Daily Current Affairs UPSC 07 and 08 July 2024

Blue Line

• The UN has raised concerns about increasing tensions along the Lebanon-Israel 'Blue Line' frontier.
• The Blue Line is a boundary established by the United Nations in 2000 to mark the separation between Israel and Lebanon.
• It consists of blue barrels and stretches from the Mediterranean to the Golan Heights.
• The Blue Line was created to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
• It is important to note that the Blue Line is also a learning ecosystem developed by the UN System Staff College.

Zorawar Tank

• DRDO has revealed a prototype of the indigenous light Zorawar tank.
• The Zorawar tank was developed in collaboration with private sector firm L&T.
• The tank is named after General Zorawar Singh, known for his victories in Tibet.
• Key features include advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and tactical surveillance drones.
• The tank is designed for rapid deployment and manoeuvrability in mountainous regions.
• It provides the same firepower as regular tanks but with enhanced mobility and situational awareness.
• The tanks are amphibious, making them versatile for operations in riverine regions.

National Security Council

• The Union Government has made changes to the reporting structure within the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
• The National Security Council (NSC) is a 3-tiered organization established in 1998 to oversee political, economic, energy, and security issues of strategic importance.
• The National Security Advisor leads the NSC, which operates within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India.
• The NSC consists of the Strategic Policy Group, National Security Advisory Board, and Secretariat from the Joint Intelligence Committee.
• The NSC addresses a range of issues including external and internal security, military affairs, conventional and non-conventional defense, among others.

Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)

• Recent survey shows a significant decrease in Vaquita population.
• Vaquita is the smallest and most endangered species in the cetacean order.
• Vaquita is a toothed whale, not a baleen whale like the blue whale.
• Endemic to the Gulf of California, specifically in shallow waters near the Colorado estuary.
• Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
• Threats to Vaquita include low reproductive rate and limited geographical distribution, making it highly susceptible to human disturbances.

Pangong Tso (Lake)

• China is reportedly constructing structures near Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh based on satellite images.
• Pangong Tso is situated at an altitude of 4,350m and is a landlocked lake.
• It is the world's highest saltwater lake.
• One-third of the lake is in India and the remaining two-thirds are in China.
• The lake changes colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.
• Pangong Tso is not part of the Indus River basin and is not a Ramsar Site.
• It serves as a crucial breeding ground for various bird species, including migratory birds.
• Previously, the lake had an outlet to the Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus, but it was blocked off naturally.

Denisovan

• Bone remains found in a Tibetan cave have been identified as belonging to a Denisovan individual.
• Denisovans are an extinct species of hominid closely related to modern humans.
• They may have lived in regions ranging from Siberia to Southeast Asia during the last Ice Age.
• DNA evidence suggests Denisovans are related to both Neanderthals and modern humans, and may have interbred with both.
• Denisovans share a common ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis, with both modern humans and Neanderthals, with this ancestor likely living in Africa.

Partnership for Maternal, Newborn &Child Health (PMNCH)

• India attended the 33rd PMNCH Board Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
• PMNCH was established in 2005 and is the world's largest alliance for women's, children's, and adolescents' health and well-being.
• The organization is funded by inter-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and others.
• The aim of PMNCH is to ensure that every woman, child, and adolescent realizes their right to health and well-being, leaving no one behind.
• PMNCH is governed by a Board and administered by a Secretariat hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Integrated Tribal Development Programme

• NABARD is set to launch the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) in Kulathupuzha Gram Panchayat in Kerala.
• The ITDP is a flagship project of NABARD that has been in place since 2005-06.
• The programme focuses on the 'wadi' model, which is a small orchard-based programme.
• The 'wadi' model takes a holistic approach and is based on the tribals' connection to trees and forests.
• Projects under the ITDP are funded through the Tribal Development Fund (TDF).
• The objective of the TDF is to create replicable models of integrated development for tribal families through sustainable income-generating activities on a participatory basis.

Transposon

• A recent paper from the University of California highlighted the importance of transposons in gene-editing.
• Transposons, also known as jumping genes, are DNA sequences that can move within a genome.
• Discovered by Noble Laureate Barbara McClintock, transposons can change gene expression based on where they insert.
• More than 45% of the human genome is made up of transposable elements.
• Transposons play a vital role in genetic diversity and evolution by turning genes on or off through epigenetic mechanisms.
• However, they can also cause mutations that lead to diseases.

Project PARI (Public Art of India)

• The Ministry of Culture has launched Project PARI for the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting.
• The first intervention of Project PARI is taking place in Delhi.
• Project PARI is being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and National Gallery of Modern Art.
• The aim of Project PARI is to promote the democratization of art through public installations in urban landscapes.
• More than 150 visual artists from all over the country will create artwork in Delhi, including paintings, murals, sculptures, and traditional art forms like Thangka painting, Cheriyal painting, Bani Thani Painting, and Alpana art.

Expanding the World Network of Biosphere Reserves

• UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) has added new biosphere reserves from countries like Colombia, bringing the total to 759 sites in 136 countries. This includes the addition of two trans-boundary biosphere reserves, Kempen-Broek and Julian Alps.

MAB Programme Overview:

• Launched in 1971 as an intergovernmental scientific programme.
• Aims to enhance the relationship between people and their environments by combining natural and social sciences.
• Seeks to improve human livelihoods and safeguard ecosystems while promoting sustainable economic development.
• India has 18 biosphere reserves, with 12 recognized under the MAB Programme, including the Niligiri Biosphere Reserve.

Biosphere Reserves:

• Represent diverse natural and cultural landscapes across different ecosystems.
• Consist of core areas for strict protection, buffer zones for compatible activities, and transition areas for sustainable community activities. 

UN Chief Calls for Regional Conflict Resolution

Role of Regional Blocs in Promoting Peace and Addressing Global Challenges

• The UN Chief emphasized the importance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in promoting peace in Afghanistan and addressing global challenges.
• Global divisions and conflicts must be resolved to effectively tackle existential threats such as climate change and the rise of digital technologies like AI.
• Regional multilateralism is crucial as these challenges cannot be solved on a country-by-country basis.

Factors Facilitating Regional Blocs in Resolving Conflicts

• Geographical proximity and cultural affinity play a role in facilitating regional blocs or organizations in resolving conflicts.
• Major regional blocs include the European Union, ASEAN, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Methods for Resolving Conflicts and Addressing Existential Threats

• Preventive diplomacy, such as the Conflict Prevention Centre of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), aims to prevent disputes from escalating into conflicts.
• Mediation and negotiation, as seen in ASEAN's successful mediation of conflicts between member states like the Thai-Cambodian border dispute in 2011.
• Post-conflict reconstruction efforts, like the EU's role in rebuilding post-conflict societies in the Western Balkans.

Efforts to Address Existential Threats

• The EU has enacted the Net-Zero Industry Act and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act to address existential threats like climate change and the unchecked rise of digital technologies.

Challenges in Resolving Crisis Faced by Regional Blocs

Insufficient Funding Hindering Core Mandates

• Regional institutions struggle to fulfill their responsibilities due to lack of financial resources.
• Limited funding hinders their ability to effectively address crises and conflicts.

Internal Rivalries Preventing Unified Action

• Internal rivalries within regional organizations like SAARC hinder cooperation and prevent unified action.
• Disagreements and conflicts among member states can impede efforts to resolve crises effectively.

Lack of Cooperation from Member States

• ASEAN's inability to manage conflicts in Myanmar highlights the lack of commitment from member states.
• Without full cooperation and commitment from all members, regional blocs struggle to effectively address crises and conflicts.

India at 86th CCEXEC Session of CAC

• FSSAI Representation at CCEXEC Session in Rome.

Key Highlights of the Session:

• India proposed Codex guidance on recycled materials in food packaging.
• India shared guidelines on recycling PET containers.
• India advocated for standards development in spices and vegetable oils.
• India supported guidelines for controlling Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli.

About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC):

• Established in 1963 by FAO and WHO.
• Objective is to protect consumer health and ensure fair food trade practices.
• Develops international food standards called Codex Alimentarius.
• Standards are voluntary.
• WTO SPS Agreement encourages harmonization with CA.
• 189 members, including 188 countries and the EU.
• Headquarters in Rome.

Proposed Labelling Pattern by FSSAI

• FSSAI suggests highlighting nutritional information on packaged food items.
• Key details like total sugar, salt, and saturated fat to be in bold letters and larger font size.
• Regulations require serving size and nutritional information to be clearly mentioned on labels.

Significance of Proposed Labelling Pattern

• Empowers consumers to make healthier choices.
• Helps combat the rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
• Increases awareness about the nutritional content of packaged foods.

Minister Advocates for PACS in Villages

Establishment of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)

• Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation emphasized the importance of supporting the establishment of PACS in all villages and blocks of the country during the 102nd International Day of Cooperatives.
• International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA).

About PACS

• PACS are the grassroots level arms of the short-term cooperative credit structure.
• They act as the final link between ultimate borrowers and higher financing agencies such as Scheduled Commercial Banks, RBI/NABARD.
• PACS directly deal with rural (agricultural) borrowers and also handle distribution and marketing functions.
• Currently, there are approximately 65,000 functional PACS in the country.
• The government aims to have PACS in all Panchayats of the country by 2029.

Significance of PACS

• PACS are the first building block of the cooperative banking system in India.
• They bring farmer communities closer to credit, inputs, market, and value addition.
• PACS can also play a significant role by integrating their warehouse with the physical and financial supply chain of agro-commodities in Gramin Agriculture Markets (GrAMs) or large warehouses in the private sector.

Initiatives to promote Cooperatives in India

Constitution (Ninety-Seventh) (Amendment) Act, 2011:

• Gave constitutional status to Cooperative Societies.
• This amendment recognized the importance of cooperatives in the Indian economy and provided them with legal protection and support.

Union Ministry of Cooperation:

• Established in 2021 with the goal of achieving 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' (Cooperation to Prosperity).
• This ministry focuses on promoting and supporting cooperative societies to drive economic growth and development.

Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023:

• Aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing transparency, increasing accountability, and reforming the electoral process in Multi State Cooperative Societies.
• This act seeks to improve the functioning of multi-state cooperatives and ensure they operate efficiently and effectively.

China's Breakthrough: HH70 Tokamak Device

• The EU and Japan recently launched the JT-60SA Tokamak fusion reactor in Japan, the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world. They have also committed to supporting fusion research for the ITER project.

About Nuclear Fusion

• Fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier one and release energy.
• Nuclear fission involves splitting large atomic nuclei into smaller ones to release energy.
• Fusion reactors typically use a combination of deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of hydrogen with extra neutrons.

About ITER 

• ITER is an international scientific collaboration involving China, Europe, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US.
• The project is currently being built in France.
• The main goal of ITER is to demonstrate that fusion can be a viable source of energy.
• ITER will be the largest Tokamak device used to test magnetic confinement for fusion energy production.
• The design of ITER aims for a high fusion power gain, with a target of at least a 10-fold return on heating input power compared to thermal output power.
• The current record for fusion power gain in a Tokamak is held by the European JET facility in the UK, with a value of 0.67.

ITER-India

• In 2005, India became a part of the ITER Project by joining ITER-India, which is a project of the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR).
• IPR is an organization under the Department of Atomic Energy in the Government of India.
• ITER-India is tasked with providing various components for the ITER project, including the Cryostat, In-wall Shielding, Cooling Water System, Cryogenic System, and Ion-Cyclotron RF Heating System.

Draft Rules for Digital Bharat Nidhi Operationalization

• The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has released the preliminary Telecommunications (Digital India Fund) Regulations, 2024 in accordance with Sections 26 and 56 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023.

About Digital Bharat Nidhi

• DBN is a new fund created under the Telecommunication Act, 2023 to replace the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) established under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• USOF is funded by a Universal Access Levy charged on licensees of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) at 5% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue.
• The balance of credit under DBN does not expire at the end of the financial year.
• The main objectives of DBN are to improve access to telecommunication services in underserved areas, support research and development in the telecommunication sector.

Key Points of the draft rules

• Funds from DBN can be allocated to implementers through bidding to promote access to established telecommunication services in underserved areas.
• Funds can also be allocated through nomination to support research and development of new telecommunication technologies.
• Implementers of DBN are required to share their telecommunication networks and services in an open and non-discriminatory manner.