Current Affairs 27th April 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Table of Contents

Symbol Loading Units (SLUs)

Context: The Supreme court directed that Symbol Uploading Units (SULs) used in elections must be stored in a strong room for 45 days post-election.

About Symbol Loading Units (SLUs)

Function: SLUs are used to load the symbols of candidates onto VVPAT machines from bitmap files containing candidate details. This happens only a few days before the polling, once the candidate list is finalised.
Process: SLUs are connected to a PC to load the data, then to the VVPAT for transferring the data under the supervision of a district election officer. The process takes about two to three minutes per VVPAT.
Post-use: After loading symbols, SLUs are stored by the district election officer until after the voting day, then returned to EVM manufacturers for reuse in subsequent phases.

Supreme Court’s Direction on SLUs (Association Of Democratic Reforms (ADR) Vs. The Election Commission Of India):

Storage: Post symbol-loading, SLUs must be sealed and stored for 45 days post-election results to allow potential examination like EVMs in case of an election petition.
Impact: This decision restricts the reuse of SLUs for different seats within the same election cycle, necessitating an increase in the number of SLUs — from the current 5,000 to an additional 2,000 as estimated by the Election Commission.

Microcontrollers in EVMs

Verification Rights: The Supreme Court has granted candidates in second or third place the right to request a verification of the microcontrollers in EVMs if they suspect tampering.
- Verification must occur within seven days of election results, and the cost is initially borne by the candidate but refunded if tampering is detected.
Process: Verification is carried out by engineers from the EVM manufacturers who will check 5% of the machines in the respective constituency.

Implications for Election Conduct

Operational Changes: The need to store SLUs longer and possibly purchase more units, along with the new provision to verify EVMs, may require additional resources and changes in how elections are organised.
Legal Considerations: The Election Commission may need to review the Representation of the People Act, especially regarding the handling of EVMs during the period when election results can be legally contested.

Nilgiri Tahr

Context: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will join the three-day synchronised Nilgiri Tahr census conducted by the Tamil Nadu government.

About Nilgiri Tahr– State Animal of Tamil Nadu

Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius
Nickname: Cliff Goat
Locally Known: Varaiaadu
Characteristics:
- Height: 80-110 cm
- Length: 90-140 cm
- Weight: 50-100 kg
- Lifespan: 3-9 years
- The horns in both sexes curve uniformly back and they reveal their age.
- It is the only Tahr that lives in a cold tropical climate.
Habitat:
- It is exclusive to India’s Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Lives at elevations of 1200-2600 metres.
- Prefers cliffside grasslands in areas with heavy monsoon.
- Its habitat includes grasslands with shrubs and nearby “shola” forests.
- Males mainly use “shola” forests during the separation in the mating season.
- A grown-up male is known as a ‘saddle back’. The male would be bigger and darker than the female.
Population:
- Estimated to be between 1,800 and 2,000.
- Eravikulam National Park and the green hills of Anamalai are the only places on Earth where the Nilgiri Tahr population exceeds 300.
Breeding:
- Breeding season is July-August (during the monsoon season) and Gestation lasts 175-185 days.
- They live in herds up to 150, active from dawn to dusk.
Geographic Range:
- It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills.
- Majorly found in Western Ghats region across the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and part of Karnataka.
- As per the last assessment done in 2015 by WWF-India, there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahr in the wild in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring landscapes of Kerala (significant portion in Anamalai Tiger Reserve)
  - Largest Concentration is found in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala
- Threats:
  - Habitat loss from widespread deforestation.
  - Competition with domestic livestock.
  - Impact of hydroelectric projects in Nilgiri Tahr habitat.
  - Monoculture plantations replacing natural habitat.
  - Occasional and Illegal hunting for meat and skin.
  - Spread of invasive plants.
  - Climate Change.
- Conservation Status:
  - IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)
  - Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I

Why Do We Need to Protect Nilgiri Tahr?

Safeguarding the Nilgiri Tahr entails the conservation of the Shola-grasslands in the Western Ghats.
Crucial for water catchment areas that supply rivers and streams, meeting the water demands of communities in the adjacent districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The environment also nurtures a diverse array of amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals.

About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Nature of Organization	A collective union comprising government and civil society organisations
Members	Over 1,400 member organisations, positioning IUCN as an authoritative figure on the status of the natural world
Year of Establishment	1948
Location of Establishment	Fontainebleau, France
Significance at Inception	First international environmental union with a focus on fostering global cooperation and providing scientific insights and tools for conservation efforts
Primary Mission	Conservation of biodiversity, including various plant and animal species
Key Initiatives	Establishment of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1964
IUCN Red List Species Classification	● Critically Endangered (CR): ○ Highest risk category assigned by IUCN. ○ Population declined by 80% within three generations. ○ Faces extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. ● Endangered (EN): ○ Population at risk of becoming extinct. ○ Caused by factors like low numbers, habitat changes, predation, deforestation. ○ Faces very high risk of extinction in the wild. ● Vulnerable (VU): ○ Likely to become endangered if threats persist. ○ Faces high risk of extinction in the wild. ● Extinct (EX): ○ No surviving members of the species. ● Functionally Extinct (FE): ○ Few remaining individuals cannot reproduce (age, health, etc.). ● Extinct in the Wild (EW): ○ No wild population exists, only survives in captivity. ○ May be functionally extinct as well.
Influence on International Law	Instrumental in the development of key international agreements: Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, CITES, World Heritage Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity

NOTA

Context: The Supreme Court asked the Election Commission’s response to a petition regarding the outcome of elections where ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) receives the majority of votes.

About NOTA

NOTA stands for “None Of The Above,” a ballot option for Indian voters.
It allows voters to reject all candidates in an election without compromising their vote’s secrecy.
First Use: NOTA was first used in the 2013 Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh, and then in the 2014 General Elections.
Legal Introduction: The option was introduced following a 2013 Supreme Court directive in the PUCL vs Union of India case.
Casting a NOTA Vote: Voters can select NOTA on the EVM, located at the end of the candidates’ list.
Previous Method: Before EVMs, voters had to verbally inform the presiding officer to cast a negative vote.
Electoral Impact: NOTA votes do not affect the election outcome. The candidate with the highest number of votes wins, regardless of NOTA votes.

Frictions Related to NOTA

From 2018, states including Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, and Puducherry began recognizing NOTA as a “fictional electoral candidate.”
These states have rules that mandate a re-election if NOTA comes out as the winner, effectively disqualifying the candidate who finished second.
The petition contends that the practice of declaring the second-place candidate as the winner in cases where NOTA has the most votes is against the foundational principles of NOTA.
The rules in these states regarding NOTA and election outcomes should be uniformly applied across all of India, as per the petition.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Context

India proposed several initiatives, one of which is the concept of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, drawing on the ancient Indian concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Asthana, Kazakhstan.
Also India stressed the necessity for SCO countries to fully embrace a zero-tolerance stance on terrorism to foster prosperity and progress.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Formed: June 15, 2001 (Successor to Shanghai Five group)
Founding Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
SCO Countries:
- 9 Member States: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
- 3 Observer states: Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia.
  - In 2022, at the Samarkand SCO Summit, the process of raising the status of the Republic of Belarus within the Organization to the level of a member state has begun.
- 14 Dialogue Partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Sri Lanka.
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Official Languages: Russian, Chinese
Goals:
- Strengthen regional security and good neighbourliness
- Promote economic cooperation among members
- Foster cultural and educational exchange
- Create a stable and peaceful region
Principles:
- Internally: “Shanghai Spirit” (mutual trust, benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity)
- Externally: Non-alignment, openness
Decision-Making:
- Council of Heads of States (CHS): Meets annually, decides major issues
- Council of Heads of Government (CHG): Meets annually, sets economic strategy
Other Mechanisms:
- Regular meetings on various topics (foreign affairs, defence, culture, etc.)
- Council of National Coordinators – Coordination body.

India and the SCO

India’s relations with SCO member states stretch back centuries, enriched by shared cultural and spiritual heritage.
India was granted observer status in the SCO in 2005 and became a full member in 2017.
As a member, India has hosted important SCO meetings, including the Council of Heads of Government in 2020.
India’s involvement in the SCO aids in regional trade access and enhances its global stature, while also addressing regional security concerns and fostering economic collaboration.

Patents

Context

As per the Patenting Trends report released by the NASSCOM, India’s patent filings saw an increase of 24.6%, reaching 83,000 in the fiscal year 2023.
This growth rate is the highest in the last twenty years according to a report by the Patenting office.
The percentage of domestic filings doubled from 33.6% in FY2019 to more than 50% in FY2023.

About Patent

What it is: A legal right granted by the government for a limited time.
Who it benefits: The inventor (patentee).
What it protects: Inventions (new products or processes).
Benefits for inventor: Exclusive right to control making, using, selling, or importing the invention.
Requirements for inventor: Full disclosure of the invention in exchange for the patent.
Governing Body in India: Patents Act, 1970 (amended in 2003, 2005 & 2024 (recent)).
Patent Term: 20 years from the filing date (or international filing date for PCT applications).
PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty): An international system to seek patent protection in multiple countries simultaneously.
Who can use PCT: Nationals or residents of member countries.
Where to file PCT application: National patent office or WIPO’s International Bureau in Geneva.

Key Changes Introduced Under Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024

Faster Examination: The deadline to file a Request for Examination (RFE) is reduced from 48 months to 31 months from the priority date, expediting the patent approval process.
Simplified Form 3: Applicants can now submit a single updated Form 3 after receiving the First Examination Report (FER) from the Patent Office.
Recognition for Inventors: A new “Certificate of Inventorship” is introduced to recognize inventors’ contributions, as traditional Indian patent certificates don’t include inventor names.
Reduced Reporting Frequency: The requirement to file working patent statements is reduced from annually to once every three financial years.
Streamlined Opposition Process: Timelines for Opposition Board recommendations and applicant responses in pre-grant and post-grant opposition procedures have been adjusted for efficiency.
Clarified Divisional Applications: The amendment aligns with a recent court decision allowing divisional applications based on the complete or provisional application’s disclosure (not just claims), enabling broader protection for inventions.