UPSC Prelims Bits For Today 16 June 2022

Table of Contents

”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

5G Spectrum Auction

In News

The Union Cabinet has approved the auction of airwaves capable of offering fifth generation, or 5G, telecom services, including ultra-high-speed Internet, and gave its nod for setting up of captive 5G networks by big tech firms.

Key Points about 5G Spectrum Auction

The auction of over 72 GHz of the spectrum will be held by July end.
The spectrum auction will start on July 26, 2022.
Cabinet has approved 5G auctions at reserve prices recommended by the sector regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
TRAI had earlier recommended about a 39% reduction in the reserve or floor price for the sale of 5G spectrum for mobile services.
The 5G spectrum in nine frequency bands will be auctioned to telecom operators such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Big tech firms for the time being will be allowed to take the 5G spectrum for their captive non-public network, on lease from the telecom companies.

About 5G Spectrum

Spectrum is an integral and necessary part of the entire 5G eco-system.
The upcoming 5G services have the potential to create new age businesses, generate additional revenue for enterprises and provide employment arising from the deployment of innovative use-cases and technologies.
A total of 72097.85 MHz of spectrum with a validity period of 20 years will be put to auction to be held by the end of July, 2022.
The auction will be held for spectrum in various Low (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz), Mid (3300 MHz) and High (26 GHz) frequency bands.

Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP)

In News

The Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) has been a lingering issue for the U.K. almost from the day Brexit was signed.

What is the Issue?

Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a land border with the EU, as the Republic of Ireland (or Ireland) is an EU member-state.
As long as the U.K. was part of the EU, things were fine. But with Brexit, the U.K. exited the EU’s customs union.
This created a problem whose solution needed two seemingly contradictory outcomes: preserving the sanctity of the EU’s single market, as well as that of the U.K.’s domestic market.
The NIP’s solution was to avoid a customs check at the actual customs border — on the island of Ireland, between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland — as this would have violated the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and risked instability in a region with a volatile past.
It instead shifted the customs border to that between Northern Ireland and Britain, effectively at the former’s ports.
As per the NIP, goods flowing into Northern Ireland would be checked at this ‘sea border’ before entering the island, and Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules in product standards.

Prithvi-II

In News

A successful training launch of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II was carried out on June 15, 2022, from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.

Key Points

The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision.
It is an indigenously developed, nuclear-capable missile.
The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
The Prithvi-II missile is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines.
It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target with precision and accuracy.

When was it introduced?

Inducted into the Indian armed forces in 2003, the nine-metre tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi II is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Ultrathin Heteroprotein Film

In News

Scientists have developed ultra-thin hetero protein films with excellent thermal, mechanical and pH stability which can pave the way for expanding applications of thin films in biomedical and food packaging industries.

Key Benefits of Ultrathin Heteroprotein Film

Ultrathin Heteroprotein Film are much thinner as compared to the other protein or plastic films.
They are soft and thin and have the advantage of being more flexible than the other films.
In the recent past, several modifications of these protein films with the help of suitable heteroprotein complexes were reported by different research groups. These complexes were usually developed from bulk solutions.
Ultrathin monolayer protein films consist of two globular proteins: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (Lys).
Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique gives the film thickness in the order of nanometer.