05

AUGUST ,2023
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
SATURDAY

Key Events
Uniform Civil Code P.1

Chabahar brings prosperity P.2

TDP Re-joins NDA P.4

Sensex ends over
150 point higher and Blazing guns in upper house as Parliament
Nifty closes almost readies for the Uniform Civil Code Bill to be tabled
record high
next week
Closing Bell:
New Delhi
Equity benchmark indices ended the

session on positive note, Sensex closed

Bill to be tabled in parliament next week on Thursday 10th
up 151.2 points at 38520.22, while Nifty
August, 2023. With the elections on the card next year and
ended 58.55 points higher at 10980.44.
BJP quite anxious to deliver its poll promises, it desperately

State bank of India, ITC and Bharti Airtel wants the bill to be passed in this session of parliament. Law

gained the most while Bajaj Auto, commission has sent out a questionnaire to all the parties. All Subramaniam Swamy advocating the stance of BJP in
favour of the Uniform Civil Code and calling those who
Hindalco lost the most. the parties did respond it. Parties who are likely to oppose the oppose as hypocrites and appeasers
bill are AIMIM, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party,
Pre-election, the rupee was a major
Loktantrik Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata
He also added how BJP is committed to Sabka Saath Sabka
talking point because of the widening
Dal, Aam Aadmi Party. Parties who are in support of the bill
Vikas and how it set the example by leading the campaign
current account deficit. The Modi
– Bhartiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal United,
against Triple Talaq and standing for the rights of Muslim
government came under severe criticism
AIADMK
Women. He slammed all the previous governments for not
from the Congress.
What exactly is a uniform civil code? respecting the Directive Principles and also states that all the
From 68.87 against the US dollar on 16
previous BJP governments tried to build the consensus on the
May, the rupee rose to the record high of It proposes to replace the personal laws based on the
bill instead of implementing it in haste.
48.87 on 24 November 2023.Now the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in

the country with a common set governing every citizen.The While describing the Saaf Niyat of his party, he also described
currency is strengthening but experts
Uniform Civil Code discussion held in Rajya Sabha on 2nd the benefits of the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code
have warned that this is a short term
Aug where both the groups (those in support and those not in mentioning it will provide equal status and gender parity. It is
trend. Going forward, they expect the
support) attacked each other with critical comments. also a step towards more inclusive national integration and it will
rupee to appreciate.
bypass the contentious issue of reform of existing personal laws.
Subramaniam Swamy leads the BJP in the parliament in

support of the bill. As a response to Swamy, CPI General Secretary Sitaram

Yechury called this move as an agenda of BJP to polarise the

He cited the Article 44 of the Directive Principle of the State
country where minorities will have to abandon their traditions
Policy stating that “The State shall endeavour to secure
and will have to accept those followed by majority.
for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the

territory of India.” Congress seems perplexed on the issue and its position will be

only clear once the bill is tabled in the parliament. All the parties
He slammed the parties those oppose the bill as being
are geared to ensure victory for their determined stance.
minority appeasers. He also categorically slammed the

congress for being still undecided on the bill because of the

fear of losing the minority votes. Page | 1

Turkey celebrates its
100th anniversary as
an independent
republic Chabahar proving
to be a “Bahar” for
all the involved
stakeholders
‘Growth in Trade between India
and Afghanistan – The
Celebrations are taking place this year Important Role Chabahar is
to mark the centenary of the Turkish playing’
Republic. As part of its anniversary,

one of the grandest infrastructure

projects in history is completed: the The Chabahar port went through multiple impediments Based on the above trends, Trade has almost
Canal Istanbul. This artificial waterway through its development in multiple phases starting from doubled since 2020 and is expected to be around
connects the Black Sea to the Sea of 1990s till its completion and start of operations in 2021. The $ 4.5 billion in the year 2024.
Marmara. Measuring 30 miles (48 km) port which was about to get operational in 2019 was only
Meanwhile, India is helping Afghanistan build the
in length, and 500 ft (150m) wide, this partially operational by then. However, it is now working at its
Garland Highway that will connect four major cities
dissects the European side of Istanbul full capacity.
in Afghanistan – Herat, Kandahar, Kabul and
in two, thus creating a new island
There were concerns in 2020 about the viability of the port as Majar-e-Sharif.
between Asia and Istanbul. It
much depended on the US relations with Tehran. However,
bypasses the already existing The completion of this project is expected around
with the nuclear deal talks again on the agenda, things are
Bosphorus Strait, substantially April 2024. The benefits will be the reduction in
moving in a pretty way for the stakeholders – India, Iran and
reducing congestion on the water and costs associated with transportation and logistics
Afghanistan, to a large extent.
minimising the potential for collisions for the all associated stakeholders. The highways
between oil tankers. Excavated soil is The most important benefit that is now evident is the – Zaranj to Delaram and Chabahar to Zaranj are
used in the construction of a major increased trade between Afghanistan and India. Chabahar already up and running.
new port, together with an airport, as helped India bypass Pakistan and trade between Indian and
The most important concern for all the
well as the burying of defunct mines in Afghanistan has increased 24% in year 2022 compared to
stakeholders benefitting from the Chabahar is the
the region. 2021 y-o-y, while it has increased whooping 35% in 2023
stance of United States’ policy towards Iran. Any
compared to 2022 y-o-y.
Turkey has also achieved energy lows in its relationship with Iran will jeopardize the
independence, with 10 billion barrels investments in Chabahar and in the corresponding
of oil and over 1.5 trillion cubic metres supportive infrastructure. India, as a key investor
of natural gas uncovered in the Black in Chabahar needs to play a significant role in
Sea. These huge reserves have ensuring ties remains warm between U.S. and
enabled the country to completely end Iran. It is the test of India’s foreign policy in the
its reliance on foreign imports. years ahead.
Turkey's standing in the world has

increased significantly in recent years.

However, it has yet to be accepted

into the European Union.

Page | 2
 The Garden City has now become
unliveable, “dead”
What was once the Garden City can no longer be The government is not competent enough to foresee the

called that. It’s a concrete jungle filled with dust future implications of the present growth. There is no
proper policy on land use and water. Land is being
and choked with vehicle exhaust. Water bodies
exploited on the whims and fancies of the politicians.
have disappeared, trees have been cut down to
‘Sadly, no one cares’.
make way for buildings. The city has expanded As predicted by Prof T V Ramachandra of the Centre for

outwards with little planning. Roads are poorly Ecological Sciences at the IISc five years ago has come The two civic bodies that are meant to take care of
true and this is not the kind of headline to which we want Bangalore’s civic issues are the BBMP (the
maintained and inadequate; groundwater levels
to wake up. Corporation) and the Bangalore Development
are plunging due to over-exploitation; and there is
Authority (BDA) and it really does not matter which
no drainage of which to speak. It was not the Situated 3000 feet above sea level, Bengaluru has no
political party is in power. There once used to be a
same case before. Bengaluru was the most rivers. Over 600 small and big lakes kept the city cool
designated green belt around the city in which no
and green.But the economic boom in the last two
sought-after among big cities given its pleasant
construction was allowed. The city has no proper
decades has destroyed most of them. The city gets water
climate and the easy availability of land, a decent policy in place for land and water use.
from Cauvery river which flows almost a thousand feet
economy and low-key politics.
below and 100 KM away through giant pipes. It is already When cities begin to die, most people don’t realise
drying up and the day is not far when Bengaluru will turn that it’s happening. A dead city does not mean that
‘Government must act’
into a desert. people are no longer living in it. It means that it is no
longer worth living in.

India becomes the most

populous country on Earth
India is now overtaking China to become the most
Water is becoming a
populous country on the planet, with over 1.4 billion weapon of war
people. The gap between these two countries will begin to
Some particular flashpoints include the Nile in Egypt, Sudan and
widen as China peaks and declines, while India continues A combination of rapid population
nations further south; the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq and the
to soar ahead. An earlier estimate by the UN had forecast growth, lack of fresh water, social
greater Middle East; the Mekong in China and Southeast Asia;
India to reach this point by 2030. However, its population tension and weak government has led
the Jordan River that separates Israel and the Palestinian
was subsequently found to be growing faster than to significant regional instability in
territories from Jordan; the Indus and the Brahmaputra in India
expected. South Asia, the Middle East and
and South Asia, as well as the Amu Darya in Central Asia.
North Africa. Worsening climate
By 2040, its economy is rivalling both China and the USA change is producing longer droughts Recent advances in desalination have made it easier to filter
with its population maintaining growth until the 2060s. A and more severe flooding, with seawater. However, these methods are patented and guarded
major driver of India's prosperity is the rapid expansion of tensions erupting in shared water by Western corporations. Just as food demands were taken
its energy sector. Huge rural areas undergo electrification basins. advantage of in previous decades, the emerging water crisis is
with solar playing a key role now cheaper and more
now being used as a means of exploitation and blackmail. Some
efficient than ever before and even challenging the Upstream countries are now using
developing nations are even being sued for attempting to
dominance of coal. With its plentiful sunlight, India is their greater resources for economic
develop cheaper versions for themselves.
geographically well placed to capture this energy source. and political leverage over their
downstream neighbours. At the same
time, reservoirs and hydroelectric
power plants are being targeted by
terrorists and rogue states. Public
fear of these attacks is forcing
governments to take costly measures
to protect their infrastructure.
 EYE ON IT
Brain implants to restore lost
memories
By now, it's becoming possible to replicate small areas of

the brain with "neural prostheses" in order to repair

damage from Alzheimer's, stroke or injury. This includes

the restoration of lost memories. These devices can

mimic the electrochemical signals from regions like the

hippocampus.

Driverless high-speed trains begin After years of clinical studies, the process can now be

safely performed in hospitals. Electrode arrays are first

operating in France used to record the activity of healthy brain tissue. The

unique patterns responsible for creating memories are

France begins rolling out high-speed, autonomous While a number of slower trains had already been
detected and stored by a computer. These patterns are
trains on its TGV network. The SNCF – France's automated before, the SNCF becomes the first
then used to predict what the "downstream" damaged
national state-owned railway company – began operator in the world to run automated high-speed .
areas should be doing. Finally, the desired activity in
testing these "drone trains" in 2019. After four Initially, conductors remain on board in case of an
healthy areas can be replicated by stimulating brain cells
years of trials with a prototype, they are now ready emergency.
with electrodes. The neural prosthesis therefore bridges
for commercial use. The new trains are equipped
The service runs between Paris and destinations to the the gap from healthy to damaged areas.
with sensors to detect any potential hazards and
southeast of France, but is gradually expanded to
automatically brake, if necessary. A combination of these memory implants and drugs can
other parts of the country.
treat early dementia and memory loss. In patients with
They can reach speeds of almost 200 mph (320
advanced Alzheimer's, however, the neural signals are
km/h) and their greater efficiency means that 25%
usually too degraded for a successful outcome.
more trains can be run on the same lines.
Nevertheless, this new treatment is a significant step

This Month’s Technology Read forward in understanding the brain. Eventually, it will be

possible to mimic entire regions – bypassing the

hippocampus, for example – with complex functions

The Aerion AS2 A competitor supersonic jet – the Spike S-512 –
being replaced entirely by electrode signals. Further into
supersonic jet was launched some years earlier, in 2018.These
the future, as neural implants continue to improve in
enters service jets are among the first in a new generation of
power, this will pave the way for uploading of minds into
dramatically faster airliners. The wing design of the
Following many years of research and
computer substrates.
AS2 allows for lighter fuel consumption and
development, a supersonic business jet for the
increased travel ranges by reducing aerodynamic
super rich is launched this year by the aerospace
drag by 20%
company Aerion. Known as the AS2, it has a top

speed of Mach 1.5, which is 67 percent faster than

the top cruise speeds of conventional long-haul
subsonic aircraft. Carrying between eight and 12

passengers, the AS2 has a range of 4,750 nautical

miles at supersonic speed. It can save 2.5 hours
across the Atlantic versus subsonic aircraft and
more than five hours on longer trans-Pacific
routes. This three-engine jet has its first test flight
in 2021 and enters commercial service in 2023.

Page | 4
 A tipping point for Block Chain
Bitcoin is a form of digital money that was created The underlying block chain technology of these virtual
in 2009 by an unknown person. As a decentralised currencies grew in popularity. Money was just one of their
virtual currency, the system is peer-to-peer and many possible applications. They could be programmed
transactions take place between users directly, to represent units of energy, shares in a company,
without the need for banks or transaction fees.* election votes, digital certificates of ownership, or
These payments are verified by network nodes whatever properties its users wished to assign. The open,
and recorded in a public distributed ledger called transparent and flexible nature of cryptocurrencies helped
the "block chain", which uses bitcoin as its unit of to reduce bureaucracy, made administrative processes
account. Although these records are public, the faster and more efficient and enabled the automation of A tipping point for government use of the
names of buyers and sellers are completely many systems.This became especially useful as the technology occurs by 2023, with large-scale
anonymous; only their wallet IDs are revealed. Internet of Things began to take shape. Machines could adoption by businesses and the public by
International payments are easy and cheap, since be programmed to automatically perform transactions and 2027.Around 10% of the world's gross
bitcoins are not tied to any specific country and are order new items or services when required, using the domestic product (GDP) is stored on a block
mostly unregulated. block chain for verification, without the need for banks or chain by this time, compared to just 0.025%

middle men. For example, a fridge or vending machine in 2015. The supply growth is 25 bitcoins per

New bitcoins are created as a reward for payment would know when its supplies were running low and block in 2016 (approximately every ten

processing work in which users offer their ensure that food was kept regularly stocked. minutes), then afterwards 12.5 bitcoins per

computer processing power to verify and record block for four years until the next halving. This

payments into the public ledger. This activity is halving continues until 2110–40, when 21
In 2015, the number of merchants accepting bitcoin million bitcoins have been issued.
known as "mining" and miners are rewarded with
transaction fees and newly created bitcoins. for products and services passed 100,000. Block

Besides being obtained by mining, bitcoins can be chain was described as "one of the most powerful
exchanged for other currencies, products, and innovations in finance in 500 years" by the
services. Bitcoin became the first cryptocurrency –
Wall Street Journal, with many banks predicting it
and by far the most well-known – but various
could revolutionise their operations.
others were introduced in subsequent years.
These were frequently referred to as altcoins; a
blend of bitcoin alternative.

Lab Grown Meat to become a norm in 5-6 years

Scientists have been culturing meat in labs for years, but Just and other startups like Finless Foods, which is growing fish meat, have been feverishly pursuing this
so-called “clean meat” of late.

The challenges of engineering meat in the lab is one thing, but convincing consumers to turn away from the storied kill-it-and-grill-it method of eating is another. And
while it’s easy to imagine how lab-grown meat would be better for the planet, there’s actually little data to back that up.

Whether or not Just makes it to market this year, and whether or not their meat tastes and smells and feels like meat, the era of clean meat is approaching. (Just
declined to let us taste their food, saying it wasn’t ready for public consumption.) Soon enough, burgers will grow not just in fields, but in vats. Farther down the line,
your T-bones may not come from a cow, at least not in the traditional sense. If the sound of that bothers you, know that you’re not alone.

The promise of lab-grown meat isn’t to stop eating animals—it’s just to eat way, way fewer of them. But cultured tissue offers a way to potentially grow many meals'
worth of meat from just a handful of cells. Under the right conditions in a lab, cells can be encouraged to divide just like they do inside the body—cutting down on
natural resources, gas, and animal rights

America alone consumes 26 billion pounds of beef a year. That demands a massive industrialized livestock system that is problematic for the planet. One cow can
consume up to 11,000 gallons of water a year. Worldwide, livestock may be responsible for 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. And the system rarely has the

animals’ best interests in mind.

Page | 5
 Look beyond the sky
ISA clearly leading the pack for abandonement of fossil Next Week filled with
fuels Astronomical events
As August witnessed a Full moon Supernoon on the

Prime minister Modi announced the very first day, there are many astronomical events

achievement of target and categorically lined up for the next week.

highlighted how India is on the right path in

August 10 : Mercury will be at greatest eastern
achieving its another target of achieving 40%
elongation – It is the best time to view mercury since it
electricity generation by non-fossil fuel means.
will be at the highest point above the horizon in the
All the countries applauded India’s efforts and
evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López
after the sunset.
Obrador explicitly quoted Prime minister several
times in his speech as being the leader in August 12, 13: Perseids Meteor Shower- The Perseids

initiating and driving the International Solar is one of the best meteor showers to observe,

Alliance towards the right path. producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at International Solar produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered
Alliance Summit in UAE
The ISA has continuously proved to be a
in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large
institution that is actually setting an example for
number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually

India sets the example and leads the world the world. Due to the initiatives and programmes
from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the

again by achieving its target of generation of ISA, it is actually the developed world that is
night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The

of 100 GW of Solar Power by 2022. In the under the pressure to act and take firm steps in
crescent moon should not be too much of a problem

International Solar Alliance Annual Summit fighting climate change and focusing on non-
this year. Skies should still be dark enough for a good

in UAE last week, fossil means of fuel.

show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after

midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation

Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Post TDP Shocker, Leaders of Mahagathbandhan meet in New Delhi at 10 Janpath

With Elections less than a year away, there is a fresh jolt to Mahagathbandhan that is being
led by Congress Party. The jolt is in the form of TDP joining the NDA Camp. TDP fought
elections against the Modi government in the year 2019 and it ws a huge setback for TDP.
With relations getting cordial after Amit Shah’s visit to Amravati, Chandrababu Naidu seems
confidant enough to go the NDA way.

The Desperate opposition is in no mood to rest post this news.Chandrababu Naidu who was
seen as a strong contender with a charismatic appeal that the Mahagathbandhan can use is
now an old story for Mahagathbandhan. He does not want to taste one more defeat by being
on the wrong side again.
Andhra Pradesh CM with BJP National President
Amit Shah in Amravati on 1st Aug 2023 All the Senior Leaders including Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Yadav,
Mayawati, Tejaswi Yadav were at 10 Janpath on 2 nd August to chalk out contingency plans
post estrangement with the old ally.

Page | 6
 Elections bugle to be blown for BJP with the Maharallies by the BJP President Amit
Shah starting 15th Aug
Aug 1 | Shillong
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) embarked on a campaign to reach out to voters ahead of the
crucial 2024 general elections. Campaign started in the North East, in the city of Shillong. BJP
President will travel to Manipur, Kohima, Imphal, Agartal, Guwahati, Dispur and Digboi in next
15 days and attend rallies and Mass Gatherings.
Post completion of Campaign in Northeast, Shah will visit Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kolkata and Puri
till 15th of September. The campaign is then expected to move to Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,
Andhra Pradesh, towards the southern states and then it will move northwards.

In a recent press conference, Shah has highlighted the development agenda of the NDA
government and criticised Mahagathbandhan by calling it as Gathbandhan of Goons. He
categorically highlighted how the parties involved have united to serve their own vested interests.
He hailed PM Modi for transparent, progressive, peaceful governance that the NDA government
BJP President at a Rally in Shillong has achieved over the previous four years. He hailed all the ministers of the NDA government
for achieiving zero percent corruption throughout all the 10 years they are in power.

He stated that BJP is interested in Vikas ki Raajneeti while the Mahagathbandhan is inclined towards Bhrashtachaar ki Rajneeti. He highlighted
the Nepotism that is exercised in all the parties that are part of the Mahagathbandhan.

When asked about the anti-incumbency against the Modi government, Shah refuted the possibility of anti-incumbency by saying that people
are happy with the way things are moving since 2014. He added – Govt. with Saaf Niyat and Sahi Vikas is at the Centre and there isn’t any
other party that can provide the same level of performance and same level of transparency and corruption free governance.

Shah, who has been elected again as the BJP president last year will step down after the completion of Elections next year. Potential candidates
who are likely to succeed are Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, JP Nadda, Nalin Kohli.

Section 377 to be revoked, Bill to be tabled in first week of September

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made an announcement stating that a bill will be tabled in
parliament with an objective to revoke Section 377. He stated – “When millions of people the world
over are having alternative sexual preferences, it is too late in the day to propound the view that
they should be jailed.” BJP spokesperson Siddharh Nath Singh said his party supports
decriminalization of homosexuality. "We are for decriminalizing homosexuality. That is the
progressive way forward.”

The RSS has taken a diplomatic stand on the isse. Its spokeperson Dattatreya Hosabale reportedly
saying, "no criminalisation, but no glorification either." From the move, it is evident that BJP is
slightly liberalising its stance pertaining to such liberal ideologies.

Apart from BJP, AAP, CPI(M), Congress, JDU are all supporting the revoking of the article 377.
LGBT Community celebrating the development on
1st August evening in New Delhi
Samajwadi Party and RJD are opposing the revokement of the Section 377. As most of the parties
are supporting the revokement of the Bill and numbers in Parliament are in favour, it is quite clear
that the Bill will be passed without any impediments.

Considering these developments, LGBT community has started the celebrations and are organising
victory rallies across the metro cities in the country for appreciating the development in their favour.

Page | 7
 Stroke Still Strikes Hard

Aug 2, 2023 - It is estimated that there will be 1,136,000 new cases of stroke this year in the US, up 2% from
last year. The cases of stroke have increased by 67% during the last 25 years, which is in line with the growing

and aging population. Even though there has been some progress in the research of the aging of blood vessels
and brain, the key risk factor of stroke, new cases have not been decreasing in relation to the population.
However, improved treatments have decreased the mortality of stroke during the last decade.

Stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. The most common form is ischemic stroke
(about 90% of all cases) which is an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain. The rest of the stroke
cases are mainly when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, which is a more fatal form called hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of major adult disability. Stroke
occurs more often in women than men, and about 60% of all stroke deaths occur in women. African-Americans
LGBT Community celebrating the have nearly double the overall rate of stroke compared with white Americans, and more than 70% of all stroke
development on 1st August evening in New
Delhi cases occur in people older than 65 years. You are more at risk to get a stroke if you are smoking, eat
unhealthy food, are overweight or have high blood pressure (hypertension is a factor in almost 70% of all stroke
cases.

Since it is crucial to get help as soon as possible to survive a stroke and for a better outcome, it is important to recognize the warning signs of a person who gets a
stroke. The signs depend of what part and side of the brain that is affected, and how sever the injury is. The most common sign is sudden weakness on one side of
the body, face, arm or leg. Others are sudden numbness, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or
coordination, or severe headache with no known cause.

Tech Times Issue 00 Month Year

SUBMITTED BY:

HARSHAL INAMDAR (17020841172)

NEHA DUDHORIA (17020841125)

KHUSHBOO RAJ (17020841174)

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