Current Affairs April 2020 Chronicleindia!

Current News International WHO

Immunity Passport

As countries around the world are struggling to lift lockdowns due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, policymakers are deliberating how to deal with future outbreaks as and when they emerge.
Among the ideas being considered is an “immunity certificate” or “immunity passport”, whose holders would be able to get back to work.

Need

Lockdowns around the world have severely impacted the global economy, with many governments facing glaring challenges such as high unemployment and fall in production.
Under increasing pressure to reopen their economies, parts of Europe and the US have been considering issuing immunity certificates to people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have its antibodies– thus presumed to be immune to the disease.

What is Immunity passport or certificate?

Idea behind the concept is that the people who are issued these certificates would be allowed to go back to work and move about freely.
In Germany, researchers have suggested testing 1 lakh people, and issuing certificates to those who have antibodies for the novel coronavirus.
UK has suggested that such a certificate could be in the form of a wristband.
The idea has also become popular in Italy, where the lockdown exit strategy includes compulsory antibody tests as the country seeks to set up the certificate system.

Why WHO is against Immunity Passport?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against issuing “immunity passports” to people who have recovered from Covid-19, as there is no evidence that they will be protected from a second infection.
Instead, the certificates could pose a health risk by providing unjustified assurances of protection to individuals and their communities.
People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice.
The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission.
There have been reports, including from China and South Korea, of patients who appeared to have recovered from the disease testing positive again.
Further it said that the issue of false negative and false positive both hinder the efforts to stop the public transmission of the disease and in the circumstances when accuracies of different models of testing across different countries are not 100 percent, the issuance of Immunity passport will further deepen the crisis.

Would such a certificate be reliable?

Experts have cautioned governments against acting in haste, since much still remains to be understood about the spread of the virus, as well as immunity to it.
Lack of necessary information would make categorising between immune and non-immune persons a challenging as well as potentially dangerous task, they insist.
There are also logistical problems, as not enough test kits are still available around the world to be able to issue such certificates on a large scale.
Also, many researchers continue to remain sceptical about entirely relying on antibody tests to issue certificates.
At the same time, experts have said that issuing such certificates would create resentment among members of the community, and raise the possibility of stigmatisation.
As younger populations are known to be more resilient to the virus, they would be more favoured to get immunity certificates, as opposed to older people, leading to divisions.

How would this help in the response to the Coronavirus pandemic?

If everything works, the antibody tests and the assumption that recovered people get enough immunity to not get COVID-19 again, then immunity passports would help us get out of stay-at-home orders and economic shutdown.
In theory, people who have an immunity passport could safely return to work because they would not get sick again and start passing the virus around.
As tests become available, then business and activity could slowly return to normal.

Current News Indian Economy Plan Policy

Amendments To FDI Policy

On 18^th April, 2020, the government amended the extant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, mandating neighbouring countries to require government approval, effectively closing the “automatic route” used by firms and individuals to set up business in the country.

Need

India’s move was attributed to the rising possibility of “opportunistic takeovers” of its companies, as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the economy.
Several Indian start-ups have existing investment from Chinese investors. For instance, Flipkart has an investment from Tencent (about 5 percent) and Alibaba owns a significant stake in Paytm.
The decision came days after China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) had raised its shareholding in HDFC to over 1 percent.
It is to be noted that China’s FDI has grown five-fold since 2014 and, as of December 2019, its cumulative investment in India exceeded $8 billion — “far more” than investments by other countries that share borders with India.

Present FDI Norms for Neighbouring Countries

FDI in India is allowed under two modes - automatic (companies don't need government approval) or via the government (companies need a go-ahead from the centre).
A non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy except in those sectors/activities which are prohibited.
However, a citizen of Bangladesh or an entity incorporated in Bangladesh can invest only under the Government route.
Further, a citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan can invest, only under the Government route, in sectors/activities other than defence, space, atomic energy and sectors/activities prohibited for foreign investment.

Changes Made

The existing FDI policy as applicable to investments from India's neighbourhood, was confined to Bangladesh and Pakistan, while the new policy brings China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar within its ambit.
Firms in neighbouring countries wanting to invest in Indian companies would first need its approval.
An entity of a country that shares a land border with India can now invest in firms here “only under the Government route”.
This also applies to “beneficial” owners — even if the investing company is not located in a neighbouring country, it would still be subject to these conditions if its owner is a citizen or resident of such a country.
In the event of the transfer of ownership of any existing or future FDI in an entity in India, directly or indirectly, resulting in the beneficial ownership, such subsequent change in beneficial ownership will also require Government approval.

China’s response

China said that the additional barriers set by Indian side for investors from specific countries violate WTO’s (World Trade Organization) principle of non-discrimination, and go against the general trend of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.
China has called for India to revise these “discriminatory practices” and treat investments from different countries equally.
Further, China said that the new norms do not conform to the consensus of G20 leaders and trade ministers to realize a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep our markets open.

India’s Argument

India maintains the policy is not aimed at any one country and that the move is aimed at curbing “opportunistic” takeovers of Indian firms, many of which are under strain.
The amendments are not prohibiting investments. There are many sectors in India that are already subject to this approval route.

International Measures

On March 25, 2020, the European Commission issued guidelines to ensure “a strong EU-wide approach” to foreign investment screening at such a time. The aim was to preserve EU companies and critical assets, notably in areas like health, medical research, biotechnology and infrastructures essential for security and public order, without undermining the EU’s general openness to foreign investment.
On March 30, 2020, Australia temporarily tightened rules on foreign takeovers over concerns that strategic assets could be sold off cheaply. This followed warnings that distressed Australian companies in the aviation, freight and health sectors could become vulnerable to buyouts by state-owned enterprises, especially China. All foreign takeover and investment proposals will now be scrutinised by Australia’s foreign investment review board.
Spain, Italy and the US too has implemented investment-related restrictions.

Concerns and Unintended Effects

The amended policy makes every type of investment by Chinese investors subject to government approval. Such a blanket application could create unintended problems.
It does not distinguish between Greenfield and Brownfield investments. It may pose obstacles to Greenfield investments where Chinese investors bring fresh capital to establish new factories and generate employment in India.
Further, the amendments do not distinguish between the different types of investors, such as industry players, financial institutions, or venture capital funds.
The restrictions on Venture capital funds may impact the prospects of many start-ups in the Indian market.
According to the experts, there are different sets of procedures for the same set of investments based on which country the company is investing from. This is where the potential issue of discrimination arises. While India can discriminate in favour of domestic investment, discrimination against certain countries for non-security reasons may not be seen favourably on the global stage.

Current News Science & Technology Health & Disease

Chitra GeneLAMP-N Test Kit

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, an Institute of National Importance, of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a diagnostic test kit that can confirm COVID19 in 2 hours at low cost.

About Chitra GeneLAMP-N

The test kit, funded by the DST called Chitra GeneLAMP-N, is highly specific for SARS-CoV-2 N-gene and can detect two regions of the gene.
It will help ensure that the test does not fail even if one region of the viral gene undergoes mutation during its current spread.

Mode of Working

The confirmatory diagnostic test detects the N Gene of SARS- COV2 using reverse transcriptase loop-mediated amplification of viral nucleic acid (RT-LAMP).
The tests performed at NIV Alappuzha (authorized by ICMR) show that Chitra GeneLAMP- N has 100% accuracy and match with test results using RT-PCR.
The results can be read from the machine from the change in fluorescence.

Benefits

Current PCR kits in India enable detection of E gene for screening and RdRp gene for confirmation.
Chitra GeneLAMP-N gene testing will allow confirmation in one test without the need for a screening test and at much lower costs.
The cost of testing with the new device for LAMP testing and the test kit for 2 regions of N gene( including RNA extraction) will be less than Rs 1000/test for the laboratory.
The detection time is 10 minutes, and the sample to result time (from RNA extraction in swab to RT-LAMP detection time) will be less than 2 hours.
A total of 30 samples can be tested in a single batch in a single machine allowing a large number of samples to be tested each day.
The testing facility can be easily set up even in the laboratories of district hospitals with limited facilities and trained laboratory technicians.

Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP)

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a single-tube technique for the amplification of DNA and a low-cost alternative to detect certain diseases.
RT-LAMP) combines LAMP with a reverse transcription step to allow the detection of RNA.
RT-LAMP is used in the detection of viruses.
This method is very effective in detecting viruses with an RNA genome (Group II, IV, and V based on the Baltimore Virus Classification system).

Advantages

This method is specifically advantageous because it can all be done quickly in one step.
There is no need for expensive thermocycling equipment that is necessary for other methods like PCR, which makes RT-LAMP very cost effective.

Current News Science & Technology Health & Disease

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome

Recently, various news reports in recent weeks have pointed out that for some Covid-19 patients who needed intensive care, the journey to recovery is a long one.
After leaving the ICU, they may suffer from what is known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can happen to any person who has been in the ICU.

What is post-intensive care syndrome?

PICS is defined as new or worsening impairment in physical (ICU-acquired neuromuscular weakness), cognitive (thinking and judgment), or mental health status arising after critical illness and persisting beyond discharge from the acute care setting.
It comprises impairment in cognition, psychological health and physical function of a person who has been in the ICU.
Further, such patients may experience neuromuscular weakness, which can manifest itself in the form of poor mobility and recurrent falls.
Psychological disability may arise in a person in the form of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Causes

PICS may be induced if a person was on prolonged mechanical ventilation, experienced sepsis, multiple organ failure and a prolonged duration of “bed-restore deep sedation”.
Nearly, 33 percent of the people on ventilators may develop ICU-acquired muscle weakness (ICUAW).
Along with this, 50 percent of those who develop sepsis and up to 50 percent of the patients who stay in the ICU for at least one week are also prone to ICUAW.
Further, after leaving the ICU, over 30-80 percent may develop problems related to cognitive function and other mental health issues, including difficulty in falling and staying asleep.

Symptoms

The most common PICS symptoms are generalised weakness, fatigue, decreased mobility, anxious or depressed mood, sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances and cognitive issues.
These symptoms may last for a few months or many years after recovery.

Treatment

It is recommended that to avoid PICS, patients’ use of deep sedation is limited and early mobility is encouraged, along with giving them “aggressive” physical and occupational therapy.
Further, patients should be given the lowest dose of pain medications when possible, and should be put on lung or cardiovascular rehabilitation treatments along with treatments for depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Current News National National Security

India To Get MK 54 Torpedoes And AGM-84L Harpoon Missiles

On 13^th April, 2020, , the US Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of 16 MK 54 all round up lightweight torpedoes and ten AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles.
India intends to use the equipment on the Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I maritime aircraft.

MK 54 Lightweight Torpedos

Previously, known as the Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo (LHT), it weighs around 608 pounds, while its warhead weighs around 96.8 pounds and is highly explosive.
These torpedoes are used by US surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and are their primary anti-submarine warfare weapon.
The primary use of this equipment is for offensive purposes when deployed by anti-submarine warfare aircraft and helicopters, and for defensive purposes when deployed by ships and against fast, deep-diving nuclear submarines and slow-moving, quiet, diesel-electric submarines.

AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air-Launched Missiles

The Harpoon missile system will be integrated into the P-8I aircraft to conduct anti-surface warfare missions in defense of critical sea lanes.
It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation to hit the designated target.
Its warhead weighs over 500 pounds and is capable of delivering lethal firepower against targets, including land-based targets, coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft and industrial or port facilities.

P-8I Aircraft

Boeing’s P-8s are designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The P-8s India version is called the P-8I, and helps the Indian Navy carry out important maritime operations.
India currently has eight of these aircraft and is scheduled to receive four more by 2022. One of these is expected to be delivered this year.

Impact

Improving Bilateral Relation

The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship.
It will further help to improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.

Enhancing India’s Strategic Capabilities

It will help improve India’s capability to meet existing and future threats from enemy weapon systems.
The Harpoon missile system can perform anti-surface warfare missions to defend critical sea lanes when integrated into the P-8I aircraft.
The MK 54 lightweight torpedo will provide the capability to conduct anti-submarine warfare missions.
The enhanced capability will be used by India as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland security.

Current News Science & Technology Health & Disease

Pool Testing

Now with the number of cases spiking and the fear of community spread in some areas the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on 14^th April, 2020, issued an advisory for using pooled samples for testing of COVID-19 across the country.

Objective

The objective is to increase the capacity of the laboratories to screen increased numbers of samples using molecular testing for COVID-19 for the purpose of surveillance.

About Pool Testing

In a pooled testing algorithm, samples of multiple individuals are put together in a tube and screened through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.
In case the pooled test turns out to be positive, individual samples are tested, which is referred to as pool de-convolution.
If there’s no positive result, all individual samples in the pool are regarded as negative, resulting in substantial cost savings.

Criteria for Pool Testing

This method can be used in areas where the prevalence of COVID-19 is low, which means a positivity rate of less than two percent.
Pooling of sample is not recommended in areas or population with positivity rates of over five per cent.
According to the ICMR, more than two samples can be pooled together; the number should not exceed five samples to avoid sample dilution, which can lead to false negatives.
Samples of individuals with known contact with confirmed cases or healthcare workers should not be included in the pooled samples.
Deconvoluted testing (testing individual samples) is recommended if any of the pool is positive.

Benefits of Pool Testing

Cost and Resource Effective

It increases the capacity of testing and it saves a lot of resources — time, cost and manpower.
For instance, if a pooled sample consists of the samples of five individuals and it tests negative, the cost of four testing kits is saved and more number of people are covered with fewer resources.
But in case the sample tests positive, all individuals need to be tested separately.

Help in Tracking Community Transmission

Significantly, pooled screening can also help in tracking down the asymptomatic cases of the disease, thereby tracking community transmission.

Current News National Indian Art, Culture & Heritage

Nihangs

Recently, in Patiala (Punjab), a group of Nihangs attacked a Punjab police party, has put the spotlight on the Nihangs.

About Nihang

Nihang is an order of Sikh warriors, characterised by blue robes, antiquated arms such as swords and spears, and decorated turbans surmounted by steel quoits.
Etymologically the word nihang in Persian means an alligator, sword and pen but the characteristics of Nihangs seem to stem more from the Sanskrit word nihshank which means without fear, unblemished, pure, carefree and indifferent to worldly gains and comfort.

Origin

The Nihangs trace their origins to the founding of the Khalsa Panth by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, around 1699.
Many claim the sect to be “guru di laadli fauj” (the guru’s favourite army).
The armed sect is believed to have emerged from the Akaal Sena, a band of soldiers of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru.
Later, the Akaal Sena metamorphosed into the ‘Khalsa Fauj’ of the 10th guru.

Social Structure

The Nihangs are not one consolidated sect or group
There are very divided and while following the same traditions and norms, they have their own independent deras, some of which are at loggerheads with one another for prominence,
Men and women both train in horsemanship, swordsmanship, and in the Punjabi martial art known as gatka.

Difference with other Sikh warriors

Nihangs did not consider themselves subordinate to any Sikh chief and thus maintained their independent existence.
They observe the Khalsa code of conduct in its strictest sense. They do not profess any allegiance to an earthly master.
Instead of saffron they hoist a blue Nishan Sahib (flag) atop their shrines.
Nihangs use the slogans ‘chhardi kala’ (forever in high spirits) and ‘tiar bar tiar’ (state of ever preparedness) for unforeseen events.
The Nihangs are fond of a popular drink called shardai or sharbati degh (sacrament drink) which contains grounded almonds, cardamom seeds, poppy seeds, black pepper, rose petals and melon seeds.
When a small measure of cannabis is added to it, it is termed sukhnidhan (treasure of comfort).
A higher dose of cannabis in it was known as shaheedi deg, sacrament of martyrdom. It was taken (while) battling enemies.

Role in Sikh History

Nihangs had a major role in defending the Sikh panth after the fall of the first Sikh rule (1710-15) when Mughal governors were killing Sikhs, and during the onslaught of Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani (1748-65).
Nihangs also took control of the religious affairs of the Sikhs at Akal Bunga (now known as Akal Takht) in Amritsar.
Their clout came to an end after the fall of Sikh Empire in 1849 when the British authorities of Punjab appointed a manager (sarbrah) for the administration of the Golden Temple in 1859.

Current News Indian Economy Plan Policy

Helicopter Money

With no quick escape in sight for Covid-ravaged economies, authorities the world over are going back to the drawing board to find strategies to deal with this nightmare.
In India, Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao suggested printing of currency and called for implementing a ‘Helicopter Money’ scheme.

Key Points

Telengana CM urged the Centre to make RBI pump at least 5% per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which was ₹203 lakh crore.
At this rate, the RBI could inject ₹10 lakh crore into the economy. Otherwise, neither the Centre nor the State governments had the money to revive the economy.
Citing the example, he said US was releasing 2% and UK 15% GDP, in order to provide some ease to their sagging economies.

About Helicopter Money

Helicopter money is the term used for a large sum of new money that is printed and distributed among the public, to stimulate the economy during a recession or when interest rates fall to zero.
It is also referred to as a helicopter drop, in reference to a helicopter scattering supplies from the sky.
American economist Milton Friedman coined this term in 1969.

Difference with Quantitative Easing (QE)

Central banks use quantitative easing to increase the money supply and lower interest rates by purchasing government or other financial securities from the market to spark economic growth.
While, Helicopter money basically means non-repayable money transfer from the central bank to the government, central banks use QE to create money and then purchase assets using the printed money.
QE does not have a direct impact on the public, while helicopter money is made directly available to consumers to increase consumer spending.

Recent Example

If a country faces slow or no growth, it could consider a helicopter drop.
For example, in 2016, Japan considered using helicopter money to assist with the country’s slowing growth.
Financial markets showed concerned with the decision, as participants feared hyperinflation and currency devaluation.
So, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) opted for an alternative method to increase monetary supply.
This included different partnerships and purchases such as government bonds, infrastructure outlays and payments to lower-income earners.

Benefits of Helicopter Money

Helicopter money does not rely on increased borrowing to fuel the economy, which means that it doesn’t create more debt and interest rates can remain unchanged.
Generally, it boosts spending and economic growth more effectively than quantitative easing because it increases aggregate demand – the demand for goods and services – immediately.
While government money drops that come from debt might not boost consumer spending, due to the debt needing to be repaid, it is often thought that ‘money finance’ will stimulate the economy.

Will Helicopter Money Help Indian Economy?

Helicopter money refers to a last resort type of monetary stimulus strategy used to spur inflation and output to boost the economy.
Here the basic principle is to increase broader economic activity and pushing the inflation up by putting more money in circulation in the market.
As printing of money to finance deficit increases inflation and is believed to be an attempt to extract more output in an underperforming economy, it is potentially loaded with huge risks.
One of the primary risks associated with helicopter money is that the policy may lead to significant currency devaluation in the international foreign exchange markets.
The currency devaluation would be primarily attributed to the creation of more money.
For eg, in August 1921, Germany began to buy foreign currency with Marks at any price, but that only sped up devaluing the Mark considerably. In 1923, the Mark had lost meaning with the exchange rate of one trillion Marks to one dollar.
Zimbabwe too was caught in this precarious situation in the first part of this century. The facts reveal that there was a time when a 100 trillion Zimbabwe dollar bill wasn’t enough to buy a bus ticket in the country’s capital.
And this kind of hyperinflation scenario has gripped Venezuela right now.
As this helicopter money boosts inflation, increases interest rates and borrowing costs, it then becomes a dire need to print money every year to fund burgeoning deficit.
So, while looking at the experience of printing currency in other countries, it can easily be concluded that such a move doesn’t increase economic output in any way, it merely causes inflation.
And this increase in inflation is not good for economic health of the country.

Need of the Hour

The government or central bank could implement a version of helicopter money by spending money on tax cuts, and thereafter, the central bank would deposit money in a Treasury account.
Additionally, the government could issue new bonds that the central bank would purchase and hold, but the central bank would return the interest back to the government to distribute to the public.
Therefore, these forms of helicopter money would provide consumers with money and theoretically spark consumer spending.

Current News Science & Technology New Technology

Fly Ash

Recently, two people died and four were missing after a dyke of a fly ash pond of Reliance’s Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project in Singrauli breached , causing spillage on several acres of agricultural fields.
The project, owned by Anil Ambani's Reliance Power, is 780 kilometres northeast of the state capital of Bhopal.
Singrauli houses various power projects, including NTPC, Coal India, Reliance Power and Essar Power.

About Fly Ash

Also known as flue ash and pulverised fuel ash, fly ash is a fine powder that is a byproduct of burning pulverized coal in electric generation power plants.

Production

It is produced by coal-fired electric and steam generating plants. Typically, coal is pulverized and blown with air into the boiler's combustion chamber where it immediately ignites, generating heat and producing a molten mineral residue.
Boiler tubes extract heat from the boiler, cooling the flue gas and causing the molten mineral residue to harden and form ash.
Coarse ash particles, referred to as bottom ash or slag, fall to the bottom of the combustion chamber, while the lighter fine ash particles, termed fly ash, remain suspended in the flue gas.

Properties

Physical Properties

It depend on the nature of coal; mineral matter chemistry and mineralogy, furnace design, furnace operation and method of particulate control; such as Sulphur Oxide (SOx) and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) control technologies.
Fly ash particles are generally spherical in shape and ranging from 0.5 µm to 100 µm.

Chemical Properties

Major Constituents: Fly ash is a pozzolan, a substance containing aluminous and siliceous material that forms cement in the presence of water. In addition, it contains ferric oxide and calcium oxide.
Minor Constituents: Arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds.

Classification

Basically, there are two classes of fly ash: Class F and Class C fly ash.
The chief difference between these classes is the amount of calcium, silica, alumina, and iron content in the ash.

Class F

The burning of harder, older anthracite and bituminous coal typically produces Class F fly ash.
This fly ash is pozzolanic in nature, and contains less than 7% lime (CaO).

Class C

Fly ash produced from the burning of younger lignite or sub-bituminous coal, in addition to having pozzolanic properties, also has some self-cementing properties.
Class C fly ash generally contains more than 20% lime (CaO).
Unlike Class F, self-cementing Class C fly ash does not require an activator.

Applications of Fly Ash

Fly-ash pellets which can replace normal aggregate in concrete mixture
Embankments and other structural fills (usually for road construction)
Grout and Flowable fill production
Waste stabilization and solidification
Cement clinker production - (as a substitute material for clay)
Mine reclamation
Stabilization of soft soils
Road subbase construction
As aggregate substitute material (e.g. for brick production)
Mineral filler in asphaltic concrete
Agricultural uses: soil amendment, fertilizer, cattle feeders, soil stabilization in stock feed yards, and agricultural stakes
Loose application on rivers to melt ice
Loose application on roads and parking lots for ice control

Benefits

Fly ash can be a cost-effective substitute for Portland cement in many markets.
It is also recognized as an environmentally friendly material because it is a byproduct and has low embodied energy, the measure of how much energy is consumed in producing and shipping a building material.
Fly ash utilization, especially in concrete, has significant environmental benefits including:
increasing the life of concrete roads and structures by improving concrete durability,
net reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas and other adverse air emissions when fly ash is used to replace or displace manufactured cement
reduction in amount of coal combustion products that must be disposed in landfills
conservation of other natural resources and materials.

Environmental Hazard

When ash is disposed in dry landfills or wet ponds, there are associated environmental effects. Wet surface impoundments account for a fifth of coal ash disposal.
These wet impoundments can be an issue if they do not have proper liners for the landfill or pond to prevent leaking and leaching.
Both leaking and leaching lead to groundwater contamination.
This groundwater contamination can be harmful to human heath if the groundwater is a source of drinking water.
In addition to leaching, fly ash toxics are able to travel through the environment as a result of erosion, runoff, or through the air as fine dust.
Application of flyash, particularly unweathered ones, shows a tendency of accumulating elements like B, Mo, Se and Al. The accumulations of these elements to toxic levels are responsible for reductions in the crop yields and consequently influence animal and human health.

Health Hazard

Fly ash contains crystalline silica which is known to cause lung disease, in particular silicosis, if inhaled.
It impacts on the nervous system, causing cognitive defects, developmental delays, and behavioral problems while also increasing a person's chance of developing kidney disease, and gastrointestinal illness.

Current News Indian Economy Plan Policy

Currency Swap Line

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, India is working with the United States to secure a dollar swap line that would help in better management of its external account and provide extra cushion in the event of an abrupt outflow of funds.

Current Status of India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves

As per the latest data reported by the RBI, India’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen by nearly $13 billion — from $487.23 billion on March 6 to $474.66 billion as on April 3, 2020.
According to RBI, 7% of India’s foreign currency assets — or $256.17 billion — are held in overseas securities, mainly in the US treasury.

Reason

Despite the slump in global crude oil prices and reduction in imports due to the pandemic outbreak, a sharp outflow of funds resulting from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) looking for safer havens amidst the current global uncertainty, has pulled down India’s foreign exchange reserves.
While India is largely expected to tide over any challenge posed by continued outflows of funds from the markets, a swap line with the US Federal Reserve provides additional comfort to the forex markets.

About Swap Facility

In a swap arrangement, the US Fed provides dollars to a foreign central bank, which, at the same time, provides the equivalent funds in its currency to the Fed, based on the market exchange rate at the time of the transaction.
The parties agree to swap back these quantities of their two currencies at a specified date in the future, which could be the next day or even three months later, using the same exchange rate as in the first transaction.
Most swap lines are bilateral, which means they are only between two countries' banks.

Purpose

The purpose of a swap line is to keep liquidity in the currency available for central banks to lend to their private banks to maintain their reserve requirements.
It reassures banks and investors that it's safe to trade in that currency.
It also confirms that the central banks won't let the supply of that currency dry up.
It's another monetary policy tool.

India Swap Line with Other Country

In 2019, India signed a $75 billion bilateral currency swap line agreement with Japan, which has the second largest dollar reserves after China.
This facility provides India with the flexibility to use these reserves at any time in order to maintain an appropriate level of balance of payments or short-term liquidity.
In November, 2019, the RBI put in place a revised framework on currency swap arrangement for SAARC countries for 2019-22 in order to provide financial stability and economic cooperation within the SAARC region.

RBI Framework Regarding Swap Line

This facility originally came into operation on November 15, 2012 to provide a backstop line of funding for short-term foreign exchange liquidity requirements or balance of payment crises until longer term arrangements were made.
Under the framework for 2019-22, RBI will continue to offer a swap arrangement within the overall corpus of $2 billion.
Other countries can withdraw funds in the US dollar, the euro, or the Indian rupee.

US Swap Line with Other Country

The Fed already has permanent swap arrangements with the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, and the Swiss National Bank.
On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Federal Reserve( Fed) opened temporary swap arrangements with the central banks of Australia, Brazil, Denmark, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, and Sweden, to be in place for at least six months for a combined $450 billion.
Other large economies including India, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa — all part of the G-20 grouping — currently do not have a currency swap line with the US.

Significance of Swap Line

While swap lines were initially used by central banks to fund certain market interventions, in recent years they have become an important tool for preserving financial stability and preventing market tension from affecting the real economy.

Benefits

These swap operations carry no exchange rate or other market risks, as transaction terms are set in advance.
The absence of an exchange rate risk is the major benefit of such a facility.
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Current News Science & Technology Health & Disease

Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act

Recently, a section of the media is speculating that the (Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act 1994 has been suspended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHWF).

About the Issue

In view of the ongoing lockdown, due of COVID19 pandemic, the Health Ministry has issued a Notification dated April 4, 2020 to defer/suspend certain provisions under the PC&PNDT Rules 1996.
These Rules pertain to applying for renewal of registration if falling due in this` period, submission of reports by diagnostics centres by 5th day of the following month and submission of quarterly progress report (QPR) by the States/UTs.
There is no exemption (to the diagnostic centres) from compliance to theprovisions of the PC&PNDT Act.
So, the MoHFW has to clarify that it has not suspended the PC&PNDT Act, which prohibits sex selection before or after conception.

Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, 1994

It was enacted in response to the decline in Sex ratio in India, which deteriorated from 972 in 1901 to 927 in 1991.
In 1988, the State of Maharashtra became the first in the country to ban pre-natal sex determination through enacting the Maharashtra Regulation of Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act.
At the national level the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act was enacted on September 20, 1994. This act came into force in the year 1996.

Objectives

To ban the use of sex selection techniques before or after conception
To prevent the misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex selective abortion and to regulate such techniques

Provisions

Registration: All bodies under the PC & PNDT Act, 1994, namely Genetic Counselling Centres, Genetic Laboratories or Genetic Clinics cannot function unless registered.
Prohibitions: It prohibits sex selection before or after conception and misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of the sex of the foetus as also advertisements in relation to such techniques for detection or determination of sex.
Implementation: The Act is implemented through the following agencies -Central Supervisory Board (CSB); State Supervisory Boards (SSBs) and Union Territory Supervisory Boards (UTSBs); Appropriate Authority for the whole or a part of the State/Union Territory; State Advisory Committee (SAC) and Union Territory Advisory Committee (UTAC).
Maintenance & Preservation of Records: It deals elaborately with the maintenance and preservation of proper records. The records can help in establishing compliance while non-maintenance itself can give rise to a cause of action indicating probable misuse of diagnostic techniques.
Search, Seizure & Sealing Powers: It provides power to search any place suspected to be conducting pre-natal diagnostic techniques. The scope of the powers of the Appropriate Authorities are very wide and they are empowered with the powers of Civil Court for search, seizure and sealing the machines, equipments and records of the violators of law including sealing of premises and commissioning of witnesses.

Offences under the Act

Conducting or associating or helping in the conduct of PND techniques/tests in an un-registered unit.
Sex selection on a woman or a man or both or on any tissue, embryo, conceptus fluid or gametes derived from either or both of them.
Conducting a PND test for any purpose other than those mentioned as permissible in the Act.
Sale, distribution, supply, renting, allowance or authorization of use of any ultrasound machine or any other equipment capable of detecting sex of a foetus to non-registered units.
Advertisement or communication in any form on the availability of sex determination and sex selection in the form of services, medicines, or any kind of techniques, methods or ayurvedic medicines.
The offences under the Act are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Amendments

The Act was amended in 2003 to improve regulation of technology capable of sex selection.
With effect from February 14, 2003, due to the amendments, the Act is known as the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.

Implications of the Amendment

Amendment of the act mainly covered bringing the technique of pre conception sex selection within the ambit of the act
Bringing ultrasound within its ambit
Empowering the central supervisory board, constitution of state level supervisory board
Provision for more stringent punishments
Empowering appropriate authorities with the power of civil court for search, seizure and sealing the machines and equipments of the violators
Regulating the sale of the ultrasound machines only to registered bodies

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