Prelims Exclusive Handouts (PEH) for January 2023

Prelims Exclusive Handouts (PEH)
IASEC
IAS Exam Congress

PEH Series
for
CS (Prelims) - 23
Introduction:
“Prelims Exclusive Handouts’’ (PEH) is a set of 12pdfs compiled by Team IASEC for our PRIME
members but these are now open to all. These 06-10 page documents are just the plain compilation of all the
CSE – prelims relevant affairs/content/events of a given month in the most condensed form possible.
One may rely completely on these pdfs along with i-Connect series (that gives more contemporary and
thematic coverage) or PT-365 (Vision IAS). Lastly, reading the newspaper should not be discontinued as it has
its own utility especially for mains.
Best wishes 🙏
January-2023
Jan’23 (for CSp-23) 1 @iasexamcongress


1. AT-1 Bonds: IASEC
• Context: SC Judgement on Yes Bank AT-1 bonds.
• AT-1, short for Additional Tier-1 bonds, are a type of
unsecured, perpetual bonds that banks issue to shore up
their core capital base to meet the Basel-III norms.
• Tier-1 capital refers to equity and other forms of
permanent capital that stays with the bank, as deposits
and loans flow in and out.
• AT-1 bonds are very different from plain-vanilla bonds.
One, these bonds are perpetual and carry no maturity
date. Instead, they carry call options that allow banks to redeem them after five or 10
years. But banks are not obliged to use this call option and can opt to pay only interest
on these bonds for eternity. Two, banks issuing AT-1 bonds can skip interest payouts
for a particular year or even reduce the bonds’ face value without getting into hot
water with their investors, provided their capital ratios fall below certain threshold
levels.
• A SEBI probe found that Yes bank facilitated the selling of AT1 bonds from institutional
investors to individual investors and during the process of selling the AT1 bonds, the
latter were not informed about all the risks involved in the subscription of these
bonds.
• Read More: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-
wanted-to-know-about-at-1-bonds/article31024984.ece
• https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blexplainer/what-is-the-yes-bank-at1-bonds-
fiasco-all-about/article66430965.ece
2. Sankhya Sagar:
• Context: A thick layer of Water Hyacinth - an invasive
aquatic plant on lake.
• Sankhya Sagar — artificial lake in MP. Also, declared a
Ramsar site in July 2022, and helps maintain the
ecological balance of the Madhav National Park.
• Lake is home to 19 indigenous fish species and in turn
piscivorous birds along with Marsh crocodile (WPA 1972;
Schedule I).
• Water Hyacinth, though, native to South America,
has naturalised itself in many other parts of the
world. However, it can’t be outrightly placed in a
harmful or useful category - on one hand, it acts
as a water purifier by removing heavy metals
present in small quantities while on the other,
once it covers the entire surface of a water body,
it does not allow sunlight to penetrate the water
and also starts depleting oxygen.
• Harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills
are the results of a process called eutrophication
— which occurs when the environment becomes
enriched with nutrients, increasing the amount of
plant and algae growth to estuaries and coastal waters.


3. Yellowband disease: IASEC
• Context: This disease is reportedly killing corals over vast stretches of the sea floor of
Thailand. It is named for the colour it turns corals before destroying them.
• Scientists believe overfishing, pollution and rising water temperatures because of
climate change may be making the reefs more vulnerable to yellow-band disease.
• Was first spotted in the Caribbean. There is no known cure.
• Related news — Sunscreen bottles are frequently labeled as “reef-friendly” and
“coral-safe.” These claims generally mean that the lotions replaced oxybenzone — a
chemical that can harm corals — with something else.
• Coral tissue loss syndrome is a lethal disease, a high mortality rate in coral reefs. It is
possibly caused by bacterial pathogens spreading to corals through direct contact and
water circulation.
• Read here: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/corals-and-sea-
anemones-turn-sunscreen-into-toxins-understanding-how-could-help-save-coral-
reefs-82756
4. IY of Millets in 2023:
• Context: India’s proposal approved by FAO
in 2018 and UNGA approved it now.
• Millets are small-seeded annual grasses,
commonly cultivated as grain crops in semi
dry regions.
• India is largest producer of millets. Millets
included in NFSA, 2013.
• Are highly drought tolerant and climate
resilient. Lower carbon and water
footprint.
• With no gluten and low glycaemic index,
millet diet is ideal for those with celiac
diseases and diabetes. Low carbs and high
protein and high fibre.
• Low GI food — takes longer to digest than
standard wheat flour.
• Read here: click and here


5. Delimitation Commission: IASEC
• Context: was in news
• Constitution mandates that the Commission’s
orders are final and cannot be questioned
before any court as it would hold up an
election indefinitely.
• When the orders of Delimitation Commission
are laid before the Lok Sabha or State
Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any
modification in the orders.
• Delimitation is carried out by an independent
Delimitation Commission, appointed by the
Government of India under provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act.
• Under Article 82, Parliament is to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census. Once
the Act is in force, the Union government sets up the Delimitation Commission.
• In the history of the Indian republic, Delimitation Commissions have been set up four
times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
There was no delimitation after the 1981, 1991 and 2001 Censuses.
• The last delimitation exercise that changed the state-wise composition of the Lok
Sabha was completed in 1976 and done on the basis of the 1971 census.
• Other relevant news — https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/article-81-
constitution-explained-why-lok-sabha-is-still-543-6067542/
• Article 81 — number of LS seats allotted to a state would be such that the ratio
between that number and the population of the state is, as far as possible, the
same for all states. This is to ensure that every state is equally represented.
Originally, Article 81 provided that the LS shall not have more than 500 members.
• First house had 497 seats, second has 507 (recall impact of 1956 act on LS), with each
subsequent delimitation, seats increased.
• Last delimitation exercise (post 2001 census) – only readjusted boundaries of existing
LS and Assembly seats and reworked the number of seats reserved for SCs and STs.
6. What is Virovore?
• An actual species of protist that feasts on viruses.
• These virus-eating species of protists are not an animal, plant, or fungi — are now
classified as Virovores.
• Scientists found that a species of Halteria - who are microscopic ciliates that populate
freshwater throughout the world - can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses.
• Protists are simple eukaryotic organisms that are neither plants nor animals or fungi.
Protists are unicellular in nature but can also be found as a colony of cells. Most
protists live in water, damp terrestrial environments or even as parasites.
7. Croatia:
• On 1st January 2023, Croatia adopted the Euro and removed dozens of border
checkpoints to become the 27th nation to join Europe's passport- free travel area
(world’s largest).
• Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, but to adopt the Euro it had to fulfil a set
of strict economic conditions (having a stable exchange rate, controlling inflation and
sound public spending).


8. Rupee Depreciation: IASEC
• Context: depreciated by around 10% against the
US dollar
• US Fed aggressively raised IR in 2022 that led
to higher interest rate differential between the
US and India, and investors pulled out money
from the domestic market and started investing
in the US market to take advantage of higher
rates.
• Weaker rupee should theoretically give a boost
to India’s exports, but in an environment of
uncertainty and weak global demand, a fall in
the external value of rupee may not translate
into higher exports.
• Negatively — risk of imported inflation (oil, gas,
edible oils etc).
9. First Wildlife Bond:

• Context: World Bank in 2022, priced first WLB at $150m for black rhinos in SA
• The Wildlife Conservation Bond is a first-of-its-kind, outcome-based, financial
instrument that channels investments to achieve conservation outcomes
measured in this case by an increase in black rhino populations.
• There are five rhino species globally (white and black rhinos in Africa, and the
greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran).
• In India, only one horned rhinos are found, once Sumatran rhinos were also found
here, but now extinct in India (not world). The Sumatran rhino is the smallest of the
five extant rhino species in the world.
10. ART, Act 2021:

• Context: Recent judgement
• HC has directed the National Assisted
Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board
to alert the Union government about the need for
having a relook at the upper age limit prescribed
for using assisted reproductive technology.
• As per ART act — prescription of the upper age limit under Section 21 (G) of 50 years
for women and 55 years for men.
11. Sunderbans:
• 40% of Sundarbans lies in India and the rest in Bangladesh.
• Sundarbans was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 (India) and 1997
(Bangladesh).
• Sundarbans Wetland, India was recognised as the ‘Wetland of International
Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in January 2019.
• It is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the estuarine
crocodile, water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin and olive ridley turtle.


12. Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF): IASEC
• Context: IEPF to launch an outreach programme to create awareness of
Cryptocurrencies and Online Gaming.
• Set up under Companies act, 1956, was actually introduced by way of Companies
(Amendment) Act, 1999.
• IEPFA Authority is entrusted with the responsibility of administration of the Investor
Education Protection Fund (IEPF), making refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends,
matured deposits/debentures etc. to investors, promoting awareness among investors,
and protecting the interests of the investors.
13. Helsinki Accords (1975):

• First Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (now Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe).
• Primarily an effort to reduce tension between the Soviet and Western blocs, they were
signed by all the countries of Europe, the US and Canada.
• The agreement made the 35 signatory nations pledge to respect human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
• Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organisation
founded in 1978 as “Helsinki Watch,” initially aimed at investigating rights abuses in
countries that signed the Helsinki Accords. Currently, its ambit has expanded to about
100 countries worldwide.
• It is headquartered in New York City.
14. International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC):

• A multi-modal transportation established
on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg,
by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose
of promoting transportation cooperation
among the Member States.
• The INSTC was expanded to include
eleven new members, namely: the
Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of
Armenia, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic
of Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Oman, Syria,
Bulgaria (Observer).
15. Purchasing Managers Index:

• A survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception
about key business variables as compared with the previous month.
• IIP (as opposed to PMI) shows the change in production volume in major industrial
subsectors like manufacturing, mining and electricity. Similarly, the IIP also gives use
based (capital goods, consumer goods etc) trends in industrial production.
• It covers broader industrial sector compared to PMI.
• For India, the PMI Data is published by Japanese firm Nikkei but compiled and
constructed by Markit Economics (for the US, it is the ISM). A manufacturing PMI and a
services PMI are prepared and published by the two.


16. Chargesheet in Indian system: IASEC
• Context: SC ruled that chargesheets are not ‘public documents’ and enabling their
free public access violates the provisions of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) as
it compromises the rights of the accused, victim, and the investigation agencies.
• A chargesheet, is defined under section
173, CrPC,is the final report prepared by
a police officer or investigative agency
after completing their investigation of a
case.
• A chargesheet must be filed against the
accused with in a prescribed period of
60-90 days, otherwise, the arrest is illegal, and the accused is entitled to bail.
• Contemporary news — SC guidelines for bail if chargesheet has been filed
• Read here: https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sc-issues-
guidelines-on-granting-bail-on-filing-of-charge-sheet-121100701285_1.html
• Another important news — https://www.barandbench.com/columns/section-190-crpc-
magistrate-has-the-jurisdiction-to-issue-summons-against-person-not-named-in-the-
fir-and-chargesheet-supreme-court
17. Stem-cell derived Mitochondria Transplantation:

• Context: Some children were successfully treated.
• Some rare disorders caused by deletion in the genomes of their mitochondria and this
was fixed by Stem-cell derived Mitochondria Transplantation.
• Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are disorders caused by mitochondrial and
nuclear DNA mutations which affect the nervous and muscular systems.
• The process involved the mitochondrial transplant from donor mothers into children’s
haematopoietic stem cells, which give rise to all types of blood cells.
• Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with
specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a
laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells.

18. Digital Twin: IASEC
• It is a virtual replica of a
physical asset, process or service
that lies at the core of the new
digital revolution.
• National Digital Twin would be
an ecosystem of smart, dynamic,
connected Digital Twins, enabled
by secure and interoperable data
sharing, to facilitate better
decision-making.
• Associated concept: Digital Clone
• Read this concept here: https://
petapixel.com/2021/02/16/ai-
can-now-turn-you-into-a-fully-
digital-realistic-talking-clone/
19. Giving to Amplify Earth Action:

• A new initiative Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) was launched to leverage
philanthropic capital to unlock funding for the climate crisis.
• World Economic Forum, supported by more than 45 partners launched GAEA.
•A global initiative to fund and grow new and existing public, private and
philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to help unlock the $3 trillion of financing.
20. RNA Mapping:

• RNA mapping is a technique used to identify and map
the location of RNA molecules within a cell or tissue.
• Typically used to study the expression and localization of
different types of RNA, including messenger RNA (mRNA),
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA).
• Method for RNA mapping:
• In- situ hybridization (ISH): allows researchers to see
where a specific RNA is located within a cell or
tissues and can provide insights into the function of that RNA.
• RNA-seq (RNA sequencing): allows for the simultaneous analysis of thousands or
even millions of RNA molecules in a sample.
• RNA-seq can be used to generate a detailed picture of
the transcriptome, including the abundance and location
of different RNA molecules.
21. DNA methylation:

• It is a process by which methyl groups are added to the
DNA molecule, typically to the promoter region of a
gene, resulting in the repression of gene transcription.
• This primarily occurs on cytosine that precedes a
guanine nucleotide (CpG sites).
• Recently, used in a case to identify true chronological
age of subject.


22. Mali Parwat Bauxite Mining: IASEC
• Bauxite is an ore of aluminum. It is a rock consisting
mainly of hydrated aluminium
oxides.
• The deposits of Bauxite are
mainly associated with laterites
and occur as capping on hills
and plateaus, except in coastal
areas of Gujarat and Goa.
• The main bauxite belt in Odisha
is in Kalahandi, Koraput, and
Baragarh districts.
• This is the largest bauxite-
bearing region of the country.
23. SC judgement on Article 19/21:

• Supreme Court has ruled that a
fundamental right under Article 19/21
can be enforced even against persons
other than the State or its
instrumentalities.
• The court took this view while ruling
that right of free speech and expression
guaranteed under the Article 19(1)(a)
cannot be curbed by any additional
grounds other than those already laid
down in Article 19(2).
24. New Market-Based Economic Dispatch (MBED)

• India is developing a new electricity market
model called the MBED mechanism.
• MBED is a way forward to deepen power
markets in line with the Centre’s ‘One Nation,
One Grid, One Frequency, One Price’ formula.
• Currently, the electricity grid is divided into
state-wise autonomous control areas managed
by the State Load Dispatch Centers (SLDCs), which in turn are supervised by Regional
Load Dispatch Centers (RLDCs) and the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC).
• The MBED model wants to change this by having a central market operator in charge of
all the electricity.
25. White Tufted Royal Butterfly:

• A rare butterfly species in Kannur, Kerala which was earlier spotted in Agasthyakoodam
in 2017 and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
• Butterflies are insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda which also
includes moths.


26. Kelp forest: IASEC
• Kelp forests are underwater
ecosystems formed in
shallow water by the dense
growth of several different
species.
• Kelp are large brown algae
that live in cool, relatively
shallow waters close to the
shore.
• They attach to the seafloor
and eventually grow to the
water’s surface and rely on sunlight to generate food and energy, kelp forests are
always coastal and require shallow, relatively clear water.
• Read here: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/kelp-forests-
losing-unique-traits-due-to-climate-change-says-study-87331
27. Location based news:

• Ganga river and its tributaries — in news
• Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
• Croatia — Euro adopted
• Mali Parwat - Bauxite mining
• Abyei — on border of Sudan and South Sudan
• Kilauea — Hawai
• Deepor Beel
• Etalin project — Arunachal
x-x
Compiled by Kaptaan Jack Sparrow for @iasexamcongress.

Prelims Exclusive Handouts (PEH) for January 2023

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IAS Exam Congress

Jan’23 (for CSp-23) 1 @iasexamcongress