DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th July 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Education Ministry has stopped funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the flagship school education programme, to Delhi, Punjab and West Bengal because of their reluctance to participate in the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme.

Background:-

• Delhi and Punjab refused to participate since the two states, ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party, already run a similar scheme for exemplar schools called “Schools of Eminence”. West Bengal opposed prefixing “PM-SHRI” to the names of their schools.

About Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI)

• The PM SHRI is a centrally sponsored scheme initiated by the Government of India.
• Its objective is to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools, overseen by the Central Government, State/UT Governments, local bodies, as well as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
• These schools aim to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for every student, ensuring their well-being and providing a secure and enriching learning environment.
• The goal is to offer a diverse range of learning experiences and ensure access to good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources for all students.
• These schools will not only focus on enhancing cognitive development but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st-century skills.
• The pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly in the foundational years), inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable.
• The focus will be on the learning outcomes of every child in every grade. Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real-life situations and will be competency-based.
• PM SHRI Schools will help showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar Schools over a period of time.

Source: Business Standard

Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The development of various weight loss drugs has revolutionized obesity treatment, particularly in the west. However, these drugs have yet to become available in India due to pending regulatory clearances and high demand abroad. This may soon change, as last week, for the first time, an expert committee of India’s drug regulator approved the drug tirzepatide.

Background:

• Following a review of the expert committees recommendation, the regulator is expected to give final approval, allowing the drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, to launch the product in the Indian market.

Diabetes drug for weight loss

• In 2017, the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, with the active ingredient semaglutide, to manage type 2 diabetes. Soon, doctors in the US saw an interesting side-effect — weight loss.
• They started prescribing Ozempic off-label (the practice of prescribing a drug for a different purpose than what has been approved) to treat obesity.
• This made Novo Nordisk explore semaglutide as a weight loss drug for people without diabetes. In 2021, the company released Wegovy, a semaglutide injection, as an FDA-approved obesity treatment. The key difference between Ozempic and Wegovy: the maximum approved dose of semaglutide is slightly higher with Wegovy than Ozempic.
• In November 2023, Eli Lilly, another US pharma major, got FDA approval for the drug Zepbound to treat obesity. This came just over a year after its type 2 diabetes medication, Mounjaro, was launched.
• Like Ozempic, Mounjaro too led to weight loss among users, and began to see rampant off-label use. Zepbound and Mounjaro contain tirzepatide as the active ingredient. Both face shortages in the global market.

Semaglutide vs tirzepatide

• The FDA has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management in adults.
• These drugs can be prescribed to those who are obese (with a body mass index of over 30), or overweight (with a BMI between 27 and 30), and have at least one other health condition related to their weight (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes).
• Both are administered as under-the-skin injections, and are intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
• Semaglutide and tirzepatide are polypeptides, small proteins that boost the levels of naturally-occurring hormones in the body, including that of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1), which control weight through the brain and digestive tract.
• Higher GLP-1 levels, released in the gut, spark a reaction by stimulating neurons that alter gut function, leading to a sense of fullness. This process also taps into a brain mechanism that lights up neural pathways, triggering the sensation of satiety — the feeling of being satisfied and having had enough to eat.
• They also help manage glucose levels, making them an effective treatment for diabetes.
• Semaglutide only targets GLP-1 receptors. On the other hand, tirzepatide also boosts a second hormone: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). The GIP also regulates weight through receptors in brain and fat cells.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has issued guidelines for its members involved in the sustainable harvest and trade of rosewood specimens.

Background:

• CITES oversees the international trade of various rosewood species, including those in the genera Dalbergia, Afzelia, Khaya and Pterocarpus. Currently, these species are listed in Appendix II, indicating they are not immediately threatened with extinction but could be at risk if their trade is not regulated.

About Rosewood:

• Genuine rosewoods belong to the genus Dalbergia.
• The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated in the Western world is the wood of Dalbergia nigra. It is best known as “Brazilian rosewood”. This wood has a strong, sweet smell, which persists for many years, explaining the name rosewood.
• Another classic rosewood comes from Dalbergia latifolia, known as Indian rosewood. It is native to low-elevation tropical monsoon forests of south east India.
  • It grows as both an evergreen and a deciduous tree in the deciduous monsoon forests of India.
  • The tree produces a hard, durable, heavy wood that, when properly cured, is durable and resistant to rot and insects.
  • Wood from the tree is used in premium furniture making and cabinetry, guitar bodies and fretboards, exotic veneers, carvings, boats, skis, and for reforestation.
  • Under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 the exportation of lumber products from wild harvested D. latifolia is illegal.
• Another one is Dalbergia sissoo, known commonly as North Indian rosewood or shisham.
• It is a fast-growing, hardy, deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran.

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Security agencies have seized a Chinese shipment of internationally banned chemicals, apparently intended for Pakistan’s biological and chemical warfare program, at a port in Tamil Nadu.

Background:

• Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile, also known as CS is used as a tear gas and riot control agent. CS is a dual-use chemical listed under international agreements and India’s export control list. While it has civilian applications as riot control agents, the sheer quantity seized raises concerns about its potential military use.

National commitment to international conventions and regimes :

• India is a signatory to international conventions on disarmament and non-proliferation, viz. the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC).
• The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 obliges all member States to prohibit the access of WMD and their delivery systems to non-state actors; and prescribes measures and controls on WMD, their delivery systems and related materials, equipment and technology.
• India is a member of the major multilateral export control regimes, viz. the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) [on missiles, delivery systems and related dual-use items], Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) [on munitions / military items] and Australia Group on Biological and Chemical items.
• In consonance with the relevant control lists, guidelines and provisions of the international conventions, mechanisms and regimes, India regulates the exports of dual-use items, nuclear-related items, and military items, including software and technology under the SCOMET list.

What is SCOMET list?

• SCOMET is an acronym for Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies.
• Accordingly, the SCOMET list is our National Export Control List of dual use items, munitions and nuclear related items, including software and technology.
• The SCOMET list is maintained under India’s Foreign Trade Policy which is implemented by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Key Components of SCOMET list

• Special Chemicals: This category includes chemicals that have applications in various industries but also possess properties that can be used for chemical weapons or military purposes. Examples may include chemicals used in the production of pharmaceuticals or agriculture, yet with the potential for use in the development of chemical weapons.
• Organisms: Biological agents and organisms fall under this category. It encompasses living entities that may have applications in medical, agricultural, or industrial fields but may also pose a threat in the context of biological weapons or bioterrorism.
• Materials: Materials that can be utilized in both civilian and military applications are covered under SCOMET. This may include metals, alloys, composites and special materials that have properties suitable for dual-use purposes.
• Equipment: Various types of equipment that could have applications in strategic fields. This may encompass machinery, devices, or systems with potential dual-use capabilities.
• Technologies: The technological aspect of SCOMET involves knowledge and information that can be applied in diverse sectors. Technologies with applications in research, development, and manufacturing, but with the potential for military and WMD use, are included.

Source: Economic Times

Syllabus

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: After spending over a year in a simulated Mars environment, a NASA crew has successfully completed their mission as part of the CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) project.

Background:

• The four-member team emerged from their 17,000 sq ft habitat at Johnson Space Center recently.

About CHAPEA :

• CHAPEA is a series of analog missions conducted by NASA to simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars.
• It aims to assess and collect data regarding NASA’s food system and physical and behavioral health patterns in humans, which will help during future space missions.
• Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700-square-foot habitat.
• The first CHAPEA crew completed their 378-day mission on July 6, 2024.

Mars Dune Alpha:

• Mars Dune Alpha is a 3D-printed structure located at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
• It simulates a realistic Mars habitat to support long-duration, exploration-class space missions.

Significance:

• CHAPEA’s findings will be crucial for planning long-duration space missions and ensuring the well-being of astronauts on Mars.

Source: PIB

Syllabus

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, KP Sharma Oli has been appointed as Nepal’s Prime Minister for the fourth time.

Background:

• He will lead a coalition government with the support of the Nepali Congress party. This appointment follows a vote of no confidence against the former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

About Nepal :

• Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia.
• It bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west.
• Five Indian states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Bihar share their borders with Nepal.

Regions:

• Terai Region: The southern lowland plains, covering 17% of Nepal’s area. It is an extension of the Gangetic plains of India and is known for its fertile land.
• Hilly Region: This region covers 68% of the country and consists of the Mahabharat Range and the lower Himalayas.
• Himalayan Region: The northern part, covering 15% of Nepal’s area, includes the high mountain ranges and peaks like Mount Everest.

Climate Zones:

• Nepal has diverse climate zones ranging from tropical in the Terai to arctic in the high Himalayas.
• The country experiences four main seasons: spring, summer (monsoon), autumn, and winter.

Major Rivers and Lakes:

• Rivers: The major rivers include the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali, which flow southward into India.
• Lakes: Notable lakes include Rara Lake, the largest in Nepal, and Phewa Lake in Pokhara.

Biodiversity:

• Nepal is rich in biodiversity, with numerous national parks and conservation areas, such as Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park.

Source: Hindustantimes

Q1.) Consider the following statements about SCOMET list, recently seen in news

1. SCOMET list is India’s National Export Control List of dual use items, munitions and nuclear related items, including software and technology.
2. It is maintained under India’s Foreign Trade Policy which is implemented by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2.) Consider the following states in India:

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Uttarakhand
3. Bihar
4. Assam
5. West Bengal
6. Sikkim

How many of the above-mentioned states share border with Nepal?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. Only five

Q3.) Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) project, recently seen in news is a series of analog missions conducted by

1. ISRO
2. NASA
3. JAXA
4. Roscosmos

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  16th July 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) –  c

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – c