27-January-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

‘JET ENGINE DEAL WITH FRANCE WILL GIVE 100% ACCESS TO TECH’

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – SOURCE: THE HINDU

India is collaborating with France to develop an engine for its fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Key points:

• Discussions are ongoing between Safran and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to establish specifications for the engine that comply with India’s future fighter jet needs.
• The collaboration aims for 100% transfer of technology in design, development, certification, and production phases.
• India also has a deal with General Electric (GE) for the manufacturing license of the F-414 engine, enhancing access to jet engine technologies.
• The F-414 engines will power indigenous aircraft, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-MK2 and the AMCA in two phases.
• India’s past attempts, like the Kaveri project, to locally develop jet engines faced challenges, and the current collaborations aim to boost India’s capabilities in this critical technology.

India France Defence cooperation:

• From 2017 to 2021, France emerged as India’s second-largest defence supplier, marked by significant collaborations:
• The integration of French Scorpene submarines and Rafale fighter jets into the Indian defence system.
• Engaging in joint military exercises such as Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and Shakti (army) to enhance interoperability and strategic coordination.
• Joint manufacturing initiatives, including the partnership between Tata Group and Airbus. Together, they established a manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, specifically for the production of C-295 tactical transport aircraft, contributing to India’s indigenous defence capabilities.

GOVT EXTENDS VIKSIT BHARAT SANKALP YATRA TO COVER ALL CIVIC BODIES

SUBJECT: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY), a nationwide campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, to achieve saturation under government schemes, faced low turnout in Opposition-ruled states.

In response, the government has extended the yatra’s duration until all village panchayats and urban local bodies are covered.

Low Turnout in Opposition-Ruled States:

• Events in states like Odisha (5%), Karnataka and Punjab (6%), Bihar (7%), and Telangana and Tamil Nadu (8%) experienced low attendance during the VBSY.
• In contrast, BJP-ruled states showed higher average attendance, with Haryana (33%), Gujarat (35%), Uttar Pradesh (38%), Madhya Pradesh (47%), and Rajasthan (68%) standing out.
• The rural schemes targeted for saturation include Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, and others.
• The VBSY has added approximately 41 lakh new beneficiaries to the PM-Kisan scheme, with every fourth beneficiary being a woman.

PM Kisan Scheme:

• Launched: 24th February 2019
• Objective: To supplement financial needs of landholding farmers in India.
• Financial Benefits: Provides Rs 6000 per year. Transferred in three equal installments every four months through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
• Scope Expansion: Initially for Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) with landholding up to 2 hectares. Later extended to cover all landholding farmers.
• Funding and Implementation: Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Objectives:
• Supplement financial needs for inputs, ensuring proper crop health and yields.
• Protect farmers from reliance on moneylenders for expenses.
• Encourage continuity in farming activities.
• PM-KISAN Mobile App: Developed by the National Informatics Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Physical Verification Module: Mandatory annual physical verification of 5% beneficiaries for scheme integrity.

CHANDRAYAAN HELPED MOON-LANDER MAKE PINPOINT LANDING, SAYS JAPAN

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Japan’s space agency, JAXA, confirmed the successful pinpoint landing of its moon lander, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), on January 19.

                                             

• Initially, the landing precision couldn’t be confirmed due to solar panel failure, but JAXA officials observed a controlled descent with no damage to other components.
• SLIM aimed to land within a small 100×100 m patch on the moon, a unique approach compared to previous missions.
• The designated patch earned SLIM the nickname “moon sniper.” It used maps from Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter during the descent to identify obstacles.
• SLIM was within 10 m of its landing spot until 50 m above the surface, but an engine failure caused it to drift 55 m east during landing.
• Investigation is ongoing to determine if the engine failure is related to the solar panel issue.

CSIR’S REPUBLIC DAY TABLEAU HIGHLIGHTS THE PURPLE REVOLUTION

SUBJECT: ECONOMY – SOURCE: PIB

CSIR’s Republic Day Tableau showcased the ‘Purple Revolution’ brought about by lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir.

CSIR’s scientific interventions played a pivotal role in the growth of lavender cultivation and the development of lavender products, creating Agri-startups in the region.

CSIR contributions:

• Developed an elite lavender variety suitable for J&K’s temperate regions.
• Provided free lavender saplings and end-to-end agro technologies to farmers.
• Installed distillation units for essential oil extraction in various J&K regions.

        

Visual Elements of the Tableau:

• Front Section: Lavender cultivation scenes. Empowered woman farmer figurine from J&K.
• Middle Section: Showcased CSIR scientists’ scientific interventions. Depicted the supply of quality planting materials to farmers.
• Agro-Mechanical Technology: Displayed India’s first women-friendly compact electric tractor developed by CSIR, PRIMA ET11.
• Agro-Technical Developments: Showcased a distillation unit for extracting essential oil from lavender flowers.
• Rear Section: Highlighted the concept of Agri-startups in India. Focused on achievements under government initiatives for scientific developments, Naari Shakti, Agri-start-ups, and global business.

Aligning with Viksit Bharat Theme:

• The visually enchanting Tableau aligns with the Viksit Bharat theme of the Republic Day Parade 2024.
• Showcased the success of lavender cultivation as a symbol of agricultural and economic progress in the region.

NFRA TO INSPECT BIG 4, OTHERS IN 2024 TOO

SUBJECT: ECONOMY – SOURCE: FINANCIAL EXPRESS

National Financial Reporting Authority is going to inspect Big Four audit firms and other leading auditors of large, listed entities in 2024.

About NFRA:

• Statutory body under Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Independent authority regulating auditing and accounting standards in India.
• Aims to enhance financial statement quality, consistency, and ensure accurate and fair reporting.

Composition:

• NFRA comprises a chairperson appointed by the Central Government and a maximum of 15 members.
• Qualifications include expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance, or law.
• Declaration of no conflict of interest or lack of independence required.
• Members in full-time employment should not be associated with any audit firm during their term and two years after.

Responsibilities:

• Recommends accounting and auditing policies and standards.
• Monitors and enforces compliance with accounting and auditing standards.
• Oversees professionals’ quality of service, suggesting improvements.
• Performs other functions related to the above.

Powers:

• Investigates professional misconduct suo moto or on reference by the Central Government.
• Possesses powers equivalent to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
• Imposes punishment upon proving professional misconduct.
• Appeals against NFRA orders can be made to the Appellate Authority.

Jurisdiction:

• Investigates Chartered Accountants and firms for listed and large unlisted public companies.
• Central Government can refer other entities for investigation, considering public interest.

SODA LAKES: THE MISSING LINK IN THE ORIGIN OF LIFE?

SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY – SOURCE: SCITECHDAILY

Scientists find a shallow “soda lake” in western Canada resembling Darwin’s concept of “warm little ponds,” believed to be where life originated on early Earth.

About Soda Lake:

• pH value typically between 9 and 11.
• High carbonate concentration, particularly sodium carbonate, causing alkalinity.
• May contain high sodium chloride and other salts, making it saline or hypersaline.
• Highly productive ecosystems compared to freshwater lakes.

Geology and Genesis:

• Requires geological, climatic, and geographic conditions for alkalinity.
• Topography limiting water outflow is needed, which leads to the formation of endorheic basin.
• Evaporation raises pH, desert climate is suitable for balancing inflow and evaporation.
• Rate of carbonate salt dissolution depends on surrounding ecology.
• Relative absence of magnesium and calcium critical for soda lake formation.

Biodiversity:

• Dominated by prokaryotes like bacteria and archaea, especially in highly alkaline lakes.
• Presence of multicellular organisms such as brine shrimp and fish.

Examples of Soda Lakes:

• Africa and Asia have the highest number due to vast desert conditions.
• Eastern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, hosts many soda lakes.
• Lake Natron in Tanzania is a notable soda lake in Africa.
• India and China have numerous soda lakes in Asia.
• Examples include Lake Van, Tso Kar Salt Lake, Pangong Salt Lake, and Lake Zabuye.

Significance:

The discovery supports the idea that similar environments may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth.

WANDERING ALBATROSSES

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

Climate change poses a potential risk to Wandering Albatrosses nesting sites, further jeopardizing their existence.

About Wandering Albatrosses:

• World’s largest flying bird, boasting a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters.
• Oceanic nomads spending the majority of their 60-year lifespan at sea, only returning to land for breeding.
• Primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in the vast Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
• Key breeding locations include Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, supporting half of the global wandering albatross breeding population.

Habitat and Behavior:

• Breed on subantarctic islands with peat soils, tussock grass, sedges, mosses, and shrubs.
• Monogamous birds forming lifelong mating pairs.

Conservation Status: IUCN classification: Vulnerable.

Threats to Wandering Albatrosses:

• Longline Fishing: Major threat due to birds getting hooked, leading to drowning.
• Plastic Ingestion: Ingesting plastics poses a threat to both chicks and adult albatrosses.

DISEASE X

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: NDTV

Recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasized urgent need for global preparedness against a potential new pandemic, referred to as ‘Disease X’.

Nature of Disease X:

• Hypothetical Threat: Disease X is a term coined to describe a hypothetical pathogen or threat that has the potential to cause a major pandemic in the future.
• Varied Nature: It could be a new virus, bacterium, fungus, or an unknown agent without any known treatment.

Inclusion in WHO’s Blueprint:

• Disease X was included in the WHO’s updated Blueprint list of diseases in 2018, recognizing its potential significance.

Severity and Virulence:

• Scientists express concern, suggesting that Disease X could be up to 20 times more deadly than the recent SARS-Covid virus that caused the global pandemic.

Global Health Response:

• The call for preparedness highlights the significance of a coordinated global health response to address emerging and unknown threats that may lead to future pandemics.