Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 16th August 2024

Tarang Shakti:

India hosted its first-ever multinational air exercise, “Tarang Shakti,” showcasing the capabilities of indigenously manufactured aircraft, including the Sarang helicopters and LCA Tejas.

• The exercise is being conducted in two phases.
• The exercise was a significant achievement, emphasizing India’s focus on “Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) and showcasing indigenous military capabilities.
• India’s Rafale, Sukhoi, and LCA Tejas aircraft were part of the first phase.

Har Ghar Tiranga, Har Ghar Khadi Campaign:

The Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched the “Har Ghar Tiranga, Har Ghar Khadi” campaign to increase the use and trade of Khadi clothes through hoisting national flags made of khadi.

• Special national flags of 3X2 feet made of Khadi/Polyester are available at Khadi stores across the country at a special price of Rs 198.
• PM Narendra Modi has also appealed to the countrymen to join the Tiranga Yatra campaign on Independence Day and buy Khadi clothes.
• The 3rd edition of the HGT campaign se to celebrated from 9th to 15th August 2024 as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
• It aims to instil a spirit of patriotism and national pride among citizens by encouraging every Indian to hoist the national flag.
• It was launched under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2022 and has grown into a people’s movement.

Long Range Glide Bomb:

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a successful maiden flight test of a Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), GAURAV from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) is an air-launched 1,000 kg class glide bomb capable of hitting targets at long distances.
• It is an Air to Surface LRGB with conventional warheads to destroy enemy airstrips, bunkers, hard installations, buildings etc.
• It is designed to integrate with fighter aircraft.
• It consists of an Inertial Navigation based guidance system with Digital Control.
• GAURAV has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.
• After being launched, the glide bomb steers towards the target using a highly accurate hybrid navigation scheme with a combination of INS and GPS data.
• During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy.
• Complete flight data during the test launch was captured by Telemetry and Electro-optical tracking systems deployed by the Integrated Test Range along the coastline.

FloodWatch India 2.0:

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti launched Version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile application developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC)

• FloodWatch India gives information related to the flood situation and forecasts for up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public.
• The in-house developed user-friendly app has readable and audio broadcastand all the information is available in 2 languages, viz. English and Hindi.
• Other feature of the app includes real-time flood monitoring where users can check up-to-date flood situations throughout the country.
• It utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources.
• It also provides flood forecasts at the nearest location where users can check the flood advisory at the station nearest to them on the Home Page itself.
• The app will also provide a State-wise/Basin-wise Flood Forecast(up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) which can be accessed by selecting specific stations, state-wise or basin-wise from the dropdown menu.
• This app utilizes advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.
• FloodWatch India 2.0 provides current information at an additional 392 flood monitoring stations, taking up the total number of stations to 592, thus imparting users with an extensive and detailed overview of flood conditions across the country.
• It also provides additional information regarding the storage positions of 150 major reservoirs in the country which shall help in better understanding of the possible flood situation in their downstream areas.

Jiyo Parsi Scheme:

The Minister for Minority Affairs recently launched the Jiyo Parsi Scheme portal.

• Jiyo Parsi Scheme is a unique Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to arrest the population decline of the Parsi Community in India.
• The scheme was launched in 2013-14.
• The objective of the scheme is to reverse the declining trend of the Parsi population by adopting scientific protocols and structured interventions to stabilize their population in India.
• The scheme has three components: Medical Assistance, Advocacy, and Health of Community.
• Under the Medical Componentof the scheme, financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for medical treatment under standard medical protocol.
• Under the Health of Community Component, financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for child care and assistance of elderly people.
• Under the Advocacy Component, advocacy/outreach programmes are conducted to generate awareness among the Parsi population.

Corbett Tiger Reserve : Awareness Campaign

The Corbett Tiger Reserve recently ran an awareness campaign to celebrate World Elephant Day.

• Corbett Tiger Reserve is located on the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, spread over three districts, viz., Pauri, Nainital and Almora.
• It is the first National Park in India, established in 1936. It was named Hailey National Park then.
• In 1957, the park was rechristened Corbett National Park in memory of the late Jim Corbett, a great naturalist and eminent conservationist.
• Today, after the addition of areas to the originally declared National Park, the total area of Tiger Reserve extends to 1288.31 sq. km.
• The terrain is undulating with several valleys. The rivers Ramganga, Pallaen and Sonanadi flow through the valleys.
• By and large, the reserve is spread over the Bhabar and lower Shivalik regions with a deep-water table.
• The tract is porous with boulders and sand deposits.

Ballast Water:

The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has charged that Kamarajar Port is the main reason for the spread of the invasive species by not regulating the ballast water from ships.

• Ballast Water is fresh or saltwater held in the ballast tanks and cargo holds of ships.
• It is used to provide stability and maneuverability during a voyage when ships are not carrying cargo, not carrying heavy enough cargo, or when more stability is required due to rough seas.
• It may also be used to add weight so that a ship sinks low enough in the water to pass under bridges and other structures.
• Usually, ballast water is pumped into ballast tanks when a ship has delivered cargo to a port and is departing with less cargo or no cargo.
• It is then transported and released at the next port-of-call, where the ship picks up more cargo.
• If a ship is receiving or delivering cargo to a number of ports, it may release or take on a portion of ballast water at each port.
• In such cases, the ship’s ballast water contains a mix of water from multiple ports.
• The release of ballast water may introduce non-native organisms into the port of discharge.
• These introduced species, or bio invaders, are also referred to as exotic species, alien species, and nonindigenous species.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme : Update

Western Railway has announced the inclusion of Kandivali and Dahisar railway stations in the recently launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is an ongoing Indian Railways mission launched in February 2023 by the Ministry of Railways to redevelop railway stations across India.
• It is designed for the ongoing development of railway stations with a long-term perspective.
• It involves the creation of master plans and their phased implementation to improve various aspects of station facilities.
• The development plan takes into account the unique needs of each station, promoting a holistic approach to railway station enhancement.
• The scheme aims to transform railway stations into modern, well-equipped hubs with improved passenger amenities, better traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and enhanced signage.
• The scheme shall cater for the introduction of new amenities as well as the upgradation and replacement of existing amenities.
• The ultimate goal is to transform these stations into vibrant city centres over the long term.
• This includes providing clean and hygienic waiting areas, restrooms, Special amenities for the disabled, and food and beverage outlets.
• This includes creating separate entry and exit points for passengers and vehicles, widening roads and footpaths, and providing adequate parking facilities.
• This includes providing seamless connectivity between railway stations and other modes of transport, such as buses, taxis, and autorickshaws.
• This includes providing clear and visible signage in multiple languages to guide passengers.
• This includes using energy-efficient lighting and appliances.

Earth’s Rotational Dynamics : Study

Recent research highlights that melting polar ice caps due to climate change are causing the Earth to spin more slowly, leading to minute changes in the duration of a day.

• This phenomenon, while not immediately noticeable in daily lives, could have significant implications for technology reliant on precise timekeeping.
• The melting of polar ice sheets causes water to flow towards the equator, increasing the Earth’s oblateness and moment of inertia.
• Studies show that over the last two decades, the Earth’s rotation has slowed by approximately 1.3 milliseconds per century.
• The principle of angular momentum explains this effect, as polar ice melts and moves towards the equator, the Earth’s moment of inertia (mass distribution near the equator) increases, causing its rotational speed (velocity) to decrease to conserve angular momentum, resulting in a slower spin.
• Projections indicate that if high emission scenarios persist, this rate may increase to 2.6 milliseconds per century, making climate change a dominant factor in the Earth’s rotational slowdown.
• The melting ice also influences the Earth’s axis of rotation, causing a slight but measurable shift. This movement, while small, is another indicator of how climate change impacts fundamental Earth processes.
• The Earth’s rotational axis is tilted relative to its geographic axis.
• This tilt causes a phenomenon known as the Chandler wobble, which can affect rotational timing and stability.

NHA And MUHS Sign MoU To Drive Digital Health Education:

In a significant step towards driving Digital Health education across India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) in the presence of Union Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda, on August 13

BHEL Wins 1,600 MW Thermal Power Project from DVC:

State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has been awarded a significant contract by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to set up a 1,600 MW thermal power project. This project, known as the Koderma Supercritical Thermal Power Project (STPP), will be implemented on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis in the Koderma district of Jharkhand.

Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh Assumes Role as MD at SBI:

Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI), overseeing the Risk Compliance and Stressed Assets Resolution Group (SARG) departments.

PR Sreejesh Appointed as New Head Coach of India’s Junior Men’s Hockey Team:

Hockey India (HI) has officially announced that retiring goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will be the new head coach for the Indian junior men’s hockey team. This decision follows India’s recent bronze medal victory at the 2024 Olympics.

Para Shuttler Pramod Bhagat Suspended For Breaching Anti Doping Regulations:

Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat has been suspended by the Badminton World Federation for a period of 18 months for breaching the anti-doping regulations. Now, Pramod will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Sandeep Poundrik Assumes Role as Secretary of the Ministry of Steel:

Shri Sandeep Poundrik has officially taken over as the Secretary of the Ministry of Steel, succeeding in his role at Udyog Bhawan. A 1993-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, Poundrik was welcomed by senior officials of the Ministry upon his appointment.

MoU Signed Between Ministry of MSME And SBA, Government of USA:

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Small Business Administration (SBA) of the Government of the United States of America to promote Cooperation on Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs)

Vijay Mohan Kwatra Takes Charge An Indian Ambassador To US:

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States on August 13. Kwatra succeeds India’s former envoy to the United States, BJP leader Taranjit Singh Sandhu.