Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 16th September 2024

Siddha Medicine:

A combination of ‘Siddha’ drugs can reduce anaemia among adolescent girls, according to a recent study.A combination of ‘Siddha’ drugs can reduce anaemia among adolescent girls, according to a recent study.

• Siddha Medicine is a traditional system of healing that originated in South Indiaand is considered to be one of India’s oldest systems of medicine.
• Literary evidences of the Sangam Era state the origin of this system to around 10,000 BC.
• The Siddha system was built on the work of Siddhars, who were mostly from Tamil Nadu.
• Siddhars were spiritual masters who had the eight special abilities called siddhis. Some of the 18 Siddhars were Nandi, Agasthyar, Agappai, Pumbatti, etc.
• The Siddha medical system is thought to have been started by Agastyar, who is also known as Agasthya.
• Siddhars in rural India have traditionally learned their craft from elders in their communities.
• The Siddha system is based on a combination of ancient medicinal practices and spiritual disciplines, as well as alchemy and mysticism.
• The Siddha medicinal system not only focuses on treating the disease, but it also takes into account the patient’s behaviour, environmental aspects, age, habits, and physical condition.
• It is based on principles of panchamahabhootam (five basic elements), 96 thathuvas (principles), mukkuttram (3 humours), and 6 arusuvai (6 tastes).
• Soil, fire, water, sky and air are the five elements that Siddha practitioners believe can be found in everything from food to the “humour” of the human body to herbal, animal, and inorganic chemical substance sulphur and mercury.
• These have therapeutic potential and can be employed in the treatment of many illnesses.

Trilobites : Study

A new study finds that a trilobite species with exceptionally well-preserved fossils from upstate New York has an additional set of legs underneath its head.

• Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods.
• Tri-lob-ite means three-part-body in Latin.
• They first appeared around 521 million years ago, shortly after the beginning of the Cambrian period, living through the majority of the Paleozoic Era for nearly 300 million years.
• They died out at the end of the Permian, 251 million years ago, killed by the end Permian mass extinction event that removed over 90% of all species on Earth.
• They are recognized by their distinctive three-lobed, three-segmented form.
• Trilobites, like other arthropods, had an external skeleton, called exoskeleton, composed of chitinous material.
• Trilobites periodically shed their exoskeleton to accommodate growth. This process is called molting. Most fossil trilobites are actually fossil trilobite molts.
• Trilobites were the first group of animals in the animal kingdom to develop complex eyes.
• They were also one of the first organisms to develop multiple appendages for moving around.
• Some trilobites could swim, others burrowed or crawled around on muddy sea floors.
• The smallest trilobite fossils are a centimeter or less in size. The largest trilobites were more than 70 cm long.

Chamran-1 Research Satellite:

Iran has successfully launched its research satellite, Chamran-1, into space recently.

• Chamran-1 Research Satellite is an Iranian research satellite designed and manufactured by Iranian engineers at Iran Electronics Industries (SAIran), a defense ministry subsidiary, in collaboration with the Aerospace Research Institute and several private firms.
• It was put into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers (341 miles) above the Earth’s surface onboard a homegrown Ghaem-100 Space Launch Vehicle (SLV).
• The Ghaem-100 rocket, which carried the latest satellite, is manufactured by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• It is Iran’s first three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher.
• Weighing approximately 60 kilograms, the primary mission of the Chamran-1 is to test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation.
• The satellite also has secondary tasks, including assessing the performance of cold gas propulsion subsystems in space systems, and performance evaluation of navigation and attitude control subsystems.

Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997:

The recent visit of the Prime Minister of India to Chief Justice of India (CJI) residence has sparked controversy, particularly in the context of the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997.

• The ‘Restatement of Values of Judicial Life’ is a code of judicial ethics adopted by the Supreme Court, serving as a guide for an independent and fair judiciary, ensuring the impartial administration of justice.
• Justice must not merely be done but it must also be seen to be done. Judges must avoid any actions that erode public confidence in impartiality of the judiciary.
• Accordingly, any act of a judge of the Supreme Court or a high court, whether in official or personal capacity, which erodes the credibility of this perception, has to be avoided.
• A judge should not contest the election to any office of a club, society or other association, except in a society or association connected with the law.
• Close association with individual members of the bar, particularly those who practise in the same court, shall be avoided.
• A judge should not allow any member of their immediate family or a close relative who is a member of the Bar to appear before them or be involved in a case that they are handling.
• No member of a judge’s family who is a member of the Bar shall be permitted to use the judge’s residence or other facilities for professional work.
• A judge should practise a degree of aloofness (being distant) consistent with the dignity of his office.
• A judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a member of his family, a close relation or a friend is concerned.
• A judge shall not engage in public debate or express political views on matters pending or likely to arise for judicial determination.
• A judge should let his judgments speak for themselves and not give media interviews.
• A judge shall not accept gifts or hospitality except from family, close relations and friends.
• A judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a company in which he holds shares is concerned unless he has disclosed his interest and no objection to his hearing and deciding the matter is raised.
• A judge shall not speculate in shares, stocks or the like.
• Judges should not engage in trade or business, directly or indirectly, but publishing legal work or hobby activities are exceptions.
• A judge should not solicit, accept, or associate with fundraising for any purpose.
• A judge should not seek any financial benefit in the form of a perquisite or privilege attached to his office unless it is clearly available.
• Any doubt on this behalf must be resolved and clarified through the Chief Justice.
• Judges must always be aware they are under public scrutiny and avoid any act or omission unbecoming of their high office.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana : In News

The Union Cabinet has approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)

Health Cover for Senior Citizens under AB PM-JAY:

• All senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
• Beneficiaries Approximately 6 crore senior citizens.
• Family-based cover of Rs 5 lakh annually.
• An additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh annually for those already covered by AB PM-JAY.
• Eligible seniors will receive a distinct AB PM-JAY card.
• Groups Senior citizens under private health insurance or Employees’ State Insurance schemes.

AB PM-JAY Scheme:

• Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Ayushman Bharat Mission
• Target 12 crore families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries)
• Purpose To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
• Health cover of Rs 5 lakh/family/year for secondary and tertiary care
• Covers up to 3 days pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses.

Prime Minister unveils Vision for India as Green Hydrogen Hub:

The Prime Minister has unveiled an ambitious vision to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production, utilization, and export.

• Aims to lead in the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen, making India a global leader.
• Government Initiatives: Policies, research, and international collaborations to drive the green hydrogen industry forward.
• Investment and Job Creation: Targets ₹8 lakh crore investment and 6 lakh jobs.
• Production Goals: By 2030, aims for a $100 billion investment and production of 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission focus on decarbonizing sectors like refineries, fertilizers, and steel.
• Energy Targets: 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Green Hydrogen :

• It is produced through a process called electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.

Voters To Elect Judges At All Levels : Mexico

Mexico has become the first country in the world to allow voters to elect judges at all levels.

• The reform was championed by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who criticized the existing judicial system as serving the elite.
• The reform, which faced significant protests and opposition, mandates that around 1,600 judges, including Supreme Court justices, will stand for election in 2025 or 2027.
• Critics argue that this system may expose judges to criminal influence, particularly in a country where drug cartels hold significant power.
• Despite warnings from the Supreme Court chief justice, the reforms were passed both in the upper house and the lower house

Delhi Declaration on Civil Aviation:

The 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, a framework aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and addressing emerging challenges in the aviation sector.

• Hosted by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the two-day conference saw participation from 29 countries, ministers, and international organizations.
• Prime Minister emphasized India’s transformation into an “aviation inclusive” nation, noting that 15% of India’s pilots are women, compared to the global average of 5%.
• ICAO’s presentation on supporting Pacific Small Island Developing States and the commemoration of ICAO’s 80 years of shaping international aviation standards.

Co-location Trading:

Five years after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) came down heavily on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through its co-location (colo) facility.

Pixxel Awarded USD 476 Million NASA Contract to Support ESR with Hyperspectral Technology:

Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Pixxel, a spacetech startup, been selected to be part of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s USD 476 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition(CSDA) Program On-Ramp1 Multiple Award. It is one of the 8 companies to bag this contract.

1st Foundation Day of I4C:

Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) addressed the event organised to mark the 1st Foundation Day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as the Chief Guest at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. He also unveiled the new logo, vision and mission of I4C. During the event, Amit Shah launched 4 key initiatives – Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), Samanvay platform, Cyber Commandos programme and Suspect Registry– for prevention of cyber crime.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Launches 6 Initiatives:

The Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MPA) launched six initiatives as part of the 100-day achievements of the MPA in New Delhi, Delhi. These initiatives aim to improve decision-making, advance real-time governance, and achieve a paperless legislative environment

DoT Simplifies Telecom Licensing & Equipment Approval Processes to Boost Telecom Sector

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications (MoC) has revised its processes for issuing Experimental Licenses, Demonstration Licenses, and Equipment Type Approvals (ETA), to enhance the ease of doing business in the telecommunications (telecom) sector. These changes, based on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendations, aim to reduce time delays, foster innovation, and streamline regulatory processes in the telecom sector.

Max Life Enters Into Bancassurance Partnership with CSB Bank To Offer Insurance Products:

Gurugram (Haryana) based Max Life Insurance Company Limited has entered a bancassurance partnership with Thrissur (Kerala) based CSB Bank Limited (formerly The Catholic Syrian Bank Limited)to offer a wide range of life insurance products.