UPSC Prelims News 2nd September 2022

Table of Contents

UPSC Prelims News of 2nd September 2022

The Ozone Depleting Gas Index (ODGI)

Context: According to the ODGI 2022, concentration of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere has reduced significantly.

About the ODGI

It was developed by the scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1990s.
It tracks the overall stratospheric concentration of ozone-depleting chlorine and bromine from long-lived ozone-depleting substances (ODS) relative to its peak concentration in the early 1990s.
Separate ODGI values are reported for mid-latitudes and for Antarctica.

Highlights from the ODGI 2022 Index:

Overall concentration of ODSs in the mid-latitude stratosphere had fallen just over 50 per cent.
This means the ODS levels in 2022 are back to those observed in 1980 before ozone depletion was significant.
The 2022 index for the Antarctic has fallen 26 per cent from peak values in the 1990s, with recovery of the Antarctic ozone layer projected to occur sometime around 2070.

Satellite Phones

Context: Apple and Globalstar might announce Satellite Connectivity Feature for iPhone 14 soon.

What are Satellite Phones?

A satellite phone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio through orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do.
The advantage of a satellite phone is that its use is not limited to areas covered by cell towers; it can be used in most or all geographic locations on the Earth’s surface.
Satellite phones work with either low earth orbit satellite systems or much higher geosynchronous systems.

Satellite Phone	Cellular Phone
Transmit via satellites orbiting the Earth.	Transmit via land-based towers.
Can be used anywhere on Earth.	Cannot be used in remote locations.
Designed specifically for telephonic communications.	They provide wide range of functions.
Costlier	Cheaper
Work on single network only.	Can work on multiple networks.

Legal Provisions for Satellite Phone in India

The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 mentions that “no person shall possess wireless telegraphy apparatus except under and in accordance with a licence issued under this Act.”
No satellite phone can be brought into the country from overseas except provided with a legal permission from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Cybersecurity Exercise “Synergy”

Context: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has collaborated with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and conducted the Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy” for 13 Countries.

About the Exercise:

The exercise was part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience Working Group. India leads the group under the leadership of National Security Council Secretariat.
- The Exercise “Synergy” was hosted by CERT-In on its exercise simulation platform.

CERT-In:

Computer Emergency Response Team – India comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The function of the organisation is to provide Incident Prevention and Response Services as well as Security Quality Management Services.
It is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating information on cyber incidents, and also issues alert on cybersecurity incidents.
Each State participated as a National Crisis Management Team composing of members from different government agencies.
Objective: The objective of the exercise was to Assess, Share and Improve strategies and practices among Member-States to develop network resiliency against ransomware & cyber extortion attacks.
Theme: Building Network Resiliency to counter Ransomware Attacks.
Scenario: The exercise scenario deployed real life cyber incidents, in which a domestic level (limited impact) ransomware incident escalates to a global cyber security crisis.
Participants: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom were among 13 Countries that participated as part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative.

CERVAVAC

Context: India’s first indigenously developed vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, CERVAVAC, will be commercially available later this year.

About the Vaccine

Development:

Developed by Serum Institute of India with partnership of DBT’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Targeted Disease:

The vaccine is effective against at least four variants of cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Working:

CERVAVAC is developed using recombinant DNA technology.

It introduces Virus Like Particles (VLP) to stimulate an immune response from the body resulting in production of antibodies.

HPV:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
HPV is caused by sexual activity and age. About 75% of all sexually active adults are vulnerable to at least one HPV type.
Adolescent girls and women are more vulnerable to cancer from an HPV infection.

Significance of Vaccine:

Reduce mortality: About 1.25 lakh women in India are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75,000 die from the disease.
- HPV is the main cause for the disease and can be prevented using vaccine.
Cheaper alternative: The existing vaccine for HPV are developed using the same technique but they are at least 10 times costly than CERVAVAC.
Universal immunization: The vaccine will provide an opportunity for government to popularize the vaccine and introduce it in universal immunization programme.