Daily Current Affairs UPSC 23 July 2024

Green Climate Fund (GCF)

• The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved various projects in developing countries, including one in India called Financing Mitigation and Adaptation Projects (FMAP).
• FMAP is an initiative of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) that will provide loans to MSMEs for projects related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and e-mobility.
• The Green Climate Fund is the largest dedicated climate fund in the world, established in 2010 under the Cancún Agreements.
• The fund's mandate is to promote a shift towards low emission and climate-resilient development in developing countries.
• The Green Climate Fund is the operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Graphite

• Coal India Limited acquired a graphite block in Madhya Pradesh, marking its first critical-mineral asset.
• Graphite is a crystalline form of carbon, with other forms including Diamond and Fullerene.
• Natural graphite comes in three forms: amorphous, flake, and crystalline vein graphite.
• Graphite has properties of both metals and non-metals, making it a good conductor of electricity with high strength and stiffness.
• It is corrosion-resistant against common acids and has high lubricity, making it a valuable material for various applications.
• Some applications of graphite include its use as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries, lubricants, pencils, and as a source material for graphene.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

• AIM and WIPO have signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate on joint innovation programs in the global south.
• AIM is an initiative by the Government of India to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, established in 2016 under NITI Aayog.
• WIPO, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a UN agency established in 1967 to encourage creative activity and protect intellectual property worldwide.
• WIPO currently has 193 member states, including India.
• All UN member states have the option to become members of specialized agencies like WIPO, though it is not mandatory.

Global Capability Centres (GCCs)

• India is becoming a popular choice for multinational corporations to establish Global Capability Centers (GCCs), leading to a growth in services exports.
• GCCs, also known as Global In-house Centers or Captive Centers, are set up by organizations globally to utilize global talent, resources, and expertise.
• These centers, which are usually part of larger corporations, offer a variety of services like research and development, IT services, and business process outsourcing.
• GCCs provide access to specialized talent and advanced technology, enabling businesses to compete on a global scale.

Probiotic

• Scientists have discovered a new strain of lactic acid bacterium that shows promise as a probiotic for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Probiotics are live microorganisms like bacteria and yeasts that are believed to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacteria that naturally occurs in the human gut and helps with the breakdown of sugars like lactose into lactic acid.
• Probiotics can be found in yogurt, fermented foods, dietary supplements, and beauty products.
• Benefits of probiotics include improving intestinal tract health, helping the body maintain a healthy community of microorganisms, and stimulating the systemic immune response.

Clarion-clipperton Zone (CCZ)

• India plans to seek licenses from the International Seabed Authority to explore deep-sea minerals in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean for critical minerals.
• The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is a region that stretches 5,000 kilometers across the central Pacific Ocean at depths of 4,000 - 5,500 meters.
• This area, located between Hawaii and Mexico, is rich in polymetallic nodules.
• Polymetallic nodules are a potential mineral resource containing copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, and rare earth elements.
• These minerals are crucial for the production of electric vehicles and solar panels, including manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt.

Curiosity Rover

• NASA's Curiosity rover found yellowish-green crystals of pure sulfur on Mars.
• Curiosity's mission was launched in 2011 to study the ancient terrain of Mars for potential nutrients for microbial life.
• Sulfur is a key ingredient for life, along with carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus.
• The presence of sulfur on Mars suggests the possibility of lifebearing conditions.
• The discovery of sulfur is one of several made by Curiosity while driving within the Gediz Vallis channel.
• Gediz Vallis channel is near Mount Sharp, which the rover has been exploring since 2014.

Greenium (or green premium)

• Indian sovereign green bonds did not receive a Greenium from private investors, as stated in the Economic Survey 2023-24.
• Green bonds are used to finance projects or activities that are considered environmentally friendly according to green taxonomies.
• Greenium is a pricing benefit where investors are willing to pay more or accept lower yields for investments that have a sustainable impact, as defined by the UNDP.
• It also refers to the additional cost associated with choosing clean technology over options that emit more greenhouse gases.

Liberia (Capital: Monrovia)

Proposed Relocation of Liberia's Capital City

Political Features:

• Liberia is located along the coast of western Africa.
• It shares land boundaries with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.
• It has a maritime boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.

Geographical Features:

• The highest point in Liberia is Mount Wuteve.
• Major rivers in Liberia include the Mano, Lofa, and St. Paul rivers.
• Liberia has a tropical climate with hot, humid weather and dry winters.
• Natural resources in Liberia include iron ore, timber, diamonds, and gold.

"The Power of Data Centers in India's Digital Revolution"

• The report by ASSOCHAM and PwC emphasizes the importance of Data Centers in driving the growth of India's digital infrastructure.

About Data Centre & their Significance

• Data Centre is a secure space where computing and networking equipment is concentrated for collecting, storing, processing, distributing, or allowing access to large amounts of data.

Significance:

• It plays a crucial role in advancing India's digital landscape by enabling remote work and education, transforming government services, and fostering start-up innovation.
• Indians are projected to consume the most data in the world by 2028, surpassing developed markets like the US.
• Integration of emerging technologies like AI and IoT into various services is facilitated by data centres.
• Data localisation is enhanced through improved storage facilities.

Challenges Faced by Data Centres

• Data centres are primarily concentrated in cities like Mumbai and Chennai.
• Complex regulatory frameworks, including issues like land acquisition and environmental clearances, pose challenges.
• High operational expenses due to factors like power consumption and infrastructure maintenance are a concern.

Recommendations for Improving Data Centre Ecosystem

• Regulatory compliance can be enhanced through practices like audit trails and data governance.
• Increased investment in R&D is needed to develop efficient technologies that reduce power consumption.
• Creating a data centre ecosystem in Tier 2 cities can help in decentralizing the concentration of data centres.

Initiatives to Promote Data Centre Ecosystem

• Digital India initiative (2015) aims to enhance online infrastructure and internet connectivity.
• Draft Data Centre Policy (2020) seeks to promote domestic manufacturing of data centre-related products.
• National Informatics Centre (NIC) has established state-of-the-art National Data Centres.
• Government has granted infrastructure status to data centres with more than 5 MW capacity of IT load.
• State policies like Maharashtra's IT and ITES Policy 2023 offer benefits to the data centre industry.
• India's first hyperscale data centre 'Yotta D1' has been established in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Rising Mental Health Concerns in India: Economic Survey 2023-24

• Mental health refers to a person's state of well-being that allows them to cope with life's stresses, realize their abilities, and contribute to their community.

Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

• A survey found that 10.6% of adults in India have mental disorders, with a treatment gap ranging from 70 to 92% for different disorders.
• Urban areas have higher rates of mental health issues compared to rural areas and urban non-metro regions.
• Globally, in 2019, one in every eight people (or 970 million people) were living with a mental disorder.

Factors Affecting Mental Health

• Factors such as poverty, stressful living conditions, financial instability, lack of employment opportunities, and the rise of nuclear families can impact mental health.
• These factors can lead to reduced concentration in children, decreased academic productivity, and increased healthcare costs for poor households.

Impact

• 37% of children are experiencing reduced concentration as a result of excessive smartphone and internet usage, according to the NCPCR.
• Academic productivity is being negatively impacted by issues such as anxiety and mood swings.
• Poor households are facing an increased burden from rising healthcare costs.

Suggestions to Tackle Mental Health Issues

• Increase the number of psychiatrists to meet the WHO norm of 3 per lakh population.
• Advocate for a bottom-up strategy that engages communities comprehensively in addressing mental health issues.

Initiatives to Promote Mental Health

India

• Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) provides mental health support.
• Manodarpan offers psychosocial support to students during and after COVID-19.
• The National Mental Health Programme ensures minimum mental healthcare availability and accessibility for all.

Global

• The Paro Declaration aims to provide universal access to people-centered mental health care and services.
• The Mental Health Gap Action Programme by WHO scales up services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.

"FAO's 2024 Forest Report Released"

• Theme for this year: "Accelerating forest solutions through innovation".

Key Highlights

• Deforestation Rate Decline: The rate of deforestation has decreased from 15.8 million hectares per year in 1990-2000 to 10.2 million hectares per year in 2015-2020.
• India's Forest Area: India ranked 3rd for average annual net gain in forest area from 2010-2020.
• Non-Timber Forest Products: These products support the livelihoods of approximately 275 million people in India.

Need for Innovation in Forest Sector

• Climate Change Stress: Innovative forest and land management strategies are needed to address climate change-related stress such as wildfires and pests.
• Shift Towards Bioeconomy: Innovation is required for a zero-carbon bioeconomy with diverse and efficient wood-based product uses.
• Non-Wood Forest Products: There is an opportunity to innovate with non-wood forest products that are rich in micronutrients and have high nutritional content.

Five Types of Innovation Enhancing Potential of Forests and Trees

• Technological Innovation: Remote sensing and cloud computing can improve forest management processes by generating high-quality forest data.
• Social, Policy, and Institutional Innovation: Innovations are needed to better engage women, youth, and Indigenous People in forest management.
• Financial Innovation: Innovations can enhance the value of standing forests and boost restoration efforts, such as the SCRIPT platform.

Barriers to Development of Innovations in Forest Sector

• Lack of Innovation Culture: A lack of innovation culture can discourage curiosity, creativity, and risk-taking in the forest sector.
• Capital Limitations: Human, natural, and social capital limitations can hinder innovation in the forest sector.
• Lack of Policy Support: The lack of policy support can impact the adoption of new technologies in the forest sector.

Recommendations to Scale Up Innovation

• Recognizing and Rewarding Innovation: Fostering a culture that recognizes and rewards innovation can encourage creativity in the forest sector.
• Boosting Skills and Knowledge: Providing opportunities for skills development and knowledge transfer can ensure that stakeholders have the capacity to manage innovation.
• Providing Financial Resources: Ensuring universally accessible financial resources can support innovation in the forest sector.

"Breakthrough Discovery: Neutrinos Unveiled"

• The NOvA experiment is being used by scientists to research the characteristics of neutrinos
• NOvA, short for NuMI Off-axis ve Appearance, is based in the United States and involves collaboration with several Indian Institutes.

Key Findings

• Neutrinos come in three varieties: muon, electron, and tau.
• New NOvA results suggest there are two lighter neutrinos and a heavier one in the Normal Order Theoretical Model.

About Neutrinos

Wolfgang Pauli's 1930 Hypothesis

• Physicist Wolfgang Pauli proposed the existence of a neutrino-like particle in 1930.

Nature of Neutrinos

• Neutrinos are subatomic particles with no electric charge and a small mass.
• They are the second-most abundant particles after photons and the most abundant among matter particles.

Detectability

• Neutrinos are difficult to detect as they interact rarely with other particles.
• They are sometimes referred to as Ghost Particles.

Neutrino Oscillation

• Neutrino oscillation is a phenomenon where a neutrino born as one flavor eventually changes into other varieties as it travels.
• For example, electron neutrinos emitted by the Sun transform into muon and tau neutrinos as they reach Earth.

Sources of Neutrinos

• Neutrinos are produced when leptons interact with matter.
• They can be obtained from natural sources like cosmological neutrinos (from the Big Bang) and man-made sources like reactor neutrinos (during fission).

Significance of Neutrino Studies

• Studying neutrinos helps understand the formation and functions of the universe.
• Neutrinos can potentially be used for future communication due to their ability to pass through matter untouched.

Key Neutrino Observatories

• Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO) is jointly funded by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology, located in Tamil Nadu.
• China's TRIDENT (Tropical Deep-sea Neutrino Telescope) is another important observatory.
• IceCube is the world's largest neutrino telescope.

"Promoting Sustainable Fertiliser Subsidies"

• The Economic Survey pointed out problems with the current structure of fertilizer subsidies in India and suggested ways to enhance it.

Current Design of Fertilizer Subsidy

• Union Government uses state-provided nutrient data to calculate Recommended Dose of Fertiliser (RDF).
• RDF is then allocated to states for each season.
• States sell fertilisers to farmers through dealers and cooperative societies using POS devices.
• Department of Fertilisers pays subsidies to companies based on quantity of fertilisers sold to farmers.

Issues in Current System

• PoS devices are not connected to land records, allowing anyone with Aadhaar to purchase fertilizer without restrictions.
• There are no limits on the quantity of fertilizer that can be purchased by an individual or family.
• Overuse, nonagricultural use, and wastage of public resources have financial and ecological consequences.
• Urea makes up a large portion of nitrogenous fertilizers, causing imbalanced NPK ratios over time.
• The imbalance in fertilizer consumption can lead to soil quality deterioration and health hazards.

Key Recommendation

• Enhancing fertilizer distribution through Agri Stack, a digital platform that connects stakeholders and enhances agricultural results.
• Ensuring that subsidized fertilizers are distributed to farmers based on their land ownership and the crops they are growing.
• Determining the appropriate quantity of fertilizer based on factors such as land size and crop data.
• Encouraging the use of E-RUPI, a convenient one-time payment system that can directly provide subsidies to farmers.

"Flawed Global Approach to Climate Change"

• The survey pointed out that the current worldwide strategy fails to recognize the interconnectedness of all aspects of life.

How Global Approach is flawed?

• Inadequate Funding: Developed countries have only pledged a fraction of the funding needed by developing countries to meet their climate targets.
• Ignoring Per Capita Emissions Data: Countries like India are being urged to take greater responsibility despite having low per capita emissions.
• Overestimating Probabilities: Public fear of rare accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima hinders the adoption of cleaner energy options like nuclear power.
• High Energy Demanding Technologies: Rich countries are investing in energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence.

India's Progress on Climate Action

• India has created a significant carbon sink and aims to increase it through tree and forest cover.
• The country has set ambitious targets to reduce emissions intensity and is focusing on behavior changes through initiatives like Mission LiFE.

Suggestions for Improving the Global Approach

• Developing countries like India should pursue their own path to balancing development and climate action.
• The global movement on climate change should respect sovereign choices and economic needs while focusing on individual behavior changes.