Context: National Green Hydrogen Mission is aimed at making India the global hub for the production of green hydrogen.

Objectives:

• To annually produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
• Cutting about 50 million tonnes of carbon emissions and saving one trillion rupees on fossil fuel imports.
• To get at least 10% of the global demand for green hydrogen (by 2030).

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

SIGHT programme:

Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT) will be a part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The programme will have two distinct financial incentive mechanisms:

1. Targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers.
2. Production of Green Hydrogen.

Likely outcomes of the Mission by 2030:

• Renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country.
• Creation of over Six lakh jobs.
• Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports.
• Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Challenges ahead:

• Production of green hydrogen is a capital-intensive process.
• Uncertainty in the policy framework.
• Lack of research and development (“R&D”).
• Transportation cost: Majority of low-cost renewable energy resources are located far from potential demand centres.
• Low production of Electrolysers.

These have led to the investors deliberating on the viability of investing in the sector.

Context:

Several parts of Europe are witnessing an unprecedented winter heat wave.

• Temperatures have increased 10 to 20 degrees Celsius above normal.

Most effected countries: Poland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia.

Why is it so warm this winter?

According to some climate experts, the continent is experiencing an extreme warm spell because of the formation of a heat dome over the region.

What is a heat dome?

A heat dome is created when an area of high pressure stays over the same area for days or even weeks, trapping very warm air underneath - rather like a lid on a pot.

• Hot air masses, born from the blazing summer sun, expand vertically into the atmosphere, creating a dome of high pressure that diverts weather systems around them.
• The longer that air remains trapped, the more the sun works to heat the air, producing warmer conditions with every passing day.

Relationship between heat domes and the jet stream:

• The behaviour of the jet stream, a region of swiftly moving air located high in the atmosphere, has an impact on how the heat dome forms.
• The jet stream is a continuous wave-like pattern that travels from north to south before returning to north.
• These waves move slowly and can occasionally become stagnant as they become larger and longer. A heat dome develops when a high-pressure system becomes locked in this manner.

Climate change and Heat dome:

A 2022 study found that this heat dome was amplified by climate change and it could become a once-in-10-year event if global temperatures aren’t kept under two degree Celsius above pre-industrialisation levels.

Previous instances of heat domes:

• In 2021, a heat dome formed over western Canada and the US, causing deadly heat waves.
• Another heat dome settled over the US in September 2022 and raised temperatures to a new high. The extreme heat fueled wildfires and stressed the power grid.

Context:

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has clarified the compliance dates for the complete utilisation of fly ash for thermal power plants (TPP) in a new notification.

As per the new notification:

• The time for utilisation of fly Ash for TPPs has been extended to three years from a year starting April 1, 2022.
• There will not be price caps on fly ash bricks.
• The price of the fly ash bricks will be decided according to the Department Schedule Rates (DSR) of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) or Public Works Department (PWD) concerned.

What is Fly Ash?

Popularly known as Flue ash or pulverised fuel ash, it is a coal combustion product.

Composition:

Composed of the particulates that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.

• Depending upon the source and composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO), the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
• Minor constituents include: arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds. It also has unburnt carbon.

Health and environmental hazards:

Toxic heavy metals present: All the heavy metals found in fly ash nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, etc—are toxic in nature. They are minute, poisonous particles accumulate in the respiratory tract, and cause gradual poisoning.

Radiation: For an equal amount of electricity generated, fly ash contains a hundred times more radiation than nuclear waste secured via dry cask or water storage.

Water pollution: The breaching of ash dykes and consequent ash spills occur frequently in India, polluting a large number of water bodies.

Effects on environment: The destruction of mangroves, drastic reduction in crop yields, and the pollution of groundwater in the Rann of Kutch from the ash sludge of adjoining Coal power plants has been well documented.

However, fly ash can be used in the following ways:

1. Concrete production, as a substitute material for Portland cement, sand.
2. Fly-ash pellets which can replace normal aggregate in concrete mixture.
3. Embankments and other structural fills.
4. Cement clinker production – (as a substitute material for clay).
5. Stabilization of soft soils.
6. Road subbase construction.
7. As aggregate substitute material (e.g. for brick production).
8. Agricultural uses: soil amendment, fertilizer, cattle feeders, soil stabilization in stock feed yards, and agricultural stakes.
9. Loose application on rivers to melt ice.
10. Loose application on roads and parking lots for ice control.

Context:

In its recent submission in the Parliament, the Union Ministry of Culture said that 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments have gone untraceable.

• According to the ASI, many monuments and heritage sites were gradually sunk in activities like encroachments, construction of dams and reservoirs, and fast urbanisation.

How are these sites protected in India?

The legal protection available to Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains in India is The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 which provide for:

• Preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance (over 100 years old).
• Regulation of archaeological excavations and Protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions under the provisions of this act.

This act was amended in 2010:

The AMASR Act 1958, was amended in 2010 to strengthen its penal provisions, to prevent encroachments and illegal construction close to the monuments.

• It prohibited area 100 metre around every national monument where no construction, public or private is permitted and regulated area 200 metres beyond the prohibited area, where any construction requires permission of a newly constituted National Monuments Authority.
• One of the major amendments is the provision of Heritage Byelaws for Prohibited and Regulated Area for each centrally protected monuments/site.

What went wrong in protecting these sites?

• Inadequate security: Owing to budgetary constraints the government could afford to provide only 2,578 security personnel at 248 locations.
• After the independence, the functioning of ASI was clouded with lackluster approach of the successive governments which shifted more focus on health, education and infrastructure, rather than protecting heritage.
• Unchecked urbanization and encroachments.

Context:

The draft National Medical Commission bill 2022 was recently released.

Key provisions in the draft:

• A fifth autonomous board, namely Board of Examinations in the Medical Sciences under the NMC, will be set-up.
• It has proposed merging the existing National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) as an autonomous board under the National Medical Commission.
• It will also be in charge of conducting the NExT exam.
• All cases by medical colleges in matters related to the National Medical Commission (NMC) will be jurisdiction of the high court of Delhi instead of the current practice of filing pleas in high courts in different states.
• It also proposes providing provision for parents, their relatives/complainants to prefer an appeal in the Ethics and Medical Registration Board/National Medical Commission against the decision of the State Medical Council in complaints related to medical negligence or professional misconduct.

National Exit Test (NExT):

It is a two-part examination that will act as a qualifying exam for granting registration to doctors as well as the basis for post-graduate admissions.

National Medical Commission Act, 2019:

The National Medical Commission act replaced the Indian Medical Council Act, of 1956.

The main objective of the act is to ensure:

1. Availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals.
2. Adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals.
3. Periodic assessment of medical institutions.
4. An effective grievance redressal mechanism.

It established the National Medical Commission (NMC).

• The state governments to establish State Medical Councils at the state level.
• The NMC consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government.

Functions of the NMC:

• Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals.
• Assessing the requirements of healthcare-related human resources and infrastructure.
• Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils with the regulations made under the Bill.

4 autonomous boards:

The act established 4 autonomous boards under the supervision of the NMC. Each autonomous board will consist of a President and four members, appointed by the central government. These are:

1. The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB).
2. The Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB).
3. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
4. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board.

Green hydrogen (GH2) is hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis.

• The electrolyzers that are used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, can, if powered by renewable energy, produce hydrogen without any greenhouse gas emissions.

Specific advantages of Green Hydrogen:

1. It is a clean burning molecule, which can de-carbonise a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
2. Renewable energy that cannot be stored or used by the grid can be channeled to produce hydrogen.

Other Type of Hydrogens:

Hydrogen gas has a chameleon-like character depending on its method of production. For instance:

1. Grey Hydrogen: If produced using fossil fuels.
2. Blue Hydrogen: If produced using fossil fuels but with carbon capture.
3. Green Hydrogen: If produced using renewable energy.
4. Pink Hydrogen: If produced using electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.
5. More niche definitions go on to add brown, black, turquoise, and yellow variants of hydrogen.

The jet stream is a core of strong winds around 5 to 7 miles above the Earth’s surface, blowing from west to east. This affects things nearer the surface, such as areas of high and low pressure, and therefore helps shape the weather.

• The 50°-60° N/S region is where the polar jet located with the subtropical jet located around 30°N.
• Jet streams vary in height of four to eight miles and can reach speeds of more than 275 mph (239 kts / 442 km/h).

What causes the jet stream?

Earth is split into two hemispheres, and air is constantly moving around to spread heat and energy from the equator to the poles.

• Three large groups, or cells, in each hemisphere help to circulate this air within the lowest part of the atmosphere, the troposphere.
• Therefore, the jet stream exists largely because of a difference in heat, which in the northern hemisphere means cold air on the northern side of the jet stream and warm air to the south.
• The reverse is true in summer, where there tends to be a smaller temperature difference.
• As the difference in temperature increases between the two locations the strength of the wind increases. Therefore, the regions around 30° N/S and 50°-60° N/S are also regions where the wind, in the upper atmosphere, is the strongest.

Ethiopia has released an atlas to map livestock disease caused by the tsetse fly.

• The aim is to establish a reference for the distribution of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) in western Ethiopia.

What is AAT?

• It is a major livestock parasitic disease that causes serious economic losses in livestock from anemia, loss of condition and effects on reproduction.
• It is caused by the parasitic protozoa trypanosomes, which are transmitted by the bite of tsetse flies — an African blood-sucking fly.
• There is no vaccine and existing drugs are becoming less effective because of the development of resistance in parasites.

India will take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) having its Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand from this month.

• Vinaya Prakash Singh will take over the charge of Secretary General of the Union for a tenure of 4 years.

What is the APPU?

• Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental organization of 32-member countries of the Asian-Pacific region.
• APPU is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Secretary General of the APPU leads the activities of the Union and he is also the Director of the Asian Pacific Postal College (APPC) which is the largest intergovernmental postal training institute in the region.

Objective:

The goal of APPU is to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.

The top three Indian lenders - State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank - stayed Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) for the banking regulator as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lists out lenders that are too big to fail.

What are D-SIBs?

D-SIB means that the bank is too big to fail.

The system of D-SIBs was adopted in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis where the collapse of many systematically important banks across various regions further fueled the financial downturn.

• D-SIBs are important for the country’s economy. In events of distress, the government supports such banks and if such a bank fails, it would lead to disruption of the country’s overall economy.
• RBI finalizes such banks after considering factors like size, complexity, lack of substitutability and interconnectedness of the banks, state reports.

How are D-SIBs determined?

Since 2015, the RBI has been releasing the list of all D-SIBs. They are classified into five buckets, according to their importance to the national economy.

• In order to be listed as a D-SIB, a bank needs to have assets that exceed 2 percent of the national GDP. The banks are then further classified on the level of their importance across the five buckets.

What regulations do these banks need to follow?

Due to their economic and national importance, the banks need to maintain a higher share of risk-weighted assets as tier-I equity. SBI, since it is placed in bucket three of D-SIBs, has to maintain Additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) at 0.60 percent of its Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).

Need for:

• Should such a bank fail, there would be significant disruption to the essential services they provide to the banking system and the overall economy.
• The too-big-to-fail tag also indicates that in case of distress, the government is expected to support these banks.
• Due to this perception, these banks enjoy certain advantages in funding. It also means that these banks have a different set of policy measures regarding systemic risks and moral hazard issues.

The office of ‘whip’ is mentioned neither in the Constitution of India nor in the Rules of the House nor in a Parliamentary Statute. It is based on the conventions of the parliamentary government.

What is a whip?

A whip is an official of a political party who acts as the party’s ‘enforcer’ inside the legislative assembly or house of parliament.

• Parties appoint a senior member from among their House contingents to issue whips — this member is called a Chief Whip, and he/she is assisted by additional Whips.
• India inherited the concept of the whip from the British parliamentary system.

(Note: A whip in parliamentary parlance is also a written order that party members be present for an important vote, or that they vote only in a particular way.)

Role of whips:

They try to ensure that their fellow political party legislators attend voting sessions and vote according to their party’s official policy.

What happens if a whip is disobeyed?

A legislator may face disqualification proceedings if she/he disobeys the whip of the party unless the number of lawmakers defying the whip is 2/3rds of the party’s strength in the house. Disqualification is decided by the Speaker of the house.

Limitations of whip:

There are some cases such as Presidential elections where whips cannot direct a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to vote in a particular fashion.

Key points:

• He is appointed by the political party to serve as an assistant floor leader.
• He is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the attendance of his party members in large numbers and securing their support in favour of or against a particular issue.
• He regulates and monitors their behaviour in the Parliament.
• The members are supposed to follow the directives given by the whip. Otherwise, disciplinary action can be taken.

• Context: Recently the Wall of Peace, a 700-feet long modern mural compound wall, was inaugurated in Kerala.
• Indian Mural Paintings are made on walls of caves and palaces.
• The earliest evidence of murals is frescoes painted on the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, also on the Bagh caves and Sittanvasal.
• References to Murals are found in the old scripts and literature (Vinaya Pitaka)
• History of Indian Mural Paintings: they were developed from 2^nd Century BC to 10^th century AD.
• It reached climax under the patronage of the Vakatakas (5^th Century A.D.)
• Features of Indian Mural Paintings: Vishnudharamotaram, a Sanskrit text describes the techniques.

1. 1. These are done on wet surface to blend the color properly.
   2. The colour was derived from the natural materials like terracotta, chalk, red ochre and yellow ochre mixed with animal fat.
   3. The subjects included human beings and animals, hunting, family scenes, court life, deities and stories from Budhhist 'Jataka'.
   4. These are considered three-dimensional.

• Other Mural Paintings: caves of Badami (Karnataka), and the Kailashanatha temple (Ellora)
• Different types of Indian Mural Paintings

1. 1. Tempera Painting
   2. Oil Painting
   3. Fresco Painting
   4. Encaustic Painting

Sources:

https://www.indianetzone.com/9/murals_miniatures_india.htm

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/700-ft-long-mural-wall-of-peace-thrown-open-at-last/article66331045.ece

• Context: Recently whip was mentioned in the news during the winter session of the Parliament.
• A whip is an important member of a political party’s parliamentary body, having a central role in ‘Floor Management’ in both the Houses of Parliament.
• A political party has a constitutional right to issue a whip to its legislators under the Tenth Schedule.
• They are vital in maintaining the links between the internal organisation of the party inside the Parliament and an important office-bearer of the party in the Parliament.
• The office of ‘whip’, is mentioned neither in the Constitution nor in the Rules of the House nor in a Parliamentary Statute but based on Parliamentary convention.
• In Presidential elections whips cannot direct a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) on whom to vote.
• Types of Whips

1. 1. The One-line whip
   2. The Two-line whip
   3. The Three-line whip

• A whip ensures smooth conduct of business on the floor of the House like attendance of the party members.
• He or she acts as a binding force in the party and responsible for maintaining the internal party organisation in the Parliament.
• If an MP violates his party’s whip, he faces anti-defection.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=175450

Context: A constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India will deliver its verdict on the validity of Tamil Nadu’s law permitting the practice of jallikattu which protects it by claiming that the bull-taming sport is a cultural heritage of the State and is protected under Article 29 (1) of the Constitution.

Article 29(1) of the Indian Constitution:

• Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
• It thus confers the governments at the state and Centre with formulating a regulatory mechanism for Jallikattu.

About Jallikattu:

• Held during the Pongal season, jallikattu is a sport where men compete against each other to hold on to the humps of agitated bulls that are released into an open arena.
• Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BCE) and references to this sport are also depicted in Silappadikaram one of the 5 great epics of Tamil classical period and 2 other ancient literary works like Kalithogai and Malaipadukadaam.
• Jallikattu also signifies the centrality of cattle in an agrarian economy in rural Tamil Nadu.

Why is there a demand for a ban on Jallikattu by animal rights activists?

• The practice of Jallikattu has long been contested, with animal rights groups concerned over issues of cruelty to animals as the bulls are deliberately placed in a terrifying situation.
• Bulls are also provoked with alcohol, sticks, knives, sickles and even chilli powder in the eyes.
• It also causes death and injuries to both the bulls and human participants.

Supreme court’s Verdict 2014 on Jallikattu:

• In 2014, in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court declared jallikattu illegitimate.
• The court found that the practice was cruel and caused the animal unnecessary pain and suffering. Since then, Tamil Nadu has made efforts to resurrect the sport’s legality.

Current Legal Position on Jallikattu:

• The state government has legalized these events, which have been challenged in court. In 2018, the Supreme Court referred the Jallikattu case to a Constitution Bench, where it is pending now.

Conflicts to be Resolved:

1. Whether the Jallikattu tradition can be protected as a cultural right of the people of Tamil Nadu is a fundamental right.
2. Article 29 (1) against the Rights of animals.

What does the Legislation on animal welfare tell about cruelty?

Initial efforts to legislate on the issue emanated from an elementary ethical perception that our collective conscience makes it morally wrong to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on animals.

• Parliament enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), 1960.

About PCA 1960:

It provided punishment for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals and established of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to oversee animal welfare.

Shortcomings of PCA, 1960:

While PCA criminalises several types of actions that cause cruelty to animals, it exempts, for example, from its coverage the use of animals for experiments with a view to securing medical advancement.

What does Indian constitution read on animal rights:

• None of the guarantees contained in Part III of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental rights, are explicitly conferred on animals.
• Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) are bestowed only on persons.

Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)” scheme.

• This paves the way for upgrade and expansion of the public service broadcasting infrastructure across the country.

About the Scheme:

The scheme provides financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organization.

Need for:

• Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information, education, entertainment and engagement for the people especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and All India Radio.
• For example, it played a stellar role in communicating public health messages and awareness to the public during the covid pandemic.

Context:

Indian External Affairs Minister said, India tried to defuse the situation around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and quietly helped in the grain deal between Moscow and Kyiv.

Background:

There were serious global concerns over the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in August after it came under fire, with both Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for the attacks.

What is it?

• The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing Uranium 235, which has a half-life of more than 700 million years.
• It is located in Ukraine and located on the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnieper River.
• It is the largest in Europe and is among the 10 largest in the world.

The Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project is an initiative to provide the digital version of the apex court’s judgments in the manner as they are reported in the official law report – ‘Supreme Court Reports’.

• It intends to give lawyers, law students, and the general public free access to almost 34,000 decisions of the supreme court.
• These rulings will be accessible via the Supreme Court's website, mobile app, and judgement portal on the National Judicial Data Grid.
• The e-SCR initiative, which is a component of the Indian judiciary's digitization efforts, intends to improve the justice system for all parties involved, including litigants, bar members, and judicial academies.

The disease of affecting neem trees in Telangana.

The dieback disease is mainly caused by the fungi Phomopsis azadirachtae.

• The dieback disease affects leaves, twigs and the inflorescence of neem trees of all ages and it causes almost 100% loss of fruit production in severely infected trees.
• It causes almost 100% loss of fruit production in severely infected trees.
• It was first reported in the country during the 1990s near Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

Context:

Researchers have found the first known "Virovore," or organism that eats viruses.

• It is a species of Halteria - microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater worldwide.
• These virus-eating species of protists — which are their own kingdom on the tree of life and are not an animal, plant, or fungi — are now classified as Virovores.
• They're made up of nucleic acids, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Country’s largest power generator, NTPC Ltd has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project.

• Green hydrogen blending has been started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.
• The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL).
• Green hydrogen in Kawas is made by electrolysis of water using power from an already installed 1 MW floating solar project.
• This feat is achieved only by a few select countries like the UK, Germany, and Australia etc. This would bring India at the centre stage of the global hydrogen economy.

Context: The Assam government assured the Gauhati high court that appropriate action will be taken against officials involved in demolishing the houses of people accused of burning a police station in Nagaon district in May last year.

Background:

The high court had filed a Suo-motu public interest litigation (PIL) in connection with the razing of houses of five people.

• These people allegedly set the Batadrava police station on fire on May 21 after the death of a person in custody.
• The government assurance came after the high court pulled up the police in November last year for taking “illegal action”.

Similar incidents:

• Earlier, the Assam police razed three madrasas in August last year following arrests of people connected to them for alleged jihadi activities.

Reason given for these demolitions:

• Official orders for the demolitions stated that the buildings were structurally vulnerable and not safe for human habitation, and were constructed on government land without permission or had illegal electricity connection.

Issue involved:

• There is no criminal law that allows the police to uproot a person or use a bulldozer without a court warrant in order to investigate a crime.
• The SP requires permission to dig up or bulldoze a house. Only because they head police department, they can’t break anybody’s house.