Electoral Bonds & The political donation system of India

 

source- Dezerv.in

It's no secret that money and politics go hand in hand. No election can be fought without money anymore, and more importantly, no election can be won without money. That's just the truth of electoral politics: one needs money for advertising, for campaigns, for grass-roots mobilization, etc. Elections are an expensive spectacle, and to win them, one needs money, which is why political parties raise funds in India. Fundraising happens through electoral bonds, and now they are under the scanner. The matter is in India's top court, the Supreme Court. It is hearing petitions challenging the scheme, but what exactly are electoral bonds? Are they unique to India? Do other countries have similar schemes?

What exactly are electoral bonds?

Source- Lawbeat

These are bearer bonds or money instruments. They're interest-free and can be bought by anyone. A person or a company can buy it, and anyone can then donate it to the political party or candidate of their choice. Imagine you're in a food court in a mall, and you and your friend have 500 rupees. So you get a food court card for that amount of 500 rupees. Now you want some Indian food, so you go to the Indian outlet and spend some 300 rupees there, but your friend wants ice cream, so she buys ice cream with the remaining 200 rupees, and that's exactly how electoral bonds work. All of them come from one source, which is the State Bank of India. It issues all electoral bonds, and there's different bonds for different values, like bonds worth 1 thousand, 10 thousand, 1 lakh, 10 lakhs, and 1 crore rupees. Anyone can buy these bonds, and one can buy bonds worth any amount. There is no cap or limit on the number of bonds sold. First, you buy these bonds, then you donate them. You can give them to anyone—an individual or a political party of your choice. Of course, that party has to be eligible to receive it, and how do you become eligible? Well, any party that gets at least 1% of the vote in an election is eligible. It can receive an electoral bond now. 1% is a low threshold, so most parties can make the cut. Let's say you've bought the bond and you've given it to a party. Now this party will have to encash it, and this happens through a verified account. Electoral bonds are valid only for 15 days, so they have to be encashed within this time frame.

source- MaktoobMedia

When and how can we buy bonds?

Electoral bonds are available at select State Bank branches. One can get them in most states. They're available for 10 days at the beginning of every quarter, so 10 days every 3 months in an election year. They're available for an extra 30 days.

Introduction of Electoral Bonds in India

Electoral bonds were introduced in India in 2017. The scheme was launched in 2018; before that, one could directly donate money to political parties and entities, but there was a catch: any donation above 20,000 rupees had to be made public, plus a company could not donate more than 7.5% of its total profit, which makes electoral bonds unique. They're anonymous, and one doesn't have to make the donation public. The name and information of the person are not entered on the bond, and this is what makes a donation anonymous. Till the year 2022, the amount donated was 12,145.87 CR to seven national parks parties and 24 regional parties. The biggest beneficiary was the ruling party, the Bhartiya Janta Party. It received 57% of the total donations, that's over 5,200 CR rupees. The Trinamool Congress comes in second. They received around 952 crores, and the rest went to the other parties. So that's how India handles its campaign finance. But what do other countries do? In the UK, any group or individual can donate to parties or candidates. There is a donation limit for candidates, but for parties, there is no limit. These contributions do not have to be disclosed. In the United States, election campaigns run up to billions of dollars, and there are several groups of donors. There are individuals, there are political action committees known as PS, and there are corporations and nonprofits, plus there is dark money. All of it is used to bankroll presidential campaigns. In Germany, one cannot give money to any individual but can give it to political parties. Any donation above $122,000 must be disclosed. In Canada too, contribution is not limited, but spending is. To sum it up, some countries have no donation limits, some have restrictions on spending, and some require you to disclose the source of the funding.

source- The Economic Times

The recent verdict of the Supreme Court of India

Electoral bonds in India have their own pros and cons. Electoral bonds were introduced for one main reason: to bring transparency. To ensure that donations are accounted for. This helps the government keep tabs on black money, so donations happen through a legitimate channel. So legitimacy and accountability were the reasons behind the introduction of electoral bonds, but there's a flip side too. Critics argue that donations are anonymous, which makes the funding scheme opaque. They say that if the government wants to bring transparency, it should reveal the donor details. There were calls for greater accountability for people to know how a political party is funded. This brings us to the case in the Supreme Court of India. India's top court has heard a bunch of petitions. They were challenging the validity of electoral bonds. They say donor details should be made public, and the electoral bonds violate the Constitution of India. On the other side, there is the government. They have fiercely defended the scheme; they say electoral bonds enhance free and fair elections. The government also says that people have no right to know about the source of X money. A five-member bench of the Supreme Court of India heard arguments from both sides and finally delivered its verdict by declaring it unconstitutional.

It said that the electoral bonds violated a fundamental right in India: the right to information. Voters had no way of knowing who donated to which party and how much money. The petitioners said that was a violation of a fundamental right. The government side rejected it. Their case was built around two main arguments: one, these bonds can curb black money, which makes them a fair restriction on the right to information, and two, donor privacy. Because the individuals or companies wanted to remain hidden, maybe they liked to keep their politics under wraps, but the courts did not allow them. They said the bonds violated the right to information; hence, they scrapped the bonds now. The court has issued orders to the SBI and the Election Commission. According to the issued order, the SBI gave donor details to the poll body, including the date of the bond purchase, the name of the buyer, the amount, and also how much each political party received.

This verdict is very important. General elections are slated for this summer; we're in peak donation season, so how will political funding be managed? As it was done before bonds, all donations above 20,000 rupees will have to be declared. Also, the donation cap means companies can give up to 7.5% of their average profits, not more than that.

Each country has its own system, and chances are none of them are perfect, but it is incumbent on our politicians to strive for perfection to get as close to perfection as possible.

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Voyager’s 15 billion-mile software update has been successful!

 

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Wrong assumption that make alien existence-

source- parimal space

So friends, as science and space lovers know, NASA launched a spacecraft in 1977 whose name was Voyager 1, and perhaps you know that this spacecraft also had a golden disk in which there was information about the Earth and our human evolutions.
 There were also sounds of humans and animals, but do you know that NASA has recently installed a software update in Voyager 1, which is 163 AU (24.4 billion km; 15.2 billion mi) so far from the Earth? But the question is: how did NASA do this with such pinpoint accuracy without any problems? So, friends, this is what we will know about today's topic. You will also know how NASA people did this without any problem. One interesting thing is that this spacecraft runs on 70's technology and has only 69 KB of memory storage. After all, NASA people managed to do this in such a capacity. How did they do this? And friends, as you know, this space is so useful that in today's time even a photo is stored in the MB's. Also, you would not know that the mission of Voyager 1 ended in the 1980's when he took photographs of Jupiter, Saturn, and Saturn's moon, Titan, and sent them. Now the mission was over, and the scientists who were involved in that mission were also 70 or 80 years old. Do you know that those team members were called old people? Even after being launched, there was no permission to have a retire; they could only have one if Voyager 1 or 2. Retire; after all, what is there in this mission that NASA is keeping its team members under wraps? Is Voyager sending any such information from space to NASA people, which is a top secret for NASA? Well, let us know about it clearly. It will happen when we know what happened to Voyager 1. 45 years after its launch, NASA wants to update it. In fact, on August 25, 2012, after completely studying Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 exited the solar system. And by stepping into interstellar space, he started a new journey—that is, he started a journey outside the solar system. In this journey, the spacecraft was sending new data to NASA, but after a few years in 2022, suddenly on NASA's computers, zeros and ones from Voyager appeared. Now NASA people will be happy after seeing these signals because they were thinking that the golden record disc that they have sent has gotten into the hands of some alien civilization, and they want to decode that data and make contact with us, but a complete After a year, this signal After decoding, they came to know that it was nothing, as they thought, and that something else was involved in these strange signals. See the explanation later.

source- parimal space

Voyager 1 spacecraft working
 

source- parimal space

NASA's probe has a total of three onboard computers. The first is FDS (Flight Data System.), which collects and stores data from all the science instruments installed in the Voyager; the second is AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control System), which controls the alignment and position of the Voyager; and the third is its main system, CCS (Computer Command System), which controls the above two systems as well as the voyager’s whole system.
So when Voyager travels in space, these trios (individually) collect information and then convert it into binary codes, e.g., 010101010, etc., and when this data is completely collected, it is sent through a data transmission device called the TMU (Telemetry Modulation Unit), through which it is sent to Earth. After which, the old scientists of the Voyager project sitting on Earth together decoded it. But recently, the three systems of Voyager have had two major problems. The AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control System), which controls the alignment and position of Voyager, got damaged. As a result, it was not able to communicate properly with the TMU (Telemetry Modulation Unit). Because of this incorrect communication, NASA’s system continuously started getting random signals of zeros and ones. And the second problem was that Voyager’s communications antennas were slowly getting thrusters that pointed towards the Earth, which was slowly damaging. Actually, in Voyager, fuel is ignited from pipes and goes to thrusters. But the problem is that after every firing of thrusters, the fuel that doesn’t burn starts to accumulate in those pipes. And now, as we all know, it launched in 1977; since then, almost 40 years, the thrusters have been continuously firing, so from that point on, they were almost at a point of failure. And if these thrusters were stopped, NASA wouldn't be able to point the Voyager’s antennas towards Earth.

source- parimal space

How NASA deals with this big problem.

DEEP SPACE NETWORK In this network, there were three 70-meter-long antennas located in the United States, Spain, and Australia. And if you place trace three in the center of the earth, you will see the location of these trios at a 120-degree angle from each other. Through this, NASA can communicate with its spacecraft every second despite the rotation of Earth, and that’s why the Deep Space Network was NASA’s ideal choice to send Voyager software updates while sitting on Earth.
Now the next question is how we install this update in such small storage because, as I explained earlier, this spacecraft has such a small capacity that we can’t even upload high-quality images to it. So after thinking about it, NASA came up with a solution that was as simple as it was difficult to listen to. They had to write a code that would solve the problems of both computers and thrusters in a small space. And surprisingly, such a code was written, and the idea of making such a code came from seeing a computer’s keyboard. Actually, just like repeated tasks on the PC,like shortcut keys for cut and paste, they also wrote repeated tasks of voyagers in their code, such as thrusters firing, taking pictures, sending back data, and pointing position towards Earth. They wrote shortcuts for these. And then, these shortcuts were written in the language of the systems on Voyager1, which is designed to understand, that is, in the assembly language. They made the small code. Basically, the assembly language is a hardware-type-based language that directly controls the hardware on Voyager 1, whereas all the languages today are software-based languages. And this is the reason why NASA still wants to keep its employees under control: if they hire other researchers instead of them, then the new researchers will know about the software language, not the hardware, so they have to start from zero. Before writing the code, they will also have to understand which Voyager hardware is in that Voyager, how many components are there on it, and how it is connected to whom, and that’s why NASA made the code from its old researchers.

Now, when the code was ready, it was time to send it on Voyager 1, but before this, they had one final question in front of them, which was whether the short code they wrote was actually working or not. Well, to verify this, NASA came up with an idea that would kill two birds with one stone. Before sending the software update in Voyager 1, they send this software update in Voyager 2.

The Voyager 2 had two advantages.

1. Voyager 2 is able to communicate properly with NASA, and it is closer to us than Voyager 1. And so if we had updated it before, we would have gotten the results comparatively faster.

2. If the update was done correctly, then Voyager 2 would have been able to avoid the problems that happened to Voyager 1 in the future.

Keeping this in mind, on October 28, 2023, NASA sent a message to Voyager 1 that they had successfully installed the update on Voyager 2 through the Deep Space Network, and after it had been successfully installed and run, NASA sent the same update signal to Voyager 1 from the same deep space network, and finally, after a journey of about 22 hours, that update signal reached Voyager 1.

source- parimal space

AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control System) is stored in its plated wire memory. Basically, what happens is that the wires and metal plates align with each other in such a way that at the point where these plates and wires intersect, a bit, e.g., 0 or 1, is stored at that point. Now, as the current passes through these wires, a magnetic field is generated there. If the current goes from right to left in the plate, then the magnetic field rotates clockwise and 0 is stored there, and if the direction of the current is opposite, then 1 will be stored through this. As a result, the direction of the magnetic field was also changed, the bit was flipped, and a new update was installed in it. As soon as it was installed, the shortcut keys written in it put the tasks of thrusters firing, taking pictures, and sending back data into automation, and thrusters started firing in the same direction. This is how we installed a big update on Voyager 1 while sitting on Earth.

source- parimal space

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Diverse Soil Types of India: A Foundation for Agricultural Riches

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51.1) Introduction:

India's agricultural prowess owes much to its diverse array of soil types. Spanning from the fertile alluvial plains to the arid desert sands, the soils of India are as varied as the landscapes they support. Understanding the different soil types is crucial for maximizing agricultural productivity and sustainable land management. This essay explores the major soil types found in India, their characteristics, distribution, and significance in shaping the nation's agricultural landscape.

51.2) Alluvial Soil:

Alluvial soil is one of the most abundant and agriculturally significant soil types in India. Formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers, it is rich in nutrients and highly fertile. Alluvial soils are found in the Indo-Gangetic plains, along river valleys, and in coastal regions. They are well-suited for the cultivation of a variety of crops, including rice, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton, making them the breadbasket of the country.

51.3) Black Soil (Regur):

Black soil, also known as regur or black cotton soil, is renowned for its deep black color and high fertility. It is formed from the weathering of basaltic rocks and is rich in clay minerals like montmorillonite. Black soils are found predominantly in the Deccan Plateau region, particularly in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Gujarat and Karnataka. Despite its fertility, black soil has poor water retention properties, making irrigation essential for sustained agriculture. It is well-suited for crops like cotton, soybeans, pulses, and oilseeds.

51.4) Red and Yellow Soil:

Red and yellow soils are characteristic of India's tropical regions, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of the country. These soils derive their color from the presence of iron oxides, giving them a reddish or yellowish hue. Red soils are well-drained and moderately fertile, while yellow soils tend to be less fertile and more acidic. They are suitable for a variety of crops, including millets, pulses, oilseeds, and fruits like oranges and mangoes. However, intensive cultivation can lead to soil degradation and erosion due to their sandy texture.

51.5) Laterite Soil:

Laterite soils are common in the western coastal regions, as well as parts of central and southern India. They are formed by the leaching of silica and other soluble materials, leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides. Laterite soils are often rich in iron and have a reddish-brown color. While they are not very fertile, laterite soils can support certain crops like cashew nuts, rubber, and tea with proper management and supplementation of nutrients.

51.6) Arid and Desert Soil:

Arid and desert soils are prevalent in regions with low rainfall and high temperatures, such as the Thar Desert in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. These soils are characterized by their sandy texture and low organic content. Despite their harsh conditions, certain drought-resistant crops like millets, pulses, and desert plants can be cultivated in these areas with the help of irrigation and soil conservation measures.

51.7) Peat and Marshy Soils:

Peat and marshy soils are found in the coastal regions of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of West Bengal. These soils are formed in waterlogged conditions and are rich in organic matter. Peat soils have high moisture retention capacity but may require drainage for agricultural use. They are suitable for crops like rice, bananas, and spices, as well as for aquaculture and salt production in coastal areas.

51.8) Conclusion:

India's agricultural landscape is shaped by a rich tapestry of soil types, each with its unique characteristics and agricultural potential. From the fertile alluvial plains to the arid deserts and tropical forests, the diverse soils of India provide the foundation for a thriving agricultural sector. Understanding and conserving these soils are essential for ensuring food security, sustainable land use, and the preservation of India's natural resources for future generations.

— Team Yuva Aaveg

(Adarsh Tiwari)

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REFERENCES:

1) "Soil Science: An Introduction to the Properties and Management of Indian Soils" by D.K. Das

2) "Indian Soil" by P.D. Sharma.

The Evolution of Batteries: Powering Progress through History

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50.1) Introduction:

From lighting up the darkness to fueling the latest electric vehicles, batteries have played an indispensable role in human progress. The journey of battery development spans centuries, characterized by innovation, discovery, and technological advancements. Understanding this history sheds light not only on the evolution of energy storage but also on the transformative impact batteries have had on society. This essay traces the fascinating history of battery development, from its ancient origins to the cutting-edge technologies of today.

50.2) Ancient Beginnings:

The roots of battery development can be traced back to ancient times, where early civilizations stumbled upon rudimentary forms of energy storage. Archaeological discoveries reveal ancient Mesopotamians using clay jars filled with vinegar or acidic substances, with metal rods inserted to generate electric currents. These primitive contraptions, known as Baghdad batteries, were perhaps used for electroplating or religious ceremonies, showcasing humanity's early experimentation with electricity.

50.3) Voltaic Pile: The Dawn of Modern Batteries:

The true dawn of modern battery technology occurred in the late 18th century with the invention of the voltaic pile by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. In 1800, Volta stacked alternating layers of zinc and copper discs separated by cardboard soaked in saltwater. This arrangement produced a continuous electric current, marking the birth of the first true battery. Volta's voltaic pile laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in electrochemistry and inspired further experimentation in battery design.

50.4) Development of Primary Batteries:

Throughout the 19th century, scientists and inventors made significant strides in primary battery technology. John Frederic Daniell introduced the Daniell cell in 1836, utilizing copper and zinc electrodes in a solution of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. This design offered more reliable and stable voltage output compared to Volta's pile, making it suitable for telegraphy and early electrical experiments.

Another milestone came in 1859 with the invention of the lead-acid battery by French physicist Gaston Planté. The lead-acid battery, characterized by lead dioxide and sponge lead electrodes immersed in sulfuric acid, offered higher energy density and rechargeability. It quickly became the standard power source for early automobiles and stationary applications, laying the foundation for the automotive industry's electrification.

50.5) The Rise of Rechargeable Batteries:

The 20th century witnessed remarkable advancements in rechargeable battery technology, revolutionizing portable electronics and transportation. In 1949, Canadian engineer Lewis Urry developed the alkaline battery, which employed manganese dioxide and zinc electrodes in an alkaline electrolyte. Alkaline batteries offered longer shelf life and higher energy density than their predecessors, becoming ubiquitous in consumer electronics.

However, it was the invention of the nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery in 1899 by Swedish inventor Waldemar Jungner that marked the first commercially successful rechargeable battery. NiCd batteries, featuring cadmium and nickel oxide electrodes in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte, found applications in portable devices, power tools, and early cordless phones. Despite concerns over cadmium toxicity and environmental impact, NiCd batteries dominated the rechargeable battery market for much of the 20th century.

50.6) Lithium-ion Batteries: Powering the Future:

The turn of the 21st century witnessed a paradigm shift in battery technology with the widespread adoption of lithium-ion batteries. Invented by chemist John B. Goodenough and his team in the 1980s, lithium-ion batteries utilize lithium cobalt oxide and graphite electrodes separated by a lithium salt electrolyte. Lithium-ion batteries offer higher energy density, lighter weight, and longer cycle life compared to traditional rechargeable batteries, making them ideal for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage.

Furthermore, ongoing research and development efforts continue to enhance lithium-ion battery performance, safety, and sustainability. Innovations such as solid-state electrolytes, silicon anodes, and lithium-sulfur chemistries hold promise for further improving battery efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

50.7) Conclusion:

The history of battery development is a testament to human ingenuity and innovation, spanning millennia of discovery and progress. From ancient experiments with clay jars to the cutting-edge lithium-ion technologies of today, batteries have powered the evolution of civilization, enabling advancements in communication, transportation, and renewable energy. As we stand on the brink of a renewable energy revolution, batteries will undoubtedly continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology and society.

— Team Yuva Aaveg

(Adarsh Tiwari)

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REFERENCES:

1) "A History of the Battery: The Chemistry of the Battery" by Park Benjamin  

2) "The Battery: How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution" by Henry Schlesinger