UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 4th May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Garo Hills

Subject: Geography

Source: India Today

Why in News?

Geological Survey of India (GSI) explorers have recently discovered ancient fossils in Tolegre, South Garo Hills of Meghalaya. These fossils are believed to be associated with the genera Rhodocetus or Amulocetus, which are now extinct but were ancestors of modern whales.

About Garo Hills

• The Garo Hills are situated in Meghalaya and are part of the Garo-Khasi range, a prominent hill range in northeastern India.
• Located in the western region of Meghalaya, the Garo Hills share borders with Bangladesh to the south and west.
• The terrain of the Garo Hills is rugged and hilly, characterized by dense forests, steep slopes, and deep valleys.
• The highest peak in the region is Nokrek, standing at around 1,415 meters (4,642 feet) above sea level.
• The climate in the Garo Hills is generally humid subtropical, with significant rainfall during the monsoon season from June to September.
• The area is crisscrossed by several rivers and streams, including the Brahmaputra, Someshwari, and Jinjiram rivers.
• Noteworthy waterfalls in the region include Pelga Falls, situated near Tura, the largest town in the Garo Hills.
• The Nokrek National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is home to various endangered species like the Asian elephant and the red panda.
• The Garo Hills are predominantly inhabited by the Garo tribe, one of the primary ethnic groups in Meghalaya.

Does PMJAY Need a Design Change?

Subject: Social Issues

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Hospitals in certain states are facing financial challenges under PMJAY, leading to issues such as turning away PMJAY patients.

What is PMJAY?

• Ayushman Bharat, a government initiative launched in 2018, comprises health and wellness centers along with PMJAY.

• PMJAY offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

• It benefits over 12 crore families from the bottom 40% of the population.

Significance of PMJAY and Its Performance

• PMJAY aims to enhance healthcare access, especially through private sector involvement.

• 34.27 crore cards have been distributed under PMJAY, with 6.5 crore individuals receiving treatments in over 30,000 affiliated hospitals.

Key Issues Faced by PMJAY

• Challenges persist on both the supply and demand sides of PMJAY.

• Private hospitals, despite offering superior services, encounter capacity constraints and payment delays, leading to patient refusals.

• Varying performance levels are evident across states, with issues like inactive hospitals and delayed payments notably in states such as Uttar Pradesh.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Enhancing the public healthcare sector is vital to counter patient preferences for private facilities driven by public sector inefficiencies.

• Adopting technology-driven solutions for efficient claim processing is imperative.

• India's high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure underscores the necessity for comprehensive reforms, incorporating outpatient care and drug coverage.

• Models from states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan (Chiranjeevi Yojana) that offer free medicines present alternative strategies worth exploring.

Hopen Island in the Svalbard Archipelago

Subject: Geography

Source: Wion

Why in News?

Researchers disclosed that one of Norway’s Hopen Island in the Svalbard Archipelago witnessed its first walrus death due to Bird Flu (H5N1).

Geographical Location

• Hopen Island is positioned in the southern region of the Svalbard Archipelago, nestled between the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea.
• The island spans an approximate area of 47 square kilometers, marking it as one of the smaller landmasses within the Svalbard cluster.
• Its terrain primarily comprises low-lying tundra, rocky formations, and coastal precipices.

Climate and Ecology

• Similar to the broader Svalbard region, Hopen Island encounters a severe Arctic climate.
• Winters are prolonged, dark, and intensely cold, while summers are brief and mild.
• The island serves as a crucial breeding habitat for various seabird species like guillemots, puffins, and kittiwakes.
• Occasionally, polar bears, walruses, seals, and Arctic foxes are sighted on the island.

Significance and Accessibility

• Historically, Hopen Island has held strategic value due to its positioning between the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea.
• It remains uninhabited and largely inaccessible to humans due to its remote location and harsh weather conditions.

GS-II

Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

Subject: Polity and Governance

Source: Live law

Why in News?

The Supreme Court urged the Central government and the parliament to make necessary changes to the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) with respect to the provision replacing Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

About Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):

• Introduced in 1983 as an amendment to the IPC to address domestic violence against married women in India.
• Aims to protect married women from cruelty inflicted by husbands or their relatives.
• Defines cruelty as any conduct likely to drive a woman to suicide or cause injury to her life, limb, or health.
• Includes harassment or torture with the intent to coerce the woman or her relatives for property or money.
• Applies only to married women.
• Defines 'husband' broadly to include various types of relationships.
• No time limitation for filing a complaint under this section.
• Offence under Section 498A is cognizable and non-compoundable and non-bailable.
• Bail can be granted only after FIR registration based on a complaint.

Supreme Court Rulings:

• Emphasized using Section 498A judiciously with genuine evidence of cruelty.
• Warned against misuse for settling personal scores.
• Stressed the need for thorough police investigation before arrests to prevent harassment of the accused.

Introduction of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) in 2005:

• Provides a more comprehensive legal framework for addressing domestic violence and abuse against women.

World Press Freedom Index 2024

Source: MSN

Why in News?

India's score in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 dropped from 36.62 to 31.28 in the past year.

About World Press Freedom Index 2024:

• It is an annual report published by the global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
• The index ranks 180 countries based on journalists' ability to work and report freely and independently.
• The press freedom questionnaire evaluates political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.
• It focuses solely on press freedom and does not assess journalism quality or general human rights violations.

Highlights of the 2024 Index:

• There is a global decline in press freedom, with a significant increase in political repression of journalists and independent media.
• On the ranking, Norway secured the top position followed by Denmark.
• Countries with "good" press freedom are primarily in Europe, especially within the European Union, which introduced its first media freedom law (EMFA).
• The Maghreb and Middle East regions exhibit the most severe restrictions on press freedom enforced by governmental bodies.
• At the bottom of the list, Eritrea ranks lowest, with Syria just above it.

India's Ranking:

• India improved its rank from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024, although this was due to declines in other countries' rankings.
• India's scores dropped in all categories except the security indicator.
• India is positioned behind Turkey, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, which hold ranks 158, 152, and 150, respectively.

GS-III

C295 Transport Aircraft

Subject: Internal Security

Source: Zee Business

Why  in News?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently taken delivery of the second out of 56 C295 aircraft.

About the C295 Transport Aircraft:

• The C295 is a modern tactical airlifter designed for light and medium transport purposes.
• It was created and manufactured by Airbus, a major European aerospace company.
• It is a versatile aircraft optimized for various missions such as troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, surveillance, reconnaissance, and more.

Key Features:

• The aircraft boasts a flight endurance of up to 13 hours, capable of operating in diverse weather conditions.
• It can carry payloads of up to nine tonnes or accommodate as many as 71 troops, reaching a top cruise speed of 260 knots.
• The C295 excels in low-level flight maneuvers, flying at speeds as slow as 110 knots.
• It is equipped with a rear ramp door for quick troop and cargo deployment and is powered by two turboprop engines.
• This aircraft has short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities and can utilize unprepared airstrips.

Acquisition and Production Details:

• In September 2021, India finalized the procurement of 56 C295 aircraft to replace the IAF's aging Avro fleet at a cost of Rs 21,935 crore.
• Airbus will deliver the first 16 planes in 'fly-away' condition from Seville by 2025, with the subsequent 40 aircraft being manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India.

Peptides

Subject: Science and Technology

Source: MSN

Why in News?

Scientists have created a promising treatment utilizing cow-derived peptides to combat dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, presenting a novel approach to address severe infections resistant to traditional antibiotics.

About Peptides:

Peptides are chains of amino acids naturally occurring in the body. They are linked in a sequence by peptide bonds.

Peptides vs. Proteins:

• Peptides are typically shorter than proteins, traditionally defined as molecules consisting of 2 to 50 amino acids.
• Proteins, on the other hand, are longer structures made up of multiple peptide subunits, also known as polypeptides.
• Peptides have less defined structures compared to proteins, which can take on complex conformations.
• Proteins can be broken down by enzymes into short peptide fragments.

Functions of Peptides:

• Peptides in the body serve various roles including providing pro-aging support, anti-inflammatory effects, and muscle-building properties.
• Some peptides function as hormones, impacting different areas of the body when released from cells.
• Due to their potential health benefits, many supplements containing peptides derived from food or synthesized are available.

What are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are molecules that combine to form proteins, acting as the building blocks of life. There exist 20 different amino acids.

Essential Amino Acids:

There are nine essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet:

• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine

Bhadra Tiger Reserve

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the Bhadra Tiger Reserve for safari. Tourists must be cautious not to disrupt this eco-sensitive zone.

About Bhadra Tiger Reserve:

The reserve is located in the Western Ghats region and is distinct for being surrounded by various hill ranges. It is encompassed by the river Bhadra and its tributaries.

Key Features:

• Designated as the 25th Project Tiger reserve of India in 1998 due to a significant tiger population.
• Home to an Elephant Reserve as well.
• Varied Vegetation: dry-deciduous, moist-deciduous, shola, and semi-evergreen areas.

Flora and Fauna:

• Flora includes Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne, Nandi, and numerous medicinal plants.
• Fauna consists of Tigers, Leopards, Leopard cats, Dholes, Indian Civets, and ungulates like Gaur, Sambar, and Barking Deer.

Other Tiger Reserves in Karnataka:

Bandipur, Nagarahole, Dandeli-Anshi, and Biligiriranga Tiger Reserve are some of the other reserves in Karnataka.