Important Facts for Prelims

Anti-dumping duty put on saccharine:

Context: The Finance Ministry has, on the recommendations of the Commerce Ministry, imposed an anti-dumping duty on the import of saccharine from Indonesia. Indonesia, until recently, accounted for a large chunk of India’s saccharine imports.

Saccharine is a compound most commonly used in sugar-substitute sweeteners.

Bisphenol-A (BPA):

Context: Despite the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) being prohibited in feeding bottles for babies, the toxic chemical continues to be found in some bottles and cups for babies sold in the Indian market, and is leaching into baby foods, found a recent study conducted by Toxics Link.

What is it? BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been accepted as the “chemical of concern” globally, and countries have taken action to phase it out from products. The toxic chemical is known to mimic a hormone in the body which activates the progression of cancer and interferes with the development of the reproductive system.

Effects: Epidemiological studies of children indicate correlations between BPA exposure and heart diseases, liver toxicity, and metabolic syndrome (diabetes obesity).

Sea of Japan:

Why in News? N. Korea launches ‘barrage’ of short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan.

About Sea of Japan:

• It is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula and Russia.
• The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean.
• It is bordered by Japan, Korea (North and South) and Russia.
• Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific Ocean.

INS Vela:

What is it? It is Indian Navy’s fourth Stealth Scorpene-Class submarine.

• launched by MDL after it entered into contract with French collaborator Ms Naval Group (earlier known as DCNS) for construction and transfer of technology for six Scorpene class submarines under Project 75.
• It is a diesel-electric attack submarine of Kalvari-class.
• INS Vela was first commissioned on August 31, 1973 in the Indian Naval Service and continued to serve for 37 years. It was the country’s oldest submarine when it was decommissioned on June 25, 2010.