Current Affairs – July 01, 2024

Table of contents

{GS1 – MIH – Movements} Santhal Hul

Context (IE): In Jharkhand, June 30 is observed as Hul Diwas, marking the anniversary of the 1855 Santal rebellion led by Sido and Kanhu Murmu.

Santhal Hul

Causes of Uprising

Revenue Policies: After the Battle of Plassey (1757), the East India Company (EIC) implemented revenue policies and law-and-order rules to control India.
Permanent Settlement (1793): Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, landlords had perpetual land rights if they paid fixed revenue to the British.
Impact on Santhals: Tribal lands were auctioned when peasants couldn’t pay rent, leading to a loss of control over land and traditional systems.
Damin-i-Koh (1832): EIC demarcated this area for Santhals, promising non-interference.
Rising Rent: Increased demands from the British led to exorbitant rents.
Economic Strain: Santhals, using the barter system, faced cash payment issues, leading to borrowing at high interest rates from moneylenders.

Rebellion

On June 30, 1855, the Santhal revolt (Hul revolt) began, led by Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, Bhairav, and their sisters Phulo and Jhano.
Santhals formed troops, including farmers and women, capturing parts of Rajmahal Hills, Bhagalpur, and Birbhum. Over 10,000 Santhals militarised, destroying storehouses and disrupting communication.
With landlord support, the British used heavy weapons to suppress the revolt. Sidhu and Kanhu were arrested, and the rebellion ended in 1856.

Outcome

The Santhal rebellion was brutally repressed, and the movement ended with significant loss and suppression of the Santhal people.
The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands to non-Adivasis, ensuring that land can only be inherited, thus maintaining Santhal self-governance over their land.
The Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908, stemming from the Birsa Movement, restricts the sale of Adivasi and Dalit lands.
- Permits land transfers within the same caste. In certain areas with District Collector approval, allowed Adivasi land transfers within same police station & Dalit land transfers within same district.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} Three Criminal Laws

Context (TH I IE): The Indian government is prepared for the new criminal laws- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.

Efforts of Government to Implement the Laws

Operational Training
- Bar Council: New laws in university curricula from 2024-25.
- Department of School Education: Special modules for Classes 6 and up.
- LBSNAA: Five-day training for IAS/IPS/judicial officers, crime records, and forensic labs.
- Ministries of Women and Child Development, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj: Webinars for grassroots functionaries.
Publicity and Awareness
- Bureau of Police Research and Development: Coordinated publicity campaign.
- Press Information Bureau: Workshops and Vartalaps in 20 state capitals.
Technology Upgradation
- National Crime Records Bureau: 23 modifications in Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System for tech compatibility.
- National Informatics Centre: Developed apps (eSakshya, NyayShruti, eSummon) for crime scene documentation and judicial processes.
Capacity Building
- Bureau of Police Research and Development: 13 training modules for police, prisons, prosecutors, judicial officers, and forensic experts.
- Training courses/webinars/seminars: Over 250 sessions, 40,000 personnel trained.
Legal Affairs
- Conferences: Organised by the Department of Legal Affairs and involve the judiciary and police.
- iGOT Karmayogi platform: Training courses, 2,18,000 officials enrolled.
Planned Events
- Higher education institutions: Group discussions, workshops, and seminars on new criminal laws.
- Police stations: Conducting events nationwide.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Climate Policy of India **

Context (TH): India’s Supreme Court (SC), through its landmark judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh and Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. has introduced a new dimension to India’s climate change jurisprudence.
The case was related to installing underground power lines to conserve Great India Bustard.

SC Verdict

It has recognised the right to ‘be free from the adverse effects of climate change’ as a fundamental right derived from the Constitution’s guarantees of the right to life (Article 21) and equality (Article 14).
This ruling is pivotal as India navigates its climate policy landscape, presenting opportunities and challenges in governance and legislation.

Positives of India’s Climate Policy

Recognition of Climate Rights: The judgment elevates protection from climate change impacts to a fundamental human right, empowering citizens to demand accountability from the government.
Prioritizing transmission infrastructure for renewable energy development underscores India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy security.
Provides a framework for systematic governance around climate change, potentially leading to coherent policy frameworks.

Negatives of India’s Climate Policy

Critics argue that focusing on large-scale clean energy projects may overlook local adaptation measures and resilience-building efforts.
Patchwork Approach: Reliance on judicial decisions and litigation may result in a fragmented approach to climate protection, lacking a unified national strategy.
A lack of Umbrella Legislation could hinder efforts across sectors and regions, limiting effectiveness.

Way Forward

Enabling legislation tailored to India’s needs, balancing mitigation with adaptation strategies across diverse sectors like urban development, agriculture, and water management.
- Example: Introduction of a Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Act mandates states to develop local climate action plans, integrating urban planning, agriculture, and water management.
Inclusive Governance: Incorporate mechanisms for public participation, expert consultation, and transparency in setting climate targets and reporting progress.
Federalism Integration: Ensure climate laws accommodate India’s federal structure, empowering states and local governments with resources and autonomy to implement climate actions effectively.
Learning from International Models: Draw insights from global climate legislation examples, adapting best practices to suit India’s developmental context and vulnerabilities.
Germany emphasises renewable energy deployment and efficiency, supported by policies like the Energiewende (Energy Transition).
Holistic Approach: Prioritize laws stimulating low-carbon growth while enhancing climate resilience in infrastructure, agriculture, and natural resource management.
- Example: Green Building Codes mandating energy-efficient designs and materials and incentivising developers to incorporate renewable energy and rainwater harvesting.

To know about India’s Climate Policy, refer > Overview of India’s Climate Policy

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} Eco-friendly Supercapacitors *

Context (TH): Researchers have developed environmentally friendly supercapacitors.

Credit: ACS Publications

Coconut husk-derived activated carbon offers promising, eco-friendly solutions for high-performance supercapacitors due to its availability, low cost, and sustainability.

Supercapacitor

A supercapacitor, also known as an ultracapacitor, is an advanced energy storage device.
Its benefits include high power density, durability, and fast charging compared to traditional capacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries (LIB).
Its key components are electrodes, electrolytes, separators, and current collectors.
To reduce manufacturing costs, efforts must focus on minimising the expenses of electrodes and electrolytes, significantly contributing to overall production costs.
Electrodes conduct electricity through non-metallic mediums, while electrolytes produce conductive solutions when dissolved in polar solvents like water.

Capacitor vs Supercapacitor

A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores electrical energy in electrostatic charge, typically constructed with two conducting plates separated by a dielectric material such as ceramic.
A supercapacitor is a type of capacitor with significantly higher capacitance and lower voltage ratings.
A Supercapacitor uses activated carbon-coated electrodes separated by an electrolytic solution as a separator instead of a dielectric.
Unlike traditional capacitors that store energy electrostatically, supercapacitors can store energy electrostatically, electrochemically, or in a hybrid manner.
Supercapacitors offer a higher energy density (1-5 Wh/kg) compared to capacitors (0.01-0.05 Wh/kg) and have faster charging and discharging times (milliseconds to seconds).
Supercapacitors operate in a wider temperature range (-40 °C to +85 °C) and find applications in UPS systems, RAM modules, CMOS circuits, and portable electronics where quick power stabilisation is crucial.

{Prelims – In News} Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

Context (TH): Call to make bone marrow transplant procedure available in Madurai Govt. Rajaji Hospital.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT)

Credit: Care Hospitals

BMT involves replacing diseased blood-forming cells with healthy ones.
Blood-forming cells, also known as blood stem cells, are immature cells located in the bone marrow, where they develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Once mature, these cells exit the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream.

Types of BMT

Autologous transplant:
- In this method, blood-forming cells are harvested, preserved by freezing, and stored.
- Subsequently, they are returned to your body following chemotherapy (chemo) and sometimes radiation therapy.
Allogeneic transplant:
- In this method, healthy blood-forming cells are donated by someone else.
- The donor can be a family member or someone unrelated to you.
Haploidentical transplant:
- A haploidentical transplant is a form of allogeneic transplant where healthy blood-forming cells from a half-matched donor, usually a family member, are used to replace unhealthy cells.

Stem Cells

Stem cells are unique human cells with the ability to transform into various types of cells within the body, ranging from muscle cells to brain cells.
Stem cell banking plays a crucial role in stem cell therapy.

Types of stem cell

Embryonic stem cells:
- These stem cells are present exclusively in the earliest stages of development.
Adult stem cells
- These are cells that proliferate to repair adult organs and tissues when needed.
- They are found in nearly all human body organs and are multipotent, capable of generating a limited range of mature cell types specific to their residing tissues.
- An example is hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, which produce various blood cells.
- Certain tissue-specific stem cells, known as unipotent or bipotent, generate one or two types of mature cells; for instance, skin stem cells regenerate skin cells as unipotent cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs:
- These cells are artificially created in laboratories using cells from the body.
- iPSC cells exhibit characteristics akin to embryonic stem cells and were first successfully generated in humans in 2007.

To learn more about CART–T cells, refer > CAR-T Cell Therapy

{Prelims – In News} Araku Valley Coffee

Context (TH): Araku Valley Coffee was recently discussed in the Mann Ki Baat program.

Araku Valley Coffee

It is grown in the hilly tracts of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, and the Odisha region.
They are cultivated at an elevation of 900m-1100m Mean Sea Level.
It is produced by tribals who follow organic farming, emphasising organic manures, green manuring, and organic pest management practices.
Araku Valley Coffee was awarded the Geographical Indication tag in 2019.

Coffee

In India, the major coffee-producing states are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Karnataka leads in production, accounting for over 70% of the total output.
Predominnty two species of coffee: Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta).
Arabica is particularly sensitive to climate variations.

Ideal climatic conditions for coffee growth

It requires hot and humid weather. Dry weather during berry ripening is crucial.
Temperature range: 15°C to 28°C, Annual Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm, Elevation: 600 to 1600 meters above sea level. It is typically grown under shade trees.
Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil rich in humus, iron, and calcium is ideal.

{Prelims – In News} Space MAITRI

Context (TH): ISRO’s NSIL announced SSLV’s first dedicated commercial launch, deploying the Optimus satellite by Australia’s Space Machines Company.

Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation)

The Optimus satellite, weighing 450 kg, is Australia’s largest domestically designed and built spacecraft.
Scheduled for 2026, the mission emphasises Australia-India collaboration in technology and R&D.
The mission aims to enhance space debris management and promote sustainable space operations.

{Prelims – Sci – Physics} Perovskite Quantum Dots (PQDs)

Context (TH): Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru, have developed a better way to produce light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

PQDs are a novel class of materials with unique properties suitable for creating vibrant LED displays.
By precisely controlling the size and composition of perovskite quantum dots during synthesis, scientists can adjust their emission to produce the desired colours for full-colour displays.

Perovskite Quantum Dots (PQDs)

Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are a class of quantum dots based on perovskite materials.
Perovskites share a crystal structure similar to the perovskite mineral, which consists of calcium titanium oxide (CaTiO₃).
While these are relatively new, they have already been shown to have properties matching or surpassing those of the metal chalcogenide QDs.
PQDs are more defect tolerant with better photoluminescence quantum yields & high colour purity.
Such attractive properties are highly suited for electronic and optoelectronic applications.
Real-world applications include LED displays and quantum dot solar cells

Challenges in Perovskite Quantum Dot Research

Their susceptibility to moisture and heat can compromise performance and lifespan within LEDs.
When different-coloured perovskite quantum dots are layered to produce white light, anion migration, a reaction occurs, causing them to lose their individual colours.

Solution

Scientists have found a way to mitigate anion migration between distinct perovskite quantum dot films.
They achieved this by embedding an ultrathin alumina layer, grown via atomic layer deposition (ALD), within the perovskite quantum dot layers.

Also refer > Comparison: LEDs – Incandescent Light Bulbs – Compact Fluorescents (CFLs)