05 May 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

1. Delisting of Shares

Recently, an investor in Reliance Capital Ltd (RCL), which has been facing insolvency proceedings, has challenged certain regulations of SEBI’s delisting of shares norms.

About Delisting of Shares:

It means removing the shares of a listed company from a stock exchange. Once delisted, the securities of that company can no longer be traded on the stock exchange.
Delisting can be either voluntary or compulsory.
- In voluntary delisting, a company decides on its own to remove its securities from a stock exchange.
- In compulsory delisting, they are removed as a penal measure for the company not making submissions or complying with requirements set out in the listing agreement within the prescribed timeframes.
If a company wants to delist its securities, it needs to buy back 90% of the total issued shares.

Key facts about SEBI:

It was established in April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers in January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.
It is responsible for issuing regulations for various participants in the securities market, such as listed companies, brokers, mutual funds and rating agencies.
It monitors and regulates the Indian capital and securities market while ensuring to protect the interests of the investors, formulating regulations and guidelines.

Source : Why is a Reliance Capital Ltd investor challenging its resolution plan?

2. What is Swing Trading?

Recently, the Indian stock market has been witnessing volatility amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and swing trading has been trending on the internet.

About Swing Trading:

It is a style of trading where investors keep their positions for longer than a single day, typically holding onto stocks for several days or weeks. Its goal is to capture gains in a stock's value as it swings up and down.
A swing trader will look for stocks with high volume (a lot of trading activity) and volatility (price movement).
- The entry into a swing trade involves setting up stop-loss orders (to limit potential losses) and target prices (to capture profits) based on support and resistance levels.
Swing traders buy at support (lower price level) and sell at resistance (higher price level) anticipating the stock's price to swing back and forth within these bounds.
What's the objective of swing trading?
- The primary goal is to profit from short- to medium-term fluctuations in stock prices. Traders aim to enter and exit positions quickly, typically holding stocks for 2 days to a few weeks.
- Swing traders capitalise on both upward and downward movements in the market, seeking to take advantage of trends and momentum.
Swing trading offers flexibility and can be less time-consuming compared to day trading. Traders can benefit from short- to medium-term gains and adjust their positions swiftly based on market conditions.

Source : Explained: What is swing trading

3. Bhadra Tiger Reserve

Recently, the number of people visiting the Bhadra tiger reserve for safari has gone up and the tourists need to take adequate care not to disturb this eco-sensitive zone

About Bhadra Tiger Reserve:

It is situated in the midst of the Western Ghats region of It is unique as it nestled within several hill ranges. It is drained by the river Bhadra and its tributaries.
It boasts of a substantial tiger population and as such the sanctuary was declared the 25th Project Tiger reserve of India in 1998. The habitat also has an Elephant Reserve.
Vegetation: It has dry-deciduous, moist-deciduous, shola and semi-evergreen patches.
Flora: Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne, Nandi and many medicinal plants etc.
Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Leopard cat, Dholes, Indian Civet, ungulates like Gaur, Sambar and Barking Deer are common.
Other Tiger Reserves of Karnataka: Bandipura, Nagarahole, Dandeli-Anshi and Biligiriranga Tiger Reserve.

Source : Bhadra Tiger Reserve: A paradise for scientists, tourists and photographers

4. What is Oxytocin?

Recently, the Delhi High Court called for action against 'rampant use of Oxytocin' in dairy colonies in the national capital.

About Oxytocin:

It is also known as the ‘love hormone’, is a hormone secreted by the pituitary glands of mammals during sex, childbirth, lactation or social bonding.
However, it can also be chemically manufactured and is sold by pharma companies for use during childbirth. It is administered either as an injection or a nasal solution.
The drug was banned by the Central government in April 2018, saying that it was being misused on milch cattle to increase yield, which not only affects the health of the cattle but also humans who consumed the milk.
Why is it vital?
- It helps contract the uterus and induce delivery, control bleeding and promote the release of breast milk.
- Its use is especially crucial to prevent new mothers from excessively bleeding after giving birth—a common cause of maternal deaths.

What are hormones?

They are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.

Source : Banned Oxytocin still used in milk supplied in Delhi: HC takes note

5. Eta Aquariid meteor

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which has been active since April 15, will peak on May 5 and 6.

About Eta Aquariid meteor:

It is formed when Earth passes through the orbital plane of the famous Halley’s Comet, which takes about 76 years to orbit the Sun once. It seems to be originating from the Aquarius constellation — hence ‘Eta Aquariid’.
It is known for its rapid speed. This makes for long, glowing tails which can last up to several minutes. About 30 to 40 Eta Aquarid meteors can be seen per hour during the peak of the meteor shower, if observed from the Southern Hemisphere.
The number decreases to about 10 meteors per hour if being viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. This is due to the location of the “radiant” — the position in the sky where the meteor shower seems to come from.
- In the Northern Hemisphere, Eta Aquarid meteors most often appear as ‘Earthgrazers’ — long meteors which appear to skim the surface of the Earth. In the South, however, they can be seen higher up in the sky and hence are more visible.

What are comets?

These are frozen leftovers from the formation of our solar system, some 4.6 billion years ago. They are composed of dust, rock and ice and orbit around the Sun in highly elliptical orbits which can, in some cases, take hundreds of thousands of years to complete.
Billions of them theorised to be orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune, in the Kuiper Belt and even more distant Oort cloud. As they come closer to the Sun, comets “heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet”. This material also forms a tail which stretches millions of miles.

How are meteor showers related to comets?

Meteors are simply grains of dust or rock that burn up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. This burning also creates a brief tail.
Since most meteors are tiny they completely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. However, once in a while, a large enough meteor passes through and hits the ground (at which time it is called a meteorite), often causing significant damage.
A meteor shower can be observed when Earth passes through the clouds of dust left behind in a comet’s orbital plane.

Source : Explained: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower and how it can be spotted

6. What is a Thunderstorm?

Heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the UAE recently, leading to the cancellation of several international flights.

About Thunderstorm:

It is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.
Formation:
- Thunderstorms arise when layers of warm, moist air rise in a large, swift updraft to cooler regions of the atmosphere.
- There, the moisture contained in the updraft condenses to form towering cumulonimbus cloudsand, eventually, precipitation.
- Columns of cooled air then sink earthward, striking the ground with strong downdrafts and horizontal winds.
- At the same time, electrical charges accumulate on cloud particles (water droplets and ice).
- Lightning discharges occur when the accumulated electric charge becomes sufficiently large.
- Lightning heats the air it passes through so intensely and quickly that shock waves are produced. These shock waves are heard as claps and rolls of thunder.
- On occasion, severe thunderstorms are accompanied by swirling vortices of air that become concentrated and powerful enough to form tornadoes.
What is a severe thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following: hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado.
Thunderstorms are known to occur in almost every region of the world, though they are rare in polar regions and infrequent at latitudes higher than 50° N and 50° S.
The temperate and tropical regions of the world, therefore, are the most prone to thunderstorms.

Source : Several Flights Cancelled As Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms Return To UAE

7. What is C295 Transport Aircraft?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently received delivery of the second of the 56 C295 aircraft.

About C295 Transport Aircraft:

It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment. It was designed and built by Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation.
It is a reliable and highly versatile tactical transport that is tailored for missions that range from carrying troops and cargo, maritime patrol, airborne warning, surveillance and reconnaissance to signals intelligence, armed close air support, medical evacuation, Air-to-Air refuelling, VIP transport, and airborne firefighting.
Features:
- The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 13 hours, can function under all weather conditions.
- It is capable of carrying up to nine tonnes of payload, or as many as 71 troops, at a maximum cruise speed of 260 kts.
- The C295 is designed to provide outstanding low-level flight characteristics for tactical missions, flying at speeds as slow as 110 knots.
- The aircraft has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and paradropping of troops and cargo. It is powered by two turboprop engines.
- It has short take-off and landing (STOL) characteristics and the ability to use unprepared airstrips.
In September 2021, India formalised the acquisition of 56 C295 aircraft to replace the legacy Avro fleet of the IAF at a cost of Rs 21,935 crore.
- Under the deal, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville by 2025, and the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

Source : IAF takes delivery of second C295 transport aircraft

8. What is Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)?

The Supreme Court urged the Central government and the parliament to make necessary changes to the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) with respect to the provision replacing Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

About Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):

It is a crucial legal provision that aims to protect married women from cruelty inflicted upon them by their husbands or their relatives.
This section was introduced in 1983 as an amendment to the IPC to address the growing concern of domestic violence and harassment faced by married women in India.
Under Section 498-A IPC, a husband or his relatives can be sentenced to a jail term of three years for subjecting the wife to cruelty. The section applies to married women only.
The section defines cruelty as any wilful conduct that is likely to drive a woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury to her life, limb, or health, whether mental or physical.
- The conduct can be in the form of harassment or torture, with the intent to coerce the woman or her relatives to meet unlawful demands for property or money.
The section also defines the term ‘husband’ to include a person who has a legal or customary relationship with the woman, such as a live-in partner or a person who claims to be married to the woman but has not been legally married.
There is no limitation as to the number of years within which the complaint has to be filed, and a wife can file a complaint under this section at any time.
Any offence under Section 498A is a cognizable one and is also non-compoundable and non-bailable.
Bail under Section 498A can only be granted by the Magistrate once a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the police based on a complaint filed by the aggrieved party.
Supreme Court Rulings:
- The Supreme Court has ruled that Section 498A should be used sparingly and only in cases where there is genuine evidence of cruelty. It has also ruled that the section should not be used as a tool to settle personal scores.
- The court emphasized the need for the police to conduct a thorough investigation before making arrests, to avoid unnecessary harassment of the accused.
To address these concerns, the government of India introduced the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) in 2005, which provides a more comprehensive legal framework for addressing domestic violence and abuse against women.

Source : Section 498A IPC has been copied verbatim in new criminal law; make changes: Supreme Court to Centre

9. What are Peptides?

Scientists have developed a promising therapy using cow-derived peptides to combat deadly drug-resistant bacteria, offering a new approach to tackle severe infections resistant to conventional antibiotics.

About Peptides:

They are chains of amino acids that are naturally found in the body. The amino acids in a peptide are connected to one another in a sequence by bonds called peptide bonds.
Peptides vs. Proteins:
- Proteins and peptides are fundamental components of cells that carry out important biological functions.
- Typically, peptides are distinguished from proteins by their shorter length, although the cut-off number of amino acids for defining a peptide and protein can be arbitrary.
- Traditionally, peptides are defined as molecules that consist of between 2 and 50 amino acids.
- Meanwhile, proteins are long molecules made up of multiple peptide subunits, and are also known as polypeptides.
- In addition, peptides tend to be less well defined in structure than proteins, which can adopt complex conformations known as secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures.
- Proteins can be digested by enzymes (other proteins) into short peptide fragments.
Functions of Peptides:
- The body makes lots of different peptides, each of which has a different role.
- They may provide pro-aging support, anti-inflammatory, or muscle-building properties.
- Some peptides act as hormones, which are molecules, that when released from cells, affect other areas of the body.
- Due to the potential health benefits of peptides, many supplements are available that contain peptides that manufacturers have derived either from food or made synthetically.

What are Amino Acids?

They are molecules that combine to form proteins. Amino acids and proteins are the building blocks of life. There are 20 different amino acids.
A protein consists of one or more chains of amino acids(called polypeptides) whose sequence is encoded in a gene.
Some amino acids can be synthesized in the body, but others (essential amino acids) cannot and must be obtained from a person’s diet.
The nine essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

Source : Newly Discovered Peptide Could Treat Incurable Bacterial Infections

10. World Press Freedom Index 2024

India’s score in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 fell over the last year from 36.62 to 31.28.

About World Press Freedom Index 2024:

It is an annual report released by the global media watchdogReporters Without Borders (RSF). It ranks 180 countries on the ability of journalists to work and report freely and independently.
The press freedom questionnaire covers five categories: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.
It only deals with press freedomand does not measure the quality of journalism in the countries it assesses, nor does it look at human rights violations in general.
Highlights of the 2024 Index:
- It shows an overall decline in press freedom globally and a steep rise in the political repression of journalists and independent media outlets, noting that press freedoms fell by an average of 7.6 points globally.
- Norway topped the ranking, while Denmark was on the second rank.
- The countries where press freedom is “good” are all in Europe, and more specifically within the European Union, which has adopted its first media freedom law (EMFA).
- The Maghreb and Middle East regions performed the worst in terms of restrictions on press freedom by government forces.
- Eritrea was at the bottom of the list, with Syria just ahead of it.
- India’s Ranking:
  - India’s rank improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024, but this was because other countries had slipped in their rankings.
  - Scores for India dropped (worsened) in all but the security indicator.
  - India is ranked behind Turkey, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which are ranked at positions 158, 152, and 150, respectively.

Source : India Press Freedom score falls, says Reporters sans Frontieres

05 May 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

04 May 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

13 May 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

Categories

Latest Affair