China's status as a 'developing country' at the World Trade Organization has become a contentious issue.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The Issue

• China’s status as a ‘developing country’ at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has become a contentious issue with a number of countries raising concerns over the upper-middle-income nation deriving benefits reserved for developing countries under WTO norms.
• Moreover, concerns have been raised over the ‘least developed country (LDC)' status, with Bangladesh potentially losing this tag after surpassing India in terms of GDP per capita.

How is a ‘developing country’ decided?

• The WTO has not defined ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries and therefore member countries are free to announce whether they are ‘developed’ or ‘developing’.

Benefits of ‘developing country’ tag

• Certain WTO agreements give developing countries special rights through ‘special and differential treatment (S&DT) provisions, which can grant developing countries longer timeframes to implement the agreements and even commitments to raise trading opportunities for such countries.
• WTO pacts are often aimed at reduction in government support to certain industries over time and set a more lenient target for developing nations and grant them more time to achieve these targets compared to developed ones.
• The classification also allows other countries to offer preferential treatment.

Why are some against China being classified as a developing country?

• The rise in China’s per capita income to become an upper-middle-income country according to the World Bank.
• The country’s alleged use of unfair trade practices such as preferential treatment for state enterprises, data restrictions, and inadequate enforcement of intellectual property rights.
• A number of nations have called on China to either refrain from seeking benefits available to developing countries or forego its classification as a developing country altogether.
• China’s per capita income was $10,435 in 2020 according to the World Bank while that of India was $1,928.

What are the benefits of Least Developed Countries (LDC) classification?

• The WTO recognizes LDCs relying on classification by the UN based on a criterion that is reviewed every three years.
• LDCs are often exempted from certain provisions of WTO pacts.
• Bangladesh, currently classified as an LDC, receives zero duty, zero quota access for almost all exports to the EU.
• It is, however, set to graduate from the LDC status in 2026 as its per capita GDP has risen sharply surpassing that of India in FY21.

Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) has fallen back into the ‘endangered’ category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

Red Sanders

• The species, Pterocarpus santalinus, is an Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical range in the Eastern Ghats.
• The species is endemic to a distinct tract of forests in Andhra Pradesh.
• It was classified as ‘near threatened’ in 2018 and has now joined the ‘endangered’ list once again in 2021.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stated that the species found in Chittoor, Kadapa, Nandhyal, Nellore, Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh has been assessed as ‘endangered’
• It also has been scheduled in appendix II of CITES and Wildlife Protection Act and is banned from international trade.
• The harvest of the tree is also restricted at the state level, but despite this illegal trade continues.
• The slow growth of the species and continued harvesting leaves no time for the species to recover naturally.
• Cattle grazing and invasive species also threaten the species.
• Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties, are high in demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan, for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical instruments.

The government has issued notification to make Orang National Park more than thrice its existing size.

Orang National Park

• Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam.
• It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park since they have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams, and grasslands.
• It is the only stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river.
• It is the 49th Tiger Reserve of the country, notified in 2016.
• Orang is one of the seven national parks in Assam. The others are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Dibru-Saikhowa, Raimona and Dehing Patkai.

Bacterial biofilms use a developmental patterning mechanism seen in plants and animals.

Biofilm

• Clusters of bacteria that live together in communities known as biofilms.
• These types of microorganisms can grow on many different surfaces.
• Microorganisms that form biofilms include bacteria, fungi and protists.
• One common example of a biofilm is dental plaque, a slimy buildup of bacteria that forms on the surfaces of teeth.
• Pond scum is another example and they are also found inhabiting sewer pipes, kitchen counters.
• Biofilms have been found growing on minerals and metals.
• They have been found underwater, underground and above the ground.
• They can grow on plant tissues and animal tissues, and on implanted medical devices such as catheters and pacemakers.
• Each of these distinct surfaces has a common defining feature: they are wet.
• Biofilms thrive upon moist or wet surfaces.

Biofilm formation

• Biofilm formation begins when free-floating microorganisms such as bacteria come in contact with an appropriate surface and begin to put down roots.
• This first step of attachment occurs when the microorganisms produce a gooey substance known as an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS).
• An EPS is a network of sugars, proteins and nucleic acids (such as DNA).
• It enables the microorganisms in a biofilm to stick together.
• Attachment is followed by a period of growth.
• Further layers of microorganisms and EPS build upon the first layers.
• Ultimately, they create a bulbous and complex 3D structure.

12 Madras High Court judges to retire from service in next one year.

High Court

• In the Indian scheme of judicial system, high court work below the Supreme Court.
• The institution of High Court originated in India in 1862 when the high courts were setup at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
• The constitution of India provides a high court for each state; however, the Parliament is authorized to declare a common high court for two or more states.
• The territorial jurisdiction of a high court is co-terminus with the territory of a state.
• Furthermore, the Parliament has been empowered to extend or curtail the jurisdiction of a high court over a Union Territory.
• The number of judges in a high court unlike Supreme Court is decided by the President of India rather than the parliament.
• The president can appoint duly qualified persons as additional judges of a high court for a temporary period not exceeding two years when:
  • There is a temporary increase in the business of the high court.
  • There are arrears of work in the high court.
• The president can also appoint a duly qualified person as an acting judge of a high court when a judge of that high court is:
  • Unable to perform the duties of his office due to absence or any other reasons.
  • Appointed to act temporarily as chief justice of that high court.
• In both the cases, the additional or acting judge cannot hold office beyond 62 year of age.