Current Affairs 01 November 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 01 November 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

India’s Biggest Hyperscale Data Centre

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: Science and Technology

What is discussed under India’s Biggest Hyperscale Data Centre?

1. Hyperscale Data Centre
2. Yotta D1
3. Way Ahead

Why in News?

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has inaugurated ‘Yotta D1’, the first hyper-scale data centre in North India, which cost Rs 5,000 crore and covered 3,00,000 square feet at the proposed Data Center Park in Noida.

Hyperscale Data Centre

Growing Demand for DNA Tests

Source: Hindu
GS III: Science and Technology

What is discussed under the Growing Demand for DNA Tests?

1. DNA Testing
2. Key Facts of the SC’s Concern

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has expressed worry about the growing use of DNA testing to support cases, while activists for women’s rights see the technology as an empowering one.

Scenario

• The Supreme Court recently ruled in a case involving a woman that forcing someone to submit to a DNA test against their will would violate their personal liberty and right to privacy.
• The verdict emphasises the expanding usage of a technology that supports the cause of justice on the one hand but infringes privacy on the other.

DNA Testing

DNA technology

• DNA is a collection of instructions that may be found in a cell.

  

• These guidelines aid in the development and growth of an organism.
• Each person has a unique DNA sequence, and variations in this sequence may be utilised to identify and match people.
• DNA technology makes it possible to establish someone’s identification precisely.
• The technique of identifying a person’s DNA patterns is called DNA profiling.
• Obtaining relevant DNA samples is the initial stage in the DNA profiling process.
• To create an individual DNA profile, just a small number of cells from the skin, the hair follicle, or body fluids like blood, saliva, or semen are required.
• During police investigations, DNA is frequently found at crime scenes. Following this discovery, people of interest may be invited to voluntarily submit a DNA sample.
• The courts have the authority to require a suspect to submit a DNA sample if there is substantial evidence against them.

Use of DNA profiling

• Determine the likely source of a bodily fluid sample linked to a crime or crime scene using DNA profiling.
• Discover family connections or conduct a parentage test.
• Locating missing persons or victims of accidents or disasters.

Key Facts of the SC’s Concern

• DNA testing is being requested by more and more complainants; this demand is growing by around 20% annually.
• According to DNA Forensics Laboratory Private Limited, it examines between 300 and 400 samples each month that is both requested privately and ordered by a court.
• Up until five years ago, there were just 30–40 people in total.
• One of the largest facilities recognised by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is DNA Forensics Laboratory Private Limited.
• Although it is small in comparison to the 70 other nations that use DNA technology, India’s laboratories do just 3,000 or so DNA tests yearly.

Restriction for Use of Glyphosate

Source: DTE
GS III: Environment and Conservation

What is discussed under Restriction for Use of Glyphosate?

1. Glyphosate
2. Key Highlights About the Restriction

Why in News?

A warning limiting the use of the widely used herbicide glyphosate was released by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, citing risks to both human and animal health.

Glyphosate

• Glyphosate is an herbicide.
• It is used to eliminate grasses and broadleaf plants by applying it on plant leaves.

  

• Specific crops are allowed to grow by using glyphosate in the sodium salt form.
• There are several variations of glyphosate, including acid and multiple salts.
• These come in two forms:
  • solids and liquids with an amber color.
• As a non-selective herbicide, glyphosate will destroy the majority of plants.
• It hinders the production of several proteins that plants require for development.
• The shikimic acid route is a particular enzyme pathway that glyphosate blocks.
• Plants and certain microbes require the shikimic acid pathway.

Signs and symptoms from exposure

• Although products often incorporate additional compounds that aid in the glyphosate’s penetration into plants, pure glyphosate has a low toxicity level.
• The product’s additional components may increase its toxicity.
• Glyphosate-containing products may irritate the skin or eyes.
• People who inhaled spray mist from glyphosate-containing goods had nose and throat discomfort.
• Swallowing glyphosate-containing items might result in increased salivation, mouth and throat burn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
• Instances of purposeful consumption have been known to result in fatalities.

Key Highlights About the Restriction

• Similar measures have previously been attempted but failed by the state governments of Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh.
• According to Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, more severe measures are required.
• The announcement was based on a 2019 study by the Kerala government that called for banning the use, sale, and distribution of glyphosate and its derivatives.
• The use of glyphosate is prohibited or limited in about 35 countries. Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, France, Colombia, Canada, Israel, and Argentina are among them.
• Glyphosate has only been authorised for usage in tea plantations and non-plantation regions surrounding the tea crop in India.
  • Any other use of the drug is prohibited.

First Amendment to Constitution

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Constitution of India and Indian polity

Why in News?

• The Supreme Court has accepted to review a PIL that challenges the first amendment’s modifications to the right to free speech and expression.
• The petitioner argues that the amendment violates the fundamental structural doctrine.

About Amendment

• Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, passed it into law in 1951.
• Articles 15, 15 (3), 46, 341, 342, 372, and 376 were modified by the first amendment to the constitution, giving states the authority to ‘make any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.’
• Since the Amendment, the state is prohibited from passing legislation that restricts people’ freedom of expression or their ability to engage in any trade or business.

Why Petitioners Challenged These Amendments?

• The following sections of the Indian Penal Code were shielded from unconstitutionality by these two additions:

  

  • 1) Sections 124A (sedition)
  • 2) Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc)
  • 3) Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs)
  • 4) Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief)

Governor Roles and Powers UPSC

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Points Discussed : Governor Roles and Powers UPSC?

1. Various Context

Why in News ?

Context 1

Recently Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asking him to take constitutionally appropriate action against Finance Minister K N Balagopal as Governor felt Minister has violated the oath of office and undermined the unity and integrity of India.

Context 2

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan issued show-cause notices to Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) of Digital University Kerala (DUK) and Sree Narayana Guru Open University (SNGOU).

Background

Context 1

• Governor wrote that Finance Minister ceased to enjoy his pleasure and asking Chief Minister to consider the matter with the

  

  seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate.

• The minister flouted the oath of office and questioned very integrity of the country,” and that he tried to create a wedge between two states.
• The comments made by Minister seek to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and if allowed to go unchecked.

Context 2

• The Supreme Court recently cancelled the appointment of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University
  • Citing UGC rules that required the state-appointed search committee to send the chancellor a panel of at least three qualified candidates from notable figures in engineering or science, but it only sent one name.
• Following the Governor notified 11 VCs who had been appointed in violation of UGC regulation after the Supreme Court addressed the matter.
• Later, the Kerala High Court ruled that all eight VCs might stay in their positions until the chancellor or Governor issued a final ruling following a show cause notice.

Government Stand : The governor’s post is not to move against the government but to uphold the constitution’s dignity.

Governor and Constitutional

Article 153 : Governors of States.

Article 155 : Appointment of Governor.

Article 156 : Term of office of Governor.

Article 157 : Qualifications for appointment as Governor.

Article 158 : Conditions of Governor’s office.

Article 159 : Oath or affirmation by the Governor.

Article 160 : Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies.

Article 161 : Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.

Article 163 : Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor.

Article 167 : Duties of Chief Minister as respects the furnishing of information to Governor, etc.

Article 175 : Right of Governor to address and send messages to the House or Houses.

Article 176 : Special address by the Governor.

Article 213 : Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature.

Article 361 : Protection of President and Governors and Rajpramukhs.

Position of Governor

• The Governor has the same responsibilities as the President, but for the State.
• The Governor serves as the executive leader of a state, and his duties are similar to those of the President of India.

Daily Current Affairs : Click Here

Leave a Feedback