Daily News Analysis : 29 July 2024

SIMS 2.0

The Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries Shri HD Kumaraswamy launched the Steel Import Monitoring System 2.0 (SIMS) Portal. It is an upgraded Steel Import Monitoring system that features API integration with multiple government portals. SIMS was introduced in 2019 that provided a crucial role in providing detailed steel import data to domestic industry.

Key Points:

A) SIMS 2.0 uses APIs to integrate with various government portals to improve quality control and ensure processes are efficient and effective.B) The portal has an efficient data entry system that ensures consistency and accuracy of information, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.

Climate Finance Action Fund

A new fund namely Climate Finance Action Fund was announced by Azerbaijan to help developing countries fight climate change. Azerbaijan will be hosting the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Fossil fuel producer countries and companies invest an initial amount of USD 1 billion in the climate action projects of developing countries.

Key Points:

A) Azerbaijan, which is hosting the COP29 climate conference, announced it will increase its Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies to support green projects in developing countries and help members meet the 1.5C temperature target.B) CFAF will be a catalytic public-private partnership fund dedicated to the private sector, reducing investment risk.Growth-India Telescope

The Growth-India Telescope in Ladakh recently captured building sized asteroid zoom past Earth. The primary mission of the telescope is to observe explosive transients and variable sources including near Earth asteroids. It is India’s first fully robotic Optical research telescope and is located at Hanle, Ladakh.

Key Points:

A) The rapid motion of the asteroid was so swift that it caused background stars to appear as streaksB) This observation was part of the Growth-India project.C) The Growth-India project is part of an international network of observatories.

Growth-India Telescope

The Growth-India Telescope in Ladakh recently captured building sized asteroid zoom past Earth. The primary mission of the telescope is to observe explosive transients and variable sources including near Earth asteroids. It is India’s first fully robotic Optical research telescope and is located at Hanle, Ladakh.

Key Points:

A) The rapid motion of the asteroid was so swift that it caused background stars to appear as streaksB) This observation was part of the Growth-India project.C) The Growth-India project is part of an international network of observatories.

Heatwave not included in Notified Disaster list

The 15th Finance Commission refused to include Heatwave to be included on the Notified Disaster List. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines disaster as a Catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurence arising from Natural or man-made causes. Currently 12 disasters are classified as Notified Disaster.

Key Points:

A) India recorded 40,000 suspected cases of heatstroke and over 100 heat-related deaths during one of its hottest and longest heatwaves this year.B) The 15th Finance Commission deliberated on the potential addition of further disasters to the current list of notified calamities.C) However, the commission had observed that the current list covered the needs of the states to a “large extent” and thus did not find much merit in the request to expand its scope.

E-Upahaar Portal

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is set to auction selected gift items presented to President Shrimati Droupadi Murmu and former presidents through E-Upahaar portal. The portal was launched on July 25, 2024. The portal is designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC),MeitY. 

Key Points:

A) In the first phase, around 250 exquisite gifts will be auctioned.B) The bidding will be open from August 5 to August 26, 2024.C) The aim of this initiative is not only to increase citizen engagement but also to support noble cause. 

India takes chair of ADPC

India will overtake as the chair of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for the tenure 2024-25. ADPC is an autonomous international organisation established in 1986 and its aim is to reduce disaster risk and build climate resilience in the Asia and Pacific region. Its member countries include India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. 

Key Points:

A) Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has assumed global and regional leadership in disaster risk reduction (DRR).B) India has taken a number of global initiatives in this direction, especially that of establishing an international Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).C) India also chaired the 5th Board of Trustee (BoT) meeting of ADPC held on July 25, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Installation of Mako Missile

In order to strengthen US Security, the US Navy, Navy SEAL commandos and US Air Force are set to install Mako Missiles in all of their military aircraft. It is an air launched hypersonic multi mission missile developed by Lockheed Martin and it will be world’s first hypersonic weapon that could be fired from the internal weapons bay of 5th generation stealth fighter jets. It is designed within the Digital engineering ecosystem.

Key Points:

A) The development of the Mako missile comes in response to Russia’s deployment of the ‘Kinjal’ (or Kinzhal and KH-47M2) hypersonic missile.B) Russia has utilized the Kinjal missile in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, launching it from MiG-31 aircraft.C) The Kinjal missile has demonstrated its effectiveness in combat, highlighting the strategic advantage hypersonic weapons can provide.

1800 disease outbreaks reported across country

A total of 1862 disease outbreaks were reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme in 2023. The highest number of outbreaks were being reported from Kerala. IDSP is a decentralised, state-based surveillance programme in the country and it was launched with World Bank assistance in November 2004 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

Key Points:

A) Kerala reported 253 outbreaks, followed by Karnataka with 223, Maharashtra with 208, and Madhya Pradesh with 140.3 days ago.B) In order to strengthen disease surveillance activities, the Ministry of Health strengthened the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDDSP), which allows for the establishment of an effective response through comprehensive training rapid response teams to develop public health management and prevention programs.

1600 tonnes Lithium resources discovered in Karnataka

A total of 1600 tonnes of Lithium resources was discovered in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district in Karnataka. The discovery was made by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD). Lithium is classified as an Alkali metal and its atomic number is 3. It is soft, white and lustrous and reacts vigorously with Water. 

Key Points:

A) AMD is actively exploring potential geological domains for lithium in other parts of India, including Korba District in Chhattisgarh.B) Additionally, major mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, as well as pegmatite belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, are being investigated for their lithium potential.C) Lithium, which is an element on the periodic table, is one of the most sought-after minerals globally.

Manu Bhaker wins India’s first Olympics medal

Indian Shooter won the bronze medal in women’s 10m Air pistol. She became India’s first female Olympics medalist in Shooting. She scored a total of 221.7 to secure a podium finish. Gold and Silver medals were won by South Korean shooters namely Kim Yeji and Oh Yejin.

Key Points:

A) Manu’s bronze was India’s first medal at the Paris Olympics.B) Manu will next be seen in the Mixed Team 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol.C) Manu became the fifth shooter to win an Olympic medal after Abhinav Bindra, Rajavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang.
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