Open access movement, ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) scheme and Plan S
Relevance:
The OA movement is prominent today because of the high cost of accessing scientific papers.
About Open Access Movement:
- Open access – a broad international movement that seeks to grant free and open online access to academic information, such as publications and data.
- Typically, scientists publish papers in a journal, and the reader – an individual or an institute – pays a fee to the publisher to access a paper.
- A publication is defined ‘open access’ when there are no financial, legal or technical barriers to accessing it.
- Open access increases the visibility and reuse of academic research results.
- The principles of open access are set out in the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003).
- 3 most popular types of OA are:
- Gold OA – The research output is available immediately to the reader on the website of the journal, and the researcher (or their funder) pays to have the paper published.
- Green OA – Institutional repositories save copies of papers published by their researchers, making them accessible for all free of cost after a specified embargo period set by the journal (typically six months to one year).
- Diamond OA – Journals publish papers at no cost either to institutes or to journals’ readers.
One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme:
- The proposal emerged in India’s fifth draft Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020.
- ONOS essentially proposes a centrally negotiated payment by the Government of India with journal publishers, whereby all individuals of the country can access those journals at no additional cost.
- If it is implemented, people in India will have access to scientific publications at a fixed and centrally negotiated cost that the government will pay publishers directly.
- Related Facts:
- During 2018, India (various research institutes) spent an estimated ₹1,500 crore for subscriptions to [e-journals] and/or print journals – 2020 report prepared by fellows of India’s science academies.
- ONOS-like policies have been successfully implemented in Egypt and Uruguay
Plan S:
- An initiative for Open Access publishing that was launched in 2018.
- The plan is supported by cOAlition S, an international consortium of research funding and performing organisations.
- Plan S requires that, from 2021, scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant Open Access journals or platforms.
Reference: The Hindu
USB under BIS
Relevance:
BIS has introduced standard for USB Type-C port, plug and cables used in electronic devices like mobile phone, laptop etc. which aims to provide common charging solutions for various electronic devices sold in country by March 2025.
About USB:
- USB i.e., Universal Serial Bus (an industry standard) is used for connecting a wide variety of devices to a processor.
- Common USB Types – USB-A, USB-B andUSB-C
- In EU by 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras will be sold with a USB Type-C charging port.
- BIS also published standards for digital television receivers with built-in satellite tuners and video surveillance security systems.
- Need for Common Charger –
- To reduce number of chargers per consumer, thus reducing e-waste in India (as of 2021, 5 million tonnes of e-waste generated in India).Step towards LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) that nurtures a global network of individuals, i.e., ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3).
- Ease out technological ‘lock-in’ effect, whereby a consumer becomes dependent on a single manufacturer.
Reference: Indian Express
Ozone Healing
Relevance:
According to a new U.N. report, earth’s protective ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing at a pace that would fully mend the hole over Antarctica in about 43 years.
About the Report:
- Report Title – Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022
- Prepared by – WMO, UNEP, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA and European Commission.
- It is published every 4 years on Montreal Protocol (MP) progress.
- It confirms phase-out of nearly 99 percent of banned ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorine, bromine, methyl chloroform etc.
Key observations:
- Actions taken under MP contribute to ozone recovery in upper stratospheric layer.
- If current policies remain in place, ozone layer is expected to recover to 1980 values by around 2066 over Antarctic, by 2045 over Arctic and by 2040 for rest of world.
- Compliance with 2016 Kigali Amendment to MP, which requires phase down of production and consumption of some hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), is estimated to avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100.
- Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Potential effects on ozone of the intentional addition of aerosols into the stratosphere.
Key Facts:
- Ozone – Highly reactive molecule formed of three oxygen atoms.
- Nearly 90% of Earth’s ozone resides in stratosphere (known as Ozone Layer) above troposphere (layer closest to Earth’s surface).
- Ozone Depletion –
- When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules.
- One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere.
- Health effects – Skin Cancer, Cataract etc.
Initiatives:
- 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer, 1987 was negotiated as a protocol to Vienna Convention, 1985.
- Kigali Amendment – Parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed to phase down production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons.
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone depleting substances? (2015)
- Bretton Woods Conference
- Montreal Protocol
- Kyoto Protocol
- Nagoya Protocol
Reference: Down to Earth
Dams in India
Relevance:
According to the Study conducted by UN University Institute on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) – UN’s think tank on water, 3,700 Indian dams will lose 26% of their total storage by 2050 due to accumulation of sediments.
Related Concerns –
- Reduction in hydro-electricity generation
- Reduction in water availability for irrigation due to less storage capacity
- Affects safety of dams and reduces discharge capacity and flood attenuation capabilities
- Increases loads on dam and gates, damages mechanical equipment and creates a wide range of environmental impacts.
Prelims Facts:
- India is 3rd largest dam-owning nation in world after US and China. India has 5334 completed and operational large dams while 411 large dams are under construction.
- Initiatives –
- Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with financial assistance from World Bank.
- Dam safety act, 2021 for setting up empowered institutional framework for dam safety both at Central and State level.
- Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA)
- Water and water storage is a State subject under 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Reference: Economic Times
Deepor Beel
Relevance:
Recently, Guwahati Wildlife Division of the Assam Forest Department conducted the 2nd Bird Species Count Exercise after February 2022 in Deepor Beel Wetland. The bird count revealed greater species diversity and an increase in the total number of species.
About Deepor Beel:
- It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Assam and an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.
- It is the only Ramsar Site in Assam.
- River: Brahmaputra
- Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the central part of the wetland.
- Deepor Beel adjoins the Rani Reserve Forest from where herds of elephants come periodically to forage in the wetland.
Consider the following pairs: (2013)
National Park: River flowing through the Park
- Corbett National Park : Ganga
- Kaziranga National Park : Manas
- Silent Valley National Park : Kaveri
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
a). 1 and 2
b). 3 only
c). 1 and 3
d). None
Reference: The Hindu
