Daily NEWS 21 February 2024

IREDA's Plans for Subsidiary:

• IREDA plans to establish a subsidiary to focus on retail projects like Rooftop Solar, PM-KUSUM, Electric Vehicles, and other B2C segments.

About IREDA:

• IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Public Limited Government Company established in 1987.
• It operates under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and provides financial assistance for renewable energy projects.
• The motto of IREDA is “Energy for Ever”.
• Registered and Corporate office in New Delhi.

India's Ranking in Henley Passport Index:

• India has slipped to the 85th position in the Henley Passport Index for 2024.

About HPI:

• Released by Henley & Partners Passport Index
• Ranks passports based on the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.
• It uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and compares visa-free access of 199 passports to 227 destinations.
• In 2024, six countries including France, Germany, and Japan are ranked 1st in the index.

India's Contribution to IBSA Fund:

•    India has contributed $1 million to the IBSA Fund.

About the IBSA Fund:

• The IBSA Fund was jointly established by India, Brazil, and South Africa in 2004 and supports projects in the Global South to achieve development goals.
• It became operational in 2006 and aims to help countries achieve their national priorities and internationally agreed development goals.

About IBSA Dialogue Forum: The IBSA Dialogue Forum comprises India, Brazil, and South Africa and was formalized in 2003.

Shivneri Fort:

• Maharashtra Chief Minister paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary at Shivneri Fort.

About Shivneri Fort:

• Fort was conferred to Maloji Bhonsale in 1595 by King Bahadur Nizam II.
• Located in Pune, Maharashtra, it is a 17th-century military fortification.
• Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage List for 2024-25 as part of the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India”.
• Other important Maratha forts include Raigad, Rajgad, Lohagad, Sindhudurg, Torna, Devgad, etc.

X-Ray Binary Stars:

• An international team of scientists studied the X-ray binary system MAXI J1820+070 using AstroSat’s capabilities.

About X-ray Binary Stars:

• X-ray binary stars are a special class of binary stars that emit X-rays.
• Binary star systems consist of two stars orbiting around a common center of mass.
• X-ray binary stars are made up of a normal star and a collapsed star (white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole).
• AstroSat is India's first dedicated astronomy mission to study celestial sources in X-ray, optical, and UV spectral bands simultaneously.

Blended Finance:

• Goa government and Power Finance Corporation signed MoU for Blended Finance Facility (BFF).
  • BFF to fund climate projects like green hydrogen, waste-to-wealth tech, nature-based solutions.
• Blended finance uses development finance to attract additional finance for sustainable development.

• • Concessional finance reduces investment risk, attracts private investment.

Human-Animal Conflict:

• Kerala allocates Rs.13 Crore for man-animal conflict in Wayanad District.

Man – Animal Conflict in India:

• Ministry of Environment released 14 guidelines for mitigating conflict.
• Conflict addressed through interdepartmental action, rapid response teams, hot spot identification.
• Ex-gratia payment of Rs.10 Lakhs for deaths, Rs.2 Lakhs for grievous injury in human-wildlife conflict.

Green Anaconda:

• Researchers find green anacondas are two genetically distinct species.

About Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus):

• Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is a nonvenomous snake, heaviest in the world.
• Females larger than males, IUCN status: Least Concern.
• Habitat: swamps, marshes, slow-moving streams in Amazon and Orinoco basins.
• Lifespan in the wild about 10 years.

Zambia (Capital: Lusaka)

• India provides medical aid to Zambia for cholera outbreak.

Political Features:

• Land-locked country in South Central Africa.
• Borders with Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, and DRC.

Geographical Features:

• High plateau with hills and mountains.
• Vegetation includes savannah, tropical grassland, and woodland.
• Major rivers: Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa.
• Lakes: Lake Tanganyika.
• Highest point: Mafinga Hills.

A Research titled, ‘Global Food Security Threatened by Potassium Neglect’ was Published:

• Potassium (K) is essential for plant growth, along with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).

• • In India, the ideal NPK ratio for monitoring plant nutrient consumption is 4:2:1.
• Potassium in soil exists in four pools: Soil solution K, Exchangeable K, Nonexchangeable K, and Mineral K.

• • The largest pool is the mineral pool, but it is unavailable for plant use.

Key Findings of the Research:

• 20% of global agricultural soils are severely deficient in potassium.
• Negative soil potassium balances exist, with more potassium being removed by crops than applied as inputs.
• Despite potassium-rich soils in India, negative balances are causing crop yield losses.
• Limited geological reserves of potash fertilizers are mainly found in Canada, Belarus, and Russia.
• Current shortages of potash fertilizers are driven by increased demand, post-COVID-19 recovery, and conflicts like Russia-Ukraine.
• Extracting potassium has substantial environmental impacts, with three tonnes of mine waste generated for each tonne of potassium extracted.

Potassium:
  
Study of Triple dip La-Nina, unusual spin Air Quality Trends in India During Winter 2022-23

• Researchers from National Institute of Advanced Studies and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology conducted a study on air quality trends in India during the winter of 2022-23.

Key Highlights:

• Mysterious trend reversal in pollution (PM2.5) observed in Indian region.
• Worst air quality over South-Western India, while relatively cleaner air over North India.
• Factors Responsible:

• • Unusual triple-dip La Nina event in 2022.
  • Change in wind direction from north-westerly to north-south.
  • Bypassing of Delhi by air pollutants from Punjab and Haryana.

La-Nina and its Impact on Indian Monsoon:

• La-Nina refers to periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
• Occurs every 3 to 5 years and positively impacts the Indian Monsoon.

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passes Bill to provide 10% Reservation to Maratha Community

• Maharashtra Assembly passes Bill for 10% reservation for Maratha Community

• • Based on survey report from Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission

Supreme Court struck down similar Act in 2021:

• No extraordinary circumstances for exceeding 50% reservation limit- Previous similar Act struck down by Supreme Court in 2021.

• • Court observed no extraordinary circumstances to exceed 50% reservation limit.
  • 9-judge Bench set 50% ceiling on reservations in Indira Sawhney Case (1992).
  • Exceeding limit violates Article 14 and 16, promotes caste rule over equality.
  • Criteria for reservation should be adequate representation, not proportionate representation.

Concerns related to the bill:

• Boost to 'Sons-of-the-soil' movement promoting regionalism.
• Rise of similar demands from other communities affecting social cohesion.

Commemoration of Rani Chennamma:

• National campaign organized by social groups like National Federation of Indian Women.
• Campaign called Naanoo Rani Chennamma (I am Rani Chennamma too) in Kittur.

About Rani Chennamma:

• Born in Kakati village in Belagavi district of Karnataka.
• Became queen of Kitturu after marrying Raja Mallasarja of Desai family.
• Adopted a child, Shivalingappa, as heir to the throne after her son's death.
• British East India Company did not accept this under the Doctrine of Lapse.
• Values: Courage, Perseverance, Leadership, Selflessness, etc.

Kittur Revolt:

• First Indian armed rebellion against British EIC.
• Rani Chennamma defied British order to exile adopted child.
• Sent letter to Lord Elphinstone against the order, which was rejected.
• First instance of imposition of Doctrine of Lapse, even before officially articulated by Lord Dalhousie
• British lost first battle in 1824, Rani Chennamma later captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort until her death in 1829.

Doctrine of Lapse:

• One of the three major annexation policies of British EIC.
• Other two were Ring Fence Policy and Subsidiary Alliance.
• Any princely state or territory under British EIC paramountcy would be annexed if ruler was "manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir".
• Made official by Lord Dalhousie in 1848.

Draft Guidelines on Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing

• Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) seeking public comments on proposed guidelines
• Greenwashing defined as deceptive or misleading practices related to environmental claims.
• Also use of misleading words, symbols, or imagery, placing emphasis on positive environmental aspects while downplaying or concealing harmful attributes.

Key highlights of the Draft Guidelines:

• Applicability:

• • Guidelines apply to all advertisements in any form, format, or medium.
  • Applies to service providers, advertisers, endorsers, etc.
  • Excludes advertisements not specific to any product or service.
• Prohibition: No person subject to guidelines can engage in Greenwashing.
• Substantiation of Environmental Claims:
  
  • Generic terms like 'clean', 'green', 'eco-friendly' must have qualifiers and substantiation.
  • All environmental claims must be fully disclosed.
  • Comparative claims must be based on verifiable data disclosed to consumers.
• Adequate Disclosure:

• • Environmental claims must be easily accessible to consumers and not contradict other claims.
  • Aspirational claims can only be made with clear plans on how objectives will be achieved.

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) by WHO

• The GIDH was announced at the G20 Health Ministers meeting in India.
• It will address challenges in digital health transformation.
• The GIDH Secretariat will be hosted in WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

Objectives of GIDH:

• Align efforts with the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025.
• Support technical assistance and standards development.
• Facilitate the use of digital transformation tools.

Foundational Pillars of GIDH:

• Country Needs Tracker for digital health investments.
• Country Resource Portal for resource opportunities.
• Transformation Toolbox for quality-assured tools.
• Convening and Knowledge Exchange for collaboration.

Digital Health initiatives of India:

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission launched in 2021.
• Aims to establish a National Digital Health Ecosystem.
• Components include Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Number, Health Facility Registry, Healthcare Professionals Registry etc.