UPSC Current Affairs Pointers brings you essential current affairs of the past week, every Monday, to help you ace your Prelims and Mains preparation of UPSC, State PCS, and other competitive examinations. If you missed the UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | December 23 to December 29, 2024, from the Indian Express, read it here. Polity PMFBY and RWBCIS — The Union Cabinet on January 1, 2025, approved the continuation of two crop insurance schemes — the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) until 2025-26. — PMFBY was launched in 2016 to replace the existing National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS). The scheme was initially compulsory for loanee farmers; in February 2020, the Centre revised it to make it optional for all farmers. — Under the PMFBY, a farmer is required to pay as a premium 2% of the sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, for all kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops; 1.5% of sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, for all rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops; and 5% for horticultural crops. — While PMFBY is based on yield, RWBCIS is based on proxies. Farmers are provided insurance protection against adverse weather conditions such as excess rainfall, wind, and temperature. The number of insured farmers under RWBCIS is relatively low. FIAT — The government approved the creation of the Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) with a corpus of Rs.824.77 crore. — The FIAT would be used towards funding technological initiatives under schemes such as Yield Estimation System using Technology (YES-TECH), Weather Information and Network Data Systems (WINDS), etc, as well as research and development studies. — YES-TECH uses Remote Sensing Technology for yield estimation with a minimum 30 per cent weightage to technology-based yield estimates. Nine states — Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka — are implementing it. — WINDS, the statement said, envisages setting up Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at the block level and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs) at the Panchayat level. “Under WINDS, a 5 times increase in current network density is envisaged to develop hyper-local weather data. Under the initiative, only data rental costs are payable by Central and State Governments,” it said. Good Governance Index — The Centre has decided not to release the Good Governance Index 2023, the biennial ranking of states and Union Territories (UTs) scheduled to be released during Good Governance Week (December 19 to December 25), and is now planning to publish the next edition in 2025. — It was launched on December 25, 2019 on the birth anniversary of late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which is observed as Good Governance Day. — The index covers over 50 indicators across sectors, including agriculture, economic governance, public health, and citizen-centric governance. — Tamil Nadu and Gujarat got first place among big states in the 2019 and 2021 rankings, respectively. Environment 2024 was India’s warmest year — According to the India Meteorological Department, India experienced its warmest year since 1901, beating the previous temperature record of 2016. — The annual mean land surface temperature averaged over the country was up by 0.65 degrees Celsius, making 2024 the warmest in 123 years. Globally also, the year gone by was racing to become the warmest ever, but the official announcement in this regard is awaited. — IMD’s temperature data (long period average based on 1991 – 2020) suggested that the top five warmest years have been : 2016 (0.54 degrees Celsius), 2009 (0.40 degrees Celsius), 2010 (0.39 degrees Celsius) and 2017 (0.38 degrees Celsius). Science and Technology SpaDeX Mission — SpaDeX mission was lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on December 30 by PSLV-C60 and successfully placed two satellites in the desired lower earth orbit. — The SpaDeX or Space Docking Experiment is key to ISRO’s future missions – sample return from the Moon, an Indian on the Moon, the building and operation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). — The success of this mission will make India the fourth country in the world with space docking technology – after Russia (the former USSR), US and China. — Two small satellites– the SDX01 Chaser and SDX02 Target, injected in a 475-km circular orbit after the launch, will demonstrate the docking. — The Chaser satellite has a high resolution camera on board – a miniature version of a surveillance camera. The Target is carrying a multispectral payload that will be used for monitoring natural resources and vegetation along with a radiation monitor that will study space radiation and create a database. — The fourth stage of the launch vehicle will be used as POEM – or PS4 Orbital Experiment Module – to demonstrate 24 technologies, including 10 technologies from start-ups and educational institutions. — This will be the first time an ISRO mission will carry a biological experiment. The CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) experiment will see the germination of seed and sustenance of a plant up to a two-leaf stage. Parker Solar Probe — NASA scientists announced on Friday (December 28) that the Parker Solar Probe survived the closest-ever approach to the Sun. — Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe was developed as part of NASA’s Living With a Star program to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society on Earth. — It is designed to make observations of the Sun’s upper atmosphere, known as the corona, and carries four instrument suites. Neutrinos — Scientists have deployed telescopes under the Mediterranean Sea to detect the high-energy neutrinos also known as ghost particles. The two telescopes are part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope or KM3NeT. — These telescopes are much like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which can detect high-energy neutrinos from deep space but is under the frozen ice in the Antarctic rather than being in the water — Neutrinos are tiny particles, very similar to electrons, but without any electric charge. They are miniscule subatomic particles that hardly interact with anything. — They were first detected in 1959, though their existence was predicted almost three decades earlier, in 1931. — KM3NeT is a deep-sea research infrastructure in the Mediterranean Sea, comprising a neutrino telescope with a volume of at least one cubic kilometre. It uses Cherenkov radiation to study neutrinos. Air-to-ground (ATG) technology — Air India welcomed the new year by announcing the availability of Wi-Fi Internet access services on domestic and international flights operated by chosen aircraft in its fleet. — In-flight communication systems rely on ground-based cellular towers, commonly known as air-to-ground (ATG) technology, and satellite-based connectivity. Both require the installation of special antennae and other equipment on the aircraft. Diseases (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.) HMPV — The Union Health Ministry has convened a joint monitoring group and has sought timely updates from the World Health Organisation after reports of increasing cases of respiratory illnesses likely HMPV in China. — HMPV or human metapneumovirus is similar to RSV — which is a common pathogen that leads to common cold — and leads to symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, and sore throat. It may sometimes lead to more severe symptoms like pneumonia among the very young and the elderly. Norovirus — The stomach infection norovirus is causing alarm in the United States. In India, norovirus has previously affected people in Kerala, although on a much smaller scale compared to the numbers in the US. — Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is also sometimes referred to as the ‘winter vomiting bug’. It can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is oral-faecal. — It is similar to diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus and infects people across age groups. Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces. Persons in News (Just FYI: Noting historical personalities' anniversaries aids UPSC prep. UPSC often includes such personalities in questions, so revisiting their lives refreshes your static syllabus.) Jimmy Carter — Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the US, passed away Sunday in his home in Plains, Georgia, The Carter Center announced. He was 100. — Carter, who served as the president from 1977 to 1981, lived longer than any president in the history of the US. — He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights, and working for social welfare. — The high-point of his presidential term was the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. K S Manilal — Renowned taxonomist K S Manilal, who was conferred with Padma Shri, died in Kerala’s Thrissur after a prolonged illness. He was 86. — Among his contributions to botanical research, Kattungal Subramaniam Manilal is best known for research, annotation and translation of the botanical treatise in Latin, Hortus Malabaricus, which is the oldest comprehensive printed book on the natural plant wealth of Asia and medicinal properties of the flora in the Western coast of India, particularly Kerala, Karnataka and Goa. — He was the founder of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy and was also honoured by the Netherlands with the ‘Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassu Award’, one of the highest civilian awards given by the country. Sree Narayana Guru — The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala and BJP have locked horns now over Sree Narayana Guru. — Sree Narayana Guru (20 August 1856 – 20 September 1928) was a saint, philosopher, spiritual leader, and a social reformer from Kerala. — Guru’s teachings and philosophy – dating back to the early part of the last century – have come to be known as Advaita Vedanta. It is a doctrine of “non-duality”, in which Guru says that the “ultimate reality” or “Brahman” is singular and indivisible, and that the “individual self” or “Atman” is one with this universal essence. — His teachings call for individuals to turn inwards, recognise their “divine nature”, and embrace “the interconnectedness of all beings”. Dr R Chidambaram — A former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and a former Principal Scientific Advisor, Chidambaram passed away at the age of 88. — The idea to explode a thermonuclear device — the hydrogen bomb — during the 1998 tests could be largely attributed to him. Places in News (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.) Pangong Tso lake — The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was unveiled on the banks of the Pangong Tso lake, at an altitude of 14,300 feet, in Eastern Ladakh on December 26. — The statue was inaugurated by officers of the Maratha Light Infantry. Winter Char Dham circuit — The Uttarakhand government on December 8 inaugurated the winter Char Dham circuit, aimed at drawing tourists to the state in the off-season winter months. — The four revered Hindu shrines or dhams — Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath- collectively known as Char Dham. — During the winter months, the presiding deities of these temples are brought to shrines at lower altitudes — Mukhba in Uttarkashi is the winter seat of Gangotri Dham; Kharsali in Uttarkashi is the winter seat of Yamunotri Dham; Kedarnath’s winter abode is the Omkareshwar Temple in Rudraprayag’s Ukhimath; and Badrinath’s is at Pandukeshwar in Chamoli. — The winter Char Dham is aimed at drawing pilgrims to these shrines, and thus attract tourist footfall to Uttarakhand during off-season months. Art & Culture Takanakuy festival — This unique annual celebration called Takanakuy takes place in the town of Chumbivilcas province near Cuzco in Peru on December 25, every year. — The ancient tradition was inherited from the pre-Hispanic Chanka culture. It said this tradition serves as a way for community members to resolve conflicts and start the new year with a clean slate. — The bouts are typically supervised by local authorities or community elders to ensure they remain controlled and respectful. After the fights, a crucial component of the festival is the collective drinking, symbolizing reconciliation and unity. Tamu Loshar — Gurung community in Nepal marks its new year by celebrating Tamu Loshar. — In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year or age and ‘Sar’ denotes change. Members of the Gurung community mark the festival by organizing feasts and cultural programs. Miscellaneous 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas — Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo will be the chief guest at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) programme to be held in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10. — President Kangaloo is a descendent of Indian indentured workers who went to the Carribean islands in late 1800s. January 9 was selected as the date when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. Sports (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.) World Blitz Championship — R Vaishali won the bronze medal at the World Blitz Championship after reaching the semi-finals at the year-end event at New York’s Wall Street. — Ju Wenjun clinched the women’s blitz crown by defeating Lei Tingjie in the final. Vaishali had lost to Wenjun in the semis and finished behind the two Chinese women. — In the men’s section, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the title after both players won two games each in the final and three tie-break games were drawn. Koneru Humpy — Humpy was crowned FIDE Women’s World Rapid Champion, clinching her second title in this tournament. — The 37-year-old from Vijayawada won the women’s World rapid championship after defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in the final round. This is the second World rapid title for Humpy, which she won first in 2019. National Sports Awards 2024 — Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years. — Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. — Praveen Kumar, D Gukesh, Manu Bhaker and Harmanpreet Singh will be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The ministry also announced 32 Arjuna Awardees. — The Khel Ratna winners receive a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation and a medallion. The Arjuna awardees are given Rs 15 lakh as cash reward, a statuette of Arjuna and a citation. The award ceremony will be held in New Delhi on January 17. Terms making buzz — Generation Beta: It refers to the group of children born between the years 2025 and 2039. It is said that children in this generation will be faster than those in Generation Z (Gen Z) and Generation Alpha. 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. Tama Loshar is celebrated by which of the following communities? (a) Baiga (b) Gurung (c) Gonds (d) Angami B. In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news: 1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice. 2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter. 3. It is buried deep in the ice. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 C. Consider the following statements about Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD): 1. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated annually on January 9th. 2. The event is organised in India and Trinidad and Tobago to recognize the contributions of the Indian diaspora. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Previous Articles UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | December 23 to December 29, 2024 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | December 16 to December 22, 2024 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | December 9 to December 15, 2024 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | December 2 to December 8, 2024 For your answers, queries and suggestions write at khushboo.kumari@indianexpress.com Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the December issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. 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