Prelims-Pinpointer-Current Affairs Notes.

Prelims Oriented

Cyclone Ditwah & Cyclone Senyar

Context

• Cyclone Ditwah developed over the southwest Bay of Bengal, moving towards Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. Nearly 100 people killed in Sri Lanka as Cyclone Ditwah batters island with incessant rain and strong winds, moving north-northwest towards Tamil Nadu coast.
• Around the same period, another system near the Strait of Malacca intensified into Cyclone Senyar, producing very heavy rain over Andaman & Nicobar Islands and parts of South India.

Cyclone Ditwah

• A tropical cyclonic storm that evolved rapidly from a depression to a named cyclone.

• Originated in the southwest Bay of Bengal, supported by warm waters and favourable atmospheric conditions.

• Naming: The name Ditwah was recommended by Yemen under the WMO cyclone naming protocol.

 

Cyclone Senyar

• A weather system that began as a low-pressure area and strengthened into a cyclonic circulation.

• Developed over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining Bay of Bengal, emerging from a system near Malaysia/Strait of Malacca.

• Naming: The name Senyar was proposed by the United Arab Emirates.

Current Status

• Senyar weakened over the Strait of Malacca; however, its moisture and residual circulation continued to enhance rainfall over South India and surrounding marine regions. 

Why More Cyclones Form in the Bay of Bengal During Retreating Southwest Monsoon

• Very Warm Sea Surface Temperatures

• • • Retains 28–30°C or higher SSTs after monsoon, offering high latent heat essential for cyclogenesis.

• High Humidity & Moisture Supply

• • • Continuous moisture transport from the equatorial Indian Ocean creates a deep, saturated troposphere conducive to convection.

• Southward Shift of ITCZ and Monsoon Trough

• • • The ITCZ and monsoon trough move southward during withdrawal, increasing low-level convergence and vorticity.

• Low Vertical Wind Shear

• • • October–early November brings reduced vertical wind shear, enabling systems to consolidate into stronger cyclones.

• Re-intensification of Monsoon Lows

• • • Remnant monsoon depressions returning to warm Bay waters often re-strengthen into deep depressions or cyclones.

• Bay of Bengal–Arabian Sea Contrast

• Bay’s semi-enclosed nature, warmer stratified surface waters, and large river inflows (Ganga–Brahmaputra) make it more cyclone-prone than the Arabian Sea during this season.

Operation Sagar Bandhu

Context

• India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to supply urgent relief materials to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka.
• The operation was initiated after Cyclone Ditwah caused severe damage and casualties in the island nation.

Key Components of Operation Sagar Bandhu

• Launch and Purpose

• • The operation aims to provide essential humanitarian supplies to assist Sri Lanka during its crisis.
  • It represents India’s commitment to offer rapid disaster support to neighbouring countries.

• Delivery of Relief

• • The first tranche of relief consignments was delivered on Friday.
  • Supplies were transported using two major Indian Navy platforms:
    • INS Vikrant – India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.
    • INS Udaygiri – A modern frontline stealth frigate.

• On-Ground Handover

• • Indian Navy officers formally handed the relief materials to Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo.

India’s Policy Framework and Statements

• Prime Minister’s Message

• • PM Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the loss of lives due to the cyclone.
  • He assured India’s readiness to supply additional relief if required.
  • He emphasized India’s commitment under Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR.

• Vision MAHASAGAR

• • Stands for Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
  • Announced during PM Modi’s visit to Mauritius in March.
  • Provides a framework for stronger engagement with the Global South and the Indian Ocean region.

Naval Presence in Sri Lanka

• Participation in International Fleet Review

• • INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri are stationed in Sri Lanka for a three-day International Fleet Review (IFR) beginning Thursday.
  • Their presence enabled swift logistics for relief dispatch.
  • Sri Lankan defence officials requested use of aircraft from INS Vikrant to support relief operations.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

Background and Evolution

• The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was first constituted under the NCBC Act, 1993 and functioned under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• In 2018, the body was transformed into a constitutional authority through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
• The amendment inserted Article 338B establishing NCBC, Article 342A relating to the identification of SEBCs, and Clause 26C in Article 366 defining SEBCs.
• This constitutional recognition strengthened the institutional framework for safeguarding the interests of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).

Composition and Appointment

• The Commission comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three Members with the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India.
• All members are appointed by the President through a warrant under his hand and seal, ensuring a high level of independence and authority.

Mandate and Key Functions

• Monitoring Safeguards: Investigates and monitors all constitutional and legal safeguards for SEBCs and evaluates their implementation across Union and State governments.
• Complaint Redressal: Inquires into complaints regarding deprivation of rights and ensures enforcement of protections provided to SEBCs.
• Advisory Role: Advises the government on socio-economic development policies and evaluates the progress of SEBC welfare initiatives.
• Reporting Duties: Submits annual and periodic reports to the President regarding the functioning of safeguards.
• Recommendations: Suggests measures for effective implementation of protections, welfare programmes, and socio-economic advancement of SEBCs.
• Additional Functions: Performs duties related to protection and development of SEBCs as may be assigned by the President or Parliament.

Reporting and Parliamentary Oversight

• The President lays NCBC reports before both Houses of Parliament, along with a memorandum detailing action taken or proposed on its recommendations.
• The memorandum must also state reasons for non-acceptance, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Powers

• While conducting inquiries, the Commission has civil court powers—summoning individuals, demanding documents, and taking evidence on affidavit.
• Both Union and State Governments are bound to consult NCBC on major policy matters concerning SEBCs.
• The Commission holds the authority to regulate its own procedures, reinforcing autonomy.

Scheduled Tribes (STs)

Context: Assam Cabinet approved granting ST status to six communities.

Constitutional Definition, Inclusion Process & Issues

• Background

• • The Constitution’s framers recognised that certain communities faced extreme social, educational, and economic backwardness due to primitive agricultural practices, lack of infrastructure, and geographical isolation.
  • These communities required targeted safeguards, leading to the creation of the Scheduled Tribe classification.

• Constitutional Definition

• • Article 366(25) defines Scheduled Tribes as tribal communities specified under Article 342.
  • Article 342(1):
    • The President may specify tribes or parts of tribes as STs for a State/Union Territory through public notification, after consulting the Governor in case of a State.
  • Article 342(2):
    • Parliament alone can include or exclude any community from the ST list through legislation.
    • A Presidential notification cannot be modified except by Parliamentary law.

• Current Procedure and Criteria for Inclusion

• • The process begins with a proposal from the State/UT government.
  • The proposal moves to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry, which forwards it to the Registrar General of India (RGI).
  • If RGI approves, it is sent to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
  • RGI continues to apply Lokur Committee (1965) criteria, including:
    • Primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, and backwardness.
  • After institutional concurrence, the proposal reaches the Union Cabinet for approval.
  • Final inclusion occurs when the President issues a notification amending the Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 under Articles 341–342.

• Constitutional Safeguards and Benefits

• • Educational reservations: Article 15(4).
  • Employment reservations: Articles 16(4), 16(4A), 16(4B).
  • Administrative protections: Article 244 with Fifth and Sixth Schedules.
  • Local governance reservation: Article 243D (Panchayats).
  • Parliamentary representation: Article 330 (Lok Sabha seats).

• Criticism of the Current System

• • A 2014 internal task force termed the criteria “obsolete, condescending, dogmatic and rigid.”
  • Found the procedure cumbersome, delaying inclusion for nearly 40 communities.
  • Said the process undermined affirmative action goals.

• Government’s Position

• • The Tribal Affairs Ministry maintains that the existing procedure is adequate and should continue.

NISAR Satellite

Context: NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite, launched in July, entered final science phase, providing all-weather, day-night earth observation data for five-year mission with wide-ranging applications.

NISAR Satellite

• NISAR (NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the world’s first dual-frequency Earth-observation satellite using L-band and S-band SAR.

• It aims to provide high-resolution, all-weather, day–night imaging for global and national scientific applications.

• Dual-Band Radar Capability

• • L-band Radar (NASA, 1.257 GHz): Penetrates forests, soil layers and vegetation, allowing detection of ground deformation, subsurface movement and tectonic activity.
  • S-band Radar (ISRO, 3.2 GHz): Optimised for surface-level variations such as crop growth, biomass, soil moisture and water levels.
  • Dual-frequency operation ensures cloud-penetrating, smoke-resistant imaging, enabling consistent observations in complex terrains.

• Observation Capacity

• • Provides a 240 km swath width, ideal for wide-area scanning.
  • Offers 3–10 metre resolution and centimetre-level vertical displacement accuracy, crucial for tracking subsidence, fault movements and infrastructure stability.
  • Ensures 12-day global revisit, enabling regular monitoring of long-term environmental and geological changes.

Scientific and Societal Applications

• Solid Earth: Maps earthquakes, landslides, crustal deformation.
• Ecosystems: Tracks forests, woody biomass and biodiversity loss.
• Cryosphere: Measures glacier flow and polar ice thickness.
• Coastal & Oceans: Monitors shoreline erosion, storm surges, oil spills.
• Disaster Management: Provides damage proxy maps within five hours, supporting relief operations.
• Agriculture & Infrastructure: Tracks crop conditions, soil moisture, and subsidence near dams, reservoirs, and urban centres.

India-Specific Advantages

• ISRO will operate the S-band radar routinely over India, enabling:
  • Improved agricultural forecasting and crop monitoring.
  • Stronger biomass and soil moisture mapping.
  • Ionospheric correction for high-precision observations.
• Supports national priorities in forestry, rural development, urban planning and disaster response.

Technical Architecture

• Will be placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at 747 km altitude.
• Features a 12-metre mesh antenna and 9-metre boom.
• Uses Synthetic Aperture Radar processing to simulate a large antenna by combining radar pulses collected over time.
• SweepSAR mode enables electronically steered beams, ensuring wide coverage without loss of resolution.

Data Access and Ground Systems

• Follows an open-data policy, with data available within hours.
• NASA Near Earth Network manages global data downlinks (~3 TB/day).
• ISRO ground stations at Shadnagar and Antarctica handle Indian data.
• NRSC processes and distributes NISAR products for domestic applications.

India–U.S. Collaborative Contributions

• ISRO: Spacecraft bus, S-band radar, Ka-band telemetry, and GSLV Mk-II launch.
• NASA: L-band radar, antenna structure, avionics and data systems.
• The satellite was integrated and tested in Bengaluru, showcasing strong bilateral cooperation and “Made-in-India” implementation of global science infrastructure.

Lokpal

Context: Delhi High Court quashed Lokpal proceedings against Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in case involving alleged irregularities in NPC promotions conducted before he assumed DPIIT Secretary office.

Lokpal

Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013

• Legislative Framework

• Enactment Purpose: Established the Lokpal at the Union level and the Lokayukta at the State level for corruption complaints against public functionaries.

• 2016 Amendment: Enabled the leader of the single largest opposition party to join the Lokpal selection committee without being recognised Leader of Opposition. 

• Also amended Section 44 regarding asset and liability disclosure provisions.

• Lokpal: Structure and Appointment

• Composition

• Chairperson with a maximum of eight members, ensuring 50% are judicial members.

• • • • Reservation: At least 50% total members from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.
      • Tenure: Five years or until 70 years age, whichever is earlier.

• Selection Committee

• The President appoints after the selection committee’s recommendations, comprising

• Prime Minister (Chairperson), 

• Lok Sabha Speaker, 

• Leader of the Opposition 

• Chief Justice of India 

• One eminent jurist nominated by President.

• Jurisdiction Coverage

• Extensive Reach: Includes Prime Minister (except international relations, security, public order, atomic energy, space allegations), Ministers, Parliament members, and all Central Government officers (Groups A, B, C, D).

• Powers and Functions

• DSPE Superintendence: Exercises oversight over Delhi Special Police Establishment investigations for preliminary inquiries.

• • • • Investigation Powers: Authorises agencies for document search and seizure during investigations.
      • CVC Coordination: Central Vigilance Commission reports complaint actions; Lokpal issues disposal guidelines.
      • Judicial Powers: Possesses civil court powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for preliminary inquiries.

• Lokayukta: State-Level Framework

• State Autonomy: Each state establishes Lokayukta through separate legislation with varying structure, eligibility, tenure and appointment methods.

Syntactic Foam and Samudrayaan Mission

Background

• Samudrayaan is India’s first manned deep-sea submersible mission, intended to send a three-member crew to a depth of 6,000 metres.
• The mission is vital for India’s future deep-sea mineral exploration, including potential mining of precious metals from the high seas.
• Only a few countries have achieved similar deep-sea manned dives, marking this as a technologically significant milestone.

Purpose and Design of the Submersible

• The craft consists of a spherical submersible designed to withstand extreme pressure at 6 km depth.
• It will enable the crew to reach the seafloor, survey the terrain, and collect soil and rock samples for scientific and mineral assessments.
• The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is leading the project.

Project Progress and Current Testing

• NIOT has built a steel replica of the submersible for preliminary trials.
• Simulations have already reached 100 metres, but the crucial 500-metre test dive is pending.
• This 500-metre test was originally planned for December 2024.

Reason for Delay: Syntactic Foam Procurement

• The 500-metre dive requires fitting the replica with syntactic foam, which provides buoyancy and enables the submersible to float.
• The foam is being manufactured in France and tested in Norway before delivery to India.
• Delays in procurement have pushed the schedule; delivery is expected by the end of the year.

Final Testing and Hull Preparation

• After 500-metre tests, the mission will shift from the steel replica to the final titanium hull, meant for the full 6,000-metre dive.
• The titanium sphere will be sent to Russia for laboratory pressure testing to certify its ability to endure conditions at 6 km depth.
• Identical syntactic foam will be added to the titanium hull afterward.

ISRO’s Role and Future Timeline

• ISRO is fabricating two titanium hulls for NIOT.
• Following syntactic foam integration and pressure validation, the 500-metre dive is targeted for April next year, marking a major milestone before deep-sea deployment.

Tex-RAMPS Scheme

Context

• The Government of India has approved the Tex-RAMPS Scheme to upgrade the textile sector through research, innovation, modern data systems, and start-up support.
• The scheme reflects a strategic shift toward technology-driven, sustainable, and globally competitive textile manufacturing.

What is Tex-RAMPS?

• A Central Sector Scheme aimed at strengthening research, assessment, monitoring, planning, and innovation ecosystems across the textile value chain.
• Implemented entirely by the Ministry of Textiles, ensuring uniform national coverage.
• Designed to future-proof India’s textiles and apparel sector through modern technologies, analytics, capacity building and entrepreneurial support.

Key Components of the Scheme

• Research and Innovation

• • Promotes advanced R&D in smart textiles, sustainable production, process optimisation, and emerging technical textile technologies.
  • Encourages academia–industry linkages to drive innovation.

• Data, Analytics and Diagnostics

• • Establishes strong data architecture covering employment mapping, supply chain assessments, and initiatives like the India-Size project.
  • Integrates real-time monitoring through the Integrated Textiles Statistical System (ITSS).

• Capacity Development

• • Enhances State-level capabilities in planning and implementation.
  • Facilitates knowledge sharing, workshops and best-practice dissemination to strengthen institutional capacity.

• Start-Up and Innovation Support

• Provides funding for incubators, hackathons, and collaborative innovations to promote textile entrepreneurship.

Key Features

• ₹305 crore outlay for 2025–31, aligned with the upcoming Finance Commission cycle for continuity.
• Fully centrally funded, ensuring standardised implementation across States.
• Aligns Indian textiles with global trends in smart, technical, and sustainable textiles.
• ITSS ensures real-time analytics, structured monitoring and evidence-based policymaking.

Significance

• Boosts global competitiveness by improving quality, efficiency and sustainability.
• Strengthens India’s R&D ecosystem, enabling breakthroughs in technical and smart textiles.
• Enhances policy planning through robust, high-quality data systems.
• Supports entrepreneurship, innovation clusters and sector-specific start-ups.

Superbugs in India

Context

• The ICMR AMRSN Report 2024 warns that common infections in India—UTIs, pneumonia, sepsis and diarrhoea—are becoming increasingly difficult to treat.
• Major pathogens such as E. coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas now show high resistance to widely used antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and even carbapenems, which are considered last-line drugs.

What is a Superbug?

• A superbug is a bacteria or fungus that has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics or antifungals, making routine infections extremely hard to cure.
• Such organisms reduce the effectiveness of standard treatments, resulting in persistent, severe or life-threatening infections.

How Superbugs Develop

• Misuse and overuse of antibiotics, especially self-medication and unnecessary prescriptions.
• Incomplete dosing, which allows microbes to survive and adapt.
• Overexposure to high-end antibiotics in hospitals and ICUs.
• Horizontal gene transfer, enabling resistant bacteria to share resistance traits.

 

Common Superbugs

• Bacterial

• • E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

• Fungal

• • Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus showing growing resistance to antifungal drugs.

Auramine O

Context

• Auramine O, a banned industrial yellow dye, has once again been detected in food samples during recent State food safety inspections and academic studies.
• Its repeated presence highlights gaps in enforcement and continued misuse in the unorganised food sector.

What is Auramine O?

• Auramine O is a synthetic diarylmethane-based yellow dye used in industrial and microbiological settings.
• It is not approved for use as a food colour under Indian food safety regulations.
• Chemical Composition:
  • Appears as bright yellow, needle-like crystals.
  • Insoluble in water but soluble in ethanol and DMSO.

Legitimate Industrial Applications

• Textile, leather and printing industries: Used as a low-cost colourant due to its bright hue.
• Microbiology: Employed in the Auramine–Rhodamine staining method to detect acid-fast bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Laboratory reagent: Functions as a fluorescent substitute for Schiff reagent.
• Paper and ink manufacturing: Adds colour and fluorescent properties in industrial production.

Misuse in the Food Chain

• Illegally added to food products because it mimics turmeric or saffron and enhances the visual appeal of sweets, snacks and spices.
• Readily available through unregulated chemical markets, making procurement easy for small vendors.
• Misuse occurs due to ignorance of regulations or deliberate violation amid weak surveillance and inconsistent enforcement.

Health Implications

• Toxicity: Associated with liver and kidney damage, enlarged spleen and endocrine disturbances.
• Mutagenic effects: Can disrupt genetic material, leading to long-term metabolic disorders.
• Carcinogenic risk: Classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
• Chronic exposure: Repeated ingestion heightens risk of severe systemic diseases.

Regulatory Challenges

• Limited laboratory capacity and uneven State enforcement hinder effective nationwide detection.
• Poor oversight in informal sectors allows the dye to circulate despite strict bans.