Daily Current Affairs UPSC 15 October 2024

Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

• EnviStats India-2024 has ranked Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve as the top tiger reserve for its large leopard population.
• Located in the Nallamala hill ranges in Andhra Pradesh, Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve consists of two wildlife sanctuaries.
• The natural vegetation in the reserve is Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest with bamboo and grass undergrowth.
• The fauna in the reserve includes tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Asiatic wild dogs, jackals, sambar, and wild boar.
• The River Krishna flows through the reserve, and there are waterfalls like Ethpothala Falls, Pedda Dukudu, Gundam, and Chaleswaram.

e-Migrate Portal

• The e-Migrate portal and mobile app were launched by the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Labor & Employment.
• The e-Migrate portal is an online platform designed to help Indian workers seeking employment abroad by providing services such as information access, documentation, and helpline support.
• The portal features a 24/7 multilingual helpline and integration with Digilocker for secure document storage, allowing for paperless clearance at immigration.
• The platform also brings together foreign employers, registered recruitment agents, and insurance companies to promote safe and legal migration.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for White Goods (PLIWG)

• The online application window for PLIWG received a significant response, with 43% of new applicants coming from the MSME sector.
• PLIWG aims to provide financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the White Goods manufacturing value chain.
• The target segments for PLIWG are air conditioners and LED lights.
• The expected outcome of PLIWG is to increase domestic value addition from 15-20% to 75-80%.
• PLIWG is managed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Eligibility for the incentive includes companies making brownfield or greenfield investments for manufacturing in the target segments in India.
• The tenure for PLIWG is from FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29.

Atmospheric Rivers

• Global weather patterns are being reshaped as atmospheric rivers move towards higher latitudes due to changes in sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific.
• Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands in the atmosphere that carry most of the water vapor outside of the tropics, playing a crucial role in replenishing water supplies.
• The shifting of atmospheric rivers could lead to longer droughts and reduced water supplies in subtropical areas, impacting agriculture.
• Higher latitude regions may experience more extreme rainfall, flooding, and landslides as a result of the changing atmospheric rivers.
• The increase in atmospheric rivers could accelerate sea-ice melting in the Arctic, contributing to global warming and affecting wildlife.

Indian Pharmacopoeia commission (IPC)

• The Drugs Controller General of India has announced that 11 countries have recognized the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as their standard for drugs.
• The IP sets standards for the identity, purity, and strength of drugs that are essential for healthcare purposes, and it is published and updated by the IPC.
• The IPC is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that is responsible for setting drug standards in the country.
• The IPC regularly revises and publishes the IP and National Formulary of India, and provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) that can be used as a fingerprint for identifying drugs during testing.

Diphtheria

• A WHO team has arrived in Deeg, Rajasthan due to the increasing cases of Diphtheria.
• Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by toxin-producing bacteria, mainly affecting children from newborns to 16 years old.
• The disease spreads from person to person through coughing or sneezing.
• Vaccines for Diphtheria are often given in combination with tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and inactivated polio.
• In India, Diphtheria is covered under the Universal Immunization Program and is given as DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis).

X-band Radar

• The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved the installation of an X-band radar in Kerala's Wayanad district in response to recent floods and landslides.
• X-band radar uses radio waves to determine the distance, velocity, and physical characteristics of objects.
• An X-band radar emits radiation in the X-band (8-12 GHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum, which corresponds to smaller wavelengths of around 2-4 cm.
• The radar's small wavelengths allow it to produce images of higher resolution but have a relatively shorter range.
• The installation of the X-band radar will help monitor the movement of particles, such as soil, to provide early warnings for landslides.

Europa Clipper

• NASA's Europa Clipper is on a mission to Jupiter to explore its moon Europa and investigate the possibility of life-supporting conditions.
• The spacecraft is equipped with instruments like ice-penetrating radar, cameras, and a thermal instrument to study Europa's icy surface and potential water eruptions.
• Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft developed by NASA for a planetary mission and the first dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth.
• Evidence suggests Europa has a vast, salty ocean beneath its icy surface, containing more water than Earth.
• The spacecraft will begin orbiting Jupiter in 2030 and conduct flybys of Europa starting in 2031.

Colombia (Capital: Bogotá)

India and Colombia have signed an Audio-visual Co-production Agreement.

Political Features:

• India shares land boundaries with Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Panama to the north, and Peru and Ecuador to the south.
• Maritime boundaries include the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
• Colombia is known as the Gateway of South America as it connects the continent with Central and North America.
• Colombia joined the OECD in 2020.

Geographical Features:

• The highest point in Colombia is Pico Cristobal Colon.
• The climate in Colombia is tropical along the coast and eastern plains, while it is cooler in the highlands.
• Major rivers in Colombia include the Magdalena, Amazon, and Orinoco.
• Natural resources in Colombia include petroleum, natural gas, coal, and gold.

"HC Directs Improvements for Rare Disease Medications"

In the case of Master Arnesh Shaw v. Union of India & Anr., the Delhi High Court emphasized that the Right to Health is a fundamental part of the Right to Life (Article 21) and should be upheld for all individuals, regardless of whether they have prevalent or rare diseases.

Key Directions 

To Union of India:

• Establish the National Rare Diseases Fund (NRDF) to make treatments more affordable and accessible.
• Include donations for rare diseases in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 to allow for CSR contributions.
• Administer the NRDF through a National rare disease cell within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Develop and launch a centralized National Rare Disease Information Portal with patient registry and treatment information within three months.
• Direct the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to create a dedicated Fast Track approval process for rare disease drugs and therapies within 60 days.

To Pharmaceutical Companies:

• Ensure an adequate supply of therapies and medicines for rare diseases in India through manufacturing or imports.
• Companies importing rare disease therapies must submit a plan for establishing local manufacturing or distribution facilities within 90 days to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Rare Disease Committee.

About Rare Diseases (RD):

• Rare diseases are defined by the World Health Organization as debilitating lifelong diseases or disorders with a prevalence of 1 or less per 1000 population, such as Cystic Fibrosis and Pompe Disease.

Initiatives for Rare Diseases:

• The National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 aims to reduce the incidence and prevalence of rare diseases through a comprehensive preventive strategy.
• The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi provides financial assistance to poor patients suffering from rare diseases.

"ANRF Launches PMECRG and MAHA-EV Initiative"

These are the initial two projects of ANRF that will help connect academic research with practical industrial use, leading to significant transformation.

About Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG)

• The goal is to establish India as a frontrunner in the fields of science and technology through a budget that allows for easy research and supports young researchers.
• This initiative is important because it promotes cutting-edge research and helps researchers push the boundaries of knowledge to advance technology.

About Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas -Electric Vehicle (MAHA-EV)

• The focus is on developing key EV technologies to reduce reliance on imports and promote domestic innovation, in line with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
• The mission will concentrate on three important technology areas: Tropical EV Batteries and Battery Cells, Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives, and EV Charging Infrastructure, to improve domestic capabilities in designing and developing essential EV components.
• The significance of the mission is to establish India as a hub for EV component development, boosting global competitiveness and innovation. Additionally, by speeding up the transition to electric mobility, it will help create a greener and more sustainable future.

About ANRF

• Created under the ANRF Act 2023 and falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Science & Technology.
• The Science and Engineering Research Board is now part of ANRF.
• Its goal is to support and encourage research and development, as well as cultivate a culture of innovation in universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D labs across India.
• Acts as the main authority to give strategic guidance for scientific research in the country based on the National Education Policy recommendations.

"India takes action in diplomatic dispute with Canada"

• Canada requested India to remove diplomatic immunity from its officials accused of involvement in an investigation, a request India found unreasonable.
• Diplomatic immunity is a rule in international law that protects foreign government officials from being prosecuted by local courts for their official and personal actions.
• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, adopted in 1961, grants privileges and immunities to diplomatic personnel. India became a party to the convention in 1965 and officially ratified it in 1972 through the Diplomatic Relations (Vienna Convention) Act of 1972.

Recent Fallout in India- Canada Relations

• Khalistani Extremists Issue: Sikh separatist groups supported by Canada causing diplomatic fallout
• Indian Sovereignty: Canada's support of Khalistani activities like unofficial referendum attacks India's sovereignty
• Security Cooperation: Extradition requests for terrorists and organized crime leaders disregarded by Canada
• Defunct Agreements: Lack of progress on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
• Vote Bank Politics: Sikh community in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia form key vote bank for Liberal Party

India-Canada Relations

• Bilateral trade in goods decreased in 2023 to USD 7.65 billion from USD 10.50 billion in 2022.
• Consular Matters were addressed through the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in 1994 and the Extradition Treaty in 1987.
• The Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2010, leading to the establishment of the Joint Committee on Civil Nuclear Cooperation.
• In the space sector, ISRO launched its 100th Satellite from PSLV in 2018 and also launched Canada's first LEO satellite.

Celebrating Three Years of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity (PMGS-NMP)

PMGS-NMP was introduced in 2021 to offer diverse connectivity infrastructure to different economic zones.

Key Achievements of PMGS-NMP

• Whole of Government Integration: PMGS-NMP has successfully integrated 44 Central Ministries and 36 States/UTs for infrastructure projects.
• Infrastructure Planning: Over 8,891 km of roads, 27,000 km railway lines, and 300 km coastal corridor in Gujarat have been planned using NMP.
• Social Sector Impact: Improved infrastructure planning in areas like healthcare, education, and tribal development, especially in remote regions.
• State Master Plans: All States/UTs have established PM GatiShakti State Master Plan portals to streamline capital investments.
• Trade Facilitation: NMP has helped reduce logistics costs and improved India's Logistics Performance Index rank.
• Data-Driven Development: GIS-based tools and real-time monitoring are used for informed decision-making and aligning projects with national priorities.
• District-Level Planning: PMGS - District Master Plan portal is being developed for collaborative planning at the district level.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan

• Objective: To create next-generation infrastructure by utilizing digital master planning tools.
• Development: NMP was created as a Digital Master Planning Tool by BISAG-N to provide a comprehensive database of ongoing and future projects.
• Seven Engines: NMP focuses on Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, and Logistics Infrastructure for development.

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics Awarded

• Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson were given an award for their research on how institutions are created and impact a country's wealth.
• Their work shows that societal institutions play a crucial role in determining a nation's prosperity.
• They also pointed out that democracy emerged in different colonies because the threat of revolution from the public could not be addressed solely through promises of social change.

Differences in Countries’ Prosperity

Wealth Disparity Due to Societal Institutions

• The richest 20% of countries are now 30 times richer than the poorest 20% due to differences in societal institutions established by European colonizers.
• Extractive Institutions
  
  • These institutions were formed in some colonies to exploit the indigenous population and extract natural resources for the benefit of the colonizers.
  • This led to a reversal of fortunes as richer nations turned poor after colonization.
  • For example, India had higher industrial production compared to the USA in the mid-18th century before colonization.
• Inclusive Institutions
  
  • Colonizers built inclusive political and economic systems for the long-term benefit of European settlers in colonies that were sparsely populated and supported more European settlers.
• Factors Influencing Development of Societal Institutions
  
  • Factors such as the number of European settlers, settler mortality due to prevalent diseases in the region (more deadly diseases near the equator), and geography or climate zone influenced the development of different societal institutions.

"National Electricity Plan (Transmission) Launched by Union Ministry of Power"

• The NEP (Transmission) has been developed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) as per the Electricity Act 2003.
• It aims to establish the link between power generation sources and distribution systems for ultimate consumers.

Key Highlights of NEP (Transmission)

• The goal is to transmit 500 GW of Renewable Energy Installed Capacity by 2030 and over 600 GW by 2032.
• It aims to meet a peak demand of 458 GW by 2032 and expand the transmission network from 4.85 lakh ckm in 2024 to 6.48 lakh ckm in 2032.
• Plans to increase inter-regional transmission capacity to 168 GW by 2032, incorporating innovative elements like offshore wind farms, battery energy storage systems, and pumped storage plants.
• Aims to address power needs of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia Manufacturing hubs in coastal locations.
• Includes cross border interconnections with neighboring countries and potential interconnections with other countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Challenges in India’s Transmission System

• Challenges include transmission losses, integration issues with renewable sources, outdated technology, regulatory focus on generation, and cyber security concerns.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Overview

• The CEA was established under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, which was replaced by the Electricity Act 2003.
• It consists of up to 14 members, including a Chairperson, with not more than 8 full-time members appointed by the Central Government.
• Functions include advising the Central Government on National Electricity Policy and specifying technical standards for electric plants, lines, and grid connectivity.