Daily Current Affairs UPSC 07 November 2024

CARICOM (Caribbean Community)

Recently, the 2nd meeting of the India-CARICOM Joint Commission was held virtually.

About CARICOM:

• CARICOM is a regional organization promoting economic integration and cooperation in the Caribbean Region.
• Established in 1973 with its Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.
• Observer status in the United Nations General Assembly since 1991.
• Consists of 20 member countries.
• 15 Member states include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
• 6 Associated states are Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Environment Protection (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024

Introduction of new rules by MoEFCC for conducting inquiries and imposing penalties on polluters after SC's pollution order

About new rules:

• Complaints against violators can be initiated by key bodies like CPCB, SPCBs, Pollution Control Committees, etc.
• Adjudicating officers can transfer cases in cases of jurisdictional issues
• Initiation of inquiry within 30 days by designated officer as per Section 15C of Environment (Protection) Act
• Violators given at least 15 days to reply and may be asked to appear in person
• Timely resolution required, with inquiries to be completed within six months from notice date.

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme

• C-DOT and IIT Roorkee signed an agreement for developing Millimeter Wave Transceiver for 5G Rural Connectivity.
• Agreement is under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.

About TTDF scheme:

• TTDF scheme launched by USOF aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications.
• TTDF scheme aims to form synergies among stakeholders to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.

Sagarmala Parikrama

Sagarmala Parikrama completed by Sagar Defence Engineering with Indian Navy support.

About Sagarmala Parikrama:

• Aligns with global advancements in autonomous surface and underwater systems.
• Supported by Indian Navy's NIIO and iDEX initiative.
• Paves the way for future deployment of autonomous vessels to expand Indian Navy's operational reach.

Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024

• The 5th edition of the Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise has begun in Ambala, Haryana.
• This edition includes participation from personnel of both the Army and Air Force from both countries for the first time.

Agrivoltaic farming

Agrivoltaic farming was showcased at the 7th session of the International Solar Alliance.

About Agrivoltaic farming:

• It is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels.
• It involves growing crops underneath solar panels, allowing for dual use of land for agriculture and energy generation.
• Also known as agrisolar or dual use solar, it offers benefits such as diversified income for farmers, reduced land use competition, reduced carbon footprint, and energy resilience.

Tuna Fish

Fisheries department has announced the development of Tuna clusters in A&N Islands under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

About Tuna fish:

• Tuna fish are a group of saltwater fish known for their streamlined bodies, powerful swimming ability, and wide distribution in tropical and temperate oceans.
• Tuna fish are highly valued in the global fishing industry for their protein-rich meat.
• Tunas are pelagic fish, meaning they live beyond the continental shelf in the open sea.

Significance of Tuna cluster:

• The development of Tuna clusters will generate economies of scale, increase incomes, and accelerate growth in the fisheries sector.
• The Tuna clusters will also help in developing infrastructure for export connectivity to Southeast Asian countries.

Haridasa Movement

Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha festival is celebrating the revered Daasa traditions of Carnatic music of Haridasa movement.

Haridasa Movement:

• Origin: Started in Karnataka and spread to eastern states like Bengal and Assam.
• Started by Haridasas (servants of Lord Hari) in the 13-14th century.
• Objective: Propagate Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya through Dasa Sahitya literature.
• Madhvacharya's philosophy of shuddha-dvaita established God as eternally a person distinct from creation.

Chandrasekhara Venkata (C.V) Raman (1888-1970)

Celebrating the Birth Anniversary of C.V Raman.

About CV Raman:

• C.V Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Founded the Indian Journal of Physics and the Indian Academy of Sciences.
• Received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 and the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
• National Science Day is celebrated in honor of his discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928.
• The Raman Effect is when light passing through a liquid scatters and changes color.
• C.V Raman valued scientific rigor, fortitude, excellence, curiosity, and more.

Union Cabinet approved PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme

• New Central Sector scheme for financial support to meritorious students for higher studies.
• Recommended by National Education Policy, 2020.
• Provides collateral-free, guarantor-free loans for tuition fees and other expenses.

Salient Features of PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme:

• Objective: Provide financial support through loans for tuition fees and related expenses.
• Eligibility: Students admitted in Quality Higher Education Institutions.
• Coverage: 860 qualifying QHEIs, covering over 22 lakh students.
• Benefits: Loan amounts up to Rs.7.5 lakhs with 75% credit guarantee by the Government.
• 3% interest subvention for loans up to Rs.10 lakhs during moratorium period.
• Entirely digital system through unified portal "PM-Vidyalaxmi".
• Payment of interest subvention through E-voucher and CBDC wallets.
• Supplements Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Scheme.

About Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Scheme:

• Objective: Provide financial assistance to meritorious students from poor families for day-to-day expenses during higher studies.
• Eligibility: Based on Higher Secondary/ Class 12th Board Examination results.
• Offers Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL).
• Provides a maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships per annum.

Primordial Black Hole (LID-568) Rapid Growth Revealed by Webb Telescope Observations

• Study in Nature Astronomy reveals LID-568 expanding at unprecedented rate challenging black hole understanding.
• Formed from explosion of initial stars or collapse of large gas clouds in early universe.
• Consuming material at more than 40 times Eddington limit, suggesting significant mass growth in single episode.
• Could explain early formation of supermassive black holes.

About Eddington Limit:

• Theoretical limit for maximum energy output black hole can produce through accretion process.
• Outward radiation force balances gravity of infalling material.

About LID-568 Details:

• Supermassive black hole formed 1.5 billion years after Big Bang.
• Mass about 10 million times greater than sun, 2.5 times that of Sagittarius A*.
• Sagittarius A* is supermassive black hole at center of Milky Way.

About James Webb Space Telescope:

• Largest, most powerful space telescope ever built.
• Developed by NASA, ESA, and CSA.
• Observes universe primarily in infrared spectrum, successor to Hubble Space Telescope.
• Orbits Sun 1.5 million kilometers away at L2 point.

UN-Habitat released “World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action”

It noted that cities are both victims of climate change and its worst offenders (Generating Green House Gases), although disproportionately exposed to impacts of climate change.

Key Findings of the Report:

• Exposed to climate change: Over 2 billion people in cities could face a temperature increase of at least 0.5 °C by 2040.
• Funding gap: Cities need $4.5-5.4 trillion annually for climate-resilient systems, but current financing is only $831 billion.
• Shrinking green space: Urban green areas have decreased from 20% in 1990 to 14% in 2020.
• Impact on vulnerable people: Some climate interventions have negatively affected vulnerable communities, leading to issues like "green gentrification."

Recommendations:

• Increase revenue through debt, PPPs, and climate finance mobilization.
• Integrate climate action into urban planning and support locally-led adaptation efforts.
• Strengthen social protection programs and implement nature-based solutions for climate resilience.

About UN-Habitat:

• Establishment of UN-Habitat: In 1978, Habitat I laid the groundwork for UN-Habitat.
• Mission of UN-Habitat: Mandated by UN General Assembly to promote sustainable towns and cities.
• Partnerships of UN-Habitat: Collaborates with governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and private sector.
• Key documents of UN-Habitat: Vancouver Declaration (Habitat I), Istanbul Declaration (Habitat II).
• Flagship publications of UN-Habitat: State of the World's Cities, World Cities Report.

Prime Minister congratulates President-elect of the USA

• President-elect from the Republican Party has won the U.S. presidential election.
• The Prime Minister has extended congratulations to the President-elect.

About the U.S. Presidential Election Process:

U.S. Presidential Election Process

• One Year before Elections
  
  • Candidates from Democrats and Republicans start campaigning
  • Participate in televised policy debates
• Primaries and Caucuses
  
  • Party members vote and discuss to choose best candidate
• National Conventions
  
  • Parties hold conventions to select final nominees
  • Presidential candidates choose Vice Presidential candidate
• General Election
  
  • People across the country vote for President and Vice President
  • Electors in Electoral College cast votes based on state results
• Electoral College
  
  • 538 electors cast votes after general election
  • Candidate with majority (270) becomes President

Election Management Process in USA

• The U.S. lacks a centralized authority to oversee elections, with local entities in different counties having their own rules.
• The Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulates campaign finances but does not oversee the entire election process.
• U.S. elections are held every four years on a fixed date, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November since 1835.

Cabinet approved an equity of Rs 10,700 crore for FCI

• Cabinet approved Rs 10,700 crore equity for FCI.
• Fund to be used as working capital in FY 2024-25.
• Aimed at supporting agricultural sector and farmers.

Financing of FCI Operations:

• FCI purchases food grains for Central Pool at Minimum Support Price.
• Issues grains at Central Issue Prices set by Government.
• Issue prices do not cover full economic cost for FCI.
• Government pays subsidy to cover the difference.
• Challenges include low direct procurement share, under-utilised facilities, leakages, poor quality stocks, transit loss.

Recommendations for improving FCI functioning:

• Assisting state governments in creating infrastructure for procurement.
• Adopting scientific storage measures to prevent damage.
• Strengthening vigilance mechanism in coordination with states.

About the Food Corporation of India:

• Public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• Established under the Food Corporation Act of 1964.
• Mandates include procurement of foodgrains at MSP, distribution for PDS, and maintaining operational and buffer stocks for food security.

Central Water Commission (CWC) Report highlights expanding Himalayan glacial lakes

• The CWC report highlights the increasing size of Himalayan glacial lakes due to climate change.
• This expansion poses a risk to communities and biodiversity due to the increased likelihood of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

Key Findings of the Report:

• The Himalayan region saw a 10.8% increase in the surface area of glacial lakes from 2011-24.
• India experienced a 34% expansion in glacial lake surface area.
• 67 lakes in India saw a more than 40% increase in surface area, categorizing them as high-risk for potential GLOFs.
• There are transboundary risks associated with expanding glacial lakes in Bhutan, Nepal, and China.
• Monitoring was conducted using 'Sentinel-1' Synthetic Aperture Radar and 'Sentinel-2' satellite technology.

Definition of Glacial Lakes:

• Glacial lakes are bodies of water that form from the melting of glaciers after they have eroded the land, filling depressions created by the glacier.

About GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods):

• GLOFs are sudden releases of water from glacial lakes that can be located in various positions around a glacier, leading to large amounts of water flowing into nearby rivers.
• An example of a GLOF occurred in Sikkim in October 2023, triggered by the bursting of South Lhonak Lake.

About Central Water Commission (CWC)

• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Established in 1945 on the advice of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
• Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Headed by a Chairman who is an Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.
• Aim: To promote integrated and sustainable development and management of India's water resources.
• CWC focuses on surface water management, while the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) deals with groundwater.