Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

1.Natural Farming

• Origin: Introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka in “The One-Straw Revolution” (1975).
• Concept: Chemical-free farming using indigenous resources.
• Key practices: Biomass mulching, desi cow dung-urine formulations, natural nutrient cycling.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

• Definition: Farming without external inputs, aiming for zero production cost.
• Promoter: Subhash Palekar.
• Benefits: Soil fertility, chemical-free produce, increased farmer income.
• Four main elements:
  • Bijamrita: Seed treatment with cow dung and urine.
  • Jeevamrita: Microbial culture from cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil.
  • Acchadana: Soil covering with crop waste or cover crops.
  • Waaphasa: Soil aeration.

 

2.Climate Finance Action Fund

• Initiated by: Azerbaijan, host of COP29.
• Aim: Help developing countries fight climate change.
• Funding: Annual contributions from fossil fuel producers.
• Target: Raise $1 billion initially.
• Focus: Climate projects in developing countries, achieving 1.5°C goal, addressing climate disasters.

 

3.Methane

• Description: Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas, the primary component of natural gas.
• Impact: Methane traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. Although methane’s atmospheric lifespan is around ten years, compared to hundreds for carbon dioxide, it contributes about a third of observed climate warming since the pre-industrial era.
• Main Source: Agriculture is the leading source of global human-made methane (CH4) emissions, with livestock being a major contributor.

 

4.White Category Sectors

• Classification: Industries categorized by Central Pollution Control Board based on pollution potential.
• Criteria: Pollution Index (PI) score from 0 to 100.
• White Category: Industries with PI score up to 20.
• Benefits: No prior permission required from state pollution control boards under Air Act, 1981 and Water Act, 1974.
• Examples: Wind and solar power, air cooler assembly, bicycle assembly.

 

5.Dark Oxygen

• Discovery: Scientists have found oxygen being produced in complete darkness nearly 4,000 meters below the ocean’s surface.
• Production: Traditionally, oxygen was believed to be produced primarily by photosynthesis. However, this newly discovered oxygen comes from metallic nodules resembling lumps of coal.
• Process: These metallic nodules split water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen.

 

6.Listeria

• Bacteria: Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis.
• Contamination: Spreads through food, deli equipment, surfaces, and hands.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, nausea, cramps, headache, constipation, fever.
• High-risk foods: Milk, raw sprouts, deli meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses, smoked seafood.
• Vulnerable groups: Pregnant women, elderly, immunocompromised.
• Treatment: Antibiotics.

 

7.Exercise Khaan Quest 2024

• Participation: The Indian Army has departed for the multinational military exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• History: The exercise began as a bilateral event between the US and Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003.
• Current Format: Since 2006, it has evolved into a multinational peacekeeping exercise, and this year marks its 21st iteration.
• Objective: To share tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint operations, and to foster interoperability, camaraderie, and goodwill among the participating nations.

 

8.Rwanda

• Location: A landlocked country in central Africa, often referred to as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
• Geography: Features five volcanoes, 23 lakes, and numerous rivers, including sources of the Nile River.
• Borders: Shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Capital: Kigali.
• Water Bodies: Notable lakes include Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ihema, Lake Bulera, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Mugesera.
• Vegetation: Ranges from dense equatorial forests in the northwest to tropical savanna in the east.
• Highest Point: Karisimbi volcano, standing at 4,507 meters.