News In Short 05-11-2024

DANA Causes Flash Floods in Spain

Syllabus: GS1/ Physical Geography

In News

• Catastrophic flash floods in Spain caused havoc mainly attributed to the DANA Phenomenon.

About DANA

• Known in Spain as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) or high-altitude isolated depression, this system can develop independently of typical jet streams, unlike regular storms.
• Formation Mechanism: Cold air moves over warm Mediterranean waters, causing warm air to rise quickly.
  • This forms dense, moisture-filled clouds that can stay in one area, increasing the likelihood of severe flooding.
• DANA mostly occurs in autumn, when summer’s warm surface heat meets sudden cold air from polar regions, creating a low-pressure system that remains over a specific region.

Source: Reuters

PM Vishwakarma Scheme 

Syllabus: GS 3/Economy 

In News 

• The PM Vishwakarma Scheme has received over 25 million applications.

PM Vishwakarma Scheme

• About: Named after Lord Vishwakarma (deity of artisans and craftspeople in Indian culture); it was launched in 2023.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• Type: Central Sector Scheme (fully funded by the Government of India)
• Objectives:  Provides comprehensive support to artisans and craftspeople across 18 specified trades (e.g., carpenter, blacksmith, potter, tailor, etc.).
  • Enabling artisans to sell their products both domestically and internationally.
  • Strengthen the local economy by promoting traditional crafts and artisanal products.
• Key Features:
  • Recognition to Artisans: PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
  • Skill Upgradation:Basic Training: 5–7 days, stipend of Rs. 500/day.
    • Advanced Training: 15+ days, with stipend.
    • Toolkit Incentive: E-voucher of up to Rs. 15,000 for tools at start of Basic Training.
  • Credit Support to Artisans: Collateral-free loans up to Rs. 3 lakh, split into Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh tranches.
    • 5% concessional interest, with an 8% government subvention.
  • Marketing Support: Includes quality certification, branding, onboarding on e-commerce platforms (e.g., GeM), and advertising for improved market linkage

Source: AIR

Aditya-L1 Mission

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• The first scientific result from Aditya-L1 has been released. 

About

• Using data from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), scientists were able to observe the precise onset of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun.
• The Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) can damage the electronics in satellites in near-earth space and disrupt radio communication networks on the earth. Understanding and predicting CMEs is crucial for protecting technology and infrastructure.

About Aditya L1 mission

• The Aditya-L1 mission is India’s first dedicated scientific mission to study the Sun. The mission aims to observe and analyze various aspects of the Sun from Lagrangian Point 1 (L1).
• Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) is a position in space where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium. At this point, Aditya-L1 can continuously observe the Sun without any interference.

Image Courtesy: HT

Source: TH

Connection Between Nickel Toxicity and Sterols

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Researchers have discovered that exposing mammalian and fungal cells to the heavy metal nickel resulted in sterol deficiency.
  • Until this report, no one suspected nickel toxicity was related to sterol biosynthesis in fungi and animals.

About

• In fungi, including yeast, the major sterol is ergosterol. Blocking ergosterol biosynthesis can adversely affect fungal growth. 
• Most important agents humans use to fight fungal infections are azoles (like fluconazole) inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis.

Sterols

• In Plants: Sterols are an important chemical component of the cell membranes of plants, animals, and fungi. The compound makes the membranes more rigid.
• In mammals including humans, the principal sterol is cholesterol.
  • If it is present in high concentrations in the body, it tends to be deposited in the inner lining of our blood vessels. 
  • As the deposits accumulate, they block the flow of blood, eventually leading to chest pain, heart attack, and/or stroke.
• Doctors widely used drugs called statins to reduce the amount of cholesterol the body makes — i.e. cholesterol biosynthesis — to avoid these adverse outcomes.
• The study could help in discovering a novel antifungal agent.

Source: TH

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Syllabus: GS 3 /Environment 

In News 

• The seventh session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly was held in New Delhi. India elected as president and France as co-president for a two-year term from 2024 to 2026.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• About: It is an intergovernmental organization launched in 2015 by India and France at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.
• Objectives:
  • Achieve 1000 GW of solar capacity worldwide by 2030.
  • Mobilize over USD 1 trillion in solar investments for member countries.
  • Develop financial mechanisms to reduce solar energy costs.
  • Establish solar energy as a mainstream source globally.
• Evolution: Initially for tropical countries, ISA expanded its scope in 2020, allowing all UN member states to join. Currently, over 110 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with 90 full members.
  • It became the first international intergovernmental organization headquartered in India at National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram.
• Governance Structure:
  • ISA Assembly: The main decision-making body comprising representatives from member countries.
  • Steering Committee: Provides strategic guidance and oversight.
  • Secretariat: Administrative body responsible for implementing decisions.
  • Director General: Leads the ISA Secretariat for a term of 4 years with the possibility of re-election.

Some Important Initiatives of ISA

• Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C): Provides training and technical support for solar deployment.
• Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture Use (SSAAU): Promotes solar use in agriculture (e.g., irrigation, cold storage).
• ISA CARES: Ensures solar-powered healthcare in remote areas.
• One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG): Aims to create a global solar grid for energy sharing.
• Solar Parks Program: Assists in developing large solar parks.
• ISA Awards: Recognizes achievements in solar innovation.
• Rooftop Solar Program: Supports rooftop solar adoption in urban areas.

Source: TH

Toy Train on Green Hydrogen

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, urged the Central government to explore the possibility of running trains on the Kalka-Shimla narrow-guage railway, a UNESCO world heritage site, on green hydrogen.

About

• The transition would help the state in achieving its goal of becoming a ‘green energy state’ by 2026.
• The State is on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1,500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources, including hydro, solar, and wind power.

What is Green Hydrogen?

• Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, or hydropower, through a process called electrolysis. 

• Electrolysis involves splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) using an electric current. 
• When this electricity comes from renewable sources, the hydrogen produced is considered “green” because the overall process has a minimal environmental impact.
• Benefit: It is a clean burning element that can decarbonise a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
  • Hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time which can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.

Source: TH

Exercise VINBAX-2024 

Syllabus: GS 3/Defence

Context

• The 5th Edition of Vietnam Indian Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX-2024” commenced at Ambala, India.

About

• Instituted in 2018, exercise VINBAX is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam.
• Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter-operability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations.
• This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi Service level participation for the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.

Source: PIB

India, Algeria sign MoU on Defence Cooperation

Syllabus: GS 1/Places in News and GS 2/IR 

Context

• India and Algeria signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to elevate defence ties, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen strategic interests.

About Algeria (Capital: Algiers)

• Situated:  Maghreb region of North Africa on the Mediterranean coast.
  • Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia are referred to as the Maghreb countries.
• Bordered By:  Mediterranean Sea on the North, Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Republic and Mauritania on the West, Mali and Niger on the South, Libya and Tunisia on the East.
• Physiography: The major mountain ranges in Algeria are the Atlas Mountains, which run from the Moroccan border to the eastern border of Tunisia. The highest peak in Algeria is Mount Tahat, which is located in the Ahaggar Mountains.
  • Chelif River is the longest and most important river of Algeria.

Source: AIR