Current Affairs 13 September 2024

CONTENTS

1. Effectuation of Fundamental Duties
2. Supreme Court Affirms Necessity of Effective Consultation in High Court Appointments
3. Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
4. Draft Guidelines Issued for PM Surya Ghar—Muft Bijli Yojana
5. PM SHRI Schools
6. Soyuz Spacecraft
7. Southern Birdwing butterfly

 Effectuation of Fundamental Duties

Context:

The Attorney General of India, R. Venkataramani, addressed the Supreme Court regarding the “effectuation of Fundamental Duties”. He emphasized that it is a continuing task requiring duty-specific legislation, schemes, and supervision. 

Relevance:

GS II- Polity (Indian Constitution)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Effectuation of fundamental duties
2. Background of the Case
3. Observations by the Attorney General

Effectuation of fundamental duties

• Refers to the measures taken to ensure the Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution are actively implemented and observed by citizens.

Methods to Implement These Duties

• Educational Campaigns: Launching awareness and educational initiatives.
• Curriculum Integration: Including lessons in school curricula to instill a sense of responsibility in children.
• Government Initiatives: Promoting compliance through policies encouraging respect for national symbols and environmental conservation.
• Judicial Enforcement: Courts often reference these duties when interpreting laws or issuing judgments to enhance civic responsibility.

Justice Verma Committee Insights

• Formation and Purpose: Established in 1998 to create an effective strategy for enforcing Fundamental Duties aimed at fostering civic consciousness from an early age.
• Legal Framework Identified for Enforcement:
  • Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: Addressing disrespect towards national symbols.
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Providing legal measures against offenses related to caste and religion.
  • Representation of the People Act, 1951: Holding legislators accountable for corrupt practices.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: Promoting environmental conservation and biodiversity.

Background of the Case

• Case Involvement: A plea filed by lawyer Durga Dutt urged the creation of well-defined laws or rules to ensure compliance with Fundamental Duties as prescribed by the Constitution.
• Implications: The plea argued that non-adherence to Fundamental Duties adversely affects Fundamental Rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21, advocating for schemes to motivate adherence.
• Request for Action: It called on the Central and state governments to enhance public awareness and encourage adherence to these duties.

Observations by the Attorney General

• Continuous Task: The Attorney General emphasized that the effectuation of Fundamental Duties requires ongoing, specific legislative actions, schemes, and supervision.
• Judiciary’s Role: He noted that the judiciary should avoid directing legislative actions, especially when these are under legislative review.
• Judicial Recognition: He highlighted the judiciary’s consistent acknowledgment of the importance of Fundamental Duties in interpreting constitutional matters and fostering a societal obligation among citizens.
• Non-Justiciability: Fundamental Duties are identified as non-justiciable, implying their implementation is primarily an executive responsibility.
• Historical Reference: Mentioned a 1998 committee aimed at educating and operationalizing Fundamental Duties.
• Insufficiency of Article 51A: Argued that merely incorporating these duties into Article 51A of the Constitution is inadequate without active governmental efforts in education and culture.
• Legal Prudence: He urged the court to recognize the steps already taken to address these duties and suggested the closure of the case with suitable directions.

How were the fundamental duties incorporated in the Constitution?

• The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.
• Article 51(A) describes 11 fundamental duties — 10 came with the 42nd Amendment; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister.
• These duties are not enforceable by law.
  • However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter.
• They were made a part of the Constitution to emphasise the obligation of the citizen in return for the fundamental rights that he or she enjoys.

What are the fundamental duties of the citizen?

Article 51(A) says it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:

1. to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
2. to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
3.  to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
4. to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
5. to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
6. to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
7. to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
8. to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
9. to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
10. to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
11. who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

The last subsection, (k), on the education of children, was added in 2002 by The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act. The same amendment also introduced Article 21A in the Constitution: “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.”

-Source: Indian Express

Supreme Court Affirms Necessity of Effective Consultation in High Court Appointments

Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) in its ruling emphasised the importance of seniority and effective consultation in the appointment of High Court judges. In a case involving the Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) collegium, the Supreme Court ruled that a ‘lack of effective consultation’ in judicial appointments falls within the scope of judicial review.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of the Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Case:
2. What is the Collegium System?
3. Working of the Collegium System and NJAC
4. Appointment procedure of HC Judges
5. Transfer procedure of HC Judges

Overview of the Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Case:

• Initial Recommendations: In December 2022, the High Court collegium, led by the Chief Justice and two senior-most judges, recommended district judges Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra for elevation to the High Court.
• SC Collegium Review: On January 4, 2024, the Supreme Court collegium returned the recommendation for reconsideration. Subsequently, on January 16, the Union Law Minister urged the HC Chief Justice to reconsider nominations.
• New Nominations: By April 23, the HC collegium nominated two different judges, leading Singh and Malhotra to petition the SC, claiming their seniority was overlooked.
• Court’s Discussion: The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of seniority in its previous rulings and noted the requirement for effective consultation.
• Judicial Correspondence: A report from the Registrar General of Himachal Pradesh High Court disclosed that the HC Chief Justice had communicated with the SC collegium regarding the suitability of the new nominees on March 6, 2024.
• Supreme Court’s Decision: The SC clarified that the case was primarily about whether proper consultation occurred following the SC’s initial review. It established that any decision should be the result of collective consultation among the Chief Justice and two senior-most judges of the High Court, rejecting unilateral actions by the Chief Justice.

What is the Collegium System?

• The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to Supreme Court and transfers of judges of High Courts and Apex Court are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.’ There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.
• The recommendations of the Collegium are binding on the Central Government; if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time.

Evolution of the Collegium system

• In the First Judges case (1982), the Court held that consultation does not mean concurrence and it only implies an exchange of views.
• In the Second Judges case (1993), the Court reversed its earlier ruling and changed the meaning of the word consultation to concurrence.

Third Judges Case, 1998:

• In the Third Judges case (1998), the Court opined that the consultation process to be adopted by the Chief Justice of India requires “consultation of a plurality of judges”.
• The sole opinion of the CJI does not constitute the consultation process. He should consult a collegium of four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and even if two judges give an adverse opinion, he should not send the recommendation to the government.
• The court held that the recommendation made by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) without complying with the norms and requirements of the consultation process is not binding on the government.
• The Collegium system was born through the “Third Judges case” and it is in practice since 1998. It is used for appointments and transfers of judges in High courts and Supreme Courts.
• There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.

Working of the Collegium System and NJAC

• The collegium recommends the names of lawyers or judges to the Central Government. Similarly, the Central Government also sends some of its proposed names to the Collegium.
• Collegium considers the names or suggestions made by the Central Government and resends the file to the government for final approval.
• If the Collegium resends the same name again then the government has to give its assent to the names. But the time limit is not fixed to reply. This is the reason that appointment of judges takes a long time.
• Through the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014 the National Judicial Commission Act (NJAC) was established to replace the collegium system for the appointment of judges.
• However, the Supreme Court upheld the collegium system and struck down the NJAC as unconstitutional on the grounds that the involvement of Political Executive in judicial appointment was against the “Principles of Basic Structure”. i.e., the “Independence of Judiciary”.

Issues involved in appointment

• Cumbersome Process: There are inordinate delays in the appointment of High Court judges and it leads to the pendency of cases.
• Lack of Transparency: There is no objective criteria for selection and people come to know about judges only after selection. It also promotes nepotism in the judiciary. The consultations of the Collegium are also not discussed in any public platform.
• Instances of Politicisation: In many cases, there is indication that due to the unfavorable judgments of certain judges the political executive hinders their appointments, elevation, or transfer. This reflects poorly on the concept of independence of the judiciary.
• Improper Representation: Certain sections of societies have higher representation whereas many vulnerable sections have nil representation.

Appointment procedure of HC Judges

• Article 217 of the Constitution: It states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Governor of the State.
• In the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court is consulted.
• Consultation Process: High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
• The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
• The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

Transfer procedure of HC Judges

• Article 222 of the Constitution makes provision for the transfer of a Judge (including Chief Justice) from one High Court to any other High Court. The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a Judge should be made by the Chief Justice of India whose opinion in this regard is determinative.
• Consent of a Judge for his first or subsequent transfer would not be required.
• All transfers are to be made in public interest i.e., for promoting better administration of justice throughout the country.

-Source: Indian Express

Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)

Context:

The Union Cabinet has cleared the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their income.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Update for Senior Citizens
2. About Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
3. About the National Health Authority (NHA)

Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Update for Senior Citizens

Overview:

• Policy Expansion: The AB PM-JAY has been broadened to include all individuals aged 70 and above, ensuring they receive health coverage irrespective of income level or current public healthcare benefits.
• Current Scheme: Previously income-based, AB PM-JAY provided Rs 5 lakh of shared annual health coverage across all family members, targeting the economically lower 40% of the population.

Enhanced Coverage:

• Extended Beneficiaries: The policy now extends to grant Rs 5 lakh annual health coverage explicitly to each senior citizen aged 70 and above, projected to assist an additional 6 crore elderly from 4.5 crore families.
• Top-Up Coverage: Seniors under the scheme who already receive AB PM-JAY benefits will gain up to Rs 5 lakh additional coverage. If a family has two qualifying seniors, this amount is shared.
• Integration with Other Schemes: Seniors currently under schemes like CGHS, ECHS, or Ayushman CAPF can opt to continue or transition to AB PM-JAY. Those with private insurance or under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme are also eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits.

Scheme Features:

• Demand-Driven: Coverage scales based on demand, ensuring adequate support as needs grow.
• Health Card Issuance: New health cards will be issued to beneficiaries aged 70+, facilitating smoother access to healthcare services.

Advantages:

• Enhanced Support: This initiative aims to significantly alleviate the healthcare burden on seniors, particularly given India’s trend towards smaller family units where elder financial support may be less robust.
• First Full Coverage Group: This marks the first instance where an entire demographic segment within the Ayushman Bharat scheme secures full health coverage, setting a precedent for universal healthcare ambitions.

About Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme having central sector component under Ayushman Bharat Mission anchored in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• It is an umbrella of two major health initiatives, namely Health and wellness Centres and National  Health Protection Scheme.
• The PM Jan Arogya Yojana beneficiaries get an e-card that can be used to avail services at an empanelled hospital, public or private, anywhere in the country, with which they can walk into a hospital and obtain cashless treatment.
• The scheme has certain pre-conditions by which it picks who can avail of the health cover benefit. While in the rural areas the list is mostly categorized on lack of housing, meagre income and other deprivations, the urban list of PMJAY beneficiaries is drawn up on the basis of occupation.
• AB PM-JAY is the flagship scheme of the Union government as a part of the Indian government’s National Health Policy.

National Health Protection Mission (AB-PMJAY)

• AB-PMJAY provides a defined insurance benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. This cover will take care of almost all secondary care and most of tertiary care procedures.
• To ensure that nobody is left out (especially women, children and elderly) there will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme.
• The beneficiaries can avail benefits in both public and empanelled private facilities. All public hospitals in the States implementing AB-PMJAY, will be deemed empanelled for the Scheme.
• Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.
• To control costs, the payments for treatment will be done on package rate (to be defined by the Government in advance) basis.

Health and Wellness Centres (AB-PMJAY)

• Under this 1.5 lakh existing sub centres will bring health care system closer to the homes of people in the form of Health and wellness centres.
• These centres will provide comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services.

About the National Health Authority (NHA)

• National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme called “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana”.
• The NHA been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission” to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.
• National Health Authority (2019) is the successor of the National Health Agency, which was functioning as a registered society since 2018 (Not a Statutory body).
• NHA has been set-up to implement PM-JAY, as it is popularly known, at the national level.
• NHA is an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with full functional autonomy.
• NHA is also leading the implementation for Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM in coordination with different ministries/departments of the Government of India, State Governments, and private sector/civil society organizations.
• NHA is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and it is headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, who manages its affairs.

-Source: The Hindu

Draft Guidelines Issued for PM Surya Ghar—Muft Bijli Yojana

Context:

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has recently released draft guidelines to bolster the PM Surya Ghar—Muft Bijli Yojana through central financial assistance and a robust payment security mechanism. This initiative aims to enhance energy accessibility and affordability under the scheme, ensuring sustainable energy solutions are available at no cost to households.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of Draft Guidelines for Rooftop Solar Scheme:
2. About Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
3. India’s current solar capacity
4. India’s solar policy

Overview of Draft Guidelines for Rooftop Solar Scheme:

• Scheme Models: The guidelines introduce two models under the ‘PM Surya Ghar—Muft Bijli Yojana’: the Renewable Energy Services Company (RESCO) model and the Utility Led Asset (ULA) model.

RESCO Model Details:

• Ownership and Duration: The RESCO model involves the RESCO developing and retaining ownership of rooftop solar installations on consumers’ premises for a minimum of five years.
• Maintenance and Costs: RESCO is responsible for all operational costs and maintenance of the installations during the ownership period.
• Revenue Model: Consumers pay for the electricity generated from these installations, benefiting from net metering that reduces their overall electricity bills.
• Power Sales: RESCO may also contract with local distribution companies (discoms) to sell excess generated power via power purchase agreements.

ULA Model Details:

• Ownership: Under the ULA model, the state discom initially owns the rooftop solar installations for five years, after which ownership transitions to the household.

Eligibility and Financial Assistance:

• Applicable Properties: Eligible properties include residential buildings with roofs, terraces, balconies, or similar structures that support solar installations.
• Metering Mechanisms: Eligible installations can utilize group net metering or virtual net metering to manage electricity distribution and billing.
• Exclusions: Properties with pre-installed rooftop solar systems are not eligible for the scheme.

Financial Security Measures:

• Payment Security Mechanism: A financial corpus of Rs 100 crore is established, managed by a national agency, ensuring the economic stability and reliability of payment flows within the scheme.

 About Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

• The scheme provides free electricity to its beneficiaries and further sustainable development and people’s wellbeing.
• It aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• It scheme provides substantive subsidies, which will be given directly to people’s bank accounts and heavily concessional bank loans.
• The Central Government will ensure that there is no cost burden on the people. 
• Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions.
• Hence, the scheme will lead to more income, lesser power bills and employment generation for people.

Rooftop Solar Panels:

• Definition: Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels installed on a building’s roof, integrated into the main power supply system.

Benefits

• Energy Consumption Reduction: Significantly reduces reliance on grid-connected electricity, leading to lower electricity costs for consumers.
• Surplus Power Export: Excess solar power generated can be exported to the grid, providing monetary benefits to consumers based on prevailing regulations.

India’s current solar capacity:

• Solar power has a major share in the country’s current renewable energy capacity, which stands at around 180 GW.
• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 73.31 GW as of December 2023.
• The rooftop solar installed capacity is around 11.08 GW as of December 2023.
• In terms of total solar capacity, Rajasthan is at the top with 18.7 GW. Gujarat is at the second position with 10.5 GW. 
• When it comes to rooftop solar capacity, Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW, followed by Maharashtra by 1.7 GW.

Importance for expansion of solar energy in India:

• According to the latest World Energy Outlook by the International Energy Agency (IEA), India is expected to witness the largest energy demand growth of any country or region in the world over the next 30 years.
• To meet this demand, the country would need a reliable source of energy and it can’t be just coal plants.
• Although India has doubled down on its coal production in recent years, it also aims to reach 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• Therefore, it is essential to expand solar power capacity.

India’s solar policy:

• Since 2011, India’s solar sector has grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 59% from 0.5GW in 2011 to 55GW in 2021.

National Solar Mission (NSM):

• The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), also known as the National Solar Mission (NSM), which commenced in January 2010, marked the first time the government focussed on promoting and developing solar power in India.
• Under the scheme, the total installed capacity target was set as 20GW by 2022.
• In 2015, the target was revised to 100GW and in August 2021, the government set a solar target of 300GW by 2030.
• India currently ranks fifth after China, U.S., Japan and Germany in terms of installed solar power capacity.
• As of December 2021, the cumulative solar installed capacity of India is 55GW, which is roughly half the renewable energy (RE) capacity (excluding large hydro power) and 14% of the overall power generation capacity of India.
• Within the 55GW, grid-connected utility-scale projects contribute 77% and the rest comes from grid-connected rooftop and off-grid projects.

-Source: Live Mint

PM SHRI Schools

Context:

After Punjab, the Delhi government has decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government to implement the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme. 

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About PM SHRI Schools

About PM SHRI Schools:

• This will be a new centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14,500 Schools across the country by strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
• PM SHRI Schools will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020 and act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.

Implementation strategy

• PM SHRI Schools would be implemented through the existing administrative structure available for Samagra Shiksha, KVS & NVS. The other autonomous bodies would be involved on specific project basis as required.
• These schools shall be monitored vigorously to assess progress and understand the challenges faced in implementation of National Education Policy 2020.

Beneficiaries

• More than 18 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the scheme. Futher impact will be generated through the mentoring and handholding of the schools in vicinity of PM SHRI schools.

Key features

•  PM SHRI will provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.
• It will provide leadership to other schools in their respective regions by providing mentorship.
• The PM SHRI  Schools will be developed as Green schools, incorporating environment friendly aspects like solar panels and LED lights, nutrition gardens with natural farming, waste management, plastic free, water conservation and harvesting, study of traditions/practices related to protection of environment, climate change related hackathon and awareness generation to adopt sustainable lifestyle.
• Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable.
• Focus will be on learning outcomes of every child in every grade. Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based.
• Assessment of the resources available and their effectiveness in terms of availability, adequacy, appropriateness, and utilisation for each of the domains and their key performance indicators will be done and gaps will be filled in a systematic and planned manner.
• Linkage with Sector Skill Councils and local industry for enhancing employability and providing better employment opportunities will be explored.
• A School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being developed, specifying the key performance indicators to measure outcomes. Quality evaluation of these schools at regular interval will be undertaken to ensure the desired standards.

Aim:

• The aim of these schools will not only be qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills.
• They will provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.

-Source: Indian Express

Soyuz Spacecraft

Context:

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American docked at the International Space Station (ISS) recently, a little more than three hours after its launch.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Soyuz Spacecraft:

• The Soyuz is a renowned Russian spacecraft.
• It holds the record as the longest continuously operational human spacecraft program in the annals of space exploration.

Functional Capabilities:

• Crew Composition: The Soyuz is manned by Russian cosmonauts, with additional crew members from the United States (referred to as astronauts) and other international astronauts from Europe, Canada, and Japan.
• Transportation Role: The spacecraft is crucial for ferrying cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
• Specifications: The Soyuz has a mass of 7 tonnes, with dimensions of 7.2 meters in length and 2.7 meters in diameter, accommodating three crew members.
• Supply Functions: It is tasked with delivering essential supplies such as food and water to the ISS.

Dual Functionality:

• Operational Design: The Soyuz doubles as both a transport vehicle to the ISS and a safety mechanism.
• Emergency Utility: It remains perpetually docked at the ISS to serve as an emergency escape vehicle, facilitating rapid evacuation and safe return to Earth when necessary.

Structural Components:

• Orbital Module: Provides living quarters for the crew while in orbit, directly connecting to the space station.
• Descent Module: Employed during both launch and return phases, it is engineered to endure the challenges of reentry and guarantee a safe landing.
• Service Module: Contains vital life support systems including batteries, solar panels, and steering engines essential for the mission’s success and the crew’s safety.

Propulsion and Journey:

• The spacecraft is launched by a Soyuz rocket, which detaches when the craft reaches orbit.
• Remarkably, the capsule reaches space in just nine minutes, while the rocket component returns to Earth.

-Source: The Hindu

Southern Birdwing butterfly

Context:

Recently, a Southern Birdwing butterfly has been found on the satellite campus of The American College in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu.

Relevance:

GS III: Species in News

Southern Birdwing Butterfly

• Common Name: Sahyadri Birdwing
• India’s second largest butterfly species.
• Predominantly found in the Western Ghats, South Asia.
• Size: Notably large, with a wingspan surpassing that of smaller birds, hence the name “birdwing.”
• Appearance:
  • Males: Black wings with greenish-blue markings.
  • Females: More complex patterns with cream-colored markings.
• Conservation Status: Listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN.
• State Emblem: Recognized as the state butterfly of Karnataka.

Western Ghats

• Geography: A mountain range spanning 160,000 sq km, extending about 1,600 km along India’s western coast.
• States Covered: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Global Significance:
  • Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Identified as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots.
• Ecological Role: Houses high mountain forests crucial in moderating the tropical climate and enhancing the monsoon system in the region.

-Source: The Hindu