Daily Current Affairs 

To The Point Notes

1.Gotipua Dance

Origin and Significance:

• Traditional dance form of Odisha, India.
• Precursor to Odissi classical dance.
• Performed by young boys dressed as women.
• Dedicated to Lord Jagannath and Krishna.
• Involves acrobatic figures inspired by Radha-Krishna’s life.

Costume and Style:

• Boys wear “Kanchula” blouse and “Nibibandha” skirt.
• Bright colors and shiny embellishments.

Historical Context:

• Evolved from “Devadasi” tradition.
• Emerged during the 16th century under King Rama Chandra Dev.
• “Abhinaya Chandrika” by Maheshwar Mahapatra is a key text.

Challenges:

• Dancers face uncertainty after puberty.
• Need for support to sustain the tradition.

 

2.A23 Iceberg

Overview

• World’s largest iceberg, currently spinning near South Orkney Islands.
• Calved from Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986.
• Formerly housed a Soviet research center.

Antarctica

• World’s southernmost and fifth largest continent.
• Covered by vast ice sheet, holding 90% of world’s ice and 80% of fresh water.
• Ice shelves (floating ice sheets) cover parts of Ross and Weddell Seas.
• Ice shelves form from glaciers flowing into the ocean.

Ice Shelves

• Huge sheets of ice connected to land but extending into the ocean.
• Crucial for understanding Antarctica’s role in climate system.
• Contribute to sea level rise if melted.

 

3.Mount Kilimanjaro

In News

• An expedition team from the Ministry of Defence, led by ‘Divyang’ Uday Kumar, made history by hoisting the largest Indian flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro.

About Mount Kilimanjaro

• It is a dormant volcano situated in Tanzania, East Africa.
• It holds the title of the highest peak ( 5,895 meters)  in Africa.
• The mountain is also the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, meaning it is not part of a mountain range.
• Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi.  Kibo is the highest and houses the summit, Uhuru Peak.
• It is a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site ‘Kilimanjaro National Park’.

 

4.Nankai Trough

Overview

• Underwater subduction zone in Japan.
• Formed by the Philippine Sea Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate.
• Accumulates tectonic stress, leading to potential megaquakes.

Location and Characteristics

• Extends from Suruga Bay to Hyuganada Sea.
• History of producing megaquakes (magnitude 8+) every 100-150 years.
• Often produces ‘twin’ earthquakes within two years of each other.

Implications

• Japan, situated on the Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes.
• Nankai Trough poses significant seismic risk to Japan.
• Requires robust early warning systems and disaster preparedness.

 

5.Nitrogen-Use Efficiency (NUE) in Rice

Overview

• NUE is the crop yield relative to available nitrogen.
• Low NUE leads to significant nitrogen fertilizer wastage.
• Rice is a major consumer of urea, a primary nitrogen fertilizer.
• Excessive nitrogen fertilizers contribute to pollution and climate change.

Problem

• India loses ₹1 trillion annually due to inefficient nitrogen fertilizer use in rice cultivation.
• Global losses exceed $170 billion.

Solution

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGU) research identifies variation in NUE among rice varieties.
• Developing high-yielding, low-nitrogen-requiring rice varieties can reduce costs and pollution.
• Improved NUE can lead to environmental benefits and increased farmer income.

 

 

6.Biofortified Crops

Overview

• Biofortification: Enhancing crops’ nutrient content through breeding or genetic modification.
• Aim: Develop nutrient-rich crops to address malnutrition, target vulnerable populations, and improve climate resilience.

India’s Efforts

• ICAR leadership: Developed several biofortified varieties since 2014.
• Recent release: 109 new varieties of 61 crops, including field and horticultural crops.
• Focus areas: Cereals (millets, rice, wheat), oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, and more.

Impact

• Malnutrition reduction: Addresses micronutrient deficiencies through increased nutrient intake.
• Diverse food options: Provides variety in diet for better nutrition.
• Climate resilience: Biofortified crops often exhibit better tolerance to adverse conditions.

Potential

• Increased farmer income: High-yielding and nutrient-rich crops can fetch better prices.
• Reduced dependency on supplements: Biofortified foods can be a natural source of essential nutrients.
• Sustainable agriculture: Contributes to overall food security and nutrition.

 

 

7.Vikram Sarabhai

Background

• Born in Ahmedabad in 1919, into a wealthy industrialist family.  
• Returned to India in 1947 after studying at Cambridge.  
• Founded Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in 1947.  

Contributions

• Father of Indian Space Program: Initiated in 1960.  
• Established ISRO in 1969.
• Launched India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975.  
• Collaborated with Homi Bhabha for India’s nuclear program and rocket launching.  

Achievements

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962), Padma Bhushan (1966), Padma Vibhushan (1972).  
• Named Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Dr. Sarabhai Crater on Moon after him.

Leadership

• Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (1966).  
• President of Physics section at Indian Science Congress (1962).  
• President of General Conference of IAEA (1970).  
• Vice-President of Fourth UN Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (1971).

Legacy

• Passed away in 1971.  
• ISRO continues his vision of space technology for national development.