News In Short 24-12-2024

Lesotho

Syllabus: GS 1/Places 

In News

• India has sent a humanitarian aid consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes to Lesotho to assist with food security and nutritional needs.

About Lesotho

• Geography  :It is a country in Southern Africa.
  • It is a highland country with plateaus, hills, and mountains. Its highest point is Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 meters. 
• The capital:  Maseru
• History  : Lesotho, initially inhabited by Khoisan hunter-gatherers, was later settled by Bantu and Sotho-Tswana peoples.
  •  In 1822, King Moshoeshoe I unified the region, which became a British protectorate in 1843, known as Basutoland. 
  • Lesotho gained independence on October 4, 1966, with King Moshoeshoe II as its first sovereign.
• Society :  The country is predominantly Christian (80%), with 20% following indigenous beliefs. 
• Economy  : Lesotho’s economy is driven by industries such as food, textiles, handicrafts, and subsistence farming. 

Source: AIR

National Consumer Day & Protection Laws

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance

In News

• On National Consumer Day 2024, the Union Minister will launch several key initiatives aimed at enhancing consumer protection and ensuring consumer rights. 

National Consumer Day 

• In India, National Consumer Day is celebrated annually on December 24th to commemorate the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, (replaced by Consumer Protection Act 2019) which received the assent of the President on this date.
• The 2024 National Consumer Day theme is “Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice,” reflecting the government’s focus on improving consumer justice through digital platforms like e-filing and virtual hearings.

Initiatives and Protection laws 

• Launch of Consumer Protection Apps: The ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and ‘Jagriti Dashboard’ will help identify and report “dark patterns” in e-commerce, which manipulate consumer behavior.
  • These tools use AI and will support the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) in resolving consumer disputes efficiently.
• e-Mapp Portal: A unified digital platform will integrate state legal metrology portals, easing licensing and verification processes for businesses and enhancing transparency.
• AI-enabled NCH 2.0: The National Consumer Helpline Portal is being upgraded with AI-powered chatbots and multilingual support to offer improved grievance resolution.
• SMART Standards: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will introduce machine-readable standards that are interactive, intelligent, and dynamic, transforming how standards are created and used.
• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), established in 1997, focuses on consumer protection in India.
  • It implements various laws and regulations, including the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which strengthens consumer rights in the digital era, particularly for online transactions, and established the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to handle false advertisements. 
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016 ensures product quality and safety, and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 governs accurate measurement in commercial transactions.

Source :PIB

Marburg Virus Disease

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Rwanda has successfully managed its first-ever Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak and officially declared it over.

About

• The disease is named after Marburg, the German city where scientists became ill with the disease’s first known cases in 1967, while handling monkeys imported from Uganda.
• It  is a highly contagious virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. 
  • It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease and they show similar symptoms.
• Host and Spread: Marburg’s natural host is a fruit bat, but it can also infect primates, pigs and other animals.
  • Human outbreaks start after a person has contact with an infected animal.
• Symptoms: High fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. 
• Treatment: There are no vaccines and no proven treatment available for Marburg virus disease. 

Source: DTE

New National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance 

In News

• The President of India appointed retired Supreme Court Justice V. Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), filling the vacancy that had existed since June 2024. 

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India

• It  was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
  • The Act was amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
• International Standards: NHRC is in conformity with the Paris Principles, which were adopted at the first international workshop on national human rights institutions in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Regulation 48/134 of 20 December 1993.

• Constitution of NHRC:  The Commission consists of a Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members. 
• Appointments : The Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are appointed by the President of India based on recommendations from a Committee.
  • This Committee includes the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Home Minister, the leaders of the opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
• Purpose: NHRC is a reflection of India’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.
  • NHRC is responsible for promoting human rights awareness at both national and international levels, encouraging stakeholders in human rights literacy.

Do you know ? Definition of Human Rights: Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines human rights as those related to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of individuals, guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants, and enforceable by courts in India.

Source  :IE

Chilika Lake

Syllabus: GS3/Environment and Biodiversity

Context

• Environmentalists and fishermen have strongly opposed the construction of a proposed 4-kilometre bridge over Odisha’s Chilika lake.

About Chilika Lake

• Location: Chilika lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, located in Odisha.
  • It lies between the deltas of the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers, opening out into the Bay of Bengal.
• Conservation Status: Chilika Lake was designated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1981 making it the first Ramsar Site of India.
  • The lake is also part of the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, which helps protect its flora and fauna. 
• Ecological Significance: It is home to a diverse avian population, with the 2024 bird census recording 1,137,759 birds of 187 species, including migratory birds.
  • It is also the habitat of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, frequently sighted in the Satapada region.

Source: DTE

Spadex Mission 

Syllabus: GS3/ Space

In News

• The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, developed by ISRO, marks a significant step in advancing India’s space exploration capabilities. It will be launched on December 30, 2024.

About the Mission

• Brief: 
  • SpaDeX is designed to test and demonstrate the technology required for docking two spacecraft in orbit. This is a complex maneuver that requires precise control and coordination.
  • The mission involves two spacecraft – a “chaser” (SDX01) that will actively pursue and dock with a “target” (SDX02) spacecraft.
• Objectives:
  • Primary: To demonstrate the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
  • Secondary: To test technologies like inter-satellite power transfer and composite spacecraft control, which are crucial for future robotic and human spaceflight missions.
• New Technologies:
  • Docking Mechanism: SpaDeX will utilize a low-impact androgynous docking system, enabling a safe and secure connection between the two spacecraft.
  • Sensor Suite: Advanced sensors, including a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS), will ensure precise and controlled docking.
  • RODP Processor: A GNSS-based system will provide accurate position and velocity data for the spacecraft.
  • ISL Communication: An autonomous inter-satellite link will enable real-time communication and data sharing between the spacecraft.

Significance of the SpaDeX Mission

• Technological Milestone: Positions India as the fourth country globally (after the USA, Russia, and China) to develop and demonstrate in-space docking technology.
• Space Exploration Advancements: Enables critical capabilities for:
  • Chandrayaan-4
  • Space stations
  • Sample return missions
  • Long-term interplanetary missions
• Cost-Effective Innovation: Focuses on indigenous and scalable solutions, making advanced space operations more cost-efficient for future missions.
• International Collaboration: Adopts standards similar to the International Docking System (IDS), promoting compatibility for global partnerships in space exploration.

Source: TH