1. Super Pollutants
2. PAPA: Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya L1
3. A Healthy Report Card by RBI
4. Changes Surrogacy Rule in India
5. Sant Guru Ravidas

1. Super Pollutants

Introduction:

The recent Climate and Clean Air Conference in 2024 highlighted the vital necessity of international cooperation in tackling short-lived climate pollutants, commonly referred to as “Super Pollutants.”

Understanding Super Pollutants:

Super pollutants, also known as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), have a relatively brief lifespan in the atmosphere compared to CO2 but wield significant influence over climate change and air quality.

Key Super Pollutants:

These include Methane (CH4), black carbon (soot), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone (O3).

Impacts of Super Pollutants:

1. Methane (CH4):

– Characteristics: A potent greenhouse gas emitted from various sources such as livestock and fossil fuel production.

– Impact: It traps heat in the atmosphere, aggravating climate change.

1. Black Carbon (Soot):

– Characteristics: Fine particulate matter resulting from incomplete combustion of fuels.

– Impact: It absorbs sunlight, leading to atmospheric heating, and accelerates the melting of snow and ice.

3. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):

– Characteristics: Synthetic greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration.

– Impact: Despite their short atmospheric lifespan, they possess a high global warming potential.

4. Tropospheric Ozone (O3):

– Characteristics: A secondary pollutant formed from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

– Impact: Contributes to smog, causes adverse health effects, and acts as a greenhouse gas.

Significance of Addressing Super Pollutants:

• Immediate Benefits: Mitigating super pollutants results in prompt enhancements in air quality, public health, and a deceleration in warming trends.
• Complementary Strategy: While reducing CO2 emissions remains essential for long-term objectives, tackling super pollutants offers immediate advantages.

1. PAPA: Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya L1

Introduction:

India’s Aditya-L1 solar mission has achieved a significant breakthrough in space exploration as its advanced sensors successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). This marks a notable advancement in our understanding of solar phenomena.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

• First identified in 1971, CMEs gained recognition for their role in solar-terrestrial relations during the 1980s.
• These events involve massive clouds of solar plasma and magnetic field lines, often accompanying solar flares and filament eruptions.
• Their frequency varies with the 11-year solar cycle, ranging from about one per week during solar minimum to two to three per day near solar maximum.
• Traveling at speeds of thousands of kilometers per hour, they can trigger geomagnetic storms, aurorae, and, in severe cases, disruptions to electrical power grids.
• Detection primarily relies on coronagraphs aboard spacecraft like SOHO and STEREO, with Earth-directed CMEs, known as halo CMEs, visible as rings in white-light coronagraph observations.

About Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA):

• PAPA serves as an energy and mass analyzer tailored for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions within the low energy range.
• Comprising two sensors, the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP) and the Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser (SWICAR), PAPA enables comprehensive observations of solar phenomena.
• Its functionalities extend beyond measuring energy levels to determining the direction of arrival for electrons and ions, providing a holistic understanding of solar wind dynamics.

CME Detection and Analysis:

• PAPA’s observations have identified CME events, notably on December 15, 2023, and during February 10-11, 2024.
• The December 15 event was characterized by a sudden increase in electron and ion counts, consistent with solar wind parameters and magnetic field measurements.
• The observations from February 10-11 revealed multiple minor CME events, demonstrating nuanced variations in electron and ion counts over time.

Performance Evaluation and Continuous Observations:

• PAPA sensors are currently operational in default mode, showcasing adherence to design specifications across all operational modes.
• Continuous observations highlight PAPA’s effectiveness in monitoring space weather conditions and its capability in detecting and analyzing solar phenomena.
• Launched successfully by ISRO on September 2, Aditya-L1 orbits around Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), maintaining a stable position 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun.
• It hosts seven payloads dedicated to studying various aspects of the Sun, encompassing both remote observations and in-situ measurements.

1. A Healthy Report Card

According to a recent report from economists at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s growth prospects and inflation outlook are optimistic, based on high-frequency indicators.

Optimistic Growth Outlook:

• India’s Economic Momentum: The report indicates that India’s economic momentum, observed in the first half of the year, likely continued in subsequent months, with third-quarter growth estimated at 7%.
• This projection exceeds some analysts’ assessments and closely aligns with the National Statistical Office’s projection for the full year, suggesting sustained growth momentum.
• Narrowing Gap: Despite concerns about the rural economy, data reveals a narrowing gap between rural and urban areas, with healthy growth reported by FMCG companies in both segments, along with robust growth in real estate and construction sectors.

Private Investment Prospects:

• The report anticipates a pickup in private corporate sector investments, expected to drive the next phase of economic growth.
• While the real estate and construction sectors continue to witness strong growth due to household investments and public sector expenditure, questions remain about their broader impact on job creation.
• However, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and other members express optimism about the private investment outlook, signaling a positive turn in the private capex cycle.

Favorable Inflation Outlook:

• In terms of inflation, trends show a positive trajectory, with retail inflation moderating to 5.1% in January from 5.69% in December.
• Despite potential upside risks to food inflation, forecasts suggest stable and decreasing inflation expectations, aligning with the RBI’s target of around 4.5% for 2024-25.
• While a high real interest rate persists, policymakers remain vigilant on the inflation front, aiming for further stabilization and potential policy adjustments in response to evolving inflation dynamics.

1. Changes Surrogacy Rule in India

Introduction

Recent amendments to the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022 by the Central government mark a significant change in the legal framework governing surrogacy practices in India.

These changes specifically address crucial issues related to gamete usage and access to surrogacy procedures.

Reasons for Discussion

• The involvement of the Supreme Court arises from petitions challenging the ban on donor gametes for surrogacy imposed in March 2023, prompting a reconsideration of the government’s position.
• Additionally, public outcry and legal challenges from affected women have spurred judicial intervention, underscoring the urgency of reforming surrogacy regulations.

Key Amendments on Gametes Usage

• The amended rules offer flexibility regarding gamete usage, permitting couples with medical conditions to utilize donor gametes for surrogacy, provided that at least one gamete originates from the intending couple.
• Single women, including widows and divorcees, are mandated to use self-eggs and donor sperm, aligning with regulatory standards.
• Certification criteria established by the District Medical Board facilitate access to surrogacy using donor gametes based on the medical condition of either spouse in the intending couple.

Altruistic Surrogacy and ART

Altruistic surrogacy prohibits monetary compensation beyond medical expenses and insurance coverage, promoting ethical practices.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation 2021 integrates ART governance through the establishment of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board, ensuring effective oversight and implementation.

Evolution of Surrogacy Rules and Amendments

• Initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022 focus on clinic standards and personnel qualifications.
• These rules outline staffing criteria and essential equipment for registered surrogacy clinics, enhancing operational standards.
• Surrogacy is permitted in various medical scenarios, including uterine abnormalities, failed IVF attempts, unexplained pregnancy losses, and pregnancy impossibility due to illness, ensuring access for couples facing diverse challenges.

Key Provisions of Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022

• Registered clinics are required to employ qualified professionals such as gynecologists, anesthetists, embryologists, and counselors to ensure comprehensive care.
• Gynecologists must possess relevant post-graduate qualifications and experience in ART procedures to ensure competency.
• Mandatory health insurance for surrogate mothers is mandated to safeguard their well-being.
• Intending couples must provide an affidavit guaranteeing compliance with surrogacy regulations to ensure accountability.
• Strict guidelines are in place to limit embryo implantation to minimize health risks and ethical concerns.

• Established abortion procedures protect surrogate mothers’ rights, respecting their autonomy and ensuring medical safety.

1. Sant Guru Ravidas

Context: Recently, the President of India extended greetings to fellow citizens on the occasion of Guru Ravidas’ birth anniversary.

Key points about Guru Ravidas:

1. Guru Ravidas was born in 1450 in Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, belonging to an untouchable leather-working caste.
2. His birth anniversary, known as Ravidas Jayanti, falls on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh.
3. Influenced by the Bhakti movement, particularly by the teachings of Ramananda and Kabir, Guru Ravidas devoted his life to serving sadhus, saints, and the less fortunate.
4. He gained prominence as a poet and saint within the nirguna bhakti tradition.
5. The Adi Granth, the sacred text of Sikhs, includes 41 verses authored by Guru Ravidas.

• The Adi Granth(sacred sikh book) and the Panchvani of the Hindu warrior-ascetic group Dadupanthi are the two oldest attested sources of the literary works of Ravidas

1. Guru Ravidas openly opposed the caste system and Brahminical society, playing a significant role in spreading the Bhakti movement’s message of love and devotion in worship.
2. He famously stated, “Jo Man Changa to Kathauti me Ganga,” which means that purity of mind and thoughts is more significant than seeking purity in external places.
3. Ravidas was a contemporary of Kabir and is believed to have met Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion

Bhakti Movement:

• Originating in Tamil Nadu between the 7th and 9th centuries, the Bhakti movement emphasized emotional devotion in worship, as evidenced in the poems of Nayanars and Alvars.
• The movement gradually spread to North India, aided by the Bhakti saints’ use of regional languages.
• Notable saints such as Kabir, Surdas, Tulsidas, and Mirabai composed in regional languages, contributing to the movement’s expansion in the North.