Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 8th October 2024

State of Global Water Resource Report 2023:

According to the State of Global Water Resource Report 2023, the year 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades.

State of Global Water Resource Report:

• It is an annual report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) since 2021.
• It offers a comprehensive and consistent overview of water resources worldwide.
• It is based on input from dozens of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other organizations and experts.
• The year 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in 33 years.
• The last five consecutive years have recorded widespread below-normal conditions for river flows, with reservoir inflows following a similar pattern.
• It notes that 2023 was also the second consecutive year in which all regions in the world with glaciers reported ice loss, the year in which “glaciers suffered the largest mass loss ever registered in 50 years.
• More than 600 gigatons (Gt) of water were lost across all glaciated regions of the world.
• The report says that 6 billion people currently face inadequate access to water at least one month a year, and this is expected to increase to more than 5 billion by 2050.
• The world is far off-track with Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.

World Association Of Zoos And Aquariums:

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) recently suspended the membership of the Delhi Zoo over concerns about the treatment of its lone African elephant named Shankar.

• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the umbrella organization for the World Zoo and Aquarium community.
• Established in 1935, it is the only organisation representing zoos and aquariums at the global level.
• WAZA’s mission is to guide, encourage, and support the zoos, aquariums, and like-minded organisations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education, and global conservation.
• Its members include leading zoos and aquariums, and regional and national Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as some affiliate organizations, such as zoo veterinarians or zoo educators, from all around the world.
• Activities of WAZA are:
  • Promoting cooperation between zoological gardens and aquariums in relation to the conservation, management, and breeding of animals in captivity.
  • Encouraging highest standards of animal welfare and husbandry.
  • Promoting and coordinating cooperation between national and regional associations and their constituents.
  • Assist in representing zoological gardens and aquariums in other international organizations or assemblies.
  • Promoting wildlife conservation, environmental research, and environmental education.
• WAZA has formed partnerships with leading international conservation organisations.
• Together, they are committed to tackling global issues such as the illegal wildlife trade, coral‑reef restoration, marine litter, sustainable palm oil and climate change.

Advanced Glycation End Products:

A diet rich in Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) is among the leading causes of India being the world’s diabetic capital, notes a first-of-its-kind clinical trial finding published recently.

• Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are harmful molecules formed by the glycation and oxidation of lipids and proteins.
• Glycation is the process of combining other molecules with sugars.
• Oxidation is the process of combining other molecules with oxygen.
• AGEs are formed in your body by metabolism, but the major source of AGEs is food.
• They are formed in food by grilling, toasting, roasting, broiling, frying, and other high-temperature cooking.
• Tobacco use is yet another source of AGEs.
• AGE production in the body increases with age.
• AGEs are present in the body at all times. At low levels, they don’t cause significant injury.
• However, they cause cell and tissue damage when they reach high concentrations.
• AGEs combine with receptors located on blood vessels and several other organs to cause damage to organ systems.
• These compounds can impact the function of proteins within the cells, alter the behavior of hormones, cytokines, and free radicals, and modify the extracellular matrix between cells.
• AGEs activate inflammatory and other destructive processes in many systems of your body.
• AGEs are involved in the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus, vascular and cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
• Hyperglycemia(high blood levels of glucose) is one condition associated with more AGE production, causing blood vessel damage in people with diabetes.

Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana:

The Union Health Ministry has doubled the monthly nutrition support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana from the existing Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month for all TB patients, during treatment.

• Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) as a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM) in April 2018.
• It is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in India.
• Objective is to provide incentives for nutritional support to tuberculosis (TB) patients.
• All notified TB patients are beneficiaries of the scheme.
• All patients with TB who are notified to the government on or after April 1, 2018, including those who are already being treated for TB, are eligible for financial incentives.
• To be eligible for the incentives, patients must be registered or notified on the NIKSHAY portal.
• Financial incentive of 1000/- per month for each notified TB patient for the duration for which the patient is on anti-TB treatment.
• The incentives can be distributed in Cash (only via DBT, preferably through Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts) or in-kind.
• This scheme is implemented across all States and UTs in India.

World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly:

The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be held in New Delhi from October 14 to 24, 2024.

• World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly has been held every four years since 2002.
• It serves as the governing conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Standardisation Sector (ITU-T).
• It is one of the three world conferences organized by the International Telecommunication Union.
• It defines the work program, working methods, and structure of study groups” for ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector
• This event plays a pivotal role in setting global telecommunication standards, making India’s hosting of the WTSA a significant milestone.
• WTSA 2024 will be preceded by the Global Standards Symposium (GSS) on October 14, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• The GSS is a high-level forum for policy debates on ICT standardization, addressing its evolving dynamics and technical implications.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

• It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
• It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
• In 1947 the ITU became a specialised agency of the United Nations.
• It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services
• It has a membership of 193 countries and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Indigenous Sex Sorted Semen And Unified Genomic Chip: Livestock Scheme

The Prime Minister of India launched two programs of the Animal Husbandry Department for the benefit of the livestock – ‘ Indigenous Sex Sorted Semen’ and ‘ Unified Genomic Chip’.

• Unified Genomic Chip is aimed at helping farmers identify high-quality cattle early and enhance dairy farming efficiency in India.
• The chip comes in two versions
  • The ‘Gau Chip’ for cattle and the ‘Mahish Chip’ for buffalo.
• It is developed by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.
• The purpose of this chip is to help farmers make informed decisions on animal selection by identifying young, high-quality bulls at an early age.
• The chip is tailored for Indian cattle breeds and will help improve the quality of cattle and enhance the dairy farming sector.
• Sex Sorted Semen is the ‘gender selected’ semen used by Artificial Insemination (AI) for cattle and buffaloes to produce more than 90% selected gender (females).
• It is very effective in breed improvement and till now it was manufactured by multinational companies.
• The National Dairy Development Board under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has developed the indigenous technology of sex-sorted semen worth Rs. 250.
• IVF technology (commonly known as test tube baby technology) is also being used for this purpose.
• It has now planned to produce a minimum of 10 lakh sexed semen doses annually for the ongoing artificial insemination (AI) programme.

microRNA:

The 2024 Nobel Prize for Medicine has been awarded to scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA — tiny molecules which play a crucial role in how genes function.

• MicroRNAs, or miRNAs, are small, non-coding molecules of RNA.
• They are typically around 19-24 nucleotides long and play an important role in determining how much messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries genetic information, eventually gets translated into protein.
• These microRNAs act as molecular switches, fine-tuning the expression of genes in different cell types and under varying conditions.
• They regulate the production of proteins by bonding with and subsequently silencing the mRNA at an appropriate juncture.
• The process is called post-transcriptional gene regulation.
• MicroRNAs help fine-tune various cellular processes like development, growth, and metabolism.
• Their role is essential in maintaining normal cell function, and disruptions in microRNA activity have been linked to diseases such as cancer.
• Mutations in genes coding for microRNAs have been found in humans, causing conditions such as congenital hearing loss, eye and skeletal disorders.
• The discovery of microRNAs has provided scientists with new tools to investigate gene regulation and has significantly expanded our understanding of how genetic information is processed and utilized in living organisms.

First Cyclothon : Kawal Tiger Reserve

The forest department organised its first ‘Cyclothon’ recently to celebrate World Wildlife Week 2024 at the buffer zone of the Kawal Tiger Reserve.

• Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in the north eastern part of Telangana State along the banks of the river Godavari, forming part of the Deccan Peninsula-central highlands.
• Spanning over 2015 sq. km, the reserve is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.
• The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• It has a diverse habitat comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.

77th WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commenced its 77th Regional Committee session for Southeast Asia in New Delhi, marking a significant gathering of health leaders from across the region.

BCCI Appointment of New Anti-Corruption Unit Chief:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant move in its fight against corruption by appointing retired IPS officer Sharad Kumar as the new chief of its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). This strategic appointment brings decades of law enforcement experience to cricket administration.

RBI and Maldives Monetary Authority Sign $400 Million Currency Swap Agreement:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) have signed a currency swap agreement under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework for 2024-2027. This agreement allows the Maldives to access up to $400 million under the US Dollar/Euro Swap Window and Rs 30 billion under the Indian Rupee (INR) Swap Window.

India and Maldives Boost Ties with $750 Million Currency Swap Deal:

India has extended significant financial aid to the Maldives by signing a $750 million currency swap agreement to ease the country’s foreign exchange crisis. This includes a $400 million swap and an additional ₹3,000 crore ($357 million) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework, available until 2027.

RBI Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao’s Tenure Extended for One Year:

The government has approved a one-year extension for M. Rajeshwar Rao as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), effective October 9, 2024. This decision was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following a notification dated October 4.