Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 11th January 2025

Desert National Park (DNP) : Great Indian Bustards Spotted

At least 12 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were recently spotted in a group at Desert National Park (DNP) in Rajasthan, in a major boost to efforts to conserve one of India’s most critically endangered species.

• Desert National Park (DNP) is located in the Thar Desert near the town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
• It is one of the largest national parks in the country, covering an area of over 3160 sq. km.
• The area falls in the extreme hot and arid region of the very low rainfall zone (<100mm) of the country.
• The Park forms a vast, sandy, and undulating terrain.
• The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact Salt Lake bottoms, inters medial areas, and fixed dunes.
• Sand dunes form around 20% of the park.
• There are three main lakes in this sanctuary: Rajbaugh Lake, Malik Talao Lake, and Padam Talao.
• One of the most interesting features of the DNP is the presence of fossils from the Jurassic Period.

Foot-And-Mouth Disease : Outbreak In Germany

Germany has experienced its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years, affecting water buffalo near Berlin.

• Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.
• The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.
• It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats.
• Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds.
• It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
• The disease is estimated to circulate in 77% of the global livestock population, in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as in a limited area of South America.
• It is not a human health or food safety threat. It is also not related to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is a common childhood illness caused by a different virus.
• The organism which causes FMD is an aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae.
• There are seven strains(A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) which are endemic in different countries
• Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types or subtypes.
• FMD is found in all excretions and secretions from infected animals.
• Notably, these animals breathe out a large amount of aerosolised virus, which can infect other animals via the respiratory or oral routes.
• The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals, but there is often high mortality in young animals.
• FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves.
• Ruptured blisters can result in extreme lameness and reluctance to move or eat.
• The disease causes severe production losses, and while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitated.
• It was the first disease for which the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) established official status recognition.
• Vaccines for FMD are available but must be matched to the specific type and subtype of virus causing the outbreak.

Copernicus Climate Change Service:

According to scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 2024 was the hottest year since global temperature tracking began in 1850.

• Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is one of six thematic information services provided by the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme of the European Union.
• It is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.
• ECMWF is an independent intergovernmental organisation serving its member and Co-operating States and the broader community.
• It supports society by providing authoritative information about the past, present, and future climate in Europe and the rest of the world.
• The service offers free and open access via the internet to the best available climate data and to the tools needed to use this data.
• It has developed a Climate Data Store that provides easy access on the internet to a variety of high-quality, up-to-date, global datasets about the impacts of past, present, and future climate change.
• The Climate Data Store is continually updated with new data based on the latest science, including observations, reanalyzes of past observations, seasonal forecasts, and climate model projections.
• The Climate Data Store offers tools and expert guidance that make it possible to transform complex climate datasets into useful visual products, such as maps and charts.
• Users anywhere can use data and tools available on the Climate Data Store for their own local needs.
• C3S can provide user support, training, and guidance where needed.
• C3S users include scientists, consultants, planners, and policymakers, the media, and the public.
• C3S relies on climate research carried out within the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and responds to user requirements defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).
• It provides an important resource to the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).

National Youth Festival 2025:

This year, the annual National Youth Festival (NYF) on January 10-12 at Bharat Mandapam, will undergo a transformative reimagining as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.

• Under the component ‘Promotion of National Integration’ of the National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD), the NYF is organised from 12th to 16th January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (12 January), which is celebrated as National Youth Day.
• Every year since 1985, the Government of India observes January 12 as National Youth Day and the week commencing from that day, as National Youth Week.
• It is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in partnership with one of the States/UTs which hosts the NYF.
• The expenditure is shared between the Centre and the host State.
• During the festival, various cultural programmes (both competitive and non-competitive), Youth convention, Suvichar,
• Exhibition, Adventure programmes, etc., are organized, and about 7500 youth delegates from different states/UTs take part in the festival.
• Thematic displays are also organized.
• The Theme of NYF 2025 is Innovation in Science and Technology.
• NYF 2025 main event will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Indo-Burmese pangolin:

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists recently discovered a pangolin species — the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica) — in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Manis indoburmanica is a new species of pangolin genetically distinct from Chinese (Manis pentadactyla) and Indian (Manis crassicaudata) pangolins found in India.
• The species has been named Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica).
• Genetic analysis has shown that the Indo-Burmese pangolin is 8% different from the Chinese pangolin.
• The species diverged from the Chinese pangolin around 3.4 million years ago, probably owing to climatic and geological changes during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.
• The species is believed to inhabit parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and potentially extend into Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
• It is found at altitudes ranging from 180 to 1830 meters above sea level and has dark brown and olive-brown scales with a pinkish face, typical of other Asian pangolins.
• Pangolins are mammals that belong to the family Manidae and are found in Africa and Asia.
• There are eight different species of pangolins: four in Africa and four in Asia.
• They are unique because they are the only mammals covered in large, protective keratin scales, which they use as armour, curling up into a ball when threatened by predators.

Indian Customs Electronic Gateway:

The ministry of Commerce has said that the discrepancy in the gold counting error numbers was primarily due to migration of data transmission mechanism from SEZ to Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE).

• Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE) was established in 2007.
• It is the national portal of Indian Customs of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) that provides e-filing services to the Trade, Cargo Carriers and other Trading Partners electronically.
• It is the main infrastructure for connecting trade users with the Indian government’s customs department, and acts as a hub for exchanging information between external trading partners involved in international trading.
• It is internally linked with multiple partner agencies including RBI, Banks, DGFT, DGCIS, Ministry of Steel, Directorate of Valuation and other various Partner Government Agencies involved in EXIM.
• It collectively contributes to streamlining customs procedures, enhancing trade facilitation, and promoting transparency and efficiency in cross – border trade activities in India by providing multiple features for its users.

Silver Nanowire-Based Conductive Ink Technology:

In an event held at NIT Warangal, indigenous knowhow of silver nanowire-based conductive ink technology was transferred to two startups.

• Silver Nanowire-Based Conductive ink technology has been developed under the project funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• The indigenous conductive ink technology holds the promise of reducing dependency on other countries, while also enabling India to tap into the rapidly growing demand for advanced electronic materials.
• Silver nanowire-based conductive ink is a versatile material used in:
  • Flexible electronics (e.g., foldable devices, touchscreen displays, computer keyboards).
  • Wearable devices and sensors.
  • Solar panels and display technologies.
  • RFID tags and windshield defrosters.
• The global market for silver nanowire-based conductive ink and adhesive is projected to surpass $16.87B by 2032 due to a rapid increase in the electronics, semiconductor, solar photovoltaic, and RFID market.
• The market growth can be attributed to key factors, including robust demand from end-use industries.
• India imports ink worth no more than $15,72,000 every year.
• The United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan are the major exporter countries.

Fourth edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0:

The fourth edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0’, as part of Republic Day celebrations has garnered an incredible nationwide response

• Project Veer Gatha was launched in 2021 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate India’s 75th year of Independence.
• The project aims to raise awareness of Gallantry awardees’ acts of bravery and the life stories of these heroes.
• The initiative helps instill patriotism and civic values in students.
• The journey of Project Veer Gatha from Edition 1 to Edition 4 has been inspiring, expanding the reach of the competition across the length and breadth of the country.
• It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education.

Project Veer Gatha 4.0:

• It presented a variety of thought-provoking topics for essay and paragraph writing.
• Students had the opportunity to write about their chosen role models, particularly focusing on Gallantry Award recipients.
• They were also encouraged to explore the inspiring lives of freedom fighters such as Rani Laxmibai, the 1857 First War of Independence, and the significant role of Tribal Uprisings in India’s Freedom Struggle.

Emergency Declared in Trinidad and Tobago:

Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency following a surge in gang violence in the country, which has led to raising the annual death toll to the highest since 2013.Trinidad and Tobago has a population of 1.5 million and records one of the highest murder rates.Previous states of emergency were declared in 2014 for gang violence and in 2021 for Covid-19 restrictions.

India-US Initiatives in Defence and Nuclear Cooperation:

The US National Security Advisor visited India and signed new initiatives in areas such as technology and defence.US announced to remove restrictions e.g., supply of US nuclear reactors on Indian nuclear entities like Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) to implement India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

Modhweth Festival:

The Toda tribe, one of the oldest Dravidian ethnic groups in the Nilgiris Hills of Tamil Nadu, celebrated their traditional ‘Modhweth’ festival to mark the New Year.It is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of December or the first Sunday of January.
It is held at the Moonpo temple in Muthanadu Mund village, located in the Nilgiri district.

Burqa Ban in Switzerland:

Switzerland’s prohibition on face-covering garments, including burqas and niqabs, has come into effect from 1st January 2025.This measure, approved through a nationwide referendum in March 2021, reflects the ongoing global debate over wearing hijabs and burqas, an issue that has also sparked significant discourse in India.

La Nina Emerged:

The long-anticipated La Nina has emerged, but the Pacific Ocean’s cooling is mild and unlikely to cause as many weather problems as usual.Its delayed arrival may have been influenced by the world’s oceans being much warmer than the last few years.La Nina conditions emerge in the tropical Pacific in December.

Earthquake in Tibetan China and Nepal:

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Tibetan region of China and parts of Nepal, causing widespread devastation. The quake’s epicenter was in Tingri County, within the Lhasa Terrane, near the Mt Everest region.This event aligns with findings from research identifying the Qixiang Co Fault, a newly discovered tectonic fault facilitating the eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau, thereby increasing seismic activity in the region.

2024 is the warmest year on record:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 is the warmest year on record, based on six international datasets.World Meteorological Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), responsible for promoting international cooperation in the fields of meteorology, hydrology, climatology and geophysics.