Daily Current Affairs UPSC 24 May 2024

Radiation processing

• Government plans to use radiation processing on onions to prevent shortages.
• Radiation processing involves controlled application of ionizing radiations like gamma rays, accelerated electrons, and X-rays.
• Benefits of radiation processing include delaying ripening, enhancing shelf life by destroying spoilage microbes, and minimal chemical changes.
• However, it cannot eliminate microbial toxins and pathogen viruses.
• Nutritional value is least affected compared to other processing methods.
• Regulation requires all packages of irradiated foods to display the green irradiation logo endorsed by Codex Alimentarius Commission and the words 'Processed by Irradiation method'.

Heat Index

Heat Index in Delhi - Recently reached 50°C

• Launched by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on experimental basis
• Also known as Apparent Temperature.
• Combines air temperature with relative humidity to show what temperature feels like to human body.
• Provides information on impact of humidity on high temperatures and human discomfort.

Colour Codes for Heat Index

• Green: HI less than 35 °C.
• Yellow: HI between 36-45 °C.
• Orange: HI between 46-55 °C.
• Red: HI greater than 55 °C.

Form 17C

The Election Commission informed the Supreme Court that the regulations do not allow the sharing of Form 17C data with any party other than polling officials.

Form 17C and its Restrictions

• Form 17C is governed by the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
• Part 1 of Form 17C includes details on eligible voters, voters in the register, non-voters, and voters not allowed to vote.
• Part 2 of Form 17C includes candidate names and total votes received.
• Election Commission rules do not allow sharing Form 17C data with any entity other than polling officials.

Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PPIRP)

PPIRP has successfully settled operational creditors' claims in five cases. This shows the effectiveness of the process in resolving stress for corporate MSMEs.

About PPIRP

• PPIRP is a resolution process for corporate MSMEs introduced in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• It was amended in 2021 to include prepackaged insolvency process for defaults of at least ₹ 10 lakh.
• PPIRP involves a hybrid process with informal pre-initiation and formal post-initiation stages.
• The process must be completed within 120 days to ensure timely resolution of financial distress.

AI agents

• AI agents like GPT-4o and Project Astra are considered more advanced than traditional voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.

Capabilities of AI agents

• AI agents can engage in real-time interactions with humans using text, image, or voice inputs and outputs.
• They use sensors to perceive their environment, process information with algorithms or AI models, and take actions based on the data.
• AI agents can understand and learn from the context of interactions, leading to more personalized and relevant responses.

Zero-Carbon Cement

• Researchers at the University of Cambridge have devised a method to produce Zero-Carbon Cement.
• Cement production is a major source of pollution, contributing to approximately 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
• The traditional process of making cement involves heating raw materials like limestone and clay to 1450°C to produce clinker, which accounts for 90% of cement's carbon footprint.
• The new process for making clinker involves recycling cement paste from demolished buildings and using an electric arc furnace typically used for recycling steel.

Mrugavani National Park (MNP)

• Telangana Forest Department reported to NGT about 80-hectare reduction in MNP area in Chilkur.
• NGT was addressing a case regarding high-tension electrical lines in the park's eco-sensitive zone.

About MNP:

• Located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Vegetation consists of tropical waterless deciduous forest with degraded nature
• Flora includes Teak, Bamboo, Sandal, Picus, Palas, Rela.
• Fauna present are Spotted deers, Indian hare, forest cat, civet, Indian rat snake, Russell’s viper, cheetal, and the flowerpecker bird.

eVTOL aircraft

• IIT Madras-incubated ePlane Company to Launch eVTOL Aircraft in Bengaluru. ePlane Company, incubated at IIT Madras, is set to introduce electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Bengaluru.

About eVTOL Aircraft

• eVTOL aircraft have the capability to take off and land vertically, allowing them to operate in congested urban areas.
• These aircraft utilize electric propulsion and vertical lift for flight.
• Electric motors power rotors or propellers that are arranged in various configurations to provide lift and control in all directions.
• Energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion batteries, store and supply the energy needed for takeoff and flight.

Benefits of eVTOL Aircraft

• eVTOL aircraft offer advantages such as reducing traffic congestion, addressing air pollution, improving accessibility and connectivity, and providing emergency medical services.

Kartar Singh Sarabha (1896 – 1915)

Birth anniversary of Kartar Singh Sarabha observed on 24th May.

Kartar Singh Sarabha (1896 – 1915): Indian revolutionary born in Sarabha village, Punjab.

Key Contributions

• Member of Ghadar Party, actively involved in overthrowing British rule.
• Put together Punjabi issue of Ghadar newspaper.
• Mobilized Indian soldiers to revolt and set up arms manufacturing unit in Ludhiana.
• Charged with sedition in Lahore Conspiracy Case and executed in 1915.

Values: Bravery, Courage, Activism, Commitment.

"NGT Imposes ₹5 Crore Penalty for Nagapattinam Oil Spill"

NGT Order for Oil Spill Off Nagapattinam Coast. NGT ordered CPCL to pay ₹5 crore as 'no-fault liability' for oil spill off Nagapattinam coast. No-fault liability invoked due to pipeline leak caused by external force, not CPCL negligence.

Oil Spill 

• Definition: Release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into environment due to human activity.
• Causes: Accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, etc.

Impact on Marine Ecosystem

• Loss of biodiversity: Habitat loss, sunlight blockage, disturbance to turtles.
• Damage to food chain: Predators exposed to oil through contaminated prey.
• Coastal erosion: Damage to coastline vegetation.

Technologies to Tackle Oil Spills

• Biological: Oilzapper (bacteria feeding on oil), Oilivorous-S (effective against high sulphur content oil).
• Floating booms: Temporary barriers to contain marine spills
• Sorbents: Straw, volcanic ash, etc.

Initiatives to tackle Marine Oil Spills:

• The Indian Coast Guard is responsible for the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan established in 1996.
• India ratified the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage in 2015.
• India is a signatory of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
• India is also a signatory of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation (OPRC) 1990.

"Global Mangrove Assessment for IUCN Red List"

The health of an entire ecosystem group has been evaluated for the first time using the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE), which is a worldwide standard for assessing ecosystem health, determining threats, and finding the best ways to manage them.

Key Findings:

• 50% of assessed mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse, with nearly 20% at high risk.
• Threats to mangroves include climate change, deforestation, development, pollution, dam construction, and sea-level rise.
• Climate change threatens one third of assessed mangrove ecosystems.
• 25% of global mangrove area is predicted to be submerged in the next 50 years due to sea-level rise.
• Without significant changes by 2050, loss of carbon storage and exposure of millions of lives to coastal flooding is expected.
• Status of Indian mangroves varies, with some areas classified as Least Concern, Critically Endangered, or Vulnerable.

Importance of Mangroves:

• Provide essential ecosystem services and support fisheries and biodiversity.
• Act as carbon sinks, storing around 11 billion tons of carbon.
• Improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments.
• Protect coastal regions from disasters like floods and storms.

Initiatives for Mangroves:

Global Initiatives for Mangroves:

• Mangrove Breakthrough launched at UNFCCC COP27 by UN High Level Climate Champions and Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA).
• GMA was established at the World Ocean Summit in 2018.
• Mangrove Alliance for Climate led by UAE in partnership with Indonesia.

Initiatives in India for Mangroves:

• Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI).
• Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs under National Coastal Mission Programmes.

"Twelve Countries and ESA Sign Zero Debris Charter"

The ZDC was agreed upon during the 11th meeting of the ESA/EU Space Council, which was created in 2004 through a framework agreement between the ESA and the EU.

About:

• ZDC was signed at the 11th ESA/EU Space Council in 2004.
• Aims to achieve debris-neutral status in space by 2030.
• Includes guiding principles and targets for signatory countries.

Space Debris Definition

• Refers to man-made objects in Earth orbit or re-entering atmosphere.
• Includes decommissioned satellites, rocket bodies, fragments, etc.
• Over one million pieces of debris larger than one cm in Earth's orbit.

Concerns with Space Debris

• Threat to space infrastructure and operational satellites.
• Kessler syndrome: escalating collisions due to debris growth.
• Risk to Earth's population from uncontrollable re-entry.
• Increased costs for collision avoidance manoeuvres.

Initiatives for Space Debris Mitigation.

India:

• Debris Free Space Missions (DFSM) by 2030: ISRO's goal to ensure space missions are conducted without creating additional debris.
• ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM): Implementing measures to manage space operations in a safe and sustainable manner.
• Project NETRA: A network for tracking and analyzing space objects to enhance space situational awareness.

Global:

• Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee: A committee that coordinates space debris related activities on a global scale.
• Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines: Guidelines established by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to mitigate the impact of space debris on space activities.

Proposed Changes to BRSR Framework by SEBI

The S.K. Mohanty committee suggested modifications to the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework in order to make it easier for companies to comply. The framework mandates that the top 1000 listed companies disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in a standardized format, following the principles of NGRBC.

Proposed Changes in Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) Framework by S.K. Mohanty Committee:

• Redefinition of Value Chain (VC) Partners
• The proposed definition will only cover significant partners, reducing compliance burden from smaller VC partners.

Extended Time for Implementation

• Reporting previous year numbers for the first year of reporting FY 2024-25 shall be voluntary, providing more time for implementation.
• Currently, BRSR is mandatory from FY 2022-23 onwards.

Integration of Green Credit Programme (GCP)

• Green Credits generated by companies and their VC partners will be an additional leadership indicator under BRSR.
• This aligns with the 2024 MoEFCC notification allowing Green Credits from tree planting to be reported as an ESG leadership indicator or under corporate social responsibility.

Flexibility for BRSR Core

• Companies can choose 'assessment' instead of 'assurance' for BRSR Core, providing flexibility.
• SEBI introduced BRSR Core for 'assurance' and ESG disclosures in 2023, where 'assurance' follows global/domestic standards beyond data verification, incurring extra costs.

National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) created by Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2019.

NGRBC consists of 9 Principles for Businesses to adhere to.

Principles under NGRBC:

• Businesses should conduct themselves ethically, transparently, and be accountable.
• Goods and services should be provided sustainably and safely.
• Employees should be respected and their well-being promoted.
• All stakeholders' interests should be respected.
• Human rights should be respected and promoted.
• The environment should be protected and restored.
• Engagement in public and regulatory policy should be responsible and transparent.
• Inclusive growth and equitable development should be promoted.
• Consumers should be provided with value.

Sympatric Speciation Mechanisms Uncovered

1. A recent study by researchers at IIT Bombay has provided insights into the factors and processes that can result in Sympatric Speciation.

2. Speciation is a phenomenon where a single lineage divides into multiple species, contributing to biodiversity. There are two main types of speciation: Allopatric Speciation and Sympatric Speciation.

1. Allopatric Speciation occurs when populations are physically separated by geographic barriers.
2. Sympatric Speciation can occur when populations live in the same area without geographical barriers.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Disruptive Selection: Non-uniform resources in the environment cause populations to adapt to distinct traits.

1. Disruptive selection favors individuals with extreme traits over those with intermediate traits.

2. Role of Sexual Selection: Preference for mates based on traits that help utilize environmental resources drives speciation.

3.Genetic Architecture: Genetic changes, such as in beak size, can lead to speciation even with a weak role of disruptive selection.

"SKA Prototype Telescope Sees First Light"

• SKAMPI, a prototype telescope of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) in South Africa, has successfully achieved first light, showcasing its potential.
• First light refers to the first use of a new astronomical instrument that results in the capture of an image.

Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

• SKAO is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in the United Kingdom, with member states and partners from five continents.
• The organization currently has 9 member countries and is in the process of adding prospective members.
• SKAO aims to build and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes, with two telescopes currently under construction in Australia and South Africa.
• These telescopes will cover different frequency ranges and are located in radio quiet zones to avoid interference from the ground.
• The SKA telescopes are designed to work together as a single virtual telescope using interferometry, which connects smaller antennas through optical fibre networks.
• The science goals of SKAO include exploring the evolution of the universe, tracking gravitational waves, and studying cosmic magnetism.

INDIA and SKAO:

India's Membership in SKAO

• India is currently in the process of becoming a member of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).
• The country is providing funding support of approximately ₹1250 crores for the construction phase of SKAO.
• The funding will be a joint effort between the Department of Atomic Energy (Lead Agency) and the Department of Science and Technology.

India's Contribution to SKAO

• India has actively contributed to the pre-construction phase of the SKA telescopes.
• This participation will open up opportunities for the development of niche skills in Indian industry and research organizations.
• It will also allow for advancements in next-generation technologies such as modern antenna design and high-performance super-computing technologies.