Daily Current Affairs for UPSC / State PCS Exam

To The Point Notes

1.International Abhidhamma Divas

• Commemoration: Celebrates Lord Buddha’s descent from the celestial realm after teaching Abhidhamma to deities.
• Historical Significance: Marked by the Asokan Elephant Pillar.

Abhidhamma Teachings

• Analytical Approach: Explores reality in a detailed and abstract manner.
• Framework: Understands the nature of existence, birth, death, and mental phenomena.
• Four Ultimate Realities: Citta (consciousness), Cetasika (mental factors), Rupa (material phenomena), and Nibbana (liberation).

Classical Status of Pali Language

• Vehicle for Buddha’s Teachings: Used to convey the Buddha’s teachings around 500 BC.
• Tipitaka: The three baskets of Buddhist teachings (Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka) are written in Pali.
• Pali Literature: Includes the Jataka Kathas, stories of Buddha’s past lives.

 

 

2.Azores Islands

• Location: North Atlantic Ocean, 1500 km west of mainland Portugal
• Significance:
  • Unique marine biodiversity
  • Creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic
  • Contribution to global conservation goals (30% protection by 2030)
• Geographic Features:
  • Nine-island archipelago
  • Divided into three groups: Eastern, Central, and Northwestern
  • Geologically active with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

 

3.US’s Click-to-Cancel Rule

• Purpose: To protect consumers from deceptive negative option practices
• Key Provisions:
  • Easy cancellation process (similar to sign-up)
  • Clear disclosure of terms and conditions
  • Informed consent before charging
  • Straightforward cancellation mechanism
• Objective: To save consumers time and money by simplifying the cancellation process

 

 

4.New Statue of “Lady Justice”

• Modern Interpretation: Depicts a saree-clad woman without a blindfold.
• Symbolism:
  • Absence of blindfold: Law sees everyone equally.
  • Scales: Symbol of balance and justice.
  • Constitution: Reflects India’s legal framework.
• Aim: To decolonize the legal system and promote impartiality.

 

 

5.India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Decline: Significant drop of $10.746 billion.
• Purpose:
  • Stabilizing currency
  • Facilitating international trade
  • Building investor confidence
  • Managing economic crises
• Components: Foreign currencies, bonds, gold reserves, treasury bills, and government securities.

 

 

6.Smart Insulin for Diabetes 

News: Scientists developed a “smart” insulin called NNC2215 that responds to blood sugar changes in real-time.  

NNC2215:

• Function: Acts like an “on-and-off switch” for insulin.  
• Mechanism:
  • Contains a ring structure and glucoside that keeps insulin inactive when blood sugar is low.  
  • When glucose levels rise, glucose replaces the glucoside, activating the insulin.  
• Effectiveness: Shown to be as effective as human insulin in lowering blood sugar in animal trials.

Diabetes:

• Chronic disease: Caused by insufficient insulin production or resistance to its effects.  
• Impact:
  • Affects over half a billion people worldwide.
  • Causes nearly seven million deaths annually.
• Types:
  • Type 1: Pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (often starts in childhood).  
  • Type 2: Cells become resistant to insulin, requiring higher production.  
• Current Treatment: Synthetic insulin with constant monitoring needed to avoid blood sugar fluctuations.
• Future: Human trials planned to assess safety and efficacy of NNC2215.

 

 

7.Locust Infestation 

Context: Spotted locust infestation is severely impacting farms in Kerala.  

Locusts:

• Short-horned grasshoppers with a highly migratory habit.  
• Can change phases:
  • Solitary phase: Individual behavior, limited travel.
  • Gregarious phase: Form dense swarms, travel long distances for food.  
• Species in India: Four main species, including Desert Locust (most important pest).  
• Concern: Cause devastation to vegetation, leading to food and fodder shortages.

 

 

 

8.African Baobab (Adansonia digitata)

• Context: A new research by South African ecologists has refuted the claim that the African Baobab tree is dying due to climate change.

• Characteristics:
  • Large, long-lived trees
  • Thick, water-storing trunks
  • Deciduous, losing leaves in the dry season
• Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa
• Significance:
  • Cultural importance in African folklore
  • Source of food and medicine
  • Potential for climate change research

 

9.Musaned Platform

• Purpose: To protect the rights of expat workers in Saudi Arabia, particularly domestic workers.
• Features:
  • Online platform for recruitment and contract management
  • Transparency and accountability in the recruitment process
  • Access to information for workers and embassies
  • Integration with insurance and health benefits

 

10.Malawi

• Context: In the final leg of her three nation visit, President Droupadi Murmu reached Malawi marking the first-ever visit by a President of India to Malawi.

• Location: Landlocked country in Southeast Africa
• Geography:
  • Bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique
  • Lake Malawi: Third-largest lake in Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • East African Rift Valley runs through the country
• People and Culture:
  • Primarily Chewa people
  • Known for its friendly people and warm hospitality
• Economy:
  • Agriculture-based, with a focus on subsistence farming
  • Vulnerable to climate change and economic shocks