25 September 2023 : Daily Current Affair
Daily Current Affairs
25-September-2023
Daily Current Affairs For UPSC ,Daily Current affairs of The hIndu and Indian Express.
1. Multiple entry, exit option in higher studies may not suit India: House panel.
Topic: GS3 – Indian education system
Context:
- Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, led by BJP MP Vivek Thakur, advises the Centre to hold discussions with stakeholders regarding the National Education Policy (NEP).
More information about the news:
- The committee’s report, titled “Implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 in higher education,” highlights potential issues with the multi-entry and multi-exit (MEME) system proposed in the NEP.
- Indian institutions may face challenges in implementing MEME due to the country’s high student population.
- While MEME is seen as a flexible system in Western educational institutions, it may not be as effective in India.
Why MEME may not be feasible in India:
- High Student Population: India has a massive student population, making it challenging to implement MEME due to the sheer volume of students entering higher education. This can strain resources and infrastructure.
- Resource Constraints: Many Indian educational institutions already face resource limitations, including shortages of faculty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited funding. MEME would demand additional resources to function effectively.
- Quality Assurance: Maintaining consistent education quality at each exit point is crucial. MEME could raise concerns about ensuring the same educational standards throughout the learning journey.
- Employability: The competitive job market in India often requires specific qualifications. MEME may lead to questions about the employability of students who exit before completing traditional degree programs.
- Infrastructure Challenges: MEME necessitates significant changes in curriculum, assessments, and administrative processes, which many institutions may not be ready for.
- Standardization: Achieving uniformity and comparability of qualifications under MEME across diverse institutions and states can be complex.
Mains question: What are the key feasibility challenges associated with implementing the ‘Multiple Entry and Multiple Exit’ (MEME) system in India’s higher education, and how can these challenges be addressed effectively?
2. Aadhaar unreliable in ‘hot, humid’ India: rating agency
Topic: GS2 – governance
Context:
- Moody’s Investors Service has expressed concerns regarding security and privacy vulnerabilities in centralized identification systems, specifically citing issues with India’s Aadhaar program.
Additional information regarding the news:
- Service Denials: The Aadhaar system, which relies on fingerprint and iris scans for verification, is noted to frequently lead to “service denials,” impacting individuals’ access to public and private services.
- Biometric Reliability: Moody’s highlighted concerns about the reliability of biometric technologies, particularly in hot and humid conditions, which could affect manual laborers and individuals in such climates.
- UIDAI’s Mandate: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) administers Aadhaar, with the goal of integrating marginalized groups and expanding access to welfare benefits.
- Government Adoption: The Indian government has been increasingly using Aadhaar for routing direct benefit transfers to beneficiaries of official welfare schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
- Moody’s remarks underscore potential challenges and reliability issues associated with Aadhaar, a significant digital identification program in India.
3. Team from Telangana visits Buddhist caves in Sri Lanka
Topic: GS1 – Indian history.
Context:
- Team from Telangana known as “Buddhavanam” visited the Buddhist rock-cut caves in Mathale, Sri Lanka, which date back to the third century BC.
What is in the news:
- Historical Significance: The site is where the teachings of Lord Buddha were first transcribed onto palm leaves, marking a significant moment in Buddhist history.
- Buddhavanam Project: “Buddhavanam” is a large Buddhist heritage theme park developed by the Telangana government at Nagarjunasagar.
- Transcription of Tripitaka: The teachings of Lord Buddha, known as Tripitaka, were originally transmitted orally. It was in this historical context, under the auspices of Sri Lankan king Devanampiya Tissa, that they were written down on palm leaves.
- Acharya Buddhaghosha: The famous Theravada Buddhist philosopher, Acharya Buddhaghosha, lived in these caves and wrote Visuddhimagga.
Buddhism in Sri Lanka:
- Introduction of Buddhism: Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Mahinda, the son of Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.
- Historical Significance: Sri Lanka is known for its deep historical ties to Buddhism and is home to numerous ancient Buddhist sites, including temples, stupas, and monasteries.
- Theravada Buddhism: Sri Lanka primarily follows Theravada Buddhism, one of the oldest and most orthodox Buddhist traditions.
- Sacred Relics: Sri Lanka is famous for housing important Buddhist relics, including the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha in Kandy, which is venerated by Buddhists.
- Buddhist Festivals: The country celebrates Buddhist festivals such as Vesak (commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha) with great fervor and devotion.
- Buddhist Monasteries: Sri Lanka has a network of Buddhist monasteries where monks engage in meditation, study, and religious practices.
4. Fukushima N-wastewater controversy
Topic: GS3 – Global events.
Context:
- Japan initiated the release of over one million tonnes of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea in April 2021.
Further Details on the News:
- Origin of Contaminated Water: The water is a byproduct of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing the release of radioactive materials.
- Treatment of Water: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) manages the treatment of this water using techniques like the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), but it cannot remove tritium.
- Public Backlash: The decision to release the treated water has faced strong opposition from the public, both domestically and internationally, due to concerns about health risks and seafood contamination.
- Safety Claims: Japan and TEPCO claim that the treated water meets international standards, including those set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- China’s Response: China has strongly opposed Japan’s decision and banned seafood imports from Japan, possibly using the issue to create fissures in Japan-South Korea relations.
- Future Plans: Japan plans to release the treated water over 30 years, monitor seawater radiation, and compensate affected fishers. The government also aims to revive its nuclear power industry.
- Long-Term Impact: Experts suggest that despite efforts to stabilize the situation, the Fukushima accident’s impact will persist for decades, and radioactive materials will require long-term segregation.
5. Defence Board discusses plan for second Vikrant-like carrier.
Topic: GS3 – defence sector.
Context:
- The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) discussed the Navy’s proposal for acquiring a second aircraft carrier similar to INS Vikrant.
- The DPB has not yet cleared the proposal, and it will require final approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by the Defence Minister.
More information about the news:
- The project is estimated to cost around ₹40,000 crore and will involve modifications and upgrades to the design of INS Vikrant.
- INS Vikrant, commissioned in September 2022, was manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL).
- The Navy currently operates INS Vikramaditya, which also employs the Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism.
- The Navy had considered a larger carrier with newer technologies but opted for a repeat of a Vikrant-sized carrier due to cost and build time considerations.
- The Standing Committee on Defence has emphasized the importance of having three aircraft carriers to meet operational requirements considering India’s long coastline and security challenges.
6. Refugees leave as Azerbaijan takes control of Karabakh.
Topic: GS2 – International events.
Context:
- Ethnic Armenian refugees began leaving Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijan launched an offensive to seize control of the breakaway territory.
More information about this news:
- Azerbaijan’s military operation could result in a historic geopolitical shift, with Armenia distancing itself from its traditional ally Russia.
- Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan blamed Russia for the country’s inability to protect itself, signaling a breakdown in their security pact.
- Pashinyan suggested that Armenia might seek new alliances as Russia did not assist Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, citing Yerevan’s recognition of the disputed region as part of Azerbaijan.
7. NASA’s first asteroid samples land on earth after release from spacecraft.
Topic: GS3 – Science and technology – space exploration
Context:
- NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft successfully delivered its asteroid samples to Earth, ending a seven-year mission.
Further Details on the News:
- The sample capsule was released from the spacecraft during a flyby of Earth, landing in the Utah desert four hours later.
- The capsule is believed to contain at least a cup of rubble from the carbon-rich asteroid Bennu, but the exact amount won’t be confirmed until it’s opened.
- Japan is the only other country to have successfully brought back asteroid samples, gathering about a teaspoon’s worth in two missions.
- These samples represent the largest haul of material from beyond the moon and will provide valuable insights into the formation of our solar system and Earth
8. Biden to host leaders of Pacific islands to counter China influence
Topic: GS2-IR
Context:
- President Joe Biden will host a second summit with Pacific-island leaders this week, as part of a U.S. offensive to block further Chinese in roads into a strategic region which Washington has long considered as its own backyard.
Details:
- During the three-day meeting, following events will take place:
- Diplomatic recognition for two Pacific islands: Cook Islands and another small nation, NIUE, will be officially recognised by the US for the first time during the summit.
- promise new money for infrastructure,
- improve Internet connectivity via undersea cables,
- Honor regional leaders.
- Priority topics for discussion will include climate change, economic growth and public health.
About Cook Islands and NIUE
- The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 236.7 square kilometres.
- NIUE is also a small island nation in the south Pacific Ocean.
9. NASA’s first asteroid samples from deep space land on Earth
Topic: GS3-Science and Tech
Context:
- NASA’s first asteroid samples fetched from deep space parachuted into the Utah desert to cap a seven-year journey.
Details:
- In a flyby of Earth, the Osiris Rex spacecraft released the sample capsule from 100,000 kilometers out.
- The small capsule landed four hours later on a remote expanse of military land, as the mothership set off after another asteroid.
About OSIRIS-Rex Mission:
- OSIRIS-Rex (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) was NASA’s first mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid, survey its surface and collect samples from it.
- The spacecraft briefly touched asteroid Bennu, from where it collected samples of dust and pebbles.
- Bennu is considered to be an ancient asteroid that has not gone through a lot of composition altering change through billions of years, which means that below its surface lies chemicals and rocks from the birth of our solar system.
- Therefore, scientists and researchers are interested in studying this asteroid as it might give them some clues about the origins of the solar system, the sun, the Earth and various other planets.
What is asteroid Bennu?
- Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. They are also called minor planets.
- Bennu is an asteroid about as tall as the Empire State Building, located about 200 million miles away from the Earth.
- Scientists majorly study asteroids to search for information about the formation and the history of our planets and the sun since the asteroids were formed at the same time as the other objects in the solar system.
- Other reason for tracking them is to look for potentially hazardous asteroids.
10. FIVE EYES ALLIANCE
Topic: GS2-IR
Context:
· Tensions have escalated between India and Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion in Parliament that the Indian government may have “potential links” to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Understanding the Five Eyes Alliance
- The Five Eyes Alliance is characterised by a unique multilateral arrangement where partner countries share a wide range of intelligence, united by common principles of rule of law, robust human rights, and a shared language.
- This alliance plays a crucial role in safeguarding their shared national interests by facilitating information exchange.
- The Five Eyes, often referred to as FVEY, constitutes a coalition consisting of five intelligence agencies:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada
Historical roots and evolution
- The origins of the alliance trace back to World War II when the UK and the US decided to share intelligence after successfully breaking German and Japanese codes.
- The UKUSA agreement, which Canada joined in 1949, and later New Zealand and Australia in 1956, solidified the alliance.
- While its existence was known since the 1980s, the official acknowledgement of the UKUSA agreement came in 2010 when its files were released.
Functioning of the Five Eyes Alliance
- The Five Eyes countries engage in intelligence gathering and security cooperation, aligning closely in recent years due to shared interests, such as addressing the rise of China.
- They maintain this closeness through the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council, an entity that facilitates the exchange of views, best practices, and annual in-person meetings among non-political intelligence oversight and review agencies of the member countries.
- Despite their proximity, the Five Eyes countries do not always align in their foreign policies. Notably, New Zealand’s stance on certain Chinese actions differs from that of the other four countries due to its deep trade ties with China.
- The US has also sought to exert its influence through other groupings like the Quad and AUKUS, involving like-minded countries on security matters.
11. India, UN launch global capacity building initiative
Topic: Prelims
Context:
- India and the United Nations have launched a joint capacity building initiative that will operationalise development-relevant deliverables of India’s G20 Presidency.
- It also aims to share the country’s best practices with partner countries in the Global South.
Details:
- This Initiative will also operationalise the development-relevant deliverables of India’s G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs, technological transformation and building Digital Public Infrastructure, among others.
- It will be a significant contribution to global efforts towards accelerating momentum for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening South-South Cooperation.
- It also reflects India’s continuing efforts to strengthen its development partnership with the Global South.
- The initiative aims to share India’s development experiences, best practices and expertise with partner countries in the Global South through capacity building and training programmes.
- As part of this initiative, the UN India team and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will partner to leverage India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation platform to share India’s development experiences and best practices across the world.
- It also complements the India-UN partnership in the form of India-UN Development Partnership Fund which has developed a portfolio of 75 development projects in 61 countries in the last 6 years.
For Enquiry
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