15 FEB 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

1. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Prime Minister of India launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to provide free electricity to its beneficiaries.

About PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

In this scheme, the central government will provide 300 units of free electricity per month to its beneficiaries by investing worth ₹75,000 crores.
The free electricity scheme was earlier announced by the Finance Minister in an interim budget speech.
Target: It aims to light up 1 crore households.
Under the scheme, Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions.
The Central Government will guarantee no financial burden on the people by providing significant subsidies directly to their bank accounts and offering highly concessional bank loans.
Expected benefits:
- Savings of up to fifteen to eighteen thousand rupees annually for households from free solar electricity and selling the surplus to the distribution companies;
- Charging of electric vehicles;
- Entrepreneurship opportunities for a large number of vendors for supply and installation;
- Employment opportunities for the youth with technical skills in manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

Source : PM Modi launches 'Muft Bijli Yojana' to provide 300 units of electricity per month: Here's how to apply

2. Swachhata Green Leaf Rating

Swachhata Green Leaf Rating system for the hospitality sector is yet to take off as there has been no response from States despite the Union Tourism Ministry sending three communiques so far.

About Swachhata Green Leaf Rating:

A government-initiated rating system for the hospitality sector which aims to ensure world-class hygiene and sanitation in hotels, resorts and homestays has become a non-starter with no State opting for it as of now.
Objective: The objective is to prevent pollution in water bodies and keep the environment clean.
Target group: The target groups are hotels, lodges, homestays, ‘Dharamshalas’ and camps which have portable toilets. The rating will be based on compliance with the safe sanitation practices outlined in the guidelines.
The ranking scheme was launched in November 2023 by the Union Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
As part of the initiative, the State teams of Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (rural) and the tourism department will organise workshops on the concept, process and desired outcomes for the stakeholders.
Implementation: A three-tiered committee system has been proposed for implementation, beginning with a Verification Sub-Committee formed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for the on-ground verification, followed by a District Committee, which the District Collector will chair and then a State-level committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of the State.

Source : Hygiene and sanitation rating system for the hospitality sector yet to take off

3. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) will be hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan, in Samarkand from 12-17 February 2024.

About the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species:

It also known as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme.
It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.
It was signed in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June 1979.
It is the only global and UN-based intergovernmental organisation established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range.
The parties to the convention acknowledge the importance of conserving migratory species, and the need to pay special attention to species whose conservation status is unfavourable.
Activities by CMS Parties may range from legally binding treaties(called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding.
The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making organ of this convention.
It has two Appendices.
- Appendix I lists endangered migratory species and includes prohibitions regarding the take of these species.
- Appendix II lists species that have an ‘unfavourable conservation status’ (as per the conditions set out in the Convention) and encourages range states to draft range-wide agreements for the conservation and management of these species.

Source : Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties

4. National Generic Document Registration System

Secretary, Department of Land Resources, rolled out National Generic Document Registration System (NDGRS) throughout Assam along with the launch of Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) seeding of geo-referenced Cadastral Maps.

About National Generic Document Registration System:

It is a project initiated by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
It is a common, generic application developed for registration departments across the country under the One Nation One Software initiative.
The NGDRS application is developed by the National Informatics Centre, Pune.
Features
- It is a common, generic and configurable application developed for registration departments across the country.
- The application is specifically designed for the use of sub-registrars, citizens and apex users from registration departments.
- NGDRS facilitates states to create state-specific instances and configure the software as per requirements.
- Offering a complete user interface for property and document registration, the application enables citizens to proceed with land buying online.
- They can find out the circle rate for land, calculate property valuation as per prevailing rates and understand the type of land.
- Transactions of prohibited properties are restricted for sale like government land, tribal land, mortgaged land etc., are also available, which ultimately helps them decide where and what type of land they should buy.
- Thereafter, they can apply online for document submission, make instant payments and make prior appointments.
- Property buyers need to visit the sub-registrar’s office only once and that too at the time of final signing and registration.

What is ULPIN?

It is the unique blockchain ID and the land parcel is uniquely identified using ULPIN from BhuNaksha.
It is a 14-digit alphanumeric identification number for every land parcel that can be described as the AADHAR or fingerprint for land.
The identification is based on the longitude and latitude of the land parcel and is dependent on geo-referenced cadastral maps.
The benefits of ULPIN are to ensure uniqueness in all transactions, keep the spatial records up to date, link property transactions, share land records data across departments, and financial institutions and eliminate fraudulent transactions.

Source : Secretary Smt. Nidhi Khare rolls out the National Generic Document Registration System throughout Assam along with the launch of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number

5. Cuscuta dodder

An invasive weed Cuscuta dodder is slowly choking the Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, threatening the local vegetation, ecology and habitat of migratory birds.

About Cuscuta Dodder:

It is native to North America.
It is a parasitic vine without roots, has already infested acres of trees in the reserve forests and has begun to spread inside India’s oldest bird sanctuary.
It is the holoparasitic plant that builds a canopy on the host plant and casts thousands of tendrils to form a dense spectacle before it strangles and eventually kills it.
As per a technical paper published by the National Research Centre for Weed Science, in India, Cuscuta poses a serious problem in oilseeds, pulses and fodder crops in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal and parts of Madhya Pradesh under rain fed as well as irrigated conditions.
Legislation in 25 countries has listed the dodder as a ‘declared noxious weed’ with seeds and plant material denied entrance. In the United States, it is the only weed seed whose movement is prohibited in every state.
The seeds of Cuscuta are spheroid and have a hard coat, which aids them to survive up to 50 years in dry storage and at least 10 years in the field.
Unlike root parasites, Cuscuta seeds do not require a specific stimulant to induce germination.

Source : Parasitic creeper preys on Chengalpet forests, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

6. What is e-Jagriti Portal?

The Consumer Affairs Secretary recently asserted that integration of artificial intelligence in the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal will help reduce the number of pending cases in consumer courts.

About e-Jagriti Portal:

It is an initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
It is a portal for consumer commissions.
This portal has been designed to further improve the customer experience.
It provides a simple, fast, and cost-effective consumer dispute redressal software solution at all levels.
It is envisaged to integrate consumer grievance platforms, namely, the Online Case Monitoring System (OCMS), E-Daakhil, the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) Case Monitoring System, CONFONET website, mediation application, on a single platform.
The e-Jagriti platform has case filing, online fee payment, case monitoring modules for seamless disposal of cases by all the Commissions, has Smart search facility on archived consumer complaints/cases/judgements using AI technology for metadata and keyword creation, and Voice-to-text conversion of judgements, case history and other details using AI / ML technology.
The portal will integrate a Virtual court facility for a convenient and accessible resolution of consumer complaints, reducing the time of disposal, multiple hearings, and physical court appearances, bringing effective and fast decisions & disposals in all Consumer Commissions.

Key Facts about the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC):

It is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
Its head office is in New Delhi.
The Commission is headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a sitting or retired Chief Justice of the High Court.
Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, posits that the National Commission shall have jurisdiction to entertain a complaint valued at more than two crores and also have appellate and revisional jurisdiction from the orders of State Commissions or the District, as the case may be.
Any person aggrieved by an order of NCDRC may prefer an appeal against such an order to the Supreme Court of India within 30 days.

Source : AI integration in e-Jagriti portal to help reduce pending cases in consumer courts: Govt

7. Olive Ridley Turtles

The Andhra Pradesh government recently imposed a month-long ban on fishing in the 5-km radius of Hope Island to prevent the death of Olive Ridley turtles off the Kakinada coast.

About Olive Ridley Turtles:

They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
It gets its name from the olive-green colouration of its carapace (shell).
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
They are best known for their unique mass nesting, called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
Distribution:
- They are mainly found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
- Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (a colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.
Features:
- An adult typically measures between 62 and 70 cm in length and weighs about 35-45 kg.
- They have one to two visible claws on each of their paddle-like flippers.
- They are omnivorous, meaning they feed on both plants and animals.
- They are solitary, preferring the open ocean.
- These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean and migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
- CITES: Appendix I

Key Facts about Hope Island:

It is a tadpole-shaped island, located off the coast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal.
Hope Island is so named for providing a natural haven to sailors against the forces of wind and tide against the weary traveller.
This island is young, as it was formed in the late 18th century, by the waters of the Koringa River, which is a distributary of the River Godavari.
The area between Kakinada coast and Hope Island is known as Kakinada Bay.
It acts as a natural barrier from storm surges and is a natural breakwater for the Kakinada coast.

Source : Andhra Pradesh government bans fishing within a 5 km radius of Hope Island to check the death of Olive Ridley turtles

8. Bubonic Plague

Officials in the US state of Oregon recently said they are dealing with a rare human case of bubonic plague that was likely transmitted by a pet cat.

About the Bubonic Plague:

Plague is an infectious disease caused by a specific type of bacterium called Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacterium usually found in small mammals and their fleas.
pestis can affect humans and animals and is spread mainly by fleas.
Bubonic plague is one type of plague. It gets its name from the swollen lymph nodes (buboes) caused by the disease.
- Called the Black Death, it killed millions of Europeans during the Middle Ages.
The other types of plague are:
- Septicemic plague, which happens when the infection goes all through the body.
- Pneumonic plague, which happens when the lungs are infected.
Plague can be a very severe disease in people, with a case-fatality ratio of 30% to 60% for the bubonic type, and is always fatal for the pneumonic kind when left untreated.
Symptoms: Bubonic plague symptoms include
- Sudden high fever and chills.
- Pain in the areas of the abdomen, arms, and legs.
- Headaches.
- Large and swollen lumps in the lymph nodes(buboes) that develop and leak pus.
Transmission:
- pestis is spread mostly by fleas on rodents and other animals.
- It is transmitted between animals and humans by the bite of infected fleas, direct contact with infected tissues, and inhalation of infected respiratory droplets.
The incubation period of bubonic plague is usually 2 to 8 days.
Treatment:
- It can be treated and cured with antibiotics.
- Antibiotics that treat bubonic plague include Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, Gentamicin and Doxycycline.
- It can be fatal if it’s not treated.

Source : Rare Case Of Bubonic Plague In US, It Killed 50 Million In 14th Century

9. World Government Summit (WGS) 2024

The Indian Prime Minister will attend the World Government Summit 2024 as a guest of honour in the UAE.

About World Government Summit (WGS):

It is an annual global gathering that brings together world leaders, policymakers, experts, and thought leaders from various fields to discuss and address pressing global issues.
It was established in 2013 under the leadership of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
It is annually held in Dubai, UAE.
The Summit, in its various activities, explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity.
Since its inception, the Summit has championed the mission of shaping future governments and creating a better future for humanity.
World Government Summit (WGS) 2024:
- Theme: “Shaping Future Governments”
- It will focus on six main themes:
  - Government Acceleration and Transformation
  - Artificial Intelligence and the Next Frontiers
  - Reimagining Development and Future Economies
  - Future Societies and Education
  - Sustainability and The New Global Shifts
  - Urbanisation and Global Health Priorities

Source : Indian PM Modi to attend World Government Summit 2024 as guest of honour in UAE

10. What is Market Capitalisation?

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) became the first Indian company to surpass Rs 20 lakh crore in market capitalisation.

About Market Capitalisation:

Market Capitalization, or Market Cap, is a term used to represent the market value of a company based on its current share price and the total number of its outstanding shares.
It can be calculated by multiplying the number of outstanding shares of a company by the current price of its shares.
It represents the market’s perception of a company’s worth and indicates its size and significance in the financial markets.
On the basis of market cap, companies may be classified as large-cap, mid-cap, or small-cap companies.
- Large-cap companies are usually stable, reputable, and well-established businesses that have a significant market share. They have market caps of INR 20,000 crore or more.
- Mid-cap companies have a market cap ranging from INR 5,000 crore to INR 20,000 crore.
- Small-cap companies operate at a smaller scale than large-cap and mid-cap companies. Consequently, their market cap is also lower (less than INR 5,000 crore).
Why is market capitalization important?
- It allows potential investors to understand the true value of companies and the size of one company in relation to another.
- It helps investors predict the future performance of the stock of a company because it reflects what the market is willing to pay for the stock.

What is Free float market capitalisation?

While calculating the total market capitalization of a company, all the shares, including the ones publicly traded as well as those held by promoters, government, or other private parties, are multiplied by the stock price.
But in the free-float market capitalisation, we exclude shares held by private parties like promoters, trusts, or the government.
We only consider shares held and traded by the public and multiply them by the share price to arrive at the free-float market capitalisation of a company.

Source : Reliance becomes first Indian company to hit Rs 20 lakh crore valuation

15 FEB 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

14 FEB 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

16 FEB 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

Categories

Latest Affair