Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 1st March 2022

NEWS

A recent study conducted by CSTEP has revealed highest PM2.5 in South zone, Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru

WHAT IS IN THS STUDY

• Across Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, the annual mean PM2.5 ranged between 35 and 55 μg/m3
• Rajarajeshwari Nagar and South zone recorded the highest PM2.5
• CSTEP used satellite-based products to study the spatial patterns, hotspot areas, and rural–urban contrasts in PM2.5 in the Delhi-NCR, Kanpur, and Bengaluru regions
• The study was done for 2019.
• PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR and Kanpur region was found to be three times higher than that of the Bengaluru region
• PM2.5 hotspots were identified over a lesser spatial extent in the Bengaluru region compared to that of Delhi-NCR and Kanpur regions.
• PM2.5 hotspots were also identified in Greater and Rural Bengaluru regions. These coincided with stone-crushing units and open biomass burning areas

WHAT IS PM2.5

• Tiny pollutant suspended in the air
• Size of less than or equal to 2.5 microns
• Causes several adverse effects to human health and climate
• Major environmental issue in the Indian sub-continent

NEWS

The West Bengal government’s ambitious Deocha Pachami coal block mining project despite the announcement of a relief and rehabilitation package, saw widespread protests which resulted in the arrests of nine people including economist-activist Prasenjit Bose.

WHAT IS THE PROJECT?

• The State government is planning to start mining at the Deocha Pachami coal block, considered to be the largest coal block in the country with reserves of around 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million cubic metres of basalt, spread over an area of 12.31 sq. km, which is around 3,400 acres
• There are around 12 villages in the project area with a population of over 21,000, comprising Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• However, the ₹35,000 crore Bengal government project is facing protests over land acquisition
• The government owns 1,000 acres, of which 300 acres is forest land, but needs to acquire the rest to begin coal mining.

WHY ARE LOCALS UPSET?

• Villagers represented by the Birbhum Jomi Jeeban Jeevika O Prakiti Bachao Mahasabha (Birbhum Save Land and Environment Protection Organisation)
• Locals, mostly Santhal tribals, have close affinity with the land, with forests and waterways, and rely on it for their needs
• Activists said that instead of engaging with the people on their grievances about the coal mining project, they, together with the tribals, were being harassed and had been arrested under false and serious charges
• Various other organisations have learnt their voice to the protests and spoken out against alleged police atrocities, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (which had led the year-long farmers’ stir on the borders of Delhi), the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, Bangla Sanskriti Mancha and the Teachers Against the Climate Crisis.
• Experts, environmentalists and activists have raised a host of issues concerning the project and the pitfalls of going ahead with plans for open cast mining of coal at a time when there are calls to cut back on fossil fuel to tackle global warming

NEWS

International Monsoons Project Office launched

DETAILS

• Hosted at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
• Under Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Set up reiterates the importance of monsoons for the national economy
• It would encompass activities and connections related to international monsoon research that would be identified and fostered under the leadership of the World Climate Research Programme and the World Weather Research Programme
• Both the World Climate Research Programme and World Weather Research Programme are international programmes coordinated by the United Nations World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

AIM & BENEFIT

• Expanding an integrated scientific approach to solve the seasonal variability of monsoons, enhancing the prediction skill of monsoons and cyclones
• Strengthening monsoon research for better support operations and services, thereby promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building in areas of monsoon research crucial for agriculture, water resources and disaster management, hydropower and climate-sensitive socio-economic sectors. 
• Support activities of the Monsoons Panel, jointly established by the World Climate Research Programme's CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change) and GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) projects
• Aligned with this year's theme of the National Science Day - 'Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future'.

 BACKGROUND

• Russian President has announced a special military operation to protect people who have been abused by the genocide of the Kyiv regime for eight years
• There is, or was, however no genocide in Ukraine proved by any documented report.
• Indian government had decided to abstain on the vote on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (moved by the United States and its allies against Russia over the Ukraine invasion)
• But Prime Minister should surely recognise that BRICS New Delhi Declaration

The BRICS Delhi resolution

• BRICS nations were opposed to the unilateral use of force against any state, and wanted all disputes resolved by peaceful means, and categorically ruled out the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State
• Declaration commits to resolving all disputes by peaceful means and is opposed to unilateral use of force against any state. Russia by invading Ukraine has violated that resolution to which India also was a prominent party.
• Declaration was in fact approved and signed by Russia in the presence of Mr. Putin

THE PATH FOR NEW DELHI

• From this juncture onwards, India has to take stock since the apparent goal of India becoming a “Viswa Guru” is now, at best, a mirage
• One way for India to begin asserting itself is to suggest to Russia to withdraw its armed forces from the entire Ukraine in keeping with the aforenoted Delhi Resolution of BRICS
• If Russia does not give weight to India’s suggestion, the Modi government should announce in the UN General Assembly, consideration of the U.S. proposed Draft Resolution; India would vote for it after the United Nations General Assembly adopts any reasonable amendments proposed.
• India should also urge the United States to re-structure the objectives and the priorities of the Quad, outline a clear strategy to achieve the objectives, and mobilise the resources required.

WAY FORWARD

The potential strength of India can become actual capability with a little help from the United States. As for Russia, its position in global affairs will depend on the outcome of the Ukraine invasion. At present Russia is falling behind its announced schedule. Ukraine has by its bravery caused delays in Russia’s schedule. With help from members of the United Nations, Ukraine can become the David against the Russian Goliath and become a free democratic nation again.

• The satellite design and launch project by government school students has been named after the late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar. The Puneeth Rajkumar Student Satellite Project will be launched by September 2022.
• DYES ‘B’ defeated Postal 4-1 in the Hockey Karnataka league championship
• Researchers at IISc, QBI develop model to predict how antibody responses determine efficacy of Covid vaccines
• The Delhi police launched their revamped official website and new digital initiatives such as QR code-based public feedback system.
• “Ungalil Oruvan” (One Among You) is the autobiography of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin
• Ministry of external affairs set up 24×7 control centres in order to assist the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine. India also launched a multi-prong evacuation plan titled ‘Operation Ganga’.
• Every year on February 27, people all over the world celebrate World NGO Day to honour the work and contributions of various NGOs. NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization, and it is a type of organization that works to improve society.
• On the fourth day of Russian invasion to Ukraine, Russia destroyed the largest plane in the world called “Ukraine’s Antonov-225 cargo plane”. The plane was destroyed outside Kyiv.