Daily Current Affairs UPSC 14 June 2024

Pantanal Wetland

• The Pantanal wetlands in South America are currently facing devastating wildfires.
• The Pantanal wetlands are the largest tropical wetland in the world, spanning Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
• It is home to a diverse range of wildlife and is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.
• The wetlands are flooded seasonally by the waters of the Paraguay River System.
• Despite its importance, less than 5% of the Pantanal is protected, with the majority under private ownership.
• Threats to the Pantanal include cattle grazing, pollution from untreated waste and pesticides, and unsustainable infrastructure development.

Camel

UN declares 2024 as International Year of Camelids

• Aim is to raise awareness of the untapped potential of camelids.

Characteristics of Camels

• Found in Africa and Asia.
• Domesticated mammals that are herbivores.
• Can survive in hot conditions and are used as draught animals.

Types of Camels

• Dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump.
• Bactrian camel has two humps.

Camels in India

• State animal of Rajasthan.
• Kharai Camel can swim long distances in the sea to eat Mangroves in Kutch, Gujarat.
• Bactrian camels are found in Ladakh's Nubra Valley.
• Dromedaries camels are found in hot deserts in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

GREAT Scheme

• The Empowered Programme Committee of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) has approved 7 startup proposals under the GREAT scheme.
• The GREAT scheme stands for Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles.
• It is part of the Research, Development, and Innovation Component of NTTM, with the Ministry of Textiles as the nodal ministry.
• The grant-in-aid for the GREAT scheme is normally up to INR 50 Lakhs for a period of 18 months.
• The objectives of the GREAT scheme include utilizing India's talent pool and expertise in the Technical Textiles sector to bring innovative products and technologies to the market.

Zero-knowledge Proofs (ZKP)

• A Hyderabad-based information insights and data analytics company has introduced ZKP blockchain technology in the country for the first time.

About ZKP

• ZKP stands for Zero-Knowledge Proof, a cryptographic protocol that allows users to prove the validity of specific information without revealing the underlying documents or facts that support it.

Benefits of ZKP technology:

• Safeguard information in the event of a cyber-breach.
• Assist businesses in meeting strict data protection regulations.
• Enable secure sharing of personal documents.

Artemis Accords

• Armenia has become the 43rd signatory nation to NASA's Artemis Accords for lunar exploration.
• The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by NASA, in coordination with the US Department of State, along with seven other founding member nations.
• There are currently 43 signatories to the Artemis Accords, including India.
• The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and are a non-binding set of principles aimed at guiding civil space exploration in the 21st century.
• The vision of the Artemis Accords is to promote peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation in space.

Symbiotic System

• NASA's Hubble Space Telescope recently observed the symbiotic system HM Sagittae (HM Sge) in the Milky Way Galaxy.

About Symbiotic Systems

• Symbiotic systems are a type of binary star system that consists of a white dwarf and a red giant.
• White dwarfs are what stars become after they have exhausted their nuclear fuel.
• Red giants are dying stars in the final stages of stellar evolution.
• In symbiotic systems, the cooler red giant loses material which flows onto the hotter compact dwarf star.
• The stolen material forms an accretion disk swirling around the white dwarf.

Shree Jagannath Temple

1. Reopening of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha. All four doors of the temple now open for devotees.

2. Overview of Shree Jagannath Temple.

• Located in Puri, Odisha, also known as White Pagoda.
• Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra.
• Constructed by Ganga Dynasty King Ananta Verman Chodaganga Deva.
• One of the Char Dhams for pilgrimages in India.

3. Architecture of Shree Jagannath Temple.

• Built in Kalinga Architecture style.
• Consists of Vimana, Jagamohana, Natamandapa, and Bhogamandapa.
• Combination of Rekha and Pidha temple structures.

Jyotirmath

• The Centre approved the renaming of Joshimath tehsil to Jyotirmath and Kosiyakutoli tehsil to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand.

Jyotirmath

• Jyotirmath is one of the four cardinal mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya in India to promote Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
• Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have performed penance in Jyotirmath under a tree called Amar Kalpavriksha.
• It is known as the winter abode of Lord Badrinath.
• Jyotirmath serves as a base camp for mountaineers attempting to climb Nanda Devi peak.

Italy (Capital: Rome)

• Location of the 50th G7 Summit in Italy.

Political Features:

• Land Boundaries: Italy shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Vatican City, and San Marino.
• Water Bodies: Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, and Ligurian Sea.

Geographical Features:

• Major Mountains Range: Italy is home to the Alps and the Apennines.
• Highest Point: The highest point in Italy is Mont Blanc, also known as Monte Bianco.
• Major Rivers: Italy is crossed by several major rivers including the Po, Tiber, Adige, and Arno.
• Climate: Italy has a Mediterranean type climate.

Montreal Protocol effective in reducing emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS): Study

Key findings

1. Impact of HCFCs on Earth's energy balance and globally averaged chlorine content of ODS has decreased since 2021, five years earlier than expected.

• HCFCs are compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine.

2. HCFC-22, the most abundant HCFC, has significantly declined with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) thousands of times more than CO2.

• HCFC-22 is used as a refrigerant in various applications.

3. Minor decline observed in HCFC-141b, the second most abundant HCFC used as a blowing agent in production of rigid polyurethane foams.

• India has achieved complete phase-out of HCFC-141b under ODS (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2014 in line with Montreal Protocol commitments.

Montreal Protocol

• Signed in 1987 as a global treaty to eliminate production and use of ODS.
• Implemented under Vienna Convention adopted in 1985.
• Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol adopted in 2016 and entered into force in 2019 to phase-down production and consumption of HFCs.
• HFCs are non-ODS alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs with a GWP thousands of times more than CO2.

Ozone and Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS)

• Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are man-made chemicals that contain chlorine and bromine, such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs.
• ODS can reach the stratosphere where they undergo reactions that lead to the destruction of ozone.
• Stratospheric ozone, also known as good ozone, is found at 10-40 kilometers above the Earth's surface and protects the Earth from the Sun's UV radiation.
• Ozone formed in the troposphere is harmful and is referred to as bad ozone.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released first All-India survey on AYUSH

Survey was conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) from July 2022 to June 2023.

• The survey gathers data on people's knowledge of the Ayush system of medicine and its applications for preventing or treating illnesses.

Key Findings 

• Awareness of Ayush system of medicine is high among both rural (95%) and urban (96%) populations aged 15 years and above.
• Ayush is primarily used for rejuvenation (preventive) purposes, followed by therapeutic (curative) treatments.
• Urban areas show higher usage of Ayush and average expenditure per person for prevention or treatment of ailments compared to rural areas.

About AYUSH System

• Represents traditional healthcare systems including Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy.
• India is the 2nd largest exporter of Ayurveda and alternative medicine globally.
• Benefits of AYUSH include negligible side effects, cost-effective treatment, individualized personal care, and complementing modern medicine.

Challenges Facing AYUSH

• Slower healing compared to allopathic treatment.
• Lack of qualitative graduation and post-graduation courses.
  Limited Research Centres of AYUSH in India.
• Raw material-related issues such as lower supplies and degrading quality.
• Underutilization of infrastructure like hospital beds, health human resources, AYUSH hospitals, and dispensaries.

Initiatives taken to Promote Ayush

• National Ayush Mission: Launched in 2014 by the Ministry of AYUSH to strengthen and improve Ayush healthcare services nationwide.
• Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit (GAIIS) 2022: Held in Gandhinagar to promote agreements, research, and increase Ayush reach globally.
• WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine: Established in Jamnagar to accelerate progress in Traditional Medicine on a global scale.
• Other Initiatives: Three National Ayush Institutes of Eminence in Ayurveda, Unani, and Homoeopathy, AYUSH Visa, etc.

Researchers find new way to cool Supercomputers

• Scientists from IIT Bombay and C-MET, Pune have suggested the use of Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) as a more effective option than traditional copper for creating cold plates.

Cooling of Supercomputers

• High-Performance Computing systems use liquid coolants and cold plates to dissipate heat.
• Cold plates transfer heat from circuit components into coolant liquid.
• Copper is currently the preferred material due to high thermal conductivity.

Use of LTCC for cold plates

• LTCC is proposed as an efficient alternative to copper for making cold plates.
• LTCC technology is used to manufacture ceramic substrates for circuits.
• LTCC facilitates 3D circuit packing, making designs more compact and efficient than conventional PCBs.
• LTCC can effectively cool microprocessor chips in supercomputers.

About Supercomputers

• Supercomputers are the largest and most powerful computers.
• Performance is measured in Floating-Point Operations Per Second (FLOPS).
• Applications include scientific research, space exploration, weather forecasting, genomic sequencing, etc.

India’s initiatives in Supercomputing

• National Supercomputing Mission is jointly steered by Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• IndiaAI Mission aims to build a high-end scalable AI computing ecosystem.
• India has collaborations with the EU on High Performance Computing.

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2024 released

• Joint Effort of SDG 7 Custodian Agencies. Report is a collaboration between IEA, IRENA, UNSD, World Bank, and WHO. Aim is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Key Highlights

• SDG 7.1.1: Number of people without electricity increased to 685 million.
• Factors include global energy crisis, inflation, and debt distress in low-income countries.
• India has 11 million people without electricity in 2022.
• SDG 7.1.2: 2.1 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuels, leading to 3.2 million premature deaths annually.
• India has the largest share of access deficit with 360 million people lacking access.
• SDG 7.2: Renewable energy share in TFEC was 18.7% in 2021.
• India has a 34.9% renewable energy share in TFEC.
• SDG 7.3: Annual improvements in energy efficiency must accelerate to over 3.8% to meet target.

Recommendations

• Close investment gap in emerging and developing economies.
• Increase investment, policy support, and deployment of renewable energy.
• Prioritize clean cooking within multi-lateral fora.

Initiatives for SDG 7 in India

• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – SAUBHAGYA: Aims for universal household electrification.
• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: Provides free solar rooftop electricity.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Replaces biomass with LPG connections for BPL families.
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE): Enhances energy efficiency in industries.

SDG 7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY:

• 7.a Make clean energy research more accessible.
• 7.b Increase the availability of sustainable energy in developing nations.
• 7.1 Guarantee that everyone has access to energy services.
• 7.2 Boost the use of renewable energy sources.
• 7.3 Enhance energy efficiency efforts to achieve double the current rate of improvement.

Ministry of Finance released ‘Guidelines for Arbitration and Mediation in Contracts of Domestic Public Procurement

• Guidelines for Streamlining Dispute Resolution in Domestic Procurement

Arbitration Process

• Arbitration is a quasi-judicial process where disputes are resolved by arbitrators.
• Governed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (amended in 2021).

Key Points of the Guidelines

• Arbitration should not be automatically included in procurement contracts, especially in large contracts.
• Arbitration may be restricted to disputes valued below Rs. 10 crores.
• Institutional arbitration should be preferred.
• Mediation under the Mediation Act, 2023, should be adopted in high-value matters.

Challenges Faced by Government

• Government officials may lack deep knowledge in arbitration due to transferable jobs.
• Arbitrators may lack integrity and collude with private parties.
• Informal and binding nature of arbitration can lead to erroneous decisions.
• Many arbitration decisions are challenged in high courts, burdening the legal system.

Potential Implications of the Guidelines

• Restrictions on arbitration may deter foreign investors.
• Could complicate the ease of doing business in India.
• May hinder India's vision of becoming an international hub of arbitration.

Global Trends Report: Forced Displacement in 2023 released by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Forced displacement occurs when individuals are forced to leave their homes due to various factors such as persecution, violence, human rights violations, disasters, food insecurity, and climate change impacts.

Key Highlights

• At the end of 2023, there were 117.3 million forcibly displaced people, with 40% being children under 18 years old.
• 68.3 million of these individuals were internally displaced people, meaning they were forced to flee within their own countries.
• 73% of refugees come from five countries: Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela, Ukraine, and South Sudan.

Impact on Host Country

• Population shock: Host countries experience a sudden increase in population due to the influx of displaced individuals.
• Public expenditure shock: Host governments must increase spending to support the needs of displaced populations.
• Demand and supply shifts: Changes in labor and consumer markets can lead to job loss and wage decreases for certain groups in the host country.

Recommendations

• Resettlement to third countries can provide protection and a long-term solution for displaced individuals.
• Enhancing integration through education and labor mobility can help refugees become self-sufficient.
• Upholding the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers in accordance with national and international laws is crucial.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Genesis: Established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly in response to the aftermath of World War II.
• Purpose: UNHCR works to protect the rights and improve the future of those forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution.
• Presence: Operates in 135 countries and has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981.