UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | May 6 to May 12, 2024

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the May edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

Environment

The forensic surgeon indicated poisoning from oleander leaves. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

— Oleander flowers

• Recently, in Kerala, a 24-year-old woman tragically lost her life after accidentally ingesting oleander leaves.
• Oleander, scientifically known as Nerium oleander, is a plant cultivated worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Recognized for its drought tolerance, this shrub is often utilized for ornamental and landscaping purposes.
• In Kerala, it is locally known by names such as arali and kanaveeram.
• It has been a well-known poisonous plant since classical times, as it contains cardiac glycosides (a type of chemical), including oleandrin, folinerin, and digitoxigenin.

— Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

• Maharashtra State Forest Department plans to move tigers from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to boost tiger numbers in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR).
• Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, established in 2010, includes Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park.
• The STR is one of only five tiger reserves in the country without any resident tigers.
• Other tiger reserves without resident tigers include Kaval in Telangana, Kamlang in Arunachal Pradesh, Dampa in Mizoram, and Satkosia in Odisha.

— Auroras

• Recently, Ladakh’s night skies dazzled with red-toned Aurora lights, a rare sight.
• Normally seen in faraway places like the North and South Poles, they’re called Aurora Borealis up north and Aurora Australis down south.
• These colorful lights happen when charged solar winds meet Earth’s magnetic shield in space.
• Solar winds, made of protons and electrons, shoot from the Sun and interact with our planet’s magnetic field.
• Ladakh got to see them because of increased solar activity in space, making for a stunning show in the sky.

— Bambi Bucket

• Recently, an Air Force’s MI 17 V5 helicopter was dispatched to Nainital district, Uttarakhand, to combat the severe forest fires, employing the ‘bambi bucket.’
• The ‘bambi bucket’ is a specialized aerial firefighting apparatus that has been in operation since the 1980s. It consists of a lightweight collapsible container attached to a helicopter, allowing for targeted water release using a pilot-controlled valve.

Reports

Youth unemployment is the principal challenge and is the focus of the India Employment Report, 2024.

—  India Employment Report 2024

• This report has been published by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
• The report noted that youth employment and underemployment increased between 2000 and 2019 but declined during the pandemic years.

—  United Nations Human Development Index (HDI)

• It is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• India ranked 134 out of 193 countries in the Human Development Report with an HDI value of 0.644.
• In 2021, India was ranked 135 out of 191 countries.
• HDI is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living.

— Gender Inequality Index (GII)

• It is released by UNDP in their Human Development Report 2023/2024.
• India has been ranked 108 out of 193 countries with a score of 0.437. Its rank was 122 out of 191 countries with a score of 0.490 in the GII-2021. This is a jump of 14 ranks for India.
• India has the largest gender gaps in its labour force participation rate–a 47.8 percent difference between women (28.3 percent) and men (76.1 percent).

International News

Olympic Torch. (Representational image)

— Olympic torch

• On Wednesday, the Olympic torch made its way to Marseilles, France, a significant ceremonial step preceding the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
• Originating from the Greek town of Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympics, the torch was initially ignited on April 16.
• Following its lighting, the flame journeyed throughout Greece before embarking on a voyage from Athens to Marseille aboard a ship.
• The torch’s route will traverse France through a relay, culminating in its arrival in Paris on July 26, coinciding with the opening ceremony of the Games.

— India and Nepal

• The Nepal cabinet has recently featured certain areas of Uttarakhand, administered by India, on its ₹ 100 currency note.
• This action revolves around a territorial dispute concerning a 372-sq-km region, including Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani.
• These areas are located at the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
• The disagreement traces its roots back to the Treaty of Sugauli, which ended the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16.

— Cook Islands

• The Cook Islands has captured headlines for spearheading efforts to mine the ocean floor for minerals crucial to the production of electric car batteries.
• Comprising a 15-island chain, the Cook Islands, formerly a colony of New Zealand, has enjoyed self-governance since 1965.
• The Cook Islands have entered into the High Treaty Alliance, aimed at regulating governmental activities in the “open seas,” encompassing the vast expanse of the world’s oceans beyond any single nation’s jurisdiction.

(Source: NYT)

Science and Technology

The engine, PS4, which is used as the engine for the fourth stage of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), was redesigned by ISRO for production using 3D printing. (Photo: X/@isro)

— 3D Printing

• ISRO recently tested a liquid rocket engine, PS4, using 3D Printing technology, marking a significant achievement.
• In 3D printing, layers of materials such as plastic, composites, or bio-materials are systematically built up from computer-generated designs, allowing for the fabrication of diverse objects with varying shapes, sizes, and material compositions.

— Artificial General Intelligence

• The CEO of OpenAi, Sam Altman, is planning to develop artificial general intelligence.
• It aims to emulate human cognitive abilities such that it allows it to do unfamiliar tasks, learn from new experiences, and apply its knowledge in new ways.
• This idea emerged in the 20th century by Alan Turing, widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

— Goldene

• It is the first free-standing sheet of gold that is only one atom thick. This makes gold as the first metal to be formulated into (freestanding) 2D sheets.
• It has been developed by the scientists of Sweden’s Linköping University.

— New Space India Limited (NSIL)

• Recently, NSIL has invited private players to partake in manufacturing its largest launch vehicle, LVM3.
• NSIL functions as the commercial wing of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space.
• Notably, NSIL plans to launch GSAT-20, renamed GSAT-N2, in collaboration with SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket.

— Starliner spacecraft of Boeing

• The Atlas V rocket is slated to carry Starliner’s inaugural crewed test flight, ferrying two NASA astronauts.
• Starliner is a partially reusable crew capsule, officially known as CST-100 (crew space transportation).
• Upon a successful mission, Boeing will join SpaceX as the second private company capable of transporting NASA crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

Diseases in News

For most of this year, the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus accounted for an overwhelming majority of Covid cases. But now, an offshoot variant called KP.2 is taking off. (Representational)

— FliRT

• A new variant of COVID-19, known as KP.2, has emerged, referred to as FliRT.
• The preceding variant of the coronavirus was designated as JN.1.

— Foot rot diseases

• The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has developed a biocontrol agent called Trichoderma asperellum (2% WP) to combat the devastating ‘foot rot’ or ‘bakanae’ disease.
• Foot rot disease is a significant issue for Basmati rice crops, globally renowned for their fragrant varieties. This fungal disease primarily affects Basmati rice seedlings.
• The disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, which is transmitted through the soil and seeds. It infects the roots of the plant, leading to colonization of the stem base and subsequent crop damage.

Awards

This photo by Reuters photographer Danish Siddiqui, provided by Columbia University, shows a ‘Naga Sadhu’ placing a mask across his face at the Kumbh Mela festival. Reuters photographers Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave and the late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters were awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Price for Feature Photography. (AP)

— Pulitzer Awards 2024

• The Pulitzers honored the best in journalism from 2023 in 15 categories, as well as eight arts categories focused on books, music, and theater. The public service winner receives a gold medal. All other winners receive $15,000.

• The 2022 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography was conferred upon a team of four Indian photographers from the Reuters news agency: the late photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, alongside Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, and Amit Dave.
• Their acclaimed coverage depicted the COVID-19 crisis in India, offering a poignant portrayal of the pandemic’s profound impact through compelling visual narratives.
• A member of the Ghadar Party in America, Indian-American journalist Gobind Behari Lal, was the first from India to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1937.

Sports

Neeraj Chopra, of India, makes an attempt in the men’s javelin throw during the Diamond League athletics meet at the Qatar Sports Club stadium in Doha, Friday, May 10, 2024. AP/PTI

— Doha Diamond League

• Neeraj Chopra secured second place at the Doha Diamond League event with an impressive javelin throw spanning 88.36 meters.
• Jakub Vadlejch clinched the victory with a throw of 88.38 meters, narrowly edging past Chopra.

— Indian Super League (ISL)

• The winner of the 10th season of the ISL is Mumbai City Football Club which defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.
• This is the second ISL trophy for Mumbai City FC.

— Miami Grand Prix

• McLaren’s Lando Norris became the winner of the F1 Miami Grand Prix.
• Max Verstappen of the Red Bull Racing settled for second position.

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsnxUastCeM?si=15Id1lhZJS5ifyBT&w=560&h=315