Daily Current Affairs UPSC 26 April 2024

Cardamom

Reasons for Rising Cardamom Prices

• Rapid Increase in Prices.
• Lower Production Due to Lack of Rainfall.

Information about Small Cardamom

• Definition and Description of Small Cardamom.
• Nickname 'Queen of Spices' for its Aroma and Taste.
• Origin in Western Ghats of Southern India.
• Major Producers: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

Favorable Growing Conditions for Small Cardamom

• Ideal Soil: Loamy and Acidic.
• Required Rainfall: 1500-2500 mm.
• Optimal Temperature: 15°C to 35°C.
• Best Elevation: 800-1300 meters above sea level.

Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)

Celebrating a Decade of Climate Technology Advancement

• The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
• The CTCN is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Established in 2014, the CTCN is the implementation arm of the Technology Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Role of CTCN in Climate Technology Advancement

• The Technology Mechanism was established in 2010 to accelerate and enhance climate technology development and transfer.
• Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, the CTCN promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate resilient development at the request of developing countries.

Blue Whales

Blue whales have returned to the Seychelles after 60 years

• Blue whales, the largest and loudest animals on Earth, have been spotted near the Seychelles after a 60-year absence.
• Blue whales are the largest and loudest animals on the planet, and they can be found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean.
• They have a lifespan estimated at around 80 to 90 years and are known to sometimes swim in small groups but are more often found alone or in pairs.
• Blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill, which are marine crustaceans.
• Threats to blue whales include vessel strikes, commercial whaling, and other human activities.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists blue whales as endangered.

Climate Promise Initiative

Climate Promise 2025: UN Development Programme's Next Stage of Climate Promise Initiative

• The Climate Promise Initiative is designed to assist developing countries in their efforts to address climate change.
• It is the largest support program for developing countries in enhancing and implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• Each country that is a party to the Paris Agreement must create an NDC that outlines their goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.
• Climate Promise 2025 seeks to help developing countries align their NDCs with the objectives of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Zero Shadow Day

Zero Shadow Day is a rare celestial phenomenon where the sun aligns perfectly overhead, causing vertical objects to cast no shadows.

Frequency of Zero Shadow Day

• This phenomenon occurs twice a year, once during Summer Solstice and once during Winter Solstice, in regions situated between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Regional Differences

• The zero shadow days vary for different places, depending on their geographical location between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)

Market Growth of NaaS in India

• The market for NaaS in India is projected to grow significantly from $1.18 billion in 2024 to $7.32 billion by 2029.
• NaaS, or Network as a Service, is a cloud service model where customers rent networking services from cloud providers.
• This model allows for flexible payment based on usage and the ability to scale services as business needs evolve.
• NaaS enables customers to operate networks without the need to maintain their own networking infrastructure.
• In contrast to the traditional network model that requires capital expenses for physical networks, NaaS eliminates the need for investments in switches, routers, and licensing.

Atacama Desert

Discovery of Extreme Microbes in Atacama Desert

• Researchers have discovered a biosphere of extreme microbes located 13 feet below the surface of the Atacama Desert.
• This discovery could provide valuable insights for the search for life on Mars.

Characteristics of Atacama Desert

• The Atacama Desert is one of the driest coastal deserts in the world, stretching nearly 1,000 km along the coast of northern Chile.
• It is situated between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
• The desert is known for its unique combination of environmental extremes, including extreme dryness, high levels of UV radiation, and highly saline and oxidizing soils.

Atacama Desert as an Analog for Mars

• Due to its harsh conditions, the Atacama Desert is often used as an analog for studying the environmental challenges present on Mars.
• The discovery of extreme microbes in the Atacama Desert could provide valuable information for scientists researching the potential for life on Mars.

Liquid Nitrogen

Monitoring the Use of Liquid Nitrogen in Food Items

• The Commissioner of Food Safety in Tamil Nadu has instructed officials to keep a close watch on the use of liquid nitrogen in food items.
• Liquid nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable, non-corrosive, and extremely cold element.
• It is an inert cryogenic fluid with a temperature of −196 °C, created by compressing and cooling nitrogen gas below its evaporation point.
• Liquid nitrogen is commonly used for freezing and transporting food products, as well as in cryotherapy.
• However, it can have harmful effects such as rapidly freezing skin tissue and eye fluid, leading to cold burns and frostbite. 

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975)

• Remembering Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his 49th Death Anniversary.

Background of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

• Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a renowned scholar, philosopher, and statesman.

Notable Contributions of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

• He served as the Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962 and as the President of India from 1962 to 1967.
• He was elected to the constituent Assembly.
• Some of his literary works include The Principal Upanishads, The Hindu view of Life, and Dhammapada.
• He received knighthood in 1931 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
• His birthday on September 5 is celebrated as 'Teacher's Day' in honor of his contributions to education and philosophy.

Values upheld by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

• Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was known for embodying values such as wisdom, leadership, and sympathy.
   

"Inheritance Tax: Redistributing Wealth"

Inheritance Tax vs. Estate Tax

• Inheritance tax is imposed on property inherited upon an individual's death, while estate tax is levied on the total value of a deceased person's estate.
• Many countries, such as Japan and South Korea, have inheritance tax with high tax rates.

History of Inheritance Tax in India

• India currently does not have an inheritance tax, but had estate duty imposed in 1953 with a tax rate reaching up to 85%.
• Estate duty was abolished in 1985 due to its unpopularity, and gift tax and wealth tax were also imposed and later abolished in 1998 and 2015 respectively.

Debate on Inheritance Tax in India

• The debate on whether India should reintroduce inheritance tax to address economic inequality is ongoing.
• Proponents argue that it can help redistribute wealth and reduce inequality, while opponents believe it may discourage savings and investments.

888 table 

"WTO Marks 30 Years of Marrakesh Agreement"

Marrakesh Agreement and the Establishment of the WTO

The Marrakesh Agreement was signed in 1994 in Morocco by 123 countries, leading to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. This agreement replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) as an international organization.

Key Points of the Marrakesh Agreement

The Marrakesh Agreement serves as the basic framework for trade relations among all WTO members. It expanded the scope of trade beyond goods to services, intellectual property, and other topics. The agreement established a modern multilateral trading system, facilitating negotiations, dispute settlement, and economic cooperation among members. It also created the governance structure of the WTO, including the Ministerial Conference, General Council, and specialized councils.

Achievements of the WTO

Since its establishment, the WTO has helped lower trade barriers, leading to a 2.7 times expansion in world trade volume and a decrease in average tariffs from 10.5% to 6.4%. The rise of Global Value Chains has been significant, with trade within these chains accounting for almost 70% of total merchandise trade. Developing countries have experienced fast poverty reduction and increased purchasing power. The WTO has also been instrumental in the creation of international trade agreements and rules such as the TRIPS Agreement, Nairobi Package, Trade Facilitation Agreement, and Doha Development Agenda.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Established in 1995, the WTO is the only international organization dealing with global trade rules between nations. Its objective is to help members use trade to raise living standards, create jobs, and improve people's lives. With 166 members, including India, the WTO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and typically makes decisions by consensus.

"Russia Blocks UN Resolution on Space Weapons"

Resolution on Peaceful Use of Outer Space

• A resolution proposed by the United States and Japan aims to require all States, especially those with significant space capabilities, to actively contribute to the peaceful use of outer space and prevent an arms race in that domain.

Weaponization of Outer Space

• Weaponization of outer space involves placing destructive machinery in orbit, including ground-based systems designed to destroy space-based assets. This can include missile systems, dual-use technologies, space debris, and the use of space-based assets for military purposes.

Outer Space Treaty of 1967

• The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 establishes the basic framework for international space law and prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in outer space. India is a party to this treaty.

Other International Treaties/Resolutions

• In addition to the Outer Space Treaty, there are other international agreements such as the Rescue Agreement of 1968, Space Liability Convention of 1972, Launch Registration Convention of 1975, Moon Agreement of 1979, and UN Resolution on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) that aim to promote the peaceful use of outer space.

"UNESCO's 2024 Gender Report: Technology on Her Terms"

Impact of technology on girls’ education:

• Technology can help overcome barriers to education access for girls in crisis situations, such as the M-shule platform in Kenya that delivers education through text messages.
• There is a digital divide where fewer girls and women have access to technology compared to men, with fewer women owning mobile phones and having internet access.
• Social media can have negative effects on girls' well-being and reinforce gender norms, with increased social media interaction at a young age associated with socioemotional difficulties.
• Cyberbullying is common and can be worsened by deepfakes created using AI technology.

Role of Education in shaping technological development:

• There is an underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, with fewer women graduating in STEM compared to men.
• Women hold less than 25% of science, engineering, and ICT jobs, indicating a lack of female representation in technological design and deployment.
• Negative gender stereotypes and low expectations from parents and teachers can impact girls' aspirations in STEM fields.

 Recommendations from the report:

• Establish bodies to evaluate education technology and algorithms to identify and address negative gender stereotypes and well-being impacts.
• Encourage more girls to pursue scientific careers and promote female leadership in artificial intelligence and technology development.
• Invest in gender-responsive education and training programs to enhance digital literacy and skills for all, rather than focusing solely on infrastructure improvements.

"UN Trade and Development: A New Era for UNCTAD"

Rebranding for UNCTAD's 60th Anniversary

• The organization is rebranding to mark the beginning of its 60th anniversary, showing a commitment to increasing its global influence on behalf of developing countries.
• Genesis: Established in 1964 by the United Nations General Assembly as a permanent intergovernmental body.
• Objective: To assist developing countries, especially the least developed and transitioning economies, in effectively integrating into the global economy.
• Assistance: UNCTAD helps countries understand options to address macro-level development challenges, diversify economies, and limit exposure to financial volatility.
• Members: 195 nations, including India.
• HQ: Located in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Key Reports: UNCTAD publishes reports such as the Trade & Development report, World Investment report, and the Least Developed Countries report.

Key Achievements

• Implementation of Financing for Development as mandated by the global community in the Addis Ababa Agenda (2015) alongside major institutional stakeholders like the World Bank, IMF, WTO, and UNDP.
• Assistance provided to countries under the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS) Programme.

"EU Parliament Approves Corporate Sustainability Directive"

• CS3D aims to promote sustainable and responsible corporate behavior by incorporating human rights and environmental considerations into companies' operations and governance.

Key Features of CS3D:

• Due Diligence Requirement: Companies must assess their actual and potential adverse impacts, such as pollution and child labor.
• Transition Plan: Companies must develop a plan to align their business model with the global warming limit set by the Paris Agreement.
• Coverage: EU companies and parent companies with over 1000 employees and a worldwide turnover exceeding 450 million euro are included. Non-EU companies with similar turnover thresholds in the EU are also covered.

Penalties for Violations:

• Companies that violate CS3D regulations may face penalties such as fines of up to 5% of their net worldwide turnover and "naming and shaming."

Concerns Related to CS3D:

• Developing and underdeveloped countries may face challenges complying with CS3D regulations as they may require additional resources to meet the requirements.