Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 7th December 2024

Cape Buffalo : Study

A study conducted by researchers in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has offered insights into the reasons behind human-Cape buffalo conflict that occurs across sub-Saharan Africa.

• The African or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a formidable and aggressive species.
• It is one of the four subspecies of African Buffalo found south of the Sahara, the others being the forest buffalo, the West African Savanna Buffalo and the Central African Savanna Buffalo.
• Compared with other large bovids, African buffalo have long but stocky bodies and short but thickset legs, resulting in a relatively short standing height.
• The adult buffalo’s horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a “boss”.
• The Cape Buffalo is found across the savannas of east and southern Africa.
• They live in swamps and floodplains, as well as mopane grasslands, and the forests of the major mountains of Africa.
• They prefer a habitat with dense cover, such as reeds and thickets, but can also be found in open woodland, montane grasslands, and forest, savannas, and moist lowland rainforests.
• African buffalo may be active throughout the day and night. They are social and live in herds that consist of related females, and their offspring, in an almost linear dominance hierarchy.
• Diet: African buffalo have a strictly herbivorous They feed on a wide variety of grasses, sedges, leaves, and other plants.
• These massive animals are also excellent swimmers and often cross rivers in search of better grazing.
• Conservation status IUCN: Near Threatened

Hornbill Festival 2024:

The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland’s iconic cultural and tourism fair that is annually held from December 1 to 10.

• Hornbill Festival is an annual festival celebrated from 1 to 10 of December in Nagaland.
• It was first time organized in the year 2000.
• It aims to promote inter-tribal interaction and preserve Nagaland’s heritage, blending the traditional with the contemporary in a harmonious display of unity.
• It is also called the festivals of festivals and held every year.
• It is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments of the Government of Nagaland.
• It is celebrated at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima in Nagaland.
• It has evolved into a celebration showcasing the diverse and vibrant cultural and traditional heritage of the tribes of Nagaland.
• The festival was named after the Hornbill bird given its association with the socio-cultural life of the Nagas.
• Theme of 2024 festival: The Hornbill Festival 2024, themed“Cultural Connect,” is a grand celebration of Nagaland’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.
• The festival’s appeal extends beyond culture, weaving together modernity and tradition with activities like Naga wrestling, traditional archery, food and herbal medicine stalls, fashion shows, beauty contests, and musical concerts.
• This year, the Archives Branch is also hosting a special exhibition titled “Naga-Land & People in Archival Mirror”, in collaboration with the National Archives of India, offering an in-depth exploration of the region’s history and cultural practices.

International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience:

The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience was launched to address the growing challenges and ensure the continued resilience of submarine critical infrastructure.

• It was jointly launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC).
• This initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of submarine cables, which are essential to the functioning of the global digital economy.
• It comprises 40 members from around the world—including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, and senior experts in telecommunications—the body reflects a diverse global perspective.
• The Advisory Body will meet bi-annually to consult on international policies, infrastructure, and best practices for improving submarine cable resilience
• It will work towards promoting best practices across governments and industries to improve cable resilience, reduce risks of damage, and ensure the swift repair and deployment of these vital systems.
• The collective experience of the body will help address the needs of those whose livelihoods depend on submarine cables, as well as those responsible for deploying, maintaining, and protecting this critical infrastructure.
• The Advisory Body will also provide strategic guidance to address challenges related to increasing traffic, aging infrastructure, and growing environmental threats to submarine cables.

2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD):

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global leader in agricultural research has launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD).

• This initiative is spearheaded by Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
• It provides a roadmap to enhance food security, conserve biodiversity and build resilient livelihoods for the 2.7 billion people inhabiting drylands, particularly in Asia and Africa.
• It was launched at the 16th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh.
• It was developed through extensive consultations with national research organizations, governments, private sector partners, and civil society, ensuring its alignment with the specific needs of different dryland regions.

Anna Chakra:

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched ‘Anna Chakra’ and SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) portal.

• Anna Chakra is a Public Distribution System (PDS) Supply chain optimisation tool.
• It is spearheaded by Department of Food Public Distribution, which enhance the efficiency of the PDS logistics network across the country.
• It is developed in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi.
• The project leverages advanced algorithms to identify optimal routes and ensure seamless movement of food grains across supply chain nodes.
• An operation of this magnitude involves a complex supply chain, relying on multiple stakeholders starting from farmers to Fair Price Shops.
• The inter-state route optimization tool has been developed for optimization of the PDS movement between the states and it is integrated with the FOIS (Freight Operations Information System) portal of the Railways through Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
• A significant milestone in this effort is the integration of the optimization tool with the PM Gati Shakti platform which now houses geo-locations of FPSs and warehouses across the states.

Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Assam Forest Department has received the first-ever photographic evidence of the presence of the Royal Bengal Tiger in the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in Assam in India.
• It covers an area of 175 sq.km. The area was declared as a sanctuary in 1998.
• It is located along the foothills of the Great Himalayan Range.
• The eastern boundary of Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary is marked by the Gabhoru River.
• The western boundary is marked by the Panchnoi River and further west, area is surrounded by the Rowta reserve forest.
• The northern area of the sanctuary shares an interstate boundary with the Kameng reserve forest of the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• In the southern area there is the Charduar reserve forest and villages.
• There are four perennial rivers that flow through the sanctuary: Dolsiri, Gabharu, Gelgeli, and Belsiri. During the rainy season, several wetlands known as “bheels” are also found.
• It experiences a sub-tropical type of climate with hot and humid summers, with heavy summer rains often causing floods and river overflows.
• The forest types in the sanctuary comprise tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
• Some common trees found in the sanctuary include Hollock, Koroi, Nahar, Titasapa, Simul, Sal, Ajar, Hatipeta, and more.

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage:

The Supreme Court recently impleaded the Archaeological Survey of India and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in a plea filed for the restoration of two heritage buildings in Mysore city.

• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is an autonomous non-profit organisation set up in 1984 with a mandate to protect and conserve India’s vast natural, built and cultural heritage.
• It is recognized as one of the world’s largest heritage organizations, with over 228 Chapters across the Country.
• It is essentially a volunteer-based organization and its enthusiastic volunteers in a network of chapters in cities, towns and villages across the country are largely responsible for the spread of awareness about the vast cultural heritage of the country.
• Headquartered in New Delhi

Lake-Effect Snow:

Parts of upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, situated along the Great Lakes of North America, witnessed “lake-effect snow.”

• A heavy snowstorm caused by this phenomenon near Lake Erie in New York has transformed homes into ice-covered igloos.
• Lake-effect snow is a localized weather phenomenon characterized by heavy snowfall that occurs near large bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes in North America.
• It typically happens during colder months when cold air passes over relatively warmer lake surfaces, resulting in intense and narrow bands of snowfall.
• Cold Air Movement: Cold air often from Canada, flows over the unfrozen, warmer waters of the Great Lakes in North America.
• The lakes transfer heat and moisture to the cold air at the surface.
• The warm, moist air rises, cools rapidly in the colder atmosphere above, and condenses to form clouds.
• These clouds develop into narrow bands that produce intense snowfall, often at rates of 2–3 inches or more per hour.

National Council For Vocational Education And Training:

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has officially recognized the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) as an Awarding Body (Dual).

• It was established by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India in 2018, as a regulatory body, aimed at ensuring quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
• It has taken over the roles previously held by the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and the former National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT).
• It has been entrusted with the development, qualitative improvement, and regulation of vocational education entities involved in both long- and short-term vocational education and training while also establishing minimum standards for their operations.
• The principal functions of NCVET encompass:
  • Recognize, monitor, discipline, and de-recognize Awarding Bodies.
  • Recognize, monitor, discipline, and de-recognize Assessment Agencies.
  • Recognize, monitor, discipline, and de-recognize Skill Information Providers.
  • Frame guidelines for the approval of qualifications and approve qualifications in the manner set out in such guidelines.
  • Create and monitor a system of redressing grievances against recognized bodies.

Gait Analysis : In News To Solve A Case

Kolkata police used walking gait analysis to solve a child rape case. They matched the accused’s walking pattern with CCTV footage from the day of the crime.

• Gait analysis evaluates the way the body moves, primarily through walking or running, to detect abnormalities and understand movement dynamics.
• Observational Gait Analysis: Visual assessment of walking patterns.
• Instrumented Gait Analysis: Advanced methods using sensors, video cameras, and infrared markers
• Analyzes step length, stride length, cadence, and joint angles using advanced tools.
• Uses devices like infrared markers, sensors, and electrodes to evaluate kinetic and kinematic data.
• Detects abnormalities in gait phases: Stance Phase (60% of cycle) and Swing Phase (40% of cycle).

Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project:

India and Bhutan recently discussed hydropower projects including the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project, and expressed satisfaction as it was “nearing completion”.

• It is a 1 GW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power-generating facility under construction in the Wangdue Phodrang district of Bhutan.
• It is located on the right bank of the Punatsangchhu River in the Wangdue Phodrang district in Western Bhutan.
• The project is being developed by the Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project Authority, under an Inter-Government Agreement between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India.
• It is funded by the Government of India with 30% grant and 70% loan.
• The project Authority shall be dissolved within two years after the commissioning, and the project shall be handed over to the Royal Government of Bhutan.
• The project involves the construction of a 91m-high and 223.8m-long concrete gravity dam, along with an 877.46m-long and 12m-diametre diversion tunnel with a discharge capacity of 1118 cubic metres per second.

69th Mahaparinirvan Diwas of Dr. Ambedkar:

69th Mahaparinirvan Diwas was observed on December 6 to commemorate the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a stalwart for social justice.Mahaparinirvan Diwas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, honors his legacy, emphasizing his transformative impact on social reform, justice, and equality.The term “Mahaparinirvan” stems from Buddhist philosophy, symbolizing liberation from the cycle of birth and death, marking the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar.

80-pillar assembly hall at the Mauryan archaeological site of Kumhrar, Patna:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated efforts to uncover the remnants of an 80-pillar assembly hall at the Mauryan archaeological site of Kumhrar, Patna.The initiative promises to rekindle global interest in the Mauryan empire and its contributions to art and architecture.80-Pillar Assembly Hall of Kumhrar, is linked to the Mauryan empire (321–185 BCE), one of ancient India’s greatest dynasties.

Indian government bond yields : Study

Indian government bond yields witnessed a significant decline, with the 10-year benchmark yield dropping to its lowest level since 2021.This shift is attributed to rising optimism about the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) potentially easing interest rates in its upcoming monetary policy review.

First in the World Challenge : ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced the “First in the World Challenge” aimed at encouraging innovative solutions to pressing health issues.This initiative seeks to foster novel, out-of-the-box ideas and promote the discovery and development of breakthrough health technologies, including vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics.Proposals must present bold, impactful global health research concepts, not ‘incremental innovations’ or ‘process innovation’. The high risk, high reward challenge aims for revolutionary biomedical breakthroughs, despite potential failures.

Syrian Civil War:

The Syrian civil war has reignited with a fresh offensive by Islamist militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), capturing key territories, including Aleppo, and threatening the stability of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

ISRO’s PSLV Mission Successfully Deploys European Satellites:

ISRO’s PSLV-C59 rocket successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) advanced Sun-observing mission, Proba-3. The mission aims to explore the Sun’s outer atmosphere by conducting scientific experiments, and it will contribute to the global understanding of space weather, its economic and technological risks, and solar phenomena. Proba-3 is a twin-satellite mission that features the Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft, which will fly together in a precisely controlled formation to study the Sun’s corona.

India Wins ISSA Good Practice Award for Asia and Pacific 2024:

India has been awarded the prestigious ISSA Good Practice Award for Asia and Pacific 2024, presented by Dr. Mohammed Azman, President of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), at the Regional Social Security Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) also received five Certificates of Merit for its innovative practices in social security delivery.

Eurogrip Tyres Appoints M.S. Dhoni as Brand Ambassador:

Eurogrip Tyres, a leading Indian brand known for its 2, 3-wheeler, and off-highway tyres, has recently signed M.S. Dhoni, the legendary cricketer, as its brand ambassador. The partnership aligns well with Eurogrip Tyres’ core values of performance, reliability, and safety, and aims to enhance the brand’s visibility and trust among consumers.

World Bank Approves $188.28 Million Loan for Maharashtra’s Backward Districts:

The World Bank has approved a $188.28 million loan to Maharashtra aimed at boosting economic growth in the state’s underdeveloped districts. This loan, provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), comes with a 15-year maturity period, including a five-year grace period. The project focuses on enhancing district-level governance, improving e-governance services, and fostering private sector involvement to accelerate economic development and job creation.

OECD Raises India’s FY25 Growth Forecast to 6.8%:

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.8%, up from 6.7%, citing robust public infrastructure spending, strong private consumption, and recovery in agricultural output. This growth momentum is expected to be sustained through FY25 and FY26, with investment and rural income growth being central to the economy’s expansion.

MHA Grants FCRA Licenses to CNI and USIN Foundation:

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted FCRA licenses to the USIN Foundation, a think tank, and The Synodical Board of Social Services of the Church of North India (CNI), reinstating CNI’s license that was revoked last year. This approval allows CNI to resume receiving foreign funds for social and religious activities. The decision comes as the MHA continues its scrutiny of NGOs, with recent revocations signaling increasing regulatory oversight.

Scottish Sikh Artist Wins 2024 Turner Prize:

Glasgow-born Scottish Sikh artist Jasleen Kaur has been awarded the Turner Prize 2024, one of the world’s most prestigious accolades in contemporary art. Known for her evocative exploration of personal, political, and spiritual themes, Kaur received the prize for her solo exhibition Alter Altar, which combines sculpture, sound, and music to reflect on community, cultural inheritance, and anti-colonial struggles.

IndiGo Ranks Among Worst Airlines Globally in AirHelp 2024 Report:

India’s IndiGo Airlines has landed in the bottom tier of the global airline rankings, securing the 103rd position out of 109 in the 2024 AirHelp Score report. This ranking places the low-cost carrier as one of the worst performers, which has raised questions about the credibility of the survey. While Air India fares slightly better at 61st, IndiGo refutes the findings, arguing that the methodology lacks transparency, especially concerning the sample size from India.

Anurag Mehrotra Resigns from Tata Motors, Likely to Join JSW MG Motor as CEO:

Anurag Mehrotra, an experienced automotive industry professional with over two decades of expertise, has resigned from his role as Vice President of International Business and Strategy at Tata Motors’ Commercial Vehicles Business.