13 SEPTEMBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

1. BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

September 12 marks the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi that has inspired a host of armies, books and films, both at home and abroad.

About:

The Battle of Saragarhi is considered one of the finest last stands in the military history of the world. Twenty-one soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribals but they managed to hold the fort for seven hours.
Though heavily outnumbered, the soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikh), led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their last breath, killing 200 tribals and injuring 600.

Important Info :

What was Saragarhi, and why was it important?

Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. The two forts in the rugged North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now in Pakistan. were built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British.
Saragarhi helped to link up the two important forts which housed a large number of British troops in the rugged terrain of NWFP.

Source : Indian Express

2. PRECISION-GUIDED STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE (pgSIT)

Leveraging advancements in CRISPR-based genetic engineering, researchers have created a system that restrains populations of mosquitoes that infect millions each year with debilitating diseases.

About:

The “precision-guided sterile insect technique” (pgSIT), alters genes linked to male fertility—creating sterile offspring—and female flight in Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika.
The pgSIT uses CRISPR to sterilise male mosquitoes and render female mosquitoes (which spread disease) flightless.
The system is self-limiting and is not predicted to persist or spread in the environment, two safety features that should enable acceptance for this technology, the release said.
The scientists say pgSIT eggs can be shipped to a location threatened by mosquito-borne disease or developed at an on-site facility that could produce the eggs for nearby deployment.
Once the pgSIT eggs are released in the wild, sterile pgSIT males will emerge and eventually mate with females, driving down the wild population as needed.

Source : Indian Express

3. TRIBUNALS

The government has appointed 31 people as judicial, technical and accountant members at the NCLT and the ITAT, amid the Supreme Court flagging concerns about vacancies in various tribunals.

About:

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) deals with matters mainly related to companies law and the insolvency law, while the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) deals with income tax matters.
The appointments also come at a time when the Supreme Court has flagged concerns, saying the Centre was “emasculating” tribunals by not appointing officials to the quasi-judicial bodies that are facing a staff crunch.
The appointments will be for five years from the date of assumption of charge or till attaining the age of 65 or until further orders.
There are around 250 posts lying vacant at various key tribunals and appellate tribunals such as the NCLT, the DRT, the TDSAT and the SAT.

Source : The Hindu

4. BHUPENDRA PATEL

In a surprise choice, first-time legislator Bhupendra Patel was elected the new Chief Minister of Gujarat.

About:

Bhupendra Patel will be the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat. He will succeed the outgoing Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who resigned from the post on Saturday.
Patel became the MLA from the Ghatlodiya seat of Ahmedabad city in 2017. Mr. Bhupendra Patel is believed to be close to Anandiben Patel- Governor of Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Source : All India Radio

5. LCA-Mk2

LCA-Mk2 to roll out next year, first flight in 2023, says scientist.

About:

The configuration for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk2 has been frozen and steel cutting is expected to begin soon while configuration for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has been frozen and preliminary design completed.
Roll-out of the aircraft (Mk2) is planned next year and the first flight in early 2023.
The aircraft features enhanced range and endurance including an onboard oxygen generation system, which is being integrated for the first time.
Heavy weapons of the class of Scalp, Crystal Maze and Spice-2000 will also be integrated on the Mk2. The LCA-Mk2 will be a heavier and much more capable aircraft than the current LCA variants.
The Mk2 is 1,350 mm longer featuring canards and can carry a payload of 6,500 kg compared to 3,500 kg the LCA can carry.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has one squadron of the LCA in initial operational clearance and deliveries of the second squadron in final operational clearance configuration are under way.

Source : The Hindu

6. N-DEAR

Recognizing the transitions happening in the Education sector, where Digital Technology has come to dominate the face of most remote learnings, the Government of India has announced a National Digital Educational Architecture, or in short, N-DEAR.

What NDEAR is?

An architectural blueprint for the education ecosystem and not a system.
That defines a set of
1. Principles - e.g. technology and ecosystem
2. Standards and Specifications - e.g. technology and data
3. Guidelines - e.g. data process, ecosystem engagement
4. Policies - e.g. data, openness, inclusion, accessibility
And identifies the key building blocks needed to make the architecture blueprint a reality
For an ecosystem of
1. Actors to build, develop, innovate - interoperable building blocks
2. Applications/Innovations in the form of Solutions, platforms, tools, assets to be developed and used
To enable the achievement of policy goals through programmes such as - SSA, FLN Mission – etc

Source : All India Radio

7. SONAL SHUKLA

Sonal Shukla, noted feminist and educator, dies of cardiac arrest at 80.

About:

The chief founder trustee of Vacha Charitable Trust, she had been working with adolescent girls and women from the 1980s.
Popularly known as “Sonal Ben”, she had been actively involved in feminist movements for many decades and was also the co-founder of the group Forum Against Rape, which is now known as the Forum Against Oppression of Women.
Vacha, a non-profit that she had co-founded, had started as a resource centre for anyone wanting to know about women’s movement. The centre served as the first only-women’s book library with a collection of over 3,000 books.
A recipient of many awards, Shukla, early this year, was recognised as a Feminist Icon in India by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a pro-democracy and social justice non-profit based in Germany.

Source : Indian Express

8. NETHERLANDS PROPOSAL TO CUT LIVESTOCK NUMBERS

The Netherlands is considering proposals, which are the most radical of its kind in Europe, of slashing livestock numbers by 30 per cent by forcing farmers to sell their emission rights and even their land to the state.

About:

This comes following growing public debate in the country over the effects of livestock production on human health and the environment. The debate had found a renewed impetus after the Q fever epidemic which hit the most densely populated livestock areas in the country in 2007-10.
The Netherlands is the EU’s biggest meat exporter. It has also one of the largest livestock industries in Europe, with more than 100 million cattle, chickens and pigs.

Important Info :

What is the reason behind such a plan?

The Netherlands is battling an acute climate crisis caused by an excess of nitrogen emissions. The concern regarding livestock stems from the fact that they produce manure which, when mixed with urine, releases ammonia, which is a nitrogen compound.
This ammonia, via farm runoff, can get into waterbodies, in which case the excessive nitrogen will damage sensitive natural habitats. Nitrogen can lead to algae that deplete oxygen at the surface of the water.
A study published in Elsevier last year stated that livestock production leads to alarming nitrate pollution of groundwater.

Source : Indian Express

9. LEBANON

Lebanon’s financial meltdown has swiftly worsened in the last month, with much of the country crippled by fuel shortages that have ignited country-wide security incidents.

The economic meltdown

Over two years, around 78 per cent of the Lebanese population has fallen into poverty. The World Bank says it is one of the sharpest depressions of modern times.
Early in the crisis, Lebanon defaulted on its massive pile of public debt, including $31 billion of Eurobonds that remain outstanding to creditors.
The currency has fallen by more than 90 per cent, demolishing purchasing power in a country dependent on imports. The banking system is paralysed.
The fuel shortages have led to confrontations at petrol stations, where motorists have to wait for hours and weapons have been drawn in melees over fuel. Fuel tankers have been hijacked.

Important Info :

Lebanon?

Lebanon is a country in Western Asia.
It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies to its west across the Mediterranean Sea.

Source : Indian Express

13 SEPTEMBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

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