UPSC Daily Current Affairs – Prelims [28th February 2023]
Arts and artists Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned in Mann ki Baat
Source – IE
In News
In a recent episode of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister spoke about various musical instruments and folk artists. He expressed his hope that they would continue to serve as an inspiration for people at the grassroots level, encouraging the growth of performing arts and making them more popular.
| Musical Instruments | Features | Key Proponents |
| Sursingar | This is an ancient stringed musical instrument, similar to the sarod but with a deeper tonality. It features a wooden body and a hollow wooden neck with a gourd attached. The instrument also has a metal fingerboard and typically has four brass or bronze strings that are played using a metal pick. | Joydeep Mukherjee |
| Mandolin | This is a plucked string instrument that typically has eight strings played with a pick. | Uppalapu Nagamani, Sajjad Hussain |
| Dance | Features | Key Proponents |
| Karakattam | The ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu involves performers clad in colorful saris, who dance with a pot called “karakam” placed on their heads. The purpose of this dance is to invoke Mariamman, the goddess of rain. | V Durga Devi |
| Perini Natyam | The dance form that was dedicated to Lord Shiva gained significant popularity during the Kakatiya dynasty. | Raj Kumar Nayak |
14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav
Source – PIB
In News
The 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav at Bikaner, Rajasthan was addressed by the President of India.
About the festival
- Annual flagship festival of Ministry of Culture
- Organized in different states of India
- Promotes National Unity and integrity through cultural exchange
- Started in 2015 to exhibit rich cultural heritage of country
- Participation: All seven zonal Cultural Centres and academies under Ministry of Culture
Renaming of Cities
Source – IE
In News
The Supreme Court warned that erasing foreign invaders’ imprints on cities by renaming them with ancient identities is dangerous.
As an example, Aurangabad and Osmanabad in Maharashtra were recently renamed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively.
Process of changing the name of a city or place in a state
- A resolution is proposed by any Member of the Legislative Assembly in the State Assembly to change the name of a city or place in the state.
- Discussion takes place to consider the reasons for and potential consequences of the name change.
- The resolution is passed with a simple majority in the State Assembly.
- The resolution is submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs as a proposal.
- The Home Ministry seeks approvals from various agencies, including the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and Registrar General of India.
- If the proposal is approved by all agencies, a ‘No Objection‘ certificate is issued by the Ministry.
- The State Government can issue an official notification in the Gazette after receiving approval from the Ministry.
The Constitution does not have any provision regarding changing the name of a city or area in a state.
Wheat Crisis
Source – TH
In News
Due to the unusual heat in February this year, agricultural scientists are suggesting the use of additional irrigation for Rabi crops.
Impact of heat waves on wheat production
- High temperature can hinder photosynthesis essential for wheat plant growth and grain development.
- Excessive heat can cause crop damage.
- Groundwater depletion: Frequent irrigation to mitigate the impact of heatwaves may lower the groundwater level in the area.
- Wet soil and strong winds can damage wheat crops.
- Warm and dry weather can increase pest attacks, including aphids and thrips.
Fab 4/Chip 4 chip alliance
Source – ET
In News
Recently, a semiconductor alliance was formed consisting of the leading semiconductor manufacturers from the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
Objectives
- The alliance will act as an early warning and mutual reminder system to maintain a stable chip manufacturing supply chain.
- It aims to prevent chip shortages and disruptions in the supply chain.
- The goal of the alliance is to reduce the world’s reliance on China.
India’s production of chips is limited, as it has few semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs), and it heavily relies on imports.
AFTER
In News
The AIIMS Delhi has developed the AIIMS Facial Toolbox for Emotions Recognition (AFTER).
Usages
- AFTER will aid in the treatment of patients with conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and depression.
- It can detect the capability to recognize emotions in individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions.
- The culturally sensitive database used in the research shows potential for use in research settings.
- The database needs validation in the general population as the interpretation of emotion is culturally dependent.
‘Organ on a chip’
Source – TH
In News
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.0, which was recently passed, has authorized the use of computer-based and experimental methods as alternatives to animal testing for new drugs.
However, the practice of using animals as test subjects will still persist.
What are Organ-on-a-Chips?
These tiny devices consist of human cells and are designed to replicate the conditions of human organs, complete with blood flow and respiratory movements. They serve as synthetic environments for testing new drugs.
Benefits
- Boost research and development of organ chips
- Reduce the cost of R&D of drugs
- Animal models often poorly mimic human diseases, leading to the development of alternative models
- Reduce the chances of contamination and spread of disease from animals being experimented on
- Organ chips can be used to develop personalized therapies for individual patients
- Minimize ethical dilemmas associated with the use of animals for testing, including the treatment of animals and their well-being.
Mad Cow Disease
Source – HT
In News
Following the confirmation of a case of mad cow disease in its northern state, Brazil has ceased its beef exports to China. It’s worth noting that Brazil holds the title for the world’s largest beef exporter, while the United States is the largest producer.
About the Disease
Mad Cow Disease, also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal, transmissible infection that affects the central nervous system of adult cattle. It is characterized by a degenerative and slow progression.
How is it caused?
The disease is brought about by an abnormal form of a protein called a “prion,” which is typically present on the cell surfaces of cattle. This altered prion protein causes damage to nervous system tissue, such as the brain and spinal cord.
ALMA telescope, that will soon get a ‘new brain’?
Source – IE
In News
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a radio telescope composed of 66 antennas, will receive software and hardware upgrades that will allow it to gather significantly more data and generate clearer images than ever before.
ALMA is managed by a partnership that includes the United States, 16 European nations, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile.
What is ALMA?
ALMA is a cutting-edge telescope that specializes in observing celestial objects at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, enabling astronomers to explore distant galaxies and stars that would otherwise be difficult to observe due to dust clouds. Its exceptional sensitivity allows it to detect even the faintest of radio signals.
Why Chile?
- Millimeter and submillimeter waves observed by ALMA are highly susceptible to atmospheric water vapor absorption on Earth.
- Due to the extreme dryness of the desert, which is the driest place on earth, most nights are cloudless and free of light-distorting moisture, making it an ideal location for studying the universe.
What are some of the notable discoveries made by ALMA?
- In 2013, the telescope discovered starburst galaxies earlier in the universe’s history than previously believed.
- ALMA provided detailed images of the protoplanetary disc surrounding HL Tauri, a very young T Tauri star located approximately 450 light years from Earth in the constellation Taurus.
- In 2015, ALMA aided scientists in observing the Einstein ring phenomenon in extraordinary detail. The Einstein ring occurs when light from a galaxy or star passes by a massive object en route to Earth.
FATF suspends Russia’s membership over Ukraine war
Source – BS
In News
Russia’s membership has been suspended by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Reasons for suspension
- Ukraine has accused Russia of launching a full-scale military invasion that was illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified.
- There are concerns about arms trading between Russia and jurisdictions that have been sanctioned by the United Nations.
- Malicious cyber activities have been attributed to Russia.
Although suspended, Russia still holds membership in FATF and will only be prevented from attending meetings and accessing documents.
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