Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 2nd December 2024

Red-breasted Flycatcher:

The Red-Breasted Flycatcher bird which migrates from Eastern Europe to escape the harsh winter was found in the Ameenpur Lake in Hyderabad.

• Scientific name: Ficedula parva
• It is a small (11-12 cm) passerine bird of the Old World Flycatcher family.
• It can be found occasionally feeding on figs (banyan, peepal) in our urban gardens.
• It generally migrates from Eastern Europe to escape the harsh winter there and enjoy the moderate temperatures with abundance of food in South Asia.
• The bird breeds from spring to summer, in the deciduous mixed forests of Eastern Europe and across Central Asia.
• In winter months (September to March mostly), it migrates to forests, woodlands, orchards, parks, and roadside trees of the Indian Subcontinent.
• It can be found in peninsular India during the winter season from October to March.
• Conservation status IUCN: Least Concern

Varkala cliff:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a reply from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and others over the deteriorating condition of Varkala cliff, a designated national geo-heritage site.

• It is a beautiful natural formation located in Varkala, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
• The cliff, including both northern and southern ones, covering a total distance of 3 km, exposes the sedimentary rock formation of the Mio-pliocene Age.
• Varkala is the only place on the West Coast of India where sediments in the Mio-Pliocene age (13 lakh to 2.5 crore years ago) had been exposed.
• The Papanasam Beach, located at the base of the cliff, is revered for its natural springs and believed to have therapeutic properties.
• It is a crucial aquifer and natural water harvesting system for coastal communities, hosted unique biodiversity in its microhabitat, and supported underwater reefs essential for local fishing communities.
• It is the 27th National Geological Monument in the country and the second in the State after the Angadipuram Laterite.

Urban Infrastructure Development Fund:

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed in Lok Sabha that the government has set up the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) through use of priority sector lending shortfall for creating urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

• It was established through the use of priority sector lending shortfall.
• It will be used by public agencies to create urban infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
• It aims to supplement the efforts of the State Governments / UTs for urban infrastructure development works implemented through Public/ State Agencies, Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies, by providing a stable and predictable source of financing for providing basic services like Sewerage and Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, construction and improvement of drains/ storm water drains, etc.
• It is managed by the National Housing Bank.
• The initial corpus for this Fund is ₹10,000 crore.
• It is established on the lines of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
• States will be encouraged to leverage resources from the grants of the 15th Finance Commission, as well as existing schemes, to adopt appropriate user charges while accessing the UIDF.
• It currently covers 459 tier-2 cities and 580 tier-3 cities.

Exercise CINBAX:

The 1st edition of Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX commenced at Foreign Training Node, Pune.

• Exercise CINBAX is conducted between the Indian Army and the Cambodian Army.
• It is aimed to conduct of a joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operations.
• It will focus on discussions pertaining to establishment of Joint Training Task Force for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance besides planning of operations in CT environment.
• The exercise will also involve discussion on information operations, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, logistics and casualty management, HADR operations
• It will be conducted in three phases.
  • Phase-I will focus on preparations and orientation of participants for CT operations during UN peace keeping missions.
  • Phase-II will involve conduct of the Table Top exercises
  • Phase-III will involve finalisation of plans and summing up. This will bring out practical aspects of the theme-based training and aims to enable the participants to comprehend the procedures through situation-based discussions and tactical exercises.
• The exercise will also showcase weapons and equipment of the Indian origin promoting ‘Atmanirbharta’ and indigenous capabilities in defence production.

Solar Storm:

Scientists have uncovered evidence of an immense solar storm that struck Earth around 664–663 BCE.

• A solar storm is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the Sun.
• The sun’s tangled magnetic fields get twisted up as the Sun rotates — with its equator rotating faster than its poles.
• Solar storms typically begin when these twisted magnetic fields on the Sun get contorted and stretched so much that they snap and reconnect (in a process called magnetic reconnection), releasing large amounts of energy.
• These powerful eruptions can generate any or all of the following:
  • a bright flash of light called a solar flare
  • a radiation storm, or flurry of solar particles propelled into space at high speeds
  • an enormous cloud of solar material, called a coronal mass ejection
• When directed toward Earth, a solar storm can create a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, that can produce effects such as radio blackouts, power outages, and beautiful auroras.
• They do not cause direct harm to anyone on Earth, however, to our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere that protect us from the worst of these storms.

RS-28 Sarmat:

Russia is set to deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, known as ‘Satan 2’, to replace older missiles.

• RS-28 Sarmat is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Russia.
• It is named after the Sarmatian people of the fourth and fifth century BC. It has also been referred to in the West as the “Satan II”.
• It is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of 18,000 km.
• It has a launch weight of 208.1 metric tons.
• The missile is 35.3 meters long and 3 meters in diameter.
• Designated a “heavy” ICBM, the Sarmat can carry a 10-ton payload and can load a wide variety of warhead options.
• It can reportedly load up to 10 heavy nuclear warheads, 16 smaller ones, a combination of warheads and countermeasures, or hypersonic boost glide vehicles.
• It is designed to elude anti-missile defence systems with a short initial boost phase, giving enemy surveillance systems a narrow window to track it down.

Anthrax : Female Elephant Died

A female elephant died due to suspected anthrax at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve recently.

• Anthrax is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis.
• It’s found naturally in soil around the world and commonly affects livestock and wild animals.
• The bacteria produce spores that can live in the ground for years.
• Livestock and wild animals can become infected when they breathe in, eat, or drink bacterial spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
• People usually get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
• People can also get infected directly by the spores through food, water or soil.
• Anthrax isn’t transmitted from person to person but the skin lesions can be contagious though contact.
• Infection in humans most often involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or lungs.
• The disease manifests in three forms depending on the route of infection: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational.

Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal: In News

The Supreme Court of India has directed a temporary halt to the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, amid claims by Hindu petitioners that it was built on a demolished Hindu temple.

• Sambhal Mosque Built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Babur (1526–1530) by his general, Mir Hindu Beg.
• Positioned on a hill in Sambhal.
• Features a square mihrab hall with a dome, surrounded by arches.
• Constructed with stone masonry and plaster, similar to the Budaun mosque.
• Renovated during the reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan in the 17th century.
• Local Hindu tradition claims it incorporates remnants of a Vishnu temple.
• Believed to be linked to Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu.

Jay Shah Became A Youngest ICC Chairman:

Jay Shah, an experienced cricket administrator and Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has officially commenced his tenure as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). At 36, Shah becomes the youngest to ever hold the prestigious position.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2024:

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, observed annually on December 2, serves as a global call to action to combat modern forms of slavery. This day emphasizes the eradication of human trafficking, forced labour, and other contemporary forms of exploitation while promoting the fundamental rights and dignity of individuals.

14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference:

The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) is scheduled to take place from December 4–6, 2024, in New Delhi, India. Hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, this event will bring together meteorologists, satellite operators, scientists, and young researchers from across the globe. Aimed at fostering collaboration and advancing satellite meteorology, the conference will include oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and a training workshop

Maha Kumbh Area a New District:

The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the Maha Kumbh area in Prayagraj as a new district, named the Maha Kumbh Mela district, ahead of the grand religious event scheduled for January 2025. This decision marks a crucial step to streamline the administrative and logistical efforts for the smooth organization of the Kumbh Mela, which attracts millions of pilgrims from across the world. The creation of the new district aims to enhance coordination, law enforcement, and resource management for the event.

Vikrant Massey Retires from Acting at 37:

Vikrant Massey has announced his retirement from acting at the age of 37. Known for his versatility and powerful performances in TV, films, and OTT platforms, Vikrant made the announcement via an emotional note on Instagram. His decision has left fans shocked and emotional, as he plans to complete two final projects before stepping away in 2025.

GST Collection for November:

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue rose by 8.5% to ₹1.82 lakh crore in November 2024, compared to ₹1.68 lakh crore in the same month last year. The growth is primarily driven by higher revenues from domestic transactions, with GST from domestic transactions increasing by 9.4%. This increase is significant, though it follows a previous high of ₹1.87 lakh crore in October, which marked the second-best collection in GST history.

FDI Inflows to India:

In the July-September quarter of 2024-25, Singapore emerged as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for India, contributing a significant 50% of the total inflows, which amounted to USD 13.6 billion. This marks a 43% increase in overall FDI inflows to India, reflecting a strong recovery after a period of weak investment. Singapore’s cumulative FDI into India, spanning from April 2000 to March 2024, stands at approximately USD 159.94 billion, highlighting the country’s longstanding and vital role in India’s economic growth.

Mission Arun Himveer:

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has launched Mission Arun Himveer to enhance market linkages for local agricultural and horticultural producers. In a significant move, the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), North East Frontier, in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.