GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

As part of the Onam 2023 celebration in Kerala, people across state performed Pulikali (tiger dance).

Pulikali festival:

• Pulikali is a traditional folk art form and festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
• The word "Pulikali" translates to "Tiger Play" in Malayalam, the local language. It involves participants painting their bodies to resemble tigers.
• Participants, known as "Pulikali artists," wear colorful costumes resembling tigers and dance through the streets of Kerala's cities and towns.
  
  
• The festival is usually part of Onam celebrations, Kerala's harvest festival, and is performed to entertain people and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state.
• Pulikali involves lively and energetic performances, with drummers accompanying the artists, creating a vibrant and captivating spectacle that attracts both locals and tourists.

• Onam is the most important and widely celebrated harvest festival in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
• The festival typically lasts for ten days, with the main celebrations taking place in the month of Chingam, which falls in August or September of the Gregorian calendar.
• Onam is associated with the mythological King Mahabali, who is believed to have been a wise and benevolent ruler. People celebrate his return to Kerala during Onam.
• During Onam, people wear traditional clothing known as "Mundu" for men and "Kasavu saree" for women. These outfits are elegant and white with gold borders.
• Onam is known for its grand feasts called "Onasadya," which includes a variety of vegetarian dishes served on banana leaves.
• Folk dance forms like "Kathakali" and "Pulikali" are performed during Onam, along with other cultural events and competitions.
• The "Vallamkali" or snake boat races are a major highlight of Onam, with beautifully decorated long boats competing in thrilling races.
• Onam is often referred to as the "State Festival of Kerala" and holds a special place in the hearts of Keralites. It reflects the state's cultural diversity and traditions.

As the validity of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which had come into force in May 2014, is going to end in 2024, local students fear to lose reservation limit of 85% of seats in educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh as mentioned under Article 371D of the Constitution.

State Reorganization in India:

• Before India gained independence in 1947, its map was marked by princely states and provinces with no clear linguistic or cultural basis.
• Post-independence, linguistic diversity emerged as a significant factor.
• People in different regions of India spoke various languages and felt the need for states where their language was predominant.
• To address these linguistic and cultural demands, the government appointed the States' Reorganization Commission in 1953, led by Justice Fazl Ali.
• The commission recommended the reorganization of states in India based on linguistic lines.
• In 1956, the Indian government implemented the recommendations of the SRC, which led to the reorganization of states along linguistic lines. This resulted in the creation of new states, including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, among others.
• The demand for a separate Telangana state gained momentum over several decades due to political, economic, and cultural differences within Andhra Pradesh.
• In 2014, the Indian government passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, creating the state of Telangana.

About Article 371D:

• It is a part of the Indian Constitution that provides special protections for a certain region.
• In this case, it's related to Andhra Pradesh. It says that 85% of seats in educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh must be reserved for local students.
• Article 371 D, is incorporated under 32nd amendment to the Constitution in 1973.
• The 32^nd Amendment was promulgated to safeguard the rights of local students in education and employment, especially in Andhra Pradesh, as both the Andhra and Telangana regions had witnessed a spate of agitations in the early 1970s.

Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014:

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, played a crucial role in the peaceful separation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, addressing various administrative, economic, and political aspects of the division.

• Formation of Telangana: The primary purpose of the act was to create the new state of Telangana by carving it out of the existing state of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana officially came into existence on June 2, 2014.
• Proposed common capital: The act designated Hyderabad as the common capital of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period of ten years, during which time Telangana was required to establish a new capital city.
• Special Provisions: The act contained special provisions to safeguard the interests of various groups, including the allocation of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for people from different regions.
• Division of Assets and Liabilities: It outlined the division of assets, liabilities, and resources between the two states, including the allocation of River waters and the division of government employees.
• Legislative Changes: The act also necessitated changes in the boundaries of the two states and led to adjustments in the legislative and administrative framework to accommodate the new political entities.

What is the procedure to extend the Andhra Pradesh Reogranisation Act?

• To extend or amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, a new law or amendment bill needs to be introduced in the Parliament.
• This requires either the Central government or a member of parliament (MP) to propose the amendment.
• The Bill goes through the standard legislative process in the Indian Parliament. It must be introduced in either the Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the two houses of Parliament.
• The bill is then examined by parliamentary committees, debated, and voted upon.
• To pass the amendment bill, it must receive a majority vote in both houses of Parliament. This means it should be approved by a majority of MPs present and voting in each house.
• Once the President gives assent, the amended act is notified and comes into effect. This process may involve extending the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, or making specific amendments to it.

Right to Information Act, 2005 in India, empowered citizens to access government information, exposing delays, flaws in welfare schemes, and decision-making insights for 13 years now. However, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 puts a total prohibition on disclosure of personal information which can hinder the purpose of RTI.

What is Right to Information?

• Right to Information empowers every citizen to seek any information from the Government, inspect any Government documents and seek certified photocopies thereof.
• Right to Information also empowers citizens to official inspect any Government work or to take the sample of material used in any work.

Right to Information Act 2005:

• Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. It is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to provide a– RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first Appellate Authorities, PIOs etc.
• Objective: The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.
• It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed.
• The Act is a big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.

Constitutional Provisions related to RTI

• Article 19(1) (a): This article guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, which includes the right to seek and receive information. It forms the constitutional basis for the right to information.
• Article 21: The right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 has been interpreted by the courts to include the right to information. Access to information is seen as essential for the meaningful exercise of one's rights and liberties.
• Article 12: While not directly related to RTI, Article 12 defines the term "State" for the purposes of fundamental rights. Public authorities and government agencies are considered "State" under this article, and they are subject to the constitutional principles of transparency and accountability.
• Article 51A: Part of the Fundamental Duties, Article 51A (h) places a duty on every citizen to develop a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform, which align with the objectives of the RTI Act in promoting informed citizenry.

Hurdles to implement RTI:

• Rising Appeals: The increasing number of first appeals being filed indicates growing dissatisfaction with the information provided by public officials.
• Institutional Challenges: Activists highlight that the RTI Act's effectiveness is compromised not only by changes in the law but also by institutional challenges. These include limited avenues for convenient information requests and understaffed appeal bodies.
• Implementation Issues: The RTI Act's implementation depends on subordinate rules set by the Union and State Governments.
• The payment methods for public authorities are subject to state-level decisions, impacting uniformity and effectiveness.

Challenges in Online RTIs:

• Limited State Portals: Many Indian states lack online RTI portals, creating barriers for citizens. Even when portals exist, some government bodies are not registered, hindering accessibility.
• Union Government Portal Issues: The Union Government's RTI portal, launched in 2013, faces usability issues.
  • Account creation, which simplified the filing process, has been removed, requiring users to enter their details anew each time.
• Data Discrepancies: The portal has experienced data glitches, with past application data disappearing and slow site performance. These technical issues undermine the efficiency of the RTI filing process.

The 6^th Minor Irrigation Census (MIC) report has been released recently.

Highlights of the Report:

• As per the report, electricity is the primary power source for water extraction in private irrigation, surpassing diesel, wind, and solar pumps in majority of States in India.
• The report reflects irrigation trends for the year 2017-18.
• While the use of electricity showed a jump from powering only 56% of sources in 2011 to 70% in 2017.
• Out of all Micro Irrigation (MI) schemes, 21.93 million (94.8%) were for groundwater (GW) and 1.21 million (5.2%) for surface-water (SW)
• Dominant source of groundwater:
  • While ‘dug-wells’ or ponds remain the dominant source of groundwater, their number has declined from 87 lakh to 82 lakh between the 5th and 6th editions.
  • ‘Shallow’ tube wells have declined from 59 lakh to 55 lakh.
  • However, ‘medium-sized’ wells grew from 31 lakh to 43 lakh and ‘deep’ wells rose from 26 lakh to 37 lakh.
• State-based data:
  • Uttar Pradesh had the largest number of MI schemes in the country (17.2%) followed by Maharashtra (15.4%), Madhya Pradesh (9.9%) and Tamil Nadu (9.1%).
  • Leading States in these schemes are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana whereas Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand have the highest share in SW schemes.
• Causes for the increase of more powerful and deep-reaching tubewells:
  • While excessive groundwater withdrawal has been a matter of long-standing concern, the report doesn’t discuss the causes for such increase.
  • State governments announce schemes where farmers are incentivised or get access to loans to buy such tubewells, could be an explanation.
  • However, the lower growth in electrification is also likely to be a result of greater emphasis on energy efficient water extraction.

Concerns:

• Electrification of groundwater withdrawal corresponds to a rise in the use of tubewells and borewells that are capable of extracting water at greater depths.
• There were 14 million schemes in the country, with Uttar Pradesh possessing the largest share, followed by Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The National eGovernance Division (NeGD) under MeitY, plans to incorporate Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) into DIKSHA, offering individualised learning experience to students.

National eGovernance Division (NeGD):

• The National e-Governance Division was created by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology as an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation {erstwhile Media Lab Asia}.
• It was created in 2009.
• Since then, NeGD has been playing a pivotal role in supporting MeitY in Programme Management and implementation of the e-Governance Projects; provide technical and advisory support to Ministries/ Departments, both at Central and State levels along with other Government organisations.

• To facilitate the implementation of PAL, the MeitY has sought the expertise of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• PAL works on AI (Artificial Intelligence) and uses software-based approaches to personalize the learning journey of each student.
• The development of PAL involves categorizing content from various subjects and creating tags for different learning segments. Additionally, new content may need to be created.
• The initial focus will be on building PAL for Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics for Classes 9 to 12, which are often perceived as challenging subjects.
• The Ministry of Education aims to improve learning outcomes and school retention through digital learning, especially considering the large number of students dropping out after Class 10.
• Objective: DIKSHA offers digital textbooks and educational content but is currently static.
  • The goal is to make DIKSHA more dynamic and personalized for students with the help of PAL.
• The MeitY is also considering the introduction of voice commands in DIKSHA 2.0 as part of AI-enabled learning. This would allow students to access chapter summaries through voice commands.
• The NeGD plans to assess the market for edtech companies through an Expression of Interest and potentially integrate PAL with DIKSHA 2.0.

Benefits of Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL):

• Customized Learning: PAL tailors the learning experience to individual students, addressing their unique needs, pace, and abilities. This promotes better understanding and retention.
• Improved Engagement: Personalized learning engages students more effectively as it aligns with their interests and capabilities, making learning enjoyable and motivating.
• Higher Learning Outcomes: By adapting content to each student's proficiency level, PAL can lead to improved academic performance and a deeper understanding of subjects.
• Efficiency: PAL can identify areas where students need more help and provide additional resources or guidance, making the learning process more efficient.
• Accessibility: It can be a valuable tool for learners with disabilities, as it can provide customized support and adapt content to suit their specific needs.

Challenges of Implementing PAL in DIKSHA:

• Infrastructure and Connectivity: Effective PAL implementation requires reliable internet connectivity and access to devices, which may be a challenge in remote or underserved areas.
• Teacher Training: Teachers need training to effectively use PAL tools and integrate them into the curriculum. This requires time and resources.
• Data Privacy: Personalized learning involves collecting and analyzing student data, raising concerns about data privacy and security.
• Content Development: Creating personalized content for PAL can be resource-intensive and time-consuming.
• Equity: PAL may exacerbate educational inequalities if not all students have access to the necessary technology or support.
• Resistance to Change: Implementing PAL may face resistance from traditional teaching methods and educators who are not familiar with technology-based learning.
• Cost: Developing and maintaining PAL systems can be costly, and budget constraints may limit its adoption in educational institutions.

Environment (GS-III)

Toda community

The pastoral Toda community in the upper Nilgiris is losing its Shola grasslands as threats of invasive species are increasing.

About the community:

• Toda people are a Dravidian ethnic group who live in the Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu.
• During the 20th century, the Toda population has hovered in the range 700 to 900.
• The Toda traditionally live in settlements called Mund, consisting of three to seven small thatched houses.
• The Toda huts, called dogles, are of an oval, pent-shaped construction built of bamboo.
• Their economy was pastoral, based on the buffalo, whose dairy products they traded with neighbouring peoples of the Nilgiri Hills.
• In the Toda language it is called pohor.
• Fraternal polyandry - a practice in which a woman marries all the brothers of a family - in traditional Toda society was fairly common; however, this practice has now been totally abandoned, as has female infanticide.
• The Toda lands are now a part of The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated International Biosphere Reserve; their territory is declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Traditional Toda Dress:

• The traditional Toda dress is a distinctive shawl which is called putukuli.
• Considered a grand garment, it is only worn for special occasions like visits to the temple, festivals and finally as a shroud.
• The embroidery is done by Toda women and has distinctive red and black (and occasionally blue) thread work in geometric designs on unbleached white cotton fabric.
• It has got a Geographical Indications (GI) Tag.

Environment (GS-III)

Kappaphycus alvarezii

The government plans a seaweed park in Tamil Nadu, ignoring the threat that Kappaphycus alvarezii which is widely grown invasive seaweed, poses to corals in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park running along the state's coastline.

About:

• It is seaweed (alga) which is native to the Indo-Pacific region.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as one of the world's 100 most invasive species.
• It is one of the prime threats that killed the corals near Kurusadai which was deliberately introduced in Ramanathapuram for commercial cultivation some two decades ago.

The Gulf of Mannar National park:

• The Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically richest coastal regions in the entire mainland of India.
• It is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South East Asia.
• In India, the Gulf of Mannar region in Tamil Nadu is one of the four major coral reef areas and the others are the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, Lakhsadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• It is designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
• This Biosphere Reserve encompasses a chain of 21 islands (2 islands already submerged) and adjoining coral reefs off the coasts of the Ramanathapuram and the Tuticorin districts.

Science and Technology (GS-III)

Preeclampsia

As per a study published in Nature Medicine, liquid-biopsy approach that measures DNA-methylation levels in the blood may improve the detection of pregnancies at risk of developing preeclampsia at early stages.

About:

• Preeclampsia is a major cause of morbidities during gestation. Early-onset preeclampsia — occurring before 34 weeks of gestation — is associated with a higher risk of severe disease and foetal mortality.
• Preeclampsia is one high blood pressure (hypertension) disorder that can occur during pregnancy.

Symptoms:

• A systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg or higher, on two occasions at least 4 hours apart in a previously normotensive patient, OR
• An SBP greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg or a DBP greater than or equal to 110 mm Hg or higher.