My Science School

Earlier, there were multiple taxes levied both at the central and the State level which often confused the taxpayers.

India's gross GST revenues was the highest-ever in April at ?1,87,035 crore. It is 12% higher than the same month last year, which was the previous highest tax tally of ?1.67 lakh crore.

Let us know more about GST that simplified our tax regime.

Origin

The concept of GST was introduced in the Budget speech on February 28, 2006. Though initially it was proposed that GST would be introduced on April 1, 2010, GST was introduced on July 1, 2017, under the 'one nation, one tax initiative. Its aim was to bring different types of taxes under a single-tax system.

To implement GST, Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2016. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet approved setting up of GST Council on September 12, 2016. The 49th GST Council meeting took place on February 18, 2023 in New Delhi.

What is GST?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied on the supply of goods and services, which is paid by the consumer. It is imposed in the State where the goods and services are consumed and not where they are manufactured.

However, some goods and services are exempted from GST and are subjected to a State's existing taxes such as the Value Added Tax (VAT), which is paid at every stage of value addition in the supply chain. These levies are paid at each stage of the production process by the consumer.

As the GST is a destination-based tax there are various types of GST-CGST (levied by the Centre), SGST (levied by the State), UTGST (by the Union Territory), and IGST (levied for the interstate supply of goods by the Centre).

Benefits

Earlier, there were multiple taxes levied both at the central and the state level which often confused the taxpayers. The introduction of GST has eased the manufacturer's job of compiling different taxes into one. Besides, it has brought India at par with the global market by following a universally accepted tax regime. With the implementation of IGST, the manufacturers no longer have to pay CST (Central Sales Tax) and other taxes.

Difference between GSTN and GSTIN

GSTN (Goods and Services Tax Network) is a platform that manages the IT system of the GST portal. It is used by the government to track financial transactions and other tax informations. Meanwhile, GSTIN is a 15-digit tax registration number that is provided to manufacturers, traders, stockists, wholesalers, and retailers.

FORMAT OF GSTIN

*First two digits of GSTIN is the State code

*The next 10 digits denote the PAN or Permanent Account Number of business entity/proprietor

The 13th digit is based on the number of registrations done by the business entity within a State

*14th digit is "Z" by default

The last digit is the check code, which can be a number or a letter.

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The Zoological Survey of India is responsible for exploring, surveying and monitoring the faunal diversity of different States and protected areas in the country.

From time to time, we come across news about researchers of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovering new species of fauna. But do you know what ZSI is and what its functions are? Let's find out.

A premier organisation in the field of zoological research and conservation, the Zoological Survey of India was established in July 1916. In fact, it began as the zoological section of the Indian Museum in Calcutta in 1875. Headquartered in Kolkata, its main objective is to conduct research and surveys on the fauna of the country and document the rich animal diversity found in different States and protected areas in the subcontinent.

It is the ZSI which is responsible for the classification, categorisation, and description of new animal species, and maintaining a database of all species found across the country. It makes a periodic review of the status of the threatened and endemic species and comes up with conservation strategies for the endangered ones.

The ZSI carries out surveys in different ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mangroves, backwaters, and coastal areas with the aim of documenting the distribution and abundance of different animal species. These surveys are crucial as they not only promote understanding of the status of the varied species but also help identify areas where conservation efforts are required.

The apex organisation for zoological studies has taxonomists and researchers who identify new animal species, group them into categories, and provide descriptions about them. Every year, the ZSI consolidates information about new fauna in the country and publishes it under the title "Animal Discoveries". It has also published pictorial handbooks and guides to generate interest in people like us to understand and appreciate the fauna of the country.

Did you know that the ZSI also publishes the Red Data Book on Indian Animals? This book contains a record of all the endangered species of animals endemic to the subcontinent. It was first published in 1983.

The ZSI comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. It has 16 regional centres spread across the country and over 300 scientists. Dhriti Banerjee is currently the Director of the Zoological Survey of India. In 2021, she became the first woman to take charge as director of the ZSI in its over 100-year history.

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Researchers have come up with a touch-responsive fabric armband that can pave the way for flexible keyboards and wearable sketchpads

Wearables refer to wearable technology - a segment that continues to see path-breaking innovation on a consistent basis. The next such advance in wearables could literally force you to roll up your sleeves as researchers have developed a fabric armband that is a touch pad in reality.

Problems with hydrogel

While computer trackpads and electronic signature-capture devices can now be found everywhere, these aren't widely used in wearables as yet. Even though there have been suggestions to make flexible touch-responsive panels using clear, electrically conductive hydrogels, it hasn't happened yet. This is mainly due to the sticky nature of these substances, which not only makes them hard to write on, but also irritating to the skin.

A group of researchers looked to solve this issue and decided to incorporate a similar hydrogel into a more comfortable fabric sleeve. For this, they sandwiched the pressure-sensitive hydrogel between layers of knit silk. Their results were published in ACS Nano in May.

In order to make the fabric electrically conductive, the top layer was coated in graphene nanosheets. By attaching the sensing panel to electrodes and a data collection system, a pressure-responsive pad with real-time, rapid sensing was produced. This meant that when a finger slid over it, numbers and letters could be written.

Interprets inputs correctly

The device was incorporated into an arm-length silk sleeve with a touch responsive area on the forearm. A user was able to control the direction of blocks in a computer game and sketch colourful cartoons in a computer drawing program using the armband in experiments. The three-layer, touch-responsive material can thus interpret user inputs and convert it into suitable outputs on a computer.

The success has led the researchers to believe that their proof-of-concept wearable touch panel can inspire the next generation of sketchpads and keyboards. With an armband converting a person's forearm into a flexible keyboard or wearable sketchpads, the way we play games, sketch cartoons, or even sign documents could well change in the future.

Picture Credit : Google 

When vaccination was born

On May 14, 1796, Englishman Edward Jenner tested vaccination on a human subject. Building on conventional wisdom, Jenner introduced vaccination against smallpox, a disease that has now been eradicated.

You probably already know this story. Yes, you read that right. When the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the race to find a vaccine dominated news across the globe. And among the countless vaccination related stories, the story of Englishman Edward Jenner also found mention on occasions. But considering that we have collectively forgotten a lot of good that we learnt during the height of the pandemic, you wouldn't be judged if you have forgotten Jenner’s story too.

Born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire on May 17, 1749, Jenner was the eighth of nine children born to the vicar of Berkeley, the Reverend Stephen Jenner, and his wife Sarah. He was apprenticed to a local surgeon at the age of 14 and then trained in London. Returning to Berkeley in 1772, he spent much of his career as a doctor in his native town.

Cowpox doesn't kill

During his time as a medical student, Jenner observed that milkmaids who had contracted a disease called cowpox, which caused blistering on cow's udders, did not catch smallpox. While cowpox led to few ill symptoms among these women, smallpox caused severe skin eruptions and high fevers among humans. Believed to have existed for thousands of years, smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity and killed millions through the centuries.

Jenner decided to put the conventional wisdom into practice and devised an experiment. On May 14, 1796, Jenner took fluid from a cowpox blister on milkmaid Sarah Nelmes. He inserted the pus taken into an incision on eight-year-old James Phipps' arm.

The eight-year-old experimental subject fell mildly ill with cowpox a few days later, but was well again a week later. While this helped Jenner learn that cowpox could pass from person to person as well as cow to person, his next step was to find out if the experiment would protect Phipps from smallpox.

Ethical debate

Starting on July 1, Jenner repeatedly inoculated Phipps with smallpox matter. While ethicists now debate if such an experiment would be possible today, it was possible in Jenner’s time. And to his relief, the boy, who had been inoculated with cowpox, was now immune to smallpox, just as he had anticipated.

Having succeeded at what he set out to do, Jenner submitted a paper describing his experiment to the Royal Society in 1797. His revolutionary ideas weren't immediately accepted and he was asked for further proof.

Not one to be daunted, Jenner experimented with several others and in every case he was unable to infect them with smallpox if he had vaccinated them, or if they had contracted cowpox earlier naturally. He published all his research in 1798 in a book entitled "An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae; a Disease Discovered in some of the Western Counties of England, Particularly Gloucestershire, and Known by the Name of The Cow Pox". It was Jenner who coined the word "vaccine" from the Latin vacca for cow.

Efficacy wins over people

Jenner was still ridiculed, especially by clergymen, who saw his method of inoculating someone with material from a diseased animal as ungodly and even repulsive. The advantages of vaccination and the protection it offered against smallpox eventually trumped the naysayers, and vaccination slowly caught on.

Having become famous, Jenner was able to spend more time researching and offering developments in his vaccine. He carried out research in certain other areas of medicine as well. He died on January 26, 1823.

Jenner's model was adopted by scientists in the centuries that followed, helping them develop vaccines to numerous deadly diseases. As for smallpox, it was declared eradicated in 1980 by the World Health Organisation following a global vaccination programme. The disease that led to the birth of vaccination is also the only infectious disease to achieve this distinction.

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The International Day for Biological Diversity that falls on May 22 is a call for us to celebrate the variety of life around us. Through this annual event, the United Nations also seeks to draw our attention to the need for conserving all these life forms and safeguarding our environment as a whole

May 22 every year     

The United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity came into effect on December 29 1993, and the U.N. initially designated it The International Day for Biological Diversity. However, in 2000, it was changed to May 22 to coincide with the date of the adoption of the text of the Convention. The change was also partly because in several nations. December 29 is part of the holiday season, making it difficult for related activities to be held. Though the dates changed, the aim of the day has not "to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues".

The theme this year

For more than two decades, each year has had a theme. This years is "From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity". It is tied to the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15). Among others, the two-week-long conference held in Montreal, Canada led to a landmark international agreement for protecting 30% of land and oceans by 2030 and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). "The GBF aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights." The theme encourages all those involved from governments to individuals to get started on the actions as agreed, or if the action has begun already, to publicise and hightlight them so it can inspire and guide others.

What is biodiversity?

Observe the small parcel of open land in your street corner. What do you see? Different types of plants, trees, flowers, fruits, birds, bees, butterflies, spiders, garden lizards, dragonflies, and plenty more? This variety of living creatures found in any place-from a small stream to vast expanses of deserts and oceans - is called biodiversity. Every organism, small or large or invisible to our eye, has a role to play in our ecosystems, and the loss of even one species can cause problems to that ecosystem and the creatures inhabiting it. Which is why biodiversity is very crucial for the planet and even us humans.

Factors causing biodiversity loss

• invasive species
• Pollution
• Climate change
• Habitat loss
• Overexploitation of natural resources
• Infrastructure development
• Construction of dams
• Natural disasters

How can we help?

• Choose a sustainable lifestyle by buying local products, using cloth bags, walking or bicycling, etc. • Set up terrace or community gardens and raise native fruits and vegetables

• Educate yourself about invasive species and work with local communities to eliminate such species.

 • Talk to local government bodies to improve the condition of nearby rivers, parks, etc.

• Get together a group of like-minded students to create biodiversity awareness in your neighbourhood.

• Interact with environmentalists in your area and find out how to build back biodiversity. Remember, it's not too late!

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pH Meter

A pH meter is an electric device that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (or pH) in a solution to determine whether it is acidic or alkaline. It was invented in 1934 by the American chemist Arnold O. Beckman to measure the sourness of lemons.

It consists of a glass electrode that is sensitive to pH and another reference electrode. The device reads the potential difference between the two electrodes to arrive at results that are displayed electronically in the form of a pH value. This knowledge is critical in chemical lab work and healthcare.

Stethoscope

A stethoscope is a diagnostic instrument commonly used by doctors to listen to sounds made inside the human body-in the lungs, heart and pulse points. The device has two ear buds that are connected by a flexible cord to a sensitive sound detector at the other end.

French physician Dr René Laennec first used a cylindrical roll of paper to listen to chest sounds instead of using his ear in the early 19th Century. Later he improved upon this to create the first stethoscope for medical use (‘Stethos' meaning 'chest’ in Greek).

Barometer

A barometer is an instrument that measures the pressure exerted by the weight of the air in the atmosphere.

As changes in atmospheric pressure are directly related to changes in weather, a barometer is a useful instrument at all weather stations.

The device can be also used to measure altitude since atmospheric pressure changes with altitude.

Breathalyser

It is an instrument used to estimate blood alcohol content (BAC) in one's breath. The instrument that is presently used by the police to discourage drinking and driving is a prototype developed by Robert Frank Borkenstein in 1954. The person exhales into a tube attached to the device which then reads the level of alcohol in the sample breath.

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What has bestselling author Dan Brown got to do with it? Read on to find out.

The term cryptex was coined by author Dan Brown in his bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code. It is a combination of the words 'cryptology which is the science of secret writing' and 'codex which means 'manuscript of ancient text.

In the book, the cryptex is depicted as a portable vault in the form of a sealed stone cylinder having rotating discs of marble stacked on each other. Each disc has 26 letters of the alphabet carved on it. The discs have to be aligned to spell a five-letter password to unlock the cryptex, which contains a thin papyrus scroll carrying the secret message. The scroll is wrapped around a delicate glass vial containing vinegar. If someone tries to open the cryptex by force, the vial breaks and the vinegar dissolves the papyrus before it is read.

Although cryptexes originated in fiction, they have quickly become a part of the real world thanks to artists who hold a fascination for puzzles and ciphers. Nowadays, different kinds of cryptexes are made and sold, some of them even customised to suit the buyer's needs.

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Codes and ciphers are different ways of encrypting a message to ensure secrecy and security. How do they work?

Codes and ciphers are both techniques used to transform messages into a seemingly illegible form so that only selected people can understand them. thereby ensuring secrecy and security

A cipher is a more basic form of encryption. It involves the rearrangement or substitution of the letters of the alphabet in the message. On the other hand, the code works on a higher level of encryption. It replaces entire words or phrases with secret words or numbers.

Consider a simple message: ‘The ship has left the port.’

Now, if each letter is replaced by a number, for example.

 A=1, B-2, C-3 and so on, the message will become

20-8-5  19-8-9-16  8-1-19  12-5-6-20  20-8-5  16-15-18-20. This is a cipher.

Now, if the ship' is replaced by the word Alpha' and the phrase 'has left the port’ by the number '1', then the code would be 'Alpha 1'.

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We are on the brink of a massive change happening in the culinary industry where edible cutlery will soon replace single-use, disposable cutlery. This is our weapon against plastic cutlery and single-use compostable utensils. Once edible cutlery becomes mainstream, it has immense potential to prevent single-use cutlery from ending up in landfills or oceans.

Have you felt guilty about tossing away the disposable cutlery you used into the trash? Or ever been told that licking the cutlery was bad table etiquette? What if we told you that now you can eat your cutlery as well?

For instance, the spoon that you used to sip the steaming hot broth would have soaked by the end of your meal and you can just nibble on it and eat that as well! Welcome to the world of edible cutlery.

Plastic utensils and single-use compostable utensils figure among one of the major sources of pollution with a large portion of them ending up in landfills where they remain for years without getting degraded.

By now you must be used to paper or wooden cutlery. Even these aren't hundred per cent natural as they are often coated with plastic or wax to make them resistant to liquids.

They are discarded after single-use and disposing of them is a huge challenge. The solution to this problem is simple. It's cutlery that you can eat!

We are on the brink of a revolution in the culinary industry where edible cutlery will soon replace single-use, disposable cutlery. This is our weapon against plastic cutlery and single-use compostable utensils.

Once edible cutlery becomes mainstream, it has immense potential to prevent single-use cutlery from ending up in landfills or oceans.

The edible tableware line is replete with almost every cutlery you can imagine including straws, spoons, knives, forks, bowls, cups, plates, and even chopsticks!

By now you must be wondering what these are made of and if they are safe to eat.

The edible cutlery is made from ingredients such as millets, flours, grains, herbs, pulses, oil, spices and so on. As such they are generally rich in fibre and protein.

There is even vegan-friendly cutlery that is made from rice, wheat and sorghum, Sorghum, an ancient grain that traces its roots to Africa, is widely used as an ingredient as it's tough and doesn't become soggy in liquids.

Now, what does edible cutlery taste like? The flavour that the cutlery comes in entirely depends on the manufacturer. It can be either, sweet, tangy, savoury, spicy and also plain. In any case, they can complement any kind of food.

So what if you do not want to eat the cutlery? Even then it won't just go to waste. They can be thrown outdoors and can degrade easily as they do not have any specific requirements for degradation. They can even be used as a fertilizer!

Picture Credit : Google 

When it comes to classic board games, few have stood the test of time quite like Scrabble. This beloved game has entertained players of all ages and skill levels. It is speculated that the concept of the game was inspired by a short story titled ‘The Gold Bug’ by one of the greatest American writers Edgar Allan Poe.

Welcome to the world of Scrabble, where words reign supreme and strategy is key. For over seven decades, this classic board game has been captivating players with its unique blend of skill and chance. But did you know that Scrabble's origins can be traced back to a short story by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe?

The Great Depression

During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, millions of Americans were struggling to make ends meet and find any kind of relief from the economic downturn. It was during this challenging time that Alfred Mosher Butts, an unemployed architect from New York, began to conceive the idea for a game that could provide a much-needed distraction from the harsh realities of everyday life. Drawing on his own love of puzzles and wordplay, Butts set out to create a game that combined chance, strategy, and language skills, hoping to provide people with a fun and engaging way to pass the time. And thus, the idea for what would become Scrabble was born.

When inspiration strikes

 Butts' childhood fascination with Poe's short story ‘The Gold Bug proved’ to be a key source of inspiration as he began to develop his own word game.

The idea of decoding symbols to uncover a hidden treasure map (which was the basis of the story) resonated with Butts, and he began to experiment with ways to incorporate similar elements into his own game. One idea that particularly intrigued him was the notion of ranking letters by their frequency of use in the English language, as Poe had attempted to do in his story. Butts set out to put together his own ranking system by meticulously counting letters in various publications, including the ‘New York Times’ and ‘The Saturday Evening Post’. After crunching the numbers and devising a complicated grid, Butts determined that the letters e, t, a, o, i, n, s, h, r, d, l, and u were the most commonly used letters, accounting for a staggering 80% of all letters typically used. Using this data as a foundation, Butts went on to create his own word game, one that would go on to captivate players around the world and become a true cultural phenomenon.

The issues that followed

 Butts' road to success was far from smooth, as he spent over a decade tinkering with the rules of his game and trying, unsuccessfully, to secure a corporate sponsor. Despite facing rejection from the Patent Office not once, but twice, Butts persisted in his quest to bring his creation to the masses. He experimented with various names, including the uninspiring "it" and the lacklustre "Lexiko", before settling on "Criss-Cross Words". However, it wasn't until Butts teamed up with James Brunot, a retired American federal officer and social worker, that Scrabble we are familiar with today started to take shape.

Brunot brought his own expertise to the table, redesigning the game, creating the iconic colour scheme, and most importantly, conceiving the name that would become synonymous with wordplay: Scrabble. The game was copyrighted in 1948. Since Brunot breathed new life into Butts' creation, Scrabble has become a global phenomenon. The game is sold in over 120 countries and has been translated into more than 20 languages, with special editions available for those who are visually impaired or prefer magnetic tiles. Such is the game's enduring popularity that April 13 is celebrated annually as National Scrabble Day, in honour of Butts birthday and his legacy as the inventor of one of the most beloved and enduring board games of all time.

When it comes to classic board games, few have stood the test of time quite like Scrabble. This beloved game has entertained players of all ages and skill levels. It is speculated that the concept of the game was inspired by a short story titled ‘The Gold Bug’ by one of the greatest American writers Edgar Allan Poe.

Welcome to the world of Scrabble, where words reign supreme and strategy is key. For over seven decades, this classic board game has been captivating players with its unique blend of skill and chance. But did you know that Scrabble's origins can be traced back to a short story by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe?

The Great Depression

During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, millions of Americans were struggling to make ends meet and find any kind of relief from the economic downturn. It was during this challenging time that Alfred Mosher Butts, an unemployed architect from New York, began to conceive the idea for a game that could provide a much-needed distraction from the harsh realities of everyday life. Drawing on his own love of puzzles and wordplay, Butts set out to create a game that combined chance, strategy, and language skills, hoping to provide people with a fun and engaging way to pass the time. And thus, the idea for what would become Scrabble was born.

When inspiration strikes

 Butts' childhood fascination with Poe's short story ‘The Gold Bug proved’ to be a key source of inspiration as he began to develop his own word game.

The idea of decoding symbols to uncover a hidden treasure map (which was the basis of the story) resonated with Butts, and he began to experiment with ways to incorporate similar elements into his own game. One idea that particularly intrigued him was the notion of ranking letters by their frequency of use in the English language, as Poe had attempted to do in his story. Butts set out to put together his own ranking system by meticulously counting letters in various publications, including the ‘New York Times’ and ‘The Saturday Evening Post’. After crunching the numbers and devising a complicated grid, Butts determined that the letters e, t, a, o, i, n, s, h, r, d, l, and u were the most commonly used letters, accounting for a staggering 80% of all letters typically used. Using this data as a foundation, Butts went on to create his own word game, one that would go on to captivate players around the world and become a true cultural phenomenon.

The issues that followed

 Butts' road to success was far from smooth, as he spent over a decade tinkering with the rules of his game and trying, unsuccessfully, to secure a corporate sponsor. Despite facing rejection from the Patent Office not once, but twice, Butts persisted in his quest to bring his creation to the masses. He experimented with various names, including the uninspiring "it" and the lacklustre "Lexiko", before settling on "Criss-Cross Words". However, it wasn't until Butts teamed up with James Brunot, a retired American federal officer and social worker, that Scrabble we are familiar with today started to take shape.

Brunot brought his own expertise to the table, redesigning the game, creating the iconic colour scheme, and most importantly, conceiving the name that would become synonymous with wordplay: Scrabble. The game was copyrighted in 1948. Since Brunot breathed new life into Butts' creation, Scrabble has become a global phenomenon. The game is sold in over 120 countries and has been translated into more than 20 languages, with special editions available for those who are visually impaired or prefer magnetic tiles. Such is the game's enduring popularity that April 13 is celebrated annually as National Scrabble Day, in honour of Butts birthday and his legacy as the inventor of one of the most beloved and enduring board games of all time.

Picture Credit : Google 

Thousands of years ago all species of animals lived in the wild and roamed our planet freely. However, centuries ago, humans domesticated some species for their own benefit. This list is fairly endless from dogs, donkeys, camels, and horses to cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. In the 19th Century, naturalist Charles Darwin was among the earliest to detect something interesting about these animals "different species often developed similar changes when compared to their ancient wild ancestors”. How could that be? Come, let's find out.

The set of shared changes seen in domesticated animals is referred to as "domestication syndrome". And, for long, one of the main reasons for this was attributed to the tamer behaviour of domesticated animals. It is understandable that our ancestors would have selected calmer animals of the lot for domestication, and so, this trait continued in the subsequent generations too, irrespective of the species. Some of the noticeable changes are "shorter faces, smaller teeth, more fragile skeletons, smaller brains, and different colours in skin, fur, and feathers". (Remember, not all species display all the changes. A few species may share several of these changes while some may share just a few. But all of them seem to display at least a few changes.)

One of the theories associated with tamer behaviour is that it "somehow triggered all of the other traits too". Another theory states that "selection for tameness causes the other features because they're all linked by genes controlling neural crest cells. These cells, found in embryos, form many animal features-so changing them could cause several differences at once". However, a new hypothesis by researchers suggests that these theories are over-simplified and do not offer the complete picture. They say the "removal of pre-existing selection" is as important as tameness. For instance, domesticated animals may not face the threat of predators, and "so wild traits for avoiding them might be lost. Similarly, competition for mating partners too comes down, bringing down "wild reproductive features and behaviours". Since domesticated animals are provided food, this could change not just their "metabolism and growth" but even their features over a period of time.

The researchers argue that several selective changes are at play when it comes to the characteristics of domesticated animals, not just "selection for tameness".

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The indelible ink is used to mark a voter’s finger during elections to avoid fraud, multiple voting, and malpractices

During the elections, you must have seen your parents coming out of polling stations with violet-coloured ink on one of their fingers. This ink is called the voters ink or indelible ink.

History

The indelible ink was first developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1952. In 1962, the Election Commission and the National Research Development Corporation signed an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. (MPVL), established by the Mysuru maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV in 1937, to manufacture and supply the ink.

Since then, the MPVL (an undertaking of the Karnataka government) has remained the sole authorised supplier of indelible ink, having an exclusive licence granted by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) since 1962.

Usage

For over six decades, the MPVL has been supplying indelible ink for civic body, Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

Besides, this ink is supplied to more than 25 countries, including Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, South Africa, and the Maldives.

While in India the indelible ink is applied on the left-hand index finger of the voter in a 25 polling booth, the voters in Cambodia and the Maldives need to dip their finger into the ink. In Burkina Faso, the ink is applied with a brush, and nozzles are used in Turkey.

Mysterious ink

The indelible ink contains silver nitrate that gets absorbed into the nail and skin, making it last for several days. It remains bright for about 10 days before beginning to fade away. It cannot be wiped off by any chemical, detergent, or oil. It gets removed over time as fresh skin cells replace the dead ones.

Though the concentration of silver nitrate ranges from 7% to 25% the exact composition remains unknown as it is manufactured in secrecy.

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The main objective of the World Intellectual Property Organisation is to establish an effective intellectual property ecosystem worldwide to promote innovation and creativity.

The theme for this year's World Intellectual Property Day is "Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity". But do you know what Intellectual Property is, when and why World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated, and what IP rights involve? Come, let's find out.

Intangible assets

IP is intellectual property, which can be defined as any intangible asset (not physical in nature) that is an outcome of creativity, and is protected by law through patents, trademarks, and copyrights. (While a patent is a right granted by the government to inventors in order to exclude others from copying or sharing their creations without their permission, a trademark is a word, name, or symbol that a company exclusively puts on its products and that cannot be used by others. Copyright is the exclusive right enjoyed by owners of IP to duplicate their work and also authorise duplication.) IP refers to "creations of the mind". Authors, musicians, and inventors are keen to procure patents so as to protect their creations from theft and commercial exploitation.

Intellectual property rights provide legal protection for original works such as inventions, literary and artistic creations, industrial designs, and symbols used in trade. This encourages people/organisations to invest in research and development, innovate, and come up with inventions that will be beneficial to both the creators and the world, thereby serving as a catalyst for global growth. Intellectual property law enables individuals/ organisations to claim exclusive rights over and commercialise (make money from) what they have invented or created. In other words, such legally protected assets cannot be used by the public or organisations without the consent of the creator.

Encouraging innovation

World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26. The aim is to create awareness about intellectual property and its role in encouraging innovation and creativity. Besides, this day is also about celebrating creators across the world and their creations. It was officially established by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in August 1999.

The WIPO is a specialised agency of the United Nations, established by a convention in 1967 mainly to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the intergovernmental organisation serves as a global forum for IP services, policy, information, and cooperation.

Daren Tang of Singapore is the current Director General of the WIPO. The WIPO releases the World Intellectual Property Indicators report every year. This report reveals information about filings for patents, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, etc. worldwide and their growth.

Every year, the WIPO announces a new theme for World Intellectual Property Day. This year’s theme is "Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity”, which aims to encourage women inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs around the world.

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British-American author Hugh Lofting crafted the fictional account chronicling the peculiar life and astonishing adventures of Dr Dolittle with the intention to entertain his children. Little did he know that these narratives will immortalise him in literary history. Let us revisit ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ and see what makes it a classic.

About the author

Hugh John Lofting was one of six children born to Elizabeth Agnes and John Brien Lofting on January 14, 1886, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. His love for animals and storytelling was evident from a very young age. As a child, he loved concocting stories for his family and is said to have used his mother's linen cupboard to store his miniature zoo and wildlife museum. He attended Jesuit boarding school before he went on to study civil engineering and architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and London Polytechnic. As a civil engineer, he was constantly travelling to new places. His job took him to Canada, Africa, and the West Indies, before he returned to America in 1912, married Flora Small, and settled in New York City to begin a writing career.

A coping mechanism

In 1916, Lofting enlisted to fight for England in World War I. Instead of destressing his family with the gory details of what he witnessed on the battlefields, Lofting chose to write imaginative letters (complete with illustrations) detailing the astonishing adventures of Doctor Dolittle to entertain his children. Researchers speculate that gifting the character of Dolittle a special ability to communicate with animals was Lofting's coping mechanism to deal with the animal cruelty he witnessed in the trenches.

At the 1967 premiere of the story's big screen adaptation, Christopher Lofting (the youngest son of the author) said, "There were thousands of cavalry horses in the war, and also farm animals and pets who got caught in the crossfire. My father invented Dolittle... as a superhero who could do things he could not do."

The first book in the Doctor Dolittle series, titled ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ was published in 1920, three years after Lofting was wounded and invalided out of the war.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The book follows John Dolittle, a reputed English country doctor who lives in a little town called Puddleby-on-the-Marsh He transitions from human medicine to veterinary practice after he is taught how to communicate with animals by his parrot. Polynesia, Risking a stable income and losing most of his patients do not dissuade him from going to Africa to cure a monkey epidemic. This book chronicles the peculiar life of Doctor Dolittle and his misadventures with a crew of animals that he befriends.

What makes it a classic?

The importance of communication

Through the interactions between Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends, the story highlights how important effective communication is in resolving day-to-day problems and conflicts. The unique personalities and perspectives of the diverse cast of animal characters in the story emphasise the importance of keeping an open mind and valuing other individuals' opinions.

 Empathy and compassion

The compelling narrative of this book promotes animal welfare, teaches empathy, and encourages us to think about the importance of treating all living beings with respect and kindness. It also presents an opportunity to address the treatment of animals and the need for their conservation, an idea which is all the more important because of the climate crisis at hand.

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In 2022, Shehan Karunatilaka became the second Sri Lankan author to win the Booker Prize. What fetched his novel ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ the prestigious literary award?

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka won the prestigious Booker Prize 2022 for ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’. When it was announced, it was the overriding Breaking News of prime-time media. We got so genuinely excited about someone from our neighbouring country winning the prize that we decided to gather authentic information about him. Here's the information we put together.

About the novelist

The entire nation rose in jubilation when the prize was announced. We all know Shehan Karunatilaka only as a novelist, but he is much more than that- only in films do we find protagonists playing multiple roles, but in real life he dons several roles. He is a children's author, screenplay writer, travel writer, rock singer, music reviewer, copywriter, sports commentator, content writer, and much more. It's rare to come across someone with such rich experiences in varied fields.

The 47-year-old writer was born in Galle, a beautiful old city, situated on the southwestern tip of the island, about 115 km from Colombo. He grew up in Colombo, and that's where he lives now. But he has also lived and worked in the U.K., Singapore, Australia, and the Netherlands for different organisations in various capacities.

An interesting fact about the prize-winning novel is that it had two different versions published earlier – ‘Devil Dance’ and ‘Chats with the Dead’ and was eventually published with the current title in London in 2022.

The Booker Prize

The Booker Prize is considered prestigious as it accords international recognition to the winners and is one of the world's richest literary prizes, offering 50,000 pounds. It is given each year for the best novel written in English and published in the U.K. or Ireland. Three Indian writers - Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, and Aravind Adiga - have won the prize so far.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

The seven moons' has several mythological references, and in Greek myth, it is an expedition undertaken to reclaim the throne, and, in the novel, it refers to the 'seven days' of travel between the afterlife and the real world.

The name of the central character, Maali Almeida, is of Arabic origin, meaning 'rich hill’, referring to the topography of their country. The novelist perhaps chose to avoid any reference to Sri Lankan names as the novel is set against the backdrop of the war-torn country.

Maali Almeida is a war photographer who wakes up from his death and tries to identify his killer but with no idea of who did it. He holds a cache of photographs that captures the brutalities committed by various groups, including the military, which "will bring down governments" and wishes to show them to the people he loves most.

In his work, Karunatilaka combines the features of different genres of novels - mystery, surrealism, political satire, mythology, ghost story, history, comedy, fantasy, realism, and so on, and weaves all these strands skilfully to delight his readers.

Significantly, though the novel portrays the grim reality of our country it is not without hope and humour, which he believes are the coping mechanism to lead a sane life.

The lesson from his writings

The important lesson for us is that with the sensitivity to contemporary socio-political happenings and familiarity with different genres of novels, we could spin a story of some merit by employing imagination.

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