DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS-10th August 2023


Project Devika 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance 

 Why in News? 

North India’s first Rejuvenation Project Devika is nearing completion. Project Devika: · This project is inspired by Namami Gange Campaign.

 · It was launched in the year 2019

 · It works under the Ministry of Jal Shakti

 · It was launched under the National River Conservation Plan

 · Its main aim is to rejuvenate the Devika River in Jammu & Kashmir 

 Features: 

 · It focusses on Liquid Waste Management.

 · It deals with the Solid Waste Management also.

 · It constructs a network of pipes and manholes connecting households. 

 Funding:

 · It has received investments of about 190 crore rupees.

 · The allocation is shared between the Central and Union Territory at 90:10 ratio.

 River Devika: · It is originated at the Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir

 · It flows down towards the western Punjab which is now in Pakistan.

 · Then it merges with the Ravi River

· It is generally believed that this river is the sister of River Ganga.

 · It is also believed that Devika Rani is the manifestation of the Goddess Parvati.

AB-PMJAY 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Policies

 Why in News? 

 Health Minister defends PMJAY as CAG audit exposes multiple frauds. 

 Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana: 

· Ayushman Bharat has two inter-related components. They are: a) Health and Wellness Centres b) PM-Jan Aarogya Yojana

· PM-JAY is known for being the world’s largest insurance scheme.

 · It was launched in the year 2018.

· It provides a sum of 5 lakh rupees per family for secondary care and also tertiary care.

 · It provides cashless and paperless access to the services provided to the beneficiaries at the point of service.

 · It focusses on those who are identified by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census. 

 · National Health Authority is the nodal agency for PMJAY

 Funding:

 · The funding is shared in 3 ways: 

 · 60:40 for all states and UTs with their own legislature

 · 90: 10 in Northeast States and Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand 

 · 100% central funding for the UTs without legislature. 

 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres:

· It was established under the Ayushman Bharat Program

 · It was started in the year 2018 which aims in bringing the promotive, curative, rehabilitative aspects of the universal health coverage. 

 · At present there are more than 1.6 lakh centres.

 · These centres provide a wide range of health care services like maternal and child care to communicable and non-communicable diseases.

 · It provides free essential medicines and diagnostic services. 

 · It even promotes wellness activities like Yoga, Zumba, meditation etc.

Kuki-Zo 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Polity 

 Why in News? 

Union Home Minister has asked a delegation of Kuki-Zo from Manipur to restore peace because of the ongoing issue with Meitei Community 

 Meitei Community:

• They are the predominant ethnic group of Manipuri state. 

 • They speak Meitei language (Manipuri language) is one of the 22 official languages in India 

 • It is the sole official language of Manipuri state

 • They are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in Manipur.

 • Some population is settled in the regions of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram

• There is also presence of Meitei community in Myanmar and Bangladesh countries.

 • This community represents 53% of the Manipuri Population 

 • They are divided into many clans. 

 • The members of the clans should not intermarry 

 • The majority of the community follows Hinduism. 

 • While 8% of the community are Muslims.

 • They depend mainly on Rice cultivation. 

 • They celebrate a festival known as Yashong

 • It is nothing but the Manipuri Version of Holi. 

 ST status to the Meitei group: 

 • The Meitei community has been demanding for the ST status since 2012. 

• They argued that being left out of the ST list has caused the community to be victimized without any constitutional safeguards. 

 • The Manipuri High Court has ordered asking the government to consider the demand of the Meitei Community status. 

 • It has been opposed by the tribal groups in the state

 Kuki group:

· It is one of the ethnic groups which inhabits in the northeastern regions of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. 

 · They are found in Chin State in Myanmar, Manipur and Mizoram and Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh.

· They are part of the larger Zo people, along with Chin and Mizo tribes.

 · They have a rich and diverse history, culture and tradition. 

 · It reflects their adaptation to the hilly and forested terrain they live in.

Deflation 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Economy 

 Why in News? 

China’s consumer sector fell into deflation and factory gate prices extended decline in July

 Deflation: 

 · It refers to a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. 

 · It is the opposite of inflation.

 · Inflation decreases the value of money where as deflation increases the value of money. Causes: 

 1) Decrease in aggregate demand 

 2) Reduction in money supply 

 3) Decline in consumer spending 

 4) Over production 

 Difference between Disinflation and Deflation:

· Deflation defined as the fall in general level of prices whereas the Disinflation is decrease in the rate of inflation. 

 · In disinflation the level of prices increases but speed of increase slows whereas in Deflation the price level falls.

 · Disinflation is a positive growth for the economy whereas deflation might be dangerous for economic growth.

 Inflation: 

· It is defined as the general rise in the prices of goods and services in a period of time. 

 · In Inflation the purchasing power of the customer decreases.

 · The Central Government has fixed the inflation target to be 4%. 

 · The upper limit will exceed up to 6% whereas the lower limit will be 2%. 

 · It is generally measured by Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation

 · Inflation is categorized into 2 types. They are: 

 Demand Pull Inflation: 

 · It arises when the demand becomes more than the supply. 

 Cost Push Inflation:

 · It arises when there is decrease in supply of goods which results in the increase in cost of production.

Simlipal National Park 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology 

Why in News?

Odisha police have arrested 21 people and seized 165 illegal arms around the Simlipal Tiger Reserve over a past month. 

 Simlipal National Park: 

· It is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

 · It has derived its name from Simul which means silk cotton tree 

 · It was designated as the Tiger reserve in the year 1956

 · It was brought under Project Tiger in the year 1973.

· Later it was declared as biosphere reserve in the year 1994.

· It is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.

 · It is also part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve

 · It is spread over the 4,374 square kilometres. 

 · The Erenga Kharias and also the Mankirdias tribes are inhabit in this region. 

 · About 12 rivers cut across the plain area of this park. 

 Biodiversity:

 · It is a place for 1078 species of plants.

 · It is known for holding the highest Tiger population in the state of Odisha.

 · It is place for many animals like elephants, leopard, barking deer, giant squirrel, langur etc.

 · Grey hornbill is also found here. 

 Threats: ·

 Lightning 

 · Higher Temperatures 

 · Electrocution

 · Poaching 

 · Hunting etc.

World Lion Day

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology 

 Why in News? 

PM lauds all those working towards protecting the habitat of lions on the occasion of World Lion Day

 World Lion Day:

 · It is observed every year on 10th August.

· This initiative was first started in the year 2013

· It was introduced to spread awareness of Lions and also for the urgent need to strive towards their conservation.

 · It makes us understand the role of Lions in the ecological cycle.

 Lions:

 · Lions are categorized into two subspecies. They are: a) African Lion b) Asiatic Lion Asiatic Lions:

 · They are slightly smaller than African lion

 · They are distributed in the states of West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc. 

 · Currently Gir National Park is the only place for the Asiatic lion in India. 

 Threats: 

 · Natural Disaster · Poaching etc. 

 Protection:

 · The status of Asiatic lions in IUCN Red List is Endangered

· CITES: Appendix-I 

 · Wildlife Protect Act, 1972: Schedule I 

 Important Points: 

 · The difference between Asiatic and African lions is longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly can be seen on Asiatic lions. 

 · The IUCN status of African Lions is vulnerable.

Havana Syndrome 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology

Why in News? 

The Union Government has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of the Havana Syndrome in India.

 Havana Syndrome:

· It refers to a set of mental health symptoms. 

 · In the year 2016, it was experienced by U.S intelligence and embassy officials in various countries. 

 · In our country, the first case of this syndrome was reported in the year 2021 when a U.S. intelligence officer travelling to New Delhi reported the symptoms of Havana Syndrome. Causes:

 · The National Academy of Sciences noted that the best explanation for the syndrome would be pulsed, directed microwaves

 Symptoms: 

 · Hearing sounds without any noise. 

 · Vertigo 

 · Nausea

 · Headaches 

 · Memory loss 

 · Balance issues 

 Long-Term effects:

· Migraine

 · Nosebleeds 

 · Problems with vision 

 · Squinting etc. 

 Treatment:

 · Art Therapy 

 · Meditation

 · Breathing exercises 

 · Acupuncture

IPCC

GS Paper-3-Important Organizations 

 Why in News? 

Raman Sukumar has elected as the vice-chair of IPCC. 

 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: 

· It is the United Nations body which was formed in the year 1988.

· It was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988. 

 Members:

 · There are 195 member countries for IPCC. 

 Objective: 

 · Its main objective is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information which is relevant to the understanding of human-induced climate change.

 · It deals with the potential impact of the climate change and also options for mitigation and adaptation. 

 Functions:

 · It prepares reports by assessing the state of knowledge of climate change.

 · These reports include assessment reports, special reports and methodology reports. 

 · These reports are important input for the international negotiations to tackle the climate change. 

 · IPCC asks the scientists around the world to go through all the scientific proofs related to the climate change. 

 Working Groups of IPCC:

· IPCC consists of three working groups. They are: 

 · Working Group-I which deals with the physics of climate change 

 · Working Group-II which examines the climate change impact and adaptation. 

 · Working Group-III which deals with the climate change mitigation.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding Project Devika: 

 Statement-I: Its main aim is to rejuvenate the Devika River in Himachal Pradesh

 Statement-II: This project is inspired by Namami Gange Campaign. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

2.Consider the following statements regarding PM-JAY: 

 1. It is the world’s largest insurance scheme. 

 2. It provides a sum of 5 lakh rupees per family for tertiary care only. 

 3. National Health Authority is the nodal agency for PMJAY. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

3.Consider the following statements regarding Kuki Group: 

 1. They are inhabited only in India

 2. They are part of the larger Zo people, along with Chin and Mizo tribes. 

 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only 1 

 b) Only 2 

 c) Both 1&2 

 d) Neither 1 nor 2

4.Consider the following statements regarding Deflation: 

 1. Inflation increases the value of money where as deflation decreases the value of money.

 2. Deflation defined as the fall in general level of prices whereas the Disinflation is decrease in the rate of inflation 

 Which of the above statements are incorrect? 

 a. Only 1 

 b. Only 2 

 c. Both 1&2 

 d. Neither 1 nor 2

5.Consider the following statements regarding Simlipal National Park:

 Statement-I: It is located in the state of Kerala 

 Statement-II: It is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

6.Consider the following statements regarding Asiatic lion:

 1. The IUCN status of Asiatic lions is vulnerable. 

 2. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lion

 3. World Lion Day is observed on 10th August every year. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

7.Consider the following statements regarding Havana Syndrome: 

 1. In our country no case of Havana Syndrome is reported till now. 

 2. It refers to a set of mental health symptoms. 

 Which of the above statements are incorrect?

 a) Only 1

 b) Only 2

 c) Both 1&2 

 d) Neither 1 nor 2

8.Consider the following statements regarding IPCC: 

 Statement-I: It was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1968. 

 Statement-II: There are 195 member countries for IPCC

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

{{Ankitha Manyala}}

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