20-April-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

FOSSILS OF HUGE PREHISTORIC SNAKE FOUND IN KUTCH MINE

TOPIC: (GS1) HISTORY – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Researchers discovered fossils of a massive snake named vasuki indicus, believed to have lived 47 million years ago in kutch, gujarat.

• The snake, possibly 10 to 15 meters long, belonged to the extinct madtsoiidae family, This finding, sheds light on large body size evolution in snakes amidst high temperatures during the middle eocene period.

Carbon dating

• Principle: Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, relies on the principle of radioactive decay of carbon isotopes in organic materials.
• Carbon Isotopes: Carbon-14 (C-14) is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is naturally occurring and unstable. It decays at a known rate over time.
• Formation: Carbon-14 is formed in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms, producing C-14.
• Incorporation in Organisms: Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, and animals acquire carbon by consuming plants or other animals.
• Stable to Radioactive Ratio: While an organism is alive, the ratio of C-14 to stable carbon isotopes (C-12 and C-13) remains constant in its tissues due to continuous exchange with the environment.
• Decay Process: After the organism dies, it no longer exchanges carbon with the environment. The C-14 in its tissues begins to decay at a predictable rate.
• Half-Life: Carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5,730 years, meaning that half of the C-14 atoms in a sample decay into nitrogen-14 over that period.
• Measuring Decay: By measuring the remaining ratio of C-14 to stable carbon isotopes in a sample, scientists can calculate the age of the organic material.

ISRAEL, A TWO-STATE SOLUTION, SOME RECENT PERCEPTIONS

TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The idea of a Jewish national home has its roots shaped by religious, political, and social factors. While the concept has evolved over time, its origins are intertwined with the Zionist movement and the establishment of the State of Israel.

Historical Context:

• The idea emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries, amidst increasing anti-Semitism in Europe.
• It gained traction as a response to persecution and discrimination faced by Jewish communities.

Zionist Movement:

• The Zionist movement advocated for the establishment of a Jewish homeland.
• The movement aimed to address the historical injustices faced by Jews and provide them with a safe haven.

Challenges and Controversies:

• The idea faced criticism and opposition from various quarters, including indigenous Palestinian communities.
• Debates arose regarding land ownership, political rights, and the displacement of Palestinian populations.

Implementation and Conflicts:

• The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 marked the realization of the Zionist vision.
• However, it also led to ongoing conflicts and tensions with Palestinian and neighboring Arab communities.

Modern Context:

• The idea of a Jewish national home remains central to Israeli identity and politics.
• It continues to be a subject of debate, both domestically and internationally, amidst efforts to achieve peace and resolution in the region.

PROPOSRD SOLUTIONS

Palestinians:

• Recognition of their existence as a state with rights under international law.
• Based on the Palestinian Non-Paper of June 12, 2002, advocating for statehood and sovereignty.

Israel:

• Retention of acquired territory while granting Palestinians self-government with security powers retained by Israel.
• Emphasizes the need for Palestinian self-governance without posing a threat to Israel’s security.

United States:

• Advocates for a two-state solution with a demilitarized Gaza.
• Promotes Saudi normalization with Israel and involvement of moderate Arab countries in Gaza’s rebuilding.

Arab States:

• Support a revitalized Palestinian state without radical elements post-Arab Spring.
• Benefit from the experiences of Egypt, Jordan, and governments party to the Abraham Accords.

FORESTS A NATIONAL ASSET AND MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO FINANCIAL WEALTH: SC

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: PIB

The Supreme Court made a significant ruling stating that now it’s real and possible to use ideas like carbon credit and green accounting to figure out how wealthy a country is and crucial for the country’s financial wealth.

Case Details:

• The judgment stemmed from an appeal by the State of Telangana against a High Court decision to grant forest land to a private individual.
• The State’s Forest officials worsened the situation by submitting conflicting affidavits in court.

Criticism of Forest Conservation Act:

• The ruling coincided with criticism of the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023, which allegedly facilitates encroachments in protected forests and permits commercial exploitation.
• Concerns were raised about the Act’s impact on forest preservation and biodiversity.

FOREST CONSERVATION AMENDMENT ACT 2023

Definition of Forest Land:

• The Act defines forest land broadly, encompassing areas recorded as forest on government records since October 25, 1980, with exceptions for certain conversions before December 1996.

Restrictions on Land Diversion:

• Prior approval from the central government is necessary for any diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. This requirement applies to all entities, including private ones.

Exemptions for Temporary Activities:

• Certain temporary activities like establishing check posts, fire lines, fencing, and wireless communication for forest management are exempted from being considered as non-forestry, provided they don’t permanently alter land use.

Expansion of Permissible Activities:

• permissible activities within forests, infrastructure development for frontline forest staff, ecotourism projects, zoos, and safaris.

Strategic Considerations:

• Strategic linear projects of national importance related to security within 100 kilometers of India’s borders are exempted from forest land use approval.
• security-related infrastructure projects can utilize up to 10 hectares of forest land without central government consent.

Indian government initiatives to protect its forests:

• Legal Framework: acts like the Indian Forest Act (1927), the Forest Conservation Act (1980), and the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) that regulate forest management, prohibit deforestation, and punish violators.
• Protected Areas: Designation of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Tiger Reserves to conserve biodiversity and limit human activity.
• Afforestation Schemes: National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM) to promote planting of trees and increase forest cover.
• Joint Forest Management: Involving local communities in forest protection and decision-making for sustainable forest management.
• Compensatory Afforestation: Planting trees to compensate for forest land used for development projects.
• Tribal Rights: Recognizing the rights of forest dwelling communities and incorporating their traditional knowledge in forest conservation efforts.

INDIA DELIVERS FIRST BATCH OF BRAHMOS SUPERSONIC MISSILES TO PHILIPPINES

TOPIC: (GS3) SECURITY – SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD

India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. The acquisition enhances the Philippines’ defensive capabilities amid tensions in the South China Sea.

• BrahMos, developed jointly by India and Russia, is sought after by other countries like Indonesia and Thailand.

BrahMos cruise missiles:

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya).

• The name is a portmanteau of Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia) rivers.
• Missile Type:  Medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile capable of launch from land, sea, and air platforms.

Key Features:

• Supersonic speed (Mach 3+) throughout its flight, making it difficult to intercept.
• High maneuverability for evading defenses.
• Long range (up to 290 km for land and ship-launched versions, 500 km for air-launched variant).
• Multiple target capability.

Deployment:

• Operational with Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

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• Exported to the Philippines.

Impact Of Defence Exports

Strategic Ties:

• Alliance Building: Defence exports foster closer military partnerships between countries.
• Political Influence: Exporting sophisticated weaponry can elevate a country’s political standing and regional influence. Supplier nations gain a degree of leverage in international relations.

Economic Benefits:

• The United States is the world’s leading defence exporter by a significant margin. Accounts for over 40% of global arms exports
• Job Creation: A robust defence industry generates high-skilled jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and related sectors.
• Technological Advancement: Defence R&D fuels innovation across various technological fields, with spin-off benefits for civilian applications.
• Foreign Exchange Earnings: Exporting military equipment brings in valuable foreign currency, boosting the national economy.

Considerations:

• Political Stability: Countries are wary of exporting to nations with volatile political environments or those that might misuse the weaponry.
• Technology Transfer: Balancing export benefits with concerns about sensitive technology falling into the wrong hands is a key consideration.

CENTRE RELEASES CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR ANGANWADIS

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has introduced the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024, named ‘Aadharshila’.

This curriculum aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework.

ANGANWADIS

Anganwadis are a network of rural childcare centers in India established by the Indian government in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program.

Early Childhood Development:

Nutrition & Health:

Women & Mothers:

Community Outreach:

The Poshan Tracker app

• It is a mobile tool used by Anganwadi workers in India to manage beneficiaries, track service delivery for nutrition, health, and early childhood development programs

CENTRE ASKS FSSAI TO INITIATE ‘APPROPRIATE ACTION’ AGAINST NESTLE

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS

The Consumer Affairs Ministry has directed the FSSAI to take action against Nestle for allegedly selling baby products with high sugar content in India, compared to other countries.

FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Importance of food regulation

• Public Health: Food regulation ensures that the food available for consumption is safe, hygienic, and free from contaminants, pathogens, and harmful additives.
• Consumer Confidence: Strict food regulation instills confidence in consumers about the safety and quality of the food they consume.
• Prevention of Fraud: Food regulation prevents fraudulent practices such as adulteration, mislabeling, and deceptive advertising.
• Market Access: Compliance with food regulations is often a prerequisite for market access, both domestically and internationally. QQ
• International Trade: Harmonization of food regulations facilitates international trade by promoting consistency and mutual recognition of standards between countries. It reduces barriers to trade and enhances global food security.

WHITE DWARF

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS

Astronomers have announced the identification of four white dwarf stars belonging to a newly uncovered and uncommon spectral subclass known as DAQ.

Formation and Composition:

• White dwarfs are remnants of dying stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel and shed their outer layers to form a planetary nebula.
• They are what stars like the Sun evolve into after they complete their main sequence phase.

Characteristics:

• White dwarfs no longer undergo nuclear fusion but remain incredibly hot due to residual heat.
• Despite being about half as massive as the Sun, they are only slightly larger than Earth, making them extremely dense.
• They rank among the densest objects in the universe, second only to neutron stars.

Internal Structure:

• White dwarfs initially consist of helium, carbon, and oxygen nuclei surrounded by highly energetic electrons.
• Unlike other stars, they are supported against gravitational collapse by electron degeneracy pressure, a result of the Pauli exclusion principle.

Evolution and Cooling:

• Without accreting matter from nearby stars, white dwarfs cool over billions of years.
• Eventually, they are predicted to become ‘black dwarfs,’ though none are expected to exist yet due to the universe’s age.

Cosmological Significance:

• The luminosity of white dwarfs helps astronomers estimate the age of star formation in a region.
• They serve as important astronomical tools, providing fossil records of the stars they originated from.

Observations:

• In 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope observed white dwarfs in globular star clusters, identifying them as the dimmest stars ever seen in such clusters.

EBOLA VIRUS

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

Scientists have recently discovered a novel mechanism through which Ebola virus replicates within the human body, unveiling a potential target for drug interventions aimed at preventing the spread of this viral disease.

Causes and Origins:

• EVD is caused by viruses belonging to the genus Ebolavirus, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Named after the Ebola River near a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it first emerged.

Transmission:

• Spread through contact with infected animals like monkeys, chimps, or fruit bats, and then person-to-person contact.
• Not as contagious as common viruses like colds or measles, and doesn’t spread through air, water, or food.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms can appear 2 to 21 days after infection.
• Initially flu-like, progressing to severe vomiting, bleeding, and neurological issues.

Treatment:

• No specific treatment available, though experimental vaccines and therapies are being tested.
• Supportive care includes maintaining fluid balance and administering blood and plasma to control bleeding.

Mortality:

• Mortality rates range from 25% to 90%, with an average of 50%.
• Death often occurs due to shock from fluid loss rather than blood loss.

Prevention:

• Prevention focuses on avoiding contact with infected animals and practicing strict infection control measures in healthcare settings.
• Vaccination and public health education play crucial roles in preventing outbreaks and controlling the spread of the disease.

IRON AGE

TOPIC: (GS1) HISTORY – SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

Archaeologists have reported the uncovering of an extraordinary megalithic site from the Iron Age in Ooragutta, located near Bandala village within the SS Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana.

• Spanning from approximately 1200 B.C. to 600 B.C., the Iron Age succeeded the Stone Age and Bronze Age in human history.
• It occurred in Africa, Europe, and Asia during prehistoric times.

Discovery and Spread of Iron:

• Iron was discovered during this period and quickly replaced bronze as the preferred metal for various applications.
• Ironworking began in Turkey before spreading to other parts of Europe.

Impact on Daily Life:

• Iron tools, such as the ‘ard’ (iron plow), revolutionized farming by making it more efficient than using wooden or bronze tools.
• Iron swords and weapons were also produced, leading to the formation of formidable armies.

Technological Advances:

• Significant technological advancements occurred during the Iron Age, including the construction of large forts, bridges, and improvements in pottery and weaving.

End of the Iron Age:

• The Iron Age is considered part of prehistory and ended with the widespread adoption of writing.
• Despite the end of the era, iron remains a crucial material for various applications, including tools, weapons, construction, and machinery.