Daily Current Affairs for UPSC / State PCS Exam

To The Point Notes

1.Egypt Declared Malaria-Free

• WHO Certification: Egypt has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization.
• Historical Significance: Malaria has been present in Egypt since 4000 BCE.
• Global Context: Egypt is the second country in 2024 and the fifth in Africa to achieve malaria-free status.

Malaria

• Causative Agent: Plasmodium parasite
• Transmission: Infected Anopheles mosquitoes
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, chills, fatigue, confusion, seizures, difficulty breathing, jaundice, and dark urine.
• Prevention Strategies:
  • Vector Control: Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS)
  • Vaccination: R21/Matrix-M vaccine
  • Medication: Chloroquine (effective for P. vivax)

Global and Indian Efforts

• Global Malaria Program: WHO’s initiative to reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 90% by 2030.
• E-2025 Initiative: Aims to eliminate malaria transmission in 25 countries by 2025.
• India’s NVBDCP: Focuses on controlling vector-borne diseases, including malaria, through integrated measures.

 

2.6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue

• Purpose: To strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
• Shared Interests: Regional and global security issues.
• Strategic Partnership: India and Singapore share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Indo-Pacific Vision: Singapore is a key partner in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.

 

 

3.ICTP Galathea Bay

• Location: Great Nicobar Island, Bay of Bengal
• Strategic Importance:
  • Located near Malacca Strait, a major shipping route.
  • Part of the East-West international trade and shipping route.
  • Can capture transshipment cargo from Indian east coast ports, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
• Benefits:
  • Reduced reliance on foreign ports for transshipment.
  • Potential to save significant costs on transshipment charges.

 

4.Z-Morh Project

• Location: Sonamarg-Kangan section of Srinagar-Leh highway in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Purpose: To provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg.
• Significance:
  • Important for the success of the Zojila tunnel project.
  • Will boost tourism and economic development in the region.
  • Will enhance strategic connectivity in the region.

 

 

5.2024 Index of Economic Freedom

• Released by: Fraser Institute
• Top 3: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland
• India’s Rank: 84th
• Key Factors: Government size, property rights, monetary policy, and trade freedom
• Global Trend: Decline in economic freedom over the past three years
• Benefits of Economic Freedom: Higher GDP per capita, longer life expectancy, lower poverty, and higher happiness levels.

 

 

6.SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment)

• Goal: Demonstrate autonomous docking of two spacecraft in orbit.
• Significance:
  • Crucial for future space missions like space station assembly, refueling, and astronaut/cargo transfer.
  • A step towards India’s human spaceflight and large space structure ambitions.
• Historical Context:
  • Soviet Union’s first successful docking in 1967.
  • Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.
  • Modern advancements in docking technology (Soyuz, Crew Dragon, Tianzhou)

 

 

7.Caenorhabditis elegans

• Model Organism: Widely used in biological research, especially in genetics and aging studies.
• Key Features:
  • Simple anatomy
  • Short lifespan
  • Transparent body
  • Easily manipulated genetics
• Research Applications:
  • Understanding the aging process
  • Studying neurodegenerative diseases
  • Investigating the effects of genetic mutations

 

 

8.Exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr

• Participants: Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman
• Location: Off the coast of Goa
• Significance:

• • Strengthens bilateral naval cooperation between India and Oman.
  • Enhances interoperability and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
  • Reinforces India’s West Asia Policy and strategic partnership with Oman.

• Additional Exercises with Oman:

• • Eastern Bridge: Air Force exercise
  • Al-Najah: Army exercise