Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 18th Oct 2021

What is in news : Thousands of devotees witnessed the Cauvery Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery in Kodagu recently

About :

• Theerthodbhava is an annual event during which water gushes out from the spring signalling the birth of the river and is marked with traditional gaiety.
• Devotees from across the region, besides Kodagu participate in it and take a dip in the holy kalyani or pond at Talacauvery at the foothills of Brahamgiri Hills.
• While priests sprinkle the gushing water on the gathering, many collect it and preserve it in pots for use on auspicious occasions.
• The religious rituals associated with the event was carried out at Talacauvery and Bhagamandala.
• The ‘Nandadeepa’, traditional oil lamp at Bhagandeshwara temple was lit last week and it will burn for a month during which the devotees are expected to visit the temple in large numbers.
• The Akshaya Patra at the Bhagandeshwara temple had also been filled with rice harvested from across the district and different parts of the State in the run-up the event. The same will be received by devotees as prasada.
• Tula Sankramana, the event which marks the birth of the river holds special significance to the people of Kodagu and the devout who worship Cauvery.
• The devout who witness the event believe that the appearance of the Goddess is evident in the sudden gush of water at Brahama Kundike during Tula Sankramana.

ENVIRONMENT

What is in news : Heavy rain and landslides are occurring all over southern Kerala

What caused such intense rain:

• A low pressure system developed in the east-central Arabian Sea on October 14, moved closer to Kerala coast and triggered severe weather.
• Under the influence of this system, Kerala experienced heavy to very heavy rain (115.5mm to 204.4mm in 24-hours), and extremely heavy rain (over 204.4mm in 24-hours) in at least six of its southern districts
• Flash floods, mudslides and landslides were reported in most districts located between central and southern Kerala

Is the rainfall associated with the southwest monsoon withdrawal:

• Southwest monsoon withdrawal continues to remain active in the southern peninsula.
• With the withdrawal entering the peninsula regions, southern states, including Kerala, have reported thunderstorms for over a week now.
• But the rainfall during the last four days is mainly a localised phenomenon triggered due to the low-pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea
• While rainfall is common in October in Kerala, associated with the Northeast monsoon, such intense and localised spells are not frequent. This season, the onset of the northeast monsoon is unlikely till next week.

The UK will host the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference from October 31 to November 12.

About :

The conference comes months after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its assessment report on Earth’s climate, highlighting heat waves, droughts, extreme rainfall and sea-level rise in the coming decades.

The event will see leaders from more than 190 countries, thousands of negotiators, researchers and citizens coming together to strengthen a global response to the threat of climate change. It is a pivotal movement for the world to come together and accelerate the climate action plan.

Formation of COP

The Conference of Parties comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) which was formed in 1994. The UNFCCC was established to work towards “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.”

It laid out a list of responsibilities for the member states which included:

• Formulating measures to mitigate climate change
• Cooperating in preparing for adaptation to the impact of climate change
• Promoting education, training and public awareness related to climate change

COP1 to COP25

• Members have been meeting every year since 1995.
• The UNFCCC has 198 parties including India, China and the USA.
• The first conference (COP1) was held in 1995 in Berlin.
• At COP3 held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, the famous Kyoto Protocol was adopted. It commits the member states to pursue limitation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It entered into force on 16 February 2005 and there are 192 Parties in the Kyoto Protocol.
• India hosted the eighth COP from October 23 to November 1, 2002 in New Delhi. The conference laid out seven measures including, ‘strengthening of technology transfer in all relevant sectors, including energy, transport and the promotion of technological advances through research and development and the strengthening of institutions for sustainable development.’
• One of the most important conferences, COP21 took place from November 30 to December 11, 2015, in Paris, France. Member countries agreed to work together to ‘limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.’

COP26 goals

• Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach :
• Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats : Countries will work together to ‘protect and restore ecosystems and build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.’
• Mobilise finance : To deliver first two goals, developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020
• Work together to deliver :  ‘finalise the Paris Rulebook’. Leaders will work together to frame a list of detailed rules that will help fulfil the Paris Agreement.

PERSONS IN NEWS

What is in news : Birth Anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan celebrated recently

About :

• Born in Delhi
• Educated in the Quran and the sciences.
• Received an honorary law degree from the University of Edinburgh
• His elder brother had set up a printing press in Urdu. It was the first one in Delhi.
• Took up employment with his brother’s journal as an editor.
• Rejected an offer of employment from the Mughal court despite his family being employed in the Mughal court for generations.
• Then he took up work as a clerk with the East India Company.
• During the 1857 revolt, he lost many relatives. He was highly affected by the defeat of the Mughal Empire.
• Wrote a profound booklet ‘Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind’ (Reasons for the Indian Revolt of 1857) which cited British ignorance and aggressive expansion policies as the chief causes of the revolt.
• Stressed on the importance of modern scientific education for Muslims to advance their conditions.
• Advocated the learning of English
• Against superstition and evil customs prevalent in society then.
• Advocated inter-faith understanding.
• Was also a scholar on Christianity, and wrote a book, ‘Commentary on the Holy Bible’.
• Believed that Muslim society could move ahead only if rigid orthodoxy was abandoned and pragmatism was adopted.
• In 1869, he received the Order of the Star of India from the British government.
• Set up many educational institutes to propagate education, the most significant being the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAOC) which he set up in 1875. This later became the Aligarh Muslim University. The MAOC was instrumental in the Aligarh Movement of the 19th century which was an important movement of a renaissance among Indian Muslims. This had lasting ramifications on the politics, religion and culture of the country. An unintended effect was the propounding of the two-nation theory that ultimately led to calls for creating Pakistan.
• Believed to be the first Indian Muslim who understood the need for a fresh orientation of Islam.
• Founded the Scientific Society of Aligarh modelling it on the Royal Society of England. This society held annual conferences and published and distributed scientific material in English and Urdu.
• Knew that orthodox Muslim hostility to modern science and technology will come in the way of socio-economic improvement.
• Gave rational interpretations of Islamic scriptures. Many orthodox groups of that time declared him to be a ‘kafir’.
• Advocate of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims. His works propagated the language and also proposed to the government to use Urdu officially.
• Nominated to the Viceroy’s Legislative Council in 1878.
• Supported Dadabhai Naoroji and Surendranath Banerjee in obtaining representation for Indians in the government and the civil services.
• Was wary of the rise of Indian nationalism as he thought power would pass into the hands of the Hindus alone. He advocated Muslims to have loyalty to the British. In his own words, “we do not want to become subjects of the Hindus instead of the subjects of the people of the Book.”
• According to him, modern education was the most important path for improvement in the condition of Indian Muslims.
• Called for the study of European science and technology. He pointed out that there was no fundamental contradiction between Quran and Natural science.
• Founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875 to educate Muslims scientifically.
• Regarded as one of the founders of the Two-Nation Theory which says that Hindus and Muslims cannot be one nation.
• Knighted by the British in 1888.
• He died on 27 March 1898 aged 80 in Aligarh.

What is in news : Vidyut Mohan led Takachar’s innovation of India was recognised for its affordable technology to convert crop residues into sellable bio-products was awarded with Prince William’s inaugural Earthshot Prize

About :

• Dubbed as the “Eco Oscar”
• Created by the Duke of Cambridge and renowned British naturalist David Attenborough.
• Conferred annually from 2021 to 2030
• Five winners each year
• Aim -  provide assistance to and inspire innovative local solutions amid the growing climate crisis faced globally.
• Given by the Royal Foundation, England
• Given in five separate categories with the support of UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Inaugural winners were shortlisted by 15 judges including singer Shakira. broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actress Cate Blanchett.

What is in news : India crowned SAFF champions for 8th time as Sunil Chhetri leads Blue Tigers to 3-0 win over Nepal

ABOUT SAFF CHAMPIONSHIP

• The 2021 SAFF Championship is the 13th edition of the competition since its inception in 1993. It is a biennial international men's football championship and this time hosted in Male, Maldives.
• Which nations are participating in the SAFF Championship 2021:
  • India
  • Nepal
  • Sri Lanka
  • Bangladesh
  • Maldives
• The SAFF Championship is the main international association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

What is in news : Every year, the World Food Day is celebrated on October 16.

Celebrated by : World Health Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development and World Food Programme.

Why on October 16: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation was established on October 16, 1945.

About  :

The World Food Day was established at the 20th General Conference of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations in 1979.

The idea was suggested by a Hungarian Delegation led by former Hungarian Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Significance :The day aims to tackle global hunger.

2021 Theme : “Our Actions are our future”

In India : To commemorate World Food Day, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, organised the Food Tech Summit. The Food Tech Summit 2021 aimed at setting the stage for all food-tech stakeholders to impart, discuss and acquaint micro enterprises on the new emerging trends in food processing and technological innovation.

• A Russian actress and a film director returned to Earth on Sunday after spending 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS) shooting scenes for the first movie in orbit.
• An Audio-Visual Song by renowned singer PadmaShri Kailash Kher to promote the vaccination drive across the country, was launched recently