Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 4th November 2024

Indian Council of Social Science Research : Implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission revised pay scales

Faculty and staff members from Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) institutions have written to the Minister of Education expressing concern over the delay in implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission revised pay scales.

• Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)was established in the year 1969 by the Government of India to promote and fund research in the social sciences in the country.
• It was established on the recommendation of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee.
• It is an autonomous organisation working under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
• It provides grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, surveys, publications, etc. to promote research in social sciences in India.
• An all-India network of 24 frontline research institutes and six regional centres is maintained, and five recognized institutes are programmatically supported by the ICSSR.
• The Documentation center of ICSSR – National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)-provides library and information support services to researchers in social sciences.
• ICSSR has developed the ICSSR Data Service to serve as a national data service for promoting a powerful research environment through the sharing and reuse of data among the social science community in India.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to the development of dementia among adults—particularly women, a study suggests

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder.
• People with OSA repeatedly stop and start breathing while they sleep.
• OSA occurs when a blockage in your airway keeps air from moving through your windpipe while you’re asleep.
• The blockage and lack of airflow can cause your blood oxygen levels to drop, triggering a survival reflex in your brain that wakes you up just enough to breathe again.
• This happens off and on many times during sleep.
• While that reflex is key in keeping you breathing, it also disrupts your sleep.
• When your breathing is reduced and you’re not taking enough oxygen, it’s called hypopnea. If your breathing completely stops, it’s called apnea.
• Snoring is one of the biggest symptoms of OSA.
• Anyone at any age can have OSA. But it’s most common in middle-aged and older adults.
• OSA has significant implications for cardiovascular health, mental illness, quality of life, and driving safety.
• Treatments for OSA are available.
• One treatment is a device that uses positive pressure to keep the airway open during sleep.
• Another option is a mouthpiece to thrust the lower jaw forward during sleep.
• In some people, surgery might be an option too.

First In The World Challenge Initiative:

Aimed at encouraging Indian scientists to come up with innovative ideas for finding solutions to difficult health problems, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a new initiative called “First in the World Challenge”.

• The “First in the World” Challenge, inspired by the success of Chandrayaan-3, is a major initiative of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) designed to promote the development of groundbreaking health technologies.
• The scheme aims to foster novel, out-of-the-box, futuristic ideas, new knowledge generation, and discovery/development of breakthrough health technologies (vaccines, drugs/therapeutics, diagnostics, interventions, etc.) that have never been thought of, tested or tried in the world till date.
• This high-risk, high-reward program will provide funding for projects at various stages, from proof-of-concept to prototype and final product development.
• The proposal must have bold research ideas with significant wide-ranging impact and, if successful, should have potential ‘first of its kind’ biomedical and technological innovations for better health outcomes in the global context.
• Proposals aiming for ‘incremental’ knowledge’ or ‘process innovation ‘will not be funded through this scheme.
• The proposals can be submitted by an individual or by a team of researchers either from a single institute or from multiple institutes
• Every team application must designate one Principal Investigator from the team who will be responsible for technical, administrative, and financial deliverables.
• A selection committee will be formed by experts of high repute, innovators, policymakers and scientists with outstanding record of conducting research and innovation in the biomedical domain.
• This initiative will inspire our scientists to come up with innovative ideas for finding solutions to difficult health problems.

Sendai Framework For Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030:

India is committed to the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary said recently, while calling for increased international collaboration to enhance disaster resilience.

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and provides member states with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.
• It was adopted by the UN member states at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.
• It is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015.
• The Sendai Framework advocates for:
  • The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities, and countries.
  • It recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk, but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local government, the private sector, and other stakeholders

Gastrodia lohitensis : New Leaf Of Orchid Species

A team of Indian botanists has identified a new leafless orchid species, Gastrodia lohitensis, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district.

• Gastrodia lohitensis is a leafless orchid species found in bamboo thickets around Tezu and it is named after Lohit district.
• The orchid presents unique adaptations, thriving without sunlight by extracting nutrients from fungi in decomposing leaf litter.
• It grows 50-110 cm tall, the orchid’s defining features include a pair of linear calli and ridges on its flower lip, setting it apart from closely related species in Southeast Asia.
• It flourishes only in dense, shaded bamboo canopies, underlining its limited ecological niche.
• With just a small range in the district, Gastrodia lohitensis faces pressures from local land use, including bamboo harvesting and agriculture.
• Conservationists stress that the survival of this rare orchid depends on protecting its fragile habitat in Arunachal Pradesh’s biodiverse landscape.

Kodo millet : Cause Of Death Of Elephant

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said that the deaths of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve could have been caused by “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet”.

• Kodo millet is also known as Kodra and Varagu in India.
• It is one of the “hardiest crops, drought tolerant with high yield potential and excellent storage properties,” It is rich in vitamins and minerals.
• It is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker sections in India.
• The tropical and subtropical regions are best suited for Kodo millet cultivation.
• It is grown on poor soils, and widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions.
• The millet is believed to have originated in India and Madhya Pradesh (MP) is one of the largest producers of the crop, according to a 2020 research paper.
• Apart from MP, the millet is cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
• The crop is grown in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.
• According to the research paper, “CPA (Cyclopiazonic acid) is one of the major mycotoxins associated with the kodo millet seeds causing kodo poisoning which was first recognised during the mid-eighties”.
• Kodo poisoning occurs mainly due to the consumption of Kodo grains, when “maturing and harvesting if the grains had encountered with rainfall, resulting in a fungal infection leading to ‘poisoned Kodo’ which is locally known as ‘Matawna Kodoo’ or ‘Matona Kodo’ in northern India.”
• Kodo poisoning mainly affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems and the chief symptoms include “vomiting, giddiness, and unconsciousness, small and rapid pulse, cold extremities, shaking of limbs and tremors.”

Thadou Tribe : In News

The organisers of the Thadou Convention held in Assam’s Guwahati event released a 10-point declaration to protect the Thadou tribe’s distinct identity and heritage amid the ethnic crisis in Manipur.

• Thadou Tribe are an indigenous people who live in the hill country adjacent to the Imphal Valley in the northeastern state of Manipur.
• Other names: Chillya, Kuki, Kukihin, Teizang and Theruvan.
• They speak Chin and Thado which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of the Sino-Tibetan languages.
• The village chief’s house is usually the largest dwelling within the village. Outside it, there is a platform upon which men gather to discuss matters of importance and to mediate disputes.
• They practice subsistence activities including animal domestication, cultivation, hunting, and fishing. Jhum (slash-and-burn) agriculture is predominant.
• The god Pathen is believed by the Thadou to have created everything. He is also believed to be the ruler of the universe. Sacrifice is offered to Pathen for health or assistance in times of trouble.
• The Hun-Thadou cultural festival is an annual celebration of this community which is celebrated at the arrival of the New Year

Deepam 2.0 Scheme:

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the Deepam 2.0 scheme in Edupuram, Srikakulam. This initiative offers free gas cylinders to women, aiming to provide clean cooking energy and improve living conditions. Naidu personally distributed the cylinders, denoting the importance of the scheme.

• The Deepam scheme is a government initiative in Andhra Pradesh. It focuses on providing women with access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking.
• The scheme aims to eliminate the use of traditional cooking methods that can be harmful to health and the environment.
• Deepam 1.0 was the initial phase of the initiative.
• It provided women with LPG connections and subsidies. Deepam 2.0 builds on this by offering three free gas cylinders annually. This continuation demonstrates the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and health.
• The primary goal of Deepam 2.0 is to empower women. By providing free gas cylinders, the scheme reduces financial burdens.
• It also promotes cleaner cooking methods, improving health and safety in households. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for women and their families.

Flash floods : Spain

Millions have been affected in Spain due to torrential rain. Flash floods caused by the immense deluge have led to the death of at least 64 people in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia.

• The primary cause of the intense rain is likely an annual weather phenomenon known as a “gota fría,” or cold drop.
• It is also sometimes called a “DANA,” the acronym for “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” or isolated depression at high altitudes.
• DANA or cold drop takes place when cold air descends over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
• This results in atmospheric instability, causing hotter, moist air on the surface of the sea to rise quickly, leading to the formation of dense, towering cumulonimbus clouds in a matter of hours. These clouds then dump heavy rain in parts of Spain.
• The weather pattern’s occurrence is related to the polar jet stream — a fast-moving wind current at high levels of the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere) which circulates from west to east and separates the cold polar air from the warm tropical air.
• Often, a pocket of cold air gets separated from the polar jet stream and collides with the warmer air over the Mediterranean Sea, which results in DANA.
• The phenomenon is a common occurrence in Spain and usually coincides with the onset of autumn and spring in the western Mediterranean.

Rajesh Kumar Singh Appointed Defence Secretary:

Rajesh Kumar Singh has recently taken on the role of Defence Secretary in the South Block, New Delhi. His appointment to this high-ranking position marks an important step in his career. Before officially stepping into this role, he served as the Defence Secretary-designate since August 20, 2024.

Exercise ‘Garud Shakti’ Begins:

An Indian Army contingent of 25 personnel departed for Indonesia. They are participating in the 9th edition of the joint exercise named ‘Garud Shakti 24’. This event is taking place in Cijantung, Jakarta, from November 1 to November 12. The exercise marks the strong defence cooperation between India and Indonesia. The primary aim of Garud Shakti is to enhance bilateral military cooperation. It focuses on strengthening the bond between the Indian and Indonesian armies. The exercise involves discussions and rehearsals of tactical military drills.

India’s First Green Certified Zoo in Himachal Pradesh:

The Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park is set to be an important development in India. Located in Bankhandi, Kangra district, it will be the first zoo in India to gain certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). This certification marks the park’s commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced this on November 2, 2024.

Namo Drone Didi’ scheme:

The Indian Government has launched the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme. This initiative aims to empower Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) by providing drones. The scheme is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). It has an allocation of ₹1261 crores and will run from 2024 to 2026. The goal is to support farmers by offering drone rental services for agricultural tasks.

Vigilance Awareness Week 2024:

Vigilance Awareness Week 2024 is currently underway. It runs from October 28 to November 3, 2024. This year’s theme is Culture of Integrity for Nation’s Prosperity. The Central Vigilance Commissioner, Shri Praveen Kumar Srivastava, and Vigilance Commissioner, Shri A.S. Rajeev, administered the integrity pledge to officials at Satarkata Bhawan, New Delhi, on November 2, 2024.

DBS Bank India has been named one of the ‘Best Companies for Women in India’ (BCWI) for the ninth consecutive year:

DBS Bank India has been recognized as one of the ‘Best Companies for Women in India’ (BCWI) 2024 for the ninth consecutive year, an honor it shares as a member of the “Best Companies – Hall of Fame.” This award, presented by Avtar and Seramount, highlights the bank’s ongoing commitment to gender equity and diversity. The BCWI study, noted for its depth in gender analytics, evaluates organizational practices through a comprehensive questionnaire, showcasing DBS’s dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace where women represent 31% of its workforce, with a goal of increasing this to 35% within three years.

UPI Transactions Reach Record High in October with Rs 23.5 Trillion in Value:

India witnessed a record-breaking surge in digital transactions, propelled by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), FASTag, and the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS). The increased adoption of these platforms highlights India’s ongoing shift towards digital payment solutions, driven in part by the festive season and growing acceptance among merchants and consumers alike.

Praveena Rai Takes the Appointed as CEO and MD of MCX:

Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), Praveena Rai has officially taken office as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) on October 31, 2024, embarking on a five-year term. The appointment, announced in a statement by MCX, marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for the organization as Rai brings her extensive experience in banking, payments, and transaction management to lead India’s largest commodity derivatives exchange.