Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

1.La Niña

Context

• The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has updated the forecast for the likelihood of ‘La Niña’ conditions in the Pacific Ocean.

Overview

• The probability of La Niña developing is high between September and January (50-70%), with a peak likelihood in November (70%).

What is La Niña?

• La Niña is the opposite of El Niño, characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures (SST) in the equatorial Pacific region. Stronger than usual trade winds push warmer water towards Asia.

Impact:

• Southern U.S.: Drier conditions
• Canada: Heavy rainfall
• Australia: Associated with heavy floods

Effects on the Indian Monsoon

• El Niño: Leads to warmer temperatures and less rainfall in India, causing droughts in some regions. This impacts agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. The El Niño phenomenon caused a 1.4% decrease in food grain production for the 2023-24 (July-June) crop year.
• La Niña: Brings cooler sea surface temperatures, resulting in increased rainfall in certain parts of India.

 

2.Privilege Motion

Context

• A notice was moved by a Congress MP to bring a privilege motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha.

Overview

• A privilege motion or complaint can be raised to the house chairman or speaker if a member believes that parliamentary privileges by an MP have been breached or misused.

Conditions:

1. The question must be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence.
2. The matter must require the intervention of the Council.

Process:

• The Speaker/Chair examines the motion and can either admit or reject it.
• If admitted, the motion is referred to a privileges committee consisting of members nominated by the Speaker/Chair from time to time.
• The committee examines the privilege motion and can make appropriate recommendations.
• A report is to be presented within a maximum of one month or at an earlier date suggested by the Chair/Speaker.
• Penal action against members is recommended only in extreme cases.

What is Parliamentary Privilege?

• India does not have a specific law that defines parliamentary privilege.
• Article 105 of the Indian Constitution mentions two privileges explicitly: freedom of speech in Parliament and the right to publish house proceedings.
• The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 grants members freedom from arrest and detention under a civil process during house proceedings or during the functioning of any of its committees.
• Members also enjoy immunity for forty days before and after the commencement or conclusion of any house or committee proceedings.
• Members are not liable for court proceedings for anything said or published regarding house or committee proceedings.

 

3.States Can Directly Buy Rice from FCI

Context

• The Union government has recently announced that states can now directly purchase rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), bypassing the e-auction process.

Overview

• State Needs: States seeking to procure more rice beyond the five kg of free grain per person provided under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) can now buy it for ₹2,800 per quintal (excluding transportation costs).

What is the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS)?

• The OMSS allows the FCI to sell surplus food grains, primarily wheat and rice, from the central pool to traders, bulk consumers, and retail chains at predetermined prices.
• Sales are typically conducted through e-auctions where bidders can purchase specified quantities at set prices.
• States usually have the option to procure food grains through the OMSS without participating in auctions, especially for additional needs beyond their central pool allocations for distribution under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

Discontinuation of Sales

• In June 2023, the Union government halted the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the OMSS to state governments.
• Private bidders were also barred from selling their OMSS supplies to state governments.

Food Corporation of India (FCI)

• Establishment: Founded under the Food Corporations Act of 1964.
• Objectives:
  1. To provide effective price support to safeguard farmers’ interests.
  2. To distribute food grains across the country as part of the public distribution system.
  3. To maintain sufficient operational and buffer stocks of food grains to ensure national food security.
• Role: Since its inception, FCI has been crucial in transforming India’s food security from a crisis management system to a stable and reliable system.

 

4.Fin Whale

Why in News ?

• Japan has expanded its commercial whaling activities to include fin whales.

About the Fin Whale

• Name: Derived from the distinctive fin located on its back, near the tail.
• Physical Features: Sleek, streamlined bodies with V-shaped heads.
• Size: The second-largest whale species on Earth, after the blue whale.
• Behavior: Fast swimmers, often found in small social groups of two to seven individuals.

Habitat and Distribution

• Habitat: Typically inhabits deep, offshore waters of all major oceans, mostly in temperate to polar regions. They are less frequently found in tropical waters.
• Migration: They are present year-round across various locations, though their density in specific areas varies seasonally. Most fin whales migrate from Arctic and Antarctic feeding grounds in summer to tropical breeding and calving areas in winter.

IUCN Status

• Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Threats

• Hunting: Historically targeted by commercial whalers, which has significantly reduced their population.