Daily Current Affairs

Prelims Exam

Geography

1.Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

Why in News ?

• Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event, also called Indian Niño, may re-emerge for the second year in a row (later half of 2024).
• This would be the first time since record-keeping began in 1960.

About IOD:

• Climate pattern in the Indian Ocean causing fluctuations in sea surface temperatures.
• Positive IOD: Warm water pushed to the western Indian Ocean, cold water brought up in the eastern Indian Ocean (reversed during negative IOD).

Impact:

• Influences local weather, causing heavy rains/droughts in Africa and Australia.
• Affects sea levels, leading to potential coastal flooding.
• Positive IOD:
  • Can boost rainfall in India and Africa (depending on development time).
  • Reduce rainfall in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.

 

Impact on India:

• Positive IOD can strengthen India’s southwest monsoon, depending on development.
  • Example: 2019 IOD event (late monsoon season) compensated for a 30% June rainfall deficit.
• May benefit Indian agriculture by:
  • Boosting crop yields.
  • Recharging reservoirs and water sources.

 

2.Shinkun La Tunnel Project

Project: Construction of Shinkun La Tunnel by Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

Location: Under 16,580 ft Shinku-La pass, connecting Himachal’s Lahaul valley and Ladakh’s Zanskar valley (Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link)

Key Features:

• Length: 4.1 km (longest high-altitude highway tunnel upon completion)
• Cost: Rs. 1,681.5 crore
• Benefits:
  • All-weather road connectivity to Ladakh
  • Shortest route to Ladakh’s borders
  • Streamlined transportation to strategic locations (Kargil, Siachen, LOC) – reduces travel distance by 100 km
  • Reduced vulnerability to shelling/missile attacks

Border Roads Organisation (BRO):

• Established: May 7, 1960
• Purpose: Secure borders, develop infrastructure in remote areas
• Activities: Develops & maintains road networks in border areas and neighboring countries (19 states, 3 UTs in India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka)
• Staff: Officers from General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) and Indian Army Corps of Engineers
• Motto: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (Everything is achievable through hardwork)

 

3.Pyrenees Mountains

The Pyrenees mountains are a mountain range that separates Spain and France.

• Location: Southwestern Europe
• Border: Natural border between Spain and France
• Formation: Fold mountain chain created by continental collision
• Age: Quite old mountains in comparison to the Alps
• Length: 500 km (310 mi)
• Easternmost point: Width of 6 miles
• Central width: 80 miles
• Political division: Spanish Pyrenees and French Pyrenees
• Country within Pyrenees: Andorra
• Western end: Merges with Cantabrian Mountains
• Highest peak: Aneto Peak (Spain, 3,404 meters)

The Pyrenees are a beautiful mountain range with a rich history. The recent meeting between the French and Chinese presidents highlights the importance of international relations.

 

Economy

4.Drip Pricing

Why in News ?

• The Department of Consumer Affairs warned about ‘drip pricing,’ a strategy that surprises consumers with hidden charges.

What is Drip Pricing?

• A pricing strategy where only part of an item’s price is advertised upfront.
• The total cost is revealed gradually during the purchase process.
• Commonly used in hospitality and travel (e.g., advertised hotel rate excludes resort fees, taxes).

Impact on Consumers:

• Makes price comparison difficult.
• Hinders consumers from making informed decisions due to hidden costs.
• Disadvantage for transparent sellers who disclose all charges upfront.

 

5.Meditech Stackathon 2024

Why In News ?

• Launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Goals:

• Address critical challenges in medical technology (MedTech).
• Foster domestic manufacturing of medical devices.
• Reduce India’s import dependence.
• Position India as a global leader in MedTech.

India’s MedTech Industry:

• Currently the 4th largest market for medical devices in Asia.
• Ranks among the top 20 globally.
• Expected to reach USD 50 billion by 2030 (from current USD 14 billion).

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):

• Founded in 1895.
• Non-profit industry association.
• Works with government and businesses to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

 

Defence

6.Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Why In News ?

• Russia’s recent tactical nuclear weapons drills near Ukraine raise concerns.

What are Tactical Nuclear Weapons?

• Designed for use on the battlefield during military operations.
• Smaller and shorter-range than strategic nuclear weapons.
• Delivered by missiles, bombs, or artillery shells.
• Not limited by major power arms control agreements.

Examples:

• US has around 230 non-strategic nuclear weapons, including 100 B61 bombs in Europe.
• Russia has an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 tactical nuclear warheads.

 

Health

7.West Nile Fever in Kerala

Kerala Situation:

• Recent reports from Kerala’s health department indicate West Nile fever cases in three districts.

About West Nile Fever:

• Caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV) from the Flaviviridae family.
• Birds are natural hosts, commonly found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
• First identified in Uganda’s West Nile district in 1937.

Transmission:

• Spread primarily through infected mosquito bites (mosquitoes acquire WNV from infected birds).
• No evidence of direct human-to-human transmission.
• Rare cases of transmission through organ transplants have been reported.

Symptoms:

• Most infected people show no symptoms (asymptomatic).
• Possible symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasional rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Severe cases (neuroinvasive disease) can cause severe headaches, high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

Treatment:

• No specific medicine or vaccine available.
• Treatment focuses on supportive care, including hospitalization, fluids, respiratory support, and preventing secondary infections.

 

Science and Technology

8.LockBit Ransomware and US Indictment

Why in News ?

• US Department of Justice indicts Russian national Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev for involvement with LockBit ransomware.
• $10 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest.

About LockBit Ransomware:

• Malicious software that blocks user access to computer systems and demands ransom for decryption.
• Formerly known as “ABCD” ransomware.
• Targets enterprises and government organizations (not individuals).
• Operates as Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS).
• Developing Mac-targeting encryptors for the first time.

How it Works:

• Self-spreading malware – infects other devices within a network after initial infiltration.
• Hides encryption files as PNG images to bypass detection.
• Uses phishing and social engineering to trick victims into sharing credentials.
• Encrypts data across devices and disables security programs to prevent recovery.