National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams- 14th & 15th October 2018
Olive Ridley Turtles
Topic: Environment and Ecology
IN NEWS: Cyclone Titli and the resultant rains have started to degrade the mass nesting site of olive ridley turtles at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Huge quantities of debris and waste material brought by the flooded river have been deposited on the coast.
More on the Topic
- The debris can be a threat to the nesting site and may dissuade the olive ridleys from nesting here next year.
- The biodegradable waste will decompose fast in salt water but the plastic, polythene and other non-biodegradable waste that continue to pile up at the coast near the river mouth.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
- The Olive Ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific Ridley sea turtle, are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world; this species of sea turtle is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can also be found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
- These turtles, along with the related Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- Growing to about 2 feet in length, the olive ridley gets its name from its olive-colored carapace, which is heart-shaped and rounded.
- Olive ridley turtles are best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers, termed arribadas.
- Females return to the same beach from where they hatched, to lay their eggs. They lay their eggs in conical nests about one and a half feet deep, which they laboriously dig with their hind flippers.
- In the Indian Ocean, the majority of olive ridleys nest in two or three large groups near Gahirmatha in Odisha. The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the olive ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica.
- Nesting occurs elsewhere along the Coromandel Coast and Sri Lanka, but in scattered locations. However, olive ridleys are considered a rarity in most areas of the Indian Ocean.
Protection Status: The olive ridley sea turtle has been listed on Schedule – I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 1991). The species is listed as vulnerable under IUCN.
Source:The Hindu
Bastar Dialogue
Topic: Internal Security
In news:The Bastar Dialogue, aimed at furthering peace in the Red Corridor, concluded in Jagdalpur with the passing of a resolution and finalising a roadmap towards achieving peace in the Dandakaranya region.
More on the Topic:
- Krishna Kumari Devi, the queen mother of Bastar, supported the peace talk, but cautioned that it should not be politicised after meeting a group of tribal people led by a Gondi-speaking group from Telangana.
- In a historic move, Krishna Kumari Devi has also invited 10 tribal leaders from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra for an annual meeting of Manjhis on October 20. Manjhis are hereditary heads of various parganas in Chhattisgarh. The 10 tribal leaders will speak at the gathering.
- While concluding the Bastar Dialogue that was preceded by a Shanti Padyatra, or peace walk,The Adivasis Sankshem Parishad, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, called for a sustained effort in achieving their task of reinstituting peace.
Red Corridor:
- The Red Corridor is a region in the eastern part of India that experiences considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency. The corridor is almost continuous spanning from India’s border with Nepal to northern Tamil Nadu
- Left Wing Extremism (LWE) or Naxalism originated in Naxalbari in West Bengal, as result of a peasant uprising led by Charu Majumdar
- Naxalism ideology is based on a mix of 3 ideological threads- Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
- They aim to overthrow the Indian State through an armed struggle and capture political power to bring about New Democratic Revolution in India. They claim that only through this revolution will the contradictions between the masses and feudal elites vanish.
Reasons for rise of Left Wing Extremism
- Absence of adequate land reform in states leading to sense of deprivation among the masses;
- Industrialisation and Mining activities leading to displacement of communities and lack of percolation of benefits to the local population;
- Mismanagement of forests and forest rights- Denial of forests rights to tribals and diversion of forests land on which they depended for their livelihood;
- Exploitation of tribals and peasants by moneylenders;
- Tribal policies adopted by the government led to further alienation and lack of basic amenities;
- Inter and intra-regional disparities- Unbalanced development and benefits not reaching to all;
- Inadequate reach of state leaving a political vacuum in some areas.
Significance of the Move:
- The Bastar Dialogue will enable confidence building among the tribes and help them move forward to a LWE free life.
Source:The Hindu
e-waste into high grade fuel
Topic: Science and Technology
In news: India will soon be able to convert its plastic wastes into high-grade petrol and diesel with the help of Dehradun-based Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP).
More on the Topic:
- The plant has been set up at Dehradun and it will be operational by January next year. The plant converts plastic into gasoline, diesel or aromatics through the use of a combination of suitable catalysts. It will also produce LPG as a common by-product.
- According to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, the facility, which will be run on pilot basis, is capable of converting plastic waste into bio-diesel.
- The model will then be replicated across the country. The plant has the capacity to convert one tonne of plastic waste into 800 litres biofuel which will be of highest quality and it can be used in any diesel automotive vehicle.
- E-waste is the world’s fastest growing waste stream and India is the fourth largest e-waste producer. At present around 95 per cent of the waste is processed by the informal sector, using practices harmful to their health and the environment.
Significance:
- The IIP, a constituent lab of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, has for the first time in the country developed a technology to convert plastic waste into petroleum products.
- Such a technology is so far available only in Germany, Japan and the US while Australia and the UK are still working on it.
Source:The Hindu
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Topic: Institutions in News
In news:The government has appointed Shekhar Mande as Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
About CSIR:
- The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research abbreviated as CSIR was established by the Government of India in September of 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the largest research and development organisation in India.
- The research and development activities of CSIR include aerospace engineering, structural engineering, ocean sciences, life sciences, metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environmental science.
- CSIR has developed 1,376 technologies/knowledgebase during the last decade of the 20th century.
- The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize was established by CSIR in 1958. The prize is named after the Founder Director of the Council of Industrial Research (CSIR), late Dr. (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. To bestow the honor to the outstanding performers in the various research fields of Science & Technology, CSIR has started this award.
Source:Pib
Navy gets submarine rescue vehicle
Topic: Science and Technology
In news:The Navy has inducted its first deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) to rescue downed or disaster-struck submarines on the high seas. India has now joined a select group of countries that have the capability to locate “distressed submarines”.
More on the Topic:
- Though DSRVs are used for rescue of personnel in downed submarines, they are also deployed for various other missions including to lay cables on the sea bed.
- The DSRV can be mobilised from Naval base at Mumbai to nearest mounting port by air/ land or sea for providing rapid rescue to the submarine in distress.
- DSRV was part of the Navy’s efforts to enhance operational capabilities when China has been ramping up its maritime presence in critical sea lanes which are of strategic importance to India.
Source:The Hindu
NASA’s Chandra telescope
Topic: Science and Technology
In news: The Chandra X-Ray Observatory, observing the universe in high-energy light since 1999, has entered a protective ‘safe mode’, which interrupts scientific observations and puts the spacecraft into a stable configuration.
More on the Topic:
- During the safe mode, the observatory is put into a safe configuration, critical hardware is swapped to back-up units, the spacecraft points so that the solar panels get maximum sunlight, and the mirrors point away from the Sun.
- Analysis of available data indicates the transition to safe mode was normal behaviour for such an event. All systems functioned as expected and the scientific instruments are safe.
About Chandra Telescope:
- The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), is a Flagship-class space observatory launched by NASA .
- Chandra is sensitive to X-ray sources 100 times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope, enabled by the high angular resolution of its mirrors.
- Since the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the vast majority of X-rays, they are not detectable from Earth-based telescopes; therefore space-based telescopes are required to make these observations. Chandra is an Earth satellite in a 64-hour orbit, and its mission is ongoing as of 2018.
- Chandra is one of the Great Observatories, along with the Hubble Space Telescope, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (1991–2000), and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
- The telescope is named after the Nobel Prize-winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Source:The Hindu
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)
Topic: Indian Economy
IN NEWS:Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are in the news following fall of a giant NBFC IL&FS fiasco.
About NBFCs
- A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business.
- NBFC does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
- A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking company).
What is the difference between banks & NBFCs
- NBFCs lend and make investments and hence their activities are akin to that of banks; however there are a few differences as given below:
- NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
- NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;
- Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.
The role of NBFCs in the Indian Economy
- NBFCs (Non Banking Financial Companies) play an important role in promoting inclusive growth in the country, by catering to the diverse financial needs of bank excluded customers.
- Further, NBFCs often take lead role in providing innovative financial services to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) most suitable to their business requirements.
- NBFCs do play a critical role in participating in the development of an economy by providing a fillip to transportation, employment generation, wealth creation, bank credit in rural segments and to support financially weaker sections of the society.
- Emergency services like financial assistance and guidance is also provided to the customers in the matters pertaining to insurance.
NBFCs Aid Economic Development in the following ways:
- Mobilization of Resources – It converts savings into investments
- Capital Formation – Aids to increase capital stock of a company
- Provision of Long-term Credit and specialised Credit
- Aid in Employment Generation
- Help in development of Financial Markets
- Helps in Attracting Foreign Grants
- Helps in Breaking Vicious Circle of Poverty by serving as government’s instrument
Source:The Hindu
Windmills not so green for wildlife
Topic:Environment and Ecology
In news: Windmills are seen as a source of green energy, but researchers say they pose a threat to wildlife in forests through collisions and noise.
More on the topic:
- The impact of the giant structures in Karnataka was studied by researchers from Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) during a two-year project.
- They found that windmills killed birds and bats in collisions, and that birds and mammals also moved away due to the noise.
- The noise levels near windmills go up to 85 decibels (dB), the equivalent of large trucks. The drone of a turbine, which operates day and night, is above 70dB. By comparison, noise in urban areas is 55 dB and even in industrial areas, is lower at 75dB. Ambient noise in forests is less than 40 dB.
- Researchers found birds avoiding windmill sites. “There are 50% fewer birds in the areas compared to undisturbed sites”.
- The team saw collisions of 10 animals,6 bats and four birds with a collision rate of 0.23 animals per year per turbine.
- This research calls for protocols and policy guidelines before diverting forest land for wind farms.
Source:The Hindu
2013 Justice Verma panel report
Topic: Social Justice
In news: As early as 2013, the Justice J.S. Verma Committee, in its landmark report on gender laws, had recommended setting up of an employment tribunal instead of an internal complaints committee (ICC) in sweeping changes to the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Bill.
More on the Report:
- The panel was formed in the aftermath of the December 16 Nirbhaya gangrape in 2012 and the ensuing nationwide protests, and submitted its report on January 23, 2013.
- At that time of the submission of the report, the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill had already been passed by the Lok Sabha and was awaiting the Rajya Sabha’s nod. The Bill was passed unchanged by the Upper House a month later.
- The Committee, chaired by Justice Verma and including Justice Leila Seth and senior lawyer Gopal Subramanium, termed the Sexual Harassment Bill “unsatisfactory” and said it did not reflect the spirit of the Vishakha guidelines — framed by the Supreme Court in 1997 to curb sexual harassment at the workplace.
- The report noted that an internal complaints committee as laid down under the then proposed law would be “counter-productive” as dealing with such complaints in-house could discourage women from filing complaints. Instead, the committee proposed forming an employment tribunal to receive and adjudicate all complaints.
- To ensure speedy disposal of complaints, the Justice Verma Commitee proposed that the tribunal should not function as a civil court but may choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint.
- The Committee said any “unwelcome behaviour” should be seen from the subjective perception of the complainant, thus broadening the scope of the definition of sexual harassment.
- The Verma panel said an employer could be held liable if he or she facilitated sexual harassment, permitted an environment where sexual misconduct becomes widespread and systemic, where the employer fails to disclose the company’s policy on sexual harassment and ways in which workers can file a complaint as well as fails to forward a complaint to the tribunal.
- The company would also be liable to pay compensation to the complainant.
- The Verman panel also said that the time-limit of three months to file a complaint should be done away with and a complainant should not be transferred without her consent.
Source:The Hindu
World’s fastest camera can see light in slow motion
Topic: Science And Technology
In news: Scientists have developed what may be the world’s fastest camera, which can capture 10 trillion frames per second making it possible to ‘freeze time’ to see light in extremely slow motion.
More on the Topic
- The extraordinary camera, which the researchers describe in a paper published Monday in the journal Light: Science & Applications, builds on a technology called compressed ultrafast photography (CUP).
- It’ll be useful in biomedical and materials research.
- The advance may offer insight into as-yet undetectable secrets of the interactions between light and matter, say scientists from California Institute of Technology.
Source:Pib
BepiColombo
Topic:Science and Technology
In news: A European Space Agency’s (Esa) first mission to Mercury- BepiColombo, is all set for launch.
More on the Topic:
- British-built spacecraft will set off for Mercury this week in a mission which could finally determine if the nearest planet to the Sun has water.
- BepiColombo, one of the most ambitious missions ever undertaken by the European Space Agency (ESA), will send two orbiters to explore the fiery world where surface temperatures reach 842F (450C).
- Only two spacecraft have been to Mercury up to now, Nasa’s Mariner 10 which flew past in 1974 and 1975 and Nasa’s Messenger which orbited the planet between 2011 and 2015.
- It is hoped the expedition will answer questions raised by the previous missions such as whether the planet holds water. Despite being perilously close to the Sun, the tilt of planet means some areas are permanently in shade and temperatures can fall to -292F (-180C), allowing ice to form.
- In 2012, Messenger found ice at the planet’s North Pole but was unable to say whether it was water or sulphur. BepiColombo will also be able to confirm whether water ice is present at the South Pole.
- Messenger also found organic matter on the planet, and although scientists do not think life will be present, it could help them understand how it began on Earth.
- Researchers also want to learn more about Mercury’s magnetic field. Previously it was thought that the planet was solid all the way through but previous missions discovered a magnetic field suggesting it may have a molten interior.
- The spacecraft launches from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on will take seven years to reach Mercury arriving in late 2025.
Source:The Hindu
Einstein Prize
Topic: Awards and Honours
In news: Indian American Professor Abhay Ashtekar has been conferred with prestigious Einstein Prize for numerous and seminal contributions to general relativity, including the theory of black holes, canonical quantum gravity, and quantum cosmology.
More on the Topic:
- The Einstein Prize is a biennial prize awarded by the American Physical Society.
- The recipients are chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in the field of gravitational physics.
Source:The Hindu
