conventional aircraft.
- Technological Advancements: Most eVTOLs employ distributed electric propulsion technology, integrating multiple motors into the airframe for enhanced efficiency and safety.
- Development and Innovation: Driven by advancements in motor, battery, fuel cell, and electronic controller technologies, eVTOLs represent a significant innovation in the aerospace sector, particularly in Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
- Applications: eVTOLs serve various purposes including air taxi services, delivery, medical emergency assistance (EMS), cargo transport, and recreational flying.
- Enhanced Mobility: In the near future, eVTOLs are poised to revolutionize on-demand mobility, facilitating efficient intra- and intercity transportation and bridging the connectivity gap between urban centers and airports.
7. FORM 17C (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)
Context: Former election commissioner addresses concerns over bias, turnout figures, and Form 17C, emphasizing the robustness of crosschecks and dismissing claims of data or vote manipulation.
Form 17C
- About: As per the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, the Election Commission of India (ECI) maintains two forms: Forms 17A and 17C.
- Purpose: Form 17A records details of every voter who casts a vote in a polling booth, while Form 17C accounts for all the votes recorded.
- Mandate for Presiding Officer: Rule 49S (2) mandates the presiding officer to provide a copy of the entries made in Form 17C to the polling agents of candidates at the close of polling.
- Information in Part I of Form 17C: Part I includes crucial information such as EVM identification numbers, total assigned electors, voters recorded in Form 17A, voters who abstained, those not allowed to vote, and test votes.
- Part II of Form 17C: Part II contains the results of the counting conducted on the stipulated day.
- Voter Turnout: The Election Commission is not legally obligated to publish voter turnout data at aggregate levels such as constituency or state, as voter turnout is recorded at the polling station level in Form 17C, prepared and signed by the presiding officer and polling agents of candidates present.
8. SOLAR CYCLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)
Context: Scientists have long held the belief that the Sun's potent magnetic field, which triggers solar storms affecting Earth, originates deep within the star.
Solar Cycle
- About: It is the cycle that the Sun’s magnetic field goes through approximately every 11 years.
- Magnetic Field Generation: This charged gas moves, generating a powerful magnetic field.
o The Sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle.
o Every 11 years or so, the Sun's magnetic field completely flips.
o It takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.
- Effects on Sun's Surface:
o The solar cycle affects activity on the surface of the Sun, such as sunspots caused by the Sun's magnetic fields.
o The middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum, characterized by the most sunspots.
o As the cycle ends, it fades back to the solar minimum, signaling the start of a new cycle.
- Solar Eruptions: Giant eruptions on the Sun, like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, increase during the solar cycle.
o These eruptions send powerful bursts of energy and material into space.
- Effects on Earth: Solar activity can impact Earth, causing phenomena like auroras or affecting radio communications.
o Extreme eruptions can even disrupt electricity grids on Earth.
- Variation in Cycles: Some cycles have maximums with lots of sunspots and activity, while others have very few sunspots and little activity.
9. UJANI DAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)
Context: Recently, tragedy struck in Maharashtra's Pune district as six individuals, including two children, drowned when their boat overturned in the Ujani dam backwaters.
Ujani Dam
- Location: Located on the Bhima River near Ujjani village in Solapur district, Maharashtra.
- Construction: Built between 1977 and 1980 for irrigation and hydroelectric power.
- Total length: 2,534 m.
- Height: 63 meters.
- Storage capacity: 117 TMC (live: 54 TMC, dead: 63 TMC).
- Power generation capacity: 12MW.
- Bhima River: It is a tributary of the Krishna River.
- Course: Originates in Bhimashankar hills near Karjat, Pune District.
o Flows southeast through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.
o Merges into Krishna River at Kadlur (Raichur), Karnataka.
- Geography: 861 km long, bounded by Western Ghats, Balaghat Range, and Mahadeo Hills.
- Basin area: 48,631 sq. km, 75% in Maharashtra.
- Major tributaries: Sina and Nira rivers.
10. PERSONALITY RIGHTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)
Context: A Hollywood actor expressed "shock" and "anger" over GPT-4's voice, which she claims sounds "eerily similar" to hers, amid ongoing legal cases against OpenAI for using copyrighted works and potentially infringing on celebrities' personality rights.
Personality Rights
- Definition: It refer to the right of a person to protect his/her personality under the right to privacy or property.
- Protection from Misuse: These rights are important to celebrities as their names, photographs, or even voices can easily be misused in various advertisements by different companies to boost their sales.
- Comprehensive Protection: A large list of unique personal attributes contribute to the making of a celebrity, all of which need to be protected, such as name, nickname, stage name, picture, likeness, image, and any identifiable personal property, such as a distinctive race car.
- Difference between Publicity Rights and Personality Rights
- Right of Publicity: The right of publicity refers to the right to keep one’s image and likeness from being commercially exploited without permission or contractual compensation, similar to the use of a trademark.
- Right to Privacy: The right to privacy involves the right to not have one’s personality represented publicly without permission.
Personality rights in India
- About: Article 21 of the Indian Constitution addresses personality rights within the broader context of privacy and publicity.
- Protection under Copyright Law: The Copyright Act, 1957, extends moral rights to authors and performers, allowing them to claim authorship and prevent unauthorized use of their work.
- Personal Rights in Trademarks: The Indian Trademarks Act, 1999, safeguards personal rights by restricting the unauthorized use of personal names and representations under Section 14.
- Judicial Interpretation: The Delhi High Court, in the Arun Jaitley vs Network Solutions Private Limited and Ors Case (2011), equated online and offline fame, recognizing the distinctive nature of personal names in the digital realm.
theIASHub | 24 May, 2024 | 3
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