Daily Current Affairs UPSC 14 and 15 July 2024

Pradhan Mantri Colleges of Excellence

• The Union Home Minister opened the PM Colleges of Excellence in Madhya Pradesh, making it the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020.
• The PM Colleges of Excellence have been upgraded to meet the standards set by the NEP.
• Students at these colleges have the flexibility to choose subjects based on their interests across different disciplines, without being restricted by traditional streams. This is known as No compartmental education.
• The colleges focus on a variety of subjects such as Biotechnology, Computer Science, Arts, and Data Analytics, providing students with a diverse range of educational opportunities.

Indian Newspaper Society (INS)

• The Prime Minister officially opens the INS Towers in Mumbai.
• INS, originally known as the Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (IENS), was established in 1939.
• The first president of INS was Mr. Arthur Moore of the Statesman.
• The main goal of INS is to serve as a central organization for the press in India and other Asian countries.
• Members of INS include owners, proprietors, and publishers of print media.
• INS plays a crucial role in verifying circulation figures of newspapers and periodicals in India.
• Another important role of INS is to protect and advocate for the freedom of the press in India.

Central Information Commission (CIC)

• The Supreme Court has confirmed that the Central Information Commission has the authority to establish benches and create regulations.
• The Central Information Commission (CIC) was established under the Right to Information Act, 2005 to provide Indian citizens with greater access to information.
• The CIC's functions include receiving and investigating complaints related to the RTI Act.
• The Commission is made up of one Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (IC), with a maximum of 10 members.
• The appointment of CICs and ICs is done by the President based on the recommendation of a committee that includes the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
• CICs and ICs serve a term of three years in office.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL)

• The Centre has decided to waive the 18% GST for the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL).
• DFCCIL is a special purpose vehicle of Indian Railways that was established in 2006 under the Indian Companies Act 1956.
• The main responsibilities of DFCCIL include planning, development, financial resource mobilization, construction, maintenance, and operation of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs).
• DFCCIL aims to alleviate congestion on road networks and encourage the transition of freight transport to more efficient rail transport options.

Wolbachia Bacteria

• Recent study found that Wolbachia bacteria manipulate the wasp Encarsia formosa to eliminate males.
• E. formosa helps control whitefly populations, a major agricultural pest.
• Wolbachia bacteria are commonly found in nematodes and arthropods, especially insects.
• In insects, Wolbachia are present in eggs but not in sperm, allowing females to transmit them to offspring but not males.
• Wolbachia have evolved ways to manipulate insect hosts to produce more female offspring.
• The Tra gene of Wolbachia plays a key role in this manipulation.
• Potential application: using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to reduce populations of target mosquito species like Ae. Aegypti.

Makhana or Lotus seeds

• The Bihar government has requested a Minimum Support Price for makhana, also known as the popped kernel of foxnut or gorgon nut.
• Makhana is a tropical and subtropical aquatic crop that is grown in stagnant perennial water bodies like ponds and oxbow lakes.
• It is also known as Black Diamond and is native to South-East Asia and China, but is now distributed worldwide.
• India is the largest producer of makhana in the world, with Bihar being the largest producing state.
• Makhana has nutritional benefits such as low fat content, high levels of carbohydrates, protein (15-20%), and minerals.

Kashmir Willow

• In recent years, cricket bats made from Kashmiri willow have gained global recognition.
• Kashmir Willow (Salix Alba) is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 meters and is mainly found in the Kashmir region of India.
• The British planted willow trees on a large scale in Kashmir.
• Key features of willow trees include high productivity, extensive fibrous root system, and symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi.
• Willow trees are used in various industries such as the cricket bat industry, package case industry, ply board industry, paper and pulp industry, etc.

Monoclonal Antibodies

• Trials for Nipah monoclonal antibodies could start in India in 2025.
• Monoclonal antibodies are artificial proteins that imitate natural antibodies.
• Antibodies are a crucial part of the immune system that target and eliminate foreign materials.
• Monoclonal antibodies have various applications such as diagnostics, treating diseases, and analyzing cell types in blood or tissue using fluorescent tags.

Argentina (Capital: Buenos Aires)

• Argentina designates Hamas as a terrorist group. This decision shows support for Israel.
• Political Features of Argentina
  
  • Located in South America.
  • Neighboring countries include Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay.
  • Bounded to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
• Geographical Features of Argentina
  
  • Divided into four major regions: Andes, North, Pampas, and Patagonia
  • Pampas is a fertile grassland.
  • Major rivers include Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
  • Highest peak is Cerro Aconcagua.

"Supreme Court Orders Status Report on Gram Nyayalayas"

• The goal of Gram Nyayalayas is to offer accessible, affordable, and expedited justice to citizens in their local communities, reducing congestion in local courts.

Key Features of Gram Nyayalayas

• The Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008 provides statutory backing for these courts.
• The Act does not apply to certain states and tribal areas specified in the Act.
• The seat of a Gram Nyayalaya is located at the headquarters of the intermediate Panchayat.
• Gram Nyayalayas are considered to be Courts of Judicial Magistrate of First Class.
• The state government appoints a 'Nyayadhikari' for each Gram Nyayalaya in consultation with the high court.
• The jurisdiction of Gram Nyayalayas includes both civil and criminal cases, and they serve as mobile courts to settle petty disputes at the village level.
• Dispute Process: - Disputes should be resolved through conciliation between the parties, not by following the rules of evidence in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
  
  • The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 has been replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. 
  • Disputes are settled based on the principles of natural justice, rather than strict legal evidence.
• Appeals: Appeals in criminal cases go to the Court of Session and in civil cases to the district court, to be disposed within 6 months.

Key issues associated with Gram Nyayalayas

• Poor Implementation: Only a fraction of the required number of Gram Nyayalayas have been set up and functional.
• Non-Mandatory: The Act does not mandate the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas, leaving it up to the discretion of state governments.
• Resistance: Some states like Jharkhand and Bihar have resisted the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas in tribal or scheduled areas, citing the predominance of local or traditional laws in those regions.
• The Union Government offers financial support to states to establish Gram Nyayalayas as part of the Gram Nyayalayas scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative.

"India Participates in UN Conference on Afghanistan"

• India is among 25 countries participating in the third conference aimed at improving the lives of Afghan people under Taliban rule.
• Previous efforts such as the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue and Moscow Format consultations will be supplemented by this conference.
• The Taliban has positioned themselves as the sole representative of Afghanistan at the conference.
• The Taliban regained power in 2021 after an insurgency against the U.S.-backed government since 2001.

Peaceful and Stable Afghanistan is significant for Region as well as for India:

• Regional connectivity: Afghanistan serves as a gateway to the Central Asian Region.
• Security: Reduced insurgency and cross-border terrorism can enhance security for India's northern and western borders.
• Unstable Afghanistan may become a safe haven for terrorists.
• Energy and resources: Stability in Afghanistan could facilitate the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) pipeline.
• Curbing Drug trafficking: - A stable government in Afghanistan would be more effective in addressing drug trafficking.
  
  • Afghanistan, along with Pakistan and Iran, forms the Death Crescent, a region known for drug trafficking.
  • Regions like Punjab are particularly impacted by drug trafficking due to the instability in neighboring countries.

India-Afghan Relations Post-Taliban Takeover

• India has not officially recognized the Taliban but is assisting Afghans through humanitarian aid, education, and trade.
• Humanitarian Aid: India has provided shipments of wheat, medical aid, and earthquake relief to Afghanistan.
• Education: The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship scheme for Afghan students continues.
• Trade and commerce between India and Afghanistan, including through the Chabahar port, is ongoing.
• India's technical team in Kabul is monitoring the status and functioning of projects built by India in Afghanistan.

"CITES Report on Rosewoods Worldwide"

• The report provides detailed information on CITES-listed rosewood species, including their characteristics, ecosystem roles, regeneration rates, and threats.
• This information is crucial for CITES parties to make informed non-detriment findings (NDFs) to ensure the long-term survival of these species in the wild.

Rosewood 

• Rosewood, also known as "palisander," includes a variety of tropical hardwoods in the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family.
• CITES-listed rosewood species include Dalbergia latifolia (Malabar rosewood) and Dalbergia Sissoo (Shisham) from India, as well as African rosewood from West African countries.
• These species are used for crafting furniture and musical instruments.

Role in Ecosystem:

Soil Improvement 

• Dalbergia species can enhance degraded soil by providing fast decomposing leaf litter that is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon.
• The nutrients released from the decomposing litter can help improve soil fertility and structure.

Nitrogen Fixation

• Some Dalbergia species can form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
• This process helps increase nitrogen availability in the soil, promoting plant growth and overall soil health.

CITES Overview

• CITES is an international legally binding agreement between governments to prevent international trade in wild animals and plants from threatening species' survival.
• The convention was drafted in 1963 and came into force in 1975, with 184 parties, including India.
• CITES Appendices contain lists of species with different levels of protection to prevent over-exploitation.

CITES Appendices

• Appendix I: Species facing extinction are protected from international commercial trade.
• Appendix II: Species not currently threatened can be traded with controlled measures to prevent future endangerment.
• Appendix III: Species listed at a Party's request to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation can be traded with appropriate permits or certificates.

"Vibrant Village Programme Implementation Review"

• VVP was approved in 2023 to develop selected villages along the northern border in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.

Key Features of VVP

• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Areas of intervention: Skill development, livelihood generation, tourism, development of co-operatives, financial inclusion, etc.
• Potential Benefit: Improving border security by promoting community participation in border management.

Significance of Community Participation in Border Management

• Familiarity with local terrain, crossing points, and movement patterns helps act as additional eyes and ears for border guarding forces.
• Enhances situational awareness and aids in intelligence gathering along the border.
• Provides information about suspicious activities, smuggling attempts, or security threats.
• Helps tackle workforce shortage in harsh conditions.
• Example: Residents of Chushul village in Ladakh helped secure supplies for the Army in 2020.

Challenges in Ensuring Community Participation in Border Management

• Distrust and alienation between armed forces and local population disrupt cooperation.
• Lack of economic progress due to government neglect.

Other Initiatives for Improving Life Along International Borders

• Border Area Development Programme (BADP): Launched to meet special development needs of border population within 50 kilometers of the International Border.
• Improvement in connectivity through projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

"Maharashtra's Anti-Naxalism Bill 2024"

Key Provisions

• Targets a wide range of suspect actions, such as encouraging disobedience of the law.
• Allows for the declaration of organisations as unlawful, with permission for prosecution granted by District Magistrates or police commissioners.
• Organisations can be declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, but prosecution under this act requires approval from the Central or State government.

Urban Naxalism

• Naxalism, originating from the 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, refers to Left-wing extremism seeking to overthrow the State through violence.
• Urban Naxalism aims to expand the presence of Naxalism in urban areas, with activities like recruitment, propaganda, funding, and providing support to armed Naxal cadres.
• Unlike rural Naxalism, urban Naxalism is not primarily focused on violent actions against the State.
• Public support for urban Naxalism is minimal compared to rural Naxalism due to better education, infrastructure, and government presence in urban areas.

Impact of Air Pollution on Pollinators

• A recent report in Nature Communications shows that air pollution has a greater negative impact on pollinators such as bees and butterflies compared to crop-damaging pests, which are not as affected.

Key Findings:

• Scent-based communication disruption: Air pollutants affect bees and wasps' ability to locate food, mates, and prey by altering scent trails.
• Biological impact: Air pollution impairs various biological behaviors of insects, with the ability to locate food being the most severely affected.
• Ozone is the most harmful pollutant: Ozone reduces beneficial insects' ability to thrive by 34%, while nitrogen oxides also have negative effects.
• Damage at low pollution levels: Even low levels of air pollution can impact insect performance.

About Pollination and Pollinators:

• Pollination is essential for plant reproduction and involves transferring pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma.
• Types of pollination: Self-pollination occurs within the same flower or another flower of the same plant, while cross-pollination involves transferring pollen grains to a flower of a different plant of the same kind.
• Pollinators can be abiotic (wind and water) or biotic (insects, birds, bats, etc.) agents of pollination.