Daily Current Affairs UPSC 17 August 2024

Cabinet Secretary

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of a new Cabinet Secretary for a 2-year term starting on August 30, 2024.
• The Cabinet Secretary is appointed by the ACC based on seniority and merit.
• The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Government of India according to the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961 and Transaction of Business Rules, 1961.
• The Cabinet Secretary's functions include ensuring coordination between ministries, resolving differences among departments, and more.
• The Cabinet Secretary also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board (CSB).
• Despite being considered the first among equals among secretaries of the Union Government, the Cabinet Secretary does not have authority over working departments.

Guam Island

• INS Shivalik arrived in Guam after participating in RIMPAC 2024, the world's largest Multinational Maritime Exercise.
• Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands chain, located in the North Pacific Ocean.
• The island was formed by two former volcanoes and has a tropical climate.
• Spain ceded Guam to the US in 1898 after the Spanish-American War.
• The indigenous people of Guam are the Chamorros, and the island is home to endemic bird species such as the Guam kingfisher, Rota white-eye, and the Guam rail.

NBFC-P2P leading

• RBI released a master circular to strengthen regulations for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) operating as P2P lending platforms.
• P2P lending allows individuals to lend and borrow money directly through digital platforms, bypassing traditional banks.
• The key regulation requires NBFC-P2P lending platforms to serve as intermediaries for participants in P2P lending.
• Lenders are limited to a maximum exposure of Rs.50,00,000 across all P2P platforms.
• P2P platforms are not allowed to market P2P lending as an investment or cross-sell insurance products.

Agni Missile

• Shri R.N. Agarwal, known as the father of the Agni missile and a Padma Bhushan recipient, recently passed away.
• He served as the director of the Agni program and the Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad.
• The Agni missile was developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme by DRDO.
• Agni missiles are surface-to-surface ballistic missiles fueled by solid propellant and are crucial to India's nuclear launch capability.
• They have a range from medium to intercontinental and include missiles such as Agni Prime and Agni 1-5.

Serosurvey

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been conducting serosurveys since last year to assess exposure to Mpox among India's high-risk population.
• Serosurveys involve collecting and testing blood (or other specimens like oral fluid) from a specific population over a set period of time.
• The main goal of these surveys is to estimate the prevalence of IgG antibodies against a particular infectious pathogen to determine exposure levels.
• Serosurveys are important as they can help estimate infection prevalence, immunity gaps, and other key parameters for infectious disease modeling.

Eri Silk

• The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation has achieved Oeko-Tex certification for its Eri Silk, ensuring it is free from harmful substances and produced in environmentally friendly conditions.
• Eri Silk is known as the world's only vegan silk because the moth inside the cocoon is not killed, but instead naturally exits the cocoon.
• Eri Silk is produced by the silkworm Philosamia ricini, which is reared indoors 5-6 times a year and is multivoltine.
• India is the producer of all five types of silk: Mulberry, Eri, Tropical & Temperate Tasar, and Muga.

World’s Oldest Calendar Discovered

• The world's oldest calendar, found at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, dates back almost 13,000 years.
• Carvings on stone pillars at Göbekli Tepe reveal a complex solar-lunar calendar, potentially used to monitor time and celestial occurrences, such as a comet strike in 10,850 BCE.
• This discovery challenges previous assumptions about early human technological progress, demonstrating advanced astronomy skills before the development of written language.
• Göbekli Tepe features megalithic structures built by hunter-gatherers during the pre-pottery neolithic age between 9,600 and 8,200 BCE.
• The site is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

National Film Awards

• The 70th National Film Awards for 2022 have been announced.
• Established in 1954, the National Film Awards were originally known as 'State Awards'.
• In the early years, 2 President's Gold Medals, 2 certificates of merit, and 12 silver medals were presented for regional films.
• The Directorate of Film Festivals has been administering the awards since 1973.
• Awards are given in three categories: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing in Cinema.
• In addition to the National Film Awards, the Most Film Friendly State award is also presented to a State of India that has supported the growth of the film industry.

Vietnam (Capital: Hanoi)

The 4th India-Vietnam Maritime Security Dialogue took place in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Political Features:

• Located in the eastern portion of mainland Southeast Asia.
• Land boundaries with China to the north, Cambodia and Laos to the west.
• Maritime boundaries with the South China Sea to the east and south, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.

Geographical Features:

• Major rivers include the Mekong, Red, and Ma.
• Vietnam is home to rare and unusual animals such as giant catfish, Indochinese tigers, Saola antelopes, and Sumatran rhinos.
• Climate is tropical with high temperature and humidity year-round.
• The highest peak in Vietnam is Fansipan.

"GTTP SOP Launched"

• Launch of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Green Tug Technology Programme (GTTP). The Union Minister of Port Shipping and Waterways introduced the SOP for GTTP to facilitate the shift from traditional fuel-based harbour tugs to more environmentally friendly options in the shipping industry.
• Tugs are specialized boats that assist large ships in entering and exiting ports.

About GTTP

• GTTP was established in 2023 as part of the 'Panch Karma Sankalp' initiative to phase out conventional fuel-powered harbour tugs in Indian Major Ports and replace them with green tugs.
• 'Panch Karma Sankalp' includes various measures such as providing financial support for Green Shipping promotion and creating a Single Window Portal for river and sea cruises.

Need of Green Shipping

• The shipping sector contributes around 3% of global CO2 emissions.
• In India, maritime GHG emissions (excluding military operations) make up 1% of the overall transport sector GHG emissions.

Challenges in Decarbonizing Shipping

• The shipping industry heavily relies on fossil fuels, with 99% of its energy demand being met by them.
• Transitioning to cleaner fuels like LNG requires significant infrastructure upgrades due to the need for fuel storage at cryogenic temperatures.
• Other challenges include inadequate port facilities, difficulties in enforcing regulations in international waters, and inefficient fuel consumption due to sub-optimal route planning.

Key Initiatives

Global:

• IMO has revised its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy to set a sectoral target of achieving net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
• The Green Voyage 2050 program aims to support developing countries in reducing emissions from ships, aligning with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

India:

• The Sagarmala Programme focuses on port-led development with a specific emphasis on green port initiatives and coastal community development.
• The Maritime India Vision 2030 aims to develop Green Ports and Green Shipping in India.

"MoHFW Mandates 'FIR within 6 hrs' for Attacks on Health Workers"

• The ministry has directed the Head of the Institution to file an Institutional FIR within 6 hours of any violence against healthcare workers on duty.
• This order aims to address the increasing violence against doctors and healthcare staff, often carried out by patients or their relatives.
• Social instability, strained personal relationships, and the fear of complications or death are identified as key factors contributing to such violence.

Current Situation of Violence Against Healthcare Workers

• According to the WHO, health workers worldwide are at high risk of violence, with 8% to 38% experiencing physical violence and others facing verbal aggression.
• The majority of violence is committed by patients and visitors, with health workers also being targeted in disaster and conflict situations.

Consequences of Violence Against Healthcare Workers

• Violence against healthcare workers has negative effects on their psychological and physical well-being, leading to a decline in the quality of care provided.
• There is a threat to equal access to primary healthcare if health workers leave their profession due to the risk of violence.

Initiatives to Prevent Violence Against Healthcare Workers

Centre Initiatives:

• The Prevention of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Establishments Bill, 2022 aims to prevent violence against healthcare workers and facilities.
• The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel during an epidemic situation cognizable and non-bailable offenses.

State Laws:

• Some states have implemented their own laws to prevent violence against healthcare workers and facilities, such as the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Amendment Act of 2023.

Global Effort:

• The WHO, ILO, and other organizations have jointly developed 'Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector' to address and prevent violence against healthcare workers globally.

"New Satellite Agriculture Support System Launched"

• The Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) was launched by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture.
• This platform offers real-time information on crop conditions, weather patterns, water resources, and soil health.
• It was created by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Department of Space, utilizing RISAT-1A and VEDAS technology.

Application of Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

Initiatives undertaken

• FASAL Project involves predicting agricultural output by combining space, agro-meteorology, and land-based observations.
• CHAMAN Project focuses on assessing and managing horticulture using geoinformatics.
• KISAN Project aims to improve yield estimation through crop insurance using space technology and geoinformatics.

"India's Fuel Exports: New Route via Cape of Good Hope"

• Prior to the security crisis in the Red Sea, India's fuel exports to Europe relied heavily on the Red Sea-Suez Canal route.
• India became a significant fuel provider to Europe following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and subsequent sanctions on Russia by Western nations.
• The Suez Canal, which is the shortest maritime route connecting Asia and Europe, typically handles around 12-15% of global maritime trade according to UNCTAD.

Need for Shifting Route

• Attacks from Houthis: Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen attacking ships near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, leading to concerns about the safety of the Red Sea-Suez Canal route.
• Israel-Hamas conflict: Growing worries about the Israel-Hamas conflict escalating into a broader Middle Eastern crisis, prompting the need to find alternative routes for fuel exports.

Consequences of Shifting Route

• Decrease in European supply: India's fuel exports to Europe have decreased due to the shift in routes, affecting the supply chain.
• Longer shipping time and increased costs: Using the Cape of Good Hope route adds approximately 2 weeks to shipping time and raises container freight rates by over 30%.
• Diversification of export destinations: Despite the decline in European supplies, India has maintained stable fuel exports by increasing shipments to Asian markets and Australia.

"New Rules for Foreign Exchange Management"

• The Union Ministry of Finance has announced new rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 to simplify regulations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Overseas Investment.

Key Highlights of the Amended Rules

• Facilitates cross-border share swaps by allowing Indian companies to issue or transfer equity instruments in exchange for foreign company equity instruments.
  
  • Aims to help Indian companies expand globally through mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives, allowing them to enter new markets and increase their global presence.
• FDI in White Label ATMs: The rules now allow 100% FDI under the Automatic Route in White Label ATMs to promote financial inclusion across the country. 
  
  • White Label ATMs are ATMs established, owned, and managed by non-banks.
• Defining a 'Startup Company' in accordance with the 2019 notification from the Department of Industry and Internal Trade.
• A company can be considered a startup for up to 10 years from its date of incorporation or registration if it is a private limited company, partnership firm, or limited liability partnership.
• The entity must also have a turnover of less than ₹100 crore for any financial year since its incorporation or registration.

"IIA Study Advances Space Weather Forecasting"

• Researchers at IIA examined solar chromospheric images from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory in Tamil Nadu.
• They found a correlation between the size of supergranular cells on the sun's surface during the solar cycle minimum and the number of sunspots observed during the following solar cycle maximum.
• This discovery has potential applications in predicting space weather.

About Space weather

• Space Weather refers to changes in the space environment between the sun and Earth.
• Elements of space weather include particles, electromagnetic energy, and magnetic fields.
• Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large releases of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona.
• Solar Flares are intense bursts of radiation caused by the release of magnetic energy from sunspots.
• Solar Wind is a continuous outward flow of protons and electrons in a plasma state from the Sun.
• High-Speed Solar Wind is more powerful than regular solar wind and originates from areas of the sun called coronal holes.

About Solar Cycle

• The solar cycle is a regular fluctuation in the Sun's activity that occurs approximately every 11 years.
• The start of a solar cycle is marked by a solar minimum, during which the Sun has the fewest sunspots.
• The middle of the solar cycle is known as the solar maximum, when the Sun has the most sunspots.
• During the peak of each solar cycle, the Sun's magnetic field reverses polarity as its internal magnetic dynamo restructures itself.
• This can lead to turbulent space weather conditions near Earth.