Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 9th Mar 2024

International Women’s Day 2024:

International Women’s Day is an annual celebration observed on 8th March every year, dedicated to honouring the achievements of women and advocating for gender equality worldwide.

• Theme 2024: Inspire Inclusion
• This global event serves as a reminder of the progress made towards women’s rights and the ongoing challenges that women still face in many aspects of life.
• The celebration’s origin lies in the labour movements of Europe and North America. The first International Women’s Day was held in March 1911.
• It was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.

Digital Intelligence Platform:

Union Minister for Communications launched the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP).

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) introduced two initiatives, Chakshu and the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), to combat spam and fraud calls through the Sanchar Saathi portal.
• Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) is an integrated and secure platform developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India.
• Its purpose is to enhance information exchange, real-time intelligence sharing, and coordination among various stakeholders.
• The DIP aims to curb the misuse of telecom resources in cyber-crime and financial frauds.
• It empowers citizens to proactively report suspected fraudulent communication through the Chakshu  facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal.

Lineman Diwas 2024:

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power, pays tribute to the nation’s power sector frontline workers on the fourth edition of Lineman Diwas (4th March 2024) in New Delhi.

• Lineman Diwas celebrates the dedication and service of linemen and ground maintenance staff who ensure uninterrupted electricity distribution nationwide.
• The theme for Lineman Diwas ‘Seva, Suraksha, Swabhiman’ underscores the linemen’s commitment, sacrifice, and contribution to society.
• The event facilitated the exchange of safety best practices, showcasing safety equipment and tools, and screening videos to reinforce workplace safety protocols.
• The CEA is constituted under the repealed Electricity (Supply) Act, of 1948, which has since been substituted by Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
• The primary functions of the Central Electricity Authority include providing advice on policy matters and plans for the development and regulation of the electricity systems.

World Poverty Clock: Data

According to the latest data from the World Poverty Clock, India has successfully reduced the proportion of its population living in ‘extreme poverty’ to below 3%.

• It signifies a substantial step towards accomplishing the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, with the target year of 2030.

Key Findings of the World Poverty Clock:

• The World Poverty Clock tracks real-time poverty estimates until 2030 for almost all countries, monitoring progress toward ending extreme poverty.
• The Clock shows the worldwide number of people in extreme poverty, sorting them by age, gender, and rural or urban residency, capturing both those escaping poverty and those falling into it every second.
• The escape rate calculates the current rate of poverty reduction in the world.
• It is backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Haiper : AI-Powered Video Generation Tool

Former members of Google’s DeepMind team, have introduced Haiper, a cutting-edge AI-powered video generation tool.

• Haiper is an all-in-one visual foundation model that allows everyone, with or without technical training, to generate high-quality video content with ease.
• According to Haiper, its model is a powerful perceptual foundation model-driven AI that has been designed for a “new path towards AGI” (artificial general intelligence, an AI software with human-like intelligence and the ability to self-learn).
• It offers tools such as text-to-video, animated static images, video repainting tools, etc.
• Users can go on to the website, log in with their email addresses, and start generating videos for free by typing in text prompts.
• At present, users can only generate HD video spanning 2 seconds, and a slightly lower-quality video could go up to four seconds.

Taeniogonalos deepaki : New Species Of Wasp

Discovered a new species of wasp in the Western Ghat region of Karnataka.

• Taeniogonalos deepaki was discovered in the Belgaum region of Karnataka. The genus Taeniogonalos belongs to the family Trigonalyidae of the order Hymenoptera.
• The Trigonalyidae family consists of a type of insects called hyperparasitoids that “sneak into” parasitoids or insects whose larvae develop on or within the bodies of other insects.
• The Taeniogonalos genus is distributed in Afrotropical, oriental, eastern palaearctic, nearctic, Australian and neotropical regions; 6 of the species have been reported earlier from India and 20 from China.
• Most of the Taeniogonalos species have been reported from south India.
• Parasitoid is an organism that has young that develop on or within another organism (the host), eventually killing it. They have characteristics of both predators and parasites.

School Soil Health Programme:

The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Union Minister for Rural Development inaugurated School Soil Health Programme.

• Department of Agriculture and Farmers welfare in collaboration with Department of School Education and Literacy has undertaken a pilot project on school soil health programme.
• Under the project, 20 soil labs were set up in 20 schools of Kendriya and Navodaya Vidylaya of rural areas. Study modules were developed and training was given to students and teachers.
• Mobile application was customized for the school programme and portal is having a separate segment for the programme where in all the activities of students has been documented.
• Kendriya Vidyalya, Navodaya Vidyalya and Eklavya Model Schools have been taken under this programme.
• Schools are being onboarded on the portal and online batches are being created.
• Department of Agriculture and Farmers welfare (DA&FW) through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will setup soil labs in these schools.
• School students will collect soil samples, test in the labs set up in schools and generate Soil health Card
• After generating Soil Health Card, they will go to the farmers and educate them about recommendation of Soil health Card.

National Cooperative Database:

Union Minister of Cooperation will launch the National Cooperative Database (NCD) to foster a cooperative-centric economic model.

• National Cooperative Database (NCD) is an initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation which had recognized the imperative need for a robust database to capture vital information about India’s vast cooperative sector.
• NCD has been developed in collaboration with State Governments, National Federations and stakeholders, and aims to foster a cooperative-centric economic model.
• It is a web-based digital dashboard wherein data of cooperative societies, including National/State Federations have been captured.
• The data of cooperative societies has been entered and validated by States/ UTs nodal officials at RCS/ DRCS offices, and the data of federations has been provided by various national/state federations.
• The information collected from cooperative societies are on various parameters, such as their registered name, date, location, number of members, sectoral information, area of operation, economic activities, financial statements, status of audit etc.
• NCD serves as a crucial tool for efficient communication between the Central Ministry, States/UTs, and Cooperative Societies, benefiting all stakeholders in the cooperative sector.

Dolutegravir : Antiretroviral Drug

Resistance to the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir (DTG) is increasing among HIV patients, a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted.

• Dolutegravir (DTG) is an antiviral drug used with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the virus that can cause the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• Dolutegravir is in a class of medications called HIV integrase inhibitors.
• It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in your blood and increasing the number of immune cells.
• Although dolutegravir does not cure HIV, using it along with other medications may decrease your chance of developing AIDS and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer.
• WHO has recommended the use of dolutegravir as the preferred first- and second-line HIV treatment for all population groups.
• It is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than other drugs currently in use.

Sea Defenders-2024:

The United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Bertholf ship reached Port Blair ahead of the ‘Sea Defenders-2024’ joint exercise.

• Sea Defenders-2024 is a joint exercise between the Indian Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard.
• Location: Off the coast of Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The two-day exercise will focus on maritime piracy and asymmetric threats, including simulated drone attacks on commercial merchant traffic, joint maritime search and rescue operations, major firefighting, marine pollution response, and counter-drug interdiction exercises.
• The event will also witness a simulated medical evacuation to enhance readiness in emergency situations.
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is an armed force that protects India’s maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
• The ICG, working in coordination with other Union agencies, institutions and authorities, safeguards the maritime interests and security of India, assists vessels and fisherman in distress and protects the maritime environment.
• It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978, as an independent Armed force of India.
• It operates under the Ministry of Defence.