Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 11th September 2024

Myristica Swamps:

A group of researchers recently discovered a Myristica swamp forest in Kumbral, Maharashtra, which is protected by the local community.

• Myristica Swamps are freshwater swamps dominated by evergreen trees belonging to the Myristicaceae family.
• They are also denoted as living fossils due to the primitive nature of Myristica plants.
• With an evolutionary origin of about 140 million years, the swamps are valuable for evolutionary studies.
• These forests are characterized by trees with large protruding roots jutting out of waterlogged soil, which remains inundated throughout the year.
• Geographical distribution:In India, these unique habitats occur in the Western Ghats and a smaller distribution exists in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Meghalaya.
• Historically, they formed a large hydrological network all along the Western Ghats.
• The formation of these swamps is dependent on abiotic conditions like the shape of the valley between the forested hills, the amount of rainfall a place receives (with an average of 3000 mm) and water availability throughout the year.
• Typically, Myristica swamps are seen next to rivers and help in retaining water and act as a sponge, ensuring perennial water availability.
• These forests have higher ability to sequester carbon than non-swampy forests.
• These swamps are home to many vertebrate and invertebrate faunal species. This is due to stable macroecological conditions like high humidity, moderate temperature, and macrohabitat availability.
• One example is the Myristica Swamp Treefrog (Mercurana myristicapalustris), only reported from a few pockets of the Shendurney and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala.

Photoelectric Effect:

Researchers are breathing new life into the phenomenon of photoelectric effect, which is paving way for better imaging of proteins and viruses, gaining a deeper understanding of biochemical reactions and choosing new materials for next-generation electronics.

• Photoelectric Effect is a phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material’s surface when it is exposed to light of sufficient frequency.
• When light photons hit the surface of a material, usually a metal, they transfer their energy to the electrons. If this energy is sufficient, the electrons are emitted from the material.
• The energy must be greater than the electron’s binding energy, known as the work function, for the electron to be ejected from the material’s surface.
• The excess energy from the photon, after overcoming the work function, is converted into the kinetic energy of the ejected electron.
• A material that can exhibit this phenomenon is said to be photoemissive, and the ejected electrons are called Photoelectrons.
• The effect was discovered in 1887 by the German physicistHeinrich Rudolf Hertz.
• The photoelectric effect is pivotal in understanding the quantum nature of light, as it reveals that light possesses both wave-like and particle-like properties.
• This duality is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, illustrating how light can exhibit behaviors characteristic of both waves and discrete particles.
• The discovery and understanding of the photoelectric effect have profound implications in various scientific and technological fields, including the development of photovoltaic cells and advanced imaging technologies.

PresVu : New Eye Drop For Presbyopia

Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has announced that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved its new eye drop PresVu, which has been developed to reduce dependency on reading glasses for individuals affected by presbyopia.

• Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects.
• People usually start to develop presbyopia at around the age of 40. According to doctors, spectacles are one of the most effective ways to manage the condition.
• The active ingredient — chemical compounds in medicines that have an effect on the body — in PresVu is Pilocarpine.
• The compound contracts the iris muscles, which control the size of the pupil and help humans see things clearly, thereby enabling one’s eyes to focus better on nearby objects.
• PresVu uses “advanced dynamic buffer technology” — essentially, a base solution — to adapt to the pH level (a scale used to measure how acidic or basic a substance is) of tears.
• This ensures that the eye drop has “consistent efficacy and safety for extended use, keeping in mind that such drops will be used for years at a stretch”.
• PresVu is a prescription-only medicine and its impact is unlikely to last beyond four to six hours. It should not be used by people who have inflammation of the iris.
• Regular use of PresVu may lead to itching and redness, eyebrow pain, and muscle spasms in the eyes.

District Agro-Meteorology Units:

Press Trust of India reported that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.

• These were established by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in 2018 in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• The aim was to use weather data to prepare and disseminate sub-district-level agricultural advisories.
• The DAMUs were located within Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
• Scientists and researchers trained in meteorology and agriculture were recruited as DAMU staff.
• They used weather data provided by the IMD like rainfall, temperature and wind speeds to prepare agricultural advisories related to sowing and harvesting, usage of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation, etc.
• These advisories were sent to millions of farmers across the country free of cost in local languages twice a week.
• They were shared via text messages, WhatsApp groups, newspapers and also through in-person communication from DAMU staff and KVK officers.
• These advisories provided weather information in advance, they helped farmers plan activities like irrigation.
• They also served as early warnings for extreme events like droughts and heavy rainfall.
• Many studies conducted over the years have stressed the benefits of agro-met advisories.

International Literacy Day 2024:

The Vice-President of India emphasized the transformative power of literacy at the International Literacy Day (ILD) 2024 celebrations held in New Delhi, urging a nationwide commitment to enhance education and celebrate linguistic diversity.

• The Vice-President praised the National Education Policy, 2020 for its potential to empower youth and recognize linguistic diversity.
• During the event, the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) DTH Channel was introduced to reach learners in remote areas, bridging literacy gaps.
• The roots of ILD trace back to the 1965 World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, Iran, which sparked the idea of a day dedicated to promoting literacy globally.
• UNESCO officially declared 8th September as International Literacy Day during its 14th General Conference in 1967, and the world celebrated this special day for the first time that year, marking the beginning of a significant global observance.
• ILD 2024 Theme: “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.”

Lance Naik Charan Singh : 100th Birth Anniversary

Lance Naik Charan Singh (retired), a brave World War II veteran, recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

• The Indian Army honored him with a special ceremony at his home in Himachal Pradesh, recognizing his long and dedicated service.
• Charan Singh was born on September 7, 1924. At the age of 18, during the height of World War II, he enlisted in the Indian Army on August 26, 1942, at the Firozepur Cantonment.
• His military career began when India was actively involved in supporting the Allied forces in the war.
• He served in the Army Service Corps for 17 years, including during the Second World War. His work took him to places like Singapore, Lahore, and finally Yol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh, where he concluded his military service.
• During his service, Charan Singh was honored with several awards for his bravery and dedication, including the Burma Star Award for his role in the Burma campaign and the Indian Independence Medal.
• After 17 years of service, Singh retired from the Indian Army on May 17, 1959.

NASA’s DART Mission : In News

NASA’s DART mission made history by successfully crashing a spacecraft into the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos.

• This marked a major step forward in protecting Earth from possible asteroid impacts by testing ways to change the direction of threatening space objects.
• Dimorphids is the First Human-Made Meteor Shower
• As a result of the DART mission’s impact, debris from Dimorphos has been scattered into space.
• Scientists believe that more than 2 million pounds of this material could eventually reach Earth and Mars.
• If this happens, it could create a meteor shower, known as the “Dimorphids,” in the next 10 to 30 years, leading to periodic meteor displays.

NASA’s DART Mission :

• The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was launched in 2021 as NASA’s first attempt to move an asteroid from its path.
• The idea behind the mission was to see if a spacecraft could deflect an asteroid by crashing into it—this technique is called “kinetic impact.”
• DART’s goal was to show that this method could be used to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats in the future.
• The DART mission was a success.
• The spacecraft hit Dimorphos and managed to shorten its orbit around the larger asteroid Didymos by 33 minutes.
• This was a major victory, as it proved that using a spacecraft to change an asteroid’s path is possible.
• It is the first time humans have intentionally changed the movement of a celestial body.

Harvinder Singh and Preeti Pal Named Flag Bearers for Paralympics Closing Ceremony:

In a momentous occasion for Indian sports, gold medal-winning archer Harvinder Singh and sprinter Preeti Pal have been chosen to carry the Indian flag during the closing ceremony of the Paris Paralympics.

India Emerges as World’s Second-Largest 5G Smartphone Market:

In a significant development for the global telecommunications industry, Counterpoint Research has reported that India has surpassed the United States to become the world’s second-largest market for 5G smartphones.

Amit Shah Re-Elected as Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Official Language:

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, has been unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language. Following the formation of the new government, the committee held a meeting in New Delhi to reconstitute itself, leading to Shah’s re-election.

India and UAE Sign Landmark Civil Nuclear Energy Agreement:

India and the UAE have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation during Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi.

RBL Bank Teams Up with IndianOil for New Credit Card:

Private sector lender RBL Bank has launched a new credit card in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation, named ‘Xtra Credit Card,‘ as part of its strategy to moderately grow its credit card portfolio and enhance customer engagement.

RBI imposes penalties on Godrej Housing, HUDCO, and Aadhar Housing Finance:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied penalties on three Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for failing to comply with its directives on housing finance companies. The penalties are as follows: Godrej Housing Finance Limited and Aadhar Housing Finance Limited were each fined Rs 5 lakh

World Trade Centre to Anchor Ambitious AI City Near Hyderabad:

The government of Telangana has taken a significant step towards establishing itself as a global AI hub by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Trade Centres’ Association for the creation of a World Trade Centre (WTC) within the proposed AI City near Hyderabad.

INS Malpe And INS Mulki:

Two anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft vessels (ASWCWC) of the Indian Navy, INS Malpe and INS Mulki, were recently launched at Cochin Shipyard.

• INS Malpe and INS Mulki are two indigenously designed and constructed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts (ASWCWC) built for the Indian Navy.
• This is the fourth and fifth ASWCWC being built for the Navy.
• They are constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
• These vessels, known as the Mahe Class, will replace the current Abhay Class ASW Corvettes in the Indian Navy.
• The vessels are capable of conducting anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime and mine-laying operations, besides sub-surface surveillance and search and rescue operations.
• The vessels are 78.0 m long and 11.36 m wide, with a draught of about 2.7 m.
• The displacement is about 900 tonnes, with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.
• The ships are designed to fit indigenously developed, state-of-the-art SONARS for underwater surveillance.
• They are equipped with light-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare rockets, a close-in weapon system and remote-controlled guns.