theIASHub | 10 Jun, 2025 | 5
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United Nations Ocean Conference : Recently, at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) Brazil and France jointly launched the ‘Blue NDC Challenge’.
o Significance: It reflects the growing global recognition of the oceans’ vital role in: Climate regulation, Biodiversity preservation, Enhancing coastal resilience and Carbon sequestration
o Countries Joining the Challenge: Six countries- Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau and Republic of Seychelles
o Aim: To achieve the targets set under the Paris Agreement and are submitted under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), particularly during the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP), such as the UN Climate Action Summit.
o Origin: Established under the UN framework, in response to growing recognition of the ocean’s crucial role in climate regulation, biodiversity, and human well-being.
o Previous Conferences: UNOC1 (2017, New York): Highlighted voluntary commitments for restoring ocean health.
ü UNOC2 (2022, Lisbon): Focused on strengthening international cooperation for marine protection.
o UNOC3 Goals: Aims to move from voluntary pledges to enforceable international agreements, addressing the global governance gap in ocean protection.
Foreigners Tribunals (FTs): Recently, Assam Chief Minister announced the deportation of 330 declared "foreigners" to Bangladesh and stated that the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 would be invoked to bypass Foreigners Tribunals in future cases.
o Purpose: Enable State authorities to refer cases of suspected foreigners for adjudication.
o Geographical Scope: Function exclusively in Assam; other states deal with such cases under the Foreigners Act without FTs.
o Composition: Headed by members drawn from retired judges, advocates, and civil servants with judicial experience.
o Powers : FTs have powers similar to a civil court (e.g., summoning witnesses, examining on oath, requiring documents).
o Applicability: Specifically targeted at the state of Assam, but extends to parts of Meghalaya and Nagaland through administrative discretion.
o Definition of Illegal Immigrant: Any person who entered India after March 25, 1971 and is not an Indian citizen, or cannot prove Indian citizenship
o The Act authorizes designated officers (e.g., District Collectors) to initiate expulsion without needing to refer the case to Foreigners Tribunals.
o Historical Background: Passed in response to large-scale migration following the Partition and later the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Tardigrade : Recently, the International Space Station (ISS) initiated a study titled Voyager Tardigrades, focusing on the tardigrade — one of nature’s most resilient microscopic organisms.
o The experiment aims to investigate how these creatures survive, revive, and reproduce in the extreme environment of outer space.
o They measure about 0.5 mm when fully grown and are known for their extraordinary resilience.
o Evolutionary History: Existed for around 600 million years, predating dinosaurs by over 400 million years.
o Feautres: Have four pairs of stubby legs, each ending in claws, and use a specialized mouthpart to feed on algae, plant cells, and tiny invertebrates.
o Habitat: They typically inhabit the thin layer of water found on mosses and lichens.
ü Found in some of the world’s most extreme environments, including the Himalayas, deep-sea trenches, volcanic hot springs, and the icy regions of Antarctica.
Nickel and Its Usage: Recently, a study by the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials introduced a hydrogen plasma-based technique for nickel extraction, presenting a more sustainable alternative to traditional, carbon-intensive methods.
o The resulting hydrogen plasma then reacts with nickel oxide to produce pure nickel and water—eliminating carbon dioxide emissions typically generated by conventional extraction processes.
o Key benefits : Up to 84% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions
ü 18% more energy-efficient than traditional multistep methods
ü Yields high-purity ferronickel suitable for stainless steel without extensive refining
o Source and Occurrence: Never found in pure form naturally; extracted from sulfide and laterite ores, often alongside copper and uranium.
o Applications : Stainless steel production (65% of global demand) for added strength, corrosion resistance, and durability.
ü Construction, kitchenware, medical instruments, and infrastructure projects.
ü Aerospace and defence due to its heat resistance (jet engines, turbines, and superalloys)
ü Green technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems supporting net-zero targets.
o Permission for Domestic Supply (Rule 18): SEZ units in these sectors can now sell in the domestic market on payment of applicable duties, apart from exports.
o Relaxed Encumbrance-Free Land Norms (Rule 7): Board of Approval (BoA) may approve SEZs on mortgaged or government-leased land, easing acquisition hurdles.
o Designed to overcome infrastructural and regulatory hurdles, improving the ease of doing business.
o India’s first Export Processing Zone (EPZ), the precursor to SEZs, was established in Kandla, Gujarat in 1965.
o The government initiated SEZs under the Foreign Trade Policy in 2000 to address EPZ limitations.
o The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, and SEZ Rules, 2006 formalised SEZ operations, inspired by China’s model.
o The Board of Approval (BoA), chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, oversees SEZ approvals and policies.
Asafoetida (Heeng): Recently, the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, announced the first successful flowering and seed formation of asafoetida (heeng) in India, marking a significant step in its adaptation and cultivation on Indian soil.
o Used cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for its digestive and aromatic qualities.
o Native Habitat : Cold, arid zones of Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
o Weather Conditions : Thrives in sandy, well-drained soil, low rainfall (under 300 mm), and temperature from –4°C to 40°C.
o Successful domestication in Palampur (1,300 m altitude) shows its adaptability beyond traditional cold deserts.
BBX32 Gene : A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal has discovered how a single protein, BBX32, plays a vital role in helping plants transition from darkness beneath the soil to sunlight above it.
o Gene Family: Belongs to subgroup V of the BBX (B-box) family but shows distinct features compared to other members of the subgroup.
o The gene gets temporarily activated in the embryo when the seed absorbs water.
o This happens at both the level of gene activity (transcription) and how the protein is made from the gene (post-transcription).
o Regulatory Role: Acts upstream of PIF1 (PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 1), a major repressor of seed germination.
o Mechanism of Action: It directly attaches to PIF1 and blocks it from sticking to DNA or working with other proteins. This stops PIF1 from slowing things down and helps the seed start growing.
o Ecological Significance: Acts as a molecular bridge that integrates water availability (imbibition) and light cues, coordinating the timing of seed germination.
DRUM Web App : Researchers from IIT Kharagpur have developed the Dynamic Route Planning for Urban Green Mobility (DRUM) web app, which enhances traditional navigation by integrating air quality and energy efficiency into route selection.
o Utilizes GraphHopper (Java-based routing engine) and Mapbox for real-time traffic data.
o Sources pollution data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and World Air Quality Index.
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