News In Short 05-12-2024

Levirate Marriages in India

Syllabus: GS1/Society

Context

• The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) recently found the practice of levirate in a family through DNA sampling.

About

• Practice: Levirate is a cultural practice in which a widow marries the brother of her deceased or mentally or physically incapacitated husband’s brother.
  • The family would prefer to keep such knowledge private. 
• Reasons: By marrying her deceased husband’s brother, she could retain her social standing and access to property and resources.
  • The brother of the deceased is expected to produce offspring who would inherit the family wealth and name.
• Communities: In tribal cultures, such as among the Bhils, Gonds, and some other indigenous groups, levirate marriages were more common.
  • Though not as common, levirate marriage existed in some Hindu communities, especially in rural areas.
• Its prevalence has declined in modern times due to legal, social, and cultural changes. 

Source: TH

Lake Effect Snow

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• Lake-effect snow blowing in from the Great Lakes has impacted parts of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

About

• Lake effect snow is common across the Great Lakes region during the late fall and winter. 
• It occurs when cold air, originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes. 

Process of Lake effect snow

• As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere. 
• The air rises, clouds form and grow into a narrow band that produces 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.

Geographical Factors

• The physical geography of lakes and surrounding terrain influences snowfall distribution.
• Wind direction determines which areas receive snow, causing sharp contrasts; heavy snow in one area and clear skies just a mile away.

Source: NYT

Sambal Vertical of Mission Shakti

Syllabus : GS1/Women Empowerment

In News

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao improved sex ratio and Gross Enrollment ratio of girls under Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti.

Mission Shakti

• It is a scheme aimed at enhancing women’s safety, security, and empowerment.
• It focuses on addressing issues affecting women throughout their life cycle and promoting women as equal partners in nation-building through collaboration and citizen involvement.
• It consists of two sub-verticals: ‘Sambal’ for women’s safety and security, and ‘Samarthya’ for women’s empowerment.
  • Sambal includes schemes like One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helpline (181-WHL), and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP).
  • Samarthya includes schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh (now Shakti Sadan), Working Women Hostel (now Sakhi Niwas), National Hub for Empowerment of Women (NHEW), and National Creche Scheme (now Palna).

Do you know ? – The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, launched on January 22, 2015, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Women & Child Development, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its objectives are to prevent gender-biased sex-selective practices, ensure the survival and protection of the girl child, and promote her education. – The scheme is Centrally Sponsored Scheme (100% funding by the Central Government) and implemented in all districts except West Bengal.

Source:TH

Nepal, China Sign BRI Cooperation Agreement

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• Nepal and China signed the execution framework for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), indicating that Nepal will soon decide on projects for implementation.

About

• While Nepal signed onto the BRI in 2017, this new execution framework agreement solidifies the commitment and provides a structure for project implementation.
• Both countries expressed readiness to sign an MoU on building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN).
  • It focuses on enhancing connectivity in areas such as ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids, and telecommunications. 

Concerns

• Debt Trap:  Like other countries participating in the BRI, Nepal risks falling into a debt trap if projects rely heavily on Chinese loans.
• Geopolitical Balance: Nepal needs to carefully manage its relationships with both China and India.
  • Projects under the BRI, particularly those close to sensitive border areas, could raise security concerns for India.
• Environmental Concerns: Large-scale infrastructure projects can have significant environmental impacts

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

• China proposed the BRI in 2013 with the purpose of restoring the ancient Silk Route.
  • The initiative aims to connect Asia with Europe and Africa, with the intent to promote trade, investment, and economic growth in participating countries. 
• The BRI comprises two main components: The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.
  • The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation between China and countries in Central Asia, Europe, and West Asia, 
  • The 21st century Maritime Silk Road focuses on strengthening maritime cooperation between China and countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa.

Source: IE

Brain Rot

Syllabus: GS2/ Miscellaneous 

In News

• The term “brain rot” has been named the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024.

About Brain Rot

• Meaning: It describes the perceived deterioration of mental or intellectual faculties due to excessive consumption of trivial or unchallenging online content, particularly on social media platforms.
• The concept of “brain rot” is associated with several cognitive and mental health concerns:
  • Decreased Attention Span
  • Reduced Critical Thinking
  • Mental Health Issues

Source: IE

All-India Home Price Index (HPI)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The All-India Home Price Index (HPI) of the Reserve Bank of India rose by 4.34% to 322 as of September 2024 as against 308.6 in September 2023.
  • HPI has gone up by nearly 67% in the last ten years.

About

• It is a measure used to track changes in the prices of residential properties across India. 
• The index provides a comprehensive picture of the housing market by measuring the price changes for residential properties in different cities or regions.
•  All the eight major cities saw an annual increase in housing prices with Delhi NCR witnessing the highest rise at 32%, followed by Bengaluru at 24% rise.

Source: IE

Extrachromosomal DNA

Syllabus: GS3/Science

Context

• Three papers in Nature have reported how extrachromosomal DNA contributes to the progression of cancer and drug resistance.

About

• Extrachromosomal DNA refers to DNA that exists outside the chromosomes in the cell. 
  • Unlike the chromosomal DNA that is located in the nucleus (in eukaryotic cells) or the nucleoid region (in prokaryotic cells), extrachromosomal DNA exists independently or in a separate structure within the cell.
• Some cells, especially cancer cells, have Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (ecDNAs), which are small circular DNA molecules that are separate from the chromosomal DNA.
  • These molecules can carry multiple copies of certain genes and may be involved in the amplification of genes, such as those responsible for drug resistance.
• Chromosomal DNA contains the complete set of genetic instructions necessary for the development, functioning, and reproduction of an organism.
  • It carries the vast majority of the organism’s genetic information, organized into genes, which are the building blocks for proteins and cellular structures.
  • In humans, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes, each containing a single, long molecule of DNA.

Source: TH

MH-60R Helicopters 

Syllabus : GS3/Defense

In News

• The United States has approved a $1.17 billion sale of advanced equipment for MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to India.

MH-60R helicopter equipment

• The MH-60R (“Romeo”) is a versatile helicopter designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. 
• It targets both submarines and surface vessels and can operate from both ships and shore-based facilities.
  • The MH-60R is armed with torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, rockets, Hellfire missiles, and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.
• Equipped with advanced sensors, the MH-60R includes a multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, infrared cameras, datalinks, dipping sonar, and sonobuoys.
• Importance for India: It will be  boosting the country’s anti-submarine warfare and maritime capabilities.
  • This deal supports India’s defence modernisation and enhances its naval operations in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Source: TH

Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M)

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• India is set to finalize the proposed procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) aircraft, from France soon.

About

• Designed and built by France’s Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is an advanced 4+ generation, twin-engine, multirole fighter jets and are equipped with latest weapon systems — including Meteor-beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, Hammer air to surface smart weapon system, and Scalp cruise missiles.
• The Marine version (Rafale-M) of the jets will be slightly different, given that they will operate from aircraft carriers on sea.
• The differences include foldable wings, a longer airframe for landing on carriers, and a tail hook for arrested landing on a carrier.

Source: IE

South Korea 

Syllabus: GS 1/Places in news

In News

• In South Korea, opposition lawmakers have moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his controversial imposition of martial law, which sparked mass protests. 

About South Korea (Seoul)

• Location and Geography:
  • Region: East Asia.
  • Geographical Position: Occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula.
• Governance:
  • System of Governance: Presidential system of governance, with a democratic framework.
• Land Borders:

• Shares a border with North Korea, separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world.
• Maritime Borders:
  • Yellow Sea (to the west).
  • Sea of Japan (referred to as the East Sea in South Korea) to the east.
  • East China Sea (to the south).
• Rivers: 
  • Han River: Flows through the capital city, Seoul, and is a key waterway for the country.
  • Nakdong River: The longest river in South Korea, serving as a vital resource for agriculture and water supply.

Source: TH