Daily Prelims Notes 15 October 2023

October 15, 2023
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Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

15 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Organisation

Some details about United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA):

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was established in December 1991 by the UN General Assembly to enhance the global response to complex emergencies and natural disasters.
It is the successor to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO).
Initially, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) was formed shortly thereafter by the UN Secretary-General, but in 1998, it was merged into OCHA. This merger solidified OCHA’s role as the UN’s primary focal point for major disasters.
OCHA’s mandate expanded to encompass humanitarian response coordination, policy development, and advocacy.
Its diverse activities include the organization and monitoring of humanitarian funding, policy advocacy, policy-making, and the exchange of information to facilitate swift-response teams for emergency relief efforts.
OCHA is led by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), who serves a five-year term.
OCHA played a pivotal role in organizing the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, and it serves as an observer within the United Nations Development Group.
The headquarters of OCHA is based in two locations i.e New York and Geneva.

What is OCHA’s Strategic Plan 2023-2026:

The OCHA Strategic Plan 2023-2026 outlines six transformational priorities to address the challenges of this rapidly changing landscape:
- A coherent humanitarian response that is people centered, context specific, contributes to community resilience and promotes concrete protection outcomes
- Systematic and predictable leadership on access
- Durable solutions to protracted internal displacement
- Humanitarian response that is inclusive and leaves no one behind
- Catalytic humanitarian financing that delivers impact in people’s lives
- Strategic analysis of risks and trends to adapt to an evolving landscape

2. UN Central Emergency Response Fund

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Organisation

Some details about UN Central Emergency Response Fund:

CERF was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 as the United Nations global emergency response fund.
CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike.
It comprises two windows:
- The Rapid Response window initiates coordinated relief when new crises arise,
- The Underfunded Emergencies window sustains relief operations in areas lacking alternative funding.
CERF is overseen by the Emergency Relief Coordinator on behalf of the UN
Secretary-General, with support from the CERF secretariat.
It’s funded by UN Member States, regional governments, corporate donors, foundations, and individuals, having enabled over $5.5 billion in assistance in 100+ countries.

3. At UN Palestine call for halt to Israel offense

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Organisation

Context: Palestinian UN envoy urges UN Secretary-General to stop Israel’s “crime against humanity.”

More about the news:

The Palestinian UN envoy has urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take stronger action to prevent what they consider a “crime against humanity” by Israel.
Israel has warned nearly half of Gaza’s population to evacuate ahead of an impending assault.
The situation has sparked international concern, with Russia proposing a draft resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemning violence against civilians.
The UN Secretary-General has emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, and calls for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid have been made by the Arab Group ambassadors. The situation remains highly volatile.

More about UNSC

The UNSC was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
UNSC is considered the nucleus of the UN system.
The UNSC has 15 members: the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year term
The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.
Each member of the Security Council has one vote.
It is the only body of UN which has teeth to bite.It has a major say in all critical appointment in UN
Chapter VI of the UN charter gives a mandate to UNSC to settle disputes peacefully through mediation and secure a ceasefire through peacekeeping force.
Chapter VII of UN charter give power to UNSC to impose military and economic sanctions

4. Ferry service from India to Sri Lanka resume

Subject: International Relations

Section: Places in news

Context: Ferry service from India to Sri Lanka resumed after 40 years.

More about the news:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated a ferry service between India and Sri Lanka, reviving a connection that had been canceled due to the civil war.
The ferry runs between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna, strengthening cultural and historical ties.
The leaders also discussed potential collaborations in fintech, energy, and digital payments.
The service aims to enhance people-to-people contacts, promote regional connectivity, and boost tourism, covering a 60-nautical mile journey in approximately 3.5 hours.
The service will be operated by the Shipping Corporation of India.

Some facts about Palk Strait:

It is a strait that lies between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the island nation of Sri Lanka.
The strait is named after Robert Palk, who was a governor of Madras Presidency (1755-1763) during the British Raj period.
It is bounded on the south by Pamban Island (India), Adam’s (Rama’s) Bridge (a chain of shoals), the Gulf of Mannar, and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka).
It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest.
The southwestern portion of the strait is also called Palk Bay.
The strait is 40 to 85 miles wide, 85 miles long, and less than 330 feet deep.
Several rivers flow into it, including the Vaigai River of Tamil Nadu.
The port of Jaffna, the commercial center for northern Sri Lanka, lies on the strait.

5. Centre seeks inclusion of traditional medicine on WHO’s list

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Organisation

Context:

The Union government has sought for Ayurveda and related systems to be included in the 11th revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD), as the second module of a supplementary chapter on traditional medicine conditions.

Module-2 of ICD:

Aim: To put the Indian system of medicine on the world map and provide it with a common standardized language.
The joint use of ICD-11’s chapter on traditional medicine along with other chapters on neoplasm, patient safety, and injuries, can enhance the reporting of adverse events. It will enable the integration of traditional medicine into insurance coverage and reimbursement systems, in line with larger WHO objectives relating to universal health coverage.
It will also link traditional medicine practices with global conventional medicine’s norms and standard development.

To aid regulation, research:

Ayurveda and related Indian traditional health care systems are formally recognised and widely practiced health care systems in India, which is making a strong and valid point for its inclusion.
The traditional medicine chapter under ICD-11 is a formative step for the integration of such forms of medicine into a classification standard used in conventional medicine.
It also provides the means for doing research and evaluation to establish its efficacy.

National Ayush Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic (NAMASTE) portal:

Comprehensive web-portal for Standardized Terminologies and National Morbidity Codes of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Systems of Medicine and WHO-ICD-10 and ICD-11.

Ayush Health Information Management System (A-HIMS):

A-HMIS is a comprehensive IT platform to effectively manage all functions of health care delivery systems and patient care in Ayush facilities.
It is the first of its kind citizen centric service from Government of India to provide Electronic Health Record and Personal Health Record facility to the recipients of Ayush Health Services catered through Research Councils, National Institutes and other related agencies under Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of WHO:

ICD-11 came into effect from January 2022.
It contains around 17,000 unique codes and more than 1,20,000 codable terms, which are now entirely digital.
ICD provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardized information across the world.
The traditional medicine module of the 11th revision provides a list of diagnostics categories to collect and report on traditional medicine conditions in a standardized and internationally comparable manner.
ICD-11 has facilitated the inclusion of Module-1, which covers traditional medicine conditions originating in ancient China, which are now commonly used in China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere around the world.

Source: TH

6. How a 6.3 magnitude quake caused another of same intensity

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Chronology of earthquake events in Afghanistan:

October 7: two earthquakes (within 30 minutes) of shallow focus (14 km depth) and 6.3 magnitude struck herat province.
October 11: Another shallow focus quake (13.5 km) of the same intensity (6.3 magnitude) struck the same province.

Cause of these earthquakes:

Locational analysis of all the three quakes shows that there is a systematic migration pattern. In this case, there is a migration of quakes from west to east.
The earthquakes occurred within the Eurasia plate in an intracontinental mountain belt.
All three earthquakes have been thrust faults, otherwise known as reverse faults. Thrust faults form due to horizontal compressive stresses and so cause shortening of the crust. Here one block or wall (the hanging wall) moves up relative to the other (called the footwall).
The thrust faulting occurred near the far western terminus of the Hindu Kush Mountain range.

Why is the second earthquake not called an aftershock?

To call a quake an aftershock, the magnitude has to be lesser than the magnitude of the main event [quake].
A quake of 6.3 magnitude was followed by another of the same magnitude. This can happen when a fault at one place ruptures resulting in an earthquake that releases the stress. The release of stress in one fault results in the loading of stress at another fault. The loading of stress can result in another earthquake which can be of similar magnitude or even higher magnitude. But the magnitude will not be smaller than the first quake.
In subduction zones and in the Himalayas where there is interaction between two continental plates, the fault lengths can be very large and also very wide. That is the reason why an earthquake in the fault can trigger another in the same fault.

Foreshocks, aftershocks – what’s the difference?

“Foreshock” and “aftershock” are relative terms.
Foreshocks are earthquakes that precede larger earthquakes in the same location. An earthquake cannot be identified as a foreshock until after a larger earthquake in the same area occurs.
Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area during the days to years following a larger event or “mainshock.”
They occur within 1-2 fault lengths away and during the period of time before the background seismicity level has resumed. As a general rule, aftershocks represent minor readjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the mainshock. The frequency of these aftershocks decreases with time.
Historically, deep earthquakes (>30 km) are much less likely to be followed by aftershocks than shallow earthquakes.

Earthquakes in Afghanistan:

Earthquakes are quite common in Afghanistan due to active interactions between three tectonic plates — the Arabia, Eurasia, and India plates.
Earthquakes in western and central Afghanistan are primarily influenced by the northward movement of the Arabia plate relative to the Eurasia plate.
Beneath the Pamir-Hindu Kush Mountains of northern Afghanistan, earthquakes occur to depths as great as 200 km as a result of remnant lithospheric subduction.
Shallow crustal earthquakes in the Pamir-Hindu Mountains occur primarily along the Main Pamir Thrust and other active Quaternary faults, which accommodate much of the region’s crustal shortening. The western and eastern margins of the Main Pamir Thrust display a combination of thrust and strike-slip mechanisms.

Source: TH

7. This Is the Largest Map of The Human Brain Ever Made

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Biotech

Context:

Researchers have created the largest atlas of human brain cells so far, revealing more than 3,000 cell types — many of which are new to science.

About the human brain atlas:

It offers a detailed snapshot of the most complex known organ.
It will aid the study of diseases, cognition and what makes us human, among other things.
Researchers have previously mapped the human brain using techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, but this is the first atlas of the whole human brain at the single-cell level, showing its intricate molecular interactions.
Researchers have sequenced the RNA of more than 3 million individual cells from 106 locations covering the entire human brain, using tissue samples from three deceased male donors.
Their analysis documented 461 broad categories of brain cells that included more than 3,000 subtypes.
The researchers uncovered links between certain brain cell types and neuropsychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.

About the research:

The research is part of the US National Institutes of Health’s Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative — Cell Census Network (BICCN), a collaboration between hundreds of scientists.
The programme’s goals include cataloguing brain cell types across humans, non-human primates and mice to improve understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind poorly understood brain disorders.
The data from the 21 studies have been made publicly available on the Neuroscience Multi-omic Archive online repository.

Brain cells:

Neurons — cells in the brain and nervous system that send and receive signals — varied widely in different parts of the brain, suggesting different functions and developmental histories. The mix of neurons and other cell types also differed across each region; some cells were only found in specific locations.
The brainstem — a relatively under-studied structure connecting the brain to the spinal cord — harbored a particularly high number of neuron types.

Gene switch:

Even the same gene in the same type of cell could have different characteristics across the brain.
Pinpointing the switches that activate or block gene expression in brain cells could be useful for diagnosing brain disorders and developing tailored treatments.
Improving understanding of how genetic switches might contribute to disease risk.
Researchers used the cell-type data to predict how the genetic switches influence gene regulation and increase the risk of neurological diseases.
- In cells called microglia, which clear away dead or damaged cells, the presence of some genetic switches was strongly linked to risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Such findings can be used to test whether particular genes or faulty switches contribute directly to the onset of disease.

Source: Scientific American

8. Egypt is racing to eliminate hepatitis C

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

WHO announced that Egypt had made “unprecedented progress” towards eliminating hepatitis C.

Details:

According to the WHO, Egypt became the first country to achieve “gold tier” status on the path to elimination of hepatitis C as per the global health body criteria.
Egypt has diagnosed 87% of people living with hepatitis C and has provided 93% of those diagnosed with curative treatment, exceeding the WHO gold tier targets of diagnosing at least 80% of people living with hepatitis C and providing treatment to at least 70% of diagnosed people.

“100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative:

Launched by Egypt.
Key interventions under the initiative:
- Egypt significantly reduced the prevalence of hepatitis C from 10% in 2016 to 5% in 2018 and an estimated less than 1% in 2019.
- Population-based surveys to understand the hepatitis C epidemic (who is affected and where).
- Development of an investment case to highlight the economic burden of HCV.
One third of the 12 million people living with hepatitis C are living in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Egypt also customized the elimination programme by involving generalist doctors to community healthcare workers and using telemedicine for hard-to-reach areas.
The biggest boost came from reducing the cost of medical treatment per patient to less than $50 through local manufacturing.

Criteria for “gold tier” status:

The “gold tier” status to reach the stated goal of eliminating hepatitis C includes meeting specific criteria such as ensuring 100% blood and injection safety, maintaining a minimum of 150 needles/syringes per year for people who inject drugs (PWID), diagnosis of over 80% of people living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), treating of over 70% of individuals diagnosed with HCV, and the establishing of a sentinel surveillance programme for hepatitis sequelae, including liver cancer.

Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.
The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer.
The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and most infections occur through exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, unscreened blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood.
Hepatitis C infection is unevenly distributed globally, with these regions accounting for the most — European (22%), South-East Asia (20%) and the Eastern Mediterranean (17%).
According to a 2023 WHO document, in 2019, there were 1.5 million new infections, with one third of new HCV infections occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The prevalence of hepatitis C across the world in 2019 was 58 million.
Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low.
There is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C.

Source: TH

9. India’s Green Credit Programme

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate Change

Why is the Green Credit Programme in the News?

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the draft ‘Green Credit Programme (GCP)’ implementation rules for 2023.
It was first announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget to encourage environmental actions through market-based incentives.
Follow-up action of the ‘LiFE’ campaign.
Incentivizes positive environmental actions through tradeable green credit.

Overview of the Green Credit Programme:

‘Green Credit’ refers to incentives for environmentally positive activities, complementing the domestic Carbon Market.
It aims to incentivize diverse eco-friendly actions beyond just CO2 emission reductions.

8 Key Activities Eligible for Green Credits:

Tree Plantation, Water Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Waste Management, Air Pollution Reduction, Mangrove Conservation, Ecomark Acquisition, and Sustainable Building and Infrastructure.

Administration and Significance:

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) will administer the program.
It encourages private sector compliance with existing environmental obligations, fostering sustainable practices and providing support for organic farmers and FPOs.

Concerns Regarding the Green Credit Mechanism:

Potential risks of greenwashing as companies might engage in superficial activities for credit generation without addressing underlying environmental concerns.
Allocation of resources for monitoring and fraud prevention instead of transformative initiatives might be a challenge.

Green Credit Registry and Trading Platform:

Includes the establishment of a Green Credit Registry.
Administrator responsible for setting up and maintaining a trading platform.

Overview of LiFE Movement (Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) movement):

India introduced the concept during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.
LiFE encourages an environmentally conscious lifestyle, emphasizing mindful and deliberate utilization over mindless and wasteful consumption.
A circular economy, driven by conscious and deliberate consumption, is promoted as an alternative to the prevalent “use-and-dispose” economy.

Objectives of the LiFE Movement:

The movement aims to utilize social networks to influence climate-centric social norms.
It plans to establish a global network of individuals termed ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3) who are committed to adopting and advocating for eco-friendly lifestyles.
The P3 community will foster an ecosystem that encourages sustainable environmental practices and aims to sustainably reinforce environmentally friendly behaviors.

“Meri LiFE” (My Life) mobile application

Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recently launched the “Meri LiFE” (My Life) mobile application, aiming to empower youth and encourage their active participation in addressing climate change.

The app focuses on five key LiFE themes, including saving energy, water, and reducing single-use plastic, adopting sustainable food systems, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Moreover, the app includes a “5 for 5 Challenge,” engaging users in five LiFE actions leading up to World Environment Day on June 5th, 2023.

Additionally, the ministry has developed two portals:

The Mission LiFE Portal, providing access to a plethora of creative videos and knowledge materials related to LiFE, and the Meri LiFE Portal, enabling institutions to upload event reports and monitor the progress of the ongoing mass mobilization initiative.

Carbon Credit:

A tradeable credit representing the right to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide or an equivalent greenhouse gas.
Equals one tonne of carbon dioxide removed, reduced, or sequestered from the atmosphere.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS):

A scheme for the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions notified by the central government.

Background of CCTS:

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, empowered the central government to specify the carbon trading scheme in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

Features of CCTS:

Accredited carbon verifier: An agency accredited by the BEE for validation or verification
Setting up of Indian Carbon Market Governing Board (ICMGB): Oversees the Indian carbon market, establishes rules, and regulates the sale of carbon credit certificates.
Role of Environment Secretaries: They serve as ex-officio co-chairmen of ICMGB.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE): Acts as the administrator and secretariat for the Indian carbon market and the ICMGB.
Grid Controller of India Ltd: Serves as the registry for the Indian Carbon Market.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC): Acts as the regulator for trading activities under the Indian carbon market.

About Greenwashing

Greenwashing refers to the practice where firms and governments falsely market various activities as climate-friendly or environmentally responsible, often without verifiable evidence or with misleading claims.

Origin: Coined in 1986 by Jay Westerveld, an American environmentalist and researcher.

Involves labeling activities as climate-friendly, promoting emissions reduction, or avoidance of emissions, even when such claims lack credibility or are dubious.
Typically employed to improve the image of the entity while making little to no tangible impact in the fight against climate change.
Several multinational corporations, including oil giants like Shell and BP, and Coca Cola, have faced allegations of greenwashing.

About ICFRE

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous organization or governmental agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India.
It was established in 1986 and operates as a council for coordinating and managing forestry research and education in the country.
ICFRE is responsible for carrying out scientific research on issues related to forestry, as well as for providing training and education in the field of forest management and conservation.
It also plays a crucial role in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs related to forests and the environment.

10. Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate Change

Key points from the article “Farmers lost $3.8 trillion to disasters over 30 years: FAO’s first-ever global estimation”:

Global Losses: Estimated $3.8 trillion worth of crops and livestock production lost due to natural disasters over the last 30 years, averaging around $123 billion per year, accounting for 5% of annual global agricultural GDP.
Crop and Livestock Losses: Major losses were observed in cereals, fruits, vegetables, sugar crops, meats, dairy products, and eggs, with cereals accounting for an average loss of 69 million tonnes per year, followed by fruits and vegetables, and sugar crops, each experiencing 40 million tonnes of losses annually.
Regional Disparities: Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas displayed similar levels of losses, although the impact varied significantly across different subregions and country groups.
Impact on Countries: Lower and lower-middle-income countries experienced the highest relative losses, up to 15% of their total agricultural GDP, while Small Island Developing States lost nearly 7% of their agricultural GDP.
Importance of Resilience: Proactive and timely interventions in response to forecasted hazards are crucial to build resilience. Investing in anticipatory action can lead to significant benefits, with rural families gaining up to $7 for every $1 invested and avoiding agricultural losses.
Priorities for Action: The report emphasizes the need to improve data and information on the impacts of disasters, develop multi-hazard disaster risk reduction approaches, and enhance investments in resilience that yield benefits in reducing disaster risk and improving agricultural production and livelihoods.

About Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA)

Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing the adaptability of farming systems to climate change.

Resilience within the context of agriculture refers to the capability of agricultural systems to effectively and flexibly respond to, recuperate from, and flourish in the face of varying climate conditions, while preserving their fundamental functions, identities, and structures. Climate-resilient agriculture involves the strategic and sustainable utilization of existing natural resources, aiming to achieve long-term improvements in both productivity and farm incomes, particularly when faced with unpredictable climate fluctuations and uncertainties.

Impact of disasters on agriculture in India (leading to substantial economic and agricultural losses)

Economic Losses: Disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and other extreme weather events have resulted in substantial economic losses in the agricultural sector.
Crop Damages: Crop damages have been a major consequence of these disasters, leading to decreased agricultural productivity and income for farmers.
Livestock Impacts: Livestock, including cattle, poultry, and other animals, have also faced severe impacts, leading to a decline in livestock production and associated income.
Smallholder Vulnerability: Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impact of disasters, as they often lack the resources and infrastructure to cope with and recover from such events.
Food Security Concerns: Agricultural disasters have also raised concerns about food security, as they directly affect the availability and accessibility of food for both rural and urban populations.
Government Initiatives: The Indian government has implemented various initiatives, including crop insurance schemes, disaster relief funds, and support programs, to assist farmers in coping with the aftermath of agricultural disasters.
Climate Change Adaptation: With the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, there is a growing emphasis on climate change adaptation measures in Indian agriculture, including the promotion of climate-resilient crops and farming practices.
Research and Development: Research and development efforts are ongoing to develop and promote technologies and practices that can help mitigate the impact of disasters on Indian agriculture and enhance the resilience of farming communities.

Various government efforts in India to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental protection:

National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture: Initiated in 2010 to promote the efficient and sustainable management of resources for agricultural development.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Launched in 2015 to encourage the adoption of micro-irrigation and drip irrigation systems, aiming to conserve water in agriculture.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: Implemented to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and the adoption of appropriate technologies.
Green India Mission: Launched in 2014 to enhance and protect forest covers, thus contributing to climate change mitigation and ecological balance.
Soil Health Card Scheme: Initiated to facilitate soil testing and provide guidance to farmers regarding the appropriate use of fertilizers, aiming to maintain soil fertility.
Neem-Coated Urea: Introduced to curtail the excessive usage of urea fertilizers, thereby safeguarding soil health and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): is an innovative agricultural practice that promotes natural farming without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
National Project on Organic Farming and National Agroforestry Policy: Implemented to encourage the adoption of organic farming techniques and agroforestry, ensuring both financial benefits and ecosystem conservation.
Organic Farming Initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim: These states have actively promoted and adopted organic farming practices to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural production.
ICAR Climate-Resilient Villages: The establishment of climate-resilient villages in 151 districts, focusing on building villages with a positive carbon footprint.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Initiated in 2005 to provide employment opportunities, economic stability, and environmental conservation in rural areas.

About Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a comprehensive approach designed to aid agricultural system managers in effectively responding to the challenges posed by climate change.

The key objectives of the CSA approach are:

Sustainable Productivity and Income Increase: The aim is to promote agricultural practices that enable the sustainable escalation of productivity and income for farmers and stakeholders involved.
Adaptation to Climate Change: The focus is on implementing strategies and practices that facilitate the adaptation of agricultural systems to the impacts and changes brought about by climate variations and unpredictability.
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The approach also emphasizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, wherever feasible, by incorporating eco-friendly practices and methods within the agricultural processes.

11. Homoerectus and Neanderthals

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Biology

About Homoerectus:

Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic human from the Pleistocene, with its earliest occurrence about 2 million years ago.
Several human species, such as heidelbergensis and H. antecessor — with the former generally considered to have been the ancestor to Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern humans — appear to have evolved from H. erectus.
Homo erectus was the first human ancestor to spread throughout Eurasia, with a continental range extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Java.
Homo erectus had a more modern gait and body proportions, and was the first human species to have exhibited a flat face, prominent nose, and possibly sparse body hair coverage.
Homo erectus is associated with the Acheulean stone tool industry, and is postulated to have been the earliest human ancestor capable of using fire, hunting and gathering in coordinated groups, caring for injured or sick group members.
Homo erectus males and females may have been roughly the same size as each other (i.e. exhibited reduced sexual dimorphism), which could indicate monogamy in line with general trends exhibited in primates.
It is unclear if Homo erectus was anatomically capable of speech, though it is postulated they communicated using some proto-language.
Homo erectus communities of the so-called Acheulian culture lived in the region. The communities had a varied diet, including large game, fruit and vegetables, and freshwater fish from the nearby paleo-Lakes.

Neanderthals

Context:

People who carry three gene variants that have been inherited from Neanderthals are more sensitive to some types of pain, according to a new study.
The researchers found that people carrying three so called Neanderthal variants in the gene SCN9A, which is implicated in sensory neurons, are more sensitive to pain.

About Neanderthals

Neanderthals are our closest extinct human relative.
Species: Homo neanderthalensis
They lived throughout Europe and parts of Asia from about 400,000 until about 40,000 years ago.
Neanderthals coexisted with modern humans for long periods of time before eventually becoming extinct.

Features:

Some defining features of their skulls include the large middle part of the face, angled cheek bones, and a huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air.
Their bodies were shorter and stockier than modern humans, another adaptation to living in cold environments.
But their brains were just as large as modern humans and often larger – proportional to their brawnier bodies.
Their bones reveal that they were extremely muscular and strong, but led hard lives, suffering frequent injuries.
Neanderthals made and used a diverse set of sophisticated tools, controlled fire, lived in shelters, made and wore clothing, were skilled hunters of large animals and also ate plant foods, and occasionally made symbolic or ornamental objects.
Fossil evidence suggests that Neanderthals, like early humans, made an assortment of sophisticated tools from stone and bones. These included small blades, hand axe and scrapers used to remove flesh and fat from animal skin.
There is evidence that Neanderthals deliberately buried their dead and occasionally even marked their graves with offerings, such as flowers.

12. Israel’s missile defence shield

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Defence

Context:

Iron Dome, the highly effective Missile defence system, shot down many rockets fired by Hamas on October 7,but some of them landed in populated areas. While Iron Dome has previously boasted high interception rates, there is uncertainty about its performance in the current conflict due to the overwhelming number of rockets fired.

The Iron Dome:

Israel’s Iron Dome is a highly effective missile defense system designed to intercept rockets, mortars, and artillery shells. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems of Israel, this system plays a crucial role in safeguarding Israeli citizens from aerial threats.
Iron Dome is a short-range missile defense system with an intercept range of 2.5 to 43 miles, designed to protect populated areas from incoming projectiles.
Israel has strategically deployed at least 10 Iron Dome batteries, which can be moved as threats change, making it adaptable and highly mobile.
The U.S. has provided substantial financial support to Israel for Iron Dome, with a co-production agreement in place. This collaboration includes the manufacture of Tamir interceptors (known as SkyHunter in the U.S.).
Iron Dome’s targeting system and radar first track the trajectory of incoming projectiles and are designed to fire its Tamir interceptors only at those which are likely to land in populated areas or important areas/targets. In the past, Israel has put Iron Dome’s interception rate at as high as 97%.

The Iron Fortress:

Layered Air Defense:

Israel’s missile defense network includes four layers: Iron Dome (short range), David’s Sling (low to mid-range), Arrow II (upper-atmospheric), and Arrow III (exo-atmospheric).
The U.S. has provided considerable financial support for these defense systems, with the cooperation dating back to 2011.

Arrow 3

The Arrow 3 interceptor is part of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) which is the world’s first operational, national, stand-alone ATBM (Anti Tactical Ballistic Missiles) defense system. Based on the uniquely effective Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors, the Arrow modular air defense systems detect, tracks, intercepts and destroys incoming TBMs carrying a range of warheads and over a large footprint, thereby protecting strategic assets and population centers.
The innovative Arrow 3 interceptor is designed to intercept and destroy the newest, longer-range threats, especially those carrying weapons of mass destruction.
Arrow 3 integrates seamlessly into the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) complementing the current and future blocks of the Arrow 2 interceptor, thus enabling upper-tier multiple engagement opportunities

The Indian Angle:

Israel has an extensive presence in the Indian military ecosystem, especially in air defense. In the past, Iron Dome was pitched to India to tackle threats from across the Line of Control (LoC), especially by terrorist groups.
However, it did not fructify as India does not face such extremely close-range threats. Instead, the Indian military had expressed interest in the Arrow system. Eventually, India procured some air defence elements and radars to take forward its indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence system.

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence programme

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme aims to provide an air-defence shield from all types of hostile missiles, even the nuclear ones.
DRDO is developing a two-tier BMD system to provide a multi-layered shield against ballistic missile attacks.
The two-tier system is intended to destroy an incoming missile, at a higher altitude, in the exo-atmosphere and if that miscarries, an endo-atmospheric interception will take place.

Two-tires of BMD system:

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile:

This can intercept and destroy missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 50–180 kilometers.
It is based on the Prithvi missile. The Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor is going to replace the Prithvi air defense.

Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile

The second layer is the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception.
This is designed to knock down hostile missiles in the endo-atmosphere at altitudes of 15-40 kilometers.
Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) is part of AAD.

India also conducted its first successful anti-satellite (ASAT) test, under Mission Shakti in March 2019.
India is also getting the Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system.
S-400 Triumf is one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems that can simultaneously track numerous incoming objects and neutralise them.

Conclusion: Iron Dome is a critical component of Israel’s defense strategy, providing protection against short-range aerial threats. Its adaptability, mobility, and collaboration with the U.S. demonstrate its importance. To ensure its continued effectiveness, further improvements in interception rates and international cooperation are essential. As adversaries evolve their tactics, Israel’s missile defense systems will continue to be analyzed and upgraded to maintain the safety of its citizens.