News In Short 23-12-2024

Denali Fault

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• Recent research highlights three geological sites along the Denali Fault that were once a united feature but were later separated by tectonic activity. 

About

• The Denali Fault is a major intracontinental dextral (right lateral) strike-slip fault in western North America, spanning from northwestern British Columbia, Canada, to central Alaska, USA.
• Tectonic Setting: It forms a boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
  • The Pacific Plate is actively subducting (sliding under) the North American Plate, leading to immense geological stress and deformation in the region.
• Seismic Activity: The Denali Fault was the source of a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in 2002. 

Source: Phys.org

Panama Canal

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal, citing rising tariffs and concerns over sovereignty.

About

• Panama Canal, is an artificial 82-km waterways formally inaugurated in 1914.
• It is connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean by providing a shortcut through the Isthmus of Panama.
• The Panama Canal locks at each end lift ships up to Gatun Lake, an artificial freshwater lake 26 m above sea level created by damming up the Chagres River and Lake Alajuela.
• Significance: Nearly 6% of global trade (by value) passes through the canal, making it one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

Source: IE

Sagar Island 

Syllabus :GS 1/Places In News

In News

• Sagar Island in West Bengal, where the Gangasagar Mela takes place every January, is experiencing severe climate change impacts.

About Sagar Island 

• Sagar Island, also known as Ganga Sagar or Sagardwip, is located in the Ganges delta on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal. 
• It consists of 43 villages and is separated from Mahisani Island by the River Muriganga Batala. 
• The island, along with Mahisani and Ghoramara, is classified under the sand group category. 
• It is a significant religious site for Hindus, especially during the Makar Sankranti festival, where pilgrims honor the Sun.
  • The Kapil Muni Temple on the island is a major pilgrimage center.

Source: DTE

Pashminas

Syllabus: GS1/ Human Geography

Context

• J&K Chief Minister said his government will ensure that famed Pashmina shawls were not considered in the higher slabs of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

About

• The word “pashmina” is derived from the Persian word pashm, meaning “soft wool.”
• It is made from the soft wool of the Pashmina goat, primarily found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, particularly in Ladakh. 
  • These goats develop a unique undercoat to withstand the harsh winters, and it is this undercoat that is meticulously collected to create Pashmina shawls.
• Creating a Pashmina shawl is a labor-intensive process that involves several stages, each requiring a high level of skill and dedication.
  • Known for its exceptional warmth, softness, and lightweight texture, pashmina is considered one of the finest types of wool. 
• Due to their quality and rarity, pashmina shawls are regarded as a symbol of elegance and luxury.

Source: TH

PM Modi Awarded Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Kuwait’s highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’.

About

• It is the 20th international award bestowed upon him by a country.
• ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ or the Order of Mubarak the Great, is a knighthood order of Kuwait. 
• The award was instituted in 1974, in the memory of Mubarak Al Sabah — also known as Mubarak al-Kabeer or Mubarak the Great — who ruled Kuwait from 1896 to 1915. 
  • Under his reign, Kuwait got more autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. 
• It is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship.
• It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.

Source: IE

UN Internal Justice Council

Syllabus :GS2/IR

In News

• Retired Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur has been appointed as the chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council for a term ending on November 12, 2028.
  • The appointment was confirmed through a letter dated December 19, 2024, signed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

United Nations Internal Justice Council

• Establishment and Purpose: The General Assembly created the Internal Justice Council (IJC) to ensure independence, professionalism, and accountability in the UN’s internal justice system.
• Composition: The IJC consists of five members:
  • A staff representative.
  • A management representative.
  • Two distinguished external jurists (one nominated by staff, one by management).
  • A chairperson, selected by consensus from the four other members.
• Functions and Responsibilities: The IJC is responsible for:
  • Searching for suitable candidates to fill vacancies in the UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), conducting interviews if necessary.
  • Recommending two or three candidates per vacancy, with attention to geographical distribution.
  • Providing views on the implementation of the justice system to the General Assembly.
• Appointment of Judges: Judges for the UNDT and UNAT are appointed by the General Assembly based on recommendations from the IJC, following the criteria set out in General Assembly resolution 62/228.
  • Judges from the same nationality cannot sit on the same tribunal.

Source: IE

Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) System

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is expediting the use of Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) systems for faster and more efficient completion of National Highway projects.

AIMC system

• AIMC will provide real-time data on project status, which will be shared with stakeholders, including MoRTH.
• AIMC is being tested in the 63-km Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Project (Awadh Expressway).
  • Intelligent machines like GPS-aided motor graders, intelligent compactors, and stringless pavers are being used.

How AIMC Machines Work?

• GPS-aided Motor Grader: Uses GNSS data and angle sensors to adjust the blade in real-time, ensuring precise grading and surface alignment according to design plans.
• Intelligent Compaction Roller (IC Roller): Helps in soil compaction and reduces post-construction consolidation issues, ensuring road durability and minimizing air pockets or water in materials.

Need and Importance of AIMC:

• AIMC integrates intelligent machines to enhance the durability, productivity, and timely completion of road projects.
  • Current delays in projects are attributed to outdated technologies, poor contractor performance, and lack of up-to-date information.
• Real-time data from construction and surveys will ensure quality control at each stage, minimizing delays and enhancing efficiency.
• It reduces manual labor and speeds up construction, including night work.

Source: IE

Bio-Bitumen

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• The Union Minister inaugurated India’s first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch on the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass (NH-44) in Maharashtra. 

About Bio-Bitumen

• Definition: Bio-bitumen is a greener alternative to traditional petroleum-based bitumen, which is a major component of asphalt used in road construction.
• Renewable Sources: It’s derived from renewable sources like crop stubble, vegetable oils, algae, or lignin (a complex polymer found in plants). This makes it a more sustainable and eco-friendly option.

Benefits of Bio-bitumen

• Reduced Emissions: Bio-bitumen significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based bitumen. This is crucial for mitigating climate change.
• Enhanced Durability: It offers superior strength and durability, leading to longer-lasting roads and reduced maintenance needs.
• Waste Reduction: Using agricultural residues like crop stubble to produce bio-bitumen helps reduce waste and prevent harmful practices like stubble burning.

Applications

• Road Construction: Bio-bitumen can directly replace petroleum bitumen in asphalt mixtures, making roads more sustainable.
• Modifier and Rejuvenator: It can also be used to enhance the properties of traditional bitumen or to rejuvenate aged asphalt pavements.
• Industrial Uses: Bio-bitumen has potential applications in waterproofing, adhesives, and other industrial materials.

Significance of the NH-44 Bio-Bitumen Stretch

• The Nagpur-Mansar Bypass on NH-44 demonstrates the viability of bio-bitumen for sustainable highway construction, paving the way for eco-friendly infrastructure in India. 
• This initiative aligns with India’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable resources.

Source: TOI

Posthumous Reproduction

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• The Delhi High Court allowed a hospital to release the frozen sperm of a deceased man, stating there is no prohibition under Indian law if consent of the owner is proven.

What is Posthumous Reproduction?

• Posthumous reproduction (PHR) is a process that uses assisted reproductive technology (ART) to create a genetic offspring after a parent’s death. It can involve the use of frozen sperm, embryos, or ova.
• Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) refer to a range of fertility treatments aimed at aiding reproduction for couples suffering from infertility or to persons who may wish to have a child through artificial methods.  
• These arrangements include;
  • In-vitro fertilisation (fertilising an egg in the lab), 
  • Gamete donation (sperm or egg), and 
  • Gestational surrogacy (where the child is not biologically related to the surrogate mother). 

Source: TH

Moon

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• As per the journal Nature, evidence supports an older age for the formation of the Moon, around 4.51 billion years ago.

About

• The Moon is thought to have been formed through a collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized protoplanet.
• The timing of this event has been estimated by dating lunar rock samples, placing the Moon’s age at approximately 4.35 billion years old.

Facts Related to Moon

• Size: The Moon is about 1/4th the size of Earth, with a diameter of 3,474 km.
• Distance from Earth: 384,400 km away from Earth.
• Gravity: 1/6th that of Earth’s, which is why astronauts appear to float or move in slow motion.
• Phases: The Moon has eight main phases, from new moon to full moon, occurring in a 29.5-day cycle.
• Surface: The Moon’s surface has craters, mountains, and flat plains called Maria, which are ancient volcanic basins.
• Thin Atmosphere: The Moon has a very thin and weak atmosphere, called an exosphere. It does not provide any protection from the Sun’s radiation or impacts from meteoroids.
• Tidal Locking: The same side of the Moon always faces Earth due to tidal locking, meaning its rotation period is the same as its orbit around Earth.
• Lack of Water: There is no liquid water on the Moon, but there may be frozen water at its poles.
• No Sound: Since the Moon has a thin atmosphere, sound cannot travel there.

Source: TH