Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 3rd Oct 2023

Whoosh : Southeast Asia’s First High-Speed Railway:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway marking a significant milestone for the nation’s infrastructure development.

• The ambitious project, known as the “Whoosh” high-speed railway, is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and is poised to dramatically reduce travel times between two vital Indonesian cities. …
• The high-speed railway connects the sprawling metropolis of Jakarta with Bandung, the bustling capital of West Java province.
• This transformational rail link is set to reduce the arduous three-hour commute between these cities to a mere 40 minutes, greatly enhancing regional connectivity and facilitating economic growth.

UN Bonn Summit:

Delegates at a UN conference in Bonn have adopted a new global framework aimed at reducing environmental risks associated with chemicals and waste.

• This framework, known as the Global Framework on Chemicals, includes 28 targets designed to enhance responsible management of chemicals and waste throughout their lifecycle.
• The Bonn Declaration was adopted at the summit, aiming to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals, phase out the most dangerous ones when appropriate, and enhance the safe management of such chemicals where necessary.
• The declaration also encourages countries to support the transition to circular economies and develop substitutes for harmful chemicals to safeguard health, and the environment, reduce waste, and promote recycling efforts.

Bihar Caste Survey:

This comprehensive survey provides crucial data on the composition of various caste groups and their implications for politics, policies, and social dynamics.

Key Findings of the Bihar Caste Survey:

• The Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute the largest social group, comprising 36.01% of Bihar’s population, totaling 4,70,80,514 individuals.
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs) make up 27.12% of the population, with a total of 3,54,63,936 members.
• Scheduled Castes (SCs) account for 19.65%, numbering 2,56,89,820 individuals.
• Scheduled Tribes (STs) form a minority, representing only 1.68%, with 21,99,361 members.
• The “unreserved” category, often referred to as “forward” castes, comprises 15.52% of the population, totaling 2,02,91,679 individuals.
• The overall population of Bihar, according to the survey, is 13,07,25,310, an increase from the 2011 census figure of 10.41 crore.

Pink Bollworm : Damage To Cotton Fields

The Pink Bollworm (PBW) is causing significant damage to cotton fields in northern Rajasthan, Haryana, and Southwestern Punjab, with the infestation being more widespread and serious than before.

• Farmers have been using Bt cotton seeds, which have lost their effectiveness against the PBW.
• The situation has led to a drastic reduction in cotton yields, making it financially unviable for many farmers.
• The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is an insect that is a pest in cotton farming.
• It is native to Asia but has become an invasive species in most cotton-growing countries around the world.
• It is considered possibly the most destructive pest on cotton worldwide.

Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ Campaign:

Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign is an environmental initiative launched by Apple, showcasing the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

• Since 1994, Apple has run a gadget-recycling program, incentivizing customers to trade in their old devices for new ones.
• Apple’s buyback policy, recycling initiatives, and responsible sourcing of materials place it ahead of its competitors in terms of environmental responsibility.
• Apple has faced criticism for practices like “planned obsolescence” with its smartphones, and allegations of environmental transgressions linked to pollution from Chinese component manufacturing facilities.

Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath Initiative:

The “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath” initiative is a massive voluntary effort for cleanliness in India, endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The initiative encourages citizens to engage in one hour of “shramdaan” (voluntary labour) for cleanliness at 10 am on October 1st as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
• Various groups and organizations, including Resident Welfare Associations, village communities, NGOs, market associations, faith groups, and the private sector, have come forward to participate in shramdaan at different locations.
• Swachhata Pakhwada 2023, with the theme “Garbage Free India,” is organized alongside this initiative and has seen the participation of over 31 crore citizens across the nation in various cleanliness-related activities.

Nobel Prize In Medicine 2023:

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2023 has been awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking research on nucleoside base modifications that played a pivotal role in the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

• Kariko and Weissman identified a key problem: dendritic cells in the body perceived lab-grown genetically engineered mRNA as foreign, triggering an inflammatory response.
• The Breakthrough:
  • To address this issue, they experimented with chemically modifying the bases in mRNA.
  • By introducing unique chemical alterations in the mRNA bases and delivering them to dendritic cells, they reduced the inflammatory response.
  • These groundbreaking results were published in 2005, with further developments in 2008 and 2010.