UPSC Daily Current Affairs

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION: UNDERSTANDING WATER LOSS IN PLANTS

Jun 11, 2024

What is Evapotranspiration? Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere. It combines two processes: evaporation from the soil and other surfaces, and transpiration from plants. This process is crucial for understanding how water is cycled through ecosystems and is a key factor in climate and agricultural studies. Everyday Examples: 1. Gardening: • When you water your garde... Read More...

AI AND GENE EDITING: TRANSFORMING BIOTECHNOLOGY

Jun 11, 2024

Basics of Gene Editing and AI: Gene editing is a technology that allows scientists to change an organism’s DNA. By editing genes, scientists can turn genes off, add new ones, or change the function of existing ones. AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. Everyday Examples: 1. Medical T... Read More...

TRISHNA: ISRO AND FRANCE’S CLIMATE SATELLITE

Jun 11, 2024

Trishna, short for Thermal InfraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment, is a collaborative satellite mission between the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the French Space Agency CNES. Engineered to deliver high spatial and temporal resolution observations, Trishna aims to monitor Earth’s surface temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle dynamics. Key Features and Capabilities • High-Resolution Imaging: Trishna will provide high spatial ... Read More...

CLIMATE-RESILIENT IRRIGATION

Jun 11, 2024

Climate-resilient irrigation is a set of techniques and practices aimed at helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and land, and increase their agricultural productivity. It involves methods that enhance water use efficiency, reduce dependence on rainfall, and mitigate the impacts of climate variability. Some of these techniques include: • Water Saving Irrigation (WSI): This technique can reduce water consumption and increase water productivity, helping overcome water scarcity and mitigate the negative effect... Read More...

CLIMATE CHANGE and AGRICULTURE YIELD IN INDIA

Jun 11, 2024

India is experiencing significant production fluctuations in key crops due to climate change. Recent research attributes over half of these fluctuations to climatic factors, affecting various crops differently. Rice: Rice production is positively influenced by relative humidity, with a 51% variation in production attributed to climate factors. The increase in relative humidity over the past three decades has positively impacted rice yields. Wheat: Wheat... Read More...

SEA LEVEL RISE: SIMPLIFIER

Jun 10, 2024

1. What is the primary cause of global sea level rise? • The primary cause of global sea level rise is the physical expansion of water as it warms. In recent decades, the contribution from meltwater flowing off Greenland and Antarctica has also become significant. 2. How much has the global sea level risen since 1880? • Global sea levels have risen by approximately 21cm to 24cm since 1880. 3. What are... Read More...

ARE WE FACING A MAN-MADE SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION?

Jun 10, 2024

One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Climate change statistics reveal a dire situation. Delhi has recorded India’s highest temperature at 52.3 degrees Celsius. In the past 170 years, 2.4 trillion tons of CO2 have been added to our atmosphere, half of this in the last 50 years. The extinction rate is nearly 1,000 times the natural rate. By mid-century, 30-50% of species on Earth may disappear. Nearly 27% of coral reefs are destroyed, and the US throws away enough plastic bottles weekly to encircle the Earth five times. Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: UNESCO’S STATE OF OCEAN REPORT 2024

Jun 10, 2024

WHAT ARE THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE UNESCO STATE OF OCEAN REPORT 2024? The report highlights significant gaps in research and data on ocean warming, deoxygenation, acidification, and sea level rise. It calls for the need for regular and comprehensive data to support efforts towards healthy and resilient oceans. WHY IS OCEAN WARMING A CONCERN? The upper 2,000 meters of the ocean have warmed at a rate of 0.32 ± 0.03 watt per square meter (W/m2) from 1960 to 2023, ... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: FINTECH IN INDIA

Jun 10, 2024

WHAT IS FINTECH? Fintech, short for financial technology, refers to the use of technology to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. It encompasses a variety of applications, including digital payments, online lending, investment platforms, and blockchain technology. WHAT IS THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF FINTECH IN INDIA? India’s fintech sector has seen significant growth, driven by regulatory support and technological advancements. The... Read More...

AGROFORESTRY: A STRATEGY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN INDIA

Jun 10, 2024

Introduction Agroforestry: Agroforestry is the purposeful integration of trees or shrubs with crops and/or livestock at the plot, farm, and/or landscape scale. This approach is a potential climate change adaptation strategy that enhances the resilience of farmers and agricultural systems against climate risks, providing a range of biophysical and socioeconomic benefits. Recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports highlight agroforestry as a promising agroecological approach due to its multitude of co-ben... Read More...

DROUGHT RESILIENCE: INDIA

Jun 10, 2024

What is Drought? Drought: Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. It affects soil moisture, water supply, agricultural productivity, and the overall ecosystem. Droughts can be classified into meteorological (lack of precipitation), agricultural (insufficient soil moisture for crops), hydrological (reduced water levels in rivers and reservoirs), and socio-economic (impact on human activities and economies). Definition... Read More...

LAND DEGRADATION and RESTORATION IN INDIA

Jun 10, 2024

Definitions Land Degradation: The reduction or loss of biological or economic productivity due to land use or a combination of processes including human activities and natural phenomena. Desertification: Land degradation occurring in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, often exacerbated by climatic variations and human activities. Current Situation India’s land degradation has been increasing... Read More...

DESERTIFICATION IN INDIA

Jun 10, 2024

Definitions Desertification: Desertification is a type of land degradation in which fertile land becomes desert as a result of various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. It involves the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems due to human activities and climatic changes, leading to the loss of biological productivity. Land Degradation: Land degradation refers to the decline in land quality caused by human activities or natural phenomena, resulting in... Read More...

ISRO and LOW EARTH ORBIT (LEO) SATELLITE MARKET

Jun 10, 2024

Overview of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Low Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to a region of space around Earth with altitudes below 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles). Satellites in LEO complete orbits in approximately 90 minutes to two hours, facilitating rapid communication and data transfer compared to higher orbits. Key Indian LEO Satellites India’s LEO Earth observation satellite constellation includes: • EOS-01: Launc... Read More...

India earth observation satellites:Simplifier

Jun 10, 2024

Earth observation satellites are spacecraft equipped with special cameras and sensors to collect information about our planet from space. This information helps in various ways: Understanding our planet: They track changes in land, oceans, atmosphere, and ice. Managing resources: They help assess and monitor forests, water bodies, and crops. Disaster management: They provide early warnings and assess damage during disasters like floods and cyclones. We... Read More...