12th Jan. 2017
GS : 3 - ENVIRONMENT
Air pollution a national problem
(The Hindu)
•
A new report released here shows that over
90 per cent of the cities studied had
pollution levels higher than the prescribed
standards.
•
According to an analysis of 2015 data for
168 cities by Greenpeace India, 154 were
found to have an average particulate matter
level higher than the national standard.
Key findings of the study:
•
None of the cities studied had air quality
matching the standard prescribed by the
World Health Organisation. Hasanin
Karnataka came closest to the standard.
•
Using data from various State pollution
control boards, accessed from their websites
and through RTI queries, the report ranked
the cities based on the annual average of
PM10, which are all particles less than 10
microns in diameter. These include the very harmful fine particles, PM2.5.
Top five
•
Unsurprisingly, Delhi was found to be be the most polluted city, with the annual average for PM10 being 268
micrograms per cubic metre, or over four times the 60 micrograms/cubic metre limit prescribed in the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards of the Central Pollution Control Board.
•
Ghaziabad, Allahabad and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana followed closely, making for the worst
five cities in terms of PM10 levels, the annual average concentrations being four times or more than the standard.
•
While air quality in North and Central India saw dangerous levels of particulate matter, South India appeared to
have comparatively cleaner air. All 10 of the least polluted cities were in the South and the East: eight in Karnataka
and one each in Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
Reason for high pollution:
•
Due to the Himalayas and the cooler weather as well as big industrial clusters, the levels of pollution are higher in
the North. Southern India has the benefit of the mixing of sea breeze. However, pollution is a national-level problem
and has to be treated as such
The main culprit
•
The fossil fuels were the biggest contributors to the particulate matter. Whether it is in the transport sector or
industries, the uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of air pollution
•
Chennai, for instance, though on the coast, had an average PM10 level of 81 micrograms per cubic metre. A dieselpowered public transport system and power plant were to be blamed for the air pollution.
•
In the report, Greenpeace recommended setting up more monitoring stations in order to get a better picture of
pollution levels.
GS : 3 - ENVIRONMENT
Green tribunal orders test of cosmetics containing microbeads
•
(The Hindu)
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to test cosmetic products containing microbeads after a plea
sought a ban on their use on the ground they are extremely dangerous for aquatic life and environment.
Exfoliating properties
•
Microbeads are tiny plastic substances measuring less than five millimetres that act as exfoliators (agents which
remove dead cells) on skin and teeth when used in soap, toothpaste and other products. Many brands
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manufacturing beauty products use microbeads, the plea said.
Background:
• The order came on a petition seeking a complete ban on the use of microbeads in the manufacture, import and sale
of various cosmetics or personal care products.
•
The plea said: “The unregulated production and usage of plastic in microbeads in various cosmetic products and
their excessive usage by the end user is leading to water pollution across the globe.”
Court’s Direction:
• The court said that it is the duty of the government to ensure that no “dangerous” product is allowed to be
manufactured or sold to public and directed the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to analyse the
products in laboratory and submit a report.
GS : 1 - SOCIAL ISSUES
Triple talaq certificate issued by chief kazi has no legal sanction
(The Hindu)
•
The Madras high court has clarified that certificate issued by chief kazi for triple talaq is only an opinion and has no
legal sanction under the Kazis Act, 1880.The Court passed an interim order restraining the Chief Kazis from issuing
‘talaq certificates’ (a certificate validating talaq as per Islamic Shariat) till further orders.
•
The court also clarified that “for the purposes of courts of legal proceedings, the certificate issued by the Chief Kazi is
only an opinion and has no legal sanctity.”
What does the petition say?
• The Bench passed the order on a public interest litigation petition seeking to declare that Kazis in India, particularly
Tamil Nadu, were not empowered to certify talaq.
• The petition claimed that Kazis were issuing certificates recognising talaq without following necessary precedents
like reconciliation. Sometimes, it was done without even the knowledge of the wife.
• Such certificates issued in an arbitrary manner are causing undue hardship to Muslim women.
• The Kazis, once considered judicial authorities under the Muslim Personal Law, no longer possessed such powers
after courts of law were established during the British regime. The Kazi Act established in 1880 was very clear. It had
not vested any powers of adjudication with Kazis.
• Even assuming that the practice of talaq in respect of personal law is constitutionally valid, whether the conditions
for invoking triple talaq were satisfied or not cannot be adjudicated by Kazis. The said process can be conducted only
by a court of law.
•
The nature of such certificates were causing immense confusion in the matrimonial proceedings and in the
understanding by both the spouses as to the effect of such a certificate being issued by the Chief Kazi.
GS : 3 - ENVIRONMENT
Hope Island becomes graveyard for Olive Ridleys
•
(The Hindu)
Carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles are washing ashore on beaches in Odisha, indicating that the breeding cycle of the
endangered species has been dealt a severe blow this year by mechanized fishing boats.
Key facts:
•
The turtles, which are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, commence their journey from the Indian Ocean
during their mating season in October and November. When they reach the Bay of Bengal, the females lay eggs on
the beaches.
•
Even as the destination for a majority is Gahirmatha in Odisha, the sandy stretches of Hope Island of the Coringa
Wildlife Sanctuary have turned into a breeding area for a few hundred turtles every year.
•
A female lays 100 to 150 eggs in a pit dug by it carefully and leaves the shore after covering the hollow with sand. Six
weeks later, the newly hatched turtles start the journey to their Indian Ocean habitat.
GS : 1 - CULTURE
Pakistan to renovate Katas Raj temple
•
(The Hindu)
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the Katas Raj Hindu temple in Chakwal district of Punjab to inaugurate
its renovation.
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Key facts:
•
•
The Katas Raj temple is revered by Hindus across the globe as legend has it that the foundation of the sacred site
was laid by Lord Shiva.
The temple was over 5,000 years old and had been the focal point of four civilisations.
•
Al-Biruni, Persian scholar and polymath, had computed the earth’s circumference from here.
GS : 3 - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Telescope to seek habitable planets in nearest star system
•
(Indian Express)
The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile will be modified in order to allow it to search
more effectively for potentially habitable planets in Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to Earth.
Key facts:
• The ESO has signed a deal with Breakthrough Starshot, a venture that aims to deploy thousands of tiny spacecraft to
travel to the system and send back pictures.
• The adaption will have the effect of reducing bright stellar light that drowns out relatively dim planets, improving the
chances of finding them.
• Interest in exploring the sun’s nearest neighbor has increased since scientists announced last year that they had
discovered evidence of an Earth-sized planet circling Proxima Centauri, a star in the Alpha Centauri system.
• Larger telescopes planned for the 2020s – such as the ESO’s own Extremely Large Telescope, current under
construction in Chile – should provide researchers with more information on the number and nature of exoplanets.
•
The ESO is an intergovernmental astronomy organisation backed by 16 countries in Europe and South America and
hosted in Chile.
GS : 3 - ENVIRONMENT
New species of gibbon found in China
(The Hindu)
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Scientists have discovered a new species of gibbon living in south-west China’s
rainforests.
•
It has been named the ‘Skywalker hoolock gibbon’ by its discoverers, who are
Star Wars fans. The name is also a nod to the fact that the Chinese characters of
its scientific name, Hoolocktianxing, mean “Heaven’s movement”.
•
Gibbons are renowned for their loud song, which they use to mark territory, and
this also sounded unusual.
•
The scientists estimate that about 200 Skywalker gibbons are living in China and
also potentially in neighbouring Myanmar, but the species should already be
classified as endangered. Habitat loss and fragmentation is putting the gibbons
at risk of extinction
GS : 2 - BILATERAL- INDIA AND RUSSIA
Russian spares to support India
(The Hindu)
•
Russia has amended its laws, allowing long-term contracts for spares and support for military equipment supplied to
India by their Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
•
This will address longstanding concerns on the serviceability of the imported equipment.
Key facts:
•
Currently, procurement of spares is a long and cumbersome process as India cannot deal directly with the OEMs but
with designated intermediaries like Rosoboron export. The change in law does away with that.
•
Indian military largely constitutes platforms and equipment of Russian origin and a constant concern has been the
availability of spares for them.
•
One of the biggest beneficiaries of this will be the frontline Su-30MKI fighter jets of the Indian Air Force, the
serviceability of which had at one time fallen below 50 per cent, which means less than half of the over 210 jets in
service were available for operational deployment.
•
In the next step, India is also discussing the possibility of Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) allowing
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licence manufacture of spares locally by Indian vendors.
MISCELLANEOUS
The world’s first ‘Gender Literature Festival’
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The world’s first ‘Gender Literature Festival’ will be held in Patna.
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The Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women Development Corporation will be organising the festival.
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The objective of this initiative is to create a platform, to exchange ideas, and to share and learn experiences of
renowned people in the field of gender [-based or focussed] literature. The festival will also act as a platform to
increase visibility for gender equity and advocacy in the State of Bihar.
GS : 3 - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Guided rocket Pinaka Mark-II test fired successfully
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(Indian Express)
Pinaka rocket, which has now transformed into guided Pinaka, was successfully test fired from a defence test facility
off Odisha coast.
Key Facts:
•
The guided Pinaka has been combinedly developed by Pune-based Armament Research and Development
Establishment (ARDE), Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Defence Research and Development
Laboratory (DRDL).
•
Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which has evolved from Pinaka Mark-I, is equipped with navigation, guidance and control kit
and is converted to a guided Pinaka. This conversion has facilitated enhancement of its strike range and considerably
improved its accuracy.
•
The rocket launcher can fire 12 rockets with 1.2 tonne of high explosives within 44 seconds and destroy a target area
of four sq km at a time.
•
The weapon's capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy as it can even
destroy their solid structures and bunkers, the official said.
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The performance of earlier version of Pinaka was lauded during the Kargil War, where it was successful in
neutralising enemy positions on mountain tops.
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