Daily Current Affairs UPSC 25 October 2024

Aadhaar

• Aadhaar card is not a definitive proof of date of birth according to the Supreme Court.

About Aadhaar Card:

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by UIDAI.
• UIDAI can deactivate or omit Aadhaar cards.
• Minimal demographic and biometric information is required for Aadhaar.
• Aadhaar does not prove citizenship or domicile status.

Previous SC observations:

• SC has ruled that Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than six months.
• Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for services except welfare schemes.

Mormugao Port Authority

• Mormugao Port Authority is recognized globally for its incentives on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) platform.
• ESI is published by IAPH since 2011 to identify ships that exceed emission standards set by IMO.

About Mormugao Port:

• Mormugao Port is a major port in Goa, India.
• It introduced the Green Ship Incentives (Harit Shrey scheme) through ESI.

Harit Shrey scheme (2023):

• Harit Shrey scheme incentivizes ships with high ESI scores for decarbonization and green shipping.

Bihta Dry Port

• Bihar's first dry port, also known as an inland container depot (ICD), opened in Bihta near Patna.
• Dry ports provide logistics facilities for cargo handling, storage, and transportation away from seaports or airports.

Significance of Bihta Dry Port:

• Boost exports of agro-based, garments, and leather products from Bihar.
• Improve logistics by streamlining cargo handling and transportation, reducing costs, and securing storage.
• Benefit adjoining states in eastern India.
• Connected by rail to major gateway ports and trade routes.

Water Hyacinth

• Women in flood-prone Borchila, Assam, are using water hyacinth to create eco-friendly products and jobs under SBM-Urban.
• Water hyacinth is a non-native aquatic invasive plant that is widespread in India.

Negative impacts of water hyacinth:

• Degrades water quality by depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.
• Causes ecological imbalance by outcompeting native plant species and reducing biodiversity.

Positive impact/usage of water hyacinth:

• Can reduce water pollution by absorbing heavy metals and toxins.
• Can be processed into animal feed, compost, and bioenergy.
• Can be harvested and used to make eco-friendly products like crafts and furniture.

Common Pledge Initiative

• Launched at a recent UN Security Council debate on women, peace, and security.

About Common Pledge Initiative:

• Aims to bring together mediators, governments, and civil society for women's full engagement in peace processes.
• Involves appointing women as lead mediators and including them in mediation teams.
• Aligned with resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace, and security.
• Resolution 1325 was the first formal acknowledgment of gender aspects of conflict and emphasizes women's role in peace building and conflict resolution.

Carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM)

• BRICS rejects CBAM in Kazan Declaration.

About Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

• EU policy to impose carbon tax on imports from countries with less stringent climate policies.
• Aims to prevent companies from moving production to less-regulated countries.
• Transition to full enforcement by 2026.

India's concerns about CBAM

• Potential new trade barriers for exports to EU.
• CBAM tax burden estimated at 0.05% of India's GDP by Centre for Science and Environment.

Lake Erie

• Toxins from bacteria called microcystin can cause illness in animals and humans when they come into contact with contaminated water in Lake Erie.

About Lake Erie:

• Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the five Great Lakes in North America.
• It is the warmest, most shallow, and most biologically diverse of the North American Great Lakes.
• Lake Erie forms the boundary between Canada to the north and the US to the west, south, and east.
• The Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, is where Niagara Falls is located.

SIMBEX 2024

• The 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) is currently taking place in the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
• SIMBEX, which started as 'Exercise Lion King' in 1994, is a significant bilateral maritime collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

Rani Chennamma (1778 -1829)

• Commemorative postage stamp released for Rani Chennamma's victory against British rule.
• Born in present-day Belagavi district in Karnataka.

About Rani Chennamma:

• Queen of Kittur who adopted Shivalingappa as heir.
• British refused to recognize Shivalingappa, leading to the Kittur Revolt in 1824.

About Kittur Revolt (1824):

• First Indian armed rebellion against British EIC and early woman-led anti-colonial struggle.
• British lost first battle in 1824 but captured and imprisoned Rani Chennamma until her death in 1829.

Union Cabinet approves establishment of Rs.1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for Space Sector under IN-SPACe

• Union Cabinet approves Rs.1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for Space Sector under IN-SPACe.
  
  • VC Fund invests in early-stage startups with high growth potential.

About VC Fund for Space sector:

• Supports startups across the entire space supply chain.
• Operates over five years, deploying ₹150-250 crore annually.
• Investment per startup ranges from ₹10-60 crore.
• Aims to support approximately 40 startups.

Objectives of the Fund:

• Strategically position India as a leading space economy.
• Attract additional funding for later-stage development.
• Accelerate private space industry growth.
• Drive advancements in space technology.

Benefits of the Fund:

• Retention of space companies in India.
• Job creation in various sectors.
• Boost innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.

About IN-SPACe:

• Established in 2020 as a single-window agency in the Department of Space.
• Facilitates private sector participation in space activities.
• Authorizes and supervises various space initiatives.

Initiatives by Private sector in Indian Space sector:

• Skyroot Aerospace developed India's first private launch vehicle, Vikram-1.

Study reveals 77% children in India aged 6-23 months lacking minimum dietary diversity

• WHO defines Minimum dietary diversity (MDD) as having a diet with five or more of eight food groups.
• 77% of children aged 6-23 months in India lack minimum dietary diversity.

Key Findings of MDD Study in India:

• Regional Disparities: Central regions like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have over 80% of children with MDDF.
• Age Impact: Younger children (6-11 months) have the highest prevalence of MDDF.
• Vulnerable Sections: OBC, SC, and ST children have high MDDF rates.
• Other Findings: Children of illiterate, young, and rural-residing mothers are more likely to be diet deficient.

Challenges in Ensuring Dietary Diversity:

• Nutritional Composition: Lack of consumption of fruits, vegetables, and animal products.
• Lack of Education: Illiterate mothers have higher MDDF rates.

Recommendations for Improving Dietary Diversity:

• Targeted Outreach: Prioritize efforts for pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies.
• Engaging Communities: Use local governance for nutrition activities.

Initiatives to Address Malnutrition in India

• POSHAN Abhiyan: Promotes nutrition awareness through Jan Andolans for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and young children.
• Rashtriya Poshan Mah: Collaboration among ministries to engage communities.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: Benefits children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

Gram Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting Initiative Launched to make Village Climate Resilient

• The initiative aims to provide localized weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level.
• Supported by India Meteorological Department’s expanded sensor coverage.

About Gram Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting Initiative:

• Joint program of Panchayati Raj Ministry, IMD, and Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Features:
• 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats can access data on temperature, wind speed, rainfall, etc.
• Digital platforms like e-GramSwaraj, Gram Manchitra, and Meri Panchayat will deliver weather forecasts.
• SMS alerts will be sent to panchayat representatives for extreme weather events.

Importance of Localised Weather Forecasts:

• Empowers farmers to optimize agricultural activities.
• Strengthens grassroots governance and climate resilience in rural areas.
• Enhances disaster preparedness and reduces mortality from extreme weather events.
• Demonstrates India's leadership in global climate resilience efforts.

India’s Localised Weather Forecasting Capabilities

• IMD can forecast weather events over a 12 km x 12 km area.
• 40% improvement in forecast accuracy over the past decade.
• Experimenting with forecasts for 3 km x 3 km grids with the goal of hyper-local forecasts for 1 km x 1 km areas.
• Weather information network and data system (WINDS) launched for long-term, hyper-local weather data.
• Other initiatives include Agro Advisory Services (AAS) and Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS).

UN COP16 Nature Summit to debate rules regarding Digital Sequence Information (DSI)

• The UN COP16 Nature Summit will discuss rules related to Digital Sequence Information (DSI).
• The goal is to create a unified system to generate revenue for conservation from the use of DSI.

About Digital Sequence Information (DSI):

• DSI refers to genomic sequence data and other related digital information.
• It includes genetic resources and biological data like DNA, RNA, and protein sequences.
• There is no consensus on the exact interpretation and scope of the term.

Importance of Digital Sequence Information (DSI):

• DSI can aid in biological research, bioprospecting, and understanding evolution.
• For example, virologists used DSI to design diagnostic kits for COVID-19.
• It helps in agriculture, food security, and species conservation efforts.

Challenges Associated with Digital Sequencing:

• Lack of accountability in public databases sharing DSI.
• Inequitable benefit sharing from sectors linked to DSI.
• Other issues include privacy concerns, data security risks, ownership disputes, and technological constraints.

Initiatives for Digital Sequence Information (DSI)

• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework promotes benefit sharing from DSI.
• India has initiatives like the Genome India Project to map genetic diversity.
• These initiatives aim to address challenges and maximize the benefits of DSI usage.

UN Environment Programme Releases Emissions Gap Report 2024

• The report focuses on global emission trends, future projections, and the necessary actions needed from the next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

Key Observations from the Report:

• Greenhouse gas emissions reached a new high of 57 gigatons of CO2 equivalent in 2023, showing a 1.3% increase from the previous year.
• India ranks third in total GHG emissions with 4,140 MtCO2e, following China and the US.
• There are significant disparities in current and historical GHG emissions, with the six largest emitters accounting for 63% of global emissions while least developed countries only account for 3%.
• India's historical CO2 emissions are much lower compared to China and the US.
• Many countries are missing their NDC targets, requiring the adoption of more stringent policies to achieve the goals set for 2030.

Recommendations for Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C:

• Nations need to commit to cutting 42% of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in their next NDCs.
• NDCs should cover all gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol, all sectors, and set specific targets.
• Increasing the deployment of solar photovoltaic technologies and wind energy could contribute significantly to reducing emissions by 2035.

About Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

• NDCs are national climate action plans that each country develops to reduce GHG emissions.
• The Paris Agreement requires NDCs to be updated every five years with higher ambition, taking into account each country's capacity.
• The next round of NDCs, known as "NDCs 3.0," are due in early 2025 following the original NDCs in 2015 and the second round in 2020/2021.

Urbanization and industries draining groundwater reserves in 5 Hotspots: Study

• Study highlights serious concerns for Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.
• India is the largest groundwater user globally, using over 25% of the total.

Key Findings of the Study:

• Northern hotspots have lost 64.6 billion cubic meters of water in the past two decades.
• Punjab & Haryana show the highest decline.
• Urban expansion in Uttar Pradesh shifts water usage from agriculture to domestic needs.
• Increased irrigation, domestic, and industrial use in Chhattisgarh reduce groundwater availability.
• Domestic and industrial use surged in West Bengal & Kerala.

Solutions for Depleting Groundwater Resources:

• Formalized groundwater rights detached from land ownership.
• Granting community rights for collective responsibility and equal access.
• Artificial groundwater recharge techniques like flooding, basins, injection wells, etc.

Government Initiatives to Address Depleting Groundwater Resources

• Atal Bhujal Yojana in 7 states to improve groundwater management.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan promoting rainwater harvesting & conservation.
• Master Plan for Artificial Recharge aiming to create 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting structures.
• Financial assistance to states for rainwater harvesting through the 15th Finance Commission tied grants.