UPSC Daily Current Affairs – Prelims [27th February 2023]
Unying Festival
Source – PIB
In News
The Siang Unying Festival, a significant celebration of the Adi community in Boleng, Arunachal Pradesh, was graced by the presence of both the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush.
The festival, which commemorates the start of the spring season and the Adi community’s new year, is known as Unying. It was a vibrant and colorful event.
Adi community
- The origin of this tribe can be traced back to the 16th century in southern China.
- The Adi tribe predominantly resides in the lower regions of the Lower Dibang Valley district, specifically in the Roing and Dambuk areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
- The tribe relies heavily on agriculture, including both wet rice cultivation and shifting cultivation. Additionally, they are highly skilled in crafting cane and bamboo items.
- The Adi tribe also celebrates Solung, a harvest festival that involves animal sacrifices and rituals, and Aran, a hunting festival that involves all the male members of the family.
Banjara Dharmaguru Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti
Source – TH
In News
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is commemorating the birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, the revered spiritual and religious leader of the Banjara Community, for the first time in a year-long celebration.
About Santh Sevalal Maharaj
- The birthplace of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, a notable social reformer and spiritual teacher of the Banjara community, is the Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
- Santh Sevalal Maharaj, along with his Ladeniya Troup, travelled throughout the country to serve forest dwellers and nomadic tribes. He is widely regarded as a spiritual leader of the Banjara community.
- Santh Sevalal Maharaj possessed exceptional knowledge, skills, and a spiritual background in Ayurveda and Naturopathy. He utilized these talents to dispel and eradicate myths and superstitions that were prevalent among tribal communities, and brought about positive changes in their way of life.
Banjara Community
- The Banjara tribe in India is known for their nomadic lifestyle and played a crucial role as a supply chain for various villages.
- In 1871, the Banjaras, along with other tribes, were brought under the purview of the Criminal Tribes Act.
- While the community was denotified in the 1950s, they were listed under the Habitual Offenders Act of 1952.
- With their origins in Rajasthan, the Banjara community now resides in various states and are recognized under different names such as Lambada or Lambadi in Andhra Pradesh, Lambani in Karnataka, and Gwar or Gwaraiya in Rajasthan.
- The Banjara community is classified under various categories in different states, including Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), and Vimukta Jati/denotified tribes.
Solar geoengineering
Source – TH
In News
Solar geoengineering, which is also known as solar radiation modification, entails the reduction of the Earth’s temperature by reflecting absorbed sunlight back into space.
Types of solar geoengineering
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
SAI, or stratospheric aerosol injection, involves the injection of significant amounts of small particles (such as sulfur dioxide) into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. The idea of SAI is based on the sulfuric clouds that are produced by volcanic eruptions.
Marine cloud brightening
The concept of marine cloud brightening suggests the dispersion of sea salt into low-altitude clouds to enhance their luminosity and their capacity to reflect sunlight.
Why is it controversial?
- The use of SAI is a subject of much debate due to the temporary nature of aerosols’ reflective properties, which can eventually result in a net warming effect.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that solar geoengineering may create a “moral hazard” and impede efforts to reduce emissions, as it fails to address the fundamental causes of climate change.
World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) Concludes
Source – TH
Key takeaways
Government’s approach
- Emphasize the communal method of preserving the environment.
- The Act4Earth Manifesto comprises 10 points and summarizes the primary ideas resulting from the discussions.
- It’s essential to transition from a nation-based strategy to a populace-based strategy for tackling climate change worldwide.
Issues discussed
- Climate finance
- Equitable access to sustainable development
- Need for a balance between reducing fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy
- Green Development Pact
- Equity and climate justice
- Driving and financing sustainable development
- Inclusive green growth
- Energy transitions
Origin of WS: 2001 (previously known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit)
TERI established the Sustainable Development Leadership Award (in 2005): 2022 award was given to Michael Rubens Bloomberg (American Philanthropist)
Related news:
Source – TH
According to research published in the Lancet journal, India is not keeping pace with achieving over 50% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Eight critical indicators, such as poverty, anemia, and child marriage, among others, are not on track in more than 75% of Indian districts.
- India has made significant progress in areas such as women’s bank accounts, birth registration, internet usage, electricity access, complete immunization, and reducing child marriage.
Regulation of Pharma Drugs
Source – TH
In News
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare plans to establish a centralized drug registration system under the Central Drugs Control Standard Organization (CDSCO) to ensure the quality of drugs in response to the increasing prevalence of harmful Indian drugs.
Additionally, the ministry intends to repurpose CDSCO’s Sugam online portal, which currently oversees quality assessments for new drugs.
About CDSCO
The Central Drugs Control Standard Organization (CDSCO), operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), is India’s primary regulatory body for medical devices, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It ensures that drugs, including vaccines, adhere to the quality, safety, and efficacy standards set out in the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is in charge of CDSCO. In the event of any disagreement concerning drug quality, the DCGI serves as an appellate authority.
India’s first municipal bond index
Source – ET
In News
India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) recently introduced the IBMX, the country’s inaugural municipal bond index.
- The IBMX will monitor the progress of bonds released by municipal corporations.
- The index is composed of bonds with investment-grade credit ratings, specifically those in the AA category.
- Municipal bonds issued under the Securities Exchange Board of India Issue and Listing of Municipal Debt Securities Regulations, 2015, are included in the index.
About Municipal Bond
A municipal bond is a bond offered by a local government or municipality, such as a state, county, or city. These bonds serve as a means of borrowing funds from investors when these entities require financing for public infrastructure projects like school or road construction.
- The municipal bond market has tripled its fundraising efforts since 2017, reaching approximately 6000 crores in 2022.
- The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation issued India’s first municipal bond in 1998.
- Recently, Indore issued India’s inaugural municipal green bond.
Clean plant program
Source – IE
In News
Due to the increasing demand for foreign fruit planting materials, such as apples, avocados, and blueberries, the central government intends to establish ten “Clean Plant Centers.”
- The objective of the initiative is to enhance domestic production of specific fruit crops.
- The services provided by the “Clean Plant Centers” include disease diagnosis, therapeutics, plant multiplication, and mother plant generation.
- The “Clean Plant Program” is necessary because it is currently challenging to obtain disease-free and authentic planting materials for horticultural crops in India.
- Additionally, the process of importing plants is complicated, as the imported plants must undergo a two-year quarantine period.
- Following the creation of the “Clean Plant Centers,” this duration will be shortened to six months.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the nodal ministry for this initiative.
- The National Horticulture Board (NHB) will act as the implementing agency.
- The funding for this initiative will be entirely provided by the central government.
- The initiative will be established under the “Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program,” which was announced in the 2023-24 budget.
India is the 2nd largest producer of fruit in the world (after China).
International IP Index
Source – TH
In News
The International IP Index, published by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, reveals that India is positioned at 42nd out of 55 prominent global economies.
Top – USA
Key findings
- With IP-driven innovation, India is well-suited to emerge as a leader among developing markets.
- “Dynamic” injunction orders have enabled India to persistently combat copyright piracy by prohibiting mirror sites with prohibited content.
- India offers substantial tax incentives for research and development and IP-based activities.
- India has implemented robust awareness-raising initiatives to educate people on the harmful effects of piracy and counterfeiting.
- India has set a global example by providing tailored administrative incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises to develop and employ IP assets.
Concerns
- In 2021, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board was dissolved.
- The judiciary in India is stretched thin and under-resourced.
- India has a limited framework for safeguarding biopharmaceutical intellectual property rights.
What is IP?
Intellectual property (IP) encompasses products of human intellect, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, as well as symbols, names, and images used in trade and commerce.
Bisphenol A
Source – DTE
In News
Bisphenol A (BPA) can considerably reduce the breeding duration of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus), facilitating its rapid proliferation.
Culex quinquefasciatus is a significant transmitter of the West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever virus, and avian pox in tropical and subtropical nations.
What is BPA?
Bisphenol A is a chemical compound that is mainly employed in the production of different types of plastics, which serve as plasticizers, paints, and other goods.
Other impacts of BPA:
- Bisphenol A can interfere with hormones and impact the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, disrupting the endocrine system in humans.
- In adults, the chemical can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
- Bisphenol A can indirectly facilitate the transmission of vector-borne diseases in both humans and animals.
Related News
Kenya’s significant progress in combating malaria may be hampered as a result of the detection of Anopheles stephensi, a deadly malaria-carrying vector native to Asia, within its borders. This species is capable of propagating more rapidly under varying climatic conditions.
Bor Thekera (Garcinia pedunculata)
Source – TOI
In News
A medicinal plant, known as Borthekera in Assamese, has been discovered to provide protection against heart diseases.
About the plant
- This evergreen tree is native to Southeast Asia.
- Raw consumption of this tree’s fruit is prohibited traditionally. However, sun-dried slices of the ripe fruit are used for preparing delicacies like “tenga diya masor jol” (sour fish curry).
- The tree possesses therapeutic properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, nephroprotective, and even neuroprotective activity.
- Additionally, it is a plentiful source of antioxidants.
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