Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 7th September 2024

SAMRIDH Scheme:

The Union Ministry of Electronics & IT secretary launched the 2nd Cohort of Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH) scheme.

• SAMRIDH is the Union Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) ‘s flagship programme for startup acceleration under the National Policy on Software Products—2019.
• It was launched in August 2021 and supports 300 software product startups with an outlay of ₹99 crore over a period of 4 years.
• It aims to support existing and upcoming Accelerators to select and accelerate potential IT-based startups to scale.
• Among others, the program focuses on accelerating the startups by providing customer connect, investors connect and connect to international markets
• Eligibility of Accelerator
  • Should be a registered Section-8/Society, [Not-for-Profit Company (eligible to hold equity)] having operations in India.
  • The Accelerator and the team are recommended to have more than 3 years of startup experience and should have supported more than 50 start-ups of which at least 10 startups should have received investment from external Investors
  • The Accelerator should have experience in running startup program cohorts with activities listed as desirable under the SAMRIDH program.
  • It is being implemented through potential and established accelerators across India which provide services like making products market fit, business plan, investor connect and international expansion to startups plus matching funding up to ₹40 lakh by MeitY.
  • Implemented by: The scheme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH), Digital India Corporation (DIC).

Arnoux’s Beaked Whale:

A team of researchers has stumbled upon rare Arnoux’s Beaked Whales off the coast of Antarctica recently.

• Arnoux’s Beaked Whale are a rare cetacean species.
• A cetacean is a member of the family of large aquatic mammals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
• Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii
• Arnoux’s Beaked Whales are a gregarious species generally found in groups of 6-10, but larger groups of 80 individuals have been recorded.
• They are found only in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Their distribution is circumpolar in deep, cool temperate and subpolar waters, generally south of 40°S to the edge of the Antarctic ice shelf (approximately 78°S).
• They are known for brilliant diving abilities and can measure up to around 30 feet long.
• Females are thought to be slightly larger than the males.
• The body is spindle-shaped and resembles dolphins in appearance.
• The dorsal fin is small, triangular, slightly hooked, and positioned well back on the body.
• They are predominantly dark brown in color with paler colouring on their head and ventral sides (undersides), which also have white patches.
• Like other whale species, males show extensive scarring, particularly around their dorsal fins.
• They are often called Southern four-toothed Whales because of their four teeth found in their lower jaws that are visible even when their mouth is closed.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern

New Flag And Insignia Of The Supreme Court Of India:

The President of India recently unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court at the two-day National Conference of District Judiciary in New Delhi.

• The newly unveiled flag features symbols central to India’s legal and cultural heritage: the Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and the Constitution of India.
• The new Supreme Court flag is blue in colour.
• The insignia has ‘Supreme Court of India’ and ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’ (in Devanagari script) inscribed on it.
• The phrase “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” is a Sanskrit expression that translates to “Where there is Dharma, there is victory” or “Victory lies where Dharma (righteousness) prevails.”
• This phrase encapsulates the essence of justice and righteousness that the Supreme Court strives to uphold.
• The new flag and insignia were conceptualized and designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi.
• The flag will be available in various designs, including cross table flat, single table flag, pole flag, and wooden frame, ensuring its presence in diverse settings.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics:

Scientists recently found that FP 100 (Hygromycin A), a first-in-class, small molecule, narrow-spectrum antibiotic, successfully eradicates Fusobacterium nucleatum without harming the oral or gut microbiomes.

• Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics are classified as “narrow-spectrum” or “broad-spectrum” depending on the range of bacterial types they affect.
• Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are active against a selected group of bacterial types.
• They can act on either gram +ve or gram –ve but not both.
• They are used for the specific infection when the causative organism is known.
• They will not kill as many of the normal microorganisms in the body as the broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Because they target very specific bacteria, they don’t cause an increase in bacterial resistance and avoid the spread of drug-resistant infections.
• Examples include Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, etc.

Food Recovery To Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) Methodology:

According to estimates based on data from a new methodology termed as Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) each food bank reduces the same volume of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions as removing 900 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year.

• Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) Methodology quantifies the avoided emissions and co-benefits from redirecting food loss and waste to direct human consumption, through food recovery and redistribution operations.
• It is developed by the Global Food Banking Network (GFN) in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and the Carbon Trust.
• The FRAME initially began as a pilot project in Mexico and Ecuador, where six community-led food banks were analysed.
• The new FRAME tool will allow food banks, food recovery organisations, private sector companies, scientific experts and others working in the food loss and waste sector to be able to accurately measure and manage emissions from food recovery and redistribution.

Micronutrient Intake : Study

A study published in Lancet Global Health highlighted the global inadequacy of micronutrient intake, particularly for iodine, vitamin E (tocopherol), calcium, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and folate (vitamin B9) across different regions and age groups.

• As the first global estimate based on dietary intake data, it underscores the need for nutritional interventions such as dietary modifications, biofortification, fortification, and supplementation.

Key Findings of the Study:

Global Findings :

• Iodine, Vitamin E, Calcium Over 5 billion people worldwide have inadequate intakes.
• Iron, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin C More than 4 billion people have insufficient intakes.
• Iodine, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium, Calcium, Riboflavin, Folate Women have higher inadequacies.
• Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin Men have higher inadequacies.

India-Specific Findings:

• Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 India experiences high levels of inadequacies in these nutrients

Micronutrients:

• Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals required by the body in very small amounts. E.g., Iron, Vitamin A, Iodine etc.
• They are crucial for producing enzymes, hormones, and other substances necessary for normal growth and development.

Exercise Varuna:

A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy has reached France to participate in ‘Exercise Varuna’ with the French Navy.

• Exercise Varuna is the bilateral Naval Exercisebetween India and France.
• This bilateral exercise between the two navies was initiated in 1993.
• It was named ‘VARUNA’ in 2001and has become a hallmark of India-France’s strategic bilateral relationship.
• The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ is scheduled in the Mediterranean Sea.
• It includes advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability between the two navies.
• The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft, renowned for its maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, will play a pivotal role in these exercises and it joins the INS Tabar.
• The P-8I’s participation in Exercise Varuna reflects the growing sophistication and complexity of the joint operations between the Indian and French navies.
• P-8I aircraft is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft being manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy.

International Vulture Awareness Day 2024:

The first Saturday of September marks International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD), an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the world’s most imperilled group of birds. This initiative, which began in South Africa and the United Kingdom, has been observed since September 2009.

Conference on ‘Spectrum of Literacy’ Precedes International Literacy Day 2024:

As a precursor to International Literacy Day 2024, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, will host an International Conference titled “Spectrum of Literacy” on September 7, 2024. This virtual conference will be organized by CIET, NCERT, New Delhi, and will bring together global and national experts, educators, policymakers, and literacy advocates to explore.

5th India-Maldives Defence Cooperation Dialogue Held in New Delhi:

The 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and the Maldives was held in New Delhi on September 6, 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian delegation was headed by General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force, Maldives National Defence Force.