24 Jan 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

1. Andrographis theniensis

A new plant species has been discovered in Theni district of Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats by a research student from Wanaparthy.

About Andrographis theniensis:

It is a plant, which was named ‘Andrographis theniensis’ after the location (Theni).
The new plant resembles Andrographis megamalayana.
It has glabrous leaves and stems, a nine-veined lower lip, pale yellowish sparse hair on the middle lobe of the lower lip and yellow anther.
Andrographis is a tropical Asian genus native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the West Himalaya.
However, a majority of Andrographis taxa are distributed in southern India and Sri Lanka, particularly in Western and Eastern Ghats.
There are nearly 25 Andrographis species in India.
Uses: This genus is traditionally used to treat various ailments such as cold, cough, fever, jaundice, diarrhoea, cardiovascular and hepatic diseases in both codified and non-codified medicinal systems.

Source : New plant species discovered in Western Ghats by a researcher

2. Exercise Cyclone

The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel reached Egypt to take part in the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE.

About Exercise Cyclone:

It is the 2nd edition of the Exercise Cyclone which will be conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024.
The first edition of the exercise was conducted last year in India.
The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Egyptian contingent comprising 25 personnel is being represented by Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
Aim of the Exercise is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/ semi desert terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
Exercise CYCLONE is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.
It will involve planning and execution of special operations in sub conventional domain and conducted in three phases.
While the first phase will include Military Exhibitions and Tactical Interactions, second phase will focus on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid. The third and final phase will encompass Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Area and Hostage Rescue Scenarios.
The Exercise will provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices.
It will also act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.

Source : INDIAN ARMY SPECIAL FORCES CONTINGENT REACHES EGYPT FOR JOINT EXERCISE ‘CYCLONE’

3. FAO’s Committee on Fisheries

India has been elected as the First Vice Chair of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management.

About FAO’s Committee on Fisheries:

It is a subsidiary body of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
It was established by the FAO Conference in 1965.
Functions
- It addresses issues on international fishing and aquaculture, providing policy guidance on fisheries management, recognising global challenges, and promoting collective solutions to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the fishing industry.
- The grouping makes recommendations to the FAO Council or its Director-General.
- It has also been used as a forum in which global agreements and non-binding instruments were negotiated.
- The Committee also reviews specific matters relating to fisheries and aquaculture referred to it by the Council
The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management is a new sub-group formed under the COFI in 2022, during the 35th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), held in Rome.
It will work closely with the two other COFI sub-committees, the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

Key facts about the Food and Agriculture Organization

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
Member countries: With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union.
Its sister bodies are the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Reports published: The State of the World's Forests (SOFO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
Headquarter: Rome (Italy).

Source : India elected as First Vice Chair of COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

4. Gir and Kankrej cattle

India has imported 40,000 doses of bull semen from Brazil for the first time to boost milk output via artificial insemination of Gir and Kankrej cattle breeds.

About Kankrej:

It is also called as Wadad or Waged, Wadhiar.
It is originated from Southeast Rann of Kutch of Gujarat and adjoining Rajasthan (Barmer and Jodhpur district).
Colour of the animal varies from silver-grey to iron-grey or steel black.
It is valued for fast, powerful, draught cattle and also useful in ploughing and carting.
Kankrej, famously known as Guzerat in Brazil, is being maintained in large numbers as a pure breed in that country.

Key facts about Gir breed

It is a famous Indian-born dairy cattle breed.
It is also known as “Bhodali”, “Desan”, “Gujarati”, “Kathiawari”, “Sorthi”, and “Surati”.
Its native tract is Gir hills and forests of Kathiawar in Gujarat.
It is a world-renowned breed known for its tolerance to stress conditions and resistant to various tropical diseases.

Why from Brazil?

Brazil has preserved the original breed of Gir cows that was gifted by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar to Brazil in the 18th century.
Indian cattle like Gir and Kankrej, which were exported centuries back, have been suitably modified to yield large quantities of milk in Brazil.
Both countries are working on training and capacity building, including technology transfer.

Source : India imports bull semen from Brazil to raise milk production

5. Parakram Diwas

The Prime Minister of India has extended greetings to the people of India on Parakram Diwas.

About Parakram Diwas:

It is celebrated on January 23 to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose.
This year marks the 127th birth anniversary of Bose, fondly known as ‘Netaji’.
Parakram Diwas aims to instil fearlessness and patriotism, especially among the youth, inspiring them to stand strong in the face of challenges.

Key points about Subhas Chandra Bose

He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa.
In 1920, he passed the civil service examination, but in April 1921, after hearing of the nationalist turmoil in India, he resigned from his position.
He was an Indian nationalist leader who was a key figure in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
Bose then joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Indian independence movement.
President of Indian National Congress: Bose was elected president of the Indian National Congress for two consecutive terms but resigned from the post following ideological conflicts with Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1939, he formed the Forward Bloc, an organization aimed at unifying all the anti-British forces in India.
At the outset of the Second World War, he fled from India and traveled to the Soviet Union, Germany and Japan, seeking an alliance with the aim of attacking the British in India.
With Japanese assistance, he reorganized and later led the Indian National Army, formed from Indian prisoners-of-war and plantation workers from Malaya, Singapore, and other parts of Southeast Asia, against British forces.
Also with Japanese monetary, political, diplomatic, and military assistance, he formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, and regrouped, and led the Indian National Army in battle against the allies at Imphal and in Burma.

Source : Prime Minister extends greetings to the people of India on Parakram Diwas

6. Exercise Khanjar

Recently, India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR has commenced at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Khanjar:

It was first initiated in December 2011, in Nahan, India.
It is the 11th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise.
It is an annual event conducted alternately in both the countries.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 20 personnel is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the Kyrgyzstan contingent comprising 20 personnel is represented by Scorpion Brigade.
Aim of the exercise is to exchange experiences and best practices in Counter Terrorism and Special Forces Operations in Built-up Area and Mountainous Terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
The exercise will emphasise on developing Special Forces skills, advanced techniques of insertion and extraction.
The exercise will provide an opportunity for both the sides of fortify defence ties while addressing common concerns of international terrorism and extremism.
The exercise will also accord opportunity to showcase capabilities of cutting edge indigenous defence equipment besides achieving shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations.

Source : INDIAN – KYRGYZSTAN JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE KHANJAR COMMENCES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

7. Madhika language

In the remote colony of Kookanam, near Karivellur grama panchayat in Kerala, the Chakaliya community is grappling with the imminent loss of its unique language Madhika.

About Madhika language:

It is a language spoken by the Chakaliya community.
It does not have script.
Despite sounding similar to Kannada it can still bewilder listeners due to its diverse influences.
It is a blend of Telugu, Tulu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
It is largely influenced by Havyaka Kannada, an old form of Kannada.
It is fast becoming extinct with the younger generation opting for Malayalam.

Key facts about Chakaliya community

The community was nomadic and worshippers of Thiruvenkatramana and Mariamma.
They migrated to northern Malabar from the hilly regions of Karnataka centuries ago.
Initially they were recognised as Scheduled Tribe, it was later included in the Scheduled Caste category in Kerala.
The mention of the community can be found in the book Caste and Tribes of Southern India.

Government of India’s Initiative to preserve languages

The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as “Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India” (SPPEL).
Under this Scheme, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore works on protection, preservation and documentation of all the mother tongues/languages of India spoken by less than 10,000 people which are called endangered languages.

Source : With just two speakers, a language in Kannur is on the brink

8. What is FiloBot?

Recently, a new innovative plant-inspired robot which is named FiloBot has been developed that climbs up structures just like climbing vines.

About FiloBot:

It is different from conventional climbing robots as it doesn’t depend on pre-programmed movements.
It instead absorbs 3D printing filament through its head and extends its length over time, just like a creeper.
The team utilised a combination of plant behaviours like phototropism, negative phototropism and gravitropism and utilises these naturally occurring behaviours in high-tech robots.
The tests for FiloBot have been successful and displayed remarkable adaptability that adjusts its growth trajectory dynamically in response to moving light intensity.
Significance
- By equipping autonomous systems with transportable additive manufacturing techniques merged with bioinspired behavioural strategies, future robots can navigate unstructured and dynamic environments and even be capable of self-building infrastructure.
- This new innovation has opened new potential impact of technology that can be applied in robotics, where adaptability and responsiveness redefine the capabilities of climbing robots.
Other similar innovations
- A similar snake-like robot was unveiled by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which was specifically crafted to work on rough terrains of our solar system’s planets and moons.
- The robot named Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS 1.0) is engineered to navigate diverse landscapes, including ice, sand, cliff walls, deep craters and lava tubes.

Source : FiloBot, a plant-inspired robot that shoots up like a vine plant

9. Scrub Typhus

According to a new study conducted in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore, every millimetre increase in rainfall could lead to a 0.5 to 0.7 per cent rise in monthly scrub typhus cases.

About Scrub Typhus:

It is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi.
It is transmitted through infected mites.
Symptoms
- The symptoms typically include fever, headache, body ache and sometimes a rash.
- In severe cases, the infection can lead to respiratory distress, brain and lung inflammation, kidney failure and multi-organ failure, ultimately resulting in death.
Several factors like vector abundance, climatic factors, exposures like farming and owning domestic animals, outdoor activities and sanitation, affect its prevalence.
This disease is more prevalent in cooler months.
In Northeast India, cases of scrub typhus occur from July to November in Manipur, July to October in Sikkim and September to November in Darjeeling.
It will not spread from person to person.
Treatment: Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age.
There is no vaccine available for this disease.

Key facts about Typhus fever

Typhus fevers are a group of diseases caused by bacteria that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus.
- Epidemic typhus: It is caused due to Rickettsia prowazeki and it is spread to people through contact with infected body lice.
- Scrub typhusis: It caused due to Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread by chiggers.
- Murine typhus: It is caused due to Rickettsia typhi spread by fleas. It occurs in tropical and subtropical climates around the world

Source : Climate impact: Tamil Nadu study links vector-borne scrub typhus cases with high rainfall, humidity

24 Jan 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB

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