Daily Current Affairs UPSC 20 April 2024

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)

Investment in iBUS Network and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd by NIIF.

• NIIF has made a $200 million investment in iBUS Network and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.
• NIIF, established in 2015, is a Sovereign-linked Alternative Asset Manager with the Government of India holding a 49% share.
• It serves as a collaborative investment platform for both international and Indian investors.
• NIIF operates in two main asset classes: Indian Infrastructure and Growth Equity.
• The organization was set up as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• The governing council of NIIF is led by the Finance Minister of India.
• Key funds under NIIF include the Master Fund and the Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF).

DURGA-2 ( Directionally Unrestricted Ray Gun Array)

DRDO developing DURGA-2

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently working on the development of DURGA-2, according to reports.
• DURGA-2 is a directed energy weapon (DEW) being developed by DRDO.
• The weapon is designed to be integrated with land, sea, and air-based platforms.

Directed Energy Weapons

• Directed energy weapons (DEW) use concentrated electromagnetic energy to combat enemy forces and assets.
• These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electromagnetics like millimeter wave and high power microwave weapons.
• DEWs are expected to be the future of anti-missile, anti-drone, and anti-aircraft warfare.

Asiatic Wild Dogs (Dhole)

Mange Outbreak Among Asiatic Wild Dogs in Mudumalai

• Mange is a skin disease caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin of mammals.
• An outbreak of mange has been reported among Asiatic wild dogs in Mudumalai.

About Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Distribution of Dhole.

• Dholes are found in countries such as India, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan, and Thailand.
• In India, they inhabit regions like the Eastern and Western Ghats, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Ladakh.

Characteristics of Dhole

• Dholes are carnivores that resemble a small wolf or domestic dog in size.
• They primarily hunt in the early morning or late evening.

Threats to Dhole

• Dholes face threats such as habitat loss and disease outbreaks.

Conservation Status of Dhole

• The IUCN lists Dholes as Endangered.
• Dholes are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, listed under Schedule I and II.
• Dholes are also listed under Appendix II of CITES.

Juno mission

• Launched in 2011 with the goal of understanding Jupiter's origin and evolution.
• Aims to investigate the existence of a possible solid planetary core and map Jupiter's magnetic field.
• Extended mission will continue until 2025 or the end of the spacecraft's life.

Juno's Closest Views of Io's Erupting Volcanoes

• NASA's Juno spacecraft captured the closest views of erupting volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io.
• Io is the most volcanically active world in the solar system.

Shompen Tribe

Shompen Tribe Participates in Lok Sabha Election.

• The Shompen tribe, who are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, recently cast their votes for the first time in the Lok Sabha Election.
• The Shompen tribe resides in the dense tropical rainforests of Great Nicobar island and belong to the Mongoloid group.
• According to the Census of 2011, the estimated population of the Shompen tribe is 229.
• The Shompen tribe are hunters and gatherers, known for hunting wild pig, python, monitor lizard, crocodile, and other animals.
• They live a semi-nomadic life and have not been colonized in one place in a defined reserve forest.

Euvichol-S

WHO Prequalifies Euvichol-S Vaccine for Cholera

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has given prequalification to the Euvichol-S vaccine for cholera, which is a simplified version of the oral cholera vaccine Euvichol-Plus.
• The Euvichol-S vaccine uses fewer ingredients, is more cost-effective, and can be produced more quickly compared to the previous version.

Cholera Overview

• Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae bacteria in the intestine.
• The disease is transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.
• The highest number of cholera cases are reported in the Middle East and Africa.
• In 2023, India reported 132 cases of cholera until July.

Dragonfly mission

NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan.

• NASA has announced that the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon Titan will be launched in 2028.
• This mission is the fourth in NASA's New Frontiers Program, following New Horizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-Rex.
• The goal of the Dragonfly mission is to explore the chemistry and habitability of multiple surface sites on Titan to investigate its habitability.
• The mission is expected to reach Titan in 2034.
• Titan is unique in our solar system as the only satellite known to have a dense atmosphere and liquid seas on its surface.

Vasuki indicus

Discovery of Giant Predator Snake Vasuki Indicus in Gujarat.

• Paleontologists recently found a massive predator snake in Gujarat's Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, known as Vasuki indicus.

Details about Vasuki Indicus

• Vasuki indicus is estimated to have lived around 47 million years ago during the Middle Eocene Period.
• The length of this giant predator snake ranged from 36 to 49 feet.
• Belonging to the Madtsoiidae snake family, Vasuki indicus first appeared approximately 90 million years ago but became extinct about 12,000 years ago.
• After the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Eurasia around 50 million years ago, Vasuki indicus spread from India through southern Eurasia and into North Africa.

Thakur Ranmat Singh

Thakur Ranmat Singh's Contribution to the Freedom Movement.

• Thakur Ranmat Singh was a Sardar in the service of the Maharaja of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Contributions

• He played a crucial role in initiating the Revolt of 1857 in Satna, Madhya Pradesh.
• Ranmat Singh established his military organization in the jungle.
• He led an attack on the English Residency of Nagaud, resulting in the death of the Resident.
• He engaged in a fierce battle with the combined army of the English and Bundelas in the field of Bhelsai.

Values Demonstrated

• Ranmat Singh exhibited values such as courage, leadership, and determination in his actions during the freedom movement.

"Israel-Iran Tensions: A Threat to Middle East Stability"

Impact of Iran's Attack on Israel and Israel's Retaliation.

Instability in the Middle East Region:

• The recent attack by Iran on Israel and Israel's subsequent retaliation has raised concerns about instability in the Middle East.
• The conflict has the potential to escalate and impact global trade and energy security.

Effect on Global Trade:

• Shipping disruptions in key chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea have been observed.
• Recent incidents include Iran seizing an Israel-linked ship near the Strait of Hormuz and Houthis hijacking a commercial ship in the Red Sea.
• These disruptions can affect global trade routes, including the Suez Canal, leading to increased volatility in oil prices.

Potential Nuclear Flashpoint:

• Israel is believed to be nuclear-capable, raising concerns about a potential nuclear flashpoint in the region.
• This adds to the already existing tensions and instability in the Middle East.

Impacts on India:

• The conflict in the Middle East can have direct impacts on India, affecting the security of the large Indian diaspora in the region.
• Disruptions in the supply of crude oil can also impact India's energy security.
• Increased risk of piracy and hostage-taking in the region can further complicate the situation for India. 

IRDAI Marks 25th Anniversary

• **Genesis**: IRDAI was established based on the recommendations of the Malhotra Committee. It became an autonomous body in 1999 and was incorporated as a statutory body in 2000 under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
• **Objectives**: The main objectives of IRDAI include ensuring the speedy and orderly growth of the insurance industry, facilitating the quick settlement of genuine claims, and providing an effective grievance redressal mechanism.
• **Ministry**: IRDAI operates under the Ministry of Finance.
• **Duties and Responsibilities**: IRDAI is responsible for certifying insurance companies, protecting the interests of policyholders, and adjudicating disputes.

**Significance of IRDAI in transforming the Insurance sector**

• **Growth**: IRDAI has played a significant role in increasing insurance penetration and density in India. Insurance penetration has increased to 4.2% in 2021-22 from 2.71% in 2001-02, while insurance density has risen to $91 in 2021-22 from $11.5 in 2001-02.
• **Increased Employment**: The introduction of new intermediaries like Corporate agents, Bancassurance, and online sales has led to increased employment opportunities in the insurance sector.
• **Modernization**: IRDAI has driven the modernization of the insurance sector through initiatives such as e-KYC, paperless policies, and digital payments.

**Initiatives of IRDAI**

• **Integrated Grievance Management System**: IRDAI has implemented an Integrated Grievance Management System to streamline the process of addressing policyholder grievances.
• **Saral Jeevan Bima**: This is a standard term life insurance product introduced by IRDAI to simplify the insurance buying process for customers.
• **Saral Pension**: IRDAI has also launched Saral Pension, an immediate annuity plan to provide financial security to individuals post-retirement.
• **Bima Sugam**: This is a one-stop digital platform introduced by IRDAI to make insurance products more accessible to customers.

"India delivers BrahMos missiles to Philippines"

Defence Exports from India

• India has recently delivered military hardware to Guyana as part of a USD 375 million agreement made in 2022.
• Two Dornier 228 aircraft were sent to Guyana, expanding export linkages to Caribbean nations.
• These developments mark significant progress in India's defence exports.

Key Points on Defence Exports

• India exports military hardware to approximately 85 countries, including missiles, artillery guns, rockets, and armoured vehicles.
• In FY 2023-24, exports reached a record high of Rs. 21,083 crore.
• Opportunities include strategic leverage and enhancing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Challenges and Initiatives

• Challenges include delays in export clearances and historical perceptions of inconsistency in quality.
• Initiatives such as the Draft Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy aim to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 crore in the defence sector.
• Simplification of export procedures through platforms like India Defence Mart and schemes like SPDE and iDEX are being implemented.

About BrahMos Missile

• Developed through a joint venture between India and Russia, the BrahMos Missile is a two-stage Supersonic Cruise Missile.
• It travels at speeds of around 2-3 Mach and is propelled by jet engines.
• Key features include a fire and forget principle of operation, a long flight range of 290km, and a low radar signature.

WHO Launches Patient Safety Rights Charter at Global Summit

Development of Charter under World Patient Safety Day 2023

• The Charter was created as part of World Patient Safety Day 2023 with the theme of "Engaging patients for patient safety." It aims to provide healthcare workers, leaders, and governments with the necessary tools to establish patient-centered healthcare systems that enhance patient safety and reduce the risk of harm.

Implementation of Global Patient Safety (GPS) Action Plan 2021-2030

• The Charter is a crucial resource designed to support the implementation of the Global Patient Safety (GPS) Action Plan 2021-2030. India has already signed this action plan, showing a commitment to improving patient safety.

Patient Safety Concerns and Initiatives

• Patient safety involves organized activities within healthcare systems to promote safety and minimize harm to patients. Concerns include high rates of patient harm and deaths due to unsafe care, with preventable harm being a significant issue. Various initiatives, both global and in India, have been implemented to address patient safety challenges.

Patient Safety Rights Covered in the Charter

• The Charter outlines 10 Patient Safety Rights, including the right to timely, effective, and appropriate care, the right to safe healthcare processes and practices, the right to qualified health workers, and the right to safe medical products. Other rights include access to medical records, dignity, respect, and engagement of patients and families in decision-making processes.

"SC Declares Indian Forests as National Asset"

Supreme Court's Perspective on Environmental Protection.

• In the State Of Telangana vs Mohd. Abdul Qasim case, the Supreme Court emphasized the need to shift from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric approach to environmental protection. 
• Anthropocentric approach focuses on human needs and views nature in relation to those needs, while ecocentric approach prioritizes the needs of nature and considers humans as part of the ecosystem.
• The judgment also highlighted the financial benefits of forests, stating that a country with excess forest cover can sell its carbon credits to those in deficit, with a carbon sink of 24,000 mt of CO2 being valued at $120 billion.
• Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, as per the RBI report, and the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of "Green Accounting" in evaluating a nation's wealth, including its natural assets.

Key Supreme Court Judgements on Environmental Protection

• In M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (2000), the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of considering Article 48A and 51A in light of Article 21 of the Constitution, stating that any disturbance to basic environmental elements necessary for life would be hazardous within the meaning of Article 21.
• Municipal Corpn. of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha (2022) highlighted the concepts of Environmental Justice and Environmental Equity, emphasizing the need for fairness and justice in environmental decision-making.

India's FY24 pulses imports surge to 6-year high

Reasons for India Importing Pulses

• To maintain stable supplies in the domestic market and control prices.
• Pulses inflation was at 17% in March 2024 due to a shortfall in domestic output following deficit rainfall.
• Ministry of Agriculture estimates lower pulses production in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.

India's Position in the Pulses Market

• India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses globally.
• Imported 4.65 million metric tons of pulses in FY2023-24.
• Major producing states include Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Major import countries are Canada, Australia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Brazil.

Characteristics and Importance of Pulses

• Pulses are leguminous crops harvested for dry seeds like chickpeas and pigeon peas.
• Grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, with Rabi pulses contributing over 60% of total production.
• Major sources of protein and improve soil fertility through nitrogen-fixing properties.

Initiatives to Promote Pulses

• National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aims to increase rice, wheat, and pulses production.
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme ensures Minimum Support Price to farmers and procurement of pulses under Price Support Scheme.