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

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Written by NDI EDITOR

Jan 18 2024

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18 Jan 2024 Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CDS, CAPF, NDA & SSB
1. Kolam Tribes
The Central government will extend basic facilities to the endangered Kolam tribe under the Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, with a focus on health and education.

About Kolam Tribes:

  • Kolam tribes, also known as Kolamboli, Kulme and Kolmi, occupy a major portion of Madhya Pradesh.
  • The main concentration of this tribe is on the plains and in the mountainous region.
  • These tribal groups are reckoned as scheduled tribes and apart from Madhya Pradesh they reside in some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
  • They are listed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the state of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
  • History:
    • Around the twelfth century, the Kolam served as priests for the Gond, representing some of their important gods.
    • It is generally accepted that the Kolam descended from the original population in the area.
    • Since they now live near the Gond, they have adopted much of the Gond lifestyle. 
  • The Kolam people are divided into different clans, like Chal Deve, Pach Deve, Saha Deve, and Sat Deve.
  • Marriages between the same clans are not permissible.
  • The Kolams use the name of their clans as their surnames.
  • Their society is patrilineal, meaning that the line of descent is traced through the males.
  • The Kolam are mainly farmers and forest worker In times past, they used shifting cultivation on the hill slopes. Today, they primarily live as settled farmers and use plough cultivation.
  • They speak a Dravidian language called Kolami, and nearly all of the adults also speak Marathi, Telugu, or Gondi.
  • They also speak other languages like Marathi, Telugu or Gondi.
  • For writing, this Kolam tribal community uses the Devanagari script. 
Source : Vulnerable tribal villages set to benefit from Centre’s scheme
2. Pinaka Weapon System
According to defence officials, two South American countries have shown interest in the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.

About Pinaka:

  • Pinaka is a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL).
  • The Pinaka MBRL is designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory of the DRDO.
  • It was first used during the Kargil War, where it successfully neutralised Pakistan Army positions on the mountain tops.
  • It delivers lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets, such as exposed enemy troops, armoured and soft-skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, and fuel and ammunition dumps.
  • Features:
    • It consists of a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
    • The launcher system is supported on four hydraulically actuated outriggers at the time of firing. 
    • It has a range of 60 to 75 kilometres.
    • The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
3. What is Paramyrothecium indicum?
Scientists recently discovered a new species of fungus in Kerala, named ‘Paramyrothecium indicum’.

About Paramyrothecium indicum:

  • It is a new species of phytopathogenic fungus.
  • Phytopathogens are parasites surviving on a plant host. 
  • Most of Paramyrothecium are phytopathogens.
  • They are responsible for “serious plant diseases which might negatively affect crop productivity.
  • Paramyrothecium leaf spots are a type of fungal disease that can affect a variety of plants.
  • Some species of Paramyrothecium produce secondary metabolites with bio-herbicidal potentials and, therefore, may find application in controlling weeds.

Key Facts about Fungi:

  • Fungi, along with Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria or Eubacteria, form the six ‘kingdoms’ of biology.
  • Fungi includes the yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. 
  • They are eukaryotic organisms, i.e., their cells contain membrane-bound organelles and clearly defined nuclei.
  • Reproduction: Fungi usually reproduce both sexually and asexually. 
  • Distribution:
    • Fungi are either terrestrial or aquatic, the latter living in freshwater or marine environments.
    • They are found in all temperate and tropical regions of the world where there is sufficient moisture to enable them to grow.
  • A group called the decomposers grows in the soil or on dead plant matter, where they play an important role in the cycling of carbon and other elements.
  • Some are parasites of plants causing diseases such as mildews, rusts, scabs, or canker. In crops, fungal diseases can lead to significant monetary losses for the farmer.
  • A very small number of fungi cause diseases in animals. In humans, these include skin diseases such as athletes’ foot, ringworm, and thrush.
  • Fungi are essential to many household and industrial processes, notably the making of bread, wine, beer, and certain cheeses.
4. Panama Canal
Scientists recently stumbled upon a lost forest in the Panama Canal, dating back around 22 million years.

About Panama Canal:

  • It is an artificial waterwaythat connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
  • The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit for maritime trade.
  • It was cut through one of the narrowest saddles of the isthmus that joins North and South America.
  • It is one of the two most strategic artificial waterways in the world, the other being the Suez Canal. 
  • It is approximately 80 kilometres long.
  • It consists of a series of locks that raise and lower the water level to facilitate the passage of ships through the continental divide.
  • History:
    • France began work on the canal in 1881, but financial troubles and diseases made the initiative fail.
    • The United States took over the project on May 4, 1904, and opened the canal on August 15, 1914, and then managed the waterway until 1999.
    • On December 31, 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration, and maintenance of the Canal, in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties negotiated with the United States in 1977.
5. Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, or the Prakash Parv of the tenth Sikh Guru, is celebrated on January 17 this year.

About the Guru Gobind Singh:

  • He was the 10th and last human Guru of the Sikhs.
  • Born as Gobind Rai on December 22, 1666, in Patna, Bihar, Guru Gobind Singh was the son of the ninth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Teg Bahadur.
  • He became the spiritual and temporal leader of the Sikhs on November 11, 1675, at the age of nine, following the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675.
  • He was renowned as a warrior, a poet, and a prophet. 
  • He is fondly remembered by Sikhs as a defender of the faith and a champion of equality and justice.
  • Among his notable contributions to Sikhism are founding the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa in 1699.
    • He introduced the Five Ks, the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times. These are Kesh: uncut hair, Kangha: a wooden comb, Kara: an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist, Kirpan: a sword, and Kacchera: short breeches.
  • Throughout his life, he engaged in numerous battles against the Mughal Empire and their allies, totalling 21 battles.
    • Some of the notable battles include the Battle of Bhangani, the Battle of Nadaun, the Battle of Anandpur, the Battle of Chamkaur, the Battle of Muktsar, and the Battle of Khidrana.
  • He authored numerous literary works in various languages. Among his famous works are Jaap Sahib, the Tav-Prasad Savaiye, and the Benti Chaupai. 
  • He further codified Sikh law, wrote martial poetry and music, and was the reputed author of the Sikh work called the Dasam Granth (“Tenth Volume”).
  • Guru Gobind Singh proclaimed that he was the last of the personal Gurus. From that point forward, the Sikh Guru was to be the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib(Sikh Holy Book).
  • He was assassinated in 1708, at the age of 41. 
6. Yen Denominated Green Bonds
REC Limited, a Maharatna and a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power, has achieved a significant milestone by issuing its inaugural Japanese Yen (JPY) 61.1 billion green bonds under the Global Medium Term Notes Programme.

About the Yen Denominated Green Bonds:

  • It is REC Limited’s eleventh venture into the international bond market and inaugural Yen Bond issuance, which is also the first Yen Green Bonds issuance by any Indian PSU.
  • Time period: 5-year, 5.25-year and 10-year bonds issued at yield of 1.76%, 1.79% and 2.20% respectively
  • It is the largest ever Euro-Yen issuance in South and South East Asia.
  • It is the largest Yen-denominated issuance from India.
  • Largest non-sovereign Yen-denominated issuance ever from South and South East Asia.
  • The transaction witnessed interest from both Japanese and international accounts, with the number of orders from each at 50%, international allocation being one of the highest for any other Indian Yen deal.
  • These bonds will be rated Baa3/BBB–/BBB+ (Moody's/Fitch/JCR) and will be listed exclusively on Global Securities Market of India International Exchange (India INX) and NSE IFSC in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Key facts about REC Limited

  • REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power involved in financing projects in the complete power sector value chain from generation to distribution.
  • It is registered with the RBI as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), a Public Financial Institution (PFI) and an Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
7. African dream herb
A dying traditional game, given a fresh lease of life at the ongoing Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, has fuelled a drive for conserving a creeper known as the African dream herb.

About the African dream herb:

  • A perennial climbing vine that is used by African traditional healers to induce vivid dreams that enables them to communicate efficiently with their ancestors.
  • Common names: Giant sea bean, African dream herb, snuff box and Entada rheedii
  • Distribution and habitat: It is indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia and Madagascar. It grows in tropical lowlands, along the coastline and river banks, in woodland, thickets and riverine rain forests.
  • Uses
    • A paste made from the leaves, bark and roots is used to clean wounds, treat burns and heal jaundice in children.
    • Tea made from the whole plant is used to improve blood circulation to the brain and heal the after-effects of a stroke.
    • The bark is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and parasitic infections.
  • This creeper yields a dark brown and spherical seed, almost the size of a human patella or kneecap, used to play ‘Hambi Kepathu’. Associated with the origin of the Karbi community.

What is Hambi Kepathu?

  • It is also known as Simrit in some parts of Karbi Anglong, is played on three rectangular courts by two teams comprising three members each.
  • Each member of a team has to place a ‘hambi’, or the glazed creeper seed, vertically on the midpoint of the boundary line of his court for a player of the rival team to hit with his ‘hambi’.
  • Hambi Kepathu, whose name is derived from the first syllables of the names of a Karbi sister-brother duo, is a male-only game like other traditional Karbi games such as ‘Pholong’ (spinning top), ‘Thengtom Langvek’ (torch swimming), and ‘Kengdongdang’ (bamboo stilt race).
8. e-SAKSHI Application
Recently, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application.

About e-SAKSHI Application:

  • It was launched for revised fund flow procedure under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) Scheme.
  • It will bring forth a myriad of benefits, revolutionising the way Members of Parliament engage with and manage development projects in their constituencies.
  • It would offer convenience and accessibility, allowing MPs to propose, track, and oversee the projects at their fingertips.
  • This real-time access enhances decision-making processes, enabling swift responses to emerging needs or issues.
  • The application will streamline the communication between MPs and relevant authorities, facilitating a more efficient exchange of information.
  • It will promote transparency by providing MPs with instant updates on the status and progress of their proposed projects.
  • It has the features for budget management, ensuring MPs can monitor expenditures.

Key points about the MPLAD Scheme:

  • It was first introduced in 1993.
  • The Scheme is fully funded by the Government of India under which funds are released in the form of grants-in-aid directly to the district authorities.
  • The funds released under the Scheme are non-lapsable,e., the entitlement of funds not released in a particular year is carried forward to the subsequent years, subject to eligibility.
  • At present, the annual entitlement per MP/ constituency is 5 crore rupees.
  • The role of the Members of Parliament is limited to recommend works. Thereafter, it is the responsibility of the district authority to sanction, execute and complete the works recommended within the stipulated time period.
  • The elected Lok Sabha Members can recommend works in their respective constituencies.
  • The elected members of the Rajya Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the state from which they are elected.
  • Nominated Members of the Parliament can recommend works for implementation, anywhere in the country.
  • MPLADS works can be implemented in areas affected by natural calamities like floods, cyclone, hailstorm, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, landslides, tornado, earthquake, drought, tsunami, fire and biological, chemical, radiological hazards, etc.
9. Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival
The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF), a state festival of Arunachal Pradesh, will take place at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district from January 18-20, 2024.

About Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival:

  • The first-ever PPHF was held in 2015. The aim was to recognise the role played by the Nyishi tribal group in conserving hornbills in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR).
  • Other objectives were to raise alternative sources of income for the region and to create awareness in the rest of India about the wonders of PTR and its surrounding areas.
  • This year, the festival’s theme is Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh. It translates to ‘Let Our Hornbills Remain’ in the Nyishi language.
  • This year’s festival aims to underscore the critical need for preserving these iconic birds.

Key points about Pakke Tiger Reserve:

  • It is located in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • It is surrounded by the Tenga Reserve Forest to the North, Doimara Reserve Forest on the West, Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam) on the South.
  • The landscape has high species diversity and endemicity as it forms the transition zone between the Indian and Malayan ecoregions.
  • It is situated North of the river Brahmaputra in the transition zone between the Assam plains and the hilly forests of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Vegetation: It consists of tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest.
  • Flora: Polyalthia simiarum, Pterospermum acerifolium, Sterculia alata, Stereospermum chelonioides, Ailanthus grandis and Duabanga grandiflor. About eight species of bamboo occur in the area.
  • Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, predators like Leopard and Clouded leopard etc.
10. What are Light-Emitting Diodes?
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) succeed the incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps of previous centuries as the world’s light-source of choice.

About the Light-Emitting Diodes:

  • A diode is an electronic component which has two points of contact, or terminals, called its anode and cathode.
  • A diode’s primary purpose is to allow current to flow in only one direction.
  • An LED is a semiconductor device which emits light when electric current flows through it.
  • It can produce all three primary colours – red, green, and blue – different LEDs can be combined on a display board to produce a large variety of colours.

Advantages of LED:

  • Energy Efficiency: It requires far less electricity to produce the same light as incandescent bulbs. LEDs use approximately 75-80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
  • Durability: LED bulbs are highly durable and resistant to shocks, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations.
  • Instant Illumination: It provides instant illumination without the warm-up period required by incandescent bulbs.
  • Heat Generation: LED bulbs generate very little heat, making them safer to handle and more efficient in terms of energy utilisation.
  • Environmental Impact: LEDs have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to incandescent. The energy efficiency and longer lifespan result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less waste.

What are the Applications of LEDs?

  • LEDs have several applications in industry, consumer electronics, and household appliances: from smartphones to TV screens, from signboards to ‘feeding’ plants light in greenhouses, from barcode scanners to monitoring air quality.
About Authour
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Written by NDI EDITOR

National Defence Institute's Editor

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