×

UPSC Courses

DNA banner

DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Monthly DNA

31 Jan, 2023

22 Min Read

Earth's Inner Core

GS-I : Physical Geography Geomorphology

Earth's Inner Core

  • According to recent research, the Earth's inner core may currently be revolving slower than the planet's surface after having stopped spinning faster than it.

Findings:

  • In the early 1970s, the inner core began rotating a little bit more quickly than the rest of the planet. However, it had been slowing before synchronizing with Earth's rotation in 2009.
  • A "negative trend" has occurred, which indicates that the inner core is currently revolving more slowly than the surface. The next alteration could happen around 2040.
  • According to the findings, the Earth's deep core typically modifies its rotational speed every 60–70 years.

Reason for rotation:

  • The inner core may rotate on its own because it floats in the outer core's liquid metal.
  • The magnetic field produced by the outer core propels the rotation of the inner core, which is counterbalanced by the mantle's gravitational pull.
  • Through a variety of seismic data, the inner core's rotation is investigated.
  • Oscillation Cycle: The inner core swings back and forth in relation to the Earth's surface; one cycle lasts for roughly seven decades.
  • The planet revolves around the core in the same direction at all times (eastward).
  • It occasionally rotates more quickly than the outer layers, occasionally rotates more slowly, and occasionally the revolutions coincide.
  • Instead of the 70 years that the most recent study suggested, a new study suggested that the inner core cycle occurs every 20 to 30 years.
  • The "length of day" is claimed to be slightly impacted by the variations in the rotation timeline.

About Earth’s Interior:

There are four main layers that make up the interior of the Earth:

  • the crust's outer layer.
  • the solid, viscous mantle beneath it.
  • the outer core of liquid iron-nickel.
  • inner core made of dense iron.

Planet within the planet is the term used to describe Earth's inner core, which is a hot iron ball the size of Pluto.

  • It is around 3,100 miles (5, 000 km) below the crust.

What are the Earth's Three Layers?

  • The crust of the earth is composed primarily of basalt and granite and is the outermost layer of the planet.
  • Mantle: Up to 2900 km thick, it sits underneath the crust. It is made of solid rock that is hot, thick, and rich in iron and magnesium.
  • The liquid outer core and the solid inner core make up the earth's core, which is its central region. Nickel, iron, and molten rock make up the outer core.

Source: The Indian Express

Central administrative tribunal

GS-II : Indian Polity Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions

Central administrative tribunal

The government is continually removing roadblocks to expedite the resolution of cases before the Central Administrative Tribunal nationwide.

About central administrative tribunal:

  • Tribunal-related clauses were absent from the original Constitution.
  • The Constitution now has a new Part XIV-A, credit to the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, articles regarding tribunals were inserted.
  • Article 323 A: Dealing with administrative tribunals.
  • Article 323 B: Dealing with tribunals for other concerns.
  • Administrative Tribunals: Article 323 A grants the Parliament the authority to establish administrative tribunals for the purpose of resolving disputes relating to the appointment of individuals to public services of the Center, the States, local bodies, public corporations, and other public authorities, as well as the recruitment and employment conditions of those individuals.
  • The Administrative Tribunals Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1985 in accordance with Article 323 A.
  • The statute permits the establishment of the State Administrative Tribunals (SAT) and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by the Central government.
  • CAT, the Central Administrative Tribunal: When it comes to hiring and all other service-related issues involving public employees that fall under its purview, the CAT has initial authority.
  • All-India services, Central civil services, civil posts under the Center, and civilian defense service employees are included in its scope of authority.
  • SATs for state administrative tribunals: The Central Government may create State Administrative Tribunals (SATs) at the express request of the involved state governments, according to the Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985.
  • When it comes to hiring and every other aspect of employee service for state government employees, the SATs have initial jurisdiction.
  • Tribunals work in conjunction with the conventional judicial system.

Two primary factors led to the establishment of tribunals:

  • Allowing for the use of expert knowledge in arguments about technical issues.
  • Easing the workload for the legal system.
  • By integrating some tribunals based on commonality in their functional domains, the Finance Act of 2017 reformed the Indian tribunal system to ensure uniformity in its administration.
  • The 2017 Act also gave the federal government the authority to create regulations that would outline the requirements, nominations, terms of office, wages and benefits, removal procedures, and other terms of employment for these tribunals' chairs and members.
  • Nine current appellate bodies are eliminated under the Tribunals Reforms Act 2021, and high courts take on the majority of their duties.
  • The 2021 Act also modifies the Finance Act of 2017 to bring key elements (such as eligibility requirements, appointment procedures, terms of office, and salaries and benefits for tribunal members) under its scope.

Jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal:

  • The CAT has exclusive jurisdiction over all service-related complaints involving:
  • All-India services personnel.
  • individuals appointed to any civil post or civil service inside the Union.
  • civilians appointed to positions in the defense industry or defense-related services.
  • The government informed staff members of PSUs and other public sector enterprises.
  • The CAT does not apply to officers, members of the armed services, staff members of the Supreme Court, or secretarial staff employed by the Parliament.
  • The Tribunal has been granted the ability to act in matters of self-inflicted contempt with the same authority and jurisdiction as a High Court.
  • Appeals against a tribunal's rulings could be filed with the High Court (and not the SC directly – Chandra Kumar Case, 1997).
  • In addition to 21 Circuit Benches, the CAT has 17 Benches across the nation.
  • The National Capital Territory of Delhi's government is dealt with by the CAT Principal Bench.
  • The Tribunal is inspired by the ideals of natural justice while making decisions. The Code of Civil Procedure does not apply to it.
  • The pay, emoluments, and working conditions of the Tribunal's workers are determined by the federal government.

Source: PIB

2023: International Year of Millets

GS-III : Economic Issues Food security

2023: International Year of Millets

  • Following a proposal by India, which aspires to establish itself as a major producer of millets, the United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of the Millet.
  • The 2023 International Year of Millets will provide a chance to increase public awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of millet as well as their potential for changing climatic circumstances.
  • Additionally, millets' potential to open up new sustainable market options for both producers and consumers will be highlighted, along with the sustainable production of millets itself.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) views:

  • Resilient grains like millets offer an economical and nourishing alternative as the global agrifood systems struggle to feed a growing global population, and initiatives to promote their cultivation need to be scaled up.
  • According to FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, "Millets can play a significant role and contribute to our collaborative efforts to empower smallholder farmers, achieve sustainable development, end hunger, adapt to climate change, promote biodiversity, and revolutionise agrifood systems."

The International Year of Millets offers a special chance to:

  • Increase public knowledge of and focus on the nutritional and health advantages of millet eating
  • The ability of millets to be grown in challenging and varying climatic circumstances
  • Establishing sustainable and creative market options for millets so that farmers and consumers worldwide can benefit.
  • In order to encourage governments and policymakers to give priority to the production and trading of these cereals, IYM 2023 aims to pique the interest in millets among a variety of stakeholders, including farmers, the youth, and civil society.

About millets:

  • Small-seeded grasses, including sorghum, pearl millet, ragi, small millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, and Kodo millet, are commonly referred to as dryland cereals or Nutri-cereals.
  • They are tougher and drought-resistant crops.
  • Millets require less water, fertiliser, and insecticides to flourish in poor soil conditions.
  • They are the ideal choice for "climate-smart cereals" due to their ability to resist greater temperatures.
  • The word "millet" describes a number of small-seeded annual grasses that are typically farmed as grain crops on marginal soils in arid regions of temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates.
  • The earliest evidence of these grains dates to the Indus period, making them one of the earliest plants domesticated for nourishment.
  • It is grown in 131 countries, and 60 crore people in Asia and Africa consume it as part of their traditional diet.
  • India is the largest millet producer in the world.
  • It accounts for 20% of global production and 80% of production in Asia.
  • India is the world's largest producer of millets and the fifth-largest exporter of them, producing all nine of the regularly used millets.
  • The principal states that produce millets include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • Millets made up around 40% of all cultivated grains before to the Green Revolution, but that percentage has since decreased to about 20%.
  • During the forecast period of 2021–2026, the worldwide millets market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5%.

Significance of millets:

Nutritional diet:

  • Although millets are a type of grain like rice or wheat, they were formerly known as coarse cereals.
  • While millets have more protein, dietary fibre, iron, and calcium than rice or wheat, they are all excellent sources of carbohydrates.
  • According to a 2018 official statement, research has proven that millets are a potent source of nutrients, gluten free and are an effective defense against diabetes and obesity.
  • Millets have a low glycemic index, which means that compared to foods further up on the index, they have less of an effect on blood glucose levels.
  • The government has changed the name of the product from coarse grains to Nutri cereals in order to make it easier for consumers to grasp its advantages.

Climate-friendly:

  • Millets are a superior crop since they are resistant to climate change and photo-insensitive (they don't require a specific photoperiod to flower). Millets require little to no outside support to flourish in poor soils.

Prevent Anemia:

  • Particularly for children and women, millets can provide dietary stability and act as a barrier against nutritional inadequacies. Due to its high iron content, it can help prevent anemia, which affects Indian women and newborns quite frequently.

Water efficient:

  • Millets require less water to grow and can do so in desert conditions without irrigation or even in times of very little rainfall.
  • Millets grow in half the time of wheat, need 40% less energy to process, and use 70% less water than rice. They are resilient plants that can endure extremely hot temperatures.

Challenges in producing millets:

  • Sale pricing was low but is already falling: In the past, rice and wheat were aspirational staples for the impoverished in both urban and rural settings.
  • But because of the Green Revolution and the National Food Security Act of 2013, two-thirds of India's population now receives up to 5 kg of wheat or rice per person per month at prices of Rs 2 and Rs 3/kg, respectively.

Measures adopted by the government to promote millets:

  • Project for the Intensified Promotion of Millet for Nutritional Security (INSIMP)
  • The government increased millets' minimum support price (MSP), giving farmers a considerable financial incentive.
  • In order to ensure a steady market for the produce, the government has now included millets in the public distribution system.
  • Assistance with Inputs: The government has begun providing seed kits and other inputs to farmers, establishing value chains through Farmer Producer Organizations, and promoting the commercial viability of millets.
  • In the recent budget 2023-2024, Government declared the Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad as an Institute of Excellence, which is engaged in the research and promotion of millets.

Suggestion:

  • Every schoolchild and Anganwadis beneficiary may receive one daily hot meal made with locally sourced bajra, jowar, ragi, Kodo, or kutki along with a 150-ml glass of milk and one egg under government programs.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programs can be made more millets-focused.
  • A specific millet mission already exists in Odisha, and in 2021–2022 it undertook the procurement of 32,302 tonnes worth of millet, primarily ragi, for Rs 109.08 crore.
  • In the same way other states can undertake such actions like Maharashtra for jowar, Karnataka might for ragi, Madhya Pradesh might for Kodo/kutki, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana for bajra.
  • Combined funding: What the Food Corporation of India did for rice and wheat, same can be replicated for millets, with a combination of central funding and decentralized procurement notably for the eradication of hidden hunger among school-age children.

Way Forward

  • Millets are no longer as widely consumed as they once were, and commercial crops like maize, oilseeds, and pulses have taken their place.
  • Commercial crops are profitable, and numerous policies, including subsidised inputs, motivated procurement, and inclusion in the Public Distribution System, favour their production.
  • As a result, eating habits have changed, favouring the use of quality cereals that are high in calories.
  • But now is the right time to acknowledge millet's significance and spur domestic and international demand.

Source: Livemint

Open Market Sale Scheme

GS-III : Economic Issues Food security, PDS, FCI, Buffer

Open Market Sale Scheme

  • Under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will transport 30 LMT of wheat from the Central Pool Stock to the market (Domestic) via various routes.
  • Wheat will also be made available to State Governments and UTs for their programs without an electronic auction.

About An Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS):

  • To increase the supply of food grains, FCI occasionally sells excess supplies of wheat and rice through an online auction at fixed prices.
  • The goals of OMSS are to dispose of excess wheat and rice stocks held by FCI and to control wheat market prices.
  • FCI runs weekly wheat auctions for the OMSS on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited's platform (NCDEX).
  • Indian commodity exchange NCDEX offers a trading platform for a variety of agricultural and other commodities.

About India's Food Corporation:

  • FCI is an organization owned by the government and is in charge of overseeing India's system of food security.
  • It was founded in 1965 in accordance with the Food Corporation's Act of 1964 with the goals of providing appropriate access to food grains throughout the nation and preserving market price stability.
  • To provide food security in times of crisis or shortage, the FCI also keeps buffer inventories of food grains.
  • Foodgrains for the public distribution system must also be distributed around the nation by the FCI.
  • As another way to get rid of its extra food grains, FCI regularly holds e-auctions.

Read Also: Procurement Schemes in India: Government e-Marketplace

Source: News On Air

Other Related News

30 January,2023
T+1 settlement cycle

T+1 settlement cycle India will follow China in implementing the one-day cycle, which will improve operational efficiency, speed up fund transfers, facilitate the delivery of shares, and make it easier for stock market participants. About the T+1 settlement cycle: The T+1 settlement cycl

Lake Chad Basin

Lake Chad Basin The risky connection between climate change and violence in nations like Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria in the Lake Chad Basin has been underlined in a report by a humanitarian organisation. More about the news: Conflict and migration in the area are being f

SCO Film Festival     

SCO Film Festival         A lavish opening ceremony featuring a star-studded lineup and a vibrant cultural evening showcasing the diversity of India marked the start of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival. SCO Film Festival gives

Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl

Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl Famous pashmina shawls from Kashmir, known for generations for their exquisite buta or paisley patterns, received a French influence. The change from exquisite embroidery to abstract paintings on Kashmiri shawls has brought back the cloth with a more modern look.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: 30 Jan

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: 30 Jan World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day was designated by the 74th World Health Assembly, which is currently in session. The United Arab Emirates proposed the day to be recognized. The delegates unanimously agreed to adopt it. Informally, the

28 January,2023
Immune imprinting

Immune imprinting Recent research suggests that "immune imprinting" may reduce the effectiveness of bivalent boosters. More on the news:  With the aim that boosters would offer superior protection against the coronavirus infection compared to the original vaccine, nat

Risk of Switching to Clean Energy from Fossil Energy

Risk of Switching to Clean Energy from Fossil Energy According to a study recently published in the journal Global Environmental Change, India's banking sector is extremely vulnerable to the risks associated with the country's economy shifting from being heavily dependent on fossil fue

M1 Abrams & Leopard 2 tanks

M1 Abrams & Leopard 2 tanks About M1 Abrams: The US President recently declared that he would dispatch M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The M1 is the best tank in the world because it combines four essential characteristics: more mobility to reach targets and avoid attacks better con

 Thailand  Corals Getting Destroyed

 Thailand  Corals Getting Destroyed According to recent reports, Thailand's enormous tracts of the ocean floor are being destroyed by a condition known as yellow band disease that is fast spreading. The reefs may be more susceptible to yellow-band disease as a result of overfis

Green Comet

Green Comet After 50,000 years, the Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), sometimes known as the "Green Comet," is now approaching Earth. More on the news: The US-based Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTFwide-field )'s survey camera made the initial discovery of the comet in March 2022.

Toppers

Search By Date

Newsletter Subscription
SMS Alerts

Important Links

UPSC GS Mains Crash Course - RAW Prelims Answer Key 2024