INSIGHTS

DAILY
CURRENT
AFFAIRS + PIB
SUMMARY

14 JANUARY 2023

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 ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIS-
COVERS 2 1200-YEAR-OLD MINIA-
TURE STUPAS AT NALANDA
GS1
Syllabus: Architecture
Context:  Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has • Philosophical –
discovered two 1200-year-old miniature votive stupas
during landscaping activities near Sarai Tila mound on
the premises of ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’, a world heritage
site in Nalanda district.
• The stupas, carved from stone, depict Buddha • Symbolic: The stupas encapsulate the teachings
figures.
What are stupas?
A Stupa is a hemispherical structure which symbolizes
the burial mound of Buddha. It rose to prominence af-
ter the advent of Buddhism and peaked during Asho-
ka’s reign. Stupas evolved as Chorten in Tibet and pa-
godas in East Asia.
What is a votive stupa?
The form of the stupa, with its distinctive domelike
drum, originates in eight cylindrical structures in which
the Buddha’s relics were placed after his death.  Bharhut (Queen Maya’s dream)
• Votive stupas were offered in fulfilment of a
vow. Beginning in the 7th century CE in India,
small miniature terracotta stupas became pop-
ular as votive offerings.
 Sacred place: Along with monasteries
(viharas) later, stupas were included in
chaityas, which is a prayer halls.
 Circumambulation path: an important
Buddhist ritual around the path sur-
rounding it.
 The object of veneration- it is believed
that relics of buddhas body were buried
within the stupas
 Meditation: It is an important place for
meditation.
 Commemorative: In the Tibetan tradi-
tion, stupas were built to celebrate the
life events of the Buddha.
and ideology of Buddha
 E.g. Dhamek stupa at Sarnath marks the
spot where the Buddha gave his first
sermon after attaining enlightenment,
revealing his Eightfold Path leading to
nirvana.
• Historical: Provide information about the various
dynasties who ruled India. Eg :
 Mauryas : Bairat stupa , Sanchi stupa ,
Bharhut stupa etc
 Sathavahanas : Amaravati stupa etc
• Architectural -
 Oldest stone structures: The stupas at
Sanchi and Bharhut are one of the old-
est stone structures in India.
 Inclusion of text in narrative panels – at
 Use of marble – at Amravati stupa
 Taxila excavations reveal stupas with
Boddhisatva images, Gandhara influ-
ence and patronage of Kanishka

Importance of stupas
• Religious importance –
 Relic repository: In the beginning stupas About Nalanda university:
were built to venerate and safeguard Nalanda University (427 CE to 1197 CE) stands out
relics and remains of Buddha.

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as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcon-
tinent. It engaged in the organized transmission of
knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years.
It was the leading centre for the teaching of Mahayana
Buddhism but other topics were also taught there. It
was destroyed in 12th CE by Bakhtiyar Khilji.

Insta Links:

Mains Links:
Q. Shed light on the importance of Stupas, detailing
their architectural features. (10M)
Q. Stupa is regarded as a monument for veneration.
It is associated with votive and commemorative pur-
poses. Trace the development of Stupa architecture
during ancient India. (10M) Steel-making process:

Prelims links:
Q. Which one of the following statements is correct?
(UPSC 2021)

(a)    Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.

(b)    Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.
(c)    Pandu-lena Cave shrines lie in the gorge of Narma-
da river.
(d)    Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.

What does the document of IEA say?

Answer: (a)
GREEN STEEL
GS1
Syllabus: Geography/ Environment/ Science and Steel
Context: Intergovernmental organisation Internation-
al Energy Agency has released a document saying that
most net-zero emission (NZE) routes for steel and ce-
ment production are not yet commercially available in-
cluding for ‘green steel’
What is Green Steel?
Green Steel is the manufacturing of steel using renew-
able or low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen,
coal gasification, or electricity instead of the tradition-
al carbon-intensive manufacturing route of coal-fired
plants.
• Key technologies such as carbon capture, utili-
sation and storage for cement and steel indus-
tries and hydrogen-based steel manufacturing
are still in prototype and demonstration stages.
• Experience shows that the innovation process
usually takes 20 to 70 years from prototype to
commercialization
• Solar and wind energy units require more steel,
aluminium and in some cases, cement per unit
of capacity than fossil fuel-based generating
technologies.
• Energy resources being concentrated in one
geographical area pose a threat to the world’s
energy security
• Currently, China is the dominant producer of so-
lar panels, wind, Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries,
electrolysers and heat pumps.
• Lithium, a key metal for producing electronic
vehicles, is mostly concentrated in Australia,
Chile and China. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of the
world’s cobalt is produced in the Republic of
Congo.

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Government programmes for green steel:
• National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) capi-
talizes on hydrogen for a cleaner alternative fuel
option
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry
launched Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project in
Eastern India in 2019 to provide gas to all steel
plants located in the area
About IEA:
• The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based Background:
autonomous intergovernmental organisation,
established in 1974, that provides policy rec-
ommendations, analysis and data on the entire
global energy.
• India became an Associate Member (not a full
member) of the IEA in 2017. The IEA has re-
leased the India Energy Outlook 2021 Report
Mains Links:
Q. Discuss the distribution and changing patterns of
the Iron and steel industry in India. (250 Words)
Q. Even after local coal-iron resources are depleted,
the steel and heavy engineering industries do not fre-
quently shift their location, why? Analyse.(250 words)
Prelims Links
Q. Which of the following are some important pollut-
ants released by the steel industry in India? ( UPSC
2014)
1. Oxides of sulphur
2. Oxides of nitrogen
3. Carbon monoxide
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4. Carbon dioxide
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)  1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
CASE IN SUPREME COURT: CAN
AN UNDERAGE MUSLIM GIRL
MARRY AFTER ATTAINING PU-
BERTY?
GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for
the protection of vulnerable sections
Direction: The article discusses the issue of the age of
marriage in India and the challenges as the legal age of
marriage is not uniform across communities.
Context: The SC agreed to examine whether girls as
young as 15 years old can enter into marriage on the
basis of custom or personal law although such marriag-
es are illegal under statutory law.
• Last year, Punjab and Haryana HC declared in a
Habeas Corpus petition that a Muslim girl is free
to marry whoever she wants after reaching pu-
berty if she is under the age of 18.
• The National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (NCPCR) had moved the SC against
the HC ruling, arguing that the HC’s ruling es-
sentially allowed a child marriage violating the
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which
is secular legislation.
• While agreeing to hear an appeal on the case, a
bench headed by the Chief Justice of India said
that the HC’s decision should not be relied on
as a precedent in any other case.
• The SC’s intervention opens up the issue of reg-
ulating the minimum age of marriage for wom-
en and the impact it has on personal law.
How is the age for marriage determined in India?
● Personal laws that govern marriage for commu-
nities prescribe certain criteria for marriage, in-
 cluding age. marriage.
● For example, The Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955, ● As penal laws do not result in societal change, it
sets a minimum age of 18 for the bride and 21 will be the government’s duty to make the shift
for the groom (same for Christians under the In- acceptable as a social norm.
dian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 and the Spe-
cial Marriage Act).
● For Muslims, the criterion is attaining puber-
ty, which is assumed when the bride or groom
turns 15.
● This means that the legal age of marriage is not
uniform across communities.

Laws for the prohibition of child marriage:

● The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:
Any marriage below the prescribed age is illegal
and the perpetrators of forced child marriage
can be punished.
○ But the law does not have any provision
that says the law would override any
other laws on the issue.
○ Also, child marriages are illegal but not
void and they are voidable at the option
of the minor party. Insta Links: The National Commission for Protection of
● The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenc- Child Rights (NCPCR) drafted guidelines for assessing
es Act, 2012: The law does not recognise con- minors
sent for sexual activity by minors (less than 18).
Mains Links:
Can personal laws be overridden? Q. What are the continued challenges for women in
● The SC ruled in ‘Shayara Bano v Union of India’ India against time and space? (UPSC 2019)
(2017) that the practice of instant triple talaq is
unconstitutional, despite the fact that it is per-
mitted under Muslim law.
● The Karnataka HC (2013) ruled that no Indi-
CENTRE VS DELHI GOVT ON CON-
an citizen on the ground of his belonging to a TROL OVER SERVICES: TIMELINE
particular religion can claim immunity from the
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. OF A DISPUTE
GS Paper 2
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, Syllabus: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union
2021: and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the
● It was introduced by the Union Minister for Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers
Women and Child Development to increase the
age of marriage for women, and ensure harmo- Direction: The article highlights the protracted legal
ny in the age limit across religions. battle between the Centre and the Delhi government
● During the Parliamentary debate, however, the and SC’s verdicts on this dispute.
Bill was criticised as unconstitutional since it
breaches Article 25 of the Constitution, which Context: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the SC is
provides freedom of conscience as well as free hearing the dispute between the Centre and the Delhi
profession, practice, and propagation of reli- government over matters pertaining to control over the
gion. transfers and the overall functioning of administrative
services in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
Conclusion:
● Poverty, and lack of access to quality health and
education are larger issues that must be ad-
dressed in order to address issues such as child

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 Article 239AA: ● The Centre argued that because Delhi is the
● Article 239 AA was inserted in the Constitu- national capital and the “face of the nation,”
tion by the 69th Amendment Act, 1991, and it needed the authority to order transfers and
conferred Special Status upon Delhi following postings of personnel there.
the recommendations of the S Balakrishnan ● The court agreed that the scope of the legisla-
Committee (set up in 1987 to look into Delhi’s tive and executive powers of the Centre and
demands for statehood). NCT of Delhi would need an authoritative pro-
● According to this provision, the NCT of Delhi nouncement under Article 145(3) of the Consti-
will have an Administrator and a Legislative tution.
Assembly. ○ Article 145(3): The minimum number
● The Legislative Assembly shall have the power of Judges who must sit to decide any
to make laws for the whole or any part of the case involving a substantial question of
NCT with respect to any matters in the State law concerning the interpretation of the
List or Concurrent List except on the subjects Constitution shall be five.
of police, public order, and land. ● The court noted that the primary contention
is related to the interpretation of Article 239
AA(3)(a) of the Constitution, which deals with
special provisions for the NCT of Delhi.
Timeline of the dispute ● Hence a three-judge Bench had referred this
case (last year) to a larger Bench on the Centre’s
The 2017 Delhi HC verdict: plea for “further examination”.
● For administration purposes of the NCT, the
Lieutenant Governor (LG) is not bound by the
aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in ev- Insta Links: Centre-Delhi row heads to Constitution
ery matter.
Bench
● On appeal, the SC referred the matter to decide
the interpretation of Article 239AA of the Con-
Mains Links:
stitution.
Q. Whether the Supreme Court Judgement (July 2018)
can settle the political tussle between the Lt. Governor
and the elected government of Delhi? Examine. (UPSC
The 2018 SC verdict:
● A five-judge Bench laid down broad parameters 2018)
for the governance of Delhi.
● The court limited the LG’s jurisdiction to mat- Prelims Links: (UPSC 2020)
ters involving land, police, and public order, In the context of India, which one of the following is the
stating that for all other matters, he must act characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?
with the aid and advice of the Council of Min- 1. An agency for widening the scope of parliamentary
isters. democracy
2. An agency for strengthening the structure of feder-
alism
The SC’s 2019 split verdict: 3. An agency for facilitating political stability and eco-
● The verdict was essentially delivered to decide nomic growth
the contentious issues based on the law settled 4. An agency for the implementation of public policy
by the five-judge Constitution Bench in 2018.
● A two-judge Bench settled several issues relat- Ans: 4
ing to the powers of the LG, however, on the
issue of control over services, the two judges
ruled differently.
● In the case of a split verdict, the case is heard
afresh by a larger Bench assigned by the CJI.

The SC’s 3-judge Bench and the Centre’s argument to

refer it to a larger Bench:

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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION: CEA
RELEASES DISASTER MANAGE-
MENT PLAN FOR POWER SECTOR
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Disaster and Disaster Management

Direction: The article highlights the approach for disas-

ter mitigation, preparedness, emergency response and
recovery efforts in the power sector.

Context: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has re-

leased the disaster management plan (DMP) for the
power sector in a bid to evolve a proactive and inte-
grated approach to strengthen disaster mitigation, pre-
paredness, emergency response and recovery efforts.
Background:
● The Power Sector is one of the most important
infrastructures of the country, as the growth of
this sector is directly correlated with the eco-
nomic growth of the country.
● Any disruption in the power sector due to disas-
ter creates a hardship for human beings, as ev-
ery aspect of human life is directly or indirectly
associated with electricity.
● The DMP comes as the Government is investi-
gating instances of land subsidence in the Uk’s
Joshimath, the gateway to pilgrimage sites, such
as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib.
● The DMP is also in conformity with the 10-point
agenda articulated by the PM at the Asian Min-
isterial Conference on disaster risk reduction in
2016. It includes -
○ Investing in risk mapping globally.
○ Creating a network of universities work-
ing on disaster-related issues.
○ Leveraging social media and mobile
technologies for disaster risk reduction
(DRR).
○ Building local capacities for disaster
management, reduction and relief, etc.
Highlights of the DMP:
● It provides a framework and direction to the
utilities in the power sector for all phases of the
disaster management cycle.
● It is intended to guide all agencies within the
sector with a general concept of potential
emergencies and roles and assignments before,
during, and following emergency situations.
● To estimate threats to power infrastructure, it is
pertinent that fragility and vulnerability analy-
sis is carried out for civil structures like build-
ings and foundations in transmission and distri-
bution facilities.
Objectives of the DMP:
● To find out the quantitative risk involved in
power networks.
● To devise effective strategies for prevention,
mitigation, response, and recovery.
Significance of DMP:
● Accurately assessing climate risks is difficult,
hence, electric utilities can manage risks by
considering different climate scenarios and po-
tential impacts on their assets.
● This will ensure a reliable power supply and
quick restoration even in times of extreme
weather events and natural disasters.
● This will be helpful for policy and decision-mak-
ers to evaluate strategies and measures for crit-
ical infrastructure planning and protection.

Way ahead suggested in the DMP:

● Social media has become an important tool for
disaster management since it may be used for
rescue, rehabilitation, and relief.
● Hence, the use of social media on an organisa-
tional level can be conceived in two broad cat-

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 egories -
1. Passively, disseminate information and receive
user feedback via incoming messages.
2. Proactively, as an emergency management tool,
for -
a. Conducting emergency communications
and issuing warnings;
b. Monitoring user activities and posts to
establish situational awareness;
c. Using uploaded images to create dam-
age estimates, etc.
What is the case agains Mayaram?
He is accused of extending undue favours to the UK-
based company De La Rue by giving a three-year exten-
sion to its “expired contract” for the supply of exclusive
colour shift security thread for Indian currency notes
when he was finance secretary.
What is Corruption?
Corruption refers to unethical behaviour, which is char-
acterized by misuse of public or organizational power,
causing harm not only to organizations but also to so-
ciety.
• The word corrupt is from the Latin word ‘corrup-
tus’ meaning to break or destroy
• Corruption is an important manifestation of the
failure of ethics
• Corruption misuse of entrusted power for pri-
vate gain

Insta Links: 2 rallies, 2 stampedes: Surging crowds,

charges of police laxity

Mains Links:
Q. Vulnerability is an essential element for defining The Wheel of corruption:
disaster impacts and their threat to people. How and In India, corruption, and abuse of office are aggravated
in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be charac- by the following factors:
terised? Discuss different types of vulnerability with • The colonial legacy of unchallenged authority,
reference to disasters. (UPSC 2019) the propensity to exercise power arbitrarily -
easy to deviate from ethical conduct
• Enormous asymmetry of power - eco, social in-
equalities, caste legacy, 90% workforce in unor-
CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC LIFE ganized sector
• Policies after independence- e.g. State subsi-
dies, and beneficiary-oriented programmes in
GS4 the situation of asymmetry of power converted
Syllabus: Challenges of Corruption public servants into patrons, citizens into men-
dicant
Context: The CBI has registered an FIR against former fi- • Over-centralization increases corruption - a
nance secretary Arvind Mayaram for alleged cheating, large number of functionaries b/w citizens and
criminal conspiracy, and corruption.  decision-makers diffuses accountability
• Previously, Jharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal • Quality of politics - criminal-politician nexus
was suspended for misappropriation of funds in • Politicians secure votes through money, and
MGNREGA muscle power & criminals enter politics to in-
terfere in crime investigation, monetary gain

8 www.insightsonindia.com
 creates “acceptance” for criminals to enter pol-
itics

Impact of Corruption:

Related News:
UK-based company De La Rue kickbacks to Indian bu-
reaucrats were revealed through Panama Paper leaks
(2016). Hence it becomes important to know the dif-
ferent paper leaks

Two approaches to deal with corruption and abuse of

office
• Overemphasis on values, and character - as-
sume values must be restored to fight Corrup-
tion
• Have the belief that most humans are funda-
mentally decent but a small proportion cannot
reconcile individual goals with the goals of soci-
ety. For such persons, we must deal with them
firmly
• The creation of institutions and the designing
of incentives are crucial for promoting the ethi-
cal conduct of civil servants
• Need systemic reform Holistic approach About Printing of Currency notes
• Punitive measures as a deterrent Bank notes are printed at four currency presses, two of
• Preventive measures to reduce opportunities which are owned by the Government of India through
its Corporation, Security Printing and Minting Corpora-
tion of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) and two are owned by the
Reserve Bank, through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Ltd

9 www.insightsonindia.com
Insta Links
A step towards fighting corruption

Mains Links
Q. Fighting corruption is often seen as a crucial step to-
wards building better public institutions and improving
the quality-of-service delivery. Comment. (10M)

Content for Mains

Enrichment (Eth-
ics/Essay/ Gover-
nance/Water)
KOLLAM
Context: Kollam is India’s first Constitution-literate dis-
trict.

2,200 trainees: As part of the ambitious campaign,

around 16.3 lakh people in the district above the age
of 10 have been educated on various aspects of the
Constitution and the strenuous process involved 2,200
trainers called ‘senators’.
• During the seven-month campaign, the sen-
ators visited schools, offices, auto stands and
tribal councils to spread awareness.
• As part of the campaign, the Preamble of the
Constitution has been distributed in all house-
holds and installed at government, quasi-gov-
ernment and private institutions and schools
• Kollam will be officially declared India’s first
Constitution literate district by Chief Minister
Pinarayi Vijayan
Context: Impressed with Karnataka’s performance in
the implementation of the Rejuvenating Watershed
for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Devel-
opment (REWARD) scheme, the World Bank has decid-
ed to get agricultural officers from Sub-Saharan coun-
tries to visit the State to learn from its experience.
• Karnataka has been identified as a “lighthouse
partner” by the World Bank in developing the
science-based watershed model.
• It is the first State to develop a Land Resource
Inventory portal ( the portal will contain the de-
tails on the appropriate measures to be taken
for different types of land with respect to agri-
culture, groundwater, crop, and soil health) that
has details of 14 lakh hectares of land coming
under the project

What is Watershed Management?

The conservation of water and improvement of water
quality and conservation of the soil is called watershed
management.

10 www.insightsonindia.com
 cisions and connect with Mandis/Traders, state
What is the REWARD Project? subsidies/insurance for crops
The project aims to help national and state institutions • Dvara- Surabhi: Unique Biometric muzzle iden-
adopt improved watershed management practices to tity of cattle to be used by the state department
and insurance companies, and predicting health
help increase farmers’ resilience to climate change, and
status of cattle to be used by dairy farmers
promote higher productivity and better incomes. • C-DOT (R&D Arm of DoT): One-stop platform in-
• REWARD is being implemented in three to four tegrating all the health suits enabling Tele con-
Indian States for 6 years for: sultation and e-learning solution suits.
o prevention of soil run-off, regeneration
of natural vegetation, rainwater harvest-
ing, and recharging of the groundwater
table
o Enabling multi-cropping and the intro-
duction of diverse agro-based activities

VIDISHA BECOMES THE FIRST-EV-

ER DISTRICT IN INDIA FOR THE
ON-GROUND DEPLOYMENT OF
INNOVATIVE 5G USE CASES OF-
FERED BY STARTUPS
Facts for Prelims
Context: Vidisha, an aspirational district of Madhya
Pradesh became the first-ever district in India for the
on-ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases of-
fered by startups - a joint initiative by Vidisha District INDIA’S FIRST CENTRE OF EXCEL-
Administration and Centre for Development of Telemat-
ics (C-DOT), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) LENCE IN ONLINE GAMING TO BE
under the guidance of Additional Secretary (Telecom) & SET UP IN SHILLONG
Administrator USOF.

Context: Digital India Startup Hub through the Software

5G use case promotional pilot:  the following 5G/IoT Technology Parks of India shall set up India’s first Cen-
use cases were demonstrated by startups in collabora- tre of Excellence in Online Gaming at Shillong
tion with C-DOT:
• Superceuticals- 5G/4G Enabled smart health ki- The Centre of Excellence in Shillong is expected to ca-
osk for measuring vitals & performing tests al- talyse startups and entrepreneurs from the entire
most instantaneously with
North East Region to build the Next Gen Online Gam-
• Ambupod: 5G/4G Enabled Auto Ambulance
with basic life safety support & measurement of ing Ecosystem
vitals with remote doctor support.
• LogyAI: Cataract Eye Screening application using The Minister announced another initiative of MeitY to
the smartphone for quick & effective screening set up a state-of-the-art facility under the National In-
of cataract disease stitute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) to provide train-
• Easiofy:  AR/VR-3D visualization application for ing on cutting-edge Digital Skills at Shillong. A 10-acre
Lung & Brain scans (CT/XRAY etc.) for effective campus shall soon be ready for this purpose which shall
diagnosis.
cater to the skilling requirement of youth in the North
• TechXR: AR/VR- 3D immersive experience kit for
students for enhanced learning & teaching tool East Region.
for innovative teaching methods.
• BKC Aggregators: Fasal Salah App- personalized
crop advisory for farmers to take informed de-

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 MAARG PORTAL

Context: Commerce and industry minister will launch

the MAARG platform (Mentorship, Advisory, Assis-
tance, Resilience, and Growth) to facilitate mentorship
between startups and entrepreneurs across sectors,
stages, and functions.
• The government will also recognize the start-
ups through the ‘National Startup Awards’, the
previous version of 2020 and 2021 had rec-
ognized 367 startups as winners and finalists.

BASMATI RICE
Context: For the first time in the country, the Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
has specified identity standards for  basmati rice  (in-
cluding brown basmati, milled basmati, parboiled
brown basmati, and milled parboiled basmati)

Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards

and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations,
2023 are aimed at establishing fair practices in the
trade of basmati rice and protecting consumer interest,
both domestically and globally.
• These standards will be enforced from August 1
• Previously, there was an issue with the export
standards of Basmati Rice from India leading to
CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (CDS) many EU countries putting restrictions on Indian
Basmati Exports.

Context: Securities and exchange board of India has

allowed alternative investment funds) to participate in
credit default swaps (CDS) as protection for both buy-
ers and sellers.
• Under the new norm, Category-I and Catego-
ry-II AIFs can buy CDS on underlying investment
in debt securities only for the purpose of hedg-
ing, while Category-III AIFs can purchase CDS
for hedging or otherwise, within permissible
leverage

12 www.insightsonindia.com
 before treatment, save lives, and reduce dis-
abilities on the battlefield. It can also contribute
to the reduction in hospitalization costs.

HEMO-HALT BANDAGE
Context: A newly developed bandage (by MACS-Aghark-
ar Research Institute, an autonomous institute under
DST) containing chitosan (a natural polymer that halts
bleeding) and agonist (a substance that improves clot-
ting) nanoparticles can rapidly minimize blood loss
from wounds.

Chitosan can control bleeding due to its cationic na-

ture and hydrogel-forming ability leads to the concen-
tration of erythrocytes and platelets in the injury site. 

The issue with blood loss?

Worldwide, uncontrolled haemorrhage is the leading
cause of traumatic death during accidents or injuries
among the military and civilian populations. Severe
bleeding triggers trauma due to shock, hypothermia,
coagulopathy, tissue damage, and organ failure that of-
ten causes mortality.
• The Hemo-halt bandage can reduce blood loss

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