Daily Current Affairs UPSC 24 September 2024

Cancer Moonshot Initiative

• The QUAD countries (India, United States, Australia, and Japan) have launched the Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
• The initiative aims to improve the cancer care ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing health infrastructure and research collaborations.
• Efforts include promoting HPV vaccination for cervical cancer, increasing access to screenings, and expanding treatment options.
• India has contributed $7.5 million towards cancer testing, screening, and diagnostics in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India is also supporting radiotherapy treatment and capacity building in the region.
• Additionally, India is providing technical assistance on digital health for cancer screening and care through a $10 million contribution to the WHO's Global Initiative on Digital Health.

National Cadet Corps (NCC)

• The Ministry of Defence has approved a plan to increase the number of NCC Cadet vacancies by 3 lakh, bringing the total strength from 17 lakhs to 20 lakhs in the coming years.
• The NCC, headquartered in New Delhi, was established under 'The National Cadet Corps Act 1948' with the aim of developing character, comradeship, discipline, secular outlook, the spirit of adventure, and ideals of selfless service among young citizens.
• Participation in the NCC program is voluntary, with the motto being Unity and Discipline.
• The Ministry responsible for the NCC is the Ministry of Defence, and the conduct of NCC activities is a joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments in terms of policies, finances, administrative, and other aspects.

Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)

• CGTMSE has approved guarantees totaling Rs 1 lakh crore.
• CGTMSE was established in 2000 by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and SIDBI.
• The goal of CGTMSE is to offer credit guarantee assistance to member lending institutions for credit facilities provided to MSEs, particularly when collateral is not available.
• Scheduled commercial banks (Public Sector Banks/Private Sector Banks/Foreign Banks) and select Regional Rural Banks are eligible lending institutions.
• The corpus contribution for CGTMSE comes from the government and SIDBI in a ratio of 4:1.

Futures & Options (F&O)

• A recent SEBI study found that 93% of individual F&O traders experienced losses between 2022-24.
• F&O are derivative instruments that derive their value from an underlying asset.
• Options give holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price within a set timeframe. There are two types: Call (right to buy) and Put (right to sell).
• Futures are standardized contracts that require the buyer/seller to purchase/deliver an underlying asset at a predetermined price on a specified future date.

Computer Security Incident Response Team – Power (CSIRT–POWER) facility

• The Union Minister of Power has officially opened the CSIRT-POWER facility in New Delhi.
• The CSIRT-POWER facility was established by the Ministry of Power in accordance with the National Cyber Security Policy and in partnership with CERT-In.
• With state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced cybersecurity tools, CSIRT-POWER is well-equipped to address new cyber threats.
• The main goal of CSIRT-POWER is to strengthen cybersecurity resilience in the Indian Power Sector through a structured and coordinated approach.
• The facility is under the supervision of the Central Electricity Authority, with CERT-In providing leadership to coordinate all incident response and cybersecurity activities in the Power sector.

Sustainable Road construction Practices

• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has released guidelines to encourage the use of urban solid waste and inert materials in building National Highways.
• Sustainable road construction practices include using inert soil generated from bio-remediation and bio-mining, waste plastic as a modifier in binder for better resistance to deformation and water damage, geo-synthetics for reinforcement in pavement and slope protection, fly-ash for embankment, cement concrete, and stabilization, and cold mix asphalt (CMA) which is more energy efficient and produces lower emissions compared to hot mix asphalt.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967

• The Supreme Court has stated that the 14-day timeline for granting sanction for prosecution under the UAPA, 1967 is mandatory, not discretionary.
• The UAPA, 1967 aims to prevent unlawful activities by individuals and associations, as well as address terrorist activities.
• Prosecution of individuals accused of terrorism requires government sanction through a two-step process.
• An independent authority must review evidence within seven working days and make a recommendation to the government.
• The government then has an additional seven working days to decide whether to grant or deny sanction based on the authority's recommendation.

Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary

• The National Green Tribunal has halted the construction of a road within the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary is located between the Barak and Sonai Rivers in Assam's Cacher district and is named after the second largest river in the Northeast, the Barak.
• The Barak Valley is also home to the Borail Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary was officially recognized by the Assam Government in 2022.
• The wildlife sanctuary is home to various species of primates, including slow loris, rhesus, pig-tailed, stump-tailed, Assamese macaque, capped langur, and hoolock gibbon.
• The Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary provides a suitable habitat for the King Cobra.

Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj

The Maharashtra government has approved a proposal to rename Pune Airport as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport.

About

• Sant Tukaram was a 17th-century saint poet and philosopher associated with the Bhakti movement of Maharashtra.
• He belonged to the 'Warkari' sect, along with other saints like Dnyaneshwar, Eknath, and Namdev, which was prominent in medieval Maharashtra.

Key Contributions of Sant Tukaram

• Sant Tukaram was known for his Abhanga devotional poetry and community-oriented worship through spiritual songs known as Kirtans.
• Abhanga is a form of poetry that praises Lord Panduranga or Vitthal, the chief deity of the Warkari sect.
• His famous work, Tukaram Gatha, written in Marathi, includes about 4500 Abhangas and contributed to the Bhakti movement emphasizing equality, devotion to God, and social reform.
• The values promoted by Sant Tukaram through his works include faith, devotion, spirituality, and more.

"India, US Sign Semiconductor Plant Pact"

• India will have the first multi-material fabrication plant for national security in the world.
• This plant is one of the first of its kind within the Quad alliance.
• The US military has agreed to a technology partnership with India for the first time in highly valued technologies.

About Semiconductor Fabrication Plant 'Shakti'

• Fab, which will be called 'Shakti', will prioritize advanced sensing, advanced communications, and high voltage power electronics for modern warfare.
• The objective of Fab will be to produce infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide semiconductors.
• It will receive support from the India Semiconductor Mission and will be established as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the U.S. Space Force.

Significance of Semiconductor Fabrication Plant

• Strategic Shift: Shift India from chip taker to chip maker, boosting national security and positioning India as a key player in global semiconductor supply chain
• Reduce country's dependence on imports: India currently imports $1 billion worth of semiconductors annually for national security purposes
• Bolster India's security infrastructure: Address growing needs of commercial sectors like telecommunications, railways, and green energy
• Enhance mutually beneficial linkages in R&D in chip manufacturing: Creation of GlobalFoundries (GF) Kolkata Power Center

India Semiconductor Mission (under Ministry of Electronics and IT)

• The goal is to create a strong semiconductor and display industry in India to establish the country as a global leader in electronics manufacturing and design.
• This division operates independently within Digital India Corporation and focuses on this specific industry.
• It serves as the main agency for managing programs and initiatives under the Semicon India Programme.

"UN Summit: Pact for the Future Adopted"

• The Pact, along with its additional documents the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations, aims to tackle modern challenges such as climate change, conflict, and human rights.
• Member countries have unanimously adopted the Pact, with a small group of seven countries, led by Russia, not yet agreeing to it.

Key deliverables in Pact include:

• Sustainable Development and Financing for Development
  
  • Giving developing countries more influence at international financial institutions
  • Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest
• International Peace and Security
  
  • Reaffirming commitment to nuclear disarmament with the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons
  • Preventing weaponization and misuse of new technologies like lethal autonomous weapons
• Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Digital Cooperation
  
  • Conducting scientific research in a responsible and ethical manner that protects human rights
  • Protecting indigenous and traditional knowledge, empowering women, and addressing gender risks from emerging technologies
• Youth and Future Generation
  
  • Considering the impact on future generations in decision-making processes
• Transforming Global Governance
  
  • Strengthening international frameworks for governing outer space and preventing an arms race
  • Reforming the effectiveness and representativeness of the United Nations Security Council, with a focus on addressing under-representation of Africa.

Annexures of Pact for the Future:

• Global Digital Compact is a global agreement aimed at regulating AI and digital technologies on an international level.
• The agreement includes commitments to ensure that digital technologies support sustainable development and address issues like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.
• The Declaration on Future Generations focuses on protecting the environment and promoting intergenerational equity to secure the well-being of future generations.

"PLFS Annual Report 2023-2024 Released by NSSO"

• PLFS was established in 2017 with the goal of estimating key employment and unemployment indicators.
• The primary objectives of PLFS are to estimate key employment and unemployment indicators in urban areas on a quarterly basis in the Current Weekly Status (CWS), and to estimate these indicators annually in both rural and urban areas in both Usual Status and CWS.

Key Indicators in PLFS

• Worker Population Ratio (WPR) is the percentage of employed persons in the population.
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is the percentage of persons in the labor force (working or seeking work) in the population.
• Unemployment Rate (UR) is the percentage of persons unemployed among those in the labor force.

Activity Status

• Activity Status is determined based on the activities pursued by a person during a specified reference period.
• Usual Status refers to a reference period of 365 days.
• Current Weekly Status (CWS) refers to a reference period of 7 days.

Key Findings

"CDRI Celebrates 5 Years of Building Disaster Resilient Infrastructure"

CDRI has revealed a $2.5 million fund as part of the Urban Infrastructure Resilience Programme (UIRP) to improve the climate resilience of cities in 30 low and middle-income countries, including India.

About CDRI

• India launched the CDRI at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019.
• The CDRI is a partnership involving nations, UN agencies, development banks, and the private sector.
• The goal of the CDRI is to enhance the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks for sustainable development.
• The CDRI has 40 countries and 7 organizations as members, with its secretariat located in New Delhi, India.
• The CDRI publishes the Global Infrastructure Resilience Report.

Significance of CDRI

• Establish a worldwide system for funding and coordinating the successful execution of CDRI goals.
• Offer technical assistance and capacity-building, such as aid in disaster response and recovery, as well as promoting innovation.

Initiatives Taken by CDRI

• IRIS aims to support sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States.
• The DRI Connect platform facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• The ICDRI is an annual conference that brings together experts to discuss challenges and share best practices.
• The IRAF was created with support from UNDP and UNDRR to promote global action on disaster resilience in infrastructure.

Other Initiatives/steps for Disaster Resilience

Global

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: Provides concrete actions for Member States to protect development gains from disaster risk.
• UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

India

• National Policy on Disaster Management 2009: Aims to build a disaster resilient India through a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented, and technology-driven strategy.
• Disaster Management Act, 2005: Established National Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Management Authorities, and National Disaster Response Force.

CSEAM Viewing and Storage Now Illegal: Supreme Court Ruling

• The Supreme Court overturned a ruling by the Madras High Court in 2024 that decriminalized the possession or viewing of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) in private without the intent of transmitting it under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 or IT Act, 2000.
• The Supreme Court supported the use of the term CSEAM instead of Child Pornography in all legal orders and judgments, stating that viewing CSEAM is equivalent to child sexual abuse as both involve using a child for sexual gratification with malicious intent.
• The use of the term pornography, which is typically associated with consensual adult activities, may downplay the victimization of children in cases of CSEAM.

Key Highlights of Verdict

• Possessing CSEAM without transmitting it is considered a criminal offense under Section 15 of the POCSO Act.
• Section 67B of the IT Act punishes the publication or transmission of sexually explicit material involving children.
• Inchoate crimes are committed as a preparation for a future offense.

Highlighted impact of CSEAM:

• Viewing CSEAM can make people less sensitive to its content, leading to a higher demand for it and more production and distribution.
• CSEAM has negative effects on a child's emotional, social, and mental health.
• Those who watch CSEAM may face strong social stigma and isolation, making it hard to form healthy relationships because of trust issues.

SC Suggestions to Union and courts

• Change POCSO to include CSEAM instead of child pornography.
• Form a group of experts to create a health and sex education plan.
• Public campaigns can educate people about CSEAM and its impact, potentially lowering its occurrence.

POCSO Act, 2012

• Seeks to address and prevent sexual offenses against children.
• Clearly defines a child as someone under the age of 18 and explains various types of sexual abuse, along with child-friendly processes for seeking help.
• Section 15 of the POCSO Act punishes the possession of child pornography with the intent to share or distribute it.
• Updated in 2019 to crack down on child pornography and impose harsh penalties on offenders.

"IRF's State of the Rhino 2024 Report Released"

Established in 1991 as the International Black Rhino Foundation, IRF is committed to protecting the survival of rhino species worldwide.

Key findings of report

• The total global rhino population is nearly 28,000 when all five species are considered.
• Rhino poaching in Africa rose by 4% from 2022 to 2023.
• The number of white rhinos increased, but the population of greater one-horned rhinos (Indian Rhino) remained the same.
• White rhino populations in South Africa are increasing despite poaching.

About Rhino

• There are five different species of rhinos, including two African species (White Rhino and Black Rhino) and three Asian species (Indian Rhino, Sumatran Rhino, and Javan Rhino).
• Various conservation initiatives have been implemented to protect rhinos, such as the National Rhino Conservation Strategy 2019 focusing on the conservation of Indian rhinos, the New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019, and the Indian Rhino Vision 2020.

Difference between African Rhino and Asian Rhino