News In Short 19-11-2024

Willingdon Island

Syllabus: GS 1/Places in News 

In News 

• The rejuvenation of Willingdon Island is a key topic of discussion, with trade unions and stakeholders calling for its commercial revival.

About Willingdon Island

• It is a man-made island in Kochi built in the 1920s by Sir Robert Bristow, named after viceroy  Lord Willingdon.
• After container operations moved to Vallarpadam Island in 2011 under a build-operate-transfer agreement, the island’s commercial activities declined.
• The island is ideal for hospitality, tourism, and entertainment activities.
• Proposals by CPEO (Cochin Port Employees Organisation): Reintroduce coastal and defence cargo handling at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal.
  • Develop cold storage facilities and a godown network for profitability.

Source: TH 

Lake Kariba

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

Context

• A severe drought has dried Lake Kariba, threatening to shut down the dam that powers much of Zambia and Zimbabwe’s electricity.

About

• Kariba is the largest man-made lake in the world by volume built in the 1950s.
  • Lake Volta is the world’s largest man-made lake by surface area located in Ghana.
• Location: On the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, in Southern Africa.

• It was created by the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River.
• Zambia relies on Kariba for more than 80% of its national electricity supply.

Source: DTE

Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2024

Syllabus: GS3/Financial Inclusion

Context

• Around 6.5 lakh youth had applied for internships under the PM Internship Scheme in Top Companies (Scheme) pilot project.

About

• Announced in:  Union Budget 2024-25.
• Aim:  To provide 12-month internships for one crore candidates in the age group of 21 to 24 years, for five years.
  • To provide real-life work experience to job seekers in top companies.
• Implementing Agency: Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Vacancies: 1,25,000 positions in 500 top companies for FY – 2024-25.
• The top companies have been identified based on the average Corporate Social Responsibility expenditure of the last three years.
  • Participation of the companies in the scheme is voluntary.
• Eligibility: 
  • Do not have a family member earning over ₹8 lakh per annum.
  • 18 to 24 years (relaxation for OBC/SC/ST)
  • ITI: Matriculation + ITI in relevant trade
  • Diploma: Intermediate + AICTE-recognized diploma
  • Degree: Bachelor’s degree from UGC/AICTE-recognized university
• Stipened: 
  • ₹5,000 monthly stipend
  • One-time payment of ₹6,000

Source: TH

Chikungunya 

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Telangana’s Health Department has reported a spike in chikungunya cases surpassing figures from previous years. 

About

• It is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. 
• It is a non communicable disease i.e. not contagious between humans.
• Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.
• Chikungunya is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Prevention: Preventing mosquito bites is the key to avoiding chikungunya infection.
• Treatment: There is no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. Treatment generally focuses on relieving symptoms.

 Source: TH

Uniform Protection Protocol

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• Central Electricity Authority has approved the Uniform Protection Protocol for users of the Indian Grid for implementation on Pan India basis.

About

• It aims to ensure Grid stability, reliability, security and also supports India’s vision for integration of 450 GW Renewable Energy into the National Grid by 2030 and ambitious target of 2100 GW of Renewable energy by 2047.

• It addresses protection requirements for various power system components, such as: thermal and hydro power plants, renewable energy sources, etc.
• It mandates periodic audits to ensure compliance with standards and best practices. 

Central Electricity Authority 

• It is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Power.
• Functions:
  • Provides technical and policy advice to the government on matters relating to the planning, development, and management of the electricity sector.
  • Prepares the National Electricity Plan (NEP) and the Transmission Plan. 
  • Responsible for setting standards for electrical equipment, grid performance, and safety.
  • Ensures the stability of the national grid, coordinating with grid operators to maintain balance between electricity supply and demand.

Source: PIB

Bharat NCX 2024

Syllabus: GS3/ Internal Security

Context

• The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024), was inaugurated at a ceremony organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

About

• The 12-day exercise will fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience.
• The exercise highlights leadership engagement and capacity building, fostering a unified approach to emerging cyber challenges.

Key Features of Bharat NCX 2024

• The exercise includes;
  • Immersive training on cyber defense and incident response, 
  • live-fire simulations of cyberattacks on IT and OT systems, and collaborative platforms for government and industry stakeholders. 
• A Strategic Decision-Making Exercise will simulate decision-making in a national-level cyber crisis, enhancing the ability to respond to high-pressure situations with strategic acumen. 

Source: PIB

Indian Coast Guard

Syllabus: GS 3/Defence

Context

• A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence was held in Chennai to review the working of the Indian Coast Guard in ensuring coastal security along India’s vast maritime boundaries.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

• Brief: ICG is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
  • It aims for safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals, tackling anti-smuggling operations and other installations.
• Establishment:  In 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.
• Parent Agency: Ministry of Defence
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Head: Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) 

Do you know? – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, one of the 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees in existence, is constituted under Rule 331 C of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. – The Committee has the Ministry of Defence under its jurisdiction and consists of 31 Members; 21 Members from Lok Sabha, and 10 from Rajya Sabha. – The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker from amongst the Members of the Committee from Lok Sabha. The term of office of the Members of the Committee does not exceed one year.

Source: AIR

Global Energy Efficiency Alliance

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled an ambitious initiative to establish the ‘Global Energy Efficiency Alliance’ during COP29.

About

• The initiative builds on the ‘UAE Consensus‘ from COP28, a commitment that brought together countries to reduce carbon emissions.
• It aims to double global energy efficiency rates by 2030 and contribute to significant emission reductions. 
• It will encourage strategic public-private partnerships and bolster investments in energy efficiency initiatives. 
• The alliance will focus on compiling and disseminating best practices, with a particular emphasis on assisting African nations. 

Source: AIR

Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve 

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla in Chhattisgarh has been notified as the 56th tiger reserve of the country.

Geographical Location

• Location: The tiger reserve is nestled in the Chota Nagpur plateau and partly in Baghelkhand plateau. 
  • It is spread across Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur and Balrampur districts of Chhattisgarh.
• Flora: The reserve is part of the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests, hosting Sal, Teak etc.
• Fauna:  Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, nilgai, chousingha, dhole,, pythons, red jungle fowl, gray jungle fowl and green pigeon etc.
• Corridor Connectivity: The forests of Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla, act as a corridor between the Bandhavgarh tiger reserves (Madhya Pradesh) and Palamu tiger reserves (Jharkhand).

Significance

• This is the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh after Indravati tiger reserve , Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve and Achanakmar tiger reserve.
• Also it is the country’s third largest tiger reserve.
  • Nagarjunasagar Srisailam tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh is India’s largest tiger reserve, followed by Manas tiger reserve in Assam.

Source: PIB

World Toilet Day

Syllabus: Miscellaneous 

In News 

• World Toilet Day is held every year on 19 November.

About World Toilet Day

• It aims to inspire action to address the global sanitation crisis, impacting 3.5 billion people without safely managed sanitation.
• It was founded by the World Toilet Organizationin 2001, it became an official UN observance in 2013.
  • It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030
• 2024 Theme:  ‘Sanitation for Peace’, highlights the role of sanitation in fostering stability and well-being, as set by UN-Water.

A Call for Resilient Sanitation

• The nations must ensure that sanitation and water services are resilient, effective, and accessible to everyone, safeguarded against conflict and climate-induced disruptions. 

India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

• India’s Swachh Bharat Mission has made significant strides in improving sanitation and hygiene.
• Key benefits of the mission:
  • Improved Public Health: Reduced cases of waterborne diseases.
  • Empowerment of Women: Enhanced dignity and safety, especially for women and girls.
  • Economic Growth: Improved tourism and overall quality of life.

World Toilet Organization (WTO) 

• Establishment: It was founded on 19 November 2001 as a global non-profit to improve toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide.
• It was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2013. It is not an agency of the United Nations.
• Key Initiatives: Established World Toilet Day and the World Toilet Summit in 2001.
  • Launched the World Toilet College in 2005.

Source : PIB