Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for February 28, 2024. If you missed the February 27, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, Space

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Six years after he announced the decision to send Indians into space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday presented to the nation the four selected astronauts-designate who have been undergoing training under anonymity for the last four years. The four candidates — Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (47), Angad Pratap (41), Ajit Krishnan (41) and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla (38), all officers of the Indian Air Force — will follow in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, the first and only Indian to have travelled to space, way back in 1984, in a Russian spacecraft. (Two Indian-Americans — Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams — have also been to space on NASA missions.)

• One of the four IAF pilots is likely to fly to the International Space Station later this year as part of a NASA mission, following an agreement between the space agencies of India and the United States last year. What is this agreement all about?

For Your Information:

• The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first manned space flight that is currently scheduled for next year. The space capsule for Gaganyaan has the capacity to carry three astronauts, but it has not yet been finalised whether two or three astronauts would be sent on that mission.

• Only three countries — the United States, Russia and China — have sent human spaceflights till now, though over 600 astronauts, including over 70 women, from close to 50 different countries have gone into space.

•The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had started planning for a human spaceflight mission way back in 2004 but the real possibilities opened up only after the success of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions, and the development of the GSLV rocket in the last one decade.

• The Gaganyaan mission was originally scheduled for a launch in 2022, to coincide with 75 years of India’s independence, but that schedule got derailed because of the Covid pandemic.

From Explained Page:

PM Modi announces 4 astronauts for Gaganyaan: Current status of the mission

• The first mission flight, Gaganyaan-1, an unmanned test flight to check technology readiness, is expected by the end of 2024. The manned mission, which will take a three-member crew into a low earth orbit of 400 km altitude and return to Earth after three days, will follow.

• ISRO will use its LVM3 rocket for all of Gaganyaan missions. LVM3, earlier called GSLV-MkIII, is the Indian space agency’s most powerful launch vehicle that has flown seven times without failure. The rocket consists of liquid stage, solid stage, and cryogenic stage. ISRO has reconfigured all components of LVM3 to meet human rating requirements. On February 14, final tests on the cryogenic engine, known as CE20, were performed. The engine successfully passed the test and was certified for missions that would transport humans to space.

• The Vikas engine to be used in the liquid stage, and the solid booster, which is part of the solid stage, have already qualified for the missions.

• The special flight engine, which ignites as the rocket lifts off, has completed acceptance tests. These tests certify/ qualify the test performance of the hardware according to the mission requirement. The technology or development is then applied in the final mission.

• What do preparations for the human space flight includes?

• How will the precursor missions such as Gaganyaan-1 help?

• What is the role of Drogue chutes?

For Your Information:

• The four astronauts completed their generic training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre between February 2020 and March 2021. ISRO signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, for the training in June 2019.

• In 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space when he flew to the Salyut 7 space station on a Soviet spacecraft. In 2006, India started work on an orbital vehicle mission that was later named Gaganyaan.

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

Cryogenic engine for human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, tested successfully: ISRO

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- THE GOVERNMENT’S ambitious Genome India initiative achieved a significant milestone Tuesday as researchers completed sequencing 10,000 healthy genomes from different regions of the country, representing 99 distinct populations. This accomplishment has culminated in the creation of a comprehensive genetic map of India, which holds immense potential for clinicians and researchers alike.

For Your Information:

• “Sequencing 10,000 genomes and creating an Indian repository is a big achievement. The first whole human genome sequence was announced in 2003. It was completed over 13 years at the cost of $3 billion. The technology has come a long way, allowing us to sequence thousands of genomes in a matter of months,” said DBT Secretary Dr Rajesh Gokhale.

• An analysis of just 5,750 of the genomes has helped researchers identify 135 million genetic variants found in India. “Some of these variations occur only in certain pockets of the population, while some are commonly found across large parts of the population. This data can now be associated with their physical traits or disease history. This can help us identify disease indicating variants, for example ones that may be causing certain cancers or rare diseases,” said Prof Y Narahari, one of the two people leading the project and a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

• “It can also help in identifying resistance indicating variants, for example genes that might make certain medicines or anaesthetics ineffective in certain populations. It can also help identify targets for diagnostics and therapeutics,” he said.

• What are MYBPC3 and LAMB3?

• Important Facts:

The entire dataset — which adds up to 8 petabytes of data — will be stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) and will be made available as a digital public good or research. Inaugurated in 2022, the IBDC is the country’s only databank. Prior to that Indian researchers had to host their biological datasets on American or European servers.

A genome, simply put, is all the genetic matter in an organism. It is defined as “an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome — more than 3 billion DNA base pairs — is contained in all cells that have a nucleus”.

What is genome sequencing?

How will the information be useful in understanding genetic disease and evolution?

What is Human Genome Project?

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

Explained: The complete human genome, and what it tells us

Mapping the ‘Indian’ genome

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Krishna Kumar writes: Sporadic experimentation is familiar to students of the history of education in our country. The latest to be tried out is the open-book examination. This, too, is not new, but this time it is expected to reduce the pressure that children are under. The ingredients of this pressure were the object of an inquiry by a committee that gave its report some three decades ago… With weekly and monthly tests, a breathless routine destroys the child’s search for meaning in what is taught. This failure needs a broader remedy.

• Quick Recall: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed a pilot study to check the feasibility of open book exams for Classes 9 to 12. The pilot will be held in select schools in November-December for subjects like English, Mathematics and Science for Classes 9 and 10, and English, Mathematics and Biology for Classes 11 and 12. The CBSE has proposed this form of assessment based on the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) released last year. Through this pilot, the Board aims to study the time taken by students to complete such tests and gather feedback from teachers and students. The pilot test will be designed and developed by June, for which the CBSE has sought Delhi University’s help.

• What was the Yash Pal committee?

• What was novelist RK Narayan’s description of children’s daily ordeal?

• The popularity of technology and coaching has increased side by side, feeding the new testing style. Discuss.

• Why has CBSE proposed the open book exam now (with reference to: National Education Policy 2020) ?

For Your Information:

• What does research say on open book exams?

According to a 2021 study conducted among medical students of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar, open book exams have the benefit of being less stressful.

A pilot study, published in Cambridge University Press, was performed to check the feasibility and acceptability of online open-book examination in 2020. The study concluded that among the 98 students, 21.4% failed and 78.6% passed. “Only 55 students volunteered to give feedback; most agreed that the best advantage of this assessment was that it was stress-free,” the study report said. The disadvantage most students complained of was network connectivity issues.

A 2021 study conducted by Dhananjay Ashri and Bibhu P Sahoo on the use of open book exams for the students of DU stated that even though mean marks scored by the students in an OBE is higher than in a closed book exam, the university did not focus on developing the skills required for a student to crack an OBE. Another study conducted by Nirma University’s Nitin Pillai and Mamta Pillai, published in June 2022, stressed on the need to train students on how to write an open book exam and developing the necessary skills of analysing concepts to get the benefits of OBE.

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

CBSE’s open book exam experiment: How to make exams about critical thought, not surveillance and anxiety

CBSE’s open book exam plan: What is it, why now, how it can impact students

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Govind Mohan, Lily Pandeya write: Under India’s G20 presidency, members for the first time unanimously endorsed the advancement of culture as a standalone goal in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and the Outcome Document of the Culture Working Group, called the Kashi Culture Pathway. This milestone marks a paradigm shift in the global development strategy as it underscores culture as a fundamental pillar for inclusive and sustainable development and recognises its impact on social inclusion and economic growth.

• What is Culture and what is its relevance?

• Why Kashi Culture Pathway? Despite the absence of a specific SDG dedicated to culture, it plays a pivotal role in achieving all 17 SDGs. Discuss.

• What is the G20 and what does it do?

• India’s convening power, ability to generate a consensus at G20 summit has set a benchmark difficult to emulate. What were the major takeaways of India’s G20 presidency?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) during the COP26 Summit in Glasgow in 2021 is a testament to India’s commitment to global sustainability. What is LiFE?

• For Your Information:

India’s support for culture on the global stage is grounded in its rich heritage and demonstrated commitment to holistic sustainability. Our nation’s ancient wisdom and cultural practices are not relics of the past but living resources that offer innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. Sustainability, in its broadest sense, has always been a core tenet of Indian society, enabling us to navigate and prosper amidst centuries of socio-economic complexities. The cultural ethos of India is characterised by mutual co-existence, peace, and interdependence, providing us with a comprehensive approach to addressing modern challenges.

India has been able to leverage this heritage to develop innovative solutions by adapting traditional wisdom to modern needs. We are known to make sustainable choices, which makes India one of the least wasteful economies. Old worn-out clothes in Indian households are first handed down and then often used as a duster rather than being disposed of. Similarly, old newspapers, books and other waste materials have been recycled for generations through scrap vendors. We have a culture of attributing value to all resources and frugality has been a way of life. The concept of a circular economy, therefore, has been embedded in our lifestyle.

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

An unforgettable presidency

G20 Summit in Delhi: Everything you need to know

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- In a bid to overhaul the film certification process in the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has framed some sweeping changes to the cinematograph rules, and the new set of rules will be notified in a few weeks.

• For Your Information: 

The new rules move the entire application process online, there will be a greater representation of women on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or Censor Board, and the parental guidance certificate will be further sub-categorised into three age slots. While the ‘U’ (unrestricted public exhibition), ‘A’ (restricted to adults) and ‘S’ (restricted for specialised viewing) categories of certification have been left unaltered, the new age-based indicators within the ‘UA’ category will be visible on the certificates. For instance, films are to be classified by the CBFC as ‘UA 7+’, ‘UA 13+’ and ‘UA 16+’, wherein the numbers depict the age below which their exhibition is not recommended without parental guidance.

• What do the earlier rules (1983) say? What are the important provisions of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023?

• What is CBFC: The CBFC is headed by the Chairperson. The board comprises up to 25 members and 60 advisory panel members from across India, appointed by the I&B Ministry. While the board members are usually film and TV professionals, members of the advisory panel are often from outside the industry. The chairperson and board members serve for three years, and advisory panel members for two years. The CEO is chiefly in charge of the administrative functioning but the regional officers are part of Examining Committees that certify films.

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

Explained: How films are certified, why it causes dispute

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Nearly 19 months after he retired as a Supreme Court judge, Justice A M Khanwilkar was appointed the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal on Tuesday. The post fell vacant nearly two years ago.

“President Droupadi Murmu is pleased to appoint Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar as the chairperson of the Lokpal,” a statement released by Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Justice Khanwilkar had a six-year tenure as an SC judge. In his last year, he authored a series of crucial verdicts that validated the state’s sweeping powers against citizens in special legislations — the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act. He retired in July 2022.

The government has also appointed six members, including three judicial members, to the Lokpal. Former Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy, former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Yadav and former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice and Law Commission Chairperson Ritu Raj Awasthi are judicial members; non-judicial members include former Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat Pankaj Kumar and former Rural Development Secretary Ajay Tirkey.

• For Your Information:

The Lokpal chairperson and the members are appointed for a term of five years or serve till they are 70 years old, whichever is earlier. The first Lokpal chairperson was former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, who had assumed office in March 2019. Since his retirement in May 2022, former Jharkhand HC Chief Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty has been the acting Lokpal chairperson.

• Quick Recall: Amid repeated demands for such an ombudsman, many attempts were made at legislation, with Lokpal Bills introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008, but none of these was passed. It was four decades after the introduction of the first Bill that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was enacted in December 2013. This was the fallout of a public movement for a Jan Lokpal Bill, initiated by activist Anna Hazare and others such as Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal. Under pressure at a time when it was facing several allegations of corruption, the then UPA government brought the Bill and it was passed after several hurdles.

• What are Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act and their respective jurisdictions?

Other Important Articles covering the same topic:

Simply put: The search for a Lokpal

For any queries and feedback, contact manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com The Indian Express UPSC Key is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates.