Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 11th November 2024

Ottavalo’s Andean Mouse : New Species Of Mouse

A new species of mouse with a remarkably long tail, dubbed Otavalo’s Andean mouse, has been discovered near a dormant volcano in Ecuador.

• It is a new species of mouse with a remarkably long tail.
• It was discovered near Mojanda, a dormant volcano with a caldera filled with The site is about a 50-mile trip from Quito, a city situated in the high Andes of northern Ecuador.
• It has been identified as endemic to the temperate, high-altitude Andean regions of the montane forest.
• It was named in honor of the local Otavalo culture, which is widely recognized for its musical heritage and skilled weaving and textile commerce.

Menhir : In News

An Iron Age menhir, a memorial pillar locally known as ‘Niluvu Rayi’ found in Kamasanpalli village of Nagarkurnool district in Telangana, faces neglect.

• A menhir is a large upright standing stone.
• Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones.
• They are widely distributed across Europe, Africa, and Asia, but are most numerous in Western Europe.
• Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top.
• Often menhirs were placed together, forming circles, semicircles, or vast ellipses.
• Megalithic menhirs were also placed in several parallel rows, called alignments. The most famous of these are the Carnac, France, alignments, which include 2,935 menhirs.
• They are sometimes engraved with abstract forms (line, spiral) or with objects’ images like axes.
• Identifying the uses of menhirs remains speculation. However, it is likely that many uses involved fertility rites and seasonal cycles.

Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary : Death Of a Young Male Elephant Due To Electrocution

Environmental activists have sounded an alarm over the growing threat to elephants in Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, following the death of a young male elephant due to electrocution.

• Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Shimoga District of Karnataka.
• It covers an area of 395.6 sq. km.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 23rd November 1974.
• Mandagadde Natural Bird Sanctuary, present on a small island in the River Tunga, is also a part of this sanctuary.
• The Tunga Anicut Dam is situated within the sanctuary and provides shelter for otters and water birds.
• There are a large number of human settlements inside Shettihalli Sanctuary, mainly consisting of families that were displaced by the construction of the Sharavathi Dam in the 1960s.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura : Study

A recent study has found an association between the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac from Sinovac Biotech and immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

• It is a rare, life-threatening blood disorder.
• “Thrombotic” refers to the blood clots that form.
• “Thrombocytopenic” means the blood has a lower-than-normal platelet count.
• “Purpura” refers to purple bruises caused by bleeding under your skin.
• In TTP, blood clots form in small blood vessels throughout your body.
• The clots can limit or block the flow of blood to your organs, such as your brain, kidneys, and heart. This can prevent your organs from working properly and damage your organs.
• The increased clotting that occurs in TTP also uses up your platelets. Platelets are tiny blood cells that help form blood clots.
• These cell fragments stick together to seal small cuts and breaks in your blood vessels to stop bleeding.
• When your platelets are used up, you do not have enough platelets to form blood clots when necessary. This can cause internal bleeding, bleeding underneath the skin, and other bleeding problems.
• TTP occurs when you do not have the right amount of an enzyme (a type of protein in your blood)
• This enzyme controls how your blood clots. If you do not have enough ADAMTS13, your body makes too many blood clots.
• TTP can be inherited or acquired.
• TTP usually occurs suddenly and lasts for days or weeks, but it can continue for months.
• TTP can also cause red blood cells to break apart faster than your body can replace them. This leads to a rare form of anemia called hemolytic anemia.
• Symptoms of TTP may include any of the following:
  • Bleeding into the skin or mucus membranes
  • Confusion
  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Pale skin color or yellowish skin color
• TTP can be fatal. Without treatment, it can cause long-term problems, such as brain damage or a stroke.
• Treatment: Plasma treatments and medicines are the most common ways to treat TTP. If these treatments do not work, you may need surgery.

Caterpillar Fungus:

New research into a chemical produced by a caterpillar fungus that has shown promise as a possible cancer treatment has revealed how it interacts with genes to interrupt cell growth signals.

• Caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps Sinensis) is a fungal parasite of larvae (caterpillars) that belongs to the ghost moth.
• It is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, including the adjoining high Himalaya (3,200-4,500 metres above sea level).
• It is locally known as Kira Jari (in India), Yartsagunbu (in Tibet), Yarso Gumbub (Bhutan), Dong Chong Xia Cao (China) and Yarsagumba (in Nepal).
• In the Indian Himalayas, the species has been documented in the region from the alpine meadows of protected areas such as Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve and Dehan-Debang Biosphere Reserve.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025

The QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025 celebrates India’s significant progress in higher education, with seven institutions in the top 100 and two in the top 50.

• Indian universities excelled in metrics like “Papers per Faculty” and “Staff with PhD,” highlighting the nation’s focus on academic and research excellence.

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025:

• Assessed 984 institutions across 25 Asian countries.
  Top Rankings for India:
  • IIT Delhi: Ranked 44th, India’s highest, with a 99% employer reputation score.
  • IIT Bombay: Ranked 48th, achieving 99.5% in employer reputation.
  • University of Delhi: Moved up to 81st with a 96.4% score in International Research Network.
  • Top 100 Institutions: Seven Indian institutions made the cut, including IIT Madras (56), IIT Kharagpur (60), IISc Bangalore (62), and IIT Kanpur (67).
  • Emerging Leaders: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) climbed 70 spots to 148th.

Comics Commandos:

In Assam’s Goalpara district, a unique initiative called “Comics Commandos” has been launched to combat child labour and child marriage.

• Comics Commandos purpose: is to campaign against social evils like child labour and child marriage using grassroots comics.
• Thirty local youths trained to create comic strips with minimum text and humour for better public engagement.
• Visual storytelling resonates more effectively with the community, focusing on local issues like child abuse and economic hardships.

Snakebite Envenoming : Notifiable Disease Under The Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939

The Tamil Nadu government has officially declared snakebite envenomation as a notifiable disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

• Snakebite Envenoming is a life-threatening medical condition caused by venomous snake bites.
• It is a major health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions.
• It poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and subtropical areas.
• Snake antivenoms are effective treatments to prevent or reverse most of the harmful effects of snakebite envenoming and are included in the WHO list of essential medicines.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised snakebite as a global public health issue and launched a strategy to reduce snakebite-induced deaths and disabilities worldwide.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare earlier this year published the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming.
• The plan aims to halve snakebite deaths by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health interventions.
• By making snakebite a notifiable disease, the Tamil Nadu government aims to improve the collection of vital data, strengthen clinical infrastructure, and ensure the efficient distribution of anti-snake venom.
• This move is expected to lead to better prevention strategies, reduce mortality rates, and enhance treatment facilities across the state.

Tayyab Ikram has been re-elected as the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH):

Tayyab Ikram has been re-elected as the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for a second consecutive term, a significant achievement for Pakistan’s hockey. At the 49th FIH Congress in Muscat, Oman, Ikram secured 79 votes out of 126, surpassing his competitor, Marc Coudron of Belgium, who received 47 votes.

Veteran Actor Delhi Ganesh Passes Away:

Noted Tamil actor ‘Delhi’ Ganesh, renowned for his remarkable versatility in over 400 films, passed away late Saturday night at the age of 80. He died at his residence in Chennai after a brief illness, as confirmed by his family. Ganesh leaves behind a lasting legacy in the film industry and is survived by his wife and three children.

Former Member of Parliament Mahendra Singh Mewar Passes Away:

Mahendra Singh Mewar, the former Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a member of the erstwhile Mewar royal family, passed away on November 10, 2024, at the age of 83. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where he breathed his last after several days of illness. Mahendra Singh Mewar was an influential figure, known for his contributions to both the social and political landscapes of Rajasthan.

D.Y. Chandrachud concluded his tenure as the 50th Chief Justice of India:

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud concluded his tenure as the 50th Chief Justice of India on Sunday, after two years marked by groundbreaking rulings and significant reforms. His leadership has left a lasting impact on the Indian judiciary, shaping its future with transformative decisions and a focus on judicial independence, transparency, and accessibility.

Hindalco Tops Global Sustainability Rankings for 5th Year:

Hindalco Industries Ltd., the metals arm of the Aditya Birla Group, has secured the top position as the world’s most sustainable aluminium company for the fifth consecutive year, according to the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings. The company earned a total score of 87 points, improving by 9 points from 2023, and surpassed its closest competitor by 22 points.