Daily Current Affairs UPSC 4 & 5 February 2024

NASA’s Fission Surface Power Project

• NASA has completed the first phase of its plans to put a nuclear fission reactor on the Moon.
• The project focused on developing concept designs for a small, electricity-generating nuclear fission reactor.
• The reactor could be used during a future demonstration on the Moon and to inform future designs for Mars.
• Solar power systems have limitations on the Moon due to the long lunar night, but a nuclear reactor could generate continuous power without external dependence.

Exemptions under RTI Act, 2005

• The Delhi High Court recently held that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not completely exempted from disclosing information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
• Section 24 of the RTI Act provides immunity from the Act to intelligence and security organizations specified in the Second Schedule.
• However, agencies are still required to disclose information related to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
• Other exemptions from disclosure of information are listed in Section 8(1) of the RTI Act, such as information that could prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India or constitute contempt of court or breach of privilege of Parliament.

Atmospheric river

Atmospheric Rivers in California:

• California has experienced two consecutive Atmospheric River storms.
• Atmospheric Rivers are narrow corridors of concentrated moisture transport associated with extra tropical cyclones.
• They are typically found within a low-level jet, which is an area of strong winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere ahead of a cold front in an extra tropical cyclone.
• Atmospheric Rivers are the largest transport mechanisms of freshwater on Earth.
• When they make landfall and interact with topography, they can deposit significant amounts of precipitation in short periods of time, leading to flooding and mudslides.

Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor  (Maa Kamakhya Divya Pariyojana)

• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor as part of the PM's Development Initiative for the North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
• The Kamakhya Temple is located on the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, Assam, and is one of the 51 Shakti peethas.
• It is an important pilgrimage center for tantric worshippers.
• The present temple was rebuilt in 1565 CE by Chilarai and features a combination of Nagara style and Saracenic style architecture.
• The annual Ambubachi Mela festival commemorates the yearly menstruation of the goddess Kamakhya.

Ergosphere

• Scientists believe that it is possible to extract matter and energy from the Ergosphere within the event horizon.
• The Ergosphere is the region between the event horizon and the stationary limit of a rotating black hole (Kerr Black hole).
• The "stationary limit" is a surface around the outside of a rotating black hole, and objects that pass through it are always in motion due to the distortion of space caused by the black hole.
• The "event horizon" is a notional boundary around a black hole beyond which no radiation can escape.

One Stop Centres (OSCs)

• Over 700 OSCs established in India.
• Falls under Sambal Sub Scheme of Mission Shakti by Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Implemented since 2015.

Objectives:

• Provide support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress.
• Facilitate access to a range of services, both emergency and non-emergency.

Services offered:

• Medical assistance.
• Assistance in lodging FIR.
• Legal aid and counselling.

TOI-715 b

• Super Earth exoplanet discovered by NASA.
• Located about 137 light-years away from Earth.
• Revolves around its parent star in the habitable zone.
• Super-Earth refers to its size, larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.
• Habitability zone is the area around a star where liquid water can exist on surrounding planets.

INS Sandhayak

• First Survey Vessel Large (SVL) Ship commissioned into Indian Navy in Visakhapatanam.
• Part of a series of four SVL ships.
• Equipped with advanced hydrographic equipment.
• Can provide limited defense capabilities and serve as a hospital ship.
• Over 80% indigenous content by cost.

Argentina (Capital: Buenos Aires)

• Argentina is a country located in South America, with its capital being Buenos Aires.
• The country is bordered by Chile to the south and west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Brazil and Uruguay to the east.

Political Feature:

• Argentina's Lower House of Congress has recently approved an 'Omnibus' reform bill aimed at transforming the country's economy and state.
• This bill signifies significant political changes and reforms taking place in Argentina.

Geographical Features:

• Argentina is geographically divided into four major regions: Andes, North, Pampas, and Patagonia.
• The Pampas region is known as the agricultural heartland of the country.
• The country is bounded to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
• Argentina is home to several major rivers, including the Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, Iguazu, and Salado.
• The highest peak in Argentina is Cerro Aconcagua.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) launched at the iconic Eiffel Tower in France

• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lyra partner to accept UPI payments in France.
• France becomes the first European country to accept UPI.
• UPI is an instant payment system that facilitates inter-bank transfers.
• UPI is part of the Payments layer of India Stack, which aims to unlock economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at population scale.
• India Stack consists of three layers: Identity, Payments, and Data.
• Internationalization of India Stack has several significances, including global market expansion for Indian startups and tech firms, interoperability and standardization at a global scale, innovation and collaboration for new solutions and services, and soft power and digital diplomacy, particularly in the global south.

Efforts at Internationalization of India Stack

• NIPL: Wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI, incorporated in 2020, for deployment of RuPay and UPI outside of India.
• Acceptance of UPI payments in Overseas markets such as Singapore, UAE, etc.
• MoU on sharing of India Stack with Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua and Barbuda.
• India's Initiatives under G20:

• • Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository.
  • Social Impact Fund to advance DPI in the Global South.

Satyendra Nath Bose (1894-1974)

• SN Bose, along with Meghnad Saha, established modern theoretical physics in India.
• Made significant advances in statistical mechanics and Quantum statistics.
• Deduced Planck's Black body radiation law without reference to classical electrodynamics.
• Bose's work on "Planck's Law and Light Quantum Hypothesis" was translated by Einstein and led to the emergence of Quantum statistics.
• Einstein applied Bose's method to give the theory of ideal quantum gas and predicted Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC).
• BEC is a state of matter where particles coalesce into a single quantum mechanical entity at near absolute zero temperature.
• Bose's contributions laid the groundwork for the contemporary understanding of the Standard Model of Physics and fostered scientific collaboration and exchange of ideas between Indian and Western scientists.

Rewards/ Recognitions for SN Bose

• Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
• 'Bosons': Fundamental particles with integer spin are named after him.
• Rabindranath Tagore dedicated his only book on science – 'Vishwa Parichay' to SN Bose.
• Became Vice-Chancellor of the Visva-Bharati during 1956-58.

7th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) Held at Kochi

• Finalized quality standards for small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allspice, and star anise.
• Forwarded these standards to Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) for adoption.
• Successfully implemented the strategy of grouping spices for the first time.

About CCSCH:

• Established in 2013 as a Commodity Committee under CAC.
• Hosted by India, with Spices Board India serving as the Secretariat organization.
• Term of reference: Elaborate worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state.

Codex Standards:

• International food texts including standards, codes of practice, guidelines, etc.
• Voluntary and not binding on national food legislation.
• Encouraged by WTO Agreements to harmonize national regulations with international standards.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• Genesis: An international food standards body established jointly by Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and WHO in 1963.
• Objective: Protecting consumer's health and ensuring fair practices in food trade.
• CAC conducts its work through various Codex committees, including CCSCH, hosted by different member countries.
• Members: 189 Codex Members including India (since 1964).

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Launched Two Digital Modules within SagarSetu (NLP-Marine) Platform

Maritime Single Window (MSW) Module:

• Facilitates electronic exchange of maritime-related information.
• Reduces waiting time for vessels and goods in ports by up to 40%.

Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) Module:

• Provides transparency and planning of vessel departure and maritime operations.
• Reduces time taken by up to 30%.

About National Logistics Portal (NLP-Marine):

• National maritime single window platform with end-to-end logistics solutions.
• SAGAR-SETU mobile app offers real-time information on vessels, container freight stations, and transactions.

Maritime Logistics Challenges in India:

• Port congestion with average turnaround time still higher than other countries.
• Security threats from piracy in Arabian Sea and geopolitical situation around Red Sea.
• Poor fleet strength with Indian fleet representing only 1.2% of the world's fleet capacity and carrying only 7.8% of India's EXIM trade.

Key Initiatives Taken by the Government

• Sagarmala Programme: A program aimed at reducing logistics costs for trade through minimal infrastructure investment.
• Maritime India Vision 2030: A vision to develop world-class ports, trans-shipment hubs, and modernize infrastructure.
• Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: A vision encompassing logistics, infrastructure, and shipping to support India's Blue Economy.
• Sagar Manthan: A digital platform containing comprehensive data related to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and its organizations.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) rationalizes Regulatory framework for Insolvency Professional entities

• Same Insolvency Professional (IP) can be appointed in both corporate process and insolvency and bankruptcy proceeding of Personal Guarantors (PGs) to Corporate Debtors (CDs).
• Mandatory convening of meeting of creditors.
• Clarifications on Regulatory Framework for IPs and Insolvency Professional Entities (IPEs):

• • Limit on number of assignments for IPs does not apply to an IP which is an IPE.
  • IPEs can be a company, limited liability partnership, registered partnership firm, allowed to carry on activities of an IP.
  • Fee structure for IPEs acting as IPs should be market-determined.
• Significance: Efficient functioning of IPEs, better harmonization and coordination between insolvency and bankruptcy processes, reinforcing a robust framework for addressing financial distress in PG cases.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

• A statutory body under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• Regulates the insolvency profession and processes.
• Provides regulatory oversight over Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies, IPEs, and Information Utilities.
• Composition includes a Chairperson, ex-officio members of the Central Government and RBI, and other members nominated by the center.

WHO’s Cancer Agency, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released Latest Estimates of Global Burden of Cancer

Global Burden of Cancer:

• In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and over 9 million deaths globally.
• Global cancer cases may rise 77% by 2050, deaths by 50%.
• Approximately 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, with 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women dying from the disease.
• Indian Scenario: Over 14 lakh new cancer cases and about 9 lakh deaths reported in India in 2022.
• Leading cancers in India: Breast, Lip and oral cavity, Cervix uteri, Lung.

Cancer:

• Caused by uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells in the body, leading to the formation of lumps or tumors.
• If left untreated, tumors can spread to other body parts and affect overall body functions.

Measures Taken by India to Address Rising Cases of Cancer:

• Diagnosis and Treatment under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.
• Development of India's first indigenously developed vaccine, "CERVAVAC," for prevention of Cervical Cancer.
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of 390 anti-cancer non-scheduled medicines by up to 87% in 2019.

Recent Breakthroughs in the Fight against Cancer

• Kill Switch For Cancer Cells: Scientists have identified a crucial protein section on the CD95 receptor that can cause cancer cells to die.
• 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine: Awarded for the discovery of cancer therapy through the inhibition of negative immune regulation.
• CAR-T Cell Therapy: Involves genetically altering immune cells from cancer patients to enhance their ability to fight cancer.