UPSC Daily Current Affairs

UTTARAKHAND’S PINE TREES AND THE FOREST FIRES

May 20, 2024

THE PROBLEM WITH CHIR PINE TREES Uttarakhand’s chir pine trees, which cover almost 16.5% of the state’s forested area, have been a significant factor in forest fires. The chir pine, scientifically known as Pinus roxburghii, has inflammable needles and resin-filled cones that easily catch fire. These characteristics make forest fires in regions like Mussoorie and Landour particularly difficult to control. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND... Read More...

PROTECTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE FROM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EXPLOITATION

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH CURRENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) LAWS? Current IP laws often fail to protect traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, allowing companies from developed nations to patent products based on knowledge that has been part of traditional practices in developing countries for centuries. This practice is known as biopiracy. WHY IS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VULNERABLE? Traditional knowledge, often passed down orally through generations, does not ... Read More...

India's Critical Minerals: Strengthening Value Chain Initiatives

May 20, 2024

IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL MINERALS Critical minerals, often referred to as the ‘new oil’, are essential for clean energy technologies such as solar modules, wind turbines, batteries, and transmission networks. Minerals like lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, silicon, graphite, and rare earth elements (REE) are crucial for the energy transition. The International Energy Agency predicts a four-fold increase in the demand for these minerals by 2040. However, the concentration of these mineral reserves in a... Read More...

INDIA'S STANCE ON GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

May 20, 2024

INTRODUCTION India, as the fifth highest generator of plastic waste, plays a crucial role in global discussions on plastic pollution. Recently, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) deliberated on a legally binding agreement to combat plastic pollution. KEY POINTS 1. No Binding Targets on Plastic Production: - India opposes binding targets or cap... Read More...

AIRAWAT LOGISTICS DRONE DEPLOYMEN

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS AIRAWAT? AIRAWAT is a high-altitude logistics drone developed by the Ordnance Equipment Factory Hazratpur (OEF Hazratpur). It is designed to strengthen logistical capabilities in the challenging terrains of the Himalayas. WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF AIRAWAT? - Configuration: Multirotor E-VTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) - MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight): 80 kg - Payload ... Read More...

FALLING BIRTH RATES:STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS IT

May 20, 2024

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE Falling birth rates are a concern because they can lead to an aging population and a shrinking workforce. This makes it challenging to support economic growth and pay for pensions and healthcare for the elderly. SUPPORTING FAMILIES 1. Childcare and Financial Support: • Childcare Provision: Governments can provide affordable and accessible childc... Read More...

HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS:KERALA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE

May 20, 2024

WHAT INITIATIVES HAS KERALA TAKEN TO REDUCE HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS? Kerala has introduced species-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in 10 wildlife zones to reduce human-animal conflicts. These SOPs include guidelines such as identifying raiding animals, tracking and radio-collaring them, and developing early warning systems. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES FACED? - Human-animal conflicts, particularly with wild elephants and wild boars, remain significa... Read More...

SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TESTS

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS A SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TEST? A sub critical nuclear test is an experiment conducted to study the behavior of nuclear materials without initiating a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. These tests are designed to gather data on the properties of nuclear weapons materials under controlled conditions. HOW DO SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TESTS DIFFER FROM FULL-SCALE NUCLEAR TESTS? Sub critical nuclear tests do not involve a nucl... Read More...

Anthropogenic Evolution: Humans' Impact on Animal Evolution - FAQs

May 20, 2024

1. What is anthropogenic evolution? Anthropogenic evolution refers to the ways in which human activities are altering the course of evolution for other species. This can happen through habitat alteration, pollution, climate change, hunting, and other factors. 2. How are humans driving this evolution? Humans are causing changes in the environment that force... Read More...

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATERWAYS, COASTS, AND LAKES

May 20, 2024

Rising Sea Levels - Coastal Erosion: Rising sea levels lead to increased coastal erosion, which results in the loss of beaches and homes. - Saltwater Intrusion: Higher sea levels cause saltwater to infiltrate freshwater sources, contaminating drinking water supplies. Ocean Acidification Read More...

NEW CALEDONIA RIOTS

May 20, 2024

Where Is New Caledonia? New Caledonia is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, located between Australia and Fiji. It has been a French territory since the 19th century. What Sparked the Unrest in New Caledonia? The unrest began after lawmakers in Paris voted to change the electoral rolls, allowing more French residents to vote. Indigenous leaders argued that this move would dilute the political influence of the native Kanak people.... Read More...

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIA

May 20, 2024

What Are the Economic Dimensions of Climate Change in India? GDP Decline Climate change is expected to significantly impact India's economy. Research indicates that a 1°C increase in global temperature could lead to a substantial decline in GDP. For India, this could translate into billions of dollars in economic losses annually. Read More...

INDIA'S ECONOMIC INFLUENCE IN AFRICA VS CHINA

May 20, 2024

What Is India's Current Economic Presence in Africa? Trade and Investment - Bilateral Trade: In FY23, India's bilateral trade with Africa reached almost $100 billion, whereas China's trade with the continent was nearly $282 billion. - Foreign Direct Inv... Read More...

Venezuela: First Country to Lose All Glaciers to Climate Change

May 20, 2024

What Happened to Venezuela's Glaciers? Venezuela has reached a significant and grim milestone in the battle against climate change by losing its last glacier. The Humboldt glacier, also known as La Corona, has diminished to the extent that it no longer meets the criteria for glacier classification. How Significant Was Vene... Read More...

MONITORING TECTONIC MOVEMENTS WITH NISAR SATELLITE

May 20, 2024

What Are Tectonic Movements? Tectonic Plates - Earth's Crust: The Earth's outer shell is divided into large pieces called tectonic plates. - Movement: These plates constantly move, albeit very slowly, over the planet's mantle. Read More...