News In Short 04-12-2024

PROBA-3 Mission

Syllabus: GS3/ Space

In News

• ISRO is all set to launch European Space Agency (ESA)’s PROBA-3 mission satellites into orbit from Sriharikota with the help of ISRO’s PSLV-C59 vehicle.

About PROBA-3 Mission (Project for Onboard Autonomy)

• Scientific Goals:
  • Advance understanding of solar storms and coronal mass ejections that affect Earth’s satellite operations, communication systems, and power grids.
  • Provide critical data for solar dynamics and space weather phenomena.
  • Test new spacecraft technologies and concepts.
  • Enhancing expertise in solar science following ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission.
• Agencies Involved: ESA leads the mission, and ISRO, through NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), will facilitate the launch.
• Spacecraft: The mission uses two spacecraft:
  • Coronagraph: Studies the Sun’s corona.
  • Occulter: Blocks the Sun to create artificial eclipses for better observation.

Source: TOI

World Wildlife Conservation Day

Syllabus: GS3/ Conservation

In News

• On World Wildlife Conservation Day (December 4), India celebrates its rich biodiversity while reflecting on efforts to safeguard its critically endangered species. 

About India’s Unique Ecosystem

• Biodiversity Hotspots: India is home to four of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots — Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland.
• Diverse Wildlife: Despite occupying just 2.4% of the world’s land area, India supports 7-8% of recorded species, making it one of the megadiverse countries globally.

Critical Challenges

• India’s economic growth and rising population create conflicts with wildlife habitats (Man-Animal Conflicts). 
• Critically Endangered Species: India hosts 73 critically endangered species (IUCN, 2022), up from 47 in 2011. Improved monitoring partially accounts for this increase.
• Nine critically endangered species, eight of which are endemic, include:
  • Kashmir Stag (Hangul), Malabar Large-spotted Civet, Andaman Shrew, Jenkin’s Shrew, Nicobar Shrew, Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Large Rock Rat, and Leafletted Leaf-nosed Bat.
  • Birds: Species like the Great Indian Bustard face unique threats, such as powerlines in Rajasthan, often overlooked in conservation efforts.

Way Ahead

• Strengthen Conservation Laws: Enhance implementation of wildlife protection acts and policies.
• Habitat Preservation: Expand protected areas and ensure coexistence zones with local communities.
• Adaptation of Technology: 

Source: TH

High-Risk Food Category

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• FSSAI has categorised the packaged drinking water as ‘high-risk food’.

What are High-Risk Food Categories?

• They are ready-to-eat items that can support pathogen growth, requiring careful handling and separation from raw foods.
• High-risk foods are often linked to food poisoning outbreaks. In addition to packaged water, other products that fall under this category include: dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, prepared foods, sweets and fortified rice kernels.
• Businesses in the high-risk food category are required to undergo annual audits by FSSAI-recognised third-party food safety agencies. 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. – Established in 2008 under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 ensuring proper regulation, storage and distribution of food for consumption.

Source: TH

Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/GS3/Energy Sector

Context

• The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 is passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Major Highlights of the Bill

• The Bill amends the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948.
  • The Act regulates the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum.
• Definition of mineral oils expanded: The Bill expands the definition to include: any naturally occurring hydrocarbon,coal  bed methane, and shale gas/oil.  
• Introduction of petroleum lease:  The Bill replaces the mining lease with a petroleum lease, which also covers similar set of activities.  
• Decriminalisation of offences:  The Bill provides that the violation of Rules will be punishable with a penalty of Rs 25 lakh.  
• Adjudication of penalties:  The central government will appoint an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary or above for adjudication of penalties.   

Source: PIB

Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-II)

Syllabus: GS2/Regional Groupings/GS3/Economy

Context

• India has signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-II) in  2023 under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release.

About

• India and 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) partners have established three bodies under the IPEF’s agreement on supply chain resilience. The pact came into force in 2024.
  • They are Supply Chain Council [SCC], Crisis Response Network [CRN], and Labor Rights Advisory Board [LRAB] for cooperation among partner countries for strengthening supply chain resilience in the region.
• The  Supply Chain council was set up to pursue targeted, action-oriented work to strengthen the supply chains for those sectors and goods most critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being.
  • It has USA as Chair and India as Vice-Chair.
  • In September 2024, the first SCC meeting in Washington led to the formation of Action Plan Teams focusing on key areas such as Semiconductors, Critical Minerals, and Chemicals.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

• IPEF was launched in 2022, in Tokyo. The members are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S.
  • IPEF partners represent approximately 40 percent of the global GDP, and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.
• The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement and cooperation among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, economic stability and prosperity in the region.
• The framework is structured around four pillars relating to Trade (Pillar I), Supply Chain Resilience (Pillar II), Clean Economy (Pillar III), and Fair Economy (Pillar IV).
  • India had joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has maintained an observer status in Pillar-I.

Source: PIB

Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (ACNAS) 

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• A panel has been constituted to revise the base year of national accounts or GDP from 2011-12 to 2022-23.

About

• ACNAS comprises representatives from the Central and State Governments, Reserve Bank India, Academia and Researchers.
• Purpose: Identification of new data sources and to advise on the methodology for compilation of National Accounts Statistics in the revised series.
• The 26-member ACNAS constituted under the Chairmanship of Biswanath Goldar, is expected to complete the exercise by early 2026.

Base Year for National Accounts and GDP

• Base Year: Since economic indicators and prices keep changing, economists fix a base year to track changes in growth, in which all values are held constant.
  • The base year is a reference year against which all other values are compared and is a critical part of the methodology for estimating economic growth.
• The base year of the national accounts is changed periodically to take into account the structural changes which take place in the economy and to depict a true picture of the economy through macro aggregates.
• The first official estimates of national income were prepared by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) with base year 1948-49 for the estimates at constant prices.

Source: TH

Murphy’s Law

Syllabus: GS4/ Ethics 

In News

• Recently, RS Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the Parliament’s disruptions by linking it to Murphy’s Law.

About Murphy’s Law

• The Law is attributed to Captain Edward A. Murphy, Jr., an engineer in the U.S. Air Force, during a 1949 deceleration test for rocket sleds.
• Murphy’s Law states, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” It underscores a realistic, albeit pessimistic, perspective on the inevitability of errors.
• By emphasizing the likelihood of mishaps, it encourages meticulous planning and readiness for potential failures.
• Murphy’s Law also applies to everyday life. We’ve all experienced those moments when it seems like everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Recognizing this tendency can help us be more prepared.

Philosophical Basis

• Murphy’s Law serves as more than just a cautionary adage. It encourages individuals and organizations to:
  • Plan for Contingencies: Build resilience by preparing for worst-case scenarios.
  • Acknowledge Inevitability: Accept that mistakes are part of any process, fostering adaptability.
  • Humility: It can also be a humbling reminder that we are not in complete control of everything.

Source: TH