DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (SEPTEMBER 06, 2021)

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INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. ONLY LOCALS IN LADAKH TO GET ‘RESIDENT CERTIFICATE’

 

THE CONTEXT: The Ladakh administration has decided to issue “Resident Certificate” only to Permanent Resident Certificate holders of the region unlike J&K, where new domicile laws allowed outsiders too to apply for jobs, land and other facilities.

ANALYSIS:

• All tehsildars have been authorised as the competent authority to issue the ‘Resident Certificate’.
• The administration also enhanced the upper age limit for entry into government services against all posts.
• The upper age limit has been enhanced for the re- served category candidates from 43 years to 45 years, for the general category candidates from 40 to 42 years and for the physically challenged candidates from 42 to 44 years.

SOURCE: TH

 

2. THE INSPIRE AWARDS

 

THE CONTEXT: The 8th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) showcased the innovative ideas from 581 students representing various States and UT’s of the country.

ABOUT THE INSPIRE AWARDS – MANAK SCHEME

• The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK scheme is aligned with the ‘Start-up India’ initiative launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
• The scheme aims to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10 to become future innovators and critical thinkers.
• It believes that once the original ideas and innovations rooted in Science and Technology bystudents get incubated, it will foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking amongschool children.
• This will help address the societal needs through science and technology andnurture them to become sensitive and responsible citizens and innovation leaders of tomorrow.

SOURCE: PIB

 

3. NATIONAL AWARD FOR TEACHERS-2021

 

THE CONTEXT : Sh Pramod Kumar Shukla, English Lecturer from Eklavya Model Residential School, Chattisgarh receives National Award for Teachers-2021 from President Sh Ram Nath Kovind on Teacher’s Day.

ANALYSIS:

• President Sh. Ram Nath Kovind on September 5, presented the National Teacher Award to 44 most talented teachers.
• Sh Pramod Kumar Shukla, English Lecturer of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Karpawand, Bastar Chattisgarh also received the Award
• The most unique accomplishments about his teaching journey constitute amalgamation of joyful learning techniques such as Free Drama Day,“Padhai Tunhar Para”,Vocabulary Rocket to make learning stimulating and experiential based.
• When COVID-19 had closed the schools and imparting education physically has become very difficult, his innovative experiments in teaching through Youtube channels and teaching through CABLE TV, use of government platform, etc. ensured students’ learning to continue uninterruptedly.
• His achievement strongly institutes the determination and will of the Ministry to create a fine balance between academic education and all-round development of the students.

SOURCE : PIB

 

4. STATES TOLD TO IDENTIFY FAKE VACCINES

 

THE CONTEXT: Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) warning that it has identified counterfeit versions of the Covishield vaccine in South-east Asia and Africa, the Union Health Ministry has written to all States and Union Territories to identify counterfeit/falsified Covishield vaccines in India.

ANALYSIS:

• The Ministry indicated various features to ascertain genuine products.
• The anti-counterfeit features in the Covaxin label include an invisible helix (DNA-like structure) that is only seen under UV light; micro text hidden in the label claim Dots, which is written as Covaxin; the green foil effect in the ‘x’ of Covaxin; and the holographic effect on Covaxin.

SOURCE : TH

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

5. 28% OF 138,000 ASSESSED SPECIES FACE EXTINCTION

 

THE CONTEXT: Some 28% of the 1,38,374 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN) for its survival watchlist are now at high risk of vanishing forever.

ANALYSIS:

• Habitat loss, overexploitation and illegal trade have hammered global wildlife populations for decades, and climate change is now kicking in as a direct threat as well.
• The IUCN also officially launched its “green status” — the first global standard for assessing species recovery and measuring conservation impacts.
• How Does the Green Status of Species Define Recovery?
• A species is fully recovered if it is present in all parts of its range, even those that are no longer occupied but were occupied prior to major human impacts/disruption; AND
• It is viable (i.e., not threatened with extinction) in all parts of the range; AND
• It is performing its ecological functions in all parts of the range.
• These factors contribute towards a “Green Score” ranging from 0–100%, which shows how far a species is from its “fully recovered” state.

ABOUT IUCN

• IUCN was founded in October 1948.
• Head quarters located in Gland, Switzerland.
• Vision: Just world that values and conserves nature
• It supports scientific research, manages field projects globally and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy.
• It is known to the wider public for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
• Its members include both States and non-governmental organizations.
• Priority Areas of IUCN:

1. Biodiversity
2. Climate change
3. Sustainable energy
4. Human well-being
5. Green economy

• IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations.
• It was involved in establishing the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

SOURCE : TH

 

6. NIPAH VIRUS

 

THE CONTEXT: Nipah has surfaced in Kerala again for the third time, that too after a gap of one year. Nipah has been confirmed in a 12-year-old admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode with encephalitis.

ABOUT NIPAH VIRUS

• It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
• In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
• The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
• Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia.
• Fruit bats are natural hosts of virus.
• In outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats was the most likely source of infection.

SOURCE : TH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7. SPECTRAL ENHANCEMENT

 

THE CONTEXT: Coal India Ltd (CIL) has launched a new software named “Spectral Enhancement” (SPE), which will help in identifying thin coal seams under the earth crust and improve assessment of coal resources using seismic survey during coal exploration process.

ANALYSIS:

• The launch of SPE software assumes significance as the present seismic survey techniques for coal resource exploration have limitations in identifying the thin coal seams under the earth, which will now be possible as this new software helps in enhancing resolution of seismic signals leading to delineation of thinnest coal seams.
• CIL’s research and development (R&D) arm Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) has developed this first of its kind software in association with Gujrat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) and the company will also file for its copyright protection.
• This ‘Made in India’ software will also help to save time and cost of coal exploration and thus boost the mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat in coal production.
• CIL accounts for 80 per cent of India’s coal output.

 SOURCE: PIB

INTERNAL SECURITY

8. KARBI AGREEMENT

 

THE CONTEXT:  Historic Karbi Anglong Agreement to end the decades old crisis ensuring Assam’s territorial integrity signed in presence of the Union Home Minister.

ANALYSIS:

• Union Home Minister said that Karbi Anglong agreement is signed for the peace and prosperity of Assam, this day will be written in golden letters in Assam’s history
• Modi Government to give Special Development Package of around Rs. 1000 crores to undertake specific projects for the development of Karbi areas
• Since becoming Prime Minister, northeast has not only been an area of focus for Shri Narendra Modi, but all-round development of northeast, peace and prosperity there has been top priority for the Government.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE AGREEMENT

• This Memorandum of Settlement will ensure greater devolution of autonomy to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, protection of identity, language, culture, etc. of Karbi people and focussed development of the Council area, without affecting the territorial and administrative integrity of Assam.
• ​​​​​​​The Karbi armed groups have agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land.
• The Agreement also provides for rehabilitation of cadres of the armed groups.
• The Government of Assam shall set up a Karbi Welfare Council for focussed development of Karbi people living outside KAAC area.
• The Consolidated Fund of the State will be augmented to supplement the resources of KAAC.
• Overall, the present settlement proposes to give more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to KAAC.

SOURCE : PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

9. SIMBEX

 

THE CONTEXT:  The 28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was conducted from 02 to 04 Sep 21.

ANALYSIS:

• The Indian Navy was represented by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay with a ship borne helicopter, ASW Corvette INS Kiltan and Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora and one P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Participants from the RSN included one Formidable Class Frigate, RSS Steadfast, embarked with an S-70B naval helicopter, one Victory Class Missile Corvette, RSS Vigour, one Archer Class Submarine and one Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
• Initiated in 1994, SIMBEX is the Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy.
• Sustaining the continuity of this significant engagement despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic further underscores the strength of bilateral defence ties between both countries.
• Despite these constraints during the planning stages, both navies could achieve seamless and safe execution of several challenging evolutions including live weapon firing and advanced naval warfare serials, including anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare drills. The scale and complexity of the drills is ample testimony to the interoperability achieved between both Navies.
• This year’s edition of SIMBEX is also a special occasion as it takes place during the ongoing celebrations of the 75th year of India’s independence. The success of SIMBEX-2021 is yet another demonstration of the mutual resolve on both sides to strengthen the bilateral partnership further in the years ahead.
• Owing to the ongoing pandemic-related constraints, this year’s SIMBEX was planned without any physical interactions as an ‘at-sea only’ exercise hosted by the RSN in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.
• India-Singapore Defence relations remain a very significant aspect of the overall bilateral relationship and cover a very wide spectrum of collaboration from conventional military-to-military exchanges to HADR and cyber security. Both navies have a representation in each other’s Maritime Information Fusion Centres and have also recently signed an agreement on mutual submarine rescue support and coordination

SOURCE:  PIB

 

10. INS HANSA MARKS DIAMOND JUBILEE

 

THE CONTEXT:  INS Hansa, the Indian Navy’s premier air station, is celebrating its diamond jubilee on 05 Sep 2021. 

ANALYSIS:

• The Naval Jet Flight set up at Coimbatore in 1958 with Sea Hawk, Alize and Vampire aircraft, was later commissioned as INS Hansa on 05 September 1961. After the liberation of Goa, Dabolim airfield was taken over by the Navy in Apr 1962 and INS Hansa shifted to Dabolim June 1964.
• Commissioned as a modest air station with only a few aircraft, INS Hansa has increased its prowess over the last six decades and is presently operating over 40 military aircraft, clocking an average yearly flying of over 5000 hours.
• The air station also supports civil aviation by handling domestic and international flights 24×7, with an average of 29000 flights in a year.
• INS Hansa is the abode of the Indian Navy’s frontline air squadrons – INAS 310 ‘Cobras’ with Dornier-228 aircraft, INAS 315 ‘Winged Stallions’ with the long range maritime patrol aircraft IL-38SD, INAS 339 ‘Falcons’ with the airborne early warning Kamov-31 helicopter; INAS 303 ‘Black Panthers’ and INAS 300 ‘ White Tigers’ with the supersonic carrier-borne MiG 29K fighters, and INAS 323 ‘Harriers’ with ALH Mk III helicopters.

SOURCE : PIB

 

Q1. Consider the following statements about ‘Green status’:

1. It is the global standard for assessing species recovery and measuring conservation impacts.
2. It is launched by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

 

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 04, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Answer: c)

Explanation:

• Bhitarkanika – a notified Ramsar wetland – is spread over 195 sq. km near mouth of Brahmani river and is home to 62 mangrove species. Besides, 1,600 salt water crocodiles crawl on the mudflats of the Bhitarkanika mangrove forest.
• Refer to given map

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