Right to protect Genetic Information

• Children have the right to prevent their genetic information from being disclosed in DNA tests without their permission, according to a decision by the Supreme Court of India.
• The Supreme Court also ruled that DNA tests on children should only be used as a last resort to prove infidelity.

About the judgment:

• The decision was made in response to a petition that was submitted by a man who denied being the father of his second kid and accused his wife of having an extramarital affair.
• According to the case's facts, the top court came to the conclusion that no unfavourable conclusions could be made because the mother chose not to have the child undergo a paternity test.
• Since they are not parties to the divorce process, the Supreme Court noted that courts should take care to remember that children are not inanimate objects to be subjected to forensic/DNA testing.
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises children's rights to privacy, autonomy, and identity.
• The Convention recognises that persons, including children, are in charge of defining their own personal boundaries and how they define who they are in relation to others.
• Children should not be denied this right to shape and comprehend their sense of self just because they are young.
• Genetic data of a child is covered under his fundamental right to privacy.
• Genetic information is sensitive and personal. It reveals the inner core of a person.
• It enables people to make knowledgeable choices about their identification, privacy, and health.
• According to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, this is guaranteed.
• It is crucial that children do not turn into the main issue in a couple's argument.

How can the tests be performed?

• The verdict stated that family courts should only order a DNA test when it is necessary and in the interest of justice, as a last option.
• This ought to be used as a very last resort.

What is a DNA paternity test?

• The genetic material that children inherit from their parents is called DNA.
• DNA paternity testing analyses DNA profiles to identify a person as the child's biological parent.
• To determine the biological parents, a 24-marker DNA profile of each parent and child is compared.

Laws governing DNA testing:

• In India, there is no explicit legal statute that offers instructions for DNA testing.
• Indian courts deal with scientific evidence under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
• In accordance with Section 53 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from 1973, a police officer is permitted to enlist the help of a medical professional in order to further their investigation.
• The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019: This bill attempts to establish a regulatory framework for the usage of DNA information.

What is the situation with genetic data in India?

• Genetic Data and Privacy: The concept of genetic data privacy aims to stop anyone from utilising someone else's genetic information without that person's consent.
• DNA samples can now easily be used to extract personal information, infringing on people's right to privacy.
• While genetic science has promise for the future, misapplication might have disastrous repercussions. Privacy protection is essential since genetic information is so important because it serves as the physical blueprint for an individual.

The benefits of genetic data:

• Genetic information can provide information about ancestry, health, and disease.
• This information can be used in medical research, enabling early disease intervention, and raising one's awareness of their own health.

Disadvantage:

• Genetic data, which is made up of a person's DNA and chromosomes, can provide personal information about a person's health and history. Direct-to-consumer genetic tests can unintentionally reveal private information and are not always accurate. Illegal access to genetic information may have detrimental effects on a person's privacy and way of life, such as unfavourable responses from employers, insurance companies, and the government.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:

• It is a treaty that was approved by the UN General Assembly in 1989.
• Every person who is younger than 18 years old is recognised as a child.
• It is an international agreement that the members must abide by.
• It sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.
• It covers things like the right to an education, the right to leisure time, and the right to protection against sexual exploitation and rape as well as mental or physical abuse.
• All UN members have approved it, with the exception of the US.
• It has received the most ratifications of any human rights treaty in world history.

Committee on Children's Rights:

• A group of specialists known as the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) keeps tabs on how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is being implemented and reports on it.
• The Committee also keeps an eye on the three optional protocols for the Convention:
• The Optional Protocols on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, as well as the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
• Optional Protocol on a Communications Process to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Keeladi Findings

• A report on the discoveries at the Keeladi site from the Sangam era was just released by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• A thorough report on the discoveries made during the first two phases of the excavation at the Sangam-era site and their relevance has been provided by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Also, the Keeladi Site Museum will soon be built in Sivaganga and will contain many of the more than 18,000 artefacts that have been discovered thus far.

More on the news:

• Near the temple city of Madurai, in the southern Tamil Nadu region, lies a village called Keeladi beside the Vaigai river.
• 2015 excavations at this location demonstrate the existence of an urban civilisation in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam era along the banks of the Vaigai river.

Findings:

• Around 18,000 artefacts have been found at the site throughout the course of the eight excavation rounds.
• There have been found to be more than 120 potsherds with Tamil Brahmi writing on them.
• The many steps of a weaving enterprise are suggested by spindle whorls, copper needles, terracotta seals, hanging stones of the yarn, terracotta spheres, and earthen jars to hold liquid.
• Gold decorations, copper objects, semi-precious stones, shell bracelets, ivory bracelets, and ivory combs are examples of the Keeladi people's artistic, culturally significant, and affluent way of life.
• The fact that over a thousand inscribed potsherds have been discovered at Keeladi and other locations strongly suggests the script's lengthy existence.
• Terracotta and ivory dice, gamesmen, and remnants of hopscotch have been discovered, suggesting their pastime interests. Agate and carnelian beads suggest import through commercial networks.

Significance:

Sangam era and Keeladi:

• In 2015, Keeladi conducted excavations that demonstrated the existence of an urban civilization in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam era along the banks of the Vaigai river.
• The objects discovered in Keeladi date to a time between the sixth and first centuries BCE.
• These discoveries brought the Sangam age closer to 800 BCE.
• The credibility of Sangam Literature is increased by Keeladi.
• According to a recent ASI report, these archaeological discoveries have raised the Sangam era to 800 BCE.
• Keeladi may potentially offer vital information for comprehending the gaps between the Iron Age (12th–6th centuries BCE), the Early Historic Period (6th–4th centuries BCE), and later cultural changes.

Possible Connections to the Indus Valley:

• Because of the recently discovered Keeladi artefacts, scholars have classified the location as belonging to the Vaigai Valley Civilization. The results have also evoked similarities with the Indus Valley Civilization while admitting the cultural difference of 1,000 years between the two locales.
• Iron Age artefacts from south India bridge the gap and act as leftover linkages.
• According to the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSDA), Keeladi exhibits all the traits of an urban civilisation, including brick buildings, opulent objects, and evidence of both domestic and international trade.
• It has provided evidence of urban life and settlements in Tamil Nadu during the Early Historic Period, giving the impression of being a diligent and sophisticated society.

What was the Keeladi controversy about?

• There were "no noteworthy findings" in the third wave of excavations following reports of potential connections with the Indus Valley Civilization, which were perceived as an effort to downplay the excavation results.
• Since the fourth cycle, the TNSDA has been conducting excavations instead of ASI to learn more about the history of Tamil civilization at the request of the Madras High Court.

About Sangam Age:

• The Sangam Era, which lasted from the third century B.C. to the third century A.D., was a time when the region south of the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra was inhabited.
• It was given that name in honour of the literary meeting (Sangam) that the Pandya kings of Madurai sponsored at that time.
• Although some archaeological evidence has started to emerge, the primary sources for this era are primarily literary.
• The earliest epigraphic evidence mentioning a federation of Tamil states can be found in Kharavela's Hatigumpha inscription (155 BCE).

About Vaigai River:

• It comes from the Western Ghats (Varushanad Hills).
• It travels through the Pandya Nadu region of Tamil Nadu.
• Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaru, Varaganadhi, Manjalaru, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal, and Upparu are some of its principal tributaries.
• Around the Pamban Bridge in the Ramanathapuram district, the Vaigai finally flows into the Palk Strait.

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty or Treaty Of High the Seas

• The Indian Ministry of Earth Science exhorts UN members to continue their commitment to the preservation and conservation of the ocean’s biodiversity.
• During the current session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), or IGC-5 of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) (Feb.–March 2023) India has asked the member countries to remain committed to the conservation and preservation of the seas and its biodiversity.
• India backed the ambitious coalition's goal of completing the International Legally Binding Instrument of BBNJ under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as soon as possible (UNCLOS).

About

• India calls on UN Members to support environmental protection and sustainable economic growth in accordance with UNCLOS.
• States must be determined to support international organisations in order to reach an effective agreement on the preservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
• Since 2014, there have been several rounds of intergovernmental negotiations; the most recent one took place in February and March of 2023.
• Even though negotiations are still ongoing and a resolution has not been reached on crucial matters like funding, intellectual property rights, and institutional processes, there has been significant progress on a number of vital subjects.
• Conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing are the three internationally recognised principles that guide India's approach to managing biodiversity.
• It is necessary to address issues with institutional structures, intellectual property rights, and funding.
• Member states may work on environmental impact assessments, marine technology transfers, and capacity building.
• Also, it has requested assistance from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for promoting sustainable economic development and the welfare of coastal residents
• India has also expressed its support for the ambitious coalition working to hasten the completion of the International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) under UNCLOS on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

About The BBNJ Treaty:

• An international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of the marine biological variety in areas outside of national jurisdiction within the scope of the UNCLOS is known as the "BBNJ Treaty," also known as the "Treaty of the High Seas."
• Outside countries' exclusive economic zones or sovereign waterways, BBNJ includes the high seas.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that these regions make up "almost half of the Earth's surface."
• Just 1% of these places are protected, making them the least protected and least understood for their biodiversity.
• More than 60% of the world's oceans are made up of marine biodiversity, which is found in places outside of national boundaries.
• It is not subject to any legal restrictions intended to promote conservation, leaving it open to overuse and deterioration.
• The High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, which was established at the One Ocean Summit in February 2022, brings together numerous delegations involved in the BBNJ negotiations in order to achieve a unified and ambitious solution at the highest political level.

Why does BBNJ need a legally binding document?

• The health of the ocean, the welfare of coastal populations, and the global sustainability of the planet all depend on the presence of biodiversity in areas outside of national borders.
• 95% of the world's oceans are found in non-national areas, which serve humanity in numerous ways including the economy, society, culture, science, and food security.
• Yet, these regions are now exposed to an increasing number of dangers, such as pollution, overuse, and the already obvious effects of climate change.
• Threatening to make matters worse is the rising demand for marine resources over the coming decades, whether it be for food, minerals, or biotechnology.
• The extinction process is beginning there on the deep seafloors, which are thought to be the toughest habitat.

India's Approach to Biodiversity Management:

• As part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), India has actively participated in the negotiations to create a legally enforceable international standard for the preservation and sustainable use of BBNJ.
• The "Biodiversity Act of 2002," India's legislative framework, highlights the nation's dedication to preservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing.
• India has a strong democratic system of government that fosters the creation of new institutions as well as the improvement of existing ones.
• India has been concentrating on environmental impact assessment, marine technology transfer, and capacity building.

About United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS)

• It is an international agreement that was ratified in 1994 after being adopted in 1982.
• It offers a thorough framework, including rules for marine boundaries, navigation, resource management, and environmental protection, for the use and preservation of the oceans around the world.
• One of the most broadly accepted treaties in the world, it has been ratified by 168 nations, including India.
• In its many marine zones, notably the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles from a country's shore, it recognises the duties and rights of coastal states.
• Several international accords pertaining to the oceans have also been based on UNCLOS, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Way Forward

• The world community must unite and come to an agreement on a binding document that addresses the preservation and sustainable use of BBNJ.
• The international community's strong commitment to the preservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas outside of national jurisdiction will be demonstrated by the adoption of the BBNJ's legally binding instrument. It will also provide a clear mandate for the agreement's implementation.
• Moreover, concerns like fair benefit distribution, capacity development, and the transfer of marine technology must be covered by the instrument.
• In places outside of national authority, there is a need to improve scientific understanding of marine biodiversity.

The precise magnetic moment of an electron

• By accurately measuring the magnetic moment of the electron, physicists recently created history in the field of metrology.
• It is notable because it offers the Standard Model of particle physics' most accurate test to date.
• According to the article, the measurement was 0.13 parts per trillion (ppt), which is 2.2 times more precise than the previous best record from 14 years ago.

What is the Standard Model?

• The Standard Model (SM) is a theory that explains the characteristics of subatomic particles, categorises them into groups, and predicts how electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear forces affect them.
• But it cannot account for gravity.
• One of the most successful theories in physics, the SM predicted the presence of the Higgs boson, which was confirmed in 2012. It has also accurately predicted the characteristics of many other particles.
• Since the Higgs boson is an elementary particle, it cannot be divided into more minor parts. It possesses mass but no electric charge, spin, or other intrinsic features.
• The Higgs boson has a mass of around 125 billion electron volts, or 133 times that of a proton.
• Despite its triumphs, the Standard Model is unable to explain a number of phenomena, including the universe's overabundance of matter compared to antimatter, dark matter, and dark energy.
• Further research in this field could help us understand more about the fundamental nature of the universe and how it operates.

What is Electron’s Magnetic Moment?

• Its magnetic moment, which is connected to the electron's charge and intrinsic spin, is a key characteristic of the particle.
• An electron's magnetic moment is a crucial physical characteristic that helps to explain a wide range of atomic and molecular physics phenomena, including how electrons behave in magnetic fields and the magnetic characteristics of materials.

Mukaab

• The Mukaab, or "cube" in Arabic, is the name of Saudi Arabia's most recent, ambitious plan to reshape the country's capital city, Riyadh.

About:

• As part of its Vision 2030, which aims to revolutionise the nation's economy and way of life, Saudi Arabia has planned and begun construction on a number of large-scale architectural projects, including The Mukaab.
• It will be 400 metres tall, 400 metres broad, and 400 metres long—enough space for 20 Empire State Buildings.
• The Mukaab's cubic design will guarantee optimal space utilisation.

Building Design:

• The modern Najdi architectural style, a modern interpretation of the historic Najdi architectural style from the Najd region in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula, would be used to construct the Mukaab.
• With a design that focuses on organically regulating the environment inside the structure, this architectural style has been honed through generations to be the most suitable for the region's desert climate.

Najdi Architectural Style:

• One of the most common architectural styles in Saudi Arabia is Najdi architecture.
• The three basic components of Najdi architecture are the requirement for privacy in residential structures, the necessity to adapt to the scorching desert climate, and the need to employ locally accessible materials such mud brick, stone, and wood.
• The employment of thermal and environmental components, in addition to traditional materials, distinguishes Najdi buildings in modern adaptations.

Read Also: India, UAE & France Trilateral Cooperation Initiative