Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 10th October 2024

Mount Dhaulagiri : Russian Mountaineers Lost Their Lives

Five Russian mountaineers recently lost their lives during an expedition on Mount Dhaulagiri.

• Mount Dhaulagiri is the seventh-highest mountain in the world.
• It has an elevation of 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) above sea level.
• It is located in the Dhaulagiri Himal Mountain range of west-central Nepal and is part of the Himalayan Mountain range.
• It is also one of the “eight-thousanders” — the fourteen mountains on Earth that are more than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) above sea level.
• Dhaulagiri means “white mountain” in Sanskrit, and it is known for its snowy peaks and glaciers.
• It is the highest mountain located entirely within Nepal.
• It extends about 120km from the Kaligandaki River to the Bheri River in the west.
• It is also the highest point of the Gandaki River Basin.
• It is one of the most challenging mountains to climb due to its difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
• The first successful expedition to Mt. Dhaulagiri was led by the Swiss climber, Max Eiselin, in 1960.

2024 Nobel Prize In physics:

The 2024 Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.

• ML is a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) focused on building computer systems that learn from data.
• ML allows computer systems to continuously adjust and enhance themselves as they accrue more “experiences.”
• ML algorithms are trained to find relationships and patterns in data.
• Using historical data as input, these algorithms can make predictions, classify information, cluster data points, reduce dimensionality and even generate new content.
• Examples of the latter, known as generative AI, include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and GitHub Copilot.
• Training ML algorithms often demands large amounts of high-quality data to produce accurate results.
• ML is widely applicable across many industries. For example, e-commerce, social media and news organizations use recommendation enginesto suggest content based on a customer’s past behavior.
• In self-driving cars, ML algorithms and computer vision play a critical role in safe road navigation.
• In healthcare, ML can aid in diagnosis and suggest treatment plans.
• Other common ML use cases include fraud detection, spam filtering, malware threat detection, predictive maintenance, and business process automation.

Halari Donkey:

The endangered Halari donkeys, native to the Halar region of Gujarat, are considered to be intelligent animals which work closely with human beings.

• Halari donkey is native to the Halar region of Gujarat especially found in the semi-arid landscape of Jamnagar and Dwarka
• It is white in colour, and is larger and more resilient than other donkey breeds.
• They are social animals and form close bonds with people, supporting them for transport needs.
• The Bharwad and Rabari pastoralists are the main communities which use this donkey as a pack animal to carry luggage during migration with small ruminants.
• The Kumbhar (potter) community also uses this animal for pottery work in Dwarka in the Jamnagar region.
• Halari donkey milk is known for its sweetness. Milk powder made from it can fetch upwards of ₹7,000 a kg in the international market and is used for cosmetic purposes.
• Conservation status: It is considered endangered; the surviving population of the Halari donkey numbers fewer than 500.

MACE Observatory : Inaugurated

The MACE Observatory has been inaugurated by the Secretary DAE & Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, at Hanle, Ladakh.

• The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia.
• It is located at an altitude of ~4,300 m, at Hanle, Ladakh.
• It is Asia’s Largest and World’s Highest Imaging Cherenkov Observatory.
• The MACE project aims to foster international collaborations, advancing India’s contributions to space research and bolstering India’s position in the global scientific community.\
• It is indigenously built by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with support from the Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL), Hyderabad, and other Indian industry partners.
• It will help the scientific community enhance its understanding in the fields of astrophysics, fundamental physics, and particle acceleration mechanisms.
• The MACE telescope will observe high-energy gamma rays, contributing to global efforts to understand the most energetic phenomena in the universe, such as supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts.
• It plays a significant role not only in advancing scientific research but also in supporting the socio-economic development of Ladakh.

Trachoma: In News

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that the Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem becoming the third country in the South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone.

• Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes.
• It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis.
• It is contagious; spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat secretions of infected people, if left untreated it causes irreversible blindness.
• It is found in communities that are living in poor environmental conditions.
• WHO has termed Trachoma as a neglected tropical disease and its estimation suggests that 150 million people worldwide are affected by Trachoma and 6 million of them are blind or at risk of visually disabling complications.
• The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
• As a result, in 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma. However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards till 2024.
• The National Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT only) Survey was also carried out in 200 endemic districts of the country under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) from 2021-24, which was a mandate set by WHO to declare that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem.
• To eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, WHO recommends the SAFE strategy.
• The SAFE strategy includes:Surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis); Antibiotics to clear the infection, particularly the antibiotic azithromycin; Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement, particularly improving access to water and sanitation.
• The 17 other countries that have eliminated trachoma are: Benin, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Ghana, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Togo and Vanuatu.

92nd Indian Air Force Day:

The 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was celebrated at Marina Beach, Chennai, featuring an airshow.

• The theme is “Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant).
• It reflects the IAFs commitment to self-reliance and modernisation, aligning with India’s vision for a robust defence capability.
• The motto of IAF is Touch the sky with Glory (Nabhah Sparsam Diptam) which has been taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
• The Indian Air Force was formed on 18th October 1932, The first operational flight of the IAF took place on 1st April 1933.
• Problems concerning the defense of India were reassessed in 1939 by the Chatfield Committee. It proposed a scheme to raise five flights on a voluntary basis to assist in the defence of the principal ports.

World Cotton Day 2024:

On the occasion of World Cotton Day (7th October 2024) the Ministry of Textiles jointly hosted the conference with Cotton Corporation of India and CITI focusing on the theme of “Megatrends Shaping Cotton Textile Value Chain”.

• The government aims to achieve a textile export target of USD 100 billion by 2030.
  Adoption of practices like high-density planting, closer spacing, and drip fertigation can increase cotton yield.
• Weed management is a significant challenge for cotton farmers, which can be addressed through new seed varieties.
• The event showcased Kasturi cotton products, recycled textiles, and handloom products.

Aim:

• To promote the cotton textile industry and its contribution to the economy.
• To address challenges faced by the cotton value chain and explore solutions.
• To highlight the importance of sustainability and traceability in the cotton industry.

Global Digital Compact:

The Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted during the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future,’ focuses on harnessing digital technologies for the common good while promoting sustainable development and responsible data governance.

• It aims to address challenges like the digital divide, data privacy, and ethical AI use.
• The GDC is a non-binding diplomatic instrument aiming to guide governments, institutions, and stakeholders in digital technology use and governance. Over time, its guidelines could evolve into soft laws.
• It Promotes global cooperation in technology governance based on international laws, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN 2030 Agenda, emphasizing inclusive participation, sustainability, and responsible data governance.
• Advocates for the development of digital public infrastructure, including open-source software, data, and AI models, to bridge the digital divide and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Two panels have been set up: an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance, aimed at guiding responsible AI use and innovation.

Charon Moon:

Scientists have recently detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon, Pluto’s largest moon, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

• Charon is the largest of Pluto’s five moons, roughly half the size of Pluto itself.
• It was discovered on June 22, 1978, by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
• Charon is about 1,214 kilometers (754 miles) in diameter, and its mass is more than one-tenth of Pluto’s mass.
• Due to its size and mass relative to Pluto, they are often referred to as a double dwarf planet system.
• Charon and Pluto always show the same face to each other, a phenomenon known as mutual tidal locking.
• Charon orbits Pluto every 6.4 Earth days at a distance of about 19,640 kilometers (12,200 miles).
• Recent findings include carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, in addition to previously known substances like water ice and ammonia-bearing compounds.
• Charon is located in the Kuiper Belt and serves as an invaluable target for studying icy bodies beyond Neptune’s orbit.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:

The Red Panda Program of Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has been selected as a finalist for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Award 2024.

• Red Panda is Primarily herbivorous, consuming bamboo, berries, acorns, and occasionally small mammals.
• Lives in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, with nearly 50% of its habitat in the Eastern Himalayas.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (India): Schedule I
• Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation and decline in bamboo forests are major threats to red panda populations.

PM Modi Inaugurates Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai, aiming to enhance youth employability and create an industry-ready workforce for Industry 4.0. The IIS, built on a 4-acre campus at the National Skill Training Institute, focuses on cutting-edge technologies like factory automation, AI, data analytics, and additive manufacturing.

Atal Pension Yojana Crosses 7 Crore Enrollments Milestone:

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY), launched in 2015 to provide a universal social security system for all, particularly the underprivileged and workers in the unorganized sector, has achieved a major milestone. As of FY 2024-25, total enrollments have surpassed 7 crore, with over 56 lakh new enrollments added in the current financial year.

India’s Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex) Approved:

India’s National Space Commission has officially approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), marking the country’s fifth lunar mission. This mission follows the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, which made India the fourth nation to land on the Moon.