Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 22nd November 2024

AroTrack:

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have developed a water-pollutant detecting device called ‘AroTrack’.

• AroTrack accurately detects harmful aromatic xenobiotic pollutants such as phenol or benzene, xylenols.
• It uses proteins typically found in bacteria living in heavily polluted environments to effectively identify multiple aromatic pollutants in water.
• This protein undergoes a highly selective ATP hydrolysis chemical reaction if an aromatic compound is present in the sample.
• This reaction is expressed with a change in the colour of the protein solution, which AroTrack can then detect.
• AroTrack contains a light emitting diode [LED]-phototransistor assembly that shines a light of appropriate wavelength through the sample and detects how much is absorbed.
• The key component of the device is a biosensing module called MopR – a sensitive sensor for detecting phenol.
• The device also reliably worked in water temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius and completed the tests in less than 30 minutes.
• It’s low cost, battery-operated nature, and portability can be ideal for rural and low-income settings that often lack resources and have difficulty accessing expensive laboratory tests.

Global Energy Efficiency Alliance:

The UAE has unveiled an ambitious initiative to establish the ‘Global Energy Efficiency Alliance’ during COP29, hosted in Azerbaijan.

• Global Energy Efficiency Alliance aims to double global energy efficiency rates by 2030 and contribute to significant emission reductions.
• It also encourages strategic public-private partnerships and bolster investments in energy efficiency initiatives.
• This initiative aligns with the ‘UAE Consensus’ from COP28, where all 198 participating countries in COP28, organisations, and companies committed to reducing carbon emissions and minimising natural resource consumption.
• The UAE plans to lead the alliance by sharing its expertise in energy efficiency, fostering knowledge transfer, and building effective partnership models with the private sector.
• The alliance is designed to support the reduction of carbon emissions and the sustainable use of natural resources through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and standardization efforts.
• The alliance will focus on compiling and disseminating best practices, with a particular emphasis on assisting African nations.
• This support will extend to developing financing options and technological solutions vital for the continent’s progress in energy sustainability.

Biofloc Technology : Aquaculture

India’s aquaculture sector has increasingly adopted Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).

• Biofloc Technology is a closed tank-based fish farming approach which cleans the water in fish tanks by using beneficial bacteria.
• Heterotrophic bacteria (commonly Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Acinetobacter, and Alcaligenes) are used to convert organic waste (such as uneaten feed and fish waste) into microbial biomass, which can then be consumed by the fish or shrimp.
• This process keeps the water clean without needing to change it often and at the same time reduces the risk of disease as well in the fish. Water stays cleaner, hence farmers do not need to depend on external use of chemicals or antibiotics.
• BFT also saves money on feed, as fish can get extra nutrients from the recycled waste, making it sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly for fish farming.
• The inbuilt aeration system to maintain adequate dissolved oxygen levels to promote microbial activity, along with mechanical filtration reduces chances of infection.
• It is more suitable for small farmers with limited land as it can be established in a small area and even set up for backyard farming.

Candidatus Phytoplasma:

Researchers have identified a new microbe called Candidatus Phytoplasma responsible for a peculiar disease that has been affecting the sesame fields of Midnapore in West Bengal.

• Candidatus Phytoplasma is a microbe with a cell wall lacking Mollicutes bacteria.
• It thrives in the nutrient-rich phloem and sieve cells of plants.
• Its transmission takes place primarily through phloem feeder insects (leafhoppers, plant-hoppers, psyllids, and dodders), which are known to infect many commercially valuable crops like Catharanthus, tobacco, maize, and grapevine.
• The manifestations of the disease are disfigurement and virescence of the floral parts, giving a leafy appearance.
• Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the oldest indigenous oilseed crop, with the longest history of cultivation in India.
• Sesame or gingelli is commonly known as til (Hindi, Punjabi, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi), tal (Gujarati), nuvvulu, manchi nuvvulu (Telugu), ellu (Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada).
• It is a primordial oilseed crop since the remnants of sesame seeds were discovered at Harappa and Mohenjo Daro.

Bhu-Neer Portal:

The Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, digitally launched the newly developed “Bhu-Neer” portal during the concluding ceremony of India Water Week 2024.

• Bhu-Neer Portal is an advanced portal developed by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• It is for improved groundwater regulation across the country.
• The portal will serve as a one-stop platform for managing and regulating groundwater resources, aimed at ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in groundwater usage.
• It is designed to provide comprehensive details regarding the legal framework governing groundwater extraction, regulations at the state and national levels.
• Its centralized database will allow users to access critical information on groundwater compliance, policies, and sustainable practices.
• The portal is developed with several user-friendly features to offer streamlined process flow to the project proponents seeking groundwater withdrawal permits.
• Having a simplified yet informative interface, and features like PAN based single Id system, NOC with QR code etc., “Bhu-Neer” marks a significant improvement over its previous version NOCAP.
• The portal is another step towards promoting Ease of Doing Business by making ground water regulation a seamless and faceless exercise.
• The portal is now live for public use and all project proponents can visit the portal for ground water withdrawal related queries, clarifications, tracking application status, payment of statutory charges.

State Of The World’s Children 2024:

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis with nearly half of all children – about 1 billion – living in countries that face a high risk of climate and environmental hazards, the UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report said recently.

State of the World’s Children (SOWC) Report:

• It is the annual flagship publication of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
• The report closely examines a key issue affecting children.
• These have ranged from children with disabilities, conflict and war, child labour, urbanization, early childhood development, and much more, making it the most comprehensive analysis of global trends that impact children.
• The report includes supporting data and statistics.

Highlights of SOWC-2024:

• This year, the SOWC was launched on 20 November, celebrated globally as World Children’s Day–UNICEF’s annual day of action for and by children, with focus on ‘Listen to the Future,’ voices of children and young people on the world they want.
• The report explores three megatrends that will profoundly impact children’s lives between now and 2050: demographics shifts, the climate and environmental crises and frontier technologies.
• The report projects that by 2050, the global child population will stabilize around 2.3 billion, with a significant shift in regional distributions.
• India, China, Nigeria and Pakistan are expected to account for more than a third of the world’s child population by 2050.
• India is estimated to have the largest share at 350 million, despite a decline of 106 million compared to today.
• Nearly one billion children worldwide face extreme vulnerability to climate and environmental hazards, with Indian children disproportionately affected.
• According to the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), in 2021, India ranked 26th out of 163 ranked countries globally, with children particularly exposed to risks such as extreme heat, floods, droughts, and air pollution.
• By 2050, as the report has cautioned, children, not only in India, but also worldwide, will face dramatically increased exposure to extreme climate and environmental hazards.
• It predicts that nearly eight times more children will be exposed to extreme heat waves compared to the 2000s.
• The digital divide remains stark. In 2024, over 95 percent of people in high-income countries are connected to the internet, compared to nearly 26 percent in low-income countries.

St. Francis Xavier:

The decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier in Goa, a 45-day spiritual and cultural event, draws millions of pilgrims and tourists.

• St. Francis Xavier also called “Goencho Saib” (Lord of Goa). Arrived in 1542 as a Spanish Jesuit missionary under the order of King John III of Portugal.
• Mission was to restore Christianity among Portuguese settlers in Goa.
• Died in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, China, and his body was transported to Goa in 1554.
• The “incorruptible” body is housed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa, since 1624.
• Canonized as a saint in 1622; revered globally, especially by Catholics.
• Considered the patron saint of Goa and known for his miraculous relics.

“Waves” OTT Platform:

Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, launched its OTT platform “Waves” during the opening ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024.

• Waves OTT Platform developed by Prasar Bharati, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Inaugurated at IFFI 2024.
• Tagline: “Waves – Family Entertainment Ki Nayi Lehar.”
• It Offers content in 12+ languages, including Hindi, English, Tamil, Konkani, and Assamese. Features infotainment, gaming, education, and shopping.
• Streams 65 live TV channels, including “Mann Ki Baat” and Ayodhya’s Prabhu Shriram Lalla Aarti.

Central Value Added Tax (CENVAT) Credit:

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, has allowed telecom companies to claim Central Value Added Tax (CENVAT) credit for the installation of mobile towers and prefabricated buildings (PFBs).

• Central Value Added Tax (CENVAT) is tax credit system allowing manufacturers or service providers to claim a set-off on excise duty or service tax paid on inputs or input services used for manufacturing or providing output services.
• Implemented under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004, it replaced the Modified Value Added Tax (MODVAT). These rules define eligible goods, input services, and conditions for availing credit.
• It Prevents repeated taxation on the same value addition.
• It Reduces the tax burden on manufacturers and service providers.
• It Encourages businesses to reinvest savings in production and innovation.
• It Reduces the overall cost of goods and services by eliminating cascading taxes.

International Film Festival of India:

The 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) kick-started with a star-studded opening ceremony at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Goa, recently.

Guyana:

The Prime Minister of India arrived in Guyana recently, marking the first visit by an Indian leader in more than 50 years to the South American country with diaspora ties.It is a country located in the northeastern corner of South America.It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, by Suriname (along the Courantyne River) to the east, by Brazil to the south and southwest, and by Venezuela to the west.

Inflation surged in October 2024:

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) recently reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the retail inflation surged to 6.2% in October 2024 and the Food inflation, as per the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), rose to 10.87%.This marks the highest inflation rate since August 2023, surpassing the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper tolerance limit of 6%. Despite global inflation easing, India faces persistent price pressures, leading experts to reassess forecasts and interest rate impacts

India’s Tea Industry:

The Tea industry in India has experienced a boost in profits during the September quarter, driven by higher prices despite a decline in production caused by climate change.A dry spell and erratic rainfall led to a production loss of 76.73 million kg (mkg) compared to 2023.Policies of Tea Board of India including early garden closures and quality compliance, helped align stakeholder interests and improve market signals, while cost management and quality focus boosted profitability for some companies.
India is one of the top 5 tea exporters, accounting for 10% of global exports. In 2023-24, it exported 250.73 million kg of tea, with Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas renowned globally.

India launched Nafithromycin:

India launched Nafithromycin, India’s first indigenous antibiotic aimed at tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).Nafithromycin was developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and brought to market by Wockhardt under the brand name Miqnaf

WEP and Urban Company Collaboration:

NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), in collaboration with Urban Company, launched a pilot program aimed at empowering women-led MSMEs in the beauty and wellness sector. It Aims to train women entrepreneurs managing salons and parlors in six areas: skilling, legal compliance, access to finance, market and business development, mentorship, and networking.