Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

1.Aquilaria malaccensis (Agarwood)

About Agarwood

• Critically endangered species (IUCN Red List).
• Listed in Appendix II of CITES.
• Found in India (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura).
• High value for incense,perfumes, and medicinal purposes.
• Unscientific extraction and exploitation led to decline.

India’s Achievement

• Prevented inclusion of agarwood in CITES Review of Significant Trade (RST).
• Secured new export quota for agarwood and its oil.
• Non-detriment findings study by Botanical Survey of India crucial for this success.

Significance

• Benefits lakhs of farmers in agarwood cultivating regions.
• Promotes economic growth and development.
• Demonstrates India’s effective conservation efforts.

 

 

2.Cheyava Falls on Mars

Discovery

• NASA’s Perseverance rover found rock named Cheyava Falls.

Description

• Size: 3.2 feet by 2 feet.
• Location: Neretva Vallis, Jezero Crater.
• Features: Contains organic material, calcium phosphate veins, haematite, and “leopard spots”.
• Potential: Indicates possible past water flow and microbial life.

Significance

• Part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
• Investigating Jezero Crater for signs of ancient life.
• Sample collected for further analysis on Earth.

 

 

3.PARAKH: Performance Assessment Review and Analysis for Knowledge for Holistic Development

About PARAKH

• Set up by NCERT in 2023.
• Aims to set assessment norms, standards, and guidelines as per NEP 2020.
• Focus areas: Capacity development, large-scale assessments, board equivalence, holistic progress cards.

Recent Recommendations

• Integrated Performance: Include Class 9-11 performance in Class 12 results (weightage: 15%, 20%, 25%, 40%).
• Assessment Types:
  • Class 9: 70% formative, 30% summative.
  • Class 10: 50% formative, 50% summative.
  • Class 11: 40% formative, 60% summative.
  • Class 12: 30% formative, 70% summative.
• Holistic Progress Card: Includes self, teacher, and peer assessment.
• Credit System:
  • Classes 9 & 10: 40 credits each.
  • Classes 11 & 12: 44 credits each.
  • Subject-wise credit distribution (e.g., languages, math, science, social science).
• National Credit Framework: Aligns with NEP 2020’s Academic Bank of Credits.

 

 

4.Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023

• Replaces: Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
• Coverage: Television, OTT platforms, news, and current affairs.
• Registration: TV channels must register, OTT platforms with high subscribers must intimate.
• Regulation: News and current affairs programs under code of conduct.
• Self-Regulation: Industry-led self-regulatory organizations and Broadcast Advisory Council.
• Content Evaluation: Broadcasters must have internal Content Evaluation Committee (CEC).
• Complaints: Broadcast Advisory Council with government members to handle complaints.
• Concerns: Expanded government control over online content, potential impact on freedom of speech.

 

 

5.Caller ID Spoofing

• Technique: Falsifying phone number displayed on caller ID.
• Purpose: Identity concealment for illegal activities, social engineering, bypassing call blocking, exploiting IVR systems.
• Impact: Revenue loss for telecom providers, financial loss for victims, difficulty in law enforcement investigations.
• ITU Report: Published technical report on countering caller ID spoofing in 2021.
• Recommendation: PKI-based authentication for telecom operators.
• Telecommunications Act, 2023: Government can take over telecom services during emergencies.
• Benefits of Fixing: Reduced spam/fraud calls, eliminated identity-based fraud, increased telecom revenue, economic benefits for government.

 

 

6.South Africa’s Climate Change Bill

• Approved by: National Assembly (Nov 2023)
• Key provisions: Mandatory emissions curbs for large industries, climate adaptation plans for local bodies.
• Aim: Meet Paris Agreement commitments.
• Background: South Africa is a top 15 GHG emitter, reliant on coal for 80% of electricity. Energy sector (80%) is the primary source of emissions.
• Pressure: Increasing Western pressure to transition from fossil fuels due to reliance on agriculture and tourism.

India’s Climate Action

• No comprehensive law: Private Member’s Bill pending.
• Existing framework: Climate change addressed in multiple Acts (Environment Protection, Forest Conservation, Energy Conservation, Water Pollution).
• SC verdict: Citizens have a “right against the adverse effects of climate change”.
• India’s efforts:
  • Reduced emissions intensity by 33% (2005-2019), ahead of target.
  • Committed to 45% emissions intensity reduction by 2030 (NDC).
  • Aim for 50% electricity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
• Note: Emissions intensity is GHG emitted per unit GDP, different from absolute emissions.

 

7.India’s Ethanol Shift: Sugar to Maize

• Shift in feedstock: Maize overtakes sugarcane as primary ethanol source.
• Ethanol production (2023-24): 401 crore liters
  • Maize & damaged grains: 211 crore liters (52.7%)
  • Sugarcane: 190 crore liters (47.3%)
• First time: Maize contribution exceeds 50% in ethanol production.
• Ethanol: 99.9% pure alcohol for petrol blending.
  • Production: Sugarcane-based sucrose fermentation.
  • Grain-based: Starch conversion to sucrose, then fermentation.
• Ethanol blending target: 20% in petrol by 2025-26 (from 1.5% in 2014).
• Why maize:
  • Sugarcane is water-intensive (2860 liters/liter ethanol).
  • Meeting 20% target needs 1320 million tons sugarcane, 19 million hectares land, 348 billion cubic meters water.
  • FCI restricts rice use due to inflation concerns.
  • Maize emerges as top feedstock.