Daily Current Affairs for UPSC / State PCS Exam

To The Point Notes

1.eShram-One Stop Solution

• Purpose: To provide easy access to government schemes for unorganized workers.
• Benefits:
  • Awareness of available schemes
  • Facilitation in identification and implementation of social security and welfare schemes
  • Faster and more effective scheme saturation
• Integration: 12 government schemes have been integrated with eShram.

Use of Mining Dust to Enhance Carbon Capture

• Process: Enhanced rock weathering, where crushed basaltic rock accelerates the natural process of carbon sequestration.
• Mechanism: Crushed basalt, rich in calcium and magnesium, increases surface area for reaction with atmospheric CO2.
• Benefits:
  • Helps mitigate climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere
  • Enhances soil fertility in agricultural applications
  • Generates carbon credits through carbon sequestration
• Challenges:
  • Accurate measurement of carbon sequestration can be complex
  • Potential environmental impacts need to be assessed

Key Point: Carbon sequestration is a crucial strategy to mitigate climate change by capturing and storing CO2 emissions.

 

 

2.Plankton Bloom

• Definition: A sudden increase in the population of plankton in aquatic ecosystems.
• Causes: Physical conditions and nutrient levels.
• Types of Plankton:
  • Phytoplankton: Microscopic plants, crucial for photosynthesis and oxygen production.
  • Zooplankton: Small animals that feed on phytoplankton.
• Impact:
  • Can affect marine ecosystems and food chains.
  • Some blooms can produce harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can harm marine life and humans.

3.Pyromes

• Definition: Regions with similar environmental, human, and climatic factors influencing forest fire patterns.
• Impact of Climate Change:
  • Increased frequency and intensity of forest fires.
  • Geographical shift in forest fire patterns.
  • Higher carbon combustion rates.
• Significance: Identifying pyromes helps isolate the impact of climate change on forest fires, allowing for targeted mitigation strategies.

 

 

4.European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)

• Goal: Build a unified air and missile defense system for Europe.
• Initiated by: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (August 2022) in response to the Ukraine war.
• Benefits:
  • Improved coordination among European nations on air defense.
  • Shared resources and expertise.
  • Strengthened NATO’s integrated air and missile defense.
• Recent development: Switzerland joined ESSI.

 

 

5.Quad Countries Participation in Military Exercises

• Countries: India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. (Quad)
• Exercises:
  • Malabar Exercise:
    • Originally a bilateral India-US drill (1992).
    • Evolved into a key multilateral event for interoperability and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Exercise Kakadu:
    • Hosted by the Royal Australian Navy.
    • Focuses on regional maritime security and international partnerships.

 

 

6.Carbon Emissions from Fire

• Global Impact: CO2 emissions from forest fires increased by 60% globally since 2001.
  • Wildfires across 11 countries emitted over 375 million tonnes of CO2 (first half of 2024).
• India’s Scenario:
  • Forest fires contribute a small percentage (1-1.5%) of global wildfire emissions.
• Implications:
  • Climate Change: Wildfire emissions exacerbate climate change by adding greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.
  • Air Quality: Wildfire smoke contains harmful pollutants like particulate matter (PM₂.₅)and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).