Daily Current Affairs
To the Point Notes
1: Amazon River Basin Drought
- Context: Unprecedented drought causing historic low water levels.
- Location: Tabatinga, Brazil (Solimoes River, tributary) & Lake Tefé
- Solimoes River Level: Lowest level on record.
- Lake Tefé: Dried up (habitat for endangered pink dolphins).
Amazon River
| Feature | Description |
| Rank by Volume | Largest |
| Rank by Length | Second (after Nile) |
| Global Discharge Contribution | 20% |
| Source | Peruvian Andes (5,598 m elevation) |
| Length | 6,400 km |
| Basin Area | Covers parts of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela. |
| Major Tributaries | Japurá, Juruá, Madeira, Negro, Purus, and Xingu rivers |
| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean (northeastern coast of Brazil) |
2: Contempt of Court
Context: Jharkhand government filed a contempt petition against the Union government.
Definition: Actions or behavior that disrespect or disobey court’s authority, justice, or dignity.
Governed by: Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
Powers: Article 129 & 215 grant SC & HC authority to punish contempt.
Types:
- Civil Contempt: Disobeying court’s judgments, decrees, orders, etc.
- Criminal Contempt: Scandalizing court, prejudicing proceedings, or obstructing justice.
Punishment: Fine, imprisonment, or both.
3: Impact of US Fed Rate Cut on Indian Market
Context: US Fed announced a 50 basis point interest rate cut.
Impact on global economy:
- Encourages economic activity
- Promotes growth
- Increases job creation
Impact on Indian economy:
- Capital inflow: Lower US rates incentivize global investors to borrow in the US and invest in India (stocks, debt, FDI).
- Rupee appreciation: Repeated rate cuts can weaken the US dollar, leading to rupee appreciation.
- Impact on trade: Rupee appreciation can adversely impact exporters and positively impact importers.
4: Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)
Context: Union Cabinet approved the first unit of BAS.
Launch: First module in 2028, fully operational by 2035.
Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (400 km above Earth’s surface).
Revised Gaganyaan Program: Includes BAS development and precursor missions, additional uncrewed mission, and hardware requirements.
BAS Specifications:
- 52-tonne space station.
- Research platform for microgravity, astronomy, and Earth observation.
- 15-20 day astronaut stays in orbit.
Current operational space stations: International Space Station (ISS) and China’s Tiangong Space Station (TSS).
5: Trademark Search Technology
Context: Union Minister unveiled AI/ML-based technology and Saarthi Chatbot.
Saarthi Chatbot: Digital assistant for IP registration guidance.
Trademark Search Technology:
- Advanced AI/ML algorithms for precise trademark identification.
- Streamlined search processes for domestic and international businesses.
- Enhanced trademark protection capabilities.
Importance:
- Supports India’s IP services advancement.
- Positions India as an IP system innovation leader.
- Speeds up trademark application clearance with improved accuracy and efficiency.
- Potentially resolves trademark conflicts.
6: Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
Context: Kerala initiates research through One Health platform.
Definition: Rare, lethal CNS infection caused by free-living amoebae (FLA).
Types:
- Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri.
- Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE).
High fatality rates: PAM primarily affects children and young adults.
Risk factors: Warm climates, summer months, swimming in warm stagnant water, unsterilized nasal irrigation.
Amoeba growth: Climate change (rising water temperatures) increases encounters with N. fowleri.
Symptoms and Diagnosis: Similar to bacterial meningitis, early diagnosis difficult, leading to rapid brain damage and death.
Treatment: Miltefosine (anti-parasitic drug) in addition to Amphotericin B improves outcomes.
7: Amur Falcons
Context: Manipur’s Tamenglong district imposed a hunting ban.
Description: Small raptors of the falcon family (Falco amurensis).
Migration: World’s longest-traveling raptors, migrating from Siberia/China to South Africa.
Naming: Named after the Amur River (border between Russia and China).
Breeding: Southeastern Siberia and northern China.
Stopover: Doyang Lake in Nagaland (known as “Falcon Capital of the World”).
Conservation status:
- IUCN: Least Concerned
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Protected
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Protected
8: Exercise AIKYA
Context: NDMA and Southern Command hosted in Chennai.
Objective: Foster collaboration, enhance preparedness, integrate stakeholders in disaster management.
Participation: Six southern states/UTs (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry).
Key agencies: NDMA, Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, IMD, INCOIS, IIT Madras, NIOT.
Disaster scenarios: Simulated tsunamis, landslides, floods, cyclones, industrial incidents, and forest fires.
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