DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam –18th May 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography

Context: Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met at the historic Great Hall of the People, seat of power of the Chinese Communist Party, on Thursday (May 16), where a welcome ceremony for Russia’s leader included a guard of honour by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Background:-

• Putin’s two-day visit to China comes when Russia has taken a firm grip on the course of the war in Ukraine. Xi has just returned from a tour of Europe where he met with the President of France, as well as the leaders of Hungary and Serbia, both of whom are friends with Putin.

About Russia

• Russia or the Russian Federation is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia.
• It is the largest country in the world by area, extending across eleven time zones and sharing land borders with fourteen countries.
• Russia is bounded to the north and east by the Arctic and Pacific oceans, and it has small frontages in the northwest on the Baltic Sea at St. Petersburg and at the detached Russian oblast (region) of Kaliningrad (a part of what was once East Prussia annexed in 1945), which also abuts Poland and Lithuania.
• To the south Russia borders North Korea, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. To the southwest and west it borders Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as Finland and Norway.
• Russia has a maximum east-west extent of some 5,600 miles (9,000 km) and a north-south width of 1,500 to 2,500 miles (2,500 to 4,000 km).
• It is the world’s ninth-most populous country and Europe’s most populous country.
• Russia is a highly urbanized country consisting of 16 population centers with over million inhabitants. Its capital as well as its largest city is Moscow. Saint Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city and cultural capital.
• Once the preeminent republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.; commonly known as the Soviet Union), Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
• Russia has been militarily involved in a number of conflicts in former Soviet states and other countries, including its war with Georgia in 2008 and annexation of Crimea in 2014 from neighbouring Ukraine, followed by the further annexation of four other regions in 2022 during an ongoing invasion.
• Russia possesses the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and has the third-highest military expenditure.
• The country is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council; a member state of the G20, SCO, BRICS, APEC, OSCE, and WTO; and the leading member state of post-Soviet organisations such as CIS, CSTO, and EAEU/EEU.
• Russia contains Europe’s longest river, the Volga, and its largest lake, Ladoga. Russia also is home to the world’s deepest lake, Baikal, and the country recorded the world’s lowest temperature outside the North and South poles.
• There is an enormous variety of landforms and landscapes, which occur mainly in a series of broad latitudinal belts. Arctic deserts lie in the extreme north, giving way southward to the tundra and then to the forest zones, which cover about half of the country and give it much of its character.
• On the basis of geologic structure and relief, Russia can be divided into two main parts—western and eastern—roughly along the line of the Yenisey River. In the western section, which occupies some two-fifths of Russia’s total area, lowland plains predominate over vast areas broken only by low hills and plateaus. In the eastern section the bulk of the terrain is mountainous, although there are some extensive lowlands.
• Given these topological factors, Russia may be subdivided into six main relief regions: the Kola-Karelian region, the Russian Plain, the Ural Mountains, the West Siberian Plain, the Central Siberian Plateau, and the mountains of the south and east.

Source: Britannica

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: With nearly twice the number of pilgrims embarking on the Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand since it commenced on May 10, the state government has reported the death of 11 pilgrims in the first five days.

Background:

• The pilgrimage to Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath Dham commenced on May 10, while the doors to Badrinath Dham opened on May 12. Over 1.55 lakh pilgrims have already journeyed to Kedarnath, over 70,000 to Yamunotri, and over 63,000 to Gangotri. Within just three days, Badrinath Dham has welcomed over 45,000 pilgrims.

About CHAR DHAM YATRA

• The Chota Char Dham Yatra is a significant pilgrimage in India, particularly in the state of Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods. The term ‘Char Dham’ in Hindi translates to ‘four religious destinations’.
• This Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites nestled high up in the Himalayas.The pilgrimage sites are Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarkashi district, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag and Badrinath in Chamoli. While Kedarnath is the highest at around 11,700 ft, Gangotri is the lowest at around 10,200 ft.
• Yamunotri: The Yamunotri temple is lodged in a narrow gorge close to the source of River Yamuna, the second-most sacred Indian river after River Ganga, in Uttarkashi district. It is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna.
• Gangotri: Located in the Uttarkashi district, Gangotri is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers.
• Kedarnath: Located in the Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Badrinath: Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• The Yatra is believed to be completed in a clockwise direction, starting from Yamunotri, proceeding towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ending at Badrinath.
• The high-altitude shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summers (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). Some devotees even do a Do Dham Yatra or a pilgrimage to two shrines – Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Additional Information:

• The Char Dham Yatra in India comprises Chota Char Dham and the Bada Char Dham. While the Chota Char Dham involves four sacred sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—nestled in the picturesque Himalayan peaks, the Bada Char Dham consists of four dhams of utmost significance—Badrinath, Rameswaram, Puri, and Dwarka.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced a lowering of retail prices for 41 essential drugs and revised ceiling rates of seven scheduled formulations.

Background:

• The revision of ceiling prices is a routine exercise undertaken by the NPPA.

About NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY (NPPA) :

• NPPA was constituted by the Government of India in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as an independent regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
• It was made to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013 (DPCO).

Mandate

• To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
• To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the NPPA.
• To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages and to take remedial steps.
• To collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations and undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals.

Source: Business Standard

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The 7th edition of India- France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced recently at Umroi, in a fully developed and modern Foreign Training Node in Meghalaya.

Background:

• The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 13th to 26th May 2024.

ABOUT EXERCISE SHAKTI :

• Exercise Shakti is a bilateral joint military exercise between the armies of India and France.It is a biennial training event conducted alternatively in India and France. Last edition was conducted in France in November 2021.
• The exercise started in 2011, and since then, it has been undertaken to promote defence cooperation and interoperability.

7th edition of Exercise Shakti

• The latest, 7th edition of Exercise Shakti commenced on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Umroi, Meghalaya.
• The aim of this exercise is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario.
• The Indian contingent is primarily represented by a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment, with observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The French contingent is mainly represented by personnel from the 13th Foreign Legion Half- Brigade (13th DBLE).
• The joint exercise focuses on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
• Objectives include achieving a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at a tactical level, and sharing best practices.
• Tactical drills practiced during the exercise include response to a terrorist action of capturing a defined territory, establishment of a Joint Command Post, establishment of an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, securing of a helipad/ landing site, Small Team Insertion & Extraction, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon & Search Operations, and employment of drones and counter-drone systems.
• Exercise Shakti enables the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures of conducting joint operations. This joint exercise fosters inter-operability, bonhomie, and camaraderie between armed forces personnel of the two countries. It also enhances the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

Source: Times of India

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in collaboration with Microsoft, has blocked more than 1,000 Skype IDs involved in blackmail, extortion, and “digital arrests” by cybercriminals posing as police and law enforcement authorities, the Union Home Ministry said

Background:

• The Ministry said this was an organised online economic crime and was learnt to be operated by cross-border crime syndicates.The Ministry said that a a large number of complaints were being reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) regarding such frauds by cybercriminals posing as officials of the Police Department, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Enforcement Directorate, and other law enforcement agencies.

About INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTER (I4C) :

• Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to deal with cyber crime in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
• I4C focuses on tackling all the issues related to Cybercrime for the citizens, which includes improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies and the stakeholders, driving change in India’s overall capability to tackle Cybercrime and to improve citizen satisfaction levels.
• Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre scheme was approved on 05th October 2018. Since its roll out, it has worked towards enhancing the nation’s collective capability to tackle cybercrimes and develop effective coordination among the Law Enforcement Agencies.
• A citizen-centric National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) is one among the achievements of I4C.
• Another initiative of I4C, National Cybercrime Helpline number 1930, is helping the common citizen in registering online financial frauds.

Objectives of I4C

• To act as a nodal point to curb Cybercrime in the country.
• To strengthen the fight against Cybercrime committed against women and children.
• Facilitate easy filing Cybercrime related complaints and identifying Cybercrime trends and patterns.
• To act as an early warning system for Law Enforcement Agencies for proactive Cybercrime prevention and detection.
• Awareness creation among public about preventing Cybercrime.
• Assist States/UTs in capacity building of Police Officers, Public Prosecutors and Judicial Officers in the area of cyber forensic, investigation, cyber hygiene, cyber-criminology, etc.

Source: Hindu

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: Balanced fertilization — discouraging farmers from applying too much urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), or muriate of potash (MOP), which only have primary nutrients in high concentrations — is likely to be a key policy goal for the government taking over after the Lok Sabha elections.

Background:

• The fiscal ended March 2024 saw urea consumption hit a record 35.8 million tonnes (mt), 16.9% higher than the 30.6 mt in 2013-14, the year before the Narendra Modi government came to power.

Balanced Fertilization:

• It is a practice in agriculture that focuses on providing plants with the optimal amounts of nutrients that are needed for their healthy growth and development.
• Balanced fertilization emphasizes supplying these essential nutrients in the correct ratios based on several factors:
• Different soil types have varying levels of inherent nutrients. Testing the soil reveals its nutrient profile, guiding fertilizer selection and application rates.
• Different crops have specific nutrient needs at different stages of growth. For example, legumes might require more nitrogen for nitrogen fixation, while fruits might benefit from additional potassium for better quality.

Benefits/Significance of Balanced Fertilization:

• By providing the optimal mix of nutrients, plants can grow to their full potential, leading to higher yields.
• Balanced nutrients contribute to stronger plants with better resistance to pests and diseases, ultimately improving the quality of the harvest.
• Overuse of single-nutrient fertilizers can disrupt soil health. Balanced fertilization helps maintain a healthy soil ecosystem, promoting long-term sustainability.
• Excessive fertilizer application can contribute to nutrient runoff, polluting water bodies. Balanced use minimizes this risk.
• By preventing over-fertilization and nutrient deficiencies, balanced fertilization can optimize resource utilization and reduce overall fertilizer costs.

Issues/Challenges related to Balanced Fertilization:

• Urea, a single-nutrient nitrogen fertilizer, is heavily subsidized by the government, making it cheaper than other fertilizers like DAP (diammonium phosphate) containing phosphorus and MOP (muriate of potash) containing potassium. This incentivizes the overuse of urea and neglects other crucial nutrients.
• The current system for setting fertilizer prices fails to consider market forces, leading to imbalances. For example, the price of Muriate of Potash (MOP), a key source of potassium, is too high for both farmers using it directly and fertilizer companies including it in blends. This discourages MOP use, contributing to widespread potassium deficiencies in Indian farms.
• The lack of adequate soil testing facilities in the rural and remote areas of India makes it difficult for farmers to access them for balanced fertilization. Even if tests are done, interpreting the results and translating them into fertilizer recommendations requires proper training and mechanisms for both farmers and extension workers.
• Traditional practices and limited knowledge mostly hinder the adoption of balanced fertilization techniques. It is due to the lack of precise fertilizer application techniques resulting in issues of over-fertilization and under-fertilization along with a limited focus on micronutrients.
• The Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme, meant to encourage balanced use, failed because it didn’t address urea pricing. Urea consumption continued to rise despite NBS.

Way Forward:

• Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) recognizes the limitations of relying solely on chemical fertilisers or organic matter. It advocates for a holistic approach that combines:
• Chemical fertilizers provide essential nutrients like NPK.
• Organic matter improves soil health, water retention, and nutrient availability. This includes manure (cow dung), compost, and crop residues (dhaincha crop).
• Crop rotation introducing diverse crops helps break pest and disease cycles and improves nutrient utilization.
• Customized fertilizers are multi-nutrient carriers containing macro and micronutrients for satisfying crop needs that are site-specific and validated by scientific crop models. It is the emerging concept based on the balanced nutrient fertilization approach to address the crops’ multiple nutrient needs.
• Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) tailors fertilizer recommendations based on specific soil types, crop variety, and climatic conditions. It considers nutrient uptake by the crop and soil nutrient availability.
• The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integration System (DRIS) analyses plant tissue for nutrient ratios (e.g., N/P, N/K) and compares them to established optimal ratios for high yields. Deficient nutrients are then supplemented through top dressing. (More suitable for long-duration crops).
• Equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to implement these approaches effectively.
• Ensuring the availability of customized fertilizers and micronutrients at reasonable prices.
• Encouraging the use of balanced fertilizers through targeted subsidies and promoting sustainable practices.
• Developing new technologies and crop-specific nutrient management solutions.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements about National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India (NPPA);

1. The NPPA monitors the prices of scheduled as well as non-scheduled medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order.
2. NPPA was constituted by the Government of India in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
3. NPPA, under its Central Sector Scheme named Consumer Awareness, Publicity and Price Monitoring (CAPPM) has set up Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) in various states.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2.) Arrange the following pilgrimage sites from west to east

1. Yamunotri
2. Badrinath
3. Kedarnath
4. Gangotri

Select the correct answer using the code below:

1. 1-3-4-2
2. 3-4-2-1
3. 2-4-3-1
4. 1-4-3-2

Q3.) Consider the following countries:

1. Poland
2. Lithuania
3. Norway
4. Finland
5. Azerbaijan
6. Mongolia
7. Slovakia

How many of the above mentioned countries share land border with Russia?

1. Three only
2. Four only
3. Five only
4. Six only

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  18th May 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – d