1. MARATHA QUOTA LAW (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)
Context: The Maharashtra Assembly recently passed a Bill unanimously, granting 10% reservation in education and government jobs to the Maratha community.
Maratha Quota Law
- About: The Bill maintains the existing OBC quota intact while introducing a separate quota for the Maratha community, distinct from the Maharashtra government’s earlier notification regarding Kunbi caste certificates.
- Exclusion of Creamy Layer: Individuals falling under the "creamy layer" category within the Maratha community won't benefit from the new law, ensuring reservations target those in need.
- Basis of Formulation: The law draws from a report by the Justice (retired) Sunil B Shukre-led Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, advocating for Maratha reservation due to "exceptional circumstances" and extraordinary situations".
- Population and Reservation Justification: The Commission finds that Marathas constitute 28% of the State's population, with 84% not advanced, justifying reservation beyond the Supreme Court-approved 50% limit.
Narayan Rane Committee Report
- About: In February 2014, a non-statutory committee led by Narayan Rane recommended Maratha reservation, citing their 32% population in Maharashtra and economic disadvantages.
- Recommendations Submitted: Narayan Rane's committee, appointed by the Prithviraj Chavan-led government, submitted a report advocating 16% reservation in government jobs and educational seats for Marathas, along with 5% reservation for Muslims.
Gaikwad Commission’s Recommendations
- The commission, headed by Justice (retired) N.G. Gaikwad, recommended 12% reservation in higher education and 13% reservation in public employment for Marathas.
- Findings of the Commission: The MSBCC's report highlighted that 76.86% of Maratha families were engaged in agriculture and agriculture labor.
- Additionally, it noted that 6% were in government and semi-government services, 3% in private services, 4% in trade and industry, and 9% in non-agricultural physical labor.
2. METHANESAT (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: Recently, Methanesat, a satellite about the size of a washing machine designed to track and measure methane emissions worldwide, was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California.
MethaneSAT
- About: It is a satellite project initiated by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a US-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group.
- Collaboration: The satellite development involves partnerships with Harvard University, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the New Zealand Space Agency.
- Orbit and Frequency: MethaneSAT will orbit the Earth 15 times a day, focusing on monitoring the oil and gas sector.
- Data Objective: The primary goal is to collect data on methane emissions, determining their sources, responsibility, and trends over time.
- Real-time Accessibility: The data collected by MethaneSAT will be made public and available for free in near real-time.
- Impact: Public access enables stakeholders and regulators to promptly address and mitigate methane emissions.
- Features
oSensor Technology: MethaneSAT is equipped with a high-resolution infrared sensor and a spectrometer.
oResolution Capability: It can detect methane concentrations as small as three parts per billion, addressing the limitations of previous satellites.
oIdentification of "Super Emitters": The satellite can identify significant emitters, referred to as "super emitters," contributing to a comprehensive understanding of methane sources.
Methane Emissions
- Status: Methane ranks as the second most prevalent greenhouse gas following carbon dioxide, with its atmospheric concentration more than doubling in recent centuries.
- Contribution to Climate Change: Methane's increased concentration is accountable for approximately 30% of climate warming since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. It possesses about 80 times the warming potency of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, as per the UN Environment Programme.
3. SOUTH CHINA SEA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)
Context: Recently, Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels collided in the disputed South China Sea, injuring four Filipino crew members amid Southeast Asian leaders' assembly for an Asian summit, where concerns over Beijing's sea aggression were anticipated to be addressed.
South China Sea
- About: It is one of the world's busiest waterways and plays a crucial role in global trade and merchant shipping.
- Location: The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean
- Bordering Countries: The People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.
- Straits: Taiwan Strait, connecting to the East China Sea; the Luzon Strait, linking to the Philippine Sea; straits surrounding Palawan, connecting to the Sulu Sea; the Strait of Singapore, providing access to the Strait of Malacca; and the Karimata and Bangka Strait, connecting to the Java Sea.
- Reason for Dispute: The South China Sea disputes involve claims over maritime territories and islands by various sovereign states in the region.
- Countries Party dispute: China, Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia etc.
Claims Over Islands
- The Paracel Islands: Claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
- The Spratly Islands: Claimed by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.
- The Scarborough Shoal: Claimed by the Philippines, China and Taiwan.
4. AVALANCHE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)
Context: Recently, following an extended dry period, Himachal Pradesh has seen substantial snowfall and rain over the past four days, resulting in an overall recorded 508 percent excess rain and snowfall, with incidents of avalanches reported in several districts of the state.
Avalanche
- About: It is a mass of material rapidly moving down a slope.
oIt is typically triggered when the material on a slope breaks loose from its surroundings, and this material quickly collects and carries additional material down the slope.
- 4 Types of Avalanches: Loose Snow Avalanche, Slab Avalanche, Powder Snow Avalanche, and Wet Snow Avalanche.
- Causes of Avalanche: The probability of avalanches may be increased or decreased by several other terrain features, such as slope shape, a slope’s exposure to sun and wind, and elevation.
- Trigger Factors: Avalanches are commonly triggered by factors such as snowpack instability or sudden disturbances.
- Prone areas of avalanche: The snowy region of the Western Himalayas is particularly prone to avalanches. It includes higher areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal.
Difference between avalanches and Landslides
- Environmental context: Landslides can transpire across diverse environments, triggered by factors like rainfall, earthquakes, or human intervention.
- Material Composition: Landslides comprise the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope or cliff.
- Triggered Factor: Landslides can be instigated by heavy rain, seismic activity, volcanic eruptions, or human alterations to the landscape.
5. VOLCANIC WINTER (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)
Context: Researchers from NASA used advanced computer modelling to simulate super-eruptions like the Toba event and found that volcanic winter would probably not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Volcanic Winter
- About: It is a reduction in global temperatures caused by droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the Sun and raising Earth's albedo after a large, sulfur rich, particularly explosive volcanic eruption.
- Formation: SO2 and H2S react with hydroxyl (OH) and water (H2O) in the stratosphere, forming sulfuric acid (H2SO4) droplets, which contribute significantly to Earth's albedo.
- Radiative Effects and Surface Cooling: The resultant H2SO4 aerosols increase Earth's albedo, reflecting solar radiation back into space, thereby cooling the surface temperature of the planet.
- Stratospheric Warming and Prolonged Cooling: While volcanic aerosols cool the surface, they warm the stratosphere by absorbing terrestrial radiation, creating a complex interplay of atmospheric dynamics.
- Stratosphere-Troposphere Interaction: The air between the troposphere and stratosphere eventually mixes, causing the volcanic particles to fall into the troposphere.
oSubsequent precipitation brings these particles down to Earth.
- Occurrence: A massive volcanic eruption can deposit enormous amounts of ascending light colored volcanic ash and sulfur aerosols above the troposphere and into the lower stratosphere.
- Historical Impact: The ash produced from the eruption of Mount Etna in 44 B.C. dimmed the Sun's rays, causing a cooling effect.
oThis cooling led to crop failure, famine, and significant challenges in ancient Rome and Egypt.
6. RISA TEXTILE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)
Context: Tripura's traditional attire, 'Risa,' has been officially granted the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) registration.
Risa Textile
- About: Risa is a handwoven cloth used as a female upper garment and headgear, stole, or present to express respect.
- Significance: It is woven in colorful designs and holds crucial social and religious significance.
- Adolescent Tradition: Adolescent Tripuri girls receive a risa around age 12 to 14 in an event called Risa Sormani.
- Religious Relevance: Risa is utilized in various religious contexts like Garia Puja, weddings, festivals, and as winter attire.
- Symbol of Honor: It is presented as a mark of honor to distinguished recipients.
- Tribal Tradition: Risa is common among all 19 indigenous tribal communities of Tripura.
- Components of Traditional Attire: Risa, Rignai, and Rikutu.
oRisa in Attire: It serves as the female upper garment in traditional Tripuri attire.
oRignai: Meaning 'to wear,' is primarily worn as the lower garment.
oRituku: It is used as a wrap or head covering, akin to a 'chunri' or 'pallu' of the Indian saree.
- Historical Roots: The complete Tripuri attire, including risa, rignai, and rikutu, traces its origins to the time of the Manikya kings, who ruled Tripura for over 500 years from the 15th century.
GI Tag
- About: It is a symbol used on items that come from a particular geographical area and have qualities or a reputation linked to that place of origin.
- Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Tenure: 10 Years
- Regulated By: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
- India’s First GI Product: Darjeeling Tea (2004-05)
7. LORD BUDDHA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)
Context: Recently, as millions of devotees in Thailand paid obeisance to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana in Bangkok, the Prime Minister of India hailed the ideals of Lord Buddha.
Lord Buddha
- About: Lord Buddha (Siddhartha Gautam) was born into the royal family of the Sakya clan, ruling from Kapilvastu, Lumbini, in the Terai plains of southern Nepal.
oAt the age of 29, Gautama left home, renouncing his life of riches to embrace extreme self-discipline as an ascetic.
- Attainment of Enlightenment: After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya, a village in Bihar.
- Dharma Chakra Pravartana: Buddha delivered his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, on Asadha Purnima, an event known as Dharma Chakra Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
- Five Precepts: Killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication.
- Eightfold Path in Buddhism: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
- Significance of Guru Poornima: The day of Buddha's first sermon is observed as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus, marking reverence to their Gurus.
- Major Teachings of Lord Buddha:
oThree Marks of Existence: Impermanence (anicca), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and non-self (anatta) are the characteristics of all phenomena that one should understand and accept.
oThe Four Noble Truths: These truths revolve around the nature of suffering, its cause (ignorance, attachment, and aversion), its cessation, and the path to its cessation.
8. ARCTIC REGION (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)
Context: The Arctic is projected to go ice-free for the first time by August or September of 2030 under all emission scenarios, according to a new study.
Arctic Region
- About: It is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth.
- Consist of: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States.
- Mineral Resources and Hydrocarbons: The Arctic region holds substantial reserves of minerals such as coal, gypsum, diamonds, zinc, lead, placer gold, and quartz. Greenland alone possesses a significant portion of the world's rare earth reserves.
oThe Arctic contains about 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas, making it a valuable source of hydrocarbon resources.
- Addressing India’s Energy Needs: With India being the third-largest energy-consuming country and oil importer globally, the melting ice in the Arctic facilitates easier access to these resources.
- Ocean Circulation and Climate Regulation: The Arctic plays a crucial role in circulating the world's ocean currents, influencing the movement of cold and warm water globally.
- Arctic-Himalaya Link: Despite their geographical separation, the Arctic and the Himalayas share interconnected environmental concerns.
oThe Arctic's melting contributes to a better understanding of glacial melt in the Himalayas, often referred to as the 'third pole.'
- Arctic Council: It is an intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by Arctic Govts and indigenous people of the Arctic.
- Arctic Circle Boundaries: The Arctic Circle intersects only Kola and Chukchi Peninsulas, as well as the Davis and Denmark Straits.
- Arctic Tribes: The tribes of the Arctic include Aleut, Athabaskan, Gwich'in, Inuit, and Saami.
9. PROJECT SEABIRD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech -Defence)
Context: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will inaugurate two big piers and seven towers with 320 homes tomorrow for Navy officers and Defence civilians as part of Project Seabird in Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka.
Project Seabird:
- About: It is an ambitious naval infrastructure project that involves the establishment of a naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, on India's west coast.
- History: In the post-Indo-Pak War of 1971 scenario, India recognized the need for an additional naval base due to congestion at Mumbai Harbour, prompting security concerns for its Western Fleet.
- Foundation: Sanctioned in 1985, the naval infrastructure project at Karwar, Karnataka, began with the laying of the foundation stone on October 24, 1986, by Rajiv Gandhi.
- Project Scope: The project involves the creation of a naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, on the west coast of India, including a deep-sea harbor, breakwaters dredging, a township, a naval hospital, a dockyard uplift center, and a ship lift.
- Phase Completion: The first phase, commissioned in 2005, included critical infrastructure such as the deep-sea harbor and support facilities.
- Phase 2 Development: Phase 2 of INS Kadamba commenced in 2011, aiming to expand the base's capacity to accommodate additional warships, submarines, and a new Naval Air Station.
- Future Scale: Once fully realized, the project will establish the largest naval base in the Eastern Hemisphere, capable of hosting approximately 32 warships, 23 submarines, and multiple aircraft hangars.
10. CORAL REEF (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)
Context: According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the world is recently on the verge of a fourth mass coral bleaching event, potentially leading to the death of vast stretches of tropical reefs, including portions of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Key Points
theIASHub | 06 Mar, 2024 | 5
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