8-February-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

390-YEAR-OLD LAMP POST IN NALGONDA UNRAVELS TRADE LINKS OF TELANGANA

TOPIC: GS1 (ART AND ARCHITECTURE): SOURCE: THE HINDU

WHY IN NEWS: A 390-year-old lamp post discovered in Nalgonda district, Telangana, sheds light on ancient trade connections in the region.

Unearthed by archaeologists along the River Krishna, the 20-foot tall pillar features hollows for lamps and a multi-lingual inscription, offering insights into the early medieval trade landscape.

Key Findings:

• Discovery: The ancient lamp post was uncovered near a small flat-roofed structure in Mudimanikyam village, Nalgonda.
• Uniqueness: The lamp post is distinctive, as lamp posts are uncommon in the Deccan region but prevalent in temples along the west coast, such as Goa.
• Inscription Details: The multi-lingual inscription, a blend of Telugu and Tamil, dates the pillar to June 1635. It is dedicated to Kasi Viswanatha and likely served as a riverine trade route lighthouse due to its height.
• Trade Significance: Positioned on the riverbank, the lamp post offers evidence of riverine trade activities in the region during the Qutb Shahi rule. This is a notable finding as historical records often focus on land trade routes.
• Geographical Context: The village, located about 180 kilometers from Hyderabad, was part of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. The discovery aligns with European accounts, such as those by French diamond trader Tavernier, describing both land and riverine trade routes during the same period.

DOWNLOADING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS AN OFFENCE

TOPIC: GS2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE: THE HINDU

WHY IN NEWS: The Madras High Court’s recent decision in a child pornography case has sparked controversy, asserting that downloading and privately viewing such material are not offenses.

Key Points:

Case Overview – S. Harish vs Inspector of Police:

• The Madras High Court controversially quashes judicial proceedings related to child pornography download.
• Court’s ruling claims that downloading and private viewing are not offenses under Section 67B of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.

Legal Reference – Section 67B of IT Act:

• Section 67B(b) criminalizes actions like downloading, advertising, promoting, or distributing material depicting children in obscene ways.
• The High Court’s flawed interpretation focused on the accused not transmitting material, overlooking the inclusion of downloading as an offense in Section 67B(b).

Precedent Misinterpretation and Recent Case Law:

• The court cited an irrelevant Kerala High Court case, creating an inappropriate precedent.
• Recent case law (Aneesh vs State of Kerala, September 2023) distinguishes between adult and child pornography under Section 292 of the IPC.

Inherent Powers and Quashing – Section 482 of CrPC:

• Madras High Court utilized inherent powers to prevent misuse of court processes.
• Contradicting Supreme Court guidelines (State of Haryana vs Bhajan Lal, 1992) that suggest quashing only when no prima facie offense is evident.

Inconsistency and Legislative Suggestions:

• Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act address offenses, including child pornography.
• Suggests renaming “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse materials (CSAM)” for better reflection of the crime.
• Proposes amending the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to align with the IT Act, making mere possession of CSAM a separate offense.

Recommendations:

• Urges the State government to appeal the judgment to prevent detrimental precedent.
• Advocates for legislative amendments to harmonize laws, ensuring effective prosecution and child protection.

OVER 20,000 FCRA LICENCES CANCELLED, MOST FROM T.N.

TOPIC: GS2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE: THE HINDU

WHY IN NEWS: The recent cancellation of over 20,000 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licenses, mainly in Tamil Nadu, has raised concerns.

Key Points:

Background – Harsh Mander’s Case:

• CBI registered a case against human rights activist Harsh Mander and his NGO, Centre for Equity Studies (CES), for alleged FCRA violations.
• The case involves the transfer of funds from FCRA accounts to individuals, beyond salary/wages, violating FCRA norms.

Recent Actions Against NGOs:

• FCRA registrations of Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and World Vision India were cancelled last month.
• In 2023, CBI initiated an investigation into Oxfam India for alleged FCRA violations.
• NewsClick faced a case and searches for FCRA violations in December 2023.

State-wise Analysis:

• Tamil Nadu leads in cancellations (2,580), expirations (1,576), and active licenses (over 2,500).
• Other states with significant cancellations: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka.
• Uttar Pradesh tops the list if cancellations are expressed as a percentage of all FCRA licenses.

About FCRA:

FCRA, or the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, is a significant Indian law aimed at overseeing the acceptance and use of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and companies.

Purpose:

• Enacted by the Indian Parliament to regulate foreign contributions.
• Aims to prevent the use of foreign funds for activities harmful to national interests.

Prohibition and Registration:

• Prohibits receiving foreign contributions for activities against national interest.
• Organizations need government permission to receive foreign funding.

Implementation:

• Implemented in collaboration with Union government Ministries, State authorities, and various institutions.

Amendments (FCRA Amendment Act, 2020):

• Prohibits public servants from accepting foreign donations.
• Restricts the transfer of foreign donations.
• Requires identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, or OCI card) for seeking permissions.
• Specifies an “FCRA account” for foreign donations in a designated branch in New Delhi.

Utilization and Administrative Changes:

• Government can halt unutilized foreign donations if FCRA is violated.
• Renewal of registration certificates required every six months.
• Limits administrative use of foreign donations reduced from 50% to 20%.

Voluntary Surrender, Suspension, and Penalties:

• Allows voluntary surrender of registration certificates.
• Government can suspend registration for up to 360 days.
• Penalties for false statements, false accounts, and contraventions.

PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS (PREVENTION OF UNFAIR MEANS) BILL, 2024

TOPIC: GS2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS

WHY IN NEWS: The recently introduced Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha aims to enhance transparency and fairness in public examinations.

It addresses issues in the conduct of Central Government exams and seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework to deter unfair practices.

Key Points:

Definition of Public Examination:

• Any exam by the specified public examination authorities or those notified by the Central Government.
• Includes Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards, etc.

Issues in Public Recruitments:

• Malpractices cause delays and cancellations, affecting millions of youths.
• No specific law presently addresses unfair practices in Central Government exams.
• Increased vulnerability in the examination system necessitates comprehensive legislation.

Objective of the Bill:

• Enhance transparency, fairness, and trust in public exams.
• Ensure legal deterrence against unfair practices impacting the examination system.
• Exempt candidates under existing administrative provisions.
• Serve as a template for States to safeguard their exams.

Unfair Means Defined:

• Acts for monetary or wrongful gains, such as leakage of question papers, collusion, providing unauthorized solutions, etc.

Punishments:

• Individuals resorting to unfair means face imprisonment (3 to 5 years) and a fine up to ₹10 lakh.
• Service providers involved can be fined up to ₹1 crore, with recovery of examination costs.

ALTERMAGNETS

TOPIC: GS3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE: SCIENCE.ORG

WHY IN NEWS: In a recent study, scientists have delved into the thermal properties of altermagnetic materials, shedding light on their unique characteristics and potential applications in spin-caloritronics.

           

About Altermagnets:

• Altermagnets represent a novel class of magnetic materials distinct from traditional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets.

Properties:

• Blend properties of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets.
• Exhibit zero net magnetization like antiferromagnets, yet possess non-relativistic spin splitting akin to ferromagnets.
• Unique behavior arises from complex atomic interactions within the crystal structure.

Spin Polarization:

• Altermagnets demonstrate unique spin polarization, where electron spins preferentially align in a specific direction.
• This phenomenon occurs in both real space (physical arrangement of atoms) and momentum space.

Role in Spin Caloritronics:

• Altermagnets hold promise for spin caloritronics, exploring the interplay between spin and heat flow.
• Potential applications include innovative technologies for information processing and storage.

Case Study:

• Researchers focused on rubidium dioxide (RuO2) to study crystal Nernst and thermal Hall effects.
• Crystal Nernst effect (CNE) demonstrates how altermagnets respond to temperature variations, revealing insights into their magnetic-thermal relationship.

SEPAHIJALA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

TOPIC: GS3 (ENVIRONMENT): SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

WHY IN NEWS:  The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura has recently seen a delightful addition to its diverse ecosystem.

A new batch of animals, including majestic Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, golden pigeons, silver pigeons, peafowls, and hill mynas, has found a home in this sanctuary.

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

Location and History:

• Situated approximately 25 km from Agartala, Tripura.
• Established in 1972 as the Sepahijala bio-complex for biodiversity conservation.
• Evolved to include a botanical garden, deer park, and zoo, officially becoming Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1987.

Geographical Features:

• Spreads across 18.5 sq. km, housing migratory birds and various animals.
• Divided into five sections: carnivore, primate, ungulate, reptile, and aviary sections.
• Home to natural lakes Abasarika and Amrit Sagar.

Flora and Fauna:

• Vegetation comprises moist deciduous forest with 456 plant species, bamboo, grasses, and medicinal plants.
• Diverse wildlife includes Rhesus macaque, Pigtailed macaque, Capped langur, Leopard, Clouded leopard, Jungle fowl, Civets, and Wild pig.
• Revival of the once-extinct crab-eating mongoose.
• Rich avian population with storks, Whistling teal, White ibis, and more.

AI MAY AUTOMATE DIAGNOSIS OF LUPUS

TOPIC: GS3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE: THE HANS INDIA

WHY IN NEWS:  Recent Australian research has unveiled a breakthrough in addressing a defect associated with lupus, a challenging autoimmune disease.

Key Points:

About Lupus:

• An autoimmune disease causing the immune system to damage organs and tissues.
• Inflammation impacts the skin, joints, blood, and organs like kidneys, lungs, and heart.

Causes:

• The exact cause is unknown, believed to result from a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
• More prevalent in women than men.

Types of Lupus:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Most common, varying in severity and affecting multiple body parts.
• Discoid lupus: Presents as a persistent red rash.
• Subacute cutaneous lupus: Causes sun-induced sores.
• Drug-induced lupus: Linked to specific medications, usually reversible upon discontinuation.
• Neonatal lupus: Rare, impacting newborns, possibly due to maternal antibodies.

Symptoms:

• Diverse symptoms include joint pain, muscle pain, unexplained fever, “butterfly rash” on the face, chest pain, hair loss, sun sensitivity, and discoloration of fingers or toes.

Treatment:

• No cure exists, but medications and lifestyle adjustments help manage symptoms.

Treatment aims to control inflammation, alleviate pain, and preven