Daily Current Affairs UPSC 11 May 2024

Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

Introduction to Apple's M4 chip with 16-core Neural Engine

• Apple has introduced the M4 chip with a 16-core Neural Engine, also known as NPU.

About NPU

• The NPU is a dedicated processor specifically designed to accelerate neural network processes.
• Neural networks are machine learning algorithms that imitate the human brain for data processing.
• NPUs are optimized for complex mathematical computations required for artificial neural networks.

Comparison with other processing units

• Graphic Processing Units (GPUs): Known for their versatility and excellence in handling graphics rendering and parallel tasks.
• Central Processing Units (CPUs): Considered the general-purpose brains of a computer, capable of handling a wide range of tasks.

Hermes-900

Indian Army and Navy to Receive Hermes-900 Drones

• The Indian Army and Navy will be equipped with Hermes-900 drones, also known as Drishti-10 drones, in order to enhance their surveillance capabilities.

About Hermes-900

• The Hermes-900 is a next generation multi-role, Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system.
• It features over-the-horizon, persistent multi-mission, multi-payload capabilities with a class-leading payload carrying capacity of 350 kgs.
• Capable of performing missions for area dominance, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Target acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR).
• It can also perform ground support and maritime patrol missions, and offers the capability for integrated multi-platform, multi-sensor operation.

Deadbots

• Researchers have raised concerns about Deadbots, also known as Griefbots, which are AI chatbots that mimic the language and personality of deceased individuals based on their digital footprints.
• There are worries that individuals may form strong emotional connections with these simulations, making them susceptible to manipulation.
• The use of Deadbots could potentially lead to lasting psychological damage and violate the rights of the deceased.
• There is also a fear that companies could exploit Deadbots to send unwanted notifications and reminders to the loved ones of the deceased.

Orangutan

Malaysia's Plan to Gift Orangutans to Boost Biodiversity Credentials

• Malaysia is planning to gift Orangutans to major palm oil-importing nations in order to enhance its reputation as a biodiversity conservationist.

About Orangutans

• Orangutans are great apes that are native to Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia.
• They are the only great apes found outside of Africa.
• Orangutans live in tropical forests and prefer forest areas in river valleys and floodplains.
• Their reproductive rate is very low, making their populations highly vulnerable.
• All three species of Orangutans are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Oleander Flower

Kerala Bans Oleander Flowers in Temple Offerings

• Kerala recently prohibited the use of oleander flowers in temple offerings following the tragic deaths of two women due to accidental poisoning from the flower.

Characteristics of Oleander Flowers

• Oleander flowers, also known as Nerium oleander or rosebay, are a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree native to Europe and Asia. In Kerala, they are also referred to as arali and kanaveeram.

Toxicity of Oleander Flowers

• Oleander flowers are known for their tolerance to heat, drought, wind, air pollution, salt, and poor soil. However, all parts of the plant are highly toxic due to the presence of cardiac glycosides, such as nerioside and oleandroside.

Gulf of Aden

• Concerns have been raised due to pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.
• The Gulf of Aden is a deepwater basin that connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
• Named after the Port of Aden in Yemen, it is located between the coasts of Arabia and the Horn of Africa.
• Bordering countries include Somalia to the south, Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, and Djibouti to the west.
• The dominant relief feature in the Gulf of Aden is the Sheba Ridge, which is an extension of the Indian Ocean ridge system.

Launch Vehicle Mk III (LVM3)

• NSIL is looking for private partners to help manufacture the LVM3 rocket, also known as the Fat Boy, which is ISRO's new heavy lift launch vehicle.
• The LVM3 has a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO and consists of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons and L110 liquid stage, C25 cryogenic stage.
• This rocket has been used in missions such as Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, and will also be utilized in the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.

Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project

Collaboration between Japan and U.S on GPI Project

• The GPI Project is a joint effort between Japan and the U.S to develop a hypersonic missile-intercepting system.

Details of GPI Project

• The project involves launching modified missiles from U.S Navy surface warships to intercept hypersonic weapons during their vulnerable glide phase.
• Hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds faster than Mach 5, which is approximately 4,000 miles per hour.
• Glide Phase refers to the stage where hypersonic weapons separate from boosters, use gravity to accelerate towards Earth, and perform a pitch manoeuvre to enter a flatter trajectory towards their target.

Cambodia (Capital: Phnom Penh)

Cambodia officially agreed to the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.

Political features of Cambodia:

• Cambodia is situated on the Indochinese mainland in South East Asia.
• It shares land borders with Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the southeast.
• The country's maritime boundary is the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.

Geographical features of Cambodia:

• The major mountain range in Cambodia is the Dangrek.
• The highest point in the country is Mount Aôral.
• The Mekong River, the longest river in South East Asia, flows through Cambodia.
• The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is located in Cambodia.

Threat of Air Pollution to Sundarban Mangroves

Study Conducted by Bose Institute and IIT Kanpur

• The study conducted by the Bose Institute in Kolkata and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kanpur highlighted key findings related to air pollution in the Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem.

Key Findings

• Sources of Air Pollution: The study identified pollutants enriched with black carbon from Kolkata and the Indo-Gangetic Plain, as well as localized sources such as biomass burning, as key sources of air pollution in the area.
• Rising Reactive Oxygenated Species (ROS): The study found that acidic components of PM2.5 pollutants with heavy metals are fostering the generation of ROS, which poses a severe threat to mangrove cells. ROS are oxygen-containing radicals with unpaired electrons.

Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem

• The Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem is the world's largest mangrove ecosystem, named after the species Heritiera fomes, known as Sundri in Bengali. It is located on the world's largest delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal in India and Bangladesh.
• The ecosystem is designated as a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and declared as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Importance of Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem

• The Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem is extremely rich in biodiversity, housing species such as Bengal Tigers and Gangetic Dolphins.
• It plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestrating carbon, reducing the impact of cyclonic storms, and preventing erosion due to tidal action.
• Millions of people depend on the ecosystem for their livelihood and sustenance through activities such as fishing.

Recommendations to Reduce Air Pollution

• The study recommends promoting solar and wind energy, transitioning to electric transportation, and subsidizing LPG as ways to reduce air pollution in the Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem.
• Other recommendations include regulating tourism, banning diesel generators, imposing restrictions on carbon-emitting industries, and regulating brick kilns to further reduce air pollution in the area.

"New IFG Report Unveiled"

International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Report on International Forest Governance.

Key Concerns related to IFG

• Limited success in reducing deforestation.
• Deforestation rate of about 10 million hectares per year as of 2020.
• Increased crowding and fragmentation due to new actors and instruments.
• Climate crisis leading to commodification of forests for carbon sequestration.
• Rise of new markets focusing on short-term gains over sustainability.
• Limited role of community-led and philanthropic financing mechanisms.

Recommendations

• Setting prices on environmental and social externalities.
• Recognition and management of public goods.
• Establishing alternative funding schemes.
• Adopting a Polycentric governance approach in an interdependent system.

About IFG

• Policy, legal, and institutional frameworks for international decision-making on forests.
• Stakeholders include UNFF, CPF, forest-related international conventions, and regional agreements.

"ICMR's 17 Dietary Guidelines for Indians"

Importance of Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGIs)

• DGIs focus on achieving optimal nutrition through a food-based approach by recommending specific amounts of nutrients to be consumed through food for a balanced diet.
• A balanced diet should consist of a limited percentage of calories from cereals, millets, pulses, beans, meat, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and milk.

Reasons for Implementing DGIs

• Dual burden of malnutrition: Many children in India suffer from both undernutrition and overweight/obesity.
• Disease burden: Unhealthy diets contribute to a significant portion of the disease burden in India.
• Changing dietary preferences: Aggressive marketing of unhealthy, highly processed foods can lead to long-term health issues.

Key Highlights of DGIs

• Include a variety of oil seeds, nuts, nutricereals, and legumes in daily diet to meet fat and essential fatty acid needs.
• Read food labels to make informed and healthy food choices.
• Limit consumption of high-fat, sugar, and salt foods as well as ultra-processed foods.
• Combine a balanced diet with regular physical activity for overall health and well-being.

Initiatives for Nutritional Security in India

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, 1975.
• Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
• Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• 'My Plate for the Day' initiative by National Institution of Nutrition to promote dietary diversity.

"Breakthrough mRNA Vaccine for Brain Cancer"

University of Florida Scientists Develop Groundbreaking Vaccine for Glioblastoma

• Scientists at the University of Florida have developed a vaccine that has shown promising results in its first human clinical trial for glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor.
• Brain cancer treatment is difficult due to poor responses to chemotherapy and debilitating side effects from radiotherapy and surgery.

mRNA Vaccines: A New Approach to Vaccination

• mRNA vaccines use genetic molecules to instruct cells to produce proteins that match up with parts of pathogens, prompting the immune system to respond.
• This technology delivers genetic material in lipid nanoparticles to train the immune system for potential future attacks.

Different Types of Vaccines

• Live-attenuated vaccines contain weakened live pathogens, such as the MMR vaccine.
• Inactivated vaccines use deactivated live pathogens to create immunity without causing disease, like the polio vaccine.
• Viral vector vaccines use harmless viruses to deliver genetic material to host cells, as seen in the Ebola vaccine.
• Subunit vaccines are made from pieces of pathogens and can be produced from the original pathogen or recombinantly, like pneumococcal vaccines.

"New Act on Inter-Services Organizations"

Empowering C-i-C and O-i-C of ISOs

• The Act aims to give the Commander-in-Chief (C-i-C) and Officer-in-Command (O-i-C) of Inter-Services Organizations (ISOs) disciplinary and administrative powers over serving or attached personnel.
• Currently, C-i-Cs or O-i-Cs of ISOs do not have the authority to exercise disciplinary or administrative powers over personnel from other services.

Key highlights of the Act

• ISO: The central government can establish an ISO with personnel from at least two of the three services: Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Existing ISOs like Andaman & Nicobar Command, Defense Space Agency, and National Defense Academy will be considered as constituted under the Act.
• Commanding Officer (CO): The Act allows for a Commanding Officer to lead a unit, ship, or establishment and initiate disciplinary or administrative actions over personnel.
• Applicability: The Act applies to all personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as individuals from other forces as notified by the Central Government.

Significance

• The Act aims to expedite the resolution of cases, prevent multiple proceedings, reduce financial burdens, and promote greater integration and jointness among the Armed Forces.

"UNGA Resolution: Palestine to Join UN Security Council"

UN Resolution on Palestinian Membership

• The Resolution does not grant full membership to Palestinians but acknowledges their qualification to join the UN.
• India voted in favor of the resolution.

Process for Admission of New Members to the UN

• States must accept Charter commitments by submitting an application to the Secretary-General.
• The UN Security Council (UNSC) requires affirmative votes from 9 out of 15 members and no vetoes by the 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, and the US).
• If the SC recommends, then the UN General Assembly (UNGA) requires a two-thirds majority vote for the admission of a new state.
• Membership becomes effective upon the adoption of the resolution.

India-Palestine Relations

• India was the first non-Arab State to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974.
• India was also among the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988.
• India's relations with Palestine are influenced by its relations with Israel.
• In the 2nd decade of the 21st century, India began implementing a de-hyphenation foreign policy when dealing with both countries.

De-hyphenation Foreign Policy

• De-hyphenation involves dealing with two countries with an adversarial relationship independently.
• This approach allows India to build relationships with each country separately, without being influenced by their relationship with each other.
• India's de-hyphenation policy has enabled it to leverage its position in areas such as defense, energy security, and trade.