UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 3rd December 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Cyclone Michaung

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

 Recently, cyclone Michaung was seen brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

Background:-

• IMD issues ‘Yellow Alert’ as depression escalates.

About Cyclone Michaung:-

• A cyclone is a pattern of winds (or air mass) that circulates a low-pressure system.
• It rotates counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• It is typically associated with wet and stormy weather.

Classification:-

• There are two types of cyclones:
  • Tropical cyclones and
  • Extra-tropical cyclones (also called Temperate cyclones)

Tropical cyclone:-

• It is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans.
• It is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain .(Colour Coded Weather Warning)
• These are formed over slightly warm ocean waters.
• The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a depth of about 60 meters, needs to be at least 28°C to support the formation of a cyclone.
• April-May and October-December periods are conducive for cyclones.
• Then, the low level of air above the waters needs to have an ‘anticlockwise’ rotation (in the northern hemisphere; clockwise in the southern hemisphere).
• During these periods, there was an ITCZ in the Bay of Bengal.

Extratropical cyclones:-

• It occurs in temperate zones and high-latitude regions, though they are known to originate in the Polar Regions.
• These are active above the mid-latitudinal region between 35° and 65° latitude in both hemispheres.
• The direction of movement is from west to east and is more pronounced in the winter seasons.

Source: News18

Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)

Subject: Social Issues

Why in News?

Eight years after its inception, the Ministry of Education is gearing up to restart the fourth phase of the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN).

About Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN):

• Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education was launched in 2015. It is a program of Ministry of Education.
• Aim: Tapping the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs internationally to encourage their engagement with the institutes of Higher Education in India.
  • This will help augment India’s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India's scientific and technological capacity to global excellence.
• Objectives:
  • To improve the quality of higher education through international collaboration.
  • To increase the touch of reputed international faculty to Indian academic institutes.
  • To bring in International academic excellence in India's higher education institutions.
  • To augment the country's existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India's scientific and technological capacity to global excellence.
• Nodal Agency: IIT Kharagpur

Salient Features of GIAN:

• An honorarium is paid to the foreign experts to cover their travels and other expenses.
• Short term courses are conducted by these experts/faculties in Indian Institutions.
• This programme was first launched to establish collaboration between India and The United States of America, but later, the scope of the programme was extended.
• The duration of courses differ for different courses. The minimum duration is one week and the maximum duration is 3 weeks.
• A lump-sum amount of up to US$ 8000 (~ ₹7 lakh) for 12 to 14 hours of contact and up to US$ 12000 (~ ₹12 lakh) for 20 to 28 hours of contact can be paid to the foreign experts covering their travel and honorarium.

Significance of GIAN Programme:

• The Central government has spent at least ₹126 crore in payment to support foreign faculty’s travel and honorarium since the inception of GIAN.
• Since the beginning of the scheme in 2015-16, 1,612 foreign faculty members have visited the country to deliver courses from 59 countries.
• As many as 692 (39%) of 1,772 courses were delivered in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campuses, while the second largest cohort of lectures, 436 (24.6%), took place in the National Institute of Technology (NITs).
• Up to 41.4% (668) of academicians who visited India belonged to the U.S. The rest consisted of experts from the U.K. (143), Germany (93), Canada (89), etc. Up to 72,000 Indian students directly benefitted.

Source: The Hindu

Mohenjo Daro

Subject: Ancient History

Why in News?

Archaeologists have recently discovered a remarkably unusual cache of 2000-year-old copper coins within the remains of a Buddhist shrine, constructed at the historic site of Mohenjo Daro (Pakistan).

About Mohenjo Daro:

• Mohenjo Daro, or "Mound of the Dead" is an ancient Indus Valley Civilization city that flourished between 2600 and 1900 BCE.
• It lies in Pakistan's Sindh province, on the bank of the Indus River.
• It was discovered in 1922 by R. D. Banerji, an officer of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• At about 3 mi (5 km) in circuit, it was the largest city of the Indus civilization, and it probably served as the capital of an extensive state.
• It was built around the same time as the Great Pyramids of Egypt. 
• The ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
• Laid out in a rectilinear grid and built out of baked bricks, the city featured a complex water management system, complete with a sophisticated drainage and covered sewer system, and baths in nearly every house. 
• The city included a 900-square-foot Great Bath and about 700 wells. The Great Bath is a rectangular public pool situated in the citadel. These were part of a water system that enabled homes to have their own baths and toilets.
• Mohenjo-Daro, like its contemporaries (Kalibangan and Harappa), was also divided into two parts: the citadel and the lower town.
• Citadel:
  • The western mound, or Citadel was built on a raised platform of mud brick and consisted of all the important administrative structures like The Great Bath, granaries, and the College of Priests.
  • It was fortified by a thick mud-brick retaining wall.
• Lower Town:
  • The eastern or low-lying part of the town was also fortified and was meant for the settlement of commoners.
  • Numerous streets and small alleys ran across this part of the city.
  • Within this section, many sub-parts were built according to the guild systems.
  • As people settled here, a large number of artifacts and information regarding the burial practices were found in this area.
  • Multi-storey buildings:
    • The people of Mohenjo-Daro lived in houses that had similar features throughout the town.
    • They consisted of a central courtyard surrounded by rooms.
    • Almost every household had individual toilets and bathrooms.
    • The doors and windows always opened in the alleys.
    • The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few can be seen through the dimensions of their houses. For instance, the commoners lived in single-storey houses while the rich lived in double or sometimes treble-storey houses.

Source: News 18

GS-II

Is the emerging global order bipolar?

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

The world order is shifting, with the U.S. leading but China rising fast. India needs to navigate complex relations, address internal challenges, and focus on economic and military growth for a strong role globally. Amid global conflicts, balancing alliances is crucial for India’s position in the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Key Highlights:

• Global Order Dynamics: Shifting landscape with China’s rise, Russian challenges, and the emergence of middle powers like India.
• Asymmetric Bipolarity: Viewing the world order as asymmetric bipolarity, where the U.S. remains pre-eminent but China rapidly advances.
• China’s Impact: Unprecedented economic and military growth redefines international power dynamics.

Key Challenges:

• Russia-China Nexus: The war in Ukraine strengthens Russia-China ties, posing strategic challenges for India.
• Global Security Complexities: Conflicts in Eastern Europe and West Asia contribute to a multifaceted global security landscape.
• Diplomatic Maneuvering: Navigating complex relations with the U.S., China, and Russia amid evolving global power dynamics.

Key Terms and Phrases:

• Asymmetric Bipolarity: Understanding the dynamics of uneven power distribution in the current world order.
• People’s Power: The 21st century characterized by unprecedented connectivity, interactions, and global integration.
• Military-Industrial Complex: The influence of industries producing destructive weapons on global violence.
• Two-Front Dilemma: China’s strategic challenge, facing pressures in the Western Pacific and the Line of Actual Control.

Key Statements and Examples:

• Russia’s Pivot: Economic sanctions and the Ukraine conflict drive Russia towards closer ties with China.
• India’s Diplomatic Complexities: Balancing trade ties with China and managing strategic challenges with the U.S. and Russia.
• China’s Economic Surge: Unprecedented GDP growth influencing global power dynamics and necessitating India’s strategic response.

Key Facts and Data:

• China’s GDP Growth: A remarkable shift from $300 billion to $19.3 trillion in the last four decades.
• India-China Trade: Standing at $138 billion, showcasing the intricate nature of bilateral relations.
• War in Ukraine: Ongoing for the past 20 months, contributing to evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Critical Analysis:

• Recognition of Asymmetric Bipolarity: Acknowledging and adapting to the current world order’s uneven power distribution.
• Comprehensive National Growth: Emphasizing India’s need to strengthen its comprehensive national power amid power asymmetry with China.
• Global Relations Management: Recognizing and addressing challenges in India’s diplomatic strategy amidst evolving global dynamics.

Way Forward:

• Internal Strengthening: Addressing internal fault lines, fostering societal cohesiveness, and focusing on comprehensive national growth.
• Strategic External Balancing: Balancing relations with the U.S. to maintain China’s two-front dilemma and preserving India’s strategic autonomy.
• Advocacy for Global Disarmament: Addressing the root issue of the military-industrial complex, promoting global disarmament for a more peaceful world.

Source: Indian Express

GS-III

Hemochromatosis

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

Recent studies show that High iron levels raise the possibility of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH).

Background:-

• Hemochromatosis or ‘bronze diabetes’, the rare genetic disorder that causes organ dysfunction – its causes, signs, and treatment.

About Hemochromatosis:-

• Hemochromatosis (he-moe-kroe-muh-TOE-sis) causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat.
• Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart, and pancreas.
• Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems, and diabetes.  

Symptoms:-

• Joint pain.
• Abdominal pain.
• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Diabetes.
• Loss of sex drive.
• Impotence.
• Heart failure.
• Liver failure.
• Bronze or grey skin colour.
• Memory fog.

Causes:-

• Hemochromatosis is most often caused by a change in a gene.
• This gene controls the amount of iron your body absorbs from food.
• The altered gene is passed from parents to children.
• This type of hemochromatosis is by far the most common type. It’s called hereditary hemochromatosis.

Treatment:-

• Phlebotomy is the standard treatment for primary hemochromatosis.
• In this, iron toxicity is reduced by removing red blood cells, the body’s main mobilizer of iron.

Source: The Hindu

[Question: 918658]

Pancorius sebastiani

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Recently, a new species of jumping spider ’ Pancorius sebastiani’ has been discovered.

Background:-

• It has been discovered from the Western Ghats.

About Pancorius sebastiani:-

• Naming: It has been named Pancorius sebastiani after the late spider taxonomist P.A.
• Distribution: southeast Asia.
  • Its distribution was hitherto limited to the east and northeastern regions of India. (Blackbuck)
• The new species is the first to be reported from the south.
• The males and the females exhibit reddish brown carapace.
• They have yellowish abdomen with black patches and chevron-shaped markings posteromedially.
• It belongs to the jumping spider genus Pancorius Simon, and Salticidae family.
• Only two States, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have reported high numbers of Salticidae species, while the others including those harbouring biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and northeastern India have relatively few numbers of species.

Source: The Hindu