Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 30th August 2024

SIG 716 Rifle:

The Union Ministry of Defence recently signed a repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the U.S., and deliveries are expected to be completed by end-2025.

• SIG 716 Rifle is an American-made automatic assault rifle.
• It is manufactured by the United States firearms maker, Sig Sauer.
• In India, the army has extensively integrated the SIG 716 into its ranks, particularly for troops operating in mountainous areas and critical border regions.
• The rifle has a total length of 34.39 inches and a barrel length of 15.98 inches.
• Its total weight is 3.58 kg.
• It has a higher recoil and higher calibre, meant to shoot-to-kill targets at 600 metres.
• These rifles have a high-powered 7.62x51mm caliber, offering longer range and greater lethality than the existing INSAS and AK-47 rifles currently in service of Indian armed forces.
• Its gas piston system enhances reliability and reduces maintenance needs.
• The modularity of the SIG 716 allows for easy adaptation to various roles through the simple addition of accessories on its Picatinny rail, making this rifle extremely versatile for armed forces and specialized tactical units.

Deepfakes:

South Korea’s president recently ordered a crackdown on an epidemic of digital sex crimes targeting women and girls who become the unwitting victims of deepfake pornography.

• Deepfakes are synthetic media, including images, videos, and audio, generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that portray something that does not exist in reality or events that have never occurred.
• The term deepfake combines deep, taken from AI deep-learning technology (a type of machine learning that involves multiple levels of processing), and fake, addressing that the content is not real.
• It can create people who do not exist, and it can fake real people saying and doing things they did not say or do.
• The origin of the word “deepfake” can be traced back to 2017, when a Reddit user with the username “deepfakes”, posted explicit videos of celebrities.
• They are created by machine learning models, which use neural networks to manipulate images and videos.
• To make a deepfake video of someone, a creator would first train a neural network on many hours of real video footage of the person to give it a realistic “understanding” of what he or she looks like from many angles and under different lighting.
• Then they combine the trained network with computer-graphics techniques to superimpose a copy of the person onto a different actor.
• Deepfake technology is now being used for nefarious purposes like scams and hoaxes, celebrity pornography, election manipulation, social engineering, automated disinformation attacks, identity theft, and financial fraud.
• They differ from other forms of false information by being very difficult to identify as false.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme:

The Central Government recently expanded the scope of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme to make it more attractive, as part of its objective to strengthen farm-related infrastructure facilities in the country.

• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme is a Central Sector Schemewhich was launched in 2020.
• The scheme shall provide a medium- to long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.
• The duration of the Scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2032 (10 years).

Eligibility:

• Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
• Marketing Cooperative Societies
• Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
• Farmers
• Self Help Group (SHG)
• Joint Liability Groups (JLG)
• Multipurpose Cooperative Societies
• Agri-entrepreneurs and Startups
• Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Projects.

Exclusions: Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are not directly eligible under the scheme, but projects sponsored by them under PPP are eligible.

Leptospirosis : Outbreak

A severe Leptospirosis outbreak has emerged as a major public health concern across Kerala.

• Leptospirosis, also known as “rat fever”, is a rare bacterial infection that affects people and animals.
• The disease is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans, or Leptospira.
• It is most common in tropical areas and warmer climates with high rainfall each year.
• The carriers of the disease can be either wild or domestic animals, including rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
• Infected animals spread the bacteria through their urine. They may continue to urinate the bacteria into the environment for several months or years.
• The bacteria can survive in contaminated water or soil for weeks to months.
  It is not spread from person to person, except in very rare cases.
• Symptoms: It generally takes 2-30 days to get sick after having contact with the bacteria. Leptospirosis may occur in two phases.
• In the first phase, people may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea. The person may feel better for a while but become ill again.
• Some people may suffer a more severe second phase with kidney or liver failure, or inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
• Treatment: It can be treated with antibiotics, including penicillin and doxycycline.

National Teachers Award 2024:

The Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education selected 16 teachers in HEIs and Polytechnic for National Awards to Teachers (NAT) 2024.

• The purpose of this award is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honor those teachers who through their commitment and industry have not only improved the quality of school education but also enriched the lives of their students.
• This award is conferred on the exemplary teachers/faculty members of higher education institutions and Polytechnics.
• The award is open to all the faculty members of colleges/universities/higher educational institutions/polytechnics in India.
• The candidates should satisfy the following conditions:
• The nominee should be a regular faculty member.
• He must have at least five years of full-time experience (undergraduate or postgraduate level).
• The nominee should not be over 55 years of age as of the last date of receiving the application for the awards.
• Vice-Chancellor/Director/Principal (regular or officiating) are not eligible to apply. However, individuals who were in such positions, but below 55 years of age and still in active service are eligible.
• The winners will receive a medal and a certificate worth Rs 50,000.

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary : Four Monkeys Found Dead

Four monkeys were found dead in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district of Kerala, raising concerns among wildlife authorities.

• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the western slopes of Western Ghats and it is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary of Kerala.
• It is contiguous with Wayanad-Brahmagiri, Wayanad’s northern slopes and the Protected Areas of Karnataka State namely the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and also the forests of Coorg.
• The Cheenkannipuzha river forms the main drainage system on the southern side. Other rivers found here are: Narikkadavu thodu, Kurukkathodu and Meenumuttithodu.
• It includes West Coast tropical evergreen forest, west coast semi-evergreen forests, South Indian moist deciduous forest, Southern hilltop evergreen forest and plantations.
• It is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua- Palaquium type.
• Highest peak of this sanctuary is Katti Betta.
• The major tree species are Artiocarpus heterophyllus, Bishofia javanica, Calophyllum elatum, Cannarium strictum,Cullenia exarillita, Dipterocarpus sp, Drypetes elata, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus etc.

Qutb Shahi Tomb Complex:

After a decade-long restoration effort by the Telangana Government’s Department of Heritage and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park was opened to the public.

• Qutb Shahi tomb complex was built by the Qutb Shahi dynasty that ruled the region from 1518 A.D. to 1687 A.D.
• This complex is located in – Ibrahim bagh in Hyderabad.
• It consists of 30 tombs, mosques and a mortuary bath. The tombs belong to the rulers of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty.
• It is a 500-year-old cluster of grand mausoleums, idgah, graves, funerary mosques, a hammam (bath), and baolis (stepwells).
• It collectively constitutes an outstanding example of an Indo-Muslim dynastic necropolis.
• These tombs are present in a large group on a raised platform.
• They resemble Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles that make use of grey granite, with stucco ornamentation and is a one-of-its-kind place in the world where the whole dynasty is buried at a single spot.
• They lie amidst beautifully landscaped gardens with intricately carved stonework.

Colour-Coded Weather Alerts:

IMD issued ‘red alert’ in Gujarat due to heavy rainfall and severe waterlogging.

• India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues colour-coded weather alerts from time to time. These keep citizens informed and help in greater preparedness
• ‘Green’ stands for ‘No warning’: no action needs to be taken by the authorities, and the forecast is of light to moderate rain.
• According to the weather department, 15.6 mm to 64.4 mm rain is considered “moderate”.
• ‘Yellow’ alert signifies “Watch”, and authorities are advised to “Be updated” on the situation. According to the weather department, 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm rain is considered “heavy”.
• ‘Orange’ warning stands for “Alert”, and authorities are expected to “Be prepared”.
• The forecast during an Orange warning is of heavy to very heavy rainfall. According to IMD, 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm rain is considered “very heavy”.
• ‘Red’ alert stands for “Warning”, and asks authorities to “Take action”.
• The forecast is for extremely heavy rainfall. According to IMD, more than 204.5 mm rain is considered “extremely heavy”.

Minimum Marriage Age Raised to 21 : Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has passed a Bill to raise the minimum marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years, amending the Prohibition of Child Marriage (PCM) Act.

• Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age of marriage is 21 and 18 years for men and women, respectively.
• The Bill redefines a “child” as anyone under 21, eliminating the age difference between genders.
• It also overrides any conflicting laws or customs.
• To annul a marriage, the time limit has been extended to five years after reaching the age of 21.
• Since the Bill amends a central law, it must receive the President’s assent to become enforceable, following approval from the state’s Governor
• Earlier, in June 2024, a Central bill ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ lapsed in Lok Sabha which aimed to bring uniformity in the age of marriage for men and women.
• 2021 Bill was based on recommendations of Jaya Jaitley Committee

Perpetual bond:

Canara Bank issued India’s first Additional Tier I perpetual bonds since recent rule changes, attracting strong investor interest with a lower-than-expected coupon of 8.27%.This marks a revival in demand for these bonds, which had declined due to regulatory challenges. The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) recent valuation tweak, allowing mutual funds to value these bonds based on the call option, has made them more attractive.

Unified Lending Interface:

RBI Governor announced that the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), designed for seamless and quick credit access, particularly for MSMEs and farmers, is currently in the pilot stage.The platform integrates diverse data sources to reduce loan appraisal times and simplify processes. It is expected to be launched nationwide soon, with the potential to transform the lending space, similar to how UPI revolutionized payments.

Solar paraboloid technology:

Solar paraboloid technology, a form of concentrating solar power (CSP), is emerging as a promising renewable energy solution.It uses parabolic mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver, generating high temperatures (up to 300°C) for electricity or industrial heat. This technology offers higher efficiency than traditional photovoltaic systems, potentially lowering electricity costs.

Paralympic Games Begin on August 28, 2024:

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games open on Wednesday evening at Place de la Concorde. This is the first time that France has hosted the Paralympic Summer Games, and is also the first time that a Paralympics opening ceremony has taken place outside a stadium.

Reliance Industries’ 47th Annual General Meeting:

During Reliance Industries’ 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced a groundbreaking development in the field of artificial intelligence. The company’s telecom arm, Reliance Jio, is set to launch a comprehensive suite of AI tools and applications called ‘Jio Brain’. J

Pakistani Christian Becomes First Goan to Obtain Indian Citizenship Under CAA:

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant awarded Indian citizenship to Joseph Francis Pereira, a 78-year-old Pakistani Christian, under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Second Indian National Title : Chess

Karthik Venkataraman won the 61st edition of the Indian National Championship after scoring 9/11 points at the event organised by the Haryana Chess Association. This is the second victory in a national championship for Karthik

MD & CEO Of Shriram Capital:

Shriram Capital, the holding company of the Shriram Group, has appointed Subhasri as its new Managing Director and CEO, effective 1 September. Subhasri, who previously served as Joint Managing Director, has been a key figure in the company since joining as an Officer in the NBFC business in 1991.

India’s 2nd Nuclear Missile Submarine Commissioned by Rajnath Singh:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat (S-3), at a quiet event in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant boost to India’s nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability.

PM chairs 44th PRAGATI Interaction:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier on August 28, chaired the meeting of the 44th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Centre and State governments. This was the first meeting in the third term.