Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 1st October 2024

Chikungunya : Outbreak

The chikungunya outbreak in Pune and nearby regions has been traced to the Indian Ocean lineage of the virus, according to scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

• Chikungunya is a viral diseasetransmitted to humans through the bites of mosquitoes infected with the chikungunya virus.
• The word comes from the African Makonde language and means “bent over in pain.”
• It is most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, which can also transmit dengue and Zika viruses.
• It is not spread from person to person.
• It was first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952 and has now been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
• Symptoms usually begin 4 to 8 days after a mosquito bite but can appear anywhere from 2 to 12 days.
• The most common symptom is an abrupt onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain.
• Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
• Serious complications are uncommon, but atypical severe cases can cause long-term symptoms and even death, especially in older people.
• There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatmentfor chikungunya virus infections.

Peechi -Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary

A female elephant recently died due to apparent electrocution near a tribal colony close to the Peechi wildlife sanctuary in Kerala’s Thrissur district.

• Peechi -Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Thrissur District, Kerala.
• Spread across 125 sq. km, the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1958.
• It is situated in the catchment area of the Peechi and Vazhani Dams.
• It is part of the Palapilii-Nelliyampathy forests and forms the northern boundary of the Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The wildlife population includes over 25 types of mammals, including carnivores like the leopard, the tiger, and the fox, and herbivores like the elk, deer, barking deer, spotted deer, the gaur, and the elephant.

Canary Islands:

Rescue teams resumed searching for at least 48 migrants who went messing the day before when their boat overturned just as it was being rescued off Spain’s Canary Islands.

• Canary Islands is an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean.
• It is about 1300 km South of mainland Spain and 115 km West of the African coast (Morocco).
• The Canaries comprise the Spanish provinces of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• These Islands were formed by volcanic eruptionsmillions of years ago.
• They have a subtropical climate. Temperatures are warm and show little seasonal variation.
• It has rich volcanic soils and mild temperatures that support a wide variety of vegetation that generally follows a zonal arrangement based on elevation.
• Archipelago is a term used to describe a group or chain of islands that are closely scattered in a body of water, such as a sea, ocean, lake, or river.

National Centre Of Excellence For AVGC:

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) in Mumbai.

• National Centre of Excellence for AVGC will be set up as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013 in India.
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry represent the industry bodies as partners with the Government of India.
• It aims at creating a world class talent pool in India to cater to the Indian as well as global entertainment industry.
• It is provisionally named the Indian Institute for Immersive Creators (IIIC), this center aims to revolutionize the AVGC sector and foster innovation in immersive technologies.
• It will be modeled after renowned institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
• This initiative is set to boost the economy while creating new job opportunities in the rapidly growing AVGC sector.
• As a global hub for filmmaking, India’s advancements in technology and infrastructure will enable the production of high-quality content, positioning the country as a leader in technological innovation and creativity.

SBM Urban 2.0:

As a goal of the SBM Urban 2.0, which was launched in 2021, all legacy landfills in the country are to be cleared by 2025-2026.

Data:

• Ahmedabad: Cleared 4.3 acres of land from 2.30 lakh tonnes of waste at Bopal Ghuma site. Redeveloped into an ecological park costing Rs. 8 crore. Work ongoing at larger Pirana landfill (84 acres) with 54% cleared.
• Nagpur: Remediated 35 acres of landfill containing 10 lakh metric tonnes of waste. Site planned for an integrated waste management project.
• Pune: Cleared 75 acres of land at Vanaz landfill, remediating 37 lakh tonnes of waste. The site is now the Hill View Park Car Depot, part of the Pune Metro Rail project.
• These efforts are part of the SBM Urban 2.0 goal to clear all legacy landfills by 2025-2026.

Pillbox:

The monsoon season in Visakhapatnam has caused beach erosion, revealing historical World War II pillboxes that had long been buried under sand. These structures offer a glimpse into the city’s strategic maritime defense legacy during the war.

• Pillboxes are small, concrete defense structures used during World War II, equipped with loopholes for firing weapons.
• Named after early 20th-century medicine containers (“pillboxes”) due to their compact, circular design.
• Built during WWII: Constructed by the British in Visakhapatnam to protect the city’s naval base and deep harbor.
• Positioned along the coastline to defend against potential invasions by Axis forces, especially threats from Japanese submarines and aircraft.
• It Enabled soldiers to fire weapons while being protected from enemy attacks.
• It Served as part of a larger defense network guarding Visakhapatnam’s shores and port
• These pillboxes are relics of Visakhapatnam’s role as a crucial naval base during WWII.

Operation Amrith:

Kerala has taken a significant step in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by launching Operation Amrith, enforcing the 2011 H1 rule to prohibit the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics.

• Operation Amrith aim to curb the irrational use of antibiotics by banning their sale without a prescription, reducing the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Launched by: Kerala government in 2023.
• Strict enforcement of the 2011 H1 rule, which bans the OTC sale of all classes of antibiotics (first, second, and third-line) without a doctor’s prescription.
• Targeting pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical stores to ensure compliance.
• Kerala remained committed to the 2011 rule, unlike other states which followed a modified 2013 rule allowing OTC sales of first-line antibiotics.
• Focuses on antibiotic stewardship to prevent the misuse of antibiotics, thus mitigating the threat of AMR.

Neutrino Fog:

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, one of the many dark matter detection efforts globally, recently reported its findings, which placed the tightest restrictions yet on the possible identity of dark matter particles.

• “Neutrino fog” refers to the interference caused by neutrinos—ghostly particles produced by the Sun and cosmic events—in detecting dark matter.
• Since neutrinos rarely interact with matter, they pass through almost everything, including dark matter detectors.
• Dark matter detection experiments, like LUX-ZEPLIN, are becoming increasingly sensitive, but they also detect neutrinos. This creates “fog,” or background noise, making it harder to distinguish between neutrinos and dark matter signals.
• Neutrinos mimic the weak signals expected from dark matter, confusing results.
• Neutrino fog sets a boundary on how sensitive future dark matter experiments can be.
• Developing methods to differentiate neutrino signals from dark matter is a key challenge for advancing research.

Bhagat Singh’s Birth Anniversary:

28th September 2024 marks the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, a legendary revolutionary whose spirit inspires generations in India. Celebrated as a national hero, he dedicated his life to fighting British colonial rule, leaving a legacy of courage and sacrifice.

• Bhagat Singh was born on 28th September, 1907, in Banga, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan).
• He Came from a Sikh family actively involved in anti-colonial activities; his father, Kishan Singh, and uncle, Ajit Singh, were prominent freedom fighters.
• Witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre at the age of 12, which instilled a deep sense of patriotism and a vow to fight for India’s freedom.
• Joined the National College, Lahore, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, which emphasised Swadeshi Movement and provided a platform for revolutionary ideas.
• Bhagat Singh became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1924, later renaming it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
• Naujawan Bharat Sabha was founded by Bhagat Singh in 1926, aimed at mobilising youth for the freedom struggle.
• Involved in the assassination of police officer J.P. Saunders in 1928 (Lahore Conspiracy Case) as retaliation for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death due to police brutality.
• Threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 18th April 1929, with B.K. Dutt to protest against repressive British laws.
• Arrested in 1929 for the bomb incident and later charged with murder in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.
• Executed on 23rd March 1931, along with fellow revolutionaries Sukhdev and Rajguru, in Lahore. Bhagat Singh is affectionately known as Shahid-e-Azam, the greatest of martyrs.
• Authored significant works, including Why I Am an Atheist, The Jail Notebook and Other Writings, and several political manifestos advocating for socialism and revolution.
• In his early work, Vishwa Prem (Universal Love), Singh proclaimed the importance of equality. He envisioned a world free of hunger and war, where humanity transcends boundaries of race and nationality.
  Advocated Marxist and socialist ideologies, emphasising rationalism, equality, and justice. Critiqued organised religion, viewing them as forms of mental and physical slavery.
• Celebrated as a national hero and martyr; his birth anniversary and the date of his execution are observed annually to honour his contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
• Every year, 23rd March is observed as Martyrs’ Day as a tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

Kumki Elephants:

Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Karnataka signed an MoU for the deployment of trained elephants (Kumki) from Karnataka to control the elephant menace in AP.

• It Includes deploying an expert team for elephant capture, mahout training programs, knowledge transfer, SOPs for darting (tranquillising) and capturing animals, nutrition and food, and workshops and seminars.
• Karnataka has transferred 62 kumki elephants to Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and other states.
• Kumki is a term used in India to refer to trained captive Asian elephants.
• They can capture, rescue, and treat injured wild elephants, as well as to drive them away from human settlements.
• Some are trained to follow commands and aid in training other elephants.
• They participate in forest patrolling to support conservation initiatives.
• India is home to about 60% of the world’s Asian elephant population, with an estimated 27,312 individuals as per the 2017 census and 138 identified elephant corridors.
• Elephants have a gestation period of about 22 months, the longest of any land animal.
• Asian elephants (Indian) are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian left arm spinner to take 300 test wickets in Test cricket:

The ongoing India vs Bangladesh 2 test match series, Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian left arm spinner to take 300 test wickets in Test cricket. The all rounder became the second fastest player who scored 3000 test runs and scalped 300 test wickets.

“Rajyamata-Gomata” Tag Declared to Desi Cows In Maharashtra:

The Maharashtra government granted the status of Rajyamata-Gomata to desi cows in the state. This is the first time that such a title has been bestowed on any creature. In a government resolution (GR) passed by the dairy development department, the state specified that the status of Rajyamata will be extended only to desi cows

BSE and NSE have announced revisions to their transaction fees:

BSE and NSE have announced revisions to their transaction fees, effective from October 1, 2024. The changes, which impact various segments, align with SEBI’s July directive mandating a uniform fee structure across market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). This move eliminates the previous slab-based structure and ensures transparency for end clients.

GST Council Establishes GoM on Compensation Cess:

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has formed a 10-member Group of Ministers (GoM), chaired by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, to address the future taxation of luxury, sin, and demerit goods as the compensation cess is set to expire in March 2026.

NATO to Establish Northern Land Command in Eastern Finland:

NATO plans to set up a new land command in Finland near the Russian border in 2025, to lead land force operations in northern Europe during potential military conflicts. Finland, which joined NATO last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is preparing for the alliance’s presence on its territory

Udhayanidhi Stalin Took Oath as Deputy CM of TamilNadu:

The Chief Minister of TamilNadu M. K. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin took the oath as the new Deputy Chief Minister of the state. The cabinet reshuffle and several members were also changed.

IPS Nalin Prabhat as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed IPS Nalin Prabhat as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir. He is set to assume charge from October 1. Till then, he will work as the Special Director-General (DG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Centre Of Excellence Inaugurated by BCCI in Bengaluru:

To expand the cricketing infrastructure, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket In India) inaugurated the new state of art facilities which are called the Centre Of Excellence in the outskirts of the Bengaluru city.

Yogibo Athletics Challenge Cup of World Athletics Continental Tour:

India’s Gulveer Singh set a new national record en route to winning the men’s 5000m gold in the Yogibo Athletics Challenge Cup of World Athletics Continental Tour at Niigata, Japan. Gulveer won the race with a time of 13:11.82 to improve upon his own national record earlier this year.

Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court:

As a Chief Justice of Delhi High-court Justice Manmohan took the Oath of Office in the Capital of India. The Oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena at a ceremony where the new Chief Minister of Delhi also attended the event.

‘Telangana Darshini’ Program for Students to Visit Historical Sites:

Telangana state government launched the ‘Telangana Darshini’ Program to those government school students to explore historical and tourist sites at no cost. It is also designed to enrich the educational experiences of government school students. It aims to enhance student’s knowledge through experiential learning rather than traditional classroom lessons.