Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 6th September 2024

Forum On China-Africa Cooperation:

China is hosting the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a diplomatic event aimed at strengthening ties with African nations.

• Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was established in 2000 to formalise the strategic partnership between China and African nations.
• A summit is conducted every three years, with the host alternating between China and an African member.
• The FOCAC counts 53 African nations as its members – the entire continent except Eswatini, which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan against Beijing’s “One China” Policy.
• The African Union Commission, the continental bloc tasked with ensuring cooperation and economic integration across its member countries, is also a member.
• The theme this year is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.”
• The current summit is expected to address state governance, industrialisation, agricultural upgradation and improved cooperation over China’s infrastructure financing via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Centralized Pension Payment System:

The Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Chairperson, Central Board of Trustees, EPF has approved the proposal for a Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.

• Centralized Pension Payment System provides a national-level centralized system allowing pension payouts through any bank or branch in India.
• This replaces the current decentralized pension disbursement system, where each EPFO Zonal/Regional Office maintains individual arrangements with just three to four banks.
• Individuals have to fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for availing benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS).
  • Should be a member of EPFO
  • Should have completed 10 years of service
  • Has reached the age of 58
• They can also withdraw the EPS at a reduced rate from the age of 50 years and can also defer the pension for two years (up to 60 years of age) after which they will get a pension at an additional rate of 4% for each year.
• This facility will be launched as part of EPFO’s ongoing IT modernization project Centralized IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01) from 1st January 2025.
• The CPPS would also ensure disbursement of pension throughout India without any need for transfer of Pension Payment Orders (PPO) from one office to another even when the Pensioner moves from one location to another or changes his bank or branch.
• It is estimated to benefit more than 78 lakh EPFO EPS pensioners and will particularly benefit retirees who relocate to their hometown after retirement.

National Test House:

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Test House (NTH), and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to promote energy efficiency across India.

• National Test House is a premier institution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• It has been serving the nation since 1912.
• It is India’s largest multi-location multidisciplinary industrial central government testing laboratory dealing with almost all sorts of testing, calibration and quality evaluation related to industry, commerce, trade etc. as per international and national standards.
• It offers technical consultancy, testing, calibration, and quality evaluation across various sectors, adhering to both national and international standards.
• It is the pioneering governmental entity in India for drone certification.
• Its branches are established in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Guwahati and Varanasi.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• It was established in 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.

Vertical Fiscal Imbalance:

There is the problem of Vertical Fiscal Imbalance (VFI) in Indian fiscal federalism, where expenditure decentralization overwhelms the revenue-raising powers of the States.

• Vertical Fiscal Imbalance (VFI) is defined as the share of sub-national governments’ own spending not financed through their own revenues.
• A VFI describes a situation in which revenues do not match expenditures for different levels of government.
• VFI is the fiscal gap in the sub-national governments due to improper decentralization of public revenue and expenditure.
• This asymmetry in revenue and expenditure decentralization is called Vertical Fiscal Asymmetry (VFA).
• It is a structural issue that can be resolved if revenue and expenditure responsibilities can be reassigned.
• It can be corrected through the financial transfers from the Union to the state governments.
• The simple difference between horizontal and vertical fiscal imbalances lies in who they affect.
• With a horizontal fiscal imbalance, revenues and spending are mismatched for different regions of the country.
• In a VFI, revenue and spending are not balanced for different government levels.

Loss And Damage Fund:

A crucial conversation has recently emerged around whether subnational entities can seek compensation through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Loss and Damage Fund (LDF).

• Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) was established at the 2022 UNFCCC Conference (COP27) in Egypt.
• To provide financial support to regions suffering both economic and non-economic losses caused by climate change.
• Economic loss and damage are negative impacts that one can assign a monetary value to.
• These are things such as the costs of rebuilding infrastructure that has been damaged due to a flood, or the loss of revenue from crops that were destroyed due to drought.
• Non-economic loss and damage are negative impacts where it is difficult or infeasible to assign a monetary value.
• These are things such as trauma from experiencing a tropical cyclone, loss of community due to displacement of people, or loss of biodiversity,”
• It was designed to provide crucial support to vulnerable nations facing the brunt of climate-related challenges.
• The LDF is overseen by a Governing Board that determines how the fund’s resources are disbursed, with the World Bank serving as the interim trustee tasked with hosting the fund for four years.
• Financial support will be provided in the form of grants and concessional financing that can be utilized by any eligible country.
• The fund encourages voluntary contributions from developed countries but invites developing countries to contribute to it too.

Valley Fever:

Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the western United States, is seeing a significant rise in cases across California, prompting concerns among health officials and researchers.

• Valley Fever also called coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides.
• The fungus lives in soil in some areas, including the southwestern United States and south-central Washington, as well as in parts of Mexico as well as Central and South America.
• People and animals can get Valley Fever by breathing in spores, generally from dust or disturbed soil, in areas where the fungus is found.
• Most people who breathe in spores do not get sick, but some people develop mild or severe forms of the disease.
• Valley fever does not generally spread from person to person or from animal to people, with rare exceptions due to organ transplantation or wound contact.
• Most of the time, Valley fever doesn’t cause symptoms or symptoms go away on their own.
• Rarely, you can have ongoing lung issues or serious illness.
• Only about 1% of those who are symptomatic go on to develop severe disease.

Poshan Tracker Initiative:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development won the National e-Governance 2024 Gold Award for its Poshan Tracker initiative under Mission Poshan 2.0.

• Poshan Tracker is an ICT-based system, that monitors the growth and nutrition of children aged 0-6 years in real time, using WHO growth charts and Growth Measuring Devices at Anganwadi Centers. The initiative covers 8.9 crore children and helps identify health issues for timely intervention.
• Poshan Tracker App provides a 360-degree view of Anganwadi activities, services, and beneficiary management for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under six.
• Digitizes physical registers, improving workers’ efficiency.
• Anganwadi workers receive smartphones for enhanced service delivery through Government e-Market (GeM).
• Technical support is available for resolving app-related issues.
• Migrant workers can access services at any Anganwadi, regardless of location.
• Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).

Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack:

The Government of India has launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack, offering Blockchain-as-a-Service (Baas) with geographically distributed infrastructure to support permissioned blockchain applications.

• Vishvasya offers Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) using a distributed infrastructure to support permissioned blockchain applications.
• BaaS provides cloud-based tools for companies to build and manage blockchain apps.
• It is part of the National Blockchain Framework (NBF), which aims to utilize blockchain in areas like health, agriculture, and finance while addressing adoption challenges.
• Blockchain is a digital ledger technology where data (like transactions) is stored in “blocks” that are linked together in a chronological “chain.”
• Each block is securely encrypted, making the data tamper-proof.
• Example: Bitcoin, where blockchain tracks all transactions in a secure, decentralized way.
• Blockchain Technology Stack refers to the layers of technologies needed to build and operate a blockchain.
• It includes the infrastructure (servers, networks), core blockchain functionality (protocols, consensus mechanisms), smart contracts (automated, self-executing contracts), and APIs (tools to interact with the blockchain). Example: Ethereum’s technology stack enables decentralized apps and smart contracts.

Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS):

• It is a cloud-based service where third parties provide infrastructure and tools to build and use blockchain applications without needing to develop or maintain the blockchain themselves.
• Example: Microsoft Azure’s BaaS allows businesses to deploy blockchain applications quickly.

California’s New Law On Deceased Personalities’ Likeness:

California’s AB 1836, passed on August 31, 2024, regulates the commercial use of deceased personalities’ likenesses, including their voice and image. The law aims to protect against unauthorized AI-generated replicas by requiring consent from the deceased’s heirs for such uses.

• Using a deceased personality’s likeness without consent from their heirs is prohibited.
• Fines range from $750 to $10,000, plus potential damages.
• Covers digital replicas and excludes uses in artistic, political, or newsworthy works.
• Likeness rights can be transferred through contracts and passed to the deceased’s family or are terminated if no heirs are present.
• The law respects the autonomy of deceased individuals by requiring consent from their heirs before using their likenesses.
• It protects the privacy of deceased personalities, ensuring their likenesses are not exploited without authorization.
• The law mandates compensation for unauthorized use, reflecting the value of intellectual and personal property.
• It seeks to prevent potential exploitation and misuse of deceased personalities’ likenesses, upholding fairness for the families.
• By defining clear rules and penalties, the law ensures transparency in the use of digital replicas and likenesses.

India Graphene Engineering And Innovation Centre (IGEIC) Launched:

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) launched the India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (IGEIC) under the Graphene Aurora Program (GAP), which was initiated in 2023 to foster the graphene technology ecosystem.

• Located in Trivandrum, Kerala, IGEIC is a non-profit that aims to bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization, providing support to startups and industry.
• This follows the earlier launch of India’s first graphene centre, the India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) in Kerala.

Indian Coast Guard Participates in 20th HACGAM:

The Indian Coast Guard participated in the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) held in Incheon, South Korea.This important gathering, which took place from September 2-6, 2024, brought together coast guard agencies from across Asia to discuss crucial maritime.

Kapil Parmar Secures India’s First Paralympic Judo Medal:

Kapil Parmar has etched his name in the annals of Paralympic history by securing India’s first-ever medal in judo at the Paralympic Games. Parmar’s bronze medal victory in the men’s 60kg (J1) category marks a significant milestone in the country’s para-sports journey.

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, PM Modi’s Vision for Community-Driven Water Conservation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a groundbreaking initiative called “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” in Surat, Gujarat. This initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing community involvement in water conservation efforts across India. The launch aligns with the ongoing “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” campaign, reinforcing the Prime Minister’s vision of collaborative.

Tamil Nadu’s Rising Fintech Paysharp Secures RBI Authorization:

In a significant development for India’s fintech landscape, Paysharp, an emerging startup from Tamil Nadu, has achieved a major milestone. On August 30, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted Paysharp its final authorization, cementing the company’s position in India’s dynamic payment system ecosystem.

CDSL Secures SEBI Approval for Nehal Vora’s Appointment as MD & CEO:

In a significant development for the Indian financial markets, Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) has announced a crucial step in its leadership transition. The company has received the green light from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the appointment of Nehal Vora as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Successful Launch of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile:

A successful test launch of the Agni-4 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) was carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on September 6, 2024. The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), validated all operational and technical parameters during the test.

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2024:

Air pollution stands as the most significant environmental health risk of our time, with far-reaching consequences for human health, climate change, economic stability, and agricultural productivity.