[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 11 December 2023

GS1/GS3 Paper 

 Syllabus:  Geography/ Environment Conservation

Source: TH

 Context: The World Meteorological Organization’s recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, reveals a concerning trend of glacier thinning, with an average reduction of about one meter per year from 2011 to 2020.

Key findings of the report:

Impact of Arctic and Antarctic Ice Melting:

Suggestions

1. Mitigating Climate Change:
   1. International Agreements: Strengthening commitments under the Paris Agreement. For example, countries increasing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions.
   2. Renewable Energy Initiatives: Germany’s Energiewende program, which aims to transition to renewable energy, serves as a model for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
2. Protecting Marine Ecosystems
   1. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia demonstrates effective conservation of marine biodiversity.
   2. Sustainable Fishing Practices: Norway’s implementation of sustainable fishing quotas and strict regulations to protect fish stocks.
3. Adapting Coastal Infrastructure
   1. Flood Defense Systems: The Netherlands’ Delta Works, a series of dams and storm surge barriers, exemplify advanced coastal protection infrastructure.
   2. Managed Retreat Strategies: The planned relocation of the Alaskan village of Newtok due to rising sea levels is an example of a managed retreat.
4. Promoting Sustainable Economic Practices
   1. Circular Economy Models: Japan’s focus on recycling and waste reduction under the concept of a “Sound Material-Cycle Society.”
   2. Green Bonds and Sustainable Investments: The issuance of green bonds, such as those by the World Bank, to fund environmental projects.
5. Scientific Research and Monitoring
   1. Polar Research Programs: The European Space Agency’s CryoSat mission, monitoring polar ice and snow, contributes valuable data on ice melt and sea level rise.
   2. Climate Research Institutes: The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the USA conducts cutting-edge research on climate change and its impacts.

2. There has been an increased focus on monitoring Greenland’s ice loss through satellite missions like NASA’s ICESat-2.

Conclusion

The melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice poses serious challenges to our global climate system, marine ecosystems, and economies. However, these challenges also present opportunities to foster global cooperation, advance scientific understanding, and implement innovative solutions.

About WMO (World Meteorological Organization) (founded 1950; HQ: Geneva, Switzerland)

It is an Intergovernmental organization with 192 Member States and Territories, including India. It is the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology, operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.

Mains Links:

How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain (UPSC 2021)

Prelims Links:

GS Paper 4

 Syllabus: Applications of ethics

Context: The Health Ministry is investigating Indraprastha Apollo Hospital over allegations of a ‘cash-for-kidney’ scam, following reports that the hospital is involved in a racket enticing impoverished individuals from Myanmar to sell their organs.

What is Organ transplantation?

It is a medical procedure in which an organ or tissue is removed from one person (the donor) and transplanted into another person (the recipient) to replace a damaged or failing organ. Common organ transplants include kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, and pancreas.

Status:

Huge Gap: Only 6000 renal transplants annually against over 2 lakh persons suffering from renal failure.

Government Regulations:

• Organ donation and transplantation in India are regulations through the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994.
• National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation and transplantation.
• Modified National Organ Transplantation Guidelines: It allows those above 65 years of age to receive an organ for transplantation from deceased donors. It also removed the domicile requirement to register as an organ recipient

Ethical Issues concerned in the case are:

Several ethical thinkers have contributed to the field of medical ethics: 

• Hippocrates: Often regarded as the father of Western medicine, his principles, such as the Hippocratic Oath, emphasize the ethical duties of physicians.
• Immanuel Kant: Known for his deontological ethics, Kant’s ideas on treating individuals with respect and dignity
• Beauchamp and Childress: Joseph Beauchamp and James Childress proposed the widely used principles of biomedical ethics – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
• Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress: They developed the influential framework known as the “Four Principles of Biomedical Ethics,” which has had a significant impact on contemporary medical ethics.

Content for Mains Enrichment

Source: TH

 Context: The Delhi Government presented its initiatives for climate action at COP28 (at the C40 meeting)

Initiatives:

• ‘City of Lakes’ project for water body rejuvenation. It creates eco-tourism opportunities and enhances heat resilience, particularly during extreme weather events. It led to an increase of up to 2 meters in groundwater levels.
• The ‘3i model’ for Electric Vehicles focus on inclusion, incentivization, and innovation.

 C40 is a global network of nearly a hundred mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The first Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023 was inaugurated at the Red Fort in Delhi.

• The event includes the inauguration of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) and the student Biennale, Samunnati.
• The IAADB aims to celebrate India’s diverse heritage and vibrant culture, providing a platform for artists, architects, designers, and the public to engage in a cultural dialogue.
• The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design is expected to promote unique and rare crafts of India, fostering innovation and collaboration between artisans and designers.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 142 biofortified seed varieties, including 124 for field crops and 18 for horticultural crops, since 2014.

• These varieties cover a range of crops, such as rice, wheat, maize, pearl millet, sweet potato, amaranthus, and more.
• The biofortified varieties developed by ICAR have demonstrated equal or better yields compared to conventional varieties, with no added cultivation costs.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Reuters

 Context: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for two gene therapies for sickle cell disease.

• Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, Casgevy, and bluebird bio’s Lyfgenia have been approved for individuals aged 12 years and older.
• One of the approved therapies, Casgevy, is based on the CRISPR gene editing technology, making it the first treatment in the U.S. to utilize the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR gene editing technology.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science’s molecular biophysics unit have conducted a study revealing that peptides derived from the skin of Budgett’s frog possess the ability to combat enzymes produced by disease-causing pathogens.

• The frog’s skin secretions contain LL-TIL, a specific peptide studied by the researchers.
• LL-TIL was found to inhibit two key enzymes, subtilisin carlsberg and proteinase K, which are produced by pathogens and play a crucial role in promoting infections by breaking down specific protective proteins in the host.

The study provides insights into the inhibitory action of the frog-derived peptide, offering a potential framework for developing specific and potent inhibitors against various pathogenic enzymes.

About Budgett’s frog:

 Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) is a species of frog in the horned frog family, Ceratophryidae.

Size: They can grow to be 4–5 in (10–13 cm) in size, with females being larger than males.

Habitat: Their natural habitat is the semiarid Gran Chaco region of South America.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Mapping

Source: TH

 Context: The Eastern Ghats Nature Interpretation Centre in Visakhapatnam, a first-of-its-kind project by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (in the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary), offers an immersive experience highlighting the diverse ecosystems of the Eastern Ghats, stretching from Odisha to Tamil Nadu.

The Nature Interpretation Centre aims to inform, educate, and inspire visitors to care about the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats. The project, scheduled for completion by the end of December, is part of the larger Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Centre.

The centre is a collaboration between wildlife artists, illustrators, sculptors, architects, wildlife biologists, translators, and content creators.

About Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary: