National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 3rd July 2019

Heat Waves

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: Severe heat wave conditions continue in many parts over Rajasthan and several parts of north and central India.

More on the Topic

• Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions.

Following criteria are used to declare heat wave:

Based on Departure from Normal:

• Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.5°C to 6.4°C.
• Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.4°C.

Based on Actual Maximum Temperature (for plains only):

• Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45°C
• Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47°C
• To declare heat wave, the above criteria should be met at least in 2 stations in a Meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days and it will be declared on the second day.

Health Impacts of Heat Waves

• The health impacts of Heat Waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. The signs and symptoms are as follows:
• Heat Cramps: Ederna (swelling) and Syncope (Fainting) generally accompanied by fever below 39*C i.e.102*F.
• Heat Exhaustion: Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and sweating.
• Heat Stoke: Body temperatures of 40*C i.e. 104*F or more along with delirium, seizures or coma. This is a potential fatal condition.

Environmental Impacts:

• Most plants and animals live in areas with very specific climate conditions, such as temperature and rainfall patterns, that enable them to thrive.
• Any change in the climate of an area can affect the plants and animals living there, as well as the makeup of the entire ecosystem. Some species are already responding to a warmer climate by moving to cooler locations.
• It will adversely impact the coral reefs.
• Higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns could help some kinds of weeds and pests to spread to new areas.
• There will be crop loss and impacts on food security as well.

Source: The Hindu

Machine-learning based applications of Coffee Board

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: Machine learned applications by coffee board are providing helping hands to coffee growers .

More on the Topic:

• The Apps cover areas such as the white stem borer problem, a weather forecasting, and predicting leaf rust.
• The apps are boon for the 3.5 lakh coffee growers in India, 98% of whom are small-scale coffee growers. They face challenges affecting production include labour shortage, climate change and pest attacks.
• Based on the data, photos provided, a machine learning algorithm is created to forecast each of these issues (for a grower).
• The success of the app depends on the data fed In the case of white stem borer, the growers and the Board have validated 90% accuracy.

About Machine Learning:

• Machine learning is one of the two subsets under the umbrella term AI. The another subset is Deep learning.
• Machine Learning involves the use of algorithms to parse data and learn from it. This enables making a determination or prediction.
• It provides systems the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
• Machine learning focuses on the development of computer programs that can access data and use it learn for themselves.

Source: The Hindu

Navy steps up anti-piracy patrol

Topic: Internal Security

In News: In an expansion of its Mission Based Deployments (MBD) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Navy deployed its P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the Gulf of Aden.

More on the topic:

• Long-range maritime reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft P-8I undertakes anti-piracy patrol sorties from Salalah in the Gulf of Aden and other piracy prone areas in keeping with our MBD philosophy, to keep IOR safe and secure for all.
• The P-8I provided long-range Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
• Since 2008, India has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the commercially crucial Gulf of Aden.
• Besides escorting Indian flagged vessels, ships of other countries have also been provided protection.No ship under Indian escort has thus far been hijacked by pirates.
• Under the MBD concept, the Navy now maintains a ship at every choke point in the IOR at any point of time.
• As part of expanding engagement maritime engagement, India has stepped up cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral states and maritime neighbours.
• Under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the Navy undertakes Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius and Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT) with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.
• Search and rescue and capability-enhancement activities have also emerged as major areas.

Source: The Hindu

Merger of NSSO and CSO

Topic: Economy

In News: The government announced that the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) will be merged with the Central Statistics Office to form the National Statistical Office (NSO).

More on the Topic:

• The move is a follow-up of a decision taken in 2005 by the UPA government’s based on recommendations of the report of the National Statistical Commission, headed by former RBI governor C Rangarajan.
• Both the wings are currently part of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The Rangarajan committee had recommended setting up of the NSC, headed by a person with a Minister of State-level designation, to serve as a nodal and empowered body for all core statistical activities of the country.
• The NSC was constituted on July 12, 2006 with a mandate to evolve policies, priorities and standards in statistical matters.
• According to the Commission, the new NSO was envisaged as an agency to implement and maintain statistical standards and coordinate statistical activities of Central and State agencies as laid down by the NCS.
• The NSO’s other roles included collection of core statistics, carrying out methodological research and studies, maintaining a warehouse of core statistics, as per the Commission report.

Benefits of the merger:

• This is a measure to avoid duplication of work and leverage the strength of the statistical system.
• There is no dilution of independence and in fact strengthens the system.
• This will help in meeting the requirement of the statistical system as a lack of control on these two bodies was one challenge presently.

Concerns:

• Many believe that this move will undermine the autonomy of the NSSO which has been at the centre of various public controversies over data on economic growth and unemployment.

Source: The Hindu

Rice Blast Disease

Topic: Agriculture

In News: The researchers from ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Odisha have mapped out the diverse genes in rice that help in Rice Blast disease resistance.

More on the Topic:

• Specific DNA markers were used for accurate identification of specific resistant genes.
• The researchers found the presence of 24 previously pin-pointed resistant genes in the 161 rice landraces. The landraces were found to harbour 5-19 resistant genes.
• From 1980-1987, seven blast endemics have occurred in India causing severe losses.
• Fungicides are very expensive, harmful for the environment and inappropriate application can cause health issues.
• So researchers around the globe have been on a hunt for resistant genes against the pathogen and so far, more than 100 resistance (R) genes in the rice genome have been identified.
• The rapid changes in pathogen virulence pose a constant challenge to the success of existing blast-resistant rice varieties.
• Therefore, there is always a need to identify new broad-spectrum blast resistant genes/alleles in rice germplasm such as landraces, wild rice, etc,”

Source: The Hindu

Financial Literacy Week

Topic: Economy

In News: RBI will undertake a centralised mass media campaign during the month of June on Doordarshan and All India Radio to disseminate essential financial awareness messages to farmers.

More on the Topic:

• Financial Literacy Week 2019 will be observed from June 3-7 on the theme of “Farmers” and how they benefit by being a part of the formal banking system.
• Financial Literacy Week is an initiative of RBI to promote awareness on key topics every year through a focused campaign. Growth in agriculture is necessary for the overall economic growth and finance is an essential enabler for the same.
• In order to build awareness and disseminate financial literacy messages to the farming community, focused content in the form of posters and leaflets have been prepared for disseminatio
• Banks have been advised to display the posters and content in their rural bank branches, Financial Literacy Centers, ATMs and websites.

Source: The Hindu