Context:

• American surgeons have reported successful functioning of a pig kidney transplanted into a brain-dead human patient’s body, with the organ performing effectively for over a month.

More about the news:

• Pigs are easier to genetically modify. They also breed better with large litter, grow faster, and are less likely to transmit infections. The size of their organs is also similar to humans.
• The transplant involved using a pig kidney that had been genetically modified to disable a gene responsible for producing the sugar molecule known as Alpha-gal.
  • Alpha-gal is a molecule that is typically absent in humans, but its presence can trigger a severe immune reaction in human bodies.
• If found compatible in the long run, this process of Xenotransplantation, or transplanting organs between different species, could help provide an alternative and additional supply of organs for people facing life-threatening diseases.

News Source: TOI

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) under the Department of Food and Public Distribution held a conference on e-NWR (National Warehousing Reciepts) based pledge finance with Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).

More about the News:

• The conference was held to create awareness amongst the RRBs about the ecosystem of WDRA and benefits of pledge finance through e-NWR.
• All the RRBs were requested to onboard with WDRA repositories so that they can start lending through electronic- negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWR).
• RRBs were urged to enter into MOUs with WDRA to promote pledge finance just as other banks such as SBI, PNB and Federal Bank have done. 
• WDRA has digitized its operations since 2017 and WDRA’s e-NWR is the first digitized negotiable warehouse receipt in India. 
• RRBs were requested to be a part of the Digital Gateway being created by WDRA in partnership with NABARD aimed at reducing pledge processing time and improving the ease of doing business.

Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority(WDRA):

• WDRA was set up by the Government of India to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing (Development & Regulation) Act, 2007. 
• Objective: The main objective of WDRA is to implement Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System in the country.
• Functions: To make provisions for the development and regulation of warehouses which includes negotiability of warehouse receipts, registration of warehouses, promotion of scientific warehousing of goods, improving fiduciary trust of depositors and banks, enhancing liquidity in rural areas and promoting efficient supply chain.

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• The Prime Minister virtually addressed the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meet held recently in Bengaluru.

More about the news:

• The PM  called for a global consensus on high-level principles for building a secure, trusted, and reliable digital ecosystem.
• He called for worldwide cooperation, emphasizing the potential to establish a structure that ensures the secure and ethical utilization of artificial intelligence. 
• The role of India’s digital public infrastructure in  offering a scalable, secure and inclusive solution for global challenges was highlighted during the meeting.

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

According to the regional center of India Meteorological Department, the current monsoon break that started on August 7, 2023 has finally ended on August 18, 2023.

More about the news:

• This current monsoonal break makes it the third-longest for this century after 2002 and 2009. 
• According to the data, in the last 73 years, there have been a total of 10 instances when the break spell has stretched over 10 days. 
• The longest consecutive break spell was reported in 1972, when the core monsoon zone did not receive any rainfall for 17 days at a stretch, while in 1966 and 2002, the break spell stretched over 10 days on multiple occasions.

Break in monsoon:

• As the trough moves northwards from its initial location, rainfall abruptly stops over the plains of northern and southern India, while intensifying rapidly over the foothills of northeastern India. This phenomenon is referred to as a ‘break in monsoon.’ 
• Conversely, when the trough moves southward from its original position, it creates conducive conditions for the development of low pressure areas and depressions over the Bay of Bengal. This results in increased rainfall for central India and the southern peninsula.
• The shifting of the monsoon trough leads to occurrences of ‘break in monsoon’ situations. 
  • Monsoon trough refers to an elongated low pressure zone from the heat low of northwest India with its axis running parallel to the Himalayan mountains in a west-to-east direction.

News Source: DTE

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• The Supreme Court recently ruled that individuals must bear the repercussions of posting abusive and vulgar content online, stating that a mere apology would not be sufficient to avoid legal action.

More about the news:

• The Supreme Court in the S. Ve Shekher case declined to dismiss the trial against an actor for sharing a  post on social media containing indecent remarks about women journalists. 
• The actor had initially shared a post containing defamatory remarks about female journalists, which he later removed and apologized for, citing that he had inadvertently shared it.

News Source: Economic Times

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: The scientific community found that the LK-99 material is not a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.

More on News:

• Recently, a South Korean team of experts posted two papers claiming that they had synthesized the world’s first room-temperature superconducting material under ambient pressure.
• There has been no formal conclusion that this material was a superconductor. The majority of experts hold doubts regarding the Korean researchers’ findings.
• Researchers from the National Physical Laboratory of India shared their papers concluding that LK-99 does not exhibit superconductive properties.
• LK-99 Compound:
  • LK-99 is a modified-lead apatite crystal structure doped with copper. 
  • It is a gray–black, polycrystalline compound.  
  • The material has been analyzed at Vienna with computer simulations which discovered that the calculated electron states are indeed quite favorable for superconductivity.

About Superconductivity:

• Superconductivity: It is a physical phenomenon in which certain materials, when cooled to very low temperatures, usually near absolute zero, exhibit zero electrical resistance and expel magnetic fields.
  • Critical Temperature: The temperature at which the electrical resistivity drops to zero is known as critical temperature. 
• Discovery: Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes when he observed the sudden loss of electrical resistance in mercury at extremely low temperatures.
• Zero Resistance: In a superconductor, electric current can flow without any resistance, meaning that once a current is initiated, it can circulate indefinitely without dissipating energy as heat.
• Different from Conductors: This behavior is fundamentally different from that of regular conductors, which have resistance and thus lose some energy as heat when carrying an electric current.

Applications of Superconductivity:

• Medical Imaging Systems: Superconducting magnets are a crucial component of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, strong and stable magnetic fields produced by superconducting magnets improve the quality of MRI scans.
• Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDS):  Superconducting qubits are used in some quantum computing platforms to perform quantum computations. These devices offer the potential for solving complex problems faster than classical computers.
• Particle Accelerators: Superconducting magnets are used in particle accelerators to generate strong magnetic fields for controlling and focusing particle beams. This is essential for high-energy physics experiments and research into fundamental particles.
• Levitated Vehicle Transportation: Superconducting magnets allow MagLev trains to levitate above the tracks. This eliminates friction between the train and the tracks, enabling high-speed, energy-efficient transportation. For example, Japan is currently experimenting with MagLev tracks.
• Fusion Reactors: Superconducting magnets are used in experimental fusion reactors, such as tokamaks, to confine and control the hot plasma needed for nuclear fusion. For example, Tokmak energy built the first super magnets for testing in nuclear plants. 
• Communication Systems: Superconducting filters and detectors are used in communication systems, especially for satellite communication, due to their high sensitivity and low noise characteristics.
• Military and Defense Applications: Superconductors have potential military applications, including highly sensitive sensors for detecting submarines, advanced radar systems, and more.

Challenges Associated with Superconductivity

• Cryogenic Cooling: Cooling superconducting materials to cryogenic temperatures requires specialized cooling systems.
• Technical Expertise: Working with superconducting materials requires specialized technical knowledge and skills, which may limit their adoption in industries with less familiarity in this area.
• Costs: Superconducting materials and their associated technologies can be expensive to develop, produce, and operate.
• Brittleness: Some superconducting materials are brittle and can be challenging to fabricate into practical devices.
• Materials Performance Variability: The performance of superconducting materials can vary, which can impact the reproducibility and reliability of devices.

Conclusion

With the bleeding edge of research, we are delving deeper into High-Temperature superconductivity and trying to understand its cause. The mystery behind the formation of electron pairs will definitely fetch a Nobel Prize. Room-temperature superconductors with desired materials will allow us to commercialize scientific prototypes and open new avenues.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The total number of Jan Dhan accounts crossed 50 crore on 9th August.

• The National Mission on Financial Inclusion, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), was launched on August 28, 2014, and has completed nine years.
• It ensures access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Wildfires are common in Western Canada, but this year has seen an unusual increase. Eastern provinces, like Nova Scotia, Quebec, and parts of Ontario, are also experiencing wildfires.

About Canada: 

• Canada is the world’s second-largest country located in North American continent. Additionally, it shares the boundary with the United States.
• U.S.-Canada Border: The border between the United States and Canada is primarily defined by the 49th parallel north, marking the division between the two nations.
• Prominent Canadian Lakes: Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, and Winnipeg Lake. Additionally, it shares the boundary with the United States, which features the five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

Recently, the Parliament has passed the Mediation Bill 2023.

Key Features of Mediation Bill 2023:

• Settling Disputes through Mediation: The Bill requires persons to try to settle civil or commercial disputes through mediation before approaching any court or tribunal.
• Time Period: A party may withdraw from mediation after two mediation sessions. The mediation process must be completed within 180 days, which may be extended by another 180 days by the parties. 
• Mediation Council of India: The Bill provides for the setting up of The Mediation Council of India. 
  • Its functions will include registering mediators, and recognising mediation service providers and mediation institutes.
• Governance: The Bill aims to govern two forms of mediation – voluntary and mandatory. 
  • A voluntary mediation is where parties under a written mediation agreement seek mediation. Such an agreement may either be as part of a contract or exist independently. 
  • Mandatory mediation is, where barring certain areas of disputes, there is a legal obligation on parties to mediate before approaching a court/tribunal.
• Areas of Exclusion: The areas excluded from mediation include serious allegations of fraud, criminal offenses, environmental matters reserved for the National Green Tribunal, and matters relating to competition, telecom, securities and electricity law and land acquisition. 
  • The only issue in this entire process is that by default, the Central or State Government cannot be mandated to mediate unless the dispute is of a commercial nature. 
• Court’s Role: The provisions of the Bill will not prevent any court, if deemed appropriate, from referring any dispute to mediation relating to compoundable or matrimonial offenses connected with or arising out of civil proceedings between the parties. 
  • Compoundable offenses are those that can be compromised, i.e. the complainant can agree to take back the charges levied against the accused. For Example: Hurt, wrongful restraint, assault, molestation, fraud, adultery.
• Concept of Community Mediation: Disputes likely to affect peace, harmony and tranquility amongst the residents or families of any area or locality can be mediated and settled by a panel of mediators appointed by the concerned Authority. 

What is Mediation?

• Mediation is a voluntary process in which parties try to settle disputes with the assistance of an independent third person (the mediator).
• A mediator does not impose a solution on the parties but creates a conducive environment in which they can resolve their dispute. 
• The mediation process depends on the choice of parties, and there are no strict or binding rules of procedure.
• Unlike litigation or arbitration, which involve adjudication of a dispute, mediation involves settlement with the consent of the parties.
• In India, mediation is legitimized by Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. 
• It is a form of Alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Types of Mediation:

Court Referred Mediation

• Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu v. Union of India: In the case of Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu v. Union of India, Supreme Court held in reference to the matter of mediation that conciliation and arbitration are mandatory for court matters. This judgment has granted legal and social recognition to mediation as a dispute resolution in India.

Private Mediation 

• In private mediation, a qualified mediator is appointed by the parties on a fixed-fee basis. Both the parties come together to resolve the issue amicably. 
• The decision of the mediator is not ultimate and hence not binding on the parties.

Significance of Bill:

• India as a center of Mediation: This legislation will help ensure that institutional mediation becomes mainstream in resolving commercial (and other) disputes between the parties, putting India on the global map as a dispute friendly jurisdiction. 
  • For Example: There exists a strong correlation between Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and the promotion of mediation, and Singapore serves as a prime example of how a robust mediation ecosystem can attract greater foreign investments.        
• Pendency of Cases: According to the Minister for Law and Justice, there are 4.43 lakh cases pending in district subordinate courts, 60.63 lakh cases in high courts and around 70,000 cases in the Supreme Court.
  • Mandating participation in pre-litigation mediation may help reduce pendency and the slow disposal rate in courts. 
• Cost-effective: Mediation is a cost-effective dispute resolution process that also helps reduce the burden on courts by enabling out-of-court settlements.  
  • For Example: According to an article published in Harvard Business Review, the ADR-based mediation of one dispute cost $25,000, whereas mediation through outside counsel would have cost an estimated $700,000 and going to court as much as $2.5 million over a period of three to five years. 
• Greater Control: Mediation increases the control the parties have over the resolution. Each party is directly involved in negotiating their own agreement and no settlement can be imposed upon.
• Confidential: Unlike the potential publicity of court proceedings, everything said at the mediation is entirely confidential to the parties (unless specifically agreed otherwise).
• Faster outcomes: Because mediation can be used early in a dispute, an agreement can usually be reached quicker than if pursued through the courts.
  • The Mediation Process can take a maximum of 60 days, sometimes many cases are resolved in one or two sessions unlike in the judicial courts where normally civil matters are expected to be disposed of within three years.

Challenges of Mediation in India:

• Lack of Codification:  In  2020, the Supreme court in MR Krishna Murthi v. New India Assurance Co. Ltd pointed out the urgent need for enacting a uniform legislation for mediation in India. 
• Societal Stigma: In some cases, parties might hesitate to opt for mediation due to concerns about public perception, fearing that it might be seen as a sign of weakness or compromise.
• Resistance from Legal Professionals: Traditional legal professionals might be resistant to embracing mediation, as it could be perceived as a threat to their practice or income.
• Infrastructural Concerns and Quality Control: Improved emphasis on mediation will directly increase the workload on mediation centers which lack administrative strength.
• Institutional Support: While India has made efforts to promote mediation through legislative reforms, the infrastructure for supporting mediation at the grassroots level, including establishing mediation centers and training programs, is still evolving.
• Lack of expertise and curriculum in the established universities: Lack of  mediation education within law school curricula is one of the major hindrances.     
• Lack of Professional Mediators: The pool of trained and experienced mediators in India is still relatively small, making it challenging to offer mediation services in all areas and for all types of disputes.

Way Forward:

• Institutional Support: Establishing well-equipped and accessible mediation centers at various levels, from local communities to national levels, can provide people with convenient access to mediation services.
• More Opening of Mediation & Arbitration Centre: Government should facilitate opening of mediation centers.
  • For Example:  Recently,  Uttar Pradesh got its first mediation & arbitration centre in the form of ‘Centre for Excellence in Mediation and Arbitration or CEMA.
• Training and Certification: Developing comprehensive training programs for mediators, lawyers, and judges can ensure that there is a pool of skilled professionals proficient in mediation techniques, ethical considerations, and cultural sensitivity.
• Integration with Legal Curriculum: Incorporating mediation education within law school curricula can prepare future legal professionals to consider mediation as a primary or complementary method for dispute resolution.
• Legal Reforms: Continuously updating laws and regulations to support and encourage mediation, while also ensuring the enforceability of mediated settlements, is crucial.
• Online Mediation: Leveraging technology for online mediation platforms can make the process more accessible, especially for those in remote areas, and provide a convenient alternative to in-person sessions.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF