NASA finds proof of carbon, water in asteroid Bennu samples (GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- Samples collected from 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu could indicate the building blocks of life on Earth.
- Initial studies on the samples collected in space and recently brought back on earth have shown evidence of high-carbon content and water-bearing clay minerals.
Bennu:
- Bennu is a small near-Earth asteroid that passes close to Earth every six years. A 4.5 billion-year-old relic of our solar system's early days, asteroid Bennu has seen it all.
- Bennu’s current composition was established within 10 million years of the formation of our solar system.
- The material collected from the asteroid acts as a time capsule from the earliest days of our solar system and can help us answer big questions about the origins of life and the nature of asteroids.
OSIRIS-Rex:
- The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, better known as OSIRIS-REx, is the first United States mission to collect a sample from an asteroid.
- The spacecraft was launched on September 8, 2016 and the sample was collected three years ago.
- OSIRIS-REx returned to Earth on September 24, 2023 to drop off material from asteroid Bennu. After dropping off the sample, it continued on to a new mission to explore the asteroid Apophis.
- The mission has provided an “abundance” of samples, the goal of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was to collect 60 grams of asteroid material. But scientists disassembling the sample return hardware found bonus particles covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid and base. The total sample weight has been estimated at around 250 gms.
Key observations:
- Scientists have performed “quick-look” analyses of that initial material until now by collecting images from a scanning electron microscope, infrared measurements, X-ray diffraction, and chemical element analysis.
- Computed topography helped the team create a three-dimensional computer model of one of the particles, highlighting its diverse interior, which provided an early glimpse of evidence of abundant carbon and water.
Way Forward:
- For the next two years, the mission’s science team will continue characterising the samples and conduct the analysis needed to meet the mission’s science goals.
- NASA will preserve at least 70 per cent of the sample at Johnson Space Center in Houston for further research by scientists globally, including future generations.
Concerns about govt. fact check unit
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- The Bombay High Court reserved its verdict in a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 (IT Rules).
- The Rules permit a Fact Check Unit (FCU) of the Union Government to identify “fake or false or misleading” online content “related to the business of the Central Government” and demand its removal.
Background:
- In April 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEiTY) promulgated the 2023 IT Rules, which amended the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and allowed the Ministry to appoint a fact checking unit.
- Subsequently, Kunal Kamra, a political satirist, the Editors Guild of India, and the Association of Indian Magazines filed writ petitions before the Bombay High Court challenging Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the IT Rules that permit the constitution of a FCU.
- The petitioners contend that the provision would enable government-led censorship online and empower the government to be the “prosecutor, the judge, and in that loose sense, the executioner” of what constitutes the ‘truth’ online.
- Defending the provision, the government has argued that the FCU will only notify intermediaries or online platforms that the content they are hosting is fake, false, or misleading, and that intermediaries can choose to take it down or leave it up with a disclaimer.
- A Bench comprising Justices G.S. Patel and Neela Gokhale of the High Court said that it will pass its ruling on the controversial amendment on December 1. The government has apprised the Court that the FCU will not be notified until the judgment is delivered.
What does the amendment say?
- The amendment brings about significant changes to Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the IT Rules, 2021, which deals with the responsibilities of intermediaries.
- They are now under an obligation to make “reasonable efforts” to ensure that users do not “host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update, or share any information” which is “identified as fake or false or misleading by a fact check unit of the Central government” in respect of “any business of the Central government.”
- Failure to comply with this puts intermediaries at risk of losing the safe harbour protection provided under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000.
- The safe harbour safeguard exempts intermediaries from liability for any third-party information made available or hosted by them.
What did the High Court say?
- Early on in the proceedings, in April, the Bombay High Court observed that the amended Rules no matter how well-intentioned, lack necessary safeguards.
- The Court expressed the opinion that prima facie, the Rules do not seem to offer protection for fair criticism of the government like parody and satire.
- Highlighting the ambiguity surrounding the term “any business of the Central government,” the Court wondered if speeches made ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would fall within its ambit. It then enquired if publications questioning the veracity of such political speeches would be covered by the amendment, thus empowering the government to identify “fake or misleading news” about itself.
- Additionally in July, the Court remarked that if the consequences of a law are unconstitutional, it has to be done away with no matter how laudable the motive for its introduction was.
- The remark was made after Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai argued that the amendment violates Article 14 of the Constitution by discriminating between false news about the government and other false news.
- The Court also questioned the sudden need for a FCU, pointing out that the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has been efficiently fact-checking for years. Also, referring to undefined terms in the Rules such as “fake, false, and misleading,” the Court outlined that what is misleading for one may not necessarily be misleading for another.
No recourse:
- Observing that the powers bestowed upon the FCU were sort of a ‘diktat’, the Court expressed surprise that there is no provision in the Rules that provides an opportunity for an aggrieved intermediary to justify or defend the flagged content. This violates the principles of natural justice.
- Similarly, the Court said that it was troubled by the fact that even the user whose post has been removed or whose account has been suspended by the intermediary after being flagged by the FCU, was left with no recourse or remedy.
GI tag for the cashew industry in Goa
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Recently, Goan cashew (kernel) got the geographical indication (GI) tag.
What is GI tag?
- A GI tag is conferred upon products originating from a specific geographical region, signifying unique characteristics and qualities.
- Essentially, it serves as a trademark in the international market. It is given by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
Significance:
- The GI tag would help consumers differentiate between authentic Goan cashews and cashews sourced from outside the state, which are often marketed as ‘Goan cashews’.
- The Goan cashew, derived from the Portuguese name ‘caju’ or ‘kaju’ in Konkani.
How did cashew come to Goa and become a contributor to the economy?
- Cashew was native to northeast Brazil in Latin America and was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century (1570).
- At the time of its introduction on Indian coasts, cashew was known mainly as a crop for afforestation and soil conservation.
- Historical records says that Christian missionaries imported high yielding varieties from Latin American countries and cultivated them extensively in Goa. However, the economic value of cashew nuts became known about a century after its introduction.
- The edible value of cashew nut was discovered by Goan prisoners exiled to the Portuguese territory of Africa (Mozambique) during Goa’s freedom movement in the mid-18th century.
- According to a research thesis by Murelle Maria Leonildes Da Costa titled ‘History of Trade and Commerce in Goa 1878-1961’, the first cashew factory in Goa started operations in 1926 and the first consignment of cashew kernels was exported in 1930.
- Cashew production gradually evolved from a cottage industry to a large-scale one, facilitating foreign trade because of demand, mainly in the USA.
- The import of nuts from Portuguese East Africa induced foreigners to establish factories in Goa due to the lower import duty, favourable port dues, shipping and clearing expenses, lower rents, wages, and salaries.
- By 1961, the cashew processing industry accounted for about 60 per cent of industrial production in Goa, a bulk of which was exported.
