News In Short 08-11-2024

International Seabed Authority (ISA) 

Syllabus: GS 2/IR

In News 

• Union Minister of State of Earth Sciences felicitated trainees nominated by the International Seabed Authority.

About International Seabed Authority

• Establishment: Formed under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement for Part XI implementation, the ISA was formally created on November 16, 1994, achieving full operational autonomy by June 1996.
• Headquarters: Located in Kingston, Jamaica.
• Membership: As per Article 156(2) of UNCLOS, all State Parties to UNCLOS are automatically members of the ISA. As of September 2, 2024, ISA has 170 members (169 countries and the European Union).
• Purpose: ISA is responsible for regulating and controlling mineral-related activities in “the Area” (the international seabed) for the benefit of humankind. It ensures environmental protection from deep-seabed mining activities.
• Jurisdiction: The ISA oversees the international seabed area beyond national boundaries, covering the seabed, ocean floor, and subsoil, which constitutes about 50% of the world’s ocean area.

Source: PIB 

Chabahar Port

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

Context

• In a significant move, an Indian delegation met Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, offering the use of Chabahar Port in Iran to business groups in Afghanistan.
  • Earlier this year, India signed a 10-year contract with Iran to develop and operate the Chabahar Port which was built with its assistance.

About Chabahar Port

• Meaning: Chabahar is made of Persian words Chahar meaning four; and bahar meaning spring. 
• Location: On the Makran Coast of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, next to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean.
  • Only about 170 kilometers west of Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
  • In India’s context, Kandla Port in Gujarat is the closest port at around 550 nautical miles, while the distance between Chabahar and Mumbai is about 786 nautical miles.
• Two terminals: It comprises two terminals i.e Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.
• INSTC: The port is also part of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transport project to connect the Indian Ocean to Northern Europe.

Do you know? – India does not recognise the Taliban regime that has been ruling Afghanistan since 2021, but has been providing humanitarian aid, including wheat, medicines and medical supplies, to the Afghan people from time to time.

Source: IE

Tea Production in India

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture and Economy

Context

• The Asia Tea Alliance, responding to climate change’s impact on global tea production, has collectively declared its stance against genetically modified tea.

Indian Tea Industry

• India is the 2nd largest tea producer and largest black tea producer.
• Indian teas are exported to various destinations like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia etc. and is the 4th largest tea exporter in the World.
• The Indian tea Industry is employing 1.16 million workers directly and an equal number of people are associated with it indirectly.
• Assam grows about 55% of the teas produced in India. India’s tea production has increased by 39% in 2022 from 2008.

Geographical Condition for Tea production

• The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year. 
• Soil: It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. 
• Temperature: The average annual temperature for tea plants to grow well is in the range of 15-23°C. 
• Precipitation: The rainfall needed is between 150-200 cm. Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
• Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country.

Asia Tea Alliance – It is a coalition of tea associations from major tea-producing countries in Asia like India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan etc.  – It aims to promote the collective interests of member nations, support sustainable practices, address challenges such as climate change, and enhance trade cooperation within the global tea market.

Source: TH

CV Raman Birth Anniversary

Syllabus: GS3/ Achievement of Indian in S&T

In News

• On November 7, 2024, India commemorated the 136th birth anniversary of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.

About Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (1888–1970)

• Initial Life: Born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.  He initially worked in the Indian Finance Service but transitioned to academia due to his passion for scientific research.
• Discovery of the Raman Effect: In 1928, he discovered the “Raman Effect,” explaining the interaction between light and molecular vibrations. This breakthrough earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 and established the foundation for advancements in spectroscopy. He also was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
• Institutional Contributions:
  • Founded Indian Journal of Physics in 1926 to promote scientific knowledge.
  • Established Indian Academy of Sciences in 1933.
  • Served as director of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), mentoring budding scientists.
  • Founded Raman Research Institute in 1948
• National Science Day: Celebrated annually on February 28 to honor Raman’s discovery.

Source:  PIB

One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

About OROP

• The OROP scheme guarantees that personnel retiring at the same rank with identical service durations receive uniform pensions, irrespective of their retirement date.
• The scheme was approved in 2015, with its benefits applied retroactively from July 1, 2014.
• Under OROP, pensions are adjusted based on the average of the minimum and maximum pensions given to those who retired in 2013 with the same rank and service length.
• Arrears of pension were to be paid in equal half-yearly installments, although the arrears for family pensioners and gallantry awardees were paid in a single installment.
• The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, which is part of the Ministry of Defence is the administering agency and Pension amounts are revised every five years under this scheme.

Source: PIB

Sagarmala Parikrama 

Syllabus: GS 3 / Defence 

In News 

• Autonomous surface vessel completed a 1,500-km voyage from Mumbai to Thoothukudi.

About ‘Sagarmala Parikrama’

• The journey, named ‘Sagarmala Parikrama,’ was virtually flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the NIIO’s annual event, Swavlamban.
• Support and Collaboration:It is supported by the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC), and the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
• Significance: This achievement underscores India’s capabilities in developing autonomous systems for national security, aligning with the vision of Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in defense.
• Applications: The technology supports military and civilian missions, including coastal surveillance, littoral patrol, and anti-piracy, enhancing the Indian Navy’s reach and operational capabilities.

Source:TH

Snowfall in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf desert Region

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf region experienced heavy snowfall and rainfall for the first time in recorded history.

About Al-Jawf Region

• Geography: Al-Jawf is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia and forms part of the Arabian Desert. 
• Climate: The region is typically arid, with vast stretches of sandy terrain and a climate that predominantly features scorching summers and mild winters.

Reasons

• Polar Vortex Disruptions: Weakening or shifts in polar vortex patterns may result in the displacement of cold air masses towards lower latitudes, causing sudden drops in temperature and unusual weather in typically warm regions.
• Climate Change Impact: The rising global average temperature leads to erratic weather patterns. 
• Regional Wind Patterns: Shifts in wind currents due to atmospheric changes could have steered moisture-laden clouds over the Arabian Peninsula, resulting in precipitation in the form of rain and snow.

Source: DTE

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• Following criticism from the Supreme Court regarding insufficient efforts to tackle stubble burning, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has doubled fines for farmers found engaging in this practice.

About

• Increased Penalties: Farmers with less than two acres: Fine increased from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000.
  • Farmers with two to five acres: Fine increased from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
  • Farmers with more than five acres: Fine increased from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000.
• Implementation: State-appointed nodal officers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are authorized to impose and collect these fines from farmers responsible for stubble burning.

About Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• About: It is a statutory body established by the Indian government in 2021 to combat air pollution and improve air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding areas.
• Powers and Authority: It has the authority to issue fines, impose penalties, and mandate shutdowns for non-compliant entities.
  • The commission can override state pollution boards within the NCR region and enforce stricter compliance.
• Composition: Chairperson: A secretary rank official
  • Full-Time Members: One Joint Secretary-level official and three technical experts
  • Ex-Officio Members: Chief Secretaries or environment secretaries from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh; representatives from MoEFCC, NITI Aayog, CPCB, and ISRO.
  • Members from NGOs 

Source: TH