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Daily Current Affair- Current Nama -6 and 7 October 2024

Samyak

Art and Culture 

Rani Durgavati - The Hindu 

Madhya Pradesh cabinet recently approved the formation of a panel to develop a memorial and garden dedicated to Gond queen Rani Durgavati for Rs 100 crore. 

Rani Durgavati

 

Chenchu Tribe - The Hindu 

The Chenchus of Penukumadugu have lived in the dense Nallamala forests for centuries, their existence intertwined with the wilderness around them. However, their inability to keep up with the relentless pace of modernisation has led to dwindling work opportunities under the MGNREGA. 

Chenchu

 

Geography 

Lebanon - The Hindu


 

Pilgrims get first-ever view of Kailash peak from Indian territory - The Hindu 

Pilgrims recently had the first-ever view of the sacred Kailash peak, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, from the Old Lipulekh pass inside the Indian territory.

Lipulekh Pass

  • About: A high-altitude mountain pass located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand,near the trijunction of India, Nepal and China which links the Indian state of Uttarakhand with the Tibet region of China.
  • Altitude: Approximately 5,334 meters (17,500 feet).
  • Location: Situated in the Vyas Valley of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand and it carries immense religious significance.
  • First in India: It is the first Indian border post opened for trade with China in 1992  followed by the opening of Shipki La Pass, Himachal Pradesh in 1994 and Nathu La Pass, Sikkim in 2006.
  • Significance: 
    • Ancient Trade Route: Connects the Indian subcontinent with the Tibetan plateau.
    • Religious Significance: An integral part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus.

 

Lake Kivu - Indian Express 

At least 78 people are dead after a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized in eastern Congo's Lake Kivu recently.

Lake Kivu

  • Location: Situated between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and Rwanda to the east. It is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift.
  • Size: Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa.
  • Area: Occupies 1,040 square miles (2,700 sq.km).
  • Countries: 58% of its waters are lying in the DRC; the rest is in Rwanda.
  • Dimensions: 90 km long and 50 km wide. 
  • Average Depth: 220 m (Maximum depth - 475 m ) 
  • Mouth: Lake Kivu empties into the Rusizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. 
  • Island: The tenth-largest inland island on the planet, Idjwi Island, is located on Kivu Lake. 

 

Lake Uru Uru- The Hindu

 


 

Why is salt pan land being used for homes? - The Hindu 

The Maharashtra government has issued a GR (Government Resolution) allocating 255.9 acres of salt pan land, distributed over three land parcels in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, for the construction of rental houses in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project through a lease agreement.

Way Forward

The Centre will hand over the land to the State government, which will give permission to DRPPL to go ahead with the construction after their plans are approved. For that, the DRPPL will have to seek an approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Environmentalists claim that the entire process from here on can be challenged in the court of law. 


 

Polity 

Taking governance closer to people: Assam launches unique ‘co-district’ initiative - Indian Express 

Assam recently launched a new concept of “co-district” within a district administration by doing away with the existing system of civil sub-divisions.

Co-district Initiative



 

World Affairs

The status of the civil war in Sudan  - The Hindu

On September 26, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched a major offensive against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and Bahri. Eighteen months into the civil war, the UN said that more than 20,000 people have been killed.

Actors in the civil war

  • 2 factions: Civil war between SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) and RSF (Rapid Support Forces) began as power rivalry between SAF head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF head Hamdan Dagalo.
  • Current Situation
    • RSF has the upper hand in multiple areas; SAF conducts frequent airstrikes, capturing pockets around Khartoum.
    • Humanitarian crisis worsening, especially in Darfur, with limited access to aid and healthcare.
    • Both factions accused of war crimes, including sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
  • Humanitarian Crisis
    • UN declared famine in Zamzam camp (North Darfur) hosting 500,000 IDPs.
    • 14 regions face conditions similar to Zamzam, with 25.6 million people facing crisis-level food insecurity.
    • Heavy rains, floods, and cholera outbreak have further worsened conditions, with over 200 deaths reported.

 

 


 

What’s behind Israel’s ban on the UN chief? - The Hindu 

Recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel had banned United Nations Secretary- General (UNSG) António Guterres from entering the country, accusing him of “backing” Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.

 

WHO launches plan to tackle dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases - Indian Express 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) to tackle dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses.

Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP)


 

How has Telegram changed its stance on content moderation policy? - The Hindu

In the first week of September, Telegram quietly edited out language from its FAQ page that stated private chats were protected and that they “do not process any requests related to them.”

Content Moderation in End-to-End Messaging Apps

Signal

Telegram

WhatsApp

  • No demographic or personal data collection other than phone numbers.
  • Groups and direct messages are encrypted; avoids monitoring content to maintain encryption integrity.
  • No search feature for groups within the app.
  • Allows up to 200,000 members in groups, enabling mass communication.
  • Features like group search make it easier to find harmful content.
  • Behaves more like a social media platform, making it prone to misuse for misinformation, abuse, and extremist content.
  • Claims of end-to-end encryption are undermined by metadata sharing with law enforcement.
  • Collects user metadata irrespective of privacy settings.
  • Has content moderators who can view messages if reported, and collects related information such as IP address, phone number, and linked accounts.

Obligations of Intermediaries in India

  • Compliance Requirements:
    • Must comply with national regulations and respond promptly to complaints regarding unlawful content.
    • Obliged to remove unlawful content once notified by the government.
  • Safe Harbour Provision (Section 79, IT Act 2000):
    • Intermediaries are not liable for third-party content if they prove lack of knowledge or that due diligence was exercised to prevent offences.
    • Executives (e.g., Telegram CEO) can claim exemption if unaware of unlawful content but must act promptly to remove it once notified.
  • Government Powers: Government can notify intermediaries of unlawful content, and they must disable access quickly.
  • Grievance Redressal: Intermediaries (e.g., Telegram, Meta, Google) must have a designated grievance officer to handle public complaints under IT regulations.
  • Concerns: Potential issues of censorship and undue pressure from governments to remove critical content.


 

Economy 

Six decade old canal system of Odisha’s Hirakud Dam to get facelift - The Hindu 

Built six decades ago, the canal network connected to Hirakud Dam, one of the biggest projects in eastern India, is all set to be renovated, which is expected to minimise wastage of water meant for irrigation.

Hirakud Dam

  • About: The longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world.
  • Length: 79 km
  • Construction: Built across the Mahanadi River about 15 km upstream of Sambalpur town in the state of Odisha & is made of earth, concrete and masonry.

  • Reservoir: Hirakud Reservoir or Hirakud Lake which is the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with an area of 746 sq.km.
  • Significance: One of the oldest hydel projects in India, the first post-independence major multipurpose river valley project in the country inaugurated in the year 1957.
  • Purpose: Provides 1,55,635 hectares of Kharif and 1,08,385 ha of Rabi irrigation.
  • Power generation capacity: 359.8 MW
  • Cattle Island: A small island in the Hirakud reservoir inhabited by a large herd of wild cattle, that are believed to be left behind by villagers when the dam was constructed in the 1950s.


 

What is the National Agriculture Code, currently being formulated by Bureau of Indian Standards - Indian Express 

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has begun the process of formulating a National Agriculture Code (NAC), on the lines of the existing National Building Code and National Electrical Code.

National Agriculture Code (NAC)

  • Coverage: 

    • Encompasses the entire agriculture cycle with guidance for future standardization.
    • Two parts: General principles for all crops and crop-specific standards (e.g., paddy, wheat, oilseeds, pulses).
  • Scope:
    • Guide for farmers, agriculture universities, and officials.
    • Includes agriculture processes and post-harvest operations, such as crop selection, land preparation, sowing, irrigation, soil and plant health management, harvesting, processing, sustainability, and record maintenance.
    • Covers input management (fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides), crop storage, and traceability standards.
    • Addresses new areas like natural farming, organic farming, and use of IoT in agriculture.
  • Objectives: 
    • Develop a national code considering agroclimatic zones, crop types, socio-economic diversity, and the agrifood value chain.
    • Serve as a quality reference for policymakers, agriculture departments, and regulators.
    • Provide a comprehensive guide for effective decision-making in agricultural practices.
    • Integrate relevant Indian Standards with recommended agricultural practices.
    • Address aspects like SMART farming, sustainability, traceability, and documentation.
    • Support capacity-building programs organized by agriculture extension services and civil society organizations.

 

Environment 

Hammerhead Shark - The Hindu 

A team of marine biologists led by a Florida International University researcher has described a new species of the shark genus Sphyrna from the Caribbean and the Southwest Atlantic.

Hammerhead Sharks

  • About: Belong to the family Sphyrnidae, named for their hammer- or shovel-shaped heads (cephalofoil).
  • Distribution: Found in tropical and temperate marine waters near coasts and above continental shelves.
  • Seasonal migration: Equatorward in winter, poleward in summer having extended range during El Niño years.
  • Appearance:
    • Greyish-brown or olive-green upper sides, white bellies.
    • Triangular, serrated teeth for hunting.
    • Special sensors on the head for locating prey.

  • Viviparous: Give birth to live young.
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years.
  • Exothermic: No internal temperature regulation.
  • Conservation Status:
    • Among the most threatened shark families due to overexploitation.
    • All species except Sphyrna gilberti are listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by the IUCN.


 

Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) - The Hindu 

Ten deaths—those of nine children and one woman —have been presumed to have occurred due to wolf attacks in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. 

 

Indian grey wolf


 

EnviStats India 2024 - PIB 

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) compiled and released the 7th consecutive issue of the publication “EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts” recently in accordance with the SEEA (System of Environmental- Economic Accounting) Framework which is an agreed international framework for the compilation of the Environment Economic accounts. 

EnviStats India 2024

  • Compilation: In accordance with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEAA).

  • Current publication: Seventh in the series that covers Energy Accounts, Ocean Accounts, Soil Nutrient Index and Biodiversity.

EnviStats India 2024 - Highlights

  • Increase in Protected Area 

    • 72% increase in the number of Protected Areas from 2000 to 2023.
    • 16% increase in the total area of Protected Areas in the same period.
  • Mangrove Coverage: 8% increase in mangrove coverage from 2013 to 2021.
  • Species Richness (IUCN Red List): Compiled data on the species richness of threatened species by taxonomic groups using spatial datasets from IUCN.

SEEA (System of Environmental- Economic Accounting) Framework

  • Definition: International statistical standard for describing interactions between the economy and environment, and changes in stocks of environmental assets.
  • Objective: Integrates perspectives from various disciplines to improve information on environmental-economic accounts.
  • Components: 
    • SEEA-Central Framework (SEEA-CF): Focuses on individual components of the environment that support economic activities.
    • SEEA-Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA): Complementary to SEEA-CF; provides a comprehensive framework for organizing data on habitats, measuring ecosystem services, tracking ecosystem asset changes, and linking these to economic activities.


 

Defence 

Air Force plans to procure 12 early warning aircraft  - The Hindu

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is short of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, a critical force multiplier, is looking at the procurement of 12 aircraft under two different programmes.


 

DRDO announces completion of development trials of man-portable air defence system - The Hindu

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently announced the completion of the development trials of the ingeniously developed 4th Generation miniaturised Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) after three successful consecutive flight tests at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.

Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)


 

Akashteer Systems - Indian Express 

Amid heightened global security concerns, the Indian Army has significantly enhanced its air defence capabilities with the acquisition of 100 Akashteer air defence systems.

Akashteer Systems