News In Short 17-12-2024

Birhor Tribe

Syllabus: GS1/ Social

In News

• Jharkhand’s Birhor tribe participated in the movement against child marriage.

About Birhor Tribe

• Birhor is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
  • PVTGs are a sub-classification of Scheduled Tribes (STs) identified as being more vulnerable and marginalized than other tribal groups.
• They are semi-nomadic and depend on forest resources for survival. They are skilled rope makers, using fibers from the bark of the ‘chota nagpur’ tree. 
• They speak Birhor, a language from the Munda group of the Austroasiatic language family. Their language is similar to Santali, Mundari, and Ho languages.
• They are mainly found in Jharkhand, but also in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.

Source: TH

Moldova Joins International Solar Alliance

Syllabus :GS 1/Places in news /GS3/Environment 

In News

• Moldova has officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing its Framework Agreement.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• It is a joint initiative between India and France, established at COP21 in Paris in 2015 to combat climate change through solar energy solutions. Following a 2020 amendment, all UN member states can now join
• Over 100 countries are signatories, with 90+ ratifying full membership.
• Its mission is to secure US$1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, reduce technology and financing costs, and promote solar energy use in agriculture, health, transport, and power generation.

Do you know ? – Moldova is a landlocked country in the northeastern Balkan region of Europe, bordered by Ukraine and Romania.  – Its capital is Chisinau.  – The country is drained by rivers such as the Prut, Dniester, and Danube, and lies east of the Carpathian Mountains, with a well-developed network of streams and rivers flowing into the Black Sea.

Source: Air 

Kerch Strait 

Syllabus :GS 1/Places in news 

In News

• A violent storm in Russia’s Kerch Strait caused significant damage to two oil tankers, leading to a spill. 

Kerch Strait 

• The Kerch Strait, situated between mainland Russia and Crimea
• It is a connection between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. 
• It also separates the Kerch and Taman Peninsulas. 
• It is a key route for exports of Russian grain and is also used for exports of crude oil, fuel oil and liquefied natural gas.

Source :TOI 

Charak

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has rolled out ‘CHARAK’- “Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal”.

About Charak

• Aim: Providing free treatment for identified Life-Threatening diseases belonging to Economically Weaker Sections of Singrauli region in Madhya Pradesh.
• Diseases covered: Malignancy, TB, HIV and related complications, Cardiovascular diseases, Organ Transplant, Liver disorders, sudden hearing loss, Acute Surgical Emergencies, Neurological Disorders, Accidental trauma, etc.

Northern Coalfields Limited

• It is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), the largest coal-producing company in the world. 
• It was established in 1985 with the objective of managing and operating the coal mines in the Singrauli region.
• NCL’s operations are primarily located in the Singrauli coalfields, which span across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

Source: PIB

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro and five-time Grammy Award winner, passed away recently due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

• It is a chronic and progressive lung disease that affects the tissue surrounding the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs.
• In IPF, this lung tissue becomes thick and stiff for unknown reasons. Over time, these changes cause permanent scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs. This makes it progressively harder to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream.
• Symptoms: Shortness of breath (especially during exercise), Fatigue, Unexplained weight loss, Chest discomfort etc
• Treatment:  There’s no cure for IPF but Antifibrotic drugs like pirfenidone and nintedanib slow the disease progression.

Source: IE

Manganese in Water is Causing Cancer

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• A recent study highlighted that Manganese (Mn) contamination of water is causing cancer in the Gangetic plains of Bihar.

About 

• Manganese is the fifth-most abundant metal on earth that exists in the form of oxides, carbonates and silicates.
  • It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal and is present in food, water, soil, and rock as a naturally occurring component.
• Essential Trace Element: Manganese plays a vital role in maintaining body homeostasis by supporting metabolic processes, enzyme functions, and bone health.
• Toxicity Concerns: Excess consumption can cause severe health issues, including neurological disorders and cancer.
  • According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the acceptable limit for manganese in drinking water is 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and the permissible limit is 0.3 mg/L.

Source: DTE

Apiculture

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• Assam is emerging as a favored destination for migratory beekeepers due to its extensive mustard cultivation and low competition. 

What is Apiculture?

• Apiculture refers to the scientific study and management of bees and their colonies for the production of honey and other bee-derived products. 
• It involves keeping bees in artificial structures like wooden boxes with mesh screens to separate the hive, ensuring their safety and optimal productivity. 
• Bees are valuable not only for their products but also for their critical role in pollination.

Benefits of Apiculture

• Crop Productivity: Bees play a significant role in pollinating crops, improving the yield and quality of crops like mustard, coconut, areca nut, lychee, and mango.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Bees support the reproduction of wild plants, which in turn sustains ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.
• Economic Opportunities for Farmers: Migratory beekeeping offers additional income sources for farmers.

Honey bees in India – India hosts more than 700 bee species, including four indigenous honey bees:  1. Asiatic honey bee (Apis cerana indica),  2. Giant rock bee (Apis dorsata),  3. Dwarf honey bee (Apis florea),  4 .The stingless bee (sp. Trigona).  – Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) were introduced in India in 1983 to increase the country’s honey yield.  Waggle dance and circle dance – Bees use two kinds of dances to communicate information: the waggle dance and the circle dance.  – The purpose of either dance is for some honey bees to communicate to others the location of a flower patch with more nectar or pollen.  1. One bee dances while the others watch it to figure out the directions.

Source: TH

Diamond Cooling Technology

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• Akash Systems has signed a $27 million (Rs 2.25 billion) contract with NxtGen Datacenter and Cloud Technologies, India’s largest sovereign cloud provider.

What is Diamond Cooling Technology?

• The technology involves using diamond, the most thermally conductive material known, to manage and dissipate heat in electronic devices. 
• Diamonds efficiently pull heat away from critical components, improving performance and energy efficiency.
• This advanced cooling mechanism outperforms conventional cooling systems, such as bulky heat sinks or liquid cooling, enabling compact designs and sustainable operation.

Applications

• AI servers: The technology can reduce GPU hotspot temperatures by 10°–20°C and slash GPU fan energy consumption by 90%.
• Satellite communications: Diamond cooling technology can lead to five to ten times faster data rates, increased reliability, and a 50% smaller form factor.
• High-Power Electronics: Used in devices with Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based components for efficient heat dissipation in power electronics, radar systems, and electric vehicles.

Source: IE

Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI)

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Tech 

In News 

• Recently five years of the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) was celebrated.

The Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI)

• It is a program which focuses on heritage research, aimed at engaging experts from various fields to address cultural heritage issues through data capture, analysis, and technological solutions. 
• Its objectives include building capacity in human resources, promoting scientific research and development (R&D) for heritage conservation, safeguarding cultural knowledge and practices, and applying advanced technologies in preservation. 
• Key focus areas include the study of heritage materials, remote sensing for archaeological detection, non-invasive imaging techniques, innovations in textile conservation, and the development of new materials and tools for conservation.
  • The program also aims to advance research in tribal arts and conservation technologies.

Source: Air

Olive Ridley Turtles

Syllabus: GS3/ Species In News

In News

• Carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles are found along Visakhapatnam coast.  

About Olive Ridley Turtles

• About: They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea; also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
• Major nesting sites in India: Rushikulya rookery coast (Odisha), Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park) and the mouth of the Debi River.

• Presence:  Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• Features: Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
  • These are carnivores and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp etc. 
  • The eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days, depending on the temperature of the sand and atmosphere during the incubation period.
• Threats: Hunted for meat, shell and other anthropogenic factors like fishing trawlers etc.
• Conservation Status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • CITES Appendix I 

Steps Taken

• Operation Olivia of the Indian Coast Guard
• Mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to prevent accidental killing.

Source: TH

Urban Heat Island Effect

Syllabus: GS3/Urbanisation

Context

• Urbanization contributes significantly to warming in Indian cities.

What is an Urban Heat Island? 

• An Urban Heat Island (UHI) is an area in which the temperature is higher than in surrounding rural areas due to human activities and infrastructure. 
• UHI could lead to temperature differences of up to six degrees centigrade within a given area or neighbourhood. 

Factors Responsible for Urban Heat Islands

• Built Environment: The materials used in urban construction, such as concrete and asphalt, absorb and retain heat, raising local temperatures.
• Reduced Vegetation: Urban areas typically have fewer trees and green spaces compared to rural areas, which reduces the cooling effect of shade and transpiration.
• Human Activities: Activities like transportation, industry, and energy consumption release heat into the environment, further elevating temperatures.
• Altered Surface Characteristics: Urbanization often involves replacing natural surfaces with artificial ones, which alters the surface reflectivity (albedo) and thermal properties, contributing to increased heat absorption.
• Ecological Factors: According to a 2014 Indian Institute of Science report, the ideal tree-human ratio should be seven trees for every person. The lack of trees increases the risk of exposure to higher temperatures. 

Concerns

• Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly among vulnerable populations.
• Energy Consumption: Increased demand for cooling, which escalates energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
• Water Management: UHIs disrupt local water cycles by altering evaporation rates and reducing groundwater recharge. 

Source: PIB