Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

1.Yamini Krishnamurthy

• Demise: Veteran Bharatanatyam dancer passed away at 83.
• Awards: Padma Shri (1968), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (2016), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).
• Bharatanatyam:
  • Origin: Tamil Nadu, over 2000 years old.
  • Texts: Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni.
  • Revival: Tanjore Quartette under Raja Serfoji.
  • Performers: Devadasis, young girls dedicated to temples.
  • Style: Ekaharya (one dancer, multiple roles).
  • Orchestra: Vocalist, mridangam, violin/veena, flute, cymbals.
  • Conductor: Nattuvanar.

 

 

2.AMRUT 2.0

• Launch: 2015 (AMRUT), 2021 (AMRUT 2.0).
• Scope: 500 cities and towns with population over 1 lakh.
• Objectives:
  • Universal water supply and sewerage connections.
  • Green spaces and open areas.
  • Public transport and non-motorised transport.
• AMRUT 2.0 Focus: Water security, functional taps in all households.
  • Targets: 100% sewage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
• Components:
  • Pey Jal Survekshan: Water distribution assessment, wastewater reuse, water bodies mapping.
  • Technology Sub-Mission: Leveraging water technologies.
  • IEC Campaign: Water conservation awareness.

 

 

 

3.ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

Overview

• Recent development: 5th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting held in Jakarta to review the agreement.
• Negotiations: Started in February 2024, following initiation in May 2023.
• Background: AITIGA is part of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), established under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation signed in 2003.

Agreements

• AITIGA: Signed in 2010, aims to reduce/eliminate duties on 76.4% of goods.
• ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement: Signed in 2014, covers transparency, domestic regulations, market access, etc.
• ASEAN-India Investment Agreement: Signed in 2014, protects investments, ensures fair treatment for investors.

ASEAN-India Trade

• ASEAN is India’s major trade partner, accounting for 11% of India’s global trade.
• Bilateral trade stood at USD 122.67 billion in 2023-24.

ASEAN

• Established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia.

 

 

 

4.New Tax Regime Gains Popularity

• High adoption rate: 72% of income tax returns filed for AY 2024-25 opted for the new tax regime.
• Total returns: 7.28 crore returns filed, with 5.27 crore under the new regime.
• New tax regime introduced: Union Budget 2020-21.
• Budgetary incentives: Union Budget 2024-25 reduced tax slabs to five, increased tax-free income limit to Rs. 3 lakh, and raised tax rebate limit to Rs. 7 lakh under the new regime.
• Previous incentives: Budget 2023-24 increased tax rebate limit to Rs. 7 lakh under the new regime.

 

 

5.National Disaster Tag for Landslide

Overview

• Kerala’s request: State seeks ‘national disaster’ tag for Wayanad landslide, highlighting need for urgent attention.
• No official definition: No specific category for ‘national disasters’, but refer to large-scale events with severe impact.
• NDMA role: Oversees disaster management in India, responsible for preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

• Apex body for disaster management, headed by Prime Minister.
• Established in 2005 under Disaster Management Act.
• Formulates policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster risk reduction.
• Publishes annual reports on disaster management efforts.

State and Central Roles

• State responsibility: Primarily responsible for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during disasters.
• Central assistance: Provided when state resources are insufficient, through National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• Disaster Management Division: Supports and monitors fund utilization.
• Calamity Relief Fund (CRF): Shared by Centre and State (3:1).
• National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF): Fully funded by Centre, used when CRF funds are inadequate.
• Annual contribution: Centre releases annual contribution in two installments as per Finance Commission recommendations.

 

 

6.Bailey Bridge

Overview

The Indian Army’s Madras Engineer Group constructed a 190-foot long Bailey bridge at Chooralmala in Wayanad district, Kerala, to reach Mundakkai village due to deadly landslides.  

About Bailey Bridge

• Modular Design: A Bailey bridge is a prefabricated, modular structure designed for rapid assembly with minimal construction.  
• Historical Significance: Invented by Donald Coleman Bailey during World War II, these bridges were extensively used by Allied forces.  
• Operational Principle: Composed of prefabricated steel panels connected by pins, these bridges can be quickly assembled and disassembled.  
• Usage in India: The Indian Armed Forces inherited Bailey bridges from the British and have used them extensively, including during the 1971 war with Pakistan.  

Importance in Kerala

The 190-foot Bailey bridge in Kerala has been instrumental in facilitating the movement of people, heavy machinery, and ambulances to the affected areas, providing critical support during the disaster relief efforts.  

Key Features:

• Rapid Deployment: Can be assembled quickly in challenging terrains.  
• Versatility: Can be used for various purposes, including military operations and disaster relief.  
• Durability: Capable of carrying heavy loads.  

 

 

 

7.Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

Overview

• Recent development: Union government has reissued draft notification to classify parts of Western Ghats as ESAs.
• Western Ghats: Spanning 1600 km across six states, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global biodiversity hotspot.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

• Gadgil Report: Recommended entire Western Ghats as ESA, with three ESZs, and stringent conservation measures.
• Kasturirangan Report: Proposed a more flexible approach, identifying specific areas as ESAs, balancing conservation and development.
• Draft Notifications: MoEFCC issued draft notifications in 2014, 2018, and 2022, based on Kasturirangan Report.
• State Objections: Six states raised concerns over livelihoods, hydroelectric projects, and agriculture, leading to delays.

Key Issues

• Balancing conservation with development needs.
• Ensuring livelihood security for local communities.
• Addressing concerns of states regarding specific areas.
• Implementing effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

 

 

8.Ceramics

Overview

• History: Humans have used ceramics for over 25,000 years.
• Definition: Non-metallic, inorganic material transformed by high temperature.
• Study: Ceramography focuses on ceramic properties.
• Discovery: Archaeological evidence in Indus Valley and Keezhadi.

Properties

• Strengths: Resistant to heat, acids, chemical erosion, hard, and incompressible.
• Weaknesses: Brittle, poor handling of shear stress.

Applications

• High-temperature superconductivity: Led to Nobel Prize.
• Space shuttles: Used in heat shields.
• Microwave ovens: Produces heat.
• Abrasives: Used in grinding materials.
• Electronics: Varistors and semiconductors.
• Nuclear industry: Nuclear fuel.
• Aerospace: Fighter aircraft windows.
• Medical imaging: Tomographic scanners.