Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 9th October 2024

Fattah-2:

Iran recently fired more than 180 ballistic missiles, including its hypersonic medium-range Fattah-2, in a major offensive aimed at overwhelming Israel’s air defences.

• Fattah-2 means conqueror in Farsi, is a hypersonic ballistic missile.
• It was developed by Iran. It is a new version of its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile named ‘Fattah’.
• It is equipped with a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warhead that can manoeuvre and glide at hypersonic speed.
• It uses a liquid-fuel rocket propellant.
• The liquid fuel engine can adjust the thrust force.
• The precision-guided two-stage missile can hit targets within a range of 1500 kilometres with a velocity of Mach 15 (fifteen times the speed of sound, i.e 18522 km/hr).
• Measuring 12 meters in length, it can carry 200 kilograms of explosives.
• It is capable of significant trajectory changes during flight to evade defence systems.
• While the missile can accelerate outside the Earth’s atmosphere, its aerodynamic control surfaces allow for steering within the atmosphere.

Emergency Use Listing : WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it has listed the first mpox In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure.

• Emergency Use Listing procedure is a risk-based procedure for assessing and listing unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics and in vitro diagnostics.
• It aims to expedite the availability of these products to people affected by a public health emergency.
• This will assist interested UN procurement agencies and Member States in determining the acceptability of using specific products, based on an essential set of available quality, safety and efficacy and performance data.
• The disease for which the product is intended is serious or immediately life-threatening has the potential of causing an outbreak, epidemic or pandemic.
• Existing products have not been successful in eradicating the disease or preventing outbreaks.
• The product is manufactured in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the case of medicines and vaccines and under a functional Quality Management System (QMS) in the case of IVDs.

Free To Think 2024 : Report

The “Free to Think 2024” annual report by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project reveals a concerning decline in academic freedom in India over the past decade.

• Academic freedom refers to the right to pursue knowledge and conduct research without interference, supporting the open exchange of ideas and protecting academic integrity.

Highlights of the Report:

• The report stated that India’s academic freedom index score dropped from 0.6 to 0.2 points between 2013 and 2023.
• The report stated that, according to the Academic Freedom Index (AFI), India now ranks as “completely restricted,” marking its lowest score since the mid-1940s.
• The report cites the heightened efforts to exert political control and impose a majoritarian religion agenda in universities.
• New policies at universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and South Asian University (SAU) have prohibited student protests, undermining student expression and activism.
• Restrictions are also placed on academic freedom, limiting independent thought and expression.
• Ongoing battles between the Union government and various State governments over control of higher education are evident, particularly in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Punjab.
• Such conflicts result in restrictive policies that can limit independent institutional autonomy and restrict academic freedom.
• Instances of intimidation have led to resignations or retractions of critical academic work, undermining academic integrity and fostering self-censorship among researchers in higher education.
• The report documents 391 attacks on higher education communities in 51 countries, highlighting a broader global issue of threats to academic freedom.

44th Session Of The Codex Committee On Nutrition And Foods For Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU):

India participated in the 44th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) in Germany, contributing significantly to global food safety and nutrition standards.

• CCNFSDU is a unit of the Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC), responsible for developing global standards for special dietary foods such as infant formulas, dietary supplements, and medical foods.
• The CAC, established in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) and World Health Organization(WHO), sets international food standards to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices, with input from its 189 Codex Members(including India).
• India at 44th Session of CCNFSDU: India stressed the need to update outdated FAO/WHO probiotic guidelines from 2001 and 2002, highlighting that the current guidelines are two decades old.
• The country called for harmonized regulations to enhance global trade.
• India suggested that the combined Nutrient Reference Value-Requirement (NRV-R) for children aged 6 to 36 months should be calculated by taking the mean of two age groups(6–12 months and 12–36 months), and it was accepted by the CCNFSDU.
• NRVs-R are recommendations for nutritional intake based on current scientific data, established for target groups or populations.

MF Lite Framework : SEBI

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the Mutual Funds Lite (MF Lite) framework on September 30 to promote passively managed mutual fund schemes.

• This initiative aims to attract new players to the mutual fund industry, offer diversified and less risky investment opportunities for retail investors, and enhance market liquidity.
• It Lower eligibility criteria for sponsors, including requirements related to net worth, track record, and profitability, to ease entry for new AMCs.
• Mandates a minimum net worth of ₹35 crore for AMCs operating passive funds, ensuring adequate liquidity.
• Reduced oversight role for trustees in passive funds, with a focus on preventing conflicts of interest and market misconduct.
• Daily operational control shifted to the AMC’s board to maintain transparency in fees, expenses, and tracking errors.

Nobel Prize For Medicine, 2024:

The Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2024 has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking work in discovering microRNA and its role in gene regulation.

• Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024 Ambros and Gary Ruvkun.
• Discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
• They studied the roundworm C. Elegans and identified how the lin-4 microRNA regulates the lin-14 gene by inhibiting its protein production

ISRO Third Launch Pad:

ISRO is expanding its space capabilities by establishing a third launch pad at Sriharikota, aiming to support new technologies like the New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), while enhancing redundancy for critical missions and future space endeavors.

• First launch pad (FLP): Designed for PSLV missions; located at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Second launch pad (SLP): Supports GSLV and LVM-3 missions; also situated at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Third launch pad acts as a backup to ensure uninterrupted GSLV launches if issues arise with the second launch pad.
• Designed for horizontal assembly of the NGLV, focusing on liquid engine boosters, enhancing assembly efficiency.
• Supports NGLV’s higher payloads — 20 tonnes to LEO and 9 tonnes to GTO, up from current vehicle capabilities.
• It Will include stage testing facilities directly at the pad, unlike previous setups at Mahendragiri, streamlining operations.

Doddalathur Megalithic Site : Excavation

A team of history and archaeology scholars and students from the University of Mysore have embarked on an excavation of megalithic burial sites in Chamarajanagar district (Karnataka).

• Doddalathur village, Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. Situated in a small valley formed by the Male Mahadeshwara Hill ranges.
• Identified by C. Krishnamurti of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1961.
• The site corresponds to the Iron Age, broadly placed between 1200 BC and 300 CE in South India.
• Contains hundreds of megalithic burials characterized by circles made of large boulders. Many burials remain intact despite agricultural expansion and land development.
• Current excavation led by a team from the University of Mysore and the Mythic Society, Bengaluru, with a focus on understanding megalithic-iron age culture and providing field training to archaeology students.

John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton Awarded Nobel Prize 2024 in Physics:

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 to John J. Hopfield from Princeton University, USA, and Geoffrey E. Hinton from the University of Toronto, Canada.

IFC Partners with Axis Bank for India’s First Blue Loan of $500 Million:

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has partnered with Axis Bank to provide a $500 million loan aimed at scaling up blue finance and green projects in India. This is IFC’s first blue investment in the country and the largest climate finance initiative by IFC in India to date

BoB to Sell Oman Operations to Bank Dhofar:

State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) has announced its decision to sell its Oman operations to Bank Dhofar as part of a broader strategy to rationalize its foreign business footprint. This acquisition will take place on a going concern basis, pending approval from regulatory authorities.

Nijut Moina Scheme Launched in Assam to Fight Child Marriage:

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam has initiated the disbursement of monthly financial assistance under the Nijut Moina scheme. This step marks a decisive phase in the government’s ongoing battle against this social issue, aiming to provide crucial support to families

HDFC Bank Divests 100% Stake in HDFC Edu for ₹192 Crore:

HDFC Bank has officially announced the divestment of its entire 100% stake in HDFC Education and Development Services Pvt. Ltd (HDFC Edu) to Vama Sundari Investments for ₹192 crore.

National Postal Week:

The Department of Posts is making significant strides in expanding its service horizons by leveraging innovative technologies and services to connect with citizens across the country, especially in rural and remote areas.

UPI and AANI Link-Up:

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has informed that the Indian and UAE governments are working on interlinking the UPI of India and the AANI of UAE. It will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between two countries.