UPSC Key | SC grants bail to Kejriwal, CO2 emissions, Helium in rockets, and more (2024)

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Kejriwal is free after Supreme Court grants bail, judge puts CBI in dock

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

What’s the ongoing story- Ending Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s nearly six-month stint in custody following his arrest first by the ED and later by the CBI for his alleged role in the Delhi excise policy case, the Supreme Court granted him bail Friday in the CBI case, observing that “completion of the trial is unlikely to occur in the immediate future” and that he “satisfies the requisite triple conditions for the grant of bail”.

Prerequisites:

—Read about organisations like ED and CBI

—What is Section 41A of the CrPC?

—What are the different kinds of bail?

Key takeaways:

—In separate but concurring rulings, Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan extended the bail terms imposed in the ED case to the CBI case as well. This means that Kejriwal will be unable to attend the Chief Minister’s office or the Delhi Secretariat, as well as sign official files, unless it is absolutely necessary for gaining the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi’s consent or approval.

—Justice Surya Kant stated that Section 41A “does not envisage or mandate the issuance of a notice to an individual already in judicial custody.” Because such a person is already under the court’s jurisdiction, any request to involve them in an investigation in another matter must be approved by the appropriate court. The CBI has thereby followed the procedure prescribed under the objective and purpose of Section 41A CrPC”.

For Your Information:

From the Explained:

—During the hearings, both parties relied on Sections 41(1)(b) and 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 41(1)(b) specifies the conditions for arrest without a warrant, while Section 41A addresses the appearance of an accused before police in cases where arrest is not needed.

—Kejriwal claimed that none of the prerequisites for arrest specified in Section 41(1)(b) were followed in his instance, and that he was not provided with a notice by police as needed by Section 41A before being probed by the CBI in June.

—Justice Kant ruled that Section 41(1)(b) does not apply in this instance because the CBI Special Judge approved the agency’s application to arrest Kejriwal on June 26. He further ruled that Section 41A “does not envisage or mandate the issuance of a notice to an individual already in judicial custody”—Kejriwal was already imprisoned in connection with the ED case at the time.

—According to CrPC Section 41A(3), the police shall not arrest a person who “complies and continues to comply with the notice” of appearance issued under this section unless the police officer notes the reasons for arrest.

—Justice Bhuyan rejected this basis for Kejriwal’s arrest. He disagreed: “It cannot be the proposition that only when an accused answers the questions put to him by the investigation agency in the manner in which the investigating agency would like the accused to answer, would mean that the accused is cooperating with the investigation.”

—He also cited Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution, which states that “No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself,” and concluded that an accused has the right to keep silent.

—Justice Kant held that Kejriwal’s case fulfilled the “triple test” for bail because:

(i) The evidence is already in the CBI’s possession so there is no possibility of tampering with it;

(ii) Kejriwal’s “position” and his “roots” in society mean that he is not a flight risk;

(iii) In case the CBI’s concern that he will tamper with witnesses comes true, the necessary consequences will follow.

Points to Ponder:

— Why is the CBI known as ‘caged parrot’?

—Read about CAG

—Read the timeline of the case

Post Read Question:

1. Consider the following pairs with reference to Article 20 of the Constitution of India:

1. Article 20(1): No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.

2. Article 20(2): No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence

3. Article 20(3): No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Why has Supreme Court recalled its reference to CBI as a ‘caged parrot’

Govt & Politics

Disengaged at four places in Eastern Ladakh, situation stable, says China

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National and International importance.

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story- A day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that about 75 per cent of the “disengagement problems” with China have been sorted out, the Chinese Foreign ministry Friday said that the troops have disengaged at four places in Eastern Ladakh, including Galwan Valley.

IISc proposes ‘human brain-inspired computing platform to boost AI tools

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, Science and technology

Mains Examination: GS-III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics

What’s the ongoing story- In a pathbreaking technological progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed an analogous computing platform within a molecular film which is able to mimic a human brain-like functioning.

Prerequisites:

—What is AI and its application in daily life?

—What is a neuromorphic accelerator?

—Read about Machine Learning and scientific computing

Key takeaways:

—The Bengaluru-based researchers working at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at IISc stated that the ‘brain on the chip’ architecture, while equivalent, could accomplish activities like processing and data storage that were similar to those of a human brain.

—It provides 16,500 conductance states inside the molecular film. For comparison, the current digital computing platform must be coded and runs on the binary states of 0 and 1. They can also be energy and time intensive, resulting in a slower pace when compared to the predicted AI-based computation speeds on this platform.

UPSC Issue at a Glance | India’s Semiconductor Push: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

—This has the potential to transform and shatter the current glass ceiling of overall AI capabilities. According to the researchers, the new platform allows for the flexible and easy deployment of AI-based tasks onto personal electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and PCs. This would also be useful in computing applications, such as machine learning and scientific computing. The IISc team worked on addressing some of the major gaps in current neuromorphic (human brain-like computing approaches) processes.

—The most recent research published in Nature also revealed how kinetic controls were developed over the chemical transition, allowing for practically all critical neuromorphic features in a single circuit element. The researchers used timed voltage pulses to trace a vast number of molecule movements and map each one to a unique electrical signal, resulting in an extensive molecular diary of various states.

For Your Information:

—“This unrestricted ionic movement resulted in the generation of numerous distinct memory states and pathways. So far, such transitional states have remained unreachable since most digital equipment can only access two conductance levels: high or low. This technology allows us to carefully control molecular dynamics within an electronic circuit powered by nanosecond voltage pulses,” explained CeNSE’s Sreebrata Goswami.

—According to the researchers, such accelerators may be effortlessly integrated into silicon circuitry to improve performance and energy efficiency.

—In the realm of AI, several milestones in neuromorphic computing, like edge training, deployment of advanced models such as generative adversarial networks, long or short-term memory or transformers could be unlocked.

Points to Ponder:

—What is ‘Project Strawberry’?

—What are large language models (LLMs)?

Post Read Question:

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has proposed a new computing platform inspired by the human brain. Discuss the potential impacts of such a brain-inspired computing platform on the field of artificial intelligence.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What is OpenAI o1, an AI model that ‘thinks’ before it answers?

‘High target can help cut CO2 emissions from transport sector up to 71% by 2050’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current event of National and International importance, General issues on Environmental ecology

Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

What’s the ongoing story- Carbon dioxide emissions from India’s transport sector could be reduced up to 71 per cent by 2050 if high-ambition strategies are adopted on three key parameters – electrification, improving fuel economy standards, and switching to cleaner modes of transport and mobility, said a new study by World Resources Institute (WRI) India.

Prerequisites:

—Read about greenhouse gases

—What is the National Green Tribunal?

Key takeaways:

—According to the report, India’s transport sector accounted for 14% of total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020, necessitating the development of an emission reduction roadmap and targets.

—According to the study, implementing a high emission reduction target in the transport sector will be critical in meeting India’s net-zero aim by 2070. The study’s findings are based on the energy policy simulator, which enables users to create dynamic models of various decarbonisation targets and outcomes. In addition to the simulation, contributions were obtained from expert stakeholder engagements.

—“Implementing fuel economy, electrification, and modal shift strategies simultaneously at their highest ambition level results in a 71 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and fossil fuel consumption by 2050 compared to the BAU (business as usual) scenario,” the researchers reported.

—“The simulation suggests that shifting to low-carbon transport for both freight and passenger segments is the most cost-effective policy in the long term, with estimated savings of Rs. 12,118 per tCO2 (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) abated,” according to Chakrabarty.

For Your Information:

—The requirement to increase electric vehicle sales is the most effective in terms of reducing CO2 emissions, with an annual abatement potential of 121 MtCO2e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent). According to the report, decarbonisation of electricity generation could supplement transportation electrification ambitions.

—“Implementing an additional policy with a carbon-free electricity standard where 75 per cent of electricity is sourced from renewables results in a 75 per cent reduction by 2050 compared to BAU values,” according to the report.

—“The usage of fossil fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas, diesel and petrol is predicted to treble in the next three decades. Such consumption will be driven by passenger travel demand, which is expected to quadruple between 2020 and 2050, and freight travel demand, which is expected to climb sevenfold during the same timeframe, according to the report.

—In 2020, the transport sector contributed 14 per cent of all energy-related CO2 emissions, with road transport accounting for 90 per cent, making it the most carbon-intensive mode of transportation. Out of this 90 per cent, two-wheelers contributed around 16%, cars about 25 per cent, buses 9 per cent, freight light-duty vehicles (LDVs) 8 per cent, and freight heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) 45 per cent.

—According to the study, railways, aviation, and waterways contributed 6 per cent, 3 per cent, and 1 per cent of energy consumption, respectively.

Points to Ponder:

—Why is there still a dependence on fossil fuels?

—Which transportation causes the highest CO2 emissions?

—Transition to renewable energies

Post Read Question:

3. Which of the following transport modes is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions in the recent study conducted by World Resources Institute (WRI) India?

(a) Maritime shipping

(b) Railways

(d) Electric vehicles

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Global emissions of CO2 from transport: Cars, buses account for largest share; airlines a tenth

Ideas Page

The UN the world needs

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of International events

Mains Examination: GS-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to New York later this month to address the special global summit hosted by the United Nations on September 22-23. Ambitiously named “The UN Summit of the Future”, the summit intends to forge a “new international consensus” on how to deliver “a better present and safeguard the future”.

Prerequisites:

—Read about the UN and its important organisations

—Read the timeline about the Ukraine and Gaza war

Key takeaways:

—A larger concern for many is “the future of the UN” itself. The group, which began eight decades ago in San Francisco with 50 countries as members, appears to be in decline now. It proves to be an ineffectual and inefficient tool for addressing current difficulties.

UPSC MAINS SPECIAL | How has UPSC asked questions on International Relations?

—“The United Nations was created not to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell,” Dag Hammarskjöld, the Swedish diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General from 1953 to 1961, famously stated.

—Dennis Francis, the Trinidadian diplomat and President of the General Assembly, chose “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity” as the theme of the 78th session, which will be held in September 2023.

—UN Secretary-General Antony Guterres addressed the special session, emphasising the importance of modernising and modernising the multilateral framework that has existed since World War II. “It’s either reform or rupture. The world has changed. “Our institutions have not,” he informed foreign leaders.

—Western intellectuals such as H G Wells, Albert Einstein, Aldous Huxley, and John Foster Dulles were predominantly influenced by the idea of Anglo-Saxon ethnic superiority and advocated for a world union commanded by the United States and other “English-speaking nations”.

—This dominating idea compelled Roosevelt and Churchill to create the groundwork for the UN in 1941. It should not be forgotten that the majority of the first 50 countries to join the United Nations in 1945 were from the sphere outlined by Wells in 1935.

—The United Nations membership has grown over time, and it now has 193 member nations and two observer states (the Holy See and Palestine). Brexit, AUKUS, and the lesser-known CANZUK (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom) are all the product of this thinking.

—This structure of ethnic dominance became the UN’s adversary. As non-English-speaking countries grew in strength and influence and began to assert themselves in global affairs, the dominating powers devised a mechanism to circumvent the institution rather than make it more democratic and inclusive.

For Your Information:

—The world body appears helpless in containing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, imposing rules on the developed Global North regarding food security and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the developing Global South, and forcing the industrialised North to compensate for the developing South’s climate compliance.

—The WTO’s dispute resolution process has been stalled since December 2019 due to the United States’ failure to confirm the nomination of new judges to the appellate panel. As of 2023, more than 600 bilateral and regional trade agreements are pending before the trade authority without decision.

Points to Ponder:

—What is WTO’s dispute redressal mechanism?

—What is an appellate body?

—Read about CANZUK and AUKUS

Post Read Question:

Discuss the need for reform within the United Nations to better address contemporary global challenges.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How the United Nations was born on this day in 1945, and how it has evolved

Explained Page

What is Helium and why is it used in Rockets?

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National & International importance, General Science.

Mains Examination: GS-III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story- Two NASA astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner will remain on the International Space Station for months due to a broken propulsion system that includes helium leaks.

Prerequisites:

—Read about Helium and its characteristics

—Why do spacecraft and rockets use helium?

Key takeaways:

—Helium is inert — it does not react with other substances or combust — and its atomic number is 2, making it the second lightest element after hydrogen.

—To reach and maintain orbit, rockets must travel at specific speeds and altitudes. A heavier rocket demands more energy, which not only raises fuel consumption but also necessitates more powerful engines, which are more expensive to create, test, and operate.

—Helium has a very low boiling point (-268.9 degrees Celsius), allowing it to stay a gas even in extremely cold conditions, which is essential because many rocket fuels are stored at those temperatures.

For Your Information:

—Helium is utilised to pressurise fuel tanks to provide uninterrupted fuel flow to the rocket’s engines, as well as for cooling systems.

—As fuel and oxidiser are used in the rocket’s engines, helium fills the empty space in the tanks, maintaining overall pressure. Because it is non-reactive, it can safely mix with the tanks’ remaining contents.

—Helium’s small atomic size and low molecular weight allow its atoms to escape via tiny gaps or seals in storage tanks and fuel systems.

Points to Ponder:

—What is the advantage of helium having a very low boiling point of – 268.9 degree Celsius?

—How is helium used in spacecraft?

Post Read Question:

4. Which of the following best describes the characteristics of helium gas that make it suitable for space applications?

(a) High reactivity and ability to generate electricity

(b) Low density and non-reactivity at extremely low temperatures

(d) High thermal conductivity and magnetism

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore on ISS stay: ‘Not disappointed to be spending extra time in space’

Port Blair and its historical connection to the Chola conquest of Srivijaya

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, History of India.

Mains Examination: GS-I: Ancient history, Architecture from ancient to modern times.

What’s the ongoing story- Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, Union Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X on Friday (September 13). He said the decision to change the name was inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “to free the nation from colonial imprints”.

Prerequisites:

—Location: Port Blair

—What is the process of changing name?

Key takeaways:

—Port Blair serves as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ entry point. It was named for Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine. Blair was the first officer to do a complete study of the Andaman islands.

—After joining the Bombay Marine in 1771, Blair embarked on a survey voyage throughout the shores of India, Iran, and Arabia the following year. By the late 1780s, he had taken part in a number of survey trips, including ones to the Chagos islands, Diamond Harbour south of Calcutta, and the Hooghly River.

—Blair set sail from Calcutta in December 1778 on his first surveying journey to the Andaman Islands, accompanied by two ships, Elizabeth and Viper. The mission, which lasted until April 1779, brought him along the island’s west coast before sailing north along the eastern shore to a natural harbour that he initially dubbed Port Cornwallis (after Commodore William Cornwallis, Commander-in-chief of the British Indian Army).

—Later, the island was named for him. Blair was instantly aware of the significance of his discovery and prepared a detailed survey report, which was well received by East India Company (EIC) authorities.

—The Revolt of 1857 produced a huge number of captives for the British, forcing the immediate reconstruction and resettlement of Port Blair as a penal colony. The majority of the defendants received life sentences in Port Blair. Several of them were hanged, while others died from disease and deplorable conditions in the location.

For Your Information:

—According to some historical documents, Rajendra I, the 11th century Chola ruler, utilised the Andaman Islands as a strategic naval base to launch an invasion on Srivijaya, which is now in Indonesia.

—According to an inscription discovered in Thanjavur dated 1050 CE, the Cholas referred to the island as Ma-Nakkavaram land (great open/naked country), which may have given rise to the contemporary name Nicobar under the British.

—According to historian Herman Kulke’s co-edited book, Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia (2010), the Chola invasion of Srivijaya was a unique event in Indian history and “its otherwise peaceful relations with the states of Southeast Asia which had come under India’s strong cultural influence for about a millennium.”

—G W Spencer, an American historian, understands the Srivijaya expedition as part of Chola expansionism, which had been ongoing for decades and culminated in battles with other South Indian and Sri Lankan dynasties.

Points to Ponder:

—Read about the Chola Kingdom

—Emperors of the Chola Kingdom

—Architecture of Cholas

—Ports used for trade under Cholas

Post Read Question:

5. What is the significance of the Chola naval expeditions?

(a) They marked the beginning of the Chola empire’s decline

(b) They established Chola influence across Southeast Asia

(d) They were aimed at defending against Mongol invasions

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How successful were the Cholas as empire builders