UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks :  Insta Links help you think beyond the  current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents 

GS Paper 1: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024)

1. 100 years of discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization

GS Paper 2:

2. Quad leader’s summit and India

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

3. Travel can slow down the ageing process

4. Mary Poonen Lukose

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. The Food Import Rejection Alert portal

2. International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad

3. Nanozymes 

4. Sustainable Aviation Fuels

5. Wildlife Habitats Development Scheme

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024

GS Paper 1:

100 years of discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization

Syllabus: Ancient India

Source: TH

Context: 2024, marks the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization, spanning 2,000 sites across India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

First announced by John Marshall in 1924, this Bronze Age civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, remains an enigma. Known for advanced town planning, metallurgy, and craftsmanship, its mysteries continue to captivate researchers.

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were the first sites discovered by archaeologists Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji. The civilization thrived from 3200 BCE to 1500 BCE, with sites spread over 1.5 million sq. km. Its contributions rival other ancient civilizations, filling gaps in South Asian history. However, much remains unknown, including the deciphering of its script and reasons for its decline.

Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC):

1. It was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
2. It is also known as the Harappan Civilisation, after Harappa (now in Pakistan) – the first of its sites to be excavated early in the 20th century.
3. It stretches over an area spanning northeast Afghanistan, much of Pakistan and western and northwestern India.
4. It thrived in the Indus River basins and along a network of rivers that originally flowed near the ephemeral Ghaggar-Hakra river in northwest India and eastern Pakistan.
5. The civilisation is noted for its urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage and water supply systems, handicraft techniques (carnelian products, seal carving) and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead and tin).

Important sites: 

Decline: Climate change → weaker monsoons → reduced water supply →  gradual drying of the soil →  scattering of population eastward and southward.

Findings of the new study (by the University of Cambridge):

1. Droughts that began 4,200 years ago gripped the civilisation and went on for over two centuries.
2. The protracted droughts severely affected food systems and habitation patterns → forcing the people of the IVC to make systemic changes to adapt → a more self-reliant lifestyle.
3. They reorganised their large cities and moved towards the east of the region in smaller rural settlements.
4. They also had to make changes to their agricultural practices → relying more on drought-resilient crops such as millet.

Influence and lessons that can be derived from the urban planning and cultural aspects of IVC for present-day cities:

Difference between the Indus Valley Civilization and other ancient civilizations:

Insta Links:

IVC

Mains Links:

To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilisation provided inputs to present-day urbanisation? Discuss. (UPSC 2014)

Prelims Links: UPSC 2013

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024 GS Paper 2:

Quad leader’s summit and India

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: PIB

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India attended the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, with the participation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Key points emphasized by PM Modi:

He emphasized the importance of the Quad in upholding international law, sovereignty, and peace, and reiterated the Quad’s commitment to a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Several key initiatives were announced, including:

1. The “Quad Cancer Moonshot” to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific.
2. The “Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific” (MAITRI).
3. The “Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” in 2025 for maritime safety.
4. The “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership” for resilient port infrastructure.
5. Quad cooperation on semiconductor supply chains and digital public infrastructure.
6. India’s space-based monitoring portal for climate impact in Mauritius.
7. A new Quad STEM Fellowship for Indo-Pacific students.

India will host the next Quad Summit in 2025, and the leaders adopted the Quad Wilmington Declaration.

What is QUAD? 

The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the US. It is not a military alliance or mutual defence agreement. It was formed during the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Quad nations account for 24% of the global population, 35% of the world’s GDP, and 18% of global trade.

TIMELINE: GENESIS AND EVOLUTION

Policy/Initiative under QUAD:

How does QUAD contribute to enhancing India’s strategic interests

1. Counterbalance to China: As a member of the QUAD, in the event of a rise in the Chinese hostilities on its borders, India can take the support of the other QUAD nations to counter it.
2. Strategic Partnerships: QUAD facilitates strategic partnerships among like-minded democracies. This strengthens India’s diplomatic ties, fostering a multilateral approach to regional challenges.
3. For a free and open Indo-Pacific: This aspect becomes important for India, in the wake of China’s aggressiveness and coercive nature in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
4. India as a Net Security provider: For India to assert this role as a Region, its dominance in the Indian Ocean Region needs to be maintained and sustained. QUAD provides India with a platform to enhance security through partnerships in the region.
5. Multipolar World: India has supported a rule-based multipolar world and QUAD can help it achieve its ambition of becoming a regional superpower.
6. Maritime Security Cooperation: QUAD members collaborate on maritime security, including joint naval exercises and patrols. This enhances India’s capabilities in addressing common challenges.
7. Infrastructure Development: QUAD aims to promote infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific, fostering connectivity. This aligns with India’s interests in the region.
8. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: This enhances India’s capacity to respond to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific, showcasing its commitment to regional stability.
9. Technology and Cybersecurity Cooperation: This collaboration benefits India by leveraging technological advancements and enhancing cyber resilience.
10. Promotion of Democratic Values: QUAD promotes democratic values, the rule of law, and international norms. India, as the world’s largest democracy, aligns with these principles.

Issues Related to Quad:

1. Undefined Vision: Quad lacks a clear strategic mission despite its potential for cooperation.
2. Maritime Focus: Emphasis on the Indo-Pacific makes Quad primarily maritime, limiting cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
3. India’s Aversion to Alliances: India’s reluctance to join a formal treaty alliance hinders stronger Quad engagement.

Conclusion

QUAD serves as a key platform for India to advance its strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific by promoting security, stability, economic opportunities, and collaborative solutions to regional challenges. Navigating the complex geopolitical dynamics requires a nuanced and strategic approach from India to safeguard its interests and promote regional stability.

Insta Links:

• QUAD

Mains Link:

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times Discuss. (UPSC 2020)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Travel can slow down the ageing process

Source: IE

Context: A new study in the Journal of Travel Research suggests that travel can slow down the ageing process by reducing “entropy,” a measure of disorder in the body.

Positive travel experiences, physical activities, and social interactions boost physical and mental health, supporting the body’s self-healing mechanisms. However, negative experiences, such as accidents or illness during travel, can accelerate ageing by increasing entropy.

Lessons that can be learnt:

1. Encourage physical activities like hiking and cycling during travel.
2. Seek positive experiences and exposure to new environments.
3. Engage in social interactions while travelling.
4. Promote safe travel practices to avoid accidents and illnesses.
5. Consider travel therapy for its health benefits.
6. Avoid negative experiences that may increase stress or health risks.

Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose

 Source: IE

Context: Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose, born in 1886, was Kerala’s first woman doctor and the first woman to be a member of a legislative council in an Indian princely state.

After facing initial barriers in India, she pursued a medical degree in London, specializing in gynaecology. Returning to Travancore, she made history by performing Kerala’s first cesarean section and pioneering midwifery training. In 1924, she became the first woman head of Travancore’s health department and its first surgeon general. She also served in the Travancore Legislative Council, impacting public health policy until 1937.

Ethical Lessons: 

1. Perseverance: Overcoming gender barriers to pursue education and a career in medicine.
2. Dedication to Service: Committed to improving healthcare, especially for women and children.
3. Innovation: Introduced medical advancements like cesarean sections and midwifery training.
4. Leadership: Led as the first woman surgeon general and head of the health department.
5. Public Welfare: Worked towards better public health policies as a legislator.
6. Compassion: Advocated for safer births and accessible healthcare in challenging conditions.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 23 September 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

The Food Import Rejection Alert portal

Source: LM

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched the Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal, which will notify authorities about food consignments rejected at Indian borders due to safety concerns.

• The portal, unveiled at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024, will facilitate quick information sharing to prevent health risks from rejected food.
• In the past year, over 1,500 imported food items were rejected by FSSAI for failing to meet Indian standards.
• Other government healthcare achievements include expanding the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, benefiting 60 million people.
• The U-WIN portal has digitized vaccination services, registering 64 million beneficiaries so far.
• Additionally, a new TB treatment regimen and diagnostics have been introduced to shorten treatment time, with plans for nationwide rollout.

International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad

Source: LM

 Context: The Indian chess team celebrated a historic victory at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad by winning double gold in both the men’s and women’s categories.

About the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad:

• The International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from countries worldwide compete against each other.
• Organized by FIDE, the governing body of chess, the Chess Olympiad is one of the most prestigious team events in the chess world.
• It includes both an open section and a women’s section, and teams compete over several rounds in a Swiss-system format, where each player faces an opponent of comparable skill from another team.
• The event promotes international camaraderie and high-level competition, and it has become a major platform for showcasing top chess talent from across the globe.

Nanozymes

 Source: Business Line

Context: A recent study by the CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI) has shown that nanozymes, which are nanomaterials functioning like enzymes, can improve collagen’s integrity and resistance to enzymatic degradation.

• Traditional collagen crosslinking methods often involve harsh chemicals that risk damaging the protein, but nanozymes achieve this under mild conditions, preserving collagen’s structure.
• This breakthrough has significant implications for creating durable collagen-based biomaterials used in wound healing and tissue engineering.
• The study highlights a manganese-based nanozyme that enhances collagen’s stability through a tannic acid-tyrosine linkage, making it resistant to collagenase, an enzyme that typically degrades collagen.
• Another related study explores how biomolecules interact with enzyme-like catalytic sites in metal-organic frameworks, offering new avenues for more precise artificial enzymes in medical applications.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Source: AIR

Context: India and Brazil have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate in the energy sector, particularly focusing on sustainable fuels like biofuels.

• As founding members of the Global Biofuels Alliance, they emphasized biofuels’ role in the global energy transition and socioeconomic growth.
• India and Brazil are well-positioned to work together on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) using their existing biofuel infrastructure and agricultural resources.
• They also plan to co-host the India-Brazil Clean Cooking Ministerial Meeting during India Energy Week 2025, aiming to explore ways to improve global clean cooking access.

Additionally, both nations discussed collaboration in deep and ultra-deep offshore energy explorations.

Wildlife Habitats Development Scheme

Source: HT

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme for the 15th Finance Commission cycle.

1. The scheme supports key initiatives like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Development of Wildlife Habitat.
2. The initiative focuses on boosting technological interventions, including the use of AI, camera traps, and conservation genetics for wildlife monitoring.
3. Additionally, it supports projects like Project Dolphin and Project Lion, leveraging advanced tools for species conservation.
4. The scheme benefits 55 tiger reserves, 33 elephant reserves, and 718 protected areas, contributing to both wildlife conservation and climate resilience.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 September 2024

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