UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | August 5 to August 11, 2024
World Lion Day, Imazethapyr, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, India at the Paris Olympics and more — Here are some must read current affairs tidbits for your prelims and mains preparation that you shouldn't miss for UPSC, state PSCs, and other competitive examinations. You can also test your knowledge by solving the MCQs.
Men's javelin silver medalist, Neeraj Chopra, of India, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics. (AP | PTI) UPSC Current Affairs Pointers is an initiative of UPSC Essentials to consolidate your prelims exam prep. Every Monday, take a quick look at last week’s current affairs tidbits curated specially for those preparing for UPSC, State PSC, and various other competitive examinations.
If you missed the UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | July 29 to August 4, 2024 from the Indian Express, read it here.
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Polity
It further read that the CPP will have three components — Clean Plant Centres (CPCs), certification and legal framework, and enhanced Infrastructure. “The programme will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.” (Representational)
— The Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), with an outlay of Rs 1,765.67 crore, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
— Nine world-class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) will be established across India.
— These include Grapes (NRC, Pune), Temperate Fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts etc. (CITH, Srinagar &Mukteshwar), Citrus Fruits (CCRI, Nagpur & CIAH, Bikaner), Mango/Guava/Avacado (IIHR, Bangaluru), Mango/Guava/Litchi (CISH, Lucknow), Pomegranate (NRC, Sholapur) and Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruits in Eastern India.
(Source: PIB)
Environment
Chhattisgarh’s tiger population fell from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, according to a National Tiger Conservation Authority report released in July 2023. (File)
— The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, which integrates an existing national park with a wildlife sanctuary, is Chhattisgarh’s fourth reserve for the big cats.
— It spans 2,829 square kilometres across districts Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur and Balrampur of the state.
— Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the country’s largest tiger reserve, covering 3,296.31 sq km. Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam is the second largest with an area of 2,837.1 sq km. Both have 58 tigers.
— Nearly two years after a tusker was found dead, a range officer and 2 forest guards have been suspended for allegedly burning its carcass in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
— It is set in the middle of the Kaimur hill ranges of Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
— Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve lies between two other major protected Areas of Madhya Pradesh: Kanha Tiger Reserve on the southern side and Sanjay National Park on the northeastern side.
— Major species include Tiger, Leopard, Dhole (Indian Wild Dog), Bengal or Indian Fox, Sloth Bear, Smooth-coated Otter, Indian Rock Pyhton, and Rusty Spotted Cat.
— The wildfires in the United States and Canada have become so intense that they are creating rare pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds, capable of generating thunderstorms and sparking new fires, have become increasingly common.
— Pyrocumulonimbus clouds form from extreme heat in wildfires or volcanic eruptions, causing hot air, smoke, and ash to rise and cool, leading to cloud formation. These clouds can produce lightning and strong winds, spreading fires further. The rise in their occurrence may be linked to climate change, as more frequent and intense wildfires become the norm globally.
— It is a class of herbicides that control weeds and grasses that affect the growth of crop plants by competing with them for nutrients, water, and sunlight.
— The current kharif season has seen the commercial planting of two basmati varieties and two non-basmati rice hybrids. These contain a mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene that enables farmers to spray Imazethapyr for controlling weeds in rice, such as Echinochloa colona (commonly called jangli chawal), Cyperus rotundus (motha) and Trianthema portulacastrum (patthar-chatta).
Important Days
Asiatic Lion
- World Lion Day
— World Lion Day is celebrated on August 10 to bring people together from across the globe to pay tribute to the mighty lion.
— It was initiated by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats.
— India is home to the Asiatic lion, found only in the Gir Forest.
(Source: PIB)
— August 10 is annually celebrated as the World Biofuel Day to highlight the significance of biofuel.
— The day also commemorates the successful operation of an engine on peanut oil by German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel on August 9, 1893.
International
President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere (right) confers the Companion of the Order of Fiji upon President Droupadi Murmu (left), in Suva, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (PTI Photo)
- First leg of President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste
— The President arrived in Suva, Fiji on August 6, 2024. This marked the first-ever visit of an Indian Head of State to Fiji. She was honoured with Fiji’s highest civilian award, the ‘Companion of the Order of Fiji,’ by President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere. She praised the determination and resilience of the ‘Girmitiya’ indentured laborers who arrived in Fiji 145 years ago.
— The President landed in Wellington, New Zealand on August 8, 2024. She was received by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro with a traditional ‘Maori Powhiri’ ceremony and accorded Royal Guard of Honour.
— The President reached Dili, Timor-Leste on August 10, 2024 on the final leg of her state visit. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to this country. She was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest civilian award.
- Exercise Udara Shakti 2024
— It is a joint air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) which was conducted from 5 to 9 August 2024 at Kuantan, Malaysia.
— The IAF participated with Su-30MKI fighter jets.
Diseases
— Researchers in the UK have recommended that new limits to a person’s daily exposure to silica dust in the construction, mining, dentistry and other industries could save about 13,000 lives worldwide.
— Silicosis is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs. It is caused by silica dust or silica crystals, which are found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite and artificial stone.
— It can take a long time for silicosis to develop — typically 10 to 20 years of occupational exposure to silica dust.
(Just FYI: UPSC has consistently included questions on health and diseases in its examinations over the years. For instance, in 2014, a question about the Ebola virus appeared in the Prelims, and in 2017, a question about the Zika virus was featured. Therefore, it is crucial to stay updated on diseases that are currently in the news.)
Persons in News
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, smiles as he arrives at the Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 8, 2024. (REUTERS Photo)
— Muhammad Yunus, the winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has become the chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh.
— He was the Founder of Grameen Bank which was established in 1983 to grant poor people small loans on easy terms – so-called micro-credit.
— Former chief minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away on August, 8 at the age of 80.
— In 2022, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan, but he refused to accept it.
— Bharatanatyam veteran Yamini Krishnamurthy died on 3rd August 2024 at the age of 84.
— Ms. Krishnamurthy was awarded the Padma Shri at just 28 in 1968, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2001, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.
— The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the new Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender.
— He will take over from the current Chairman, Dinesh Kumar Khara, who is set to retire on August 28.
Places in News
Locations of the newly named underwater structures in the South Indian Ocean. (Photo: NCPOR)
— Three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean have been awarded names proposed by India. These are the Ashoka seamount, the Chandragupta ridge, and the Kalpataru ridge.
— All the three recently named structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
— These are located along the Southwest Indian Ridge area of the Indian Ocean and were discovered during an international survey exploration programme.
— In all, there are now seven structures in the Indian Ocean named mainly after Indian scientists or bear names proposed by India in this region of the Indian Ocean.
— Mullaperiyar dam, an age-old issue, was raised in the Parliament during the Monsoon session. Kerala maintains that the 130-year-old dam is unsafe but Tamil Nadu opposes its demand to build a new one.
— The Mullaperiyar Dam is situated on the Periyar River in Kerala but its ownership and operation rights belong to Tamil Nadu.
— The dam, constructed in 1895 during British rule, was designed to divert water from the west-flowing Periyar to the arid regions of Tamil Nadu for irrigation.
Mullaperiyar dam
(Just FYI: The location of the place is important, considering that UPSC has asked several questions about places that were in the news, such as Aleppo and Kirkuk, in the 2018 UPSC Prelims. The best way to remember them is to plot them on a world map.)
Sports
The Indian hockey team, led by 28-year-old captain Harmanpreet Singh, secured a 2-1 victory over Spain to win the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. (AP/PTI)
-
India at the Paris Olympics
— Neeraj Chopra won the Silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a remarkable javelin throw of 89.45 m. This made him the first Indian to win Gold and Silver medals at the Olympics. Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan won the gold medal with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 m. He won Pakistan’s first medal at the Olympics – of any colour, in any sport – since 1992.
— The Indian Hockey team won the Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics defeating Spain with 2-1. The victory marks India’s 13th Olympic medal in hockey, their fourth bronze and a second consecutive bronze after winning one at Tokyo 2020. It is also the first time since 1972 that the nation has won back-to-back medals in hockey.
— Aman Sehrawat won the bronze in the men’s freestyle 57kg event at the Paris 2024 Olympics wrestling tournament. He became India’s youngest medal winner at the Summer Games. This was India’s first medal in wrestling at Paris 2024. In wrestling, this was India’s eighth medal at the Olympics.
| Medal Tally | |||||
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1. | United States of America | 40 | 44 | 42 | 126 |
| 2. | People’s Republic of China | 40 | 27 | 24 | 91 |
| 3. | Japan | 20 | 12 | 13 | 45 |
| 71. | India | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
(Just FYI: With the unpredictability of the UPSC examinations and questions like the ICC World Test Championship question 2021, you can’t be sure of anything. It is wise to know what it is and not go into too much detail.)
Awards
(From left to right) Rohit Srivastava, Purabi Saikia, Bappi Paul and Vivek Polshettiwar are Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees. (Express Photo)
— The RVP comprises four awards — Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement, Vigyan Shri for scientists of all ages, Vigyan Yuva for scientists under 45 years, and Vigyan Team for collaborative research work.
— The award ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on August 23, the first National Space Day.
— These new awards were instituted last year after disbanding all existing science awards, including the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. Vigyan Yuva is a replacement for the Bhatnagar Prize, which too used to be given to outstanding scientists below 45 years old.
| Category | Winners |
| Vigyan Ratna | Govindraj Padmanabhan(86), a celebrated biochemist known for his work on the malaria parasite |
| Vigyan Shri | Annapurni Subramaniam, Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar, Naba Kumar Mondal, and more |
| Vigyan Yuva | Vivek Polshettiwar of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, a chemist who works on carbon capture technologies; Urbasi Sinha of Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, a leading expert in quantum research; and Roxy Mathew Koll of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, a climate scientist. |
| Vigyan Team | The Chandrayaan-3 team |
Terms making buzz
— Project PARI (Public Art of India): It is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate and enhance the public art scene in India. This project is executed by the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi from July 21-31, 2024. PARI aims to stimulate dialogue and reflection through public art that blends India’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary themes.
— Bailey bridge: A Bailey bridge is a type of modular bridge whose parts are pre-built, so they can be put together quickly as needed. An English civil engineer named Donald Coleman Bailey is credited with inventing it during World War II. The Indian Army has assembled a Bailey bridge at Chooralmala to reach Mundakkai village, one of the sites worst hit by the landslides in Wayanad.
— Yen carry trade: The yen carry trade involves borrowing in Japan, where interest rates are extremely low, and investing in countries with higher interest rates. Investors profit from the difference, but unwinding this trade can impact global markets.
Test Your Knowledge
(Note: The best way to remember facts for UPSC and other competitive exams is to recall them through MCQs. Try to solve the following questions on your own.)
A. Consider the following statements:
1. Silicosis is a heart disease that causes the blockage of arteries.
2. It is caused due to exposure to silica dust or silica crystals.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
B. Who became the first recipient of the Vigyan Ratna Award?
(a) G. Padmanabhan
(b) Vivek Polshettiwar
(c) Annapurni Subramaniam
(d) Roxy Mathew Koll
C. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is located in which of the following states?
(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Chhattisgarh
(c) Karnataka
(d) Gujarat
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Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and pos... Read More
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