Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 20th September 2024

Naga King Chilli Festival:

Seiyhama village in Nagaland celebrated the third edition of the Naga king chilli festival.

• Naga King Chilli belongs to genus Capsicum of family Solanaceae.
• It is also known as raja mircha, Bhoot Jolokia and Ghost pepper.
• It is a spice renowned globally for its extreme heat, which exceeds 1 million Scoville heat units (SHU).
• It is ranked among the hottest chillies in the world, the king chilli holds significant cultural and economic value for the Naga people.
• It has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008.
• The cultivation of king chilli in Seiyhama is an ancient practice. Farmers begin searching for suitable plots in December or January, with large bamboo groves being the preferred location.
• The peak harvest of king chilli occurs in August and September, with the final harvest in November and December.
• The king chilli has long been used to preserve food in Nagaland’s hot, humid climate, extending the shelf life of food and reducing waste.

Venus Orbiter Mission : Approved

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the development of Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM). Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the development of Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM).

• Venus Orbiter Mission is envisaged to orbit a scientific spacecraft in the orbit of planet Venus.
• It is for better understanding of the Venusian surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and influence of Sun on Venusian atmosphere.
• The study of the underlying causes of transformation of Venus, which is whispered to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth would be an invaluable aid in understanding the evolution of the sister planets, both Venus and Earth.
• The Indian Venus mission is expected to answer some of the outstanding scientific questions resulting in various scientific outcomes.
• India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be responsible for the development of spacecraft and its launch.
• The mission is expected to be accomplished on the opportunity available during March 2028. The realization of the spacecraft and launch vehicle is through various industries.
• The total fund approved for the VOM is Rs.1236 Cr out of which Rs 824.00 Crore will be spent on the spacecraft.
• The cost includes development and realization of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for navigation and network as well as the cost of launch vehicle.
• Venus, the closest planet to Earth and believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth, offers a unique opportunity to understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently.

Next Generation Launch Vehicle : Approved

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the development of Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

• Next Generation Launch Vehicle will have 3 times the present payload capability with 1.5 times the cost compared to LVM3, and will also have reusability resulting in low-cost access to space and modular green propulsion systems.
• The development of the NGLV is taken up which is designed to have a maximum payload capability of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit, which also has a reusable first stage.
• This development project will be implemented with maximal participation from the Indian industry, which is also expected to invest in the manufacturing capacity at the outset itself, thereby allowing a seamless transition to the operational phase subsequent to the development.
• NGLV will be demonstrated with three development flights (D1, D2 & D3) with a target of 96 months (8 years) for the completion of the development phase.
• The total fund approved is Rs. 8240.00 Crore and includes the development costs, three developmental flights, essential facility establishment, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.
• It will enable national & commercial missions including launch of human spaceflight missions to Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
• Lunar/inter-planetary exploration missions along with communication & earth observation satellite constellations to Low Earth Orbit that will benefit the entire space ecosystem in the country.
• This project will boost the Indian space ecosystem in terms of capability and capacity.

Simultaneous Elections:

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal for simultaneous elections across the country, aligning polls for the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, and local bodies across India.

• The decision came after a high-level committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report on the ‘one nation, one election’ plan.
• Bill 1: Simultaneous elections will be held to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. For this, no ratification by the states will be required for the constitutional amendment.
• Bill 2: Elections to municipalities and the panchayats will be synchronised with elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies in such a way that local body elections are held within 100 days of the elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
• This will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states.

Bio-RIDE Scheme:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved continuation of the two umbrella schemes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), merged as one scheme-‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio- RIDE).

• It is designed to foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s position as a global leader in biomanufacturing and biotechnology.
• It aims to accelerate research, enhance product development, and bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications.
• The scheme has three broad components:
  • Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D);
  • Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED)
  • Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry (New component under this new scheme)
• It is part of the Government of India’s mission to harness the potential of bio-innovation to tackle national and global challenges such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and clean energy.
• Funding and Time period: The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Bio-RIDE’ is Rs.9197 crore during the 15th finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Implementation of Bio-RIDE Scheme will nurture a thriving ecosystem for startups by providing seed funding, incubation support, and mentorship to bio-entrepreneurs.
• It will offer grants and incentives for cutting-edge research and development in areas like synthetic biology, biopharmaceuticals, bioenergy, and bioplastics
• It will create synergies between academic institutions, research organizations, and industry to accelerate the commercialization of bio-based products and technologies.
• A significant focus will be placed on promoting environmentally sustainable practices in biomanufacturing, aligned with India’s green goals.
• It will play critical role in advancing scientific research, innovation, and technological development across diverse fields of biotechnology by supporting extramural funding to research institutions, universities, and individual researchers in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, bioenergy, and environmental sustainability.
• It will provide holistic development and support to students, young researchers and scientists working in the multidisciplinary areas of Biotechnology.

National Board For Wildlife:

The standing committee of the NBWL (SC-NBWL) recently cleared projects such as a transmission line in Little Rann of Kutch, a controversial transmission line project in Goa’s Mollem national park, among others.

• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory board constituted by the Central Government under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• It is responsible for guiding the government’s decisions on matters related to wildlife conservation and issuing approvals for projects in protected areas (PAs).
• The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat, and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
• It is a 47-member committee, headed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (environment minister) as vice chairperson.
• In addition to offices and institutions directly involved in conservation and protection of wildlife, the NBWL also has the chief of army staff, defence secretary, and expenditure secretary to Government of India as members.
• Further, the central government nominates 10 members who are eminent conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists.
• The SC-NBWL shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (environment minister), the Member Secretary, and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the NBWL.
• While the act envisaged the board and the committee as advisory bodies, their powers and responsibilities were increased in 2002, after the Supreme Court ruled that the SC-NBWL had to approve all proposals that sought permission for “any activity” within a wildlife sanctuary.
• The SC-NBWL also makes recommendations on the setting up of and management of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and other PAs and on matters relating to restriction of activities in those areas.
• The SC-NBWL shall ordinarily meet once in three months.

Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S):

Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) 2024 campaign was initiated in New Delhi as the theme of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2024.

• Under this, the Central Government is aiming for the time-bound and targeted transformation of highly challenging and unsanitary locations.
• A key highlight of the campaign is the introduction of Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) which entails the identification and mapping of these units through a dedicated portal.
• Three Pillars of 4S 2024 Campaign:
  • Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari: Public participation, awareness, and advocacy for Swachh Bharat.
  • Sampoorna Swachhata: Mega cleanliness drives targeting difficult and dirty spots (Cleanliness Target Units).
  • SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir: Single-window service, safety, and recognition camps for sanitation workers’ welfare and health.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): The initiative aspires to engender a transformative shift towards fostering sustainable behavioral change, embedding cleanliness into daily routines, and promoting widespread public participation in upholding a clean and healthy environment.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II:

The Indian Navy announced the second women circumnavigation expedition and unveiled the expedition logo.

• Two Indian Navy women officers, Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K, will embark on a globe-circumnavigating expedition known as Navika Sagar Parikrama II, onboard INSV Tarini.
• Women Navy officers are being guided by Cdr Abhilash Tomy (Retd.), a renowned circumnavigator and Golden Globe Race hero.
• Golden Globe Race is a prestigious solo sailing competition to circumnavigate the globe without stopping and using only traditional navigation methods.
• In the Navika Sagar Parikrama logo, the octagonal shape in the center depicts the Indian Navy, while the sun signifies a celestial body and the compass, guiding the sailors through the challenging seas.

Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan:

The Union cabinet recently extended the PM-AASHA price support scheme in agriculture till 2025-26.It is an umbrella scheme aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce.

Real Estate Investment Trusts:

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) recently launched Data Benchmarking Institutions (DBIs) to provide investors with detailed information on real estate investment trusts (REITs).REITs are companies that own or finance income-producing real estate across a range of property sectors.It allows investors to pool their funds and invest in various real estate projects. Essentially, it functions like a mutual fund for real estate investments.

5th Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

The Indian men’s hockey team won the 5th Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in China by defeating China 1-0 in the final.India has won the most Asian Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy titles with 5, while Pakistan has won 3, including one shared with India.
India’s Harmanpreet Singh is the second-highest goal scorer in the Asian Champions Trophy with 7 goals, trailing behind Korea’s Jihun Yang, who has scored 8 goals.

India is set to become the Third-largest Economy by 2030-31:

India is on track to become the third largest economy by fiscal 2030-31, driven by a robust projected annual growth rate of 6.7%, the credit rating agency S&P Global said in its report called India forward Emerging Perspectives.

India Becomes 6th Largest Market in MSCI ACWI:

India has now become the sixth largest market in the MSCI All Country World Investable Market Index (ACWI IMI), surpassing China and narrowly behind France. As of August 2024, India’s weight in the index stands at 2.35%, surpassing China’s 2.24%, with France just 3 basis points ahead of India.

India’s exports to China contracted by 22.44% to $1 billion in August:

India’s exports to China contracted by 22.44% to $1 billion in August, while overall exports declined 9% to $34.7 billion, driven by muted demand, geopolitical issues, and logistics challenges amid a massive slowdown in China.