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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017

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100 Most Probable Questions

with Answers: SCIENCE & TECH.

COMPILED BY –

INDIA BHAI

(ASHUTOSH GUPTA)

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1. “Blockchain promises to create more transparent, accountable, and efficient governments.” Analyse.

Answer: What are Blockchains? Blockchains are a new data structure that is secure, cryptography-based, and distributed across a network. A blockchain is a distributed database that is used to maintain a continuously growing list of records, called blocks. Each block contains a timestamp and a link to a previous block. The technology allows transactions to be simultaneously anonymous and secure, peer-to-

peer, instant and frictionless. It does this by distributing trust from powerful intermediaries to a large global network, which through mass collaboration, clever code and cryptography, enables a tamper-proof public ledger of every transaction that’s ever happened on the network.

A block is the “current” part of a blockchain which records some or all of the recent transactions, and once completed, goes into the blockchain as permanent database. Each time a block gets completed, a new block is generated. Blocks are linked to each other (like a chain) in proper linear, chronological order with every block containing a hash of the previous block

Advantages of Blockchain

1)Allows a chronologically ordered record of all actions and files.

2)Distributed and Decentralised Database

2)Efficient and cost-effective.

3)Tamper-proof, secure and reliable.

4)Can be used widely e.g. in financial systems, public records, medical records etc.

Application

1. Delivery of Govt Services : Last year, Dubai announced the adoption of a roadmap, Dubai

Blockchain Strategy 2020, for the Emirate’s adoption of blockchain technology to improve the

delivery of government services.

2. Save time and Money : Dubai’s government estimates it stands to save nearly $1.5 billion

and 25.1 million hours in document processing time.

3. Transparent Governance : A public blockchain, like the one Bitcoin uses, records all

information and transactions on the decentralized database permanently, publicly, and most

importantly, securely.

4. Accountability : By allowing governments to track the movement of government funds,

blockchain can hold state and local actors accountable for any misappropriations.

5. Bypassing middlemen : Blockchain not only deters corruption through accountability, but it

can also do so by bypassing the middleman entirely. The reason why World Food Programme

began testing blockchain-based food and cash transactions in Pakistan’s Sindh province.





6. Delivery of services, Aadhaar : Refugees in Jordan’s Azraq camp are now using the same

technology, in conjunction with biometric registration data for authentication, to pay for food.

Thus has applicability even in Aadhaar cards.

7. Green Signal from RBI : Earlier this year, RBI's Institute for Development and Research in

Banking Technology published a white paper on the applications of blockchain to the banking

and financial sector in India and concluded, “the time is ripe for its adoption”.

8. Loan, Remittance and Stock Exchange

Blockchain, however, can only help enhance the delivery of government services, it cannot

replace an inefficient system. Although it can deter corruption, it cannot prevent the entering

of false information into the network. Yet, it presents the government with a powerful

opportunity. The time is ripe for embracing blockchain technology as it promises to deliver

maximum governance, minimum government. Concerns associated: Blockchain is still a (relatively) new technology and is not without its problems. For a start,

there are ongoing concerns about privacy in the settlement and storage of securities – blockchain providers are working hard to address.

Banks are also at threat with blockchain, since more and more firms (using their IT service providers from India and elsewhere) will build systems that can create and exchange ‘blocks’ with one another completely legally, without ever having to use the banks as a financial intermediary.





2. What is crypto currency? Is bit coin is crypto currency? Is it legal? What are the advantages and

disadvantages of using bit coins?

Answer:

A crypto currency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure the transactions and to control the creation of additional units of the currency .Crypto currencies are classified as a subset of digital currencies and are also classified as a subset of alternative currencies and virtual currencies.

Bitcoin became the first decentralized cryptocurrency in 2009.Since then, numerous crypto currencies have been created. Bitcoin and its derivatives use decentralized control as opposed to centralized electronic money/centralized banking systems. The decentralized control is related to the use of bitcoin's blockchain transaction database in the role of a distributed ledger.

What is bitcoin? It is an attempt by a firm, using blockchain technology, to create a set of shares in a trading entity that had an initial set value and fixed number (much like the face value and number of shares offered in an initial public offering), in the hope that these shares would become the medium of exchange through which people trade goods and services. Since the number of shares is fixed, demand for them goes up over a period of time as more and more people use the shares to settle their transactions; so, the bet is that each bitcoin’s value goes up stratospherically since there will never ever be any more bitcoins issued. 1. It is an electronic or digital currency that works on a peer-to-peer basis. It is decentralised and has no central authority controlling it. 2. Bitcoins can be send digitally to anyone who has a bitcoin address anywhere in the globe. One person could have multiple addresses for different purposes – personal, business and the like. 3. A bitcoin is not printed currency but is a non-repudiable record of every transaction that it has been through. All this is part of a huge ledger called the blockchain. 4. Bitcoins are available in bitcoin exchanges. They can be purchased from other users. A bitcoin is generated when an entity, i.e. a person or a business, uses software power to solve a mathematical puzzle that makes the blockchain more secure. The difficulty level of solving the problem is high enough to ensure that it takes time to do it. Is it legal? This is legal since it hasn’t yet been regulated by many countries. Way ahead: Sovereign governments don’t like allowing companies to issue their own coin and will eventually regulate such systems.





Bitcoin transaction:

Bitcoin transactions are sent from and to electronic bitcoin wallets, and are digitally signed for security. Everyone on the network knows about a transaction, and the history of a transaction can be traced back to the point where the bitcoins were produced. Advantages of Bitcoins:

Freedom in Payment: No limit on transaction and can send and receive money anywhere

Allowing users to be in control of their transactions help keep Bitcoin safe for the network.

With the block chain, all finalized transactions are available for everyone to see, however personal information is hidden.

Bitcoin protocol cannot be manipulated by any person, organization, or government. This is due to Bitcoin being cryptographically secure.

Low Transaction cost: Currently there are either no fees, or very low fees within Bitcoin payments.

Due to the fact that Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed, do not carry with them personal information, and are secure, merchants are protected from potential losses that might occur from fraud.

Disadvantages:

Lack of Awareness & Understanding. Bitcoin has volatility mainly due to the fact that there is a limited amount of coins and

the demand for them increases by each passing day. Bitcoin is still at its infancy stage with incomplete features that are in development.

Limitation of 21 M bit coin currency that will last till 2040- The blockchain system

is designed such that at its maximum only 21 million bitcoins can be produced and

in circulation. The number cannot exceed this cap. As of February, about 15.2

million bitcoins have been mined (or produced). That is about 75% of the total cap

already in circulation.Current estimates are that the last bitcoin that will ever be

mined will come into existence in 2040.

It is possible to launder money and buy illegal products. Since Bitcoins can be spent on the Internet without the use of a bank account, they offer a convenient system for anonymous purchases.

Money laundering. No regulation Possibility of Hacking Degree of acceptance - Many people are still unaware of Bitcoin.

Ongoing development - Bitcoin software is still in beta with many incomplete features in active development.





Volatility - The total value of bitcoins in circulation and the number of businesses using Bitcoin are still very small compared to what they could be. Therefore, relatively small events, trades, or business activities can significantly affect the price.

3.What do you understand by ‘Big Data’? Suggest innovative measures how big data can be

used in improving efficiency in delivery of government services.

Answer:

What is Big Data? Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data – both structured and unstructured –

that inundates a business on a day-to-day basis. But it’s not the amount of data that’s

important. It’s what organizations do with the data that matters. Big data can be analyzed for

insights that lead to better decisions and strategic business moves.

The Importance of Big Data The importance of big data doesn’t revolve around how much data you have, but what you do with it. You can take data from any source and analyze it to find answers that enable

cost reductions,

time reductions,

new product development and optimized offerings, and

smart decision making. When you combine big data with high-powered analytics, you can accomplish business-related tasks such as:

Determining root causes of failures, issues and defects in near-real time.

Generating coupons at the point of sale based on the customer’s buying habits.

Recalculating entire risk portfolios in minutes.

Detecting fraudulent behavior before it affects your organization.

How big Data can be used in improving efficiency in delivery of government services? India runs a huge welfare program which over many years has shown many leakages.

The first and foremost use of Big Data will be to generate root cause of failure, issues and defects in real time i.e. know the leakages in welfare program with their reasons.

The analysis will help government come up with new relevant schemes rather than go one size fit all approach.

The buying pattern at different PDS shops can have government know the exact amount of resources required and thus keep it stocked to proper limit.





There must be a shift to greater use of data, smarter evidence-based scrutiny and audit, greater reliance on on-line assessments with correspondingly less interaction between tax payers and tax officials. This could lead to greater compliance through nonpunitive means in the field of tax collection.

With Big Data government, will be able to know the resources available in every region and thus will be able to push extra resources required in case of any emergency in cost and time efficient manner.

The major impact of Big Data in any government delivery service is that it will a) Cut down time

b) Cut down cost

c) Provide relevant schemes and services This will be possible because: a) The data which will be the basis of all decisions.

b) Proper mining and analysis of data help find

i. Failure

ii. Sensitive Reasons

iii. Capacity

iv. Note fraudulent behaviour in real time With all these, the public service delivery is bound to improve with Big Data.

4. Discuss critically various opinions expressed against Artificial Intelligence by scientists,

philosophers and technology leaders.

Answer:

What is Artificial Intelligence? 1. Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans. 2. Artificial Intelligence is the area of computer science focussing on creating machines that can engage on behavior that human consider intelligent. 3. It is the study of ways in which machines can be made to have sufficient creative reasoning power to perform mental task at which, at prevent, human beings are better. 4. Examples of problem that falls under the area of Artificial Intelligence include common sense tasks, such as understanding of language, recognising scenes, finding a way to reach an object that is far overhead etc. 5. In addition Artificial Intelligence includes expert tasks, such as diagnosing diseases, designing computer system and planning scientific expedition.





Where can we use Artificial Intelligence? 1. Games playing: programming computers to play games against human opponents. 2. Expert systems: programming computers to make decisions in real-life situations (for example, some expert systems help doctors diagnose diseases based on symptoms). 3. Natural language: programming computers to understand natural human languages. 4. Neural networks: Systems that simulate intelligence by attempting to reproduce the types of physical connections that occur in animal brains. 5. Robotics: programming computers to see and hear and react to other sensory stimuli.

There are various scientists and technology leaders who have criticised AI as:

1. Stephen Hawking: He thinks that it might end human race.

2. Elon Musk: It might go rogue and be against humanity.

3. Ratan Tata: It might lead to elimination of human inputs leading to job losses.

However, Some scientists call AI as the next revolution and an important aid in human

development as:

1. Mark Zuckerberg: It aids in various ways like drug discovery and diagnosis of illness.

2. It might lead to ending of terrorism.

3. It might save lives and help with innovation and discoveries leading to acceleration of 4th

Industrial Revolution

Positive views:

- many philosopher scientists see it as a means to achieving the idea of Singularity ,alternatively

called as extropianism.

- some economists believe that with old employment going away at the hands of AI, new would

be created;

- Scientists even look forward to evolving humans from biological state to cyber-mechanical

state using AI;

- Anarcho-Communists believe it to be a step closer to utopia where state would be irrelevant

and AI would assist in forming society based on Act Utiltarianism principles;

Critical views:

- a dystopian future where even a single super-intelligent AI machine might overpower

everything and everyone;

- Liberals raise ethical concerns like those of human rights for AI machines once they become

aware like humans;

- A co-existential crisis might ensue with a conflict between two intelligent races - humans and

machines;

- ethical concern regarding ownership is yet another dilemma as owning an intelligent and

aware race - even if machines - would be akin to going back to the days of slavery;





An aware machine is very much different from a non-aware machine. The questions to answer

are many. Still it must be borne in mind that with awareness comes a sense of role in society

and the consciousness to exist and keep existing. An aware machine might have its own

conceptions of reality - good or bad. Ethical concerns are sure to rise aplenty, all of which are

inevitable in an inevitable future.

5. “An incremental, technology-neutral approach to the adoption of electric vehicles is the

way forward for Automobile Sector in India.” With Electric vehicles (EVs) seem to be gaining

in prominence as part of the renewable energy movement, explain the challenges which India

will face in mainstreaming electric vehicles and how these challenges can be overcome?

Answer:

Hybrid Vehicle is an effective solution against rising pollution and environmental issues. Hybrid Electric Vehicles: 1. Conventional cars use an internal combustion engine for power. 2. Battery electric vehicles only use an electric motor and battery, eschewing conventional engines altogether. 3. Hybrid cars have the advantage of both of above type of vehicle. They have, in addition to internal combustion engine, also an electric motor and a battery. 4. If we had better batteries with greater power storage capacity, we would need hybrid cars. 5. The most advanced hybrids have larger batteries and can recharge their batteries from an outlet. These are known as “plug-in hybrids" and can cover long distances. Fame India Scheme

Government of India has notified FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] for implementation with effect from 1st April 2015, with the objective to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and Manufacturing eco-system.

Key facts: 1. Objective: To support the hybrid or electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing ecosystem in the country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated period 2. The overall scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period next 6 years i.e. till 2020 3. It envisages providing Rs 795 crore support till 2020 for the manufacturing and sale of electric and hybrid vehicles. 4. It also seeks to provide demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles from two-wheeler to buses 5. Implementation: It will be implemented in phases





6. The Phase-1 will be implemented over a two year period in FY15-16 and FY16-17 7. Based on the outcome and experience from the Phase-1, it will be reviewed for implementation after 31 March 2017.Then appropriate fund will be allocated for future. 8. Four focus areas: Technology development, Pilot Projects, Demand Creation and Charging infrastructure. 9. The Department of Heavy Industries under the aegis of Union Ministry of Heavy Industries will be will be nodal department for the scheme. National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 NEMMP aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in country.

The move by government of India is a noble step in reducing the effect of climate change,

preventing loss of life, saving fossil fuels, less dependence on petroleum products, less

negotiation with oil producing countries at their whims and fancies etc.

Why needed?

1. Will help in fulfilling our INDC 2030 goals (cutting CO2 emissions in GDP by 33-35% w.r.t.

2005 levels)

2. Shift towards EVs will help cut oil imports (already India has set targets to cut oil imports by

10% by 2022).

3. Creation of Industries and Infrastructure will create jobs in India, both upstream and

downstream

4. To combat increasing air pollution load (PM2.5 & PM10) in Indian Cities (e.g. Delhi, Kolkata

etc) --will have positive outcomes on people’s health

5. Reducing overall carbon footprint- EVs reflect shift to sustainable transportation





However there are several challenges:-

Lack of infrastructure such as battery charging stations, improper grid connectivity etc.

Meeting the demand: The government would have to ensure that it meets the demand

that is created by this mechanism. Hence, more electricity generating sources will have

been developed.

Electric vehicles manufacturing still in nascent stage in India.

Pollution free: The government will have to ensure that the mechanism for electricity

generation is pollution free. For this to happen, the government can increase the tax on

coal-based production.





Lithium ion battery minerals confined to fewer countries such as Argentina,Chile ,

Australia etc.

Lack of R&D in electric vehicles sector.

Acquisition of mineral fields required for lithium battery production by other countries such as USA ,China etc in which India lacks behind.

RISK FACTOR: The government will have to ensure that it doesn’t put all its eggs in one

basket as prior experiences of US has shown that overdependence and allotment of all

funds for one business leads to the failure of the whole of it.

Hence the need of the hour is

A. Diversification of PTAs with other countries for lithium carbonate imports

B. Tax holidays for local manufacturers

C. Increase spending on R&D in EVs sector

D..Efforts for creation of infrastructure such as battery charging points, grid connectivity etc

E. Focus on recycling on batteries as compared to new procurement.

F. Increasing PPP in EV sector

G. Replicating best global practices such as that of China in EV sector.

6. What do you understand by ‘internet of things’ (IoT)? How ill digitization help IoT and how will both help India in turn? Examine Answer: The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless technologies, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), micro services and the internet. The convergence has helped tear down the silo walls between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), allowing unstructured machine-generated data to be analyzed for insights that will drive improvements. WHAT IS IoT – Internet of things is an integrated system in which devices are connected in a network of

information in such a way that they can communicate with each other without any human intervention.

It creates an intelligent system of systems which can manage multiple activities of human concern like traffic control, health management, optimal use of electricity and inventory management etc.





IoT requires data to work. This data is then turned into meaningful information for processing. Accessibility to data is indispensable for the working of IoT and this is being facilitated by digitization.

Digitization is a process which interconnects the world into an integrated network enabling sharing of data and information across systems. Thus, IoT connects devices but this connectivity is provided by digitization of information. In brief, digitization is enabler of IoT.

HOW DIGITIZATION WILL HELP IoT – Data provision – Internet of things bringing the physical, digital, cyber and virtual worlds

together requires extensive information processing capabilities provided by digitization. Connectivity – With complete and proper digitization more and more people will be

connected with the internet that makes people aware about internet of things and its uses. Standardize the economy- usage of them would modernize our business practices,

banking structure and trade market. They develop a hedge against adversity and soothes the process of a landmark transformation.

Easier mode of payment – Anyone can make transaction very easily without any physical contact between consumer and producer.

Reduce tax theft – By promoting digitization one cannot hide its expenditure and gain so that will come under the eye of govt.

Facilitating and enabling environment- IoT would ease the process of work by managing areas like insurance, bills, regulation of energy usages, loan installment and other periodical liabilities. It would save man hours and would increase their economic productivity ultimately boosting the growth of Indian economy.

Easier lives – Example: Healthcare system- better tracking of cholesterol level, blood pressure level and sugar level would enable early tracking of health changes and would make India a country of healthy people with reduced health expenditures.





Challenges thrown up by advent of IoT

Data Management: Connected devices are going to produce massive amount of data. Companies need to figure out a way to store, track, analyze and make sense of the vast amounts of data that will be generated.

Privacy & Security: With billions of devices being connected together, what can people do to make sure that their information stays secure? Will someone be able to hack into your toaster and thereby get access to your entire network? The IoT also opens up companies all over the world to more security threats. Then we have the issue of privacy and data sharing.

Government of India and IoT

1. The Union government is coming up with a regulatory framework for Internet-of-Things (IoT) along with policies to promote the sector.

2. Department of Telecom has come out with a machine-to-machine (M2M) roadmap, with an aim to put regulators, industry agencies that develop standards, users and manufacturers on the same page.

3. The Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY), in its draft policy, targets to create an IoT industry in India of $15 billion by 2020.

4. Currently, work is going on in the area of numbering schemes for IoT and KYC norms for SIM-embedded M2M devices.

5. Telecom Standards Society of India too is working on India-relevant standards with respect to the sector.

What can be done to minimize the adverse impact on labour due to IoT?

We must note that this is not the first time that disruptive technology is going to come into play. It has happened before, and inevitably it will happen again. It is important to make strategies that will help our labour force to adapt to such technologies and take steps that will help mitigate the worst effects of these technologies.

For adaption, Skill India Mission can be geared to either impart higher levels of skills required to operate with IoT; furthermore, SIM can be used to impart existing workforce a diverse set of skills so that their employ-ability is not impacted beyond repair.

There may be some lay-offs temporarily. We need some new solutions to take care of those who will be laid off for no fault of theirs. Companies deploying IoT and consequently reducing workforce in a particular sector, must be encouraged to absorb the workers in another sector.





Conclusion IoT and digitization have huge potential to bring radical changes in the way we interact with people and things. But it would require a robust information system with assured transparency, privacy and security features. 7. What do you understand by the term DNA profiling? Why there is a need to codify law on DNA profiling? Critically examine the probable impacts of DNA profiling bill. Answer: DNA Profiling A very sensitive technology, DNA Profiling is a technology that can be used to identify individuals for the purpose of solving crime or establishing the relationship with other individuals such as for paternity testing. This can be done by means of few skin cells, a hair root or a tiny amount of blood or saliva. DNA profiling (also called DNA fingerprinting, DNA testing, or DNA typing) is a forensic technique used to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA. A DNA profile is a small set of DNA variations that is very likely to be different in all unrelated individuals, thereby being as unique to individuals as are fingerprints. DNA Profiling and India The Indian Code of Criminal Procedure was amended in 2005 to enable the collection of a host of medical details from accused persons upon their arrest which included DNA profiling and such other tests which the registered medical practitioner thinks necessary in a particular case. Draft human DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profiling bill, 2015, has been created. The bill seeks to create a DNA database and profiling board to regulate DNA profile analysis. Need to codify law on DNA Profiling.

• At present, DNA testing labs are unregulated and lack uniform testing protocols and procedures. In the absence of a legal framework, a database can't be prepared and maintained.

• It depends on the government as to what kind of information it wants included in the database such as information on only convicted persons, suspects or all those jailed .

• If the database is to include all those in custody, then the DNA profile of acquitted individuals will have to be deleted, as done in some countries.

Bill provisions 1. It prohibits the collection of any “bodily substance” from an arrested individual (for the purposes of a DNA test) without his/her consent, except if the individual is arrested for certain specific offences. 2. However, if the consent “is refused without good cause”, and a magistrate is satisfied of the need for a DNA test, he/she can order the arrested person to give a sample.





3. The new Bill has also removed a provision that allowed DNA profiles in the databank to be used for “creation and maintenance of population statistics databank”. 4. While the penalty for misuse of data remains a prison term of up to three years and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, a reference to a minimum prison term of one month has been removed. 5. The Bill seeks to set up two new institutions — a DNA Profiling Board and a DNA Data Bank.

DNA Profiling Board 1. The Board, with 11 members, is supposed to be the regulatory authority that will grant accreditation to DNA laboratories and lay down guidelines, standards and procedures for their functioning. 2. It will advise central and state governments on “all issues relating to DNA laboratories”. 3. It will also be the authority to make recommendations on ethical and human rights, including privacy, issues related to DNA testing. DNA Data Bank 1. A national databank of DNA profiles is proposed to be set up, along with regional databanks in every state 2. The new draft does not specify the location of the national databank. All regional DNA databanks will be mandated to share their information with the national databank.





3. Certain DNA Profiling Board-accredited labs would be authorised to carry out DNA testing and analysis. These are the only places to which DNA samples, picked up from a crime scene can be referred for analysis 4.Data from the analyses will need to be shared with the nearest regional DNA databank which will store it and share it with the national databank. 5. The databanks will maintain five sets of databases — for DNA samples picked up from crime scenes, for suspects or undertrials, and for offenders, missing persons, and unidentified dead bodies. Impacts of DNA Profiling Bill: An Analysis The major debate on DNA profiling bill has been on EVIDENCE versus PRIVACY. HELP IN EVIDENCE: 1. Help in crime scene investigation

2. Will help maintain a database of convicts, suspects and history sheeters.

3. Will help in other cases like verification of missing persons

4. Will help police in blind cases where corpse of unidentified person is found.

5. Will help foster greater research in the field. VIOLATION OF PRIVACY: 1. Racial Profiling

2. Longer Trial Period

3. Errant Testing and Conviction The benefits of DNA profiling is immense and help foster a quick crime solving mechanism but there need to checks and balances to make sure that the mechanism that is being brought in to protect the human end up violating their basic right to privacy

8. What is the science involved in Hyperloop? Can it transform how Indians Transportation System? Examine Answer:

What is hyperloop?

1. A proposed mode of freight and passenger transportation in which a pod like vehicle will be propelled through a near vacuum tube at airline speed for the price of a bus ticket.

2. These pods essentially are autonomous which would enable high speed travel inside the tube. This will also ensure that the vehicles glide silently for miles without any turbulence.

3. As we start the next revolution on Internet of things and digitize physical things we look towards a futuristic transportation infrastructure.





Possible Advantages for India

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one of the companies formed to realize Musk's vision

of tube travel,announced it has signed a deal with the state of Andhra Pradesh, in India.

Working with the state’s economic development board, HTT will spend six months studying

possible routes for a hyperloop connecting the cities of Vijaywada and Amaravati—a move

that would transform a 27-mile, hour-long drive into a six-minutes.

1. To transform urbanization and our current modes of transportation we need disruptive technology

2. Remarkable shift in which we perceive urbanization as a person can stay in Chennai and work in Bengaluru

3. It will be environmentally sustainable with no direct emissions 4. It will be cost efficient 5. Co- development will essentially mean access to technology.

6. It is in line with the government’s aim to Make in India, which will create local manufacturing jobs





Concerns

1. Concerns whether a developing country like India should invest in a technology which is still at experimental stage

2. There exist regulatory challenges, whether hyperloop will come under railways or civil aviation or an entirely new body

3. Safety concerns are yet to be addressed

9. Recently, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) – India project was approved by the union Cabinet. Briefly discuss about the significance of the project and its likely impact on India. Answer: What are Gravitational waves? 1. Gravitational waves are distortions or ‘ripples’ in the fabric of space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe 2. These ripples would travel at the speed of light through the Universe, carrying with them information about their cataclysmic origins, as well as invaluable clues to the nature of gravity itself.





3. Predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation, a form of radiant energy similar to electromagnetic radiation. What are the Sources of Gravitational Waves? Any object with mass that accelerates (which in science means changes position at a variable rate, and includes spinning and orbiting objects) produces gravitational waves, including humans and cars and airplanes etc. But the gravitational waves made by us here on Earth are much too small to detect The strongest gravitational waves are produced by catastrophic events such as colliding black holes, the collapse of stellar cores (supernovae), coalescing neutron stars or white dwarf stars, the slightly wobbly rotation of neutron stars that are not perfect spheres, and the remnants of gravitational radiation created by the birth of the Universe itself But, Why Detect Them? This will open up a new window of study on the Universe, giving us a deeper understanding of these cataclysmic events, and usher in brand new cutting-edge studies in physics, astronomy, and astrophysics More importantly, since gravitational waves don’t interact with matter (unlike electromagnetic radiation), they travel through the Universe completely unimpeded giving us a crystal clear view of the gravitational wave This will provide astronomers and other scientists, first glimpses of previously unseen and unseeable wonders, and greatly adding to our understanding of the nature of space and time itself.

The LIGO project is an attempt to directly observe gravitational waves whose existence were

indicated in Einstein’s Theory of relativity but couldn’t be proved experimentally. The LIGO-

India observatory (INDIGO) is an expansion of worldwide network consisting of observatories of

USA, Germany. Italy etc.

The significance of the INDIGO project can be seen below –

1. Improved sensitivity towards gravitational waves due to a wider network of observatories

2. Break the impasse over the location of an additional observatory in Australia as the

Australian government had refused funding

3. Will serve as an example of productive international collaboration for scientific research in

the lines of LHC of CERN and attract further investments

Is there any Way ahead for India? 1. Yes, because Union cabinet has approved a proposal to establish a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in India in collaboration with LIGO in the US 2. The project will bring unprecedented opportunities for scientists and engineers to dig deeper into the realm of gravitational wave and take global leadership in this new astronomical frontier 3. This will also bring considerable opportunities in cutting-edge technology for the Indian industry which will be engaged in the construction of the 8-km long beam tube at ultra-high vacuum on a leveled terrain





4. With its establishment, India will join the global network of gravitational wave detectors 5. The establishment of an observatory in India assumes importance because the further the distance between the observatories, the greater will be the accuracy in locating gravity waves

6. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are among the states shortlisted for the experiment

The likely impact of the project on India can be seen below –

1. Would give an impetus to foreign investment in Indian scientific research since government

expenditure is currently less than 1% of the GDP

2. Will complement the activities of Astrosat which aims to test Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

3. Would give an impetus to India’s STI Policy, 2013 objective of establishing India among the

top 5 knowledge powers

4. The INDIGO Consortium is a collaboration between multiple scientific institutes such as IISER,

TIFR etc. giving an impetus to multi-disciplinary research

5. Would give an impetus to research among students in technical colleges. 10. "Is Cloud Seeding a solution for rising irrigation problems in Indian Agriculture Sector." Critically examine. Answer: Recently, Karnataka and Maharashtra Government has decided to use cloud seeding technique to fight drought. What is Cloud Seeding? 1. Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification, a way of changing the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud. 2. The usual intent is to increase precipitation (rain or snow), but hail and fog suppression are also widely practiced in airports. 3. The history of cloud seeding has experienced uncertain results because it can never be known whether a cloud that rains after seeding might have rained anyway. This is because seeding is performed on clouds that look like they have some potential for producing rain. Attached to its wings, the aircraft carried silver iodide, potassium chloride and sodium chloride—chemicals that can aid precipitation when seeded into rain-bearing clouds.

The cloud-seeding procedure is aimed at increasing the amount of precipitation from the clouds, leading to higher chances of rain.

Chemical Used: The most common chemicals used for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). Cloud seeding process involved a furnace in which coal is burnt at





1,350 degrees Celsius in which powdered Silver Iodide is sprinkled. These particles rise in the air to cloud level in 10-12 minutes. After these particles travel upwards, they crystallize at minus-five degrees and since clouds have both ice and water crystals, the particles attract the water, its weight increases and they fall down in the form of rain within a couple of hours Pros of Cloud Seeding: (1) It creates rain, providing relief to drought-stricken areas- Of course, this is the best advantage of cloud seeding as it is its main purpose after all. Offering the ability to reduce the impact of droughts by and bring stimulating rain is very powerful. It can lead to more crop yields, and the best part is, this could occur in areas that might not have supported crops in the past. This means that this technology has the potential to get rid of future water scarcity and famine for some regions. (2) It makes a place more hospitable- Due to extreme heat, some parts of the world have become dry, even making them unsuitable to live in or visit. But thanks to cloud seeding, we can increase the probability of rainfall and make these typically dry areas much more hospitable. As a result, these places will be become habitable and will be able to receive more tourists, helping the overall economy. The potential effects of this technique are definitely far reaching . (3) It would allow for economic growth- If farmers were able to grow and sell more crops, then a region’s overall economy would improve greatly. Aside from agriculture, we have previously mentioned that tourism would also be boosted, where previously inhospitable places would be transformed into desirable holiday spots. The boost in economy would then circulate among the local residents and improve their living conditions. (4) It can reduce crop damage- The technology of cloud seeding has been effectively utilized in suppressing undesirable forms of precipitation, such as hail, which can cause damage to crops and cities. As you can see, it can alter or modify storm clouds that would produce hail and other frozen forms of precipitation otherwise. (5) It has the potential to help regulate the weather Even the best regions to grow crops are facing severe weather, which means that they are still suffering some damage to their produce. Luckily, this technology is stated to have the capability to regulate atmospheric conditions through water vapor, so this problem would also be solved. Cons of Cloud Seeding: (1) It uses chemicals that might be harmful. As cloud seeding basically involves the use of chemicals and putting them in the air, it does have the potential to harm plants, animals and people, or the environment as a whole. The way





the chemicals are being used in this technology and would affect the organisms that will be hit by the artificial rainfall is considered its most direct concern. As of yet, scientists and researchers have been able to state the complete effect of this technique. Though silver iodine is not currently known to be hazardous to human health, this might change in the future as more and more research is being conducted and completed. (2) It can lead to abnormal or unpredictable weather patterns and flooding. Though cloud seeding is believed to regulate the weather, some people fear that it might ultimately change climatic patterns on the planet. Places that are normally receiving moisture might start experiencing drought due to the artificial process of adding chemicals to the atmosphere to stimulate rain. Remember that once the compounds used by this technology are released into the atmosphere, we will have no control over what type of weather would form afterwards. There are several possible consequences, such as excessive rain that can cause flooding, which means that regions experiencing chronic water shortage would suffer more, as they probably do not have any system designed to deal with floods and other disasters. (3) It is yet to be fully proven as cost-efficient and effective. Assessments done on the effectiveness of cloud seeding is not foolproof so far. Since it is used mostly on clouds that already show signs of potential rainfall, it is not known if the technique is actually the reason for producing rain. (4) It can cause cloud pollution. As the artificial rain falls, seeding agents like silver iodide, dry ice or salt will also fall. While research on the effects of silver iodide is still ongoing, there have been found high levels of the residual silver discovered in places near cloud-seeding projects, which are considered toxic. As for dry ice, it can also be a source of greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, as it is basically carbon dioxide. (5) It is a costly process. The cost of cloud seeding is indeed astronomical, considering the procedures involved in it, such as delivering chemicals to the sky and releasing them into the air by flare shots or airplanes. Of course, the costs of chemicals add up to the overall amount. The expense we pay for cloud seeding can be justified if the amount of rainfall during the first attempt would thoroughly water crops and saturate the ground, otherwise the process would have to be repeated even up to several times. The Way Forward As the procedure is still in its early development stages, a lot of changes to improve it can be expected. Trying to address the problem of drought is an ongoing battle, so as the debates around the world about its use. Determining if cloud seeding is good or bad is definitely not easy, but by taking into account the pros and cons listed above, you will be able to have a better understanding about its functionality and efficiency.





11. "CRISPR technology is much faster, yield better results, and is relatively easy to do." Examine. Answer:

CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Crispr associated protein 9) is a unique technology that allows genetists and medical researchers to edit genome by adding , removing or altering sections of DNA sequence. The technology is emulated from bacterias that uses similar systems to invade the incoming viruses and cut their DNA sequence to save it for future recognition.Bacteria use them to disable attacks from viruses. This technology involves two molecular systems which helps it in precision cutting., -Cas9 enzyme, acts as 'molecular scissors' that cuts two strands of DNA. -guideRNA(gRNA) helps the enzyme in identifying the precise location for cutting. Working of the CRISPR 1. Crispr scans the genome looking for the right location and then uses the Cas9 protein as molecular scissors to snip through the DNA. 2. Cas9 endonuclease - guide RNAs direct it to a particular sequence to be edited. 3. When Cas9 cuts the target sequence, the cell repairs the damage by replacing the original sequence with an altered version. 4. Unlike other gene-editing methods, it is cheap, quick, easy, safer and more accurate to use because it relies on RNA–DNA base pairing, rather than the engineering of proteins that bind particular DNA sequences. What is Genome Editing? 1. It is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced in the genome of an organism using engineered nucleases, or "molecular scissors”. 2. These nucleases or enzymes create site-specific double-strand breaks (DSBs) at desired locations. 3. The induced double-strand breaks are repaired through end joining or recombination, resulting in targeted mutation. CRISPR/Cas9 Applications 1. Arguably, the most important advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 over other genome editing technologies is its simplicity and efficiency. 2. It has the potential to treat a lot of genetic related medical conditions like, cancer, Hepatitis B, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia ,Beta-thalassemia etc., 3. Editing out genetic disorder- CRISPR technology could also make a breakthrough in 'designer baby' system. Parents an could end up "shopping" for desirable traits, be it intelligence, appearance, sporting ability etc 4. Create immunity to various diseases and conditions- To date, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool appears to work in nearly every organism, from microorganisms to monkeys, and in every cell type: kidney, heart and those, like T-cells, that researchers had previously found difficult to modify.





5. Agriculture-Some of the earliest papers using CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing focused on crops important for agriculture such as rice and wheat. It was realized early on that this system could be utilized to specifically alter the DNA of these crop species to improve traits like disease and drought tolerance 6. Disease Modeling- Disease modeling using animals has been a hurdle for study of many types of human diseases due to the difficulty in generating genetically modified animals that accurately recapitulate human pathology. The process was inefficient and inaccurate or simply impossible to do. CRISPR-Cas9 has allowed for generation of transgenic animals like rats, monkeys and other animals which are more suitable for human disease modeling than mice and thus permit better drug-development tests. 8. Gene Therapy -In 2014, CRISPR-Cas9 was used in mice to correct a mutation associated with a human metabolic disease called tyrosinaemia. It was the first use of CRISPR/Cas9 to fix a disease causing mutation in an adult animal and an important step towards using the technology for gene therapy in humans. Concerns related to CRISPR Tech. 1. Off targets: Besides the precision of this technology, there also chances of guideRNA getting misaligned thereby causing mutation elsewhere, which results in serious gentic problems. 2. Germline cell testing: Carrying out germline(reproductive cells) testing is considered unethical , since any wrong mutation would affect the entire hereditary. 3. CRISPR is basically knock out strategy to silence the gene by inhibiting the RNA polymerase activity inside the nucleus. It's still in the nascent stage, so it would be hard to comment about the major disadvantages 4. But it's very labour intensive and high cost oriented technique than RNA interference. The Way Forward 1. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology is being touted as one of the biggest biotechnology breakthroughs of the century 2. This new technology is a powerful tool for manipulating the genomes of not only mice but also somatic and embryonic stem cells from other species, including humans. 3. It is likely that the refinements of these systems will continue and that they will be adapted in new ways to create ever more sophisticated animal models for and genetic therapies for treating human diseases. 12. "Li-Fi is not expected to completely replace Wi-Fi, but the two technologies could be used complementarily to create more efficient, green and future-proof access networks." Discuss. Answer:





Li-Fi is a communication technology which uses visible light spectrum and is also called Visible Light Communication (VLC). What is LI-FI? 1. LiFi (Light Fidelity) is a high-speed wireless communication technology that uses visible light to transmit information. It has some similarities to existing WiFi technology, as well as some huge differences. 2. WiFi and LiFi are similar because both technologies are wireless, but also very different, because unlike WiFi, which relies on radio waves, LiFi uses visible light communication (VLC) or infrared and near-UV spectrum waves. 3. In other words, LiFi works by using visible light, like the light that is emitted by any regular lamp or bulb!. Working of LI-FI 1. Li-Fi is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system. This means that it accommodates a photo-detector to receive light signals and a signal processing element to convert the data into ‘stream-able’ content. Unlike Wi-Fi, which uses radio waves, Li-Fi runs on visible light. 2. Here, data is fed into an LED light bulb (with signal processing technology), it then sends data (embedded in its beam) at rapid speeds to the photo-detector (photodiode). 3. The tiny changes in the rapid dimming of LED bulbs is then converted by the ‘receiver’ into electrical signal. 4. The signal is then converted back into a binary data stream that the user would recognise as web, video and audio applications that run on internet enables devices. Advantages of LI-FI 1. LiFi presents many unprecedented advantages for its uptake and use, as far as wireless Internet connectivity is concerned. 2. LiFi relies on visible light to communicate, which is a good thing in more ways than one. These waves are able to carry far more information than the traditional radio waves used in WiFi technology. 3. The visible light spectrum is almost 10,000 times larger than the spectrum occupied by radio waves. 4. Also, LiFi is said to increase bandwidth by 100 times what we have today with WiFi. 5. A LiFi connection can transmit data at the rate of 224 gigabytes per second. 6. LiFi is also more suitable in electromagnetic-sensitive areas like hospitals, airplane cabins, and nuclear power plants (where electromagnetic disturbance can be disastrous). 7. Wi Fi can't penetrate into water whereas Li Fi can do with ease- Li-Fi can be used in marine technology and finds utility in submarines, naval operations etc. Disadvantage of LI-FI Along with all these benefits, there are also some disadvantages of a LiFi connection. 1. Since it uses visible light to transmit data, LiFi would be rather useless in conditions where there is no light. That means no Internet while lying in your bed at night.





3. If you have a WiFI router installed in one room of your house, you can connect your devices sitting anywhere in the house, but this is not the case with LiFi. 4. Since visible rays cannot pass through walls, you have to be in the immediate vicinity of the source of light to access the Internet on your device, which may not sound particularly convenient to many people. 5. This technology is also said to be less reliable (again, due to it being dependent on visible light) and has high installation charges. Future of LI-FI There’s no doubt that LiFi is going to transform the world of Internet connectivity, but it seems unlikely that its rise would necessarily mean the death of WiFi, since the latter is deeply embedded in the lifestyles of billions of people. Wi Fi is a well established technology and it can only migrate if there are cheaper technologies available. Given the huge cost involved installation needed for Li Fi and technological compliance of most of the devices, its very difficult. Moreover Li FI being based on VLC can be susceptible to interference from other daily appliances which are also based on VLC. But as the world is moving towards more efficient, high speed and eco friendly communication technology, it becomes interesting if Li Fi can be used as complementary to Wi Fi. 13. "According to the IPR policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions." Discuss the concerns of some of the westerner countries which are against this policy of India. Answer: Last year, Indian Government has released India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. The Policy which is in compliance with WTO's (World Trade Organisation) agreement on TRIPS (Trade Related aspects of IPRs), aims to sustain entrepreneurship and boost Prime Minister’s pet scheme 'Make in India.' Why we need this Policy? 1. Global drug brands led by US companies have been pushing for changes to India’s intellectual property rules for quite some time now. They have often complained about India’s price controls and marketing restrictions. 2. Also, an IPR policy is important for the government to formulate incentives in the form of tax concessions to encourage research and development (R&D). It is also critical to strengthen the Make In India, Startup and Digital India schemes. 3. The IPR policy comes at a time when India and other emerging countries faces fresh challenges from the developed world and mega regional trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Aim of the Policy 1. The Policy aims to push IPRs as a marketable financial asset, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, while protecting public interest.





2. The plan will be reviewed every five years in consultation with stakeholders. 3. In order to have strong and effective IPR laws, steps would be taken — including review of existing IP laws — to update and improve them or to remove anomalies and inconsistencies. 4. The policy is entirely compliant with the WTO’s agreement on TRIPS. 5. Special thrust on awareness generation and effective enforcement of IPRs, besides encouragement of IP commercialization through various incentives. What do Policy say on International Treaties and Agreements? 1. India will engage constructively in the negotiation of international treaties and agreements in consultation with stakeholders. 2. The government will examine accession to some multilateral treaties which are in India's interest, and become a signatory to those treaties which India has de-facto implemented to enable it to participate in their decision making process. Suggestion for DIPP It suggests making the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) the nodal agency for all IPR issues. Copyrights related issues will also come under DIPP’s ambit from that of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. 1. On Compulsory Licensing According to the policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions. 2. Also, the government has indicated that there is no urgent need to change patent laws that are already fully World Trade Organization-compliant. 3. So India has resisted pressure from the US and other Western countries to amend its patent laws. 4. The policy also specifically does not open up Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, which sets the standard for what is considered an invention in India, for reinterpretation. 5. As per the WTO norms, a CL can be invoked by a government allowing a company to produce a patented product without the consent of the patent owner in public interest. 6. Under the Indian Patents Act, a CL can be issued for a drug if the medicine is deemed unaffordable, among other conditions, and the government grants permission to qualified generic drug makers to manufacture it. Possible Benefits of the Policy 1. The new policy will try to safeguard the interests of rights owners with the wider public interest, while combating infringements of intellectual property rights. 2. By 2017, the window for trademark registration will be brought down to one month. This will help in clearing over 237,000 pending applications in India’s four patent offices. 3. It also seeks to promote R&D through tax benefits available under various laws and simplification of procedures for availing of direct and indirect tax benefits. 4. Unlike earlier where copyright was accorded to only books and publications, the recast regime will cover films, music and industrial drawings. A host of laws will also be streamlined — on semi-conductors, designs, geographical indications, trademarks and patents. 5. The policy also puts a premium on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection.





6. Policy will provide both domestic and foreign investors a stable IPR framework in the country. This will promote a holistic and conducive ecosystem to catalyze the full potential of intellectual property for India’s growth and socio-cultural development while protecting public interest. 7. It is expected to lay the future roadmap for intellectual property in India, besides putting in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review. The idea is to incorporate global best practices in the Indian context and adapt to the same. 14. Critically examine the uses of understanding of neutrinos, and significance of its research for India. Also critically comment why set-up of neutrino research facility in India is being opposed. Answer: India’s wait to join the elite club of countries undertaking neutrino research suffered a procedural Delay. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). It was ordered it to file a fresh application for clearance INO project: 1. The proposed INO project primarily aims to study cavern in the Bodi West Hills in Theni district, Tamil Nadu 3. If completed, the INO would house the largest magnet in the world 4. It will be four times more massive than the CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector’s magnet. Neutrinos: 1. Neutrinos are tiny particles. They are almost massless. They travel at near light speeds 2. They are born from violent astrophysical events such as exploding stars and gamma ray bursts. 3. Therefore, they are abundant in the universe and can move as easily through matter as we move through air. In fact, neutrinos are so abundant among us that every second, there are more than 100 trillion of them passing right through each of us — we never even notice them. 4. They are notoriously difficult to track down. If you hold your hand towards the sunlight for one second, about a billion neutrinos from the sun will pass through it. This is because they are the by-products of nuclear fusion in the sun. 5.They have very feeble mass and no charge and hence can travel through planets, stars, rocks and human bodies without any interaction. In fact, a beam of trillions of neutrinos can travel thousands of kilometres through a rock before an interaction with a single atom of the rock and the neutrino occurs. Why Study Neutrinos?





1. Neutrinos may have a role to play in nuclear non-proliferation through the remote monitoring of nuclear reactors 2. Understanding neutrinos can help us detect mineral and oil deposits deep in the earth. This same property might help us detect early geological defects deep within the earth, and thereby might be the answer to an early warning system against earthquakes. 3. As we now know, neutrinos can pass right through the earth. They may open up a faster way to send data than the current ‘around the earth’ model, using towers, cables or satellites. Some scientists further believe that if there is any extraterrestrial form of life, neutrinos will also be the fastest and most trusted way to communicate with them. 4. Neutrinos are the information bearers of the universe — which are almost never lost in their path. India’s effort in studying neutrinos at INO may help us unravel the deepest mystery of the universe — why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe. 5.Neutrino research can help us understand dark matter. Dark matter and dark energy make up 95% of the universe, far more predominant than ordinary matter in the universe — but we hardly understand it. Neutrinos are the only way to detect this great mystery which may completely alter our understanding of the universe and physics. Aim of the INO project: 1. It aims to solve the neutrino mass hierarchy: to determine, that is, which of the three types of neutrinos is heaviest and which is lightest. It allows physicists to probe long-standing mysteries such as how neutrinos acquire mass and why the universe has so much more matter than antimatter. 2. Determination of neutrino masses is the most significant open problem in particle physics today and is the key goal of the INO project 3. Development of detector technology and its varied applications . 4. Later can be used for doing under-ground experiments in pure research in biology, chemistry and physics as well. Environmental issues 1. After initially denying permission to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to locate the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Singara in Nilgris District in TamilNadu, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India accorded both environmental and forest clearance for locating the project in the Bodi West Hills (BWH) in Theni District in TamilNadu. 2. However, Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has recently suspended the environmental clearance granted to the neutrino observatory by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), due to some objections such as the proposed location being just about 4.9 kilometers from the Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district of Kerala. This is very close to the guideline limit of 5 km. 3. The tribunal ruled it to be a Category A of EIA 2006, though the INO Project team termed it under Category B. For Category A projects, a proper study and public hearing is necessary, before applying for an environment clearance from MoEFCC. Clearance can be obtained from State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority without a study and public hearing for category B projects.





4. The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal has asked the project promoters to submit a fresh application with more details. 5 . The project has also been objected by local people on safety consideration. The project is suffering prolonged delay. Criticism of INO Project: 1. The explosives used in construction are a threat to the highly sensitive ecology of the Western Ghats 2. The relevant radiation safety studies for carrying out the long baseline neutrino experiment in the second phase of INO have not been done. 3. There are further allegations that neutrinos are radioactive particles. 4. The INO will double up the storage of nuclear waste. The better side of the story: 1. The proposed excavation is planned to be carried out by a controlled blast, limiting the impact of vibrations with the help of computer simulations 2. Additionally, building the INO involves constructing an underground lab accessed by a 2 km long horizontal access tunnel, resembling a road tunnel 3. Such tunnels have been built extensively in India and the relevant studies show that the environmental impact (mainly dust and noise in the initial phase) have been managed. 15. India is going after Reusable Launch Vehicle, even when Space Agencies like NASA have stopped using them.' Discuss. Answer:

A reusable launch system (RLS, or reusable launch vehicle, RLV) is a launch system intended to allow for recovery of all or part of its components for later reuse. This contrasts with expendable launch systems, where each launch vehicle is launched once and then discarded. To date, no 100% reusable orbital launch system has ever been created.

The first major attempt at a RLV was the NASA developed Space Shuttle.

RLV-TD (technology demonstrator) was successfully flight tested by the ISRO, validating the critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry mission management. A reusable launch system (RLS, or reusable launch vehicle, RLV) is a system capable of launching a payload into space more than once. The model is 6.5 metres long and weighs about 1,750 kg and design is that of a delta-winged aircraft. The working RLV will be about 40 metres long and it will need a five km-long landing runway. It might be 2030 before it is fully operational. It demonstrated the success of hypersonic flight, re-entry aero thermodynamics, autonomous mission management and hot structures for thermal protection.





More about the RLV Technology

The cost of access to space is the major deterrent in space exploration and space utilization. RLV is the solution to achieve low cost, reliable and on-demand space access.

RLV-TD is part of a series of technology demonstration missions that have been considered as a first step towards realizing a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully reusable vehicle.

The configuration of RLV-TD is similar to that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft.

A Winged RLV-TD has been configured to act as a flying test bed to evaluate technologies like hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion These technologies will be developed in phases through a series of experimental flights. The first in the series of experimental flights is the hypersonic flight experiment (HEX) followed by the landing experiment (LEX), return flight experiment (REX) and scramjet propulsion experiment (SPEX).

What is Hypersonic Technology and SCRAMJET Engine? 1. Hypersonic aviation technology involves speeds greater than 5 mach. 2. To fly at hypersonic speed a different type of engine such as a supersonic-combustion ramjet, or scramjet is required. 3. Unlike in a jet engine where the rotating compressor and turbine are used, in a scramjet engine air is compressed and expanded by complex systems of shockwaves under the front of the aircraft, inside the inlet and under the fuselage at the rear. 4. It uses oxygen from the atmosphere for fuel. 5. This makes it lighter and faster than fuel-carrying rockets, making it an alternative to rockets for putting satellites into space. 6. It will also help making air travel in earth’s atmosphere faster and cheaper. Ultimate Aim & Advantages of the RLV 1. Ultimate Aim & Advantages of the RLV would be to send manned missions, including satellites into space and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere without extreme P and Heat condition (T) 1. Successful launch of RLV will have a huge impact on launching cost – will slash it down by 80% – RLV aims to achieve a low cost, reliable and on-demand space access 2. Future Moon and Mars missions, Inter-Planetary missions 3. Make India competitive Space player globally in terms of cheap affordable satellite launched (for LDCs), regular and periodic space missions and various space exercises like building its own Space Station in future similar to ISS, Tiangong-1 4. India will join select league of nations – Only USA (Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour, Atlantis), Russia (Soyuz) & China (Shenzhou) have their own Space flights. After successful induction of RLV, India will also have its own manned spacecraft capability.





16. According to the IPR policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions." Discuss the concerns of some of the westerner countries which are against this policy of India Answer:





Last year, Indian Government has released India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. The Policy which is in compliance with WTO's (World Trade Organisation) agreement on TRIPS (Trade Related aspects of IPRs), aims to sustain entrepreneurship and boost Prime Minister’s pet scheme 'Make in India.' Why we need this Policy? 1. Global drug brands led by US companies have been pushing for changes to India’s intellectual property rules for quite some time now. They have often complained about India’s price controls and marketing restrictions. 2. Also, an IPR policy is important for the government to formulate incentives in the form of tax concessions to encourage research and development (R&D). It is also critical to strengthen the Make in India, Startup and Digital India schemes. 3. The IPR policy comes at a time when India and other emerging countries faces fresh challenges from the developed world and mega regional trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Aim of the Policy 1. The Policy aims to push IPRs as a marketable financial asset, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, while protecting public interest. 2. The plan will be reviewed every five years in consultation with stakeholders. 3. In order to have strong and effective IPR laws, steps would be taken — including review of existing IP laws — to update and improve them or to remove anomalies and inconsistencies. 4. The policy is entirely compliant with the WTO’s agreement on TRIPS. 5. Special thrust on awareness generation and effective enforcement of IPRs, besides encouragement of IP commercialization through various incentives. What do Policy say on International Treaties and Agreements? 1. India will engage constructively in the negotiation of international treaties and agreements in consultation with stakeholders. 2. The government will examine accession to some multilateral treaties which are in India's interest, and become a signatory to those treaties which India has de facto implemented to enable it to participate in their decision making process Suggestion for DIPP It suggests making the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) the nodal agency for all IPR issues. Copyrights related issues will also come under DIPP’s ambit from that of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. 1. On Compulsory Licensing According to the policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions. 2. Also, the government has indicated that there is no urgent need to change patent laws that are already fully World Trade Organization-compliant.





3. So India has resisted pressure from the US and other Western countries to amend its patent laws. 4. The policy also specifically does not open up Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, which sets the standard for what is considered an invention in India, for reinterpretation. 5. As per the WTO norms, a CL can be invoked by a government allowing a company to produce a patented product without the consent of the patent owner in public interest. 6. Under the Indian Patents Act, a CL can be issued for a drug if the medicine is deemed unaffordable, among other conditions, and the government grants permission to qualified generic drug makers to manufacture it. Possible Benefits of the Policy 1. The new policy will try to safeguard the interests of rights owners with the wider public interest, while combating infringements of intellectual property rights. 2. By 2017, the window for trademark registration will be brought down to one month. This will help in clearing over 237,000 pending applications in India’s four patent offices. 3. It also seeks to promote R&D through tax benefits available under various laws and simplification of procedures for availing of direct and indirect tax benefits. 4. Unlike earlier where copyright was accorded to only books and publications, the recast regime will cover films, music and industrial drawings. A host of laws will also be streamlined — on semi-conductors, designs, geographical indications, trademarks and patents. 5. The policy also puts a premium on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection. 6. Policy will provide both domestic and foreign investors a stable IPR framework in the country. This will promote a holistic and conducive ecosystem to catalyse the full potential of intellectual property for India’s growth and socio-cultural development while protecting public interest. 7. It is expected to lay the future roadmap for intellectual property in India, besides putting in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review. The idea is to incorporate global best practices in the Indian context and adapt to the same. 17. PHWR will help India to achieve its Paris climate change conference commitments. Analyse Answer: Government decision to construct 10 more PHWR Reflects the government’s commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in India’s energy mix. It is the part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nation’s industrialisation. Introduction: 1.Using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel,





2. This uses heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and neutron moderator. 3. While heavy water is significantly more expensive than ordinary light water, it creates greatly enhanced neutron economy, allowing the reactor to operate without fuel-enrichment facilities (offsetting the additional expense of the heavy water) and enhancing the ability of the reactor to make use of alternate fuel cycles. Advantages and disadvantages of PHWR 1. The use of heavy water as the moderator is the key to the PHWR (pressurized heavy water reactor) system, enabling the use of natural uranium as the fuel (in the form of ceramic UO2), which means that it can be operated without expensive uranium enrichment facilities. 2. The mechanical arrangement of the PHWR, which places most of the moderator at lower temperatures is particularly efficient because the resulting thermal neutrons are "more thermal" than in traditional designs, where the moderator normally is much hotter. These features mean that a PHWR can use natural uranium and other fuels, and does so more efficiently than light water reactors (LWRs). 3. The performance of the present sixteen indigenously built PHWRs is demonstrated by an average capacity factor of about 80% over last five years, 4. their uninterrupted operation over extended periods, the longest being 765 days for a Rajasthan Reactor, RAPS-5 securing the second world ranking and a very low average electricity tariff which is next to that of the hydroelectric power Pressurized heavy-water reactors do have some drawbacks. 1. Heavy water generally costs hundreds of dollars per kilogram, though this is a trade-off against reduced fuel costs. 2. The reduced energy content of natural uranium as compared to enriched uranium necessitates more frequent replacement of fuel; this is normally accomplished by use of an on-power refuelling system. 3. The increased rate of fuel movement through the reactor also results in higher volumes of spent fuel than in LWRs employing enriched uranium. 4. Since unenriched uranium fuel accumulates a lower density of fission products than enriched uranium fuel, it generates less heat, allowing more compact storage. Recent developments 1. Union Cabinet gave its approval for the construction of 10 units of the new indigenous 700 MWe (mega watt electric) pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). 2. The new reactors are of significantly higher capacities compared to the PHWRs currently under operation 3. The standard PHWR being used in India is of 220 MWe though two 540 MWe reactors were installed in Tarapur in 2005 and 2006. The ten reactors will be installed in Kaiga in Karnataka (Unit 5 and 6), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (Unit 1 and 2), Gorakhpur in Haryana (Unit 3 and 4) and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4).





Analysis Why PHWR 1. The main reasons for selecting PHWRs in the 1960s for the First Stage of the Indian nuclear power programme have been the use of natural uranium oxide as the fuel, the best utilisation of mined uranium in energy production and the prospect of establishing a completely self-reliant technology. 2. The government’s measure seeks to fast track its three-pronged program—developed largely during the country’s almost 30-year-long isolation from international nuclear trade—and also factors in India’s abundant thorium resources, which constitute 25% of the world’s total reserves. 3. The first step of the three-stage program involves building indigenously engineered PHWRs and lightwater reactors to produce plutonium. The second stage uses fast-neutron reactors fueled by plutonium to breed U-233 from thorium. In the third stage, using wholly indigenous technology, the country will use advanced heavy-water reactors fueled with U-233 obtained from the irradiation of thorium in PHWRs and fast reactors. 4. India wants to ramp up production of power from low-carbon sources and has outlined plans to install a total of 175 GW of renewables by 2022. 5. As of March 2016, about 61% of the country’s installed capacity was coal-fired, 14% came from hydropower, 14% came from other renewables (mostly wind, followed by small hydro and biomass), 8% from natural gas, 2% from nuclear, and 1% from diesel. 6. 100% of all their components are manufactured by the Indian industry. 7. As far as the safety is concerned, 8. The PHWR technology scores well in terms of its several inherent safety features. 9. The biggest advantage of the PHWR design is the use of thin walled pressure tubes instead of large pressure vessels used in pressure vessel type reactors. 10. This results in a distribution of pressure boundaries to large number of small diameter pressure tubes. 11. The consequence of an accidental rupture of the pressure boundary in such a design will have a much less severity than that in a pressure vessel type reactor 12. In addition, the Indian 700 MWe PHWR design has enhanced safety through dedicated Passive Decay Heat Removal System which has the capability of removing decay heat from core without requiring any operator actions similar with the technology adopted for Generation III+ plants to address the Fukushima type accident. 13. The 700 MWe Indian PHWR has steel-lined containment to reduce the leakages and containment spray system to reduce the containment pressure in case of a loss of coolant accident and for scrubbing radio nuclides in case of their release beyond the design limit. Research and development 1. Over four decades of relentless research, design and development work in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Corporation and the matching contributions of some of their industry partners who had shown the courage in taking up the challenging manufacturing and construction work have enabled India in establishing the technology in totality. 2. Mastering the entire fuel cycle including prospecting of minerals, mining, processing and manufacturing of fuel and structural materials, reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and





immobilization of radioactive waste has given India a unique position of self-reliance in the atomic energy domain. 3. The constraint of a limited reserve of uranium in the country which earlier impeded a rapid growth in nuclear power has now been eased by augmented production of indigenous uranium and import of uranium under the civil nuclear co-operation agreements with several countries Clean energy 1. India is now poised for a rapid growth in the nuclear power capacity which is essential for meeting the demand of clean electricity. 2. The per-capita electricity consumption in India (now close to 1000 KWh) is nearly one-third of the world average and there is an obvious need for a substantial enhancement of non-carbon electricity production to improve the quality of life of our people. 3. The impressive growth in the solar and wind power has made a visible impact in increased availability of electricity in many areas. However, it needs to be emphasized that the distributed and intermittent sources of energy such as solar and wind cannot meet the base load demand very effectively. 4. The nuclear energy source is concentrated, continuous and reliable and, therefore, can be complemented by solar and wind energy in meeting the overall demand of electricity with practically zero carbon foot-print. Employment 1. Manufacturing orders of close to Rs 70,000 crore are expected to come through to the domestic industry on account of the projects and are expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. The merit of the closed fuel cycle 1. Which has been adopted right from the beginning of the Indian programme is not only in multiplying the fuel resource but also in reducing the radio-active burden of the nuclear waste dramatically. 2. In this context, the successful development of separation of minor actinides from the nuclear waste in India, deployed in pilot plant scale, has drawn world-wide attention. Plutonium recovered by reprocessing of spent fuel from operating PHWRs has been used in making the plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel for the full core of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) which has initiated the commissioning activities before commencing operation. Challenges 1. The decision to step up the indigenous civil nuclear reactor programme comes amid festering concerns over the deployment of imported light water reactor-based projects in collaboration with global vendors such as Toshiba-Westinghouse and Areva 2. The speed at which we can grow our nuclear power capacity. 3. In this context one can examine the experience of France and USA in nineteen seventies and of China in the recent years. 4. They all have achieved very impressive rapid growth by adopting a convoy or a serial mode of installation of nuclear power plants of a few standardised designs. In such a strategy, the





industry can gear up their dedicated production lines for sophisticated nuclear components and construction companies can deploy their manpower and skill-set most effectively. Conclusion 1. With the entry of India in her Second Stage of nuclear power programme in which Fast Breeder Reactors will not only enable the growth of the installed nuclear capacity, but also generate more fissile materials, plutonium-239 and uranium-233 by conversion of fertile isotopes, uranium-238 and thorium-232 respectively 2. An enhanced scope and an accelerated implementation of the First Stage of the programme will make a far- reaching impact on securing the energy self-reliance of the country. 3. By operating multiple recycles in the uranium-plutonium fuel cycle the supply of fissile material is expected to be enhanced by a factor of 60 and by using the huge reserve of thorium, the current estimate being four times that of uranium, India can sustain the supply of clean nuclear energy for several centuries. 18. What is "Bio-methanation”? Also, analyze it’s potential to contribute towards urban waste management in India. Answer: Biomethanation is a process by which organic material is microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions to biogas. Three main physiological groups of microorganisms are involved: • Fermenting bacteria,

• Organic acid oxidizing bacteria

• Methanogenic archaea. Microorganisms degrade organic matter via cascades of biochemical conversions to methane and carbon dioxide. Biomethanation has strong potential for the production of energy from organic residues and wastes. It will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus reduce CO (2) emission. Uses of Biomethanation · The energy from waste is a crucial element of waste management because it reduces the volume of waste for disposal and also helps in converting the waste into renewable energy and organic manure. · Decentralized plants provide a major energy saving from reduced transportation and also generate additional annual revenue from electricity generation besides meeting their own demand for electricity. · The gas that is obtained can be used as an alternate fuel for natural gas vehicles or can replace other fossil fuels such as LPG/CNG and diesel.





· Organic Manure generated by it can be utilised for regenerating soil health & will also provide additional income to municipalities by sale of manure. · Reduction in waste volume also reduces land requirements for dumping of wastes. · Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Stopping release of Methane in to the atmosphere per day per plant which is 22 times danger than CO2 for Global Warming. · Modular construction of plant and closed treatment needs less land area.

Challenges · Energy generation though this process is less economical & efficient. · Process requires maintenance which may increase financial burden on municipalities. · Segregation of wastes at households is highly neglected practice. · Maintaining adequate safety standards is important failing which can lead to dangerous effects because leakage of methane gas will boost global warming · It is more capital intensive compared to composting and landfill · Not suitable for wastes containing less biodegradable matter.





Problems in waste management in India's urban centers

In India, the segregation of waste at source is rare.

Recycling is mostly with the informal sector, although some municipalities are trying to integrate this sector into their waste management systems.

More than three-fourths of the municipal budget on solid waste management goes into collection and transportation, which leaves very little for processing/resource recovery and disposal.

Lack of awareness, in our cities, of the hugely adverse impacts of poor waste disposal on the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Less than a third of the collected waste is being processed.

Even where environmentally conscious citizens segregate at source, the chain of management dumps it all in landfills.

Need of the Hour

Segregating municipal solid waste (be it households or commercial establishments) is the first step in ensuring the success of waste-to-energy plants.

Ensure that the waste goes through the different streams of recycling and resource recovery till the much reduced final residual is deposited scientifically in sanitary landfills.

Decentralised small -scale Biomethanation cum power generation plants.

Way forward: If India could start with the separation of its ‘wet’ waste from the rest and produce good compost that could transform cities and towns into clean and green havens filled with trees, gardens, lakes and rivers. “Garbology studies” confirm that landfills swallow precious wealth every day. The time has come to recover it. 19. Indigenously developed cryogenic engine in a major step forward for ISRO's landmark ‘GSLV Mk III’ rocket. Discuss the concept of "Cryogenic engine". Also, examine its benefits for India's space programmes. Answer: "Cryogenics is the science and technology of temperatures below 120 Kelvin (−153° Celsius), the limit being defined by the boiling point of methane, a principal component of natural gas". A cryogenic rocket engine is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic fuel or oxidizer, that is, its fuel or oxidizer (or both) is gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures. Indigenous Cryogenic Engine and Stage (by ISRO): A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.





Specific impulse (a measure of the efficiency) achievable with cryogenic propellants (liquid Hydrogen and liquid Oxygen) is much higher compared to earth storable liquid and solid propellants, giving it a substantial payload advantage. However, cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or earth-storable liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems. Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C. The propellants, at these low temperatures are to be pumped using turbo pumps running at around 40,000 rpm. It also running at around 40,000 rpm. It also entails complex ground support systems like propellant storage and filling systems, cryo engine and stage test facilities, transportation and handling of cryo fluids and related safety aspects. ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage Project (CUSP) envisaged the design and development of the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage to replace the stage procured from Russia and used in GSLV flights. The main engine and two smaller steering engines of CUS together develop a nominal thrust of 73.55 kN in vacuum. During the flight, CUS fires for a nominal duration of 720 seconds. Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) from the respective tanks are fed by individual booster pumps to the main turbo pump to ensure a high flow rate of propellants into the combustion chamber. Thrust control and mixture ratio control are achieved by two independent regulators. Two gimballed steering engines provide for control of the stage during its thrusting phase. Benefits of Cryogenic Engine:

Compared with the specific impulse of about 260 s of solid chemical propellants, 340 s of earth-storable liquid propellants such as hydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide, 350-360 s of semi-cryogenic propellant mixtures such as LOX and kerosene, a cryogenic mixture of LOX+LH2 has a specific impulse of about 450 s.

Unlike other propellants, the optimum mixture ratio for LOX and LH2 is not necessarily that which will produce the maximum specific impulse. Because of the extremely low density of LH2, the propellant volume decreases significantly at higher mixture ratios. The maximum specific impulse typically occurs at a mixture ratio of around 3.5. However, by increasing the mixture ratio to, say, 5.5, the storage volume is reduced by one-fourth. This results in smaller propellant tanks, a lower vehicle mass, and less drag, which offset the loss in performance that comes with using the higher mixture ratio. In practice, most LOX/LH2 engines typically operate at mixture ratios of about 5 to 6.

The specific impulse can also be increased by choosing an appropriate combustion cycle. The Russian cryogenic engine supplied to ISRO uses the complex “staged combustion cycle” (SCC) as against the simpler and more flexible “gas generator cycle” (GGC), because it increases the specific impulse. In the SCC, the fuel LH2 is burnt with a little LOX in a pre-combustion chamber. The hot gases drive the high-spin turbo pumps. The exhaust gases are then injected into the combustion chamber along with some more LOX. In the GGC, on the other hand, the exhaust gases are





ejected or wasted. The SCC results in a more energy-efficient engine with a specific impulse that is marginally more than what the GGC gives.

Why cryogenic engines are important for India:

• Very Crucial of advancement of Space programme – Cryogenic Engine use by ISRO for GSLV

Programe

• Missile Programme for the Defense: technology useful for development Next Generation of

the rocket Engine

• Clean technology - Cryogenic technology uses H2 and oxygen as a fuel which give water as by

product. - leap towards clean technology

• Edge over other countries - Refused to give technology by others county in Past ( only US,

Japan, France, Russia & China have this technology)

• Other Social uses – Like cryoplants for food storage, Blood banking etc.

• Lighter weight - High Energy per Unit mass

• Economical technology - Since hydrogen and oxygen as fuel

20. The debates over commercial production of GM crops seem to have no easy answers. How far is the opposition to GM crops valid? What, in your opinion, is the way forward with respect to adoption of GM food crops? Answer: GM crops:

GM crops are usually developed through the insertion or deletion of genes from plant cells.

In the case of GM food, scientists insert into a plant’s genome one or several gene from another species of plant or even from a bacterium, virus or animal.

In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species like resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, herbicides etc.

Genetic Modification is also done to increase nutritional value, bioremediation and for other purposes like production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels etc.

Recent Developments





The regulator of the genetically modified crops has given the green signal for commercial cultivation of GM mustard in the country.

In a submission to the Environment Ministry, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee has given a positive recommendation but with certain conditions.

With the GEAC nod, the GM mustard developed by the Delhi University gets closer to become India’s first edible GM crop.

Protests by NGOs, Civil Society activist about the above step. Positives

India needs to ensure food security to its population. Going forward India needs to grow more from less- more crop per drop and more crop per acre.

Indian Agriculture is marked by poor productivity compared to China

Child Malnutrition is a serious problem in India today with 2 out of every 3 children being malnourished.

India has a competitive advantage in Agriculture, if Doha round of WTO goes through, we will be able to boost our Agriculture exports

With Climate Change threatening our Agriculture, we need to develop hardy, resistant crops.

Opposition:

Opponents believe GM crops have the potential for serious, irreversible damage to human health and the environment.

Lack of proper assessment has further reduced the trust. GM opponents cite the need for longer term assessment of adverse impacts and more concrete evidence of no adverse effects.

The lack of transparency in the regulatory process further amplifies apprehensions stemming from a precautionary approach. All the safety tests for regulatory approvals are typically conducted by the same party that applies for commercialization of GM crops.

There are also concerns regarding loss of food biodiversity if corporate food varieties begin to flood the markets.





Way Ahead

Need to start cultivating an environment of openness and transparency to allay genuine fears

The government should adopt a participatory approach to bring together all stakeholders to develop regulatory protocols that restore trust

Need for the GEAC “to draw up a fresh protocol for the specific tests that will have to be conducted in order to generate public confidence”

Field trials in India, in which the State governments have a say, must ensure that there are sufficient safeguards against such violations.

If GM food is allowed to be sold to consumers, they must have the right to know what they are buying, and labelling should be made mandatory.

Establishing a strong regulatory system; the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2013, which provided for multi-level scientific assessments and an appellate tribunal, has lapsed. Hence, a strong regulatory authority should be established.



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