27 May 2023

• Parliament: Preparations finalised for the new Parliament building inauguration scheduled for 28 May. The Sengol ceremony with Tamil Adheenams was conducted the previous evening.
• Governance: The New Development Bank admitted Cuba, Uruguay and UAE as members.
• Agriculture: EU audit found "many weaknesses" in India's organic product certification system.
• Environment: India's organic certification operates under two systems: NPOP (third-party certified) and PGS (participatory guarantee system).
• Science: China launched its first civilian astronaut to the Tiangong Space Station on the Shenzhou-16 mission.

GS area: Polity (Institutions, Governance)

The new Parliament building was set to be inaugurated on 28 May 2023 by the Prime Minister. Nineteen opposition parties announced a boycott, protesting the decision not to have President Droupadi Murmu inaugurate it.

• Building facts:
  • Triangular design on a 64,500 square metre plot.
  • Platinum-rated green building (highest GRIHA rating).
  • Lok Sabha chamber: 888 seats, expandable to 1,272 for joint sessions.
  • Rajya Sabha chamber: 384 seats.
  • Digitised voting and audiovisual systems.
  • Expected lifespan: Over 150 years.
  • Earthquake-resistant structure.
• Themes: Peacock motif for Lok Sabha; Lotus motif for Rajya Sabha.
• Old Parliament: Built between 1921 and 1927 by Herbert Baker and Edwin Lutyens. To be converted to the "Museum of Democracy."
• Constitutional question raised: Who inaugurates public buildings? There is no constitutional provision on this. The opposition's argument was one of democratic protocol and symbolic respect for the constitutional head of state.

Static linkage: Parliament, Speaker, democratic institutions (Polity).

GS area: International Relations (International finance)

The New Development Bank (NDB) admitted Cuba, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates as members.

• What NDB is: A multilateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS nations). Headquarters: Shanghai.
• Founding purpose: To fund infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging economies as an alternative to the World Bank and IMF.
• India's stake: India is one of five founding members with equal shareholding initially (20 per cent each).
• Expansion: NDB has progressively admitted non-BRICS members. Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE, Uruguay and Cuba are among new members.
• Bond market: NDB raises funds through bond issuance in local currencies, including the Indian rupee.

Static linkage: BRICS, NDB, multilateral institutions (International Relations).

GS area: Economy, Governance (Agriculture regulation)

An EU audit found "many weaknesses" in India's organic product certification system for exports.

• Two certification systems in India:
  • NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production): Third-party certifier accredited by APEDA. Required for organic exports to EU, US and other markets.
  • PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System): Community-based guarantee system where farmers certify each other. No third-party certifier required. Used primarily for domestic markets.
• Regulatory authorities: FSSAI (manufacture and distribution of food), APEDA (NPOP for exports), Ministry of Agriculture (PGS).
• Issues found: Farmer knowledge gaps about NPOP norms, inadequate certification body supervision, violations of organic standards.

Static linkage: APEDA, agricultural exports, food safety regulation (Economy/Governance).

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

China launched the Shenzhou-16 mission carrying the first Chinese civilian astronaut to the Tiangong Space Station.

• Tiangong Space Station: China's permanent space station in low Earth orbit at 340 to 450 km altitude. Designed to operate for at least 10 years.
• Mission crew: Three astronauts, one of whom is a civilian scientist (first civilian crew member).
• Significance: China's space programme has achieved operational crewed spaceflight independently of the ISS. Tiangong is the alternative to the ISS for non-Western space agencies.
• India context: India's Gaganyaan programme (crewed spaceflight) is under development by ISRO with a planned orbital mission.

Static linkage: Space technology, ISRO, international space programmes (Science and Technology).

GS area: Science and Technology

A Foucault Pendulum has been installed in the new Parliament building.

• What it demonstrates: The Earth's rotation. The pendulum appears to rotate over time as the planet rotates beneath it. This is evidence of the Coriolis effect in action.
• How it works: A freely swinging pendulum maintains its plane of oscillation while the Earth rotates underneath. Observers see the pendulum's plane appear to rotate.
• Scientific significance: The original Foucault Pendulum was demonstrated by Léon Foucault in Paris in 1851. It was the first direct visual proof that the Earth rotates.

Static linkage: Physics, Earth's rotation, Coriolis effect (Science and Technology).

• Rare Diseases Policy: The Delhi High Court directed implementation of the National Rare Disease Committee's recommendations. Between 6,000 and 8,000 rare diseases are identified globally. India has no dedicated funding mechanism matching international standards.
• Gongadi Shawls: Traditional woollen blankets made by the Kuruma and Kuruba communities of Telangana from Deccani sheep wool. A Geographical Indication product.
• Carbon Capture Coalition: Over 100 companies and NGOs promoting deployment of carbon management technology, including direct air capture and point source capture. The coalition advocated for government support before COP28.