Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

Art and Culture

1.Miniature Paintings in India

Context: Recent damage to 100-year-old miniature paintings in Delhi’s Siri Fort museum highlights their cultural significance.

What are Miniature Paintings?

• Detailed, small-scale artworks created with fine brushes and natural pigments.
• Often used to illustrate manuscripts and texts.

Origin and Evolution:

• 7th Century AD: Early examples found on palm leaf manuscripts in Bengal under the Palas dynasty.
• 15th Century AD: Increased Persian influence led to a shift to paper and richer colors (blues & golds). Hunting scenes and diverse facial features emerged.

Medieval Period:

• Mughal Empire (16th-18th centuries): Golden age of Indian miniature painting.
• After Aurangzeb’s reign, artists migrated to other royal courts, fostering new styles:
  • Rajput schools (Mewar, Marwar, Jaipur, etc.)
  • Pahari schools (Kangra, Guler, Chamba, etc.)

 

 

Health

2.Meningoencephalitis

In the News:

• Kerala government warns against amoebic Meningoencephalitis.

What is Meningoencephalitis?

• Inflammation of the meninges (protective membranes) and brain.
• Considered a serious and infectious neurological emergency.

Amoebic Meningoencephalitis:

• Caused by Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled organism nicknamed the “brain-eating amoeba.”
• Lives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
• Travels up the nose to the brain, destroying tissue and causing swelling.

Symptoms:

• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures

Prevention:

• Hold your nose or wear a clip while jumping or diving in freshwater.
• Keep your head above water in hot springs.
• Avoid digging in shallow freshwater.
• Use distilled or boiled water for nasal rinsing or cleansing.

 

 

Environment

3.Great Indian Bustard Conservation Plan

Context:

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved Rs 56 crore for the next phase of Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican conservation.
• Focus on habitat development, in-situ conservation, captive breeding, and reintroduction.

About Great Indian Bustard (GIB):

• Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• Appearance: Black crown contrasting with pale neck and head, brownish body, black, brown, and grey wings.
• Diet: Grass seeds, insects, small rodents, reptiles.
• Habitat: Flat, open grasslands with minimal obstruction (ideally suited).
• Distribution: Primarily Rajasthan and Gujarat, with smaller populations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Threats:

• Poaching outside protected areas.
• Collisions with power lines, vehicles, and free-ranging dogs.
• Habitat loss.

Conservation Status:

• Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (highest legal protection).
• Appendix I of CITES (international trade ban).
• Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List (highest risk of extinction).

 

 

 

Economy

4.Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB)

Context: Recently selected Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the next chairman of State Bank of India (SBI).

About FSIB:

• Autonomous body under the Government of India.
• Established in 2022 to replace the Banks Board Bureau (BBB).
• Recommends candidates for:
  • Whole-time directors
  • Non-executive chairpersons on the boards of financial institutions (PSBs, insurance companies, etc.).
• Advises on personnel management within these institutions.

Vision: Select suitable leaders and improve corporate governance in PSBs and financial institutions.

Mission: Promote excellence in corporate governance within the Public Sector Financial Institutions.

Superseded: Banks Board Bureau (BBB)

Context: BBB’s competence to select directors for general insurers was challenged in court.

 

 

 

Science & Tech.

5.Supercapacitors from Coconut Husks 

Context: Kerala researchers develop method to make supercapacitors from coconut husks.

Supercapacitors:

• High-capacity energy storage devices crucial for sustainable energy solutions.
• Finding ideal electrode material is a challenge.

Coconut Husk Solution:

• Prototype using coconut husk-derived activated carbon is four times more efficient than existing models.
• Microwave-assisted method is cost-effective and creates high-quality material:
  • Surface area: 1200 m²/g
  • Highly porous structure
• Powers two LEDs for 20 minutes, demonstrating high-power output.

Microwave Method:

• Uses advanced reactor to produce high-quality carbon in 5 minutes.
• Eliminates impurities and generates zero waste.
• Resulting carbon is ideal for supercapacitors due to its exceptional capabilities.

 

 

Defense

6.Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) 

In the News:

• General Upendra Dwivedi assumed office as the 30th COAS,succeeding General Manoj Pande.

About COAS:

• Leads the Indian Army, holding a pivotal role in its overall command and operations.
• Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) based on seniority, experience, and suitability.
• Typically a four-star general, chosen from the most senior officers.
• Term: Three years or until age 62, whichever comes first.

Functions:

• Command and Control: Oversees strategizing, planning, and ensuring operational readiness for the entire Indian Army.
• National & International Representation: Represents the Army in national and international forums, fostering military cooperation and partnerships.

 

Geography

7.Shyok River

• Location: Ladakh region, India
• Origin: Rimo Glacier, Karakoram Range
• Length: 550 km (340 mi)
• Tributary: Nubra River (joins at Diskit)

Name: Derived from the Tibetan word for “turquoise” reflecting the water’s color.

Course:

• Flows east towards Siachen Glacier
• Curves west to join the Indus River near Skardu, Pakistan-controlled Gilgit-Baltistan

Importance:

• Strategic: Valley provides access to key passes in the Karakoram Range (e.g., Karakoram Pass).
• Economic: Supports limited agriculture and provides water for communities and livestock.
• Tourism: Popular for adventure tourism (trekking, camping) due to Ladakh’s landscapes.
• Geopolitical: Proximity to Line of Actual Control (LAC) makes it significant for border security.

 

 

Defence

8.Project-76: Indigenous Submarines for Indian Navy

Context:

• DRDO initiates study for indigenous diesel submarines under Project-76 alongside Project-75I procurement.
• Successor to the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project for conventional submarines.

Project-76 Overview:

• Goal: Develop next-generation, indigenous conventional submarines.

Development Timeline:

• Preliminary Study: DRDO initiates study (approved by Defence Ministry). Expected completion within a year.
• Formal Case: Presented to Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) after study.

Indigenous Content and Collaboration:

• Aligns with Navy’s 30-year submarine building program.
• Involves collaboration with government PSUs and private companies.
• Aims to create domestic expertise in advanced submarine technologies.

Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Module:

• Developed by DRDO for Scorpene-class submarines (starting with Kalvari in 2025).
• Fitment expected to take 2-3 years in collaboration with Naval Group.
• Phosphoric Acid-based: Uses fuel cells for hydrogen generation.
• Current output: 13.5 kW, scaling up to 20 kW for Project-76.

Benefits of AIP Submarines:

• Increased underwater endurance for extended operations without surfacing.
• Reduced detection risk due to less frequent surfacing.
• Enhanced stealth with quieter operation.
• Extended mission duration for greater strategic value.
• Greater tactical flexibility for diverse missions.
• Lower operational costs compared to nuclear submarines.