Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 31st December 2024

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:

Assam has introduced Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS) in areas surrounding the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon.

• Pobitora wildlife sanctuary is located in east region of Guwahati, Assam.
• It was established in 1998 with a total area of 48.81 square kilometres.
• The entire region around the sanctuary is a part of Brahmaputra flood plains.
• The Sanctuary consists of the Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest.
• It surrounds a number of small hills such as Kasasila hills, Hatimuria hill, Boha hill, Kardia hill, Govardan hill, Panbari hill etc.
• It is known for holding the highest density of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the country.
• Pobitora also holds the distinction of being the source population of the Indian Rhinoceros Vision, 2020 (IRV), Eight Rhinos were translocated from Pobitora Wild life Sanctuary and introduced into Manas National Park.
• Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a major problem, especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.

Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX): Set To Launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its year-end mission, “Space Docking Experiment” (SpaDeX), today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota.

• The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking and undocking of two small spacecraft.
• It is for Demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics,Composite spacecraft control, and Payload operations after undocking.
• Two small spacecraft- SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target) will be docked in a 476-km low-Earth circular orbit.
  Weight of two satellites: Approximately 220 kg each.
• Launch Vehicle: PSLV- C60
• The indigenous technology used for this mission is called the “Bharatiya Docking System”.
• It will make India the fourth country after USA, Russia and China in the world to achieve the feat.
• SpaDEx mission is expected to be a stepping stone for India’s future endeavours in space exploration which include getting rocks and soil from the moon on Earth, the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station and landing an astronaut on the lunar surface.

World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit:

Prime Minister has said that India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February, 2025.

• WAVES would be the first-ever global summit covering the entire gamut of Media and Entertainment industry.
• The event will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to discuss prospects, challenges, promote trade to India, and influence the sector’s future.
• The Summit will also highlight India’s advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology and regional and mainstream cinema.
• Vision is To position India as an unparalleled global powerhouse in the dynamic Media & Entertainment landscape while setting new standards of creativity, innovation, and influence worldwide.
• Mission: Empowering global Media & Entertainment leaders with exclusive investment opportunities through the premiere platform of WAVES.
• Objectives is to Position WAVES as a platform to provoke ideas, fuel conversations, facilitate knowledge exchange and engage in meaningful collaborations with M&E industry leaders from across the globe and To drive the country’s Creative Economy through IP Creation for India & for the World.

Srisailam Temple:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently made a significant discovery at the Srisailam Temple, uncovering several copper plates and other ancient inscriptions in the temple’s Ghantamandapam.Srisailam Temple, or Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here in the form of Mallikarjuna Swamy.

• It is located at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.
• It is surrounded by the forests of the Nallamala Hills, overlooking the pristine waters of the Krishna River.
• According to Hindu mythology, the temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, divine manifestations of Lord Shiva spread across India.
• The Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Bramarambha in the temple and has a shrine dedicated to her.
• This ancient temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagara architecture.
• Though the exact origins of the temple are not available, the Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it.
• The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagara kings have made several endowments here.
• The unique feature of this temple is the combination of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi (in the form of Bhramarambika) in one campus, which is very rare and only one of its kind.
• The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here.

INS Sarvekshak:

India and Mauritius recently held a joint coordination meeting onboard INS Sarvekshak to commence the Joint Hydrographic Survey aimed at enhancing navigational safety in Mauritian waters.It is an Indian Navy hydrographic survey ship, based at Southern Naval Command in Kochi.

• It is fitted with state-of-the-art survey equipment like Deep Sea Multi-Beam Echo Sounder, Side Scan Sonars and a fully automated digital surveying and processing system.
• In addition, the ship carries an integral Chetak helicopter, which would be extensively deployed during the survey.
• The ship is the second ship of the Darshak class of ships and has a complement of 15 officers and 175 sailors.
• In the past, INS Sarvekshak has also undertaken foreign cooperation surveys in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Kenya.

India Logistics Movement:

India’s logistics sector is transforming with initiatives like the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti to cut costs, boost efficiency, and enhance connectivity. Contributing 14% to GDP, it is pivotal to the $5 trillion economy goal.

Logistics Movement Data in India:

• Logistics Cost Reduction: Declined by 0.8-0.9 percentage points of GDP between FY14-FY22.
• Sector Contribution: Logistics contributes 14% to India’s GDP and is valued at $250 billion.
• Transportation Efficiency: Average truck travel distance increased from 225 km to 300-325 km due to GST implementation.
• Bilateral Trade Facilitation: Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) has processed 382 use cases for automation and trade facilitation.
• Rail vs. Road Share: Road accounts for 66% of freight, rail 31%, waterways 3%, and air 1%.

Bayraktar Akinci:

Turkey has successfully tested the firing of the supersonic missile UAV-122 from the Bayraktar Akinci drone.

• It is a long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar.
• It has been designed to perform various operations supporting fighter jets. It is capable of performing air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions.
• The combat drone has a length of 12.2 m, a height of 4.1 m, and a wingspan of 20 m.
• It stands out for its payload capacity of up to 1,500 kilograms, flight range of 25 hours, and range of 7,500 km.
• It is equipped with dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, electronic support systems, collision avoidance radar, and synthetic aperture radar.
• It is equipped with a triple redundant flight control system.
• The dual artificial intelligence (AI)-powered avionics system integrated into the platform helps in improving signal processing, sensor fusion, and situational awareness in real time.
• The UCAV will be fitted with different weapon payloads such as laser-guided smart munitions, missiles, and long-range stand-off weapons.
• It is also the first drone capable of launching an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM).

Sanjay Gandhi National Park:

In what comes as a cause of concern, a fire broke out just outside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai recently.

• SGNP, earlier known as Borivali National Park, is a large protected area near Borivali in the northern part of Mumbai.
• It is situated partly in Thane District and in Mumbai Suburban District of Maharashtra.
• It covers an expansive area of 103 square kilometres, making it one of the largest parks within the city limits.
• The park is known for its dense forests, vast birdlife, butterflies, and small population of tigers.
• The Kanheri Caves in the center of the park were an important Buddhist learning center and pilgrimage site sculpted by Buddhist monks between the 9th and the 1st centuries BCE.
• They were chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock outcropping.
• Besides, the park also has two artificial lakes, namely Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake, the deer park, the lion safari, and the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The park also boasts of 251 species of birds and a large variety of butterflies.

State of E-Waste in India : Report

The Minister of State for the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs provided data that reflects growing use of electronic and electrical devices across the country.

• India has witnessed a 72.54% rise in e-waste generation over five years, increasing from 1.01 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2019-20 to 1.751 million MT in 2023-24.
• Approximately 57 % of e-waste (equivalent to 990,000 MT) of e-waste remains untreated annually.
• The 65 cities in India generate more than 60% of the total generated e-waste, whereas 10 states generate 70% of the total e-waste.
• Recycling Gaps: Only 43% of e-waste was recycled in 2023-24, up from 22% in 2019-20.
• Informal sectors dominate e-waste handling, lacking environmental safeguards.
• India is the third-largest e-waste generator globally, after China and the US.
• Approximately 53.6 MT of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2019, as per UN estimates.

Asian Development Bank : In News

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed two crucial loans aimed at strengthening India’s infrastructure and supporting sustainable growth.The USD 500 million loan aims to finance green and sustainable infrastructure projects aligned with India’s climate commitments, particularly focusing on connectivity, energy transition, and under-resourced sectors like urban projects, education, and healthcare.The loan, with a sovereign guarantee, will be provided to the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).

Trends and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised alarms over the increasing reliance on unsecured lending and private credit, calling for enhanced vigilance in its annual Trends and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24 report.GNPAs reached a 13-year low of 2.7% in March 2024, further dropping to 2.5% by September 2024.The Retail Loan Segment had the lowest GNPA ratio at 1.2% in September 2024, while agriculture loans had the highest GNPA ratio at 6.2%. The GNPA ratios for education loans improved significantly, declining from 5.8% in March 2023 to 2.7% by September 2024, though they remain the highest among retail segments.

Conjugal Visits in Prisons:

The Delhi Government is reconsidering a proposal to allow conjugal visits for prisoners.Conjugal Visits is a private family visit where inmates spend time, including intimate moments, with their legal spouses within the prison. It promotes inmate rehabilitation and long-term recovery, enhancing psychological well-being and sustaining marital ties of prisoners.

RBI Sets Up Committee for Ethical AI in Finance:

RBI has established an eight-member committee to develop a Framework for Responsible and Ethical AI (FREE-AI) adoption in the financial sector. The committee is chaired by Professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya from IIT Bombay and consists of specialists from academia, government, and industry.

Intangible Cultural Heritage : UNESCO

The recognition of Bosnia’s Sevdalinka, also known as “Balkan Blues,” as part of UNESCO’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights global efforts to preserve and celebrate diverse cultural traditions.A melancholic urban love song blending South Slavic oral poetry and Ottoman music, often referred to as the “Balkan Blues.”Nation: Bosnia.Features are Traditionally performed a cappella or with instruments like the saz (lute).Originates from the 16th century, carrying themes of love and melancholy. Recognized as a cultural symbol of Bosnia’s history and identity.

Siang Upper Multipurpose Project:

Arunachal Pradesh CM stated that the ₹1.13 lakh crore Siang Upper Multipurpose Project aims to generate electricity, maintain year-round river flow, and mitigate flood risks from excess water released by China.A multipurpose hydroelectric project aimed at flood mitigation, maintaining the Siang River’s natural flow, and electricity generation with a capacity of 11,000 MW. Location: Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, near the Siang River (Brahmaputra). River: Siang River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River. States Involved: Arunachal Pradesh and Assam (infrastructure development and approach roads).