Petrichor Process

• Rain has no scent but moments before a rain event, an “earthy” smell known as petrichor does permeate the air.
• This smell actually comes from the moistening of the ground.
• Petrichor is a combination of fragrant chemical compounds of which some are from oils made by plants.
• The main contributor to petrichor is actinobacteria, a tiny microorganism which can be found in rural and urban areas as well as in marine environments.
• They decompose dead or decaying organic matter into simple chemical compounds which can then become nutrients for developing plants and other organisms.
• A byproduct of their activity is an organic compound called geosmin, a type of alcohol, like rubbing alcohol, which contributes to the petrichor scent.

The Process

• During a prolonged period of dryness when it has not rained for several days, the decomposition activity rate of the actinobacteria slows down.
• Just before a rain event, the air becomes more humid and the ground begins to moisten.
• This process helps to speed up the activity of the actinobacteria and more geosmin is formed.
• When raindrops fall on the ground, especially porous surfaces such as loose soil or rough concrete, they will splatter and eject tiny particles called aerosols.
• The geosmin and other petrichor compounds are released in aerosol form and carried by the wind to surrounding areas.
• If the rainfall is heavy enough, the petrichor scent can travel rapidly downwind and alert people that rain is soon on the way.

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968

• It is an order that provides for specification, reservation, choice and allotment of symbols at elections in Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies, for the recognition of political parties in relation thereto and for matters connected therewith.

Allocation of Symbols after a party splits

• When the Commission is satisfied on information in its possession that there are rival sections or groups of a recognised political party each of whom claims to be that party, the Commission may, after taking into account all the available facts and hearing such representatives of the sections or groups, decide that one such rival section or group or none of such rival sections or groups is that recognised political party.
• The decision of the Commission shall be binding on all such rival sections or groups.
• This applies to disputes in recognised national and state parties.
• For splits in registered but unrecognised parties, the EC usually advises the warring factions to resolve their differences internally or to approach the court.

• Researchers from University of Madras and Presidency College, Chennai, have isolated an alga species that shows promise as an agent of biodegradation of plastic sheets.

Uronema africanum Borge

• This is a species of microalgae that has the potential to digest low density plastic sheets.
• The species produced enzymes, hormones, and some polysaccharides which slowly degrade the sheets, and the structural integrity of the polymer and disintegrates into monomers.
• It is commonly found in Africa, Asia and Europe.
• In Rangoon, Burma, it was noted to be an epiphyte, attaching itself to other algae and plants.

Background

• According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s annual report for the year 2011-12, the plastic waste generated in a year amounted to 5.6 million metric tonnes.
• Only 60% of the plastic used in India was collected and recycled.
• The metros alone contributed some 21.2% of the total waste, led by Delhi, followed by Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.
• The usual means of disposal of plastic waste involves incineration, land-filling and recycling.
• These methods have limitations and also sometimes produce side-effects that are hazardous to the environment.
• Hence, researchers are on the lookout for biodegradation methods that are safe and environment friendly.

Least Developed Countries Report, 2021

• The Least Developed Countries Report 2021 was released recently by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• This annual report provides a comprehensive and authoritative source of socio-economic analysis and data on the world’s most impoverished countries.

Highlights of the Report

• The growth performance of LDCs over the past 50 years has been characterized by an overall sluggish and uneven record.
• Real GDP for the LDC group increased 5-fold since the LDC category was created in 1971.
• The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for LDC group is less than 10% of the world average (2019).
• Major shortcomings of the development experience of the LDCs over the past 50 years have been laid bare by the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis.

Least Developed Countries

• There are 46 countries are designated by the United Nations as LDCs.
• The list of LDCs is reviewed every 3 years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a group of independent experts that report to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• After a triennial review of the list, the CDP recommends to ECOSOC, countries for addition to the list or graduation from LDC status.

Criteria for LDC category

1. Per capita income
2. Human Assets Index
3. Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• Canada marked its first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021.
• The day honours victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools, which sought to forcefully assimilate indigenous children.
• The aim of the holiday is to educate and remind the citizens of the history of indigenous children and remember their suffering.
• All citizens were encouraged to wear the colour orange to highlight how indigenous children were robbed of their culture and freedoms.
• Orange was the colour worn by First Nations residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad on her first day; later, her clothing would be taken from her and her hair cut off.