Daily Current Affairs
To the Point Notes
1.The Rann of Kutch: A Unique Ecosystem Under Threat
Geographical Context
- Vast salt marsh region straddling India-Pakistan border.
- Primarily located in Gujarat, India.
- Formed about 150-200 million years ago.
- Divided into Great Rann and Little Rann.
Unique Ecosystem
- Bordered by Thar Desert to the north and Arabian Sea to the south.
- Originally connected to the Arabian Sea.
- Turns into a shallow wetland during monsoons, creating numerous islands called “bets.”
- Historically inhabited since the Neolithic period.
Human Activity and Threats
- Salt Production: Significant salt production region, contributing 30% of India’s total output.
- Threat of large-scale cattle grazing: Harms the delicate ecosystem balance.
- Irrigation canals: Add salinity to the soil in the southern rim of the Little Rann.
2.Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0
Context
- Despite three years of implementation, big cities have made limited progress in clearing legacy landfill sites.
- Only 38% of dumped waste has been remediated.
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 (SBM-U) 2.0
- Launched in 2021 for a five-year period.
- Vision: Achieve Garbage Free Status for all cities.
- Key components:
- 100% source segregation
- Door-to-door collection
- Scientific management of all waste fractions
- Used Water Management (UWM) for cities with less than one lakh population
- Remediation of all legacy dumpsites
Government Initiatives
- 6-star rating for garbage-free cities.
- Integration of Urban Swachh Survekshan for city ranking.
- Enhanced focus on the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
3.IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa)
Formation and Objectives
- Established in 2003 after the Brasilia Declaration.
- Brings together India, Brazil, and South Africa.
- Aims to:
- Contribute to a new international architecture.
- Bring their voices together on global issues.
- Deepen ties in various areas.
Structure and Functions
- Rotating presidency among India, Brazil, and South Africa.
- IBSA Fund established in 2004, operational since 2006.
- Supports projects through partnerships with local governments, national institutions, and implementing partners.
Key Points
- IBSA completed 20 years in 2023.
- Recent meeting focused on actions against UN-listed terrorists and terror entities.
- IBSA has been a platform for cooperation among emerging economies.
4.Government Lifts Ban on Non-Basmati White Rice Exports
Context
- The Indian government has lifted the ban on non-basmati white rice exports.
- The ban was imposed last year due to concerns over domestic rice production and the possibility of an erratic monsoon.
Global Rice Production and Consumption
- China: Largest producer of rice globally, followed by India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
- India and China: Account for over half of the world’s rice production.
- China: Largest consumer of rice, leaving little for export.
India’s Role in Rice Exports
- India: World’s largest rice exporter, accounting for 33% of global rice exports in 2023.
- Thailand and Vietnam: Main competitors of India in the global rice market.
- Combined rice exports from Thailand and Vietnam in 2023 were almost equal to Indian exports.
5.Dark Matter
LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment
- Located 1.5 km underground in South Dakota, USA.
- Announced significant development in the search for dark matter.
- Did not identify the particle responsible for dark matter but eliminated certain possibilities.
Dark Matter
- Hypothetical form of matter making up about 27% of the universe’s mass-energy.
- Invisible and does not interact with light.
- Inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.
Importance of Dark Matter
- Explains the distribution of matter in galaxies, clusters, and the cosmic web.
- Holds galaxies together.
- Essential for understanding the universe’s formation, structure, and future.
Dark Energy
- Responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.
- Makes up 68% of the universe’s total energy content.
- Mysterious force exerting negative pressure.
- Explains the increasing rate of the universe’s expansion.
Additional Notes
- The search for dark matter remains a significant challenge in particle physics and astrophysics.
- Understanding dark matter and dark energy is crucial for a complete understanding of the universe.
6.Parivesh 2.0: A Single Window for Environmental Clearances
Context
- MoEFCC received only 32 applications to register exotic species on the Parivesh 2.0 portal.
About Parivesh
- PARIVESH stands for Pro-Active Responsive Facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single-window Hub.
- Launched in 2018 to provide a single window for various environmental clearances.
- Parivesh 2.0 is an enhanced version designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
Key Features of Parivesh 2.0
- Provides a single platform for environmental, forest, wildlife, and coastal regulation zone clearances.
- Introduces a mobile app for tracking applications and compliance submissions.
Significance of Parivesh 2.0
- Improves ease of doing business.
- Ensures better environmental governance.
- Reduces delays in clearances.
7.Kerala’s ‘RRR Champion’ Initiative: Reducing Waste through Reuse
Context
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” (RRR) during his speech on the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The RRR Champion
- Mr. Subramanian, a 74-year-old from Kozhikode, Kerala, earned recognition as the “RRR Champion” for repairing over 23,000 chairs.
- His efforts promote waste reduction by extending the lifespan of existing furniture.
- Mr. Subramanian’s work can be seen in government offices like Kozhikode Civil Station, PWD, LIC, and BSNL.
Significance of RRR
- The 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) are integral to Indian culture.
- Preserving biodiversity, sustainable living, and peaceful coexistence with nature have been core values in Indian tradition and scriptures.
- Mr. Subramanian’s initiative exemplifies the practical application of RRR in everyday life.
हिन्दी