Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 28th Oct 2023

Global Declaration For River Dolphins:

In a ground-breaking development, 11 Asian and South American countries recently signed a global declaration, the “Global Declaration for River Dolphins,” aimed at preserving the world’s six remaining river dolphin species.

• Global Declaration for River Dolphins is designed to guide 14 nations where river dolphins inhabit, with a focus on responsible freshwater dolphin conservation.
• It aims to halt the decline of all river dolphin species and increase the most vulnerable populations.
• The declaration will escalate collaborative endeavours to safeguard the surviving river dolphin species.
• Countries that adopted the declaration include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and Venezuela.
• The countries involved agreed to improve water quality in the dolphins’ habitat, create protected areas, tackle overfishing, and involve Indigenous communities in the affected regions in protecting the animals.

River dolphins:

• River dolphins are any of six species of small, usually freshwater aquatic mammals that are related to whales (Order Cetacea).
• A seventh river dolphin species, the Chinese river dolphin, or baiji, was declared extinct in 2007.
• All six species of river dolphins are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Neolithic Age : Rock Art Found

A rock art dating back to the Neolithic period was recently found in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh.

• The Neolithic Age, also called the New Stone Age, is the final stage of cultural evolution or technological development among prehistoric humans.
• The term Neolithic is most frequently used in connection with agriculture, which is the time when cereal cultivation and animal domestication were introduced.
• Because agriculture developed at different times in different regions of the world, there is no single date for the beginning of the Neolithic age.
• In India, the starting point of the Neolithic is generally thought to have occurred sometime around 7000 BCE.
• The Neolithic followed the Mesolithic Period and preceded the Chalcolithic Age, or the early period of metal tools.

Betelgeuse Star:

Scientists resolved the mystery behind the sudden dimming of the supergiant Betelgeuse star and dismissed theories that suggested that the star might be entering the last stage of its evolution.

• Betelgeuse star is a red supergiant starwith a distinctive orange-red hue.
• It is roughly 10 million years old and much younger than Sun.
• It is around 700 light-years away from the Earth.
• It is located in the Orion constellation.
• It is particularly easy to spot because of its brightness; it is often the tenth-brightest star in the sky.
• It is also one of the largest stars visible to the unaided eye.
• While it is large and bright, Betelgeuse isn’t actually that hot, with a surface temperature of about 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit (over 3,300 degrees Celsius).
• Betelgeuse has been classified as a “semiregular variable star,” which is a type of variable star that periodically waxes and wanes in brightness and occasionally undergoes irregular light changes.
• Betelgeuse, typically, has a 400-day cycle as well as a longer cycle that stretches about 5 years.

Gudavi Bird Sanctuary : Sudden Deaths Of Several Birds

The sudden deaths of several birds at Gudavi Bird Sanctuary in Shivamogga district of Karnataka has left the officers of the Forest Department in worry

• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is one of the renowned Bird Sanctuaries in Karnataka.
• It is located on Gudavi Lake banks.
• It is engulfed with natural beauty and rich biodiversity, attracting tourists from different parts of the world.
• The Bird Sanctuary prides itself on being the home of more than 217 bird species, including residential and migratory birds like Grey Heron, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe, White Ibis and White-Headed Crane.
• It is covered by moist deciduous forest species interspersed with grassy patches.
• This wetland vegetation comprises marshy plants, and microphyte biota

International Competition Network:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has become a part of the prestigious 18-member steering committee of the International Competition Network (ICN).

• The concept for the ICN originated from recommendations made by the International Competition Policy Advisory Committee (ICPAC), a group formed in 1997.
• It was established in October 2001 by officials of 15 competition agencies from around the world.
• The steering committee is the ICN’s apex body.
• The ICN, comprising 140 competition agencies, typically provides antitrust authorities with a specialised, yet informal, venue for maintaining regular contacts and addressing practical competition concerns.
• The Steering Group members shall elect a Chair from among Steering Group representatives at the ICN Annual Conference in odd-numbered years.
• It is the only global body devoted exclusively to competition law enforcement and its members represent national and multinational competition authorities.
• It has no formal Secretariat or premises.

CCI:

• It is a statutory body of the Government of India and was established in March 2009 under the Competition Act, 2002.
• The goal of CCI is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of consumers.

Lorrainosaurus : Fossils Found

The fossils of a 170-million-year-old ancient marine reptile named ‘Lorrainosaurus’ from the Age of Dinosaurs have been recently identified as the oldest-known mega-predatory pliosaur.

• Scientists first unearthed this sea monster’s fossils in 1983.
• But in a new study, researchers re-analyzed the remains and found that the predator belonged to a previously unknown genus (group) of species and represented the oldest “megapredatory” pliosaur on record.
• The fossils were unearthed in the former region of Lorraine (now part of Grand Est) in northeastern France.

Lorrainosaurus:

• It is the oldest mega-predatory pliosaur.
• It lived during the ancient Middle Jurassic era in marine environments.
• The regions in which it lived 170 million years ago are now located in northern France.
• This giant reptile probably reached over 6 meters from snout to tail.

EU And India Carry Out Maiden Joint Naval Exercise:

India and the European Union (EU) collaborated in the Gulf of Guinea to enhance naval maritime security cooperation in the region.

• This marked their first joint naval exercise, following the EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue.
• During the exercise, the Indian Navy’s INS Sumedha, along with ships from Italy, France, and Spain, conducted tactical maneuvers off the coast of Ghana, including boarding and flying exercises.
• These efforts demonstrated India and the EU’s joint commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, supporting coastal States, and upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Star Labelling Of Solar Panels:

The Indian government has introduced a Star Labelling Programme for solar panels to enhance consumer awareness and promote the use of high-quality and energy-efficient solar photovoltaic modules.

• The Star Labelling Programme for solar panels is designed to help consumers make informed choices when purchasing and installing solar panels.
• The program aims to empower consumers by providing information about the quality and energy efficiency of solar panels.
• It is estimated that by 2030, the star-enabled solar panels will contribute to a reduction of approximately 30 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
• The program will be voluntary for the first two years.
  • “Made in India” Initiative
  • Solar Energy Expansion
• India anticipates adding an additional 200 GW of solar panels by 2030, contributing to a substantial increase in solar energy capacity.
• The Star Labelling Programme is a voluntary program that rates the energy efficiency of appliances on a scale of 1-5. The program was formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

Visa Shopping:

The practice of ‘visa shopping’ has been gaining popularity in several Indian states.

• “Visa shopping” is a practice where individuals obtain visas for countries, they may not visit during the visa’s validity period.
• The objective is to use these visas as a means to enter their preferred countries, particularly in Europe, even if they already have a visa for another European nation.
• People also buy visas for countries they don’t intend to visit immediately to increase their chances of getting visas for their preferred destinations in the future.
• This practice is prevalent in India, particularly in Punjab, and it has raised legal implications.

37th National Games : Inaugurated

The 37th National Games were officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa

• A roadmap was outlined that focuses on talent discovery, nurturing, and ultimately, achieving podium finishes at the Olympics.
• This includes initiatives like Khelo India and Temperament for an Olympics Podium Finish (TOPS), which provide scholarships and world-class training to athletes.
• The “MY Bharat” platform was also introduced which aimed at connecting the youth with national schemes and opportunities, promoting their potential and contributions to nation-building.
• India’s aspiration to host the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036 were articulated, backed by the nation’s growing economy and infrastructure.