UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 19th February 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Rukhmabai Raut

Subject: History

Why in News?

A new book on the life of Rukhmabai, a child bride who went on to become one of India’s pioneering women doctors was released recently

Background:

• The book, written by academic and writer Sudhir Chandra, claims to shed new light on the “extraordinary but little-known life of the rebel-doctor” who dared to challenge the norms of her time and left behind a formidable legacy.

About Rukhmabai:

• Early Life: Rukhmabai was born in 1864. Denied formal education, she was married off at the age of 11 to Dadaji Bhikaji, who was 19 at the time.
• Living Arrangements: Despite the marriage, Rukhmabai continued to reside with her widowed mother, who later married Assistant Surgeon Sakharam Arjun Raut.
• Legal Battle: Rukhmabai refused to live with her husband, leading to the landmark case "Dadaji Bhikaji vs Rukhmabai, 1885".
• Court Ruling: The judge acknowledged Rukhmabai's marriage at a young and vulnerable age, ruling that her husband couldn't compel her to live with him.
• Appeal and Imprisonment: Despite an appeal, Rukhmabai was ordered to either live with her husband or face six months of imprisonment.
• Resolution: Eventually, a settlement was reached in July 1888, with Bhikaji relinquishing his claim on Rukhmabai in exchange for a payment of two thousand rupees.
• Impact: The case garnered significant public attention and debate, leading to the passage of the "Age of Consent Act" in 1891, which raised the age of consent from 10 to 12 years across British India.

Subject: Scroll

Papua New Guinea

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

Dozens of men have been killed in a fresh outbreak of tribal violence in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea recently.

About Papua New Guinea:

• Location: Papua New Guinea is an island nation situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Geography: It comprises the eastern half of New Guinea, the world's second-largest island, along with numerous smaller offshore islands.
• Neighboring Countries: Borders Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.
• Capital: The capital city is Port Moresby.
• Terrain: The country is predominantly mountainous, with low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.
• Population History: Inhabited over 40,000 years by various peoples, collectively known as Melanesians.
• Language Diversity: English serves as the primary language for government and business, while Tok Pisin is widely spoken in everyday contexts. Papua New Guinea boasts linguistic diversity, with over 800 languages spoken.
• Religion: The majority of the population identifies as Christian.
• Government: Papua New Guinea achieved self-governance on December 1, 1973, and full independence on September 16, 1975. It is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth. The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister holds the position of head of government.

Source: The Hindu

Ponmudi hills

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

A team of researchers have discovered a new species of damselfly at the Ponmudi hills in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

About Ponmudi Hills:

• Ponmudi translates to ‘Golden Hill’ or ‘Golden Peak’ is located in the state of Kerala.
• It is part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea and is at an altitude of 1100 metres above sea level. 
• The hills are a part of the Agasthyamalai landscape, at the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats.

Key facts about the new species of damselfly:

• It is named Cliffside Bambootail (Phylloneura rupestris).
• It belongs to a group called bambootails, so named because of their long abdomen that resembles bamboo stalks.
• It lays eggs in the moss beds in seasonal rills that flow over rock cliffs. 
• The discovery is significant because, for over 160 years, the genus Phylloneura was considered monotypic, with a single described species, the Myristica Bambootail
  • Myristica Bambootail’s population is associated with myristica swamps and hence is known by its common name Myristica Bambootail.
  • It has remained the sole described species of the genus Phylloneura and is considered near-threatened as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • It is endemic to the Western Ghats and has been recorded only in the area between the Nilgiris Hills and Sharavathi Valley, north of the Palghat Gap.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

India sends assistance to cholera-hit Zambia

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

India on Saturday sent medical and material assistance to Zambia as the southern African country.

Background:

• Zambia has been reeling under an outbreak of cholera over the past few weeks which had prompted a closure of schools in the country. Zambia has been asking for more medical help to deal with the situation that has been described as a “cholera emergency”.

About Zambia:

• Geographical Location: Zambia is situated as a landlocked country in the heart of Central, Southern, and East Africa.
• Economic Growth: Over the past decade, Zambia has undergone significant economic expansion, emerging as Africa's second-largest copper producer, trailing only behind the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
• Copper Production: The country has experienced rapid economic growth primarily due to its substantial copper production.
• Tourist Attractions: Zambia shares its border with Zimbabwe, where the spectacular Victoria Falls, one of the world's most renowned natural wonders, can be found.

About Cholera

• Cholera Transmission: Primarily spreads through contaminated water.
• Causative Agent: Vibrio cholerae bacterium.
• Toxin Production: Vibrio cholerae produces a toxin in the small intestine.
• Symptoms: Severe diarrhea and dehydration due to electrolyte loss.
• Asymptomatic Carriers: Many exposed individuals don't show symptoms but can still shed the bacteria in their stool.
• Transmission Risk: Carriers can contaminate water sources, potentially infecting others.

Source: The Hindu

Outer Space Treaty

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

Multiple reports coming in this week said that Russia is making advances in space-based nuclear weapons that are aimed at destroying other satellites, both civilian and military.

Background:

• If Russia were to develop and deploy such a weapon, it would be in violation of the Outer Space Treaty. It will also be in contravention of the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 that prohibits nuclear explosions in space. Russia is party to both treaties.

About Outer Space Treaty:

• Outer Space Treaty: Multilateral treaty forming the foundation of international space law, signed in 1967 by the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom, with 114 parties as of 2024.
• Prohibitions: Bars the placement of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in outer space, and restricts the use of celestial bodies like the Moon to peaceful purposes only.
• Common Heritage: Establishes outer space as the common heritage of all humankind, prohibiting any nation from claiming sovereignty over any part of it.
• Objectives: Aims to foster exploration and utilization of outer space for the collective benefit of all nations and to prevent any militarization or conflict in space.
• India's Participation: India became a party to the Outer Space Treaty on January 18, 1982, after signing it on March 3, 1967. The ratification process took approximately 15 years.
• Moon Treaty: India is also a party to the Moon Treaty, which supplements regulations on lunar exploration and the utilization of space resources.

Source: The Hindu

Global Innovation Index 2023

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

India retains 40th rank out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023 rankings published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Background:

• The Index is a leading reference for measuring an economy’s innovation ecosystem performance. It is published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

World Intellectual Property Organisation:

• It works with the vision of encouraging creative activity and promoting the protection of Intellectual Property throughout the world.
• It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states.
• WIPO is one of the 15 specialised agencies of the United Nations.

Key findings of the Global Innovation Index 2023:

• Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2023 followed by Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.
• Singapore has entered the top five and has taken the leading position among South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania (SEAO) region economies.
• The top science and technology innovation clusters in the world in 2023 are Tokyo–Yokohama, followed by Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou, Seoul, Beijing, and Shanghai-Suzhou. China now has the largest number of clusters in the world, overtaking the United States.

Key findings related to India:

• India secured the 40th position in the latest GII 2023, showcasing a remarkable climb from the 81st spot in 2015. It underscores India’s consistent and substantial growth in innovation over the past eight years.
• India secured the top position among the 37 lower-middle-income countries and led among the 10 economies in Central and South America. Key indicators affirmed India’s robust innovation landscape, including significant rankings in ICT services exports, venture capital received, graduates in science and engineering, and global corporate research and development investors.
• Compared to China’s 24 and the US’s 21, India has only 4 science and technology clusters among the world’s top 100. These are Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.
• India’s progress is attributed to its abundant knowledge capital and a thriving startup ecosystem, along with commendable efforts from public and private research organizations.
• Certain areas necessitate improvement, particularly infrastructure, business sophistication, and institutions. To bridge these gaps, NITI Aayog is actively working to promote policy-led innovation in crucial sectors such as electric vehicles, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space, and alternative energy sources.

Source: WIPO

Chinook Helicopter

Subject: Defence and Security

Why in News?

A Chinook helicopter of the Indian Air Force made a precautionary landing following a "technical snag" near Punjab's Barnala recently.

About Chinook Helicopter:

• Role: Chinook/CH-47F serves as the primary heavy troop and supply transport aircraft for the U.S. Army.
• Manufacturer: Produced by Boeing, an American aerospace and defense company, for the U.S. Army and various international defense forces.
• Mission Capabilities: Used for transporting troops, artillery, supplies, and equipment to the battlefield.
• Indian Inventory: India possesses approximately 15 CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
• Features:
  • Twin-engine, tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter.
  • Equipped with a fully integrated digital cockpit management system.
  • Advanced cargo-handling capabilities enhance mission performance.
  • Monolithic airframe design with vibration reduction.
  • Maximum Speed: 160 knots (296 km/h).
  • Triple hook system provides stability for large external loads or the capacity for multiple external loads.
  • Can accommodate up to 55 troops or approximately 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.

Source: NDTV

Disinflation

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor recently said recurring food price shocks and renewed flash points on the geo-political front pose a challenge to the ongoing disinflation process.

About Disinflation:

• Definition: Disinflation refers to a decrease in the rate of inflation over time, meaning prices still rise but at a slower pace.
• Explanation: It differs from inflation and deflation, focusing on the rate of change in inflation rather than the direction of prices.
• Economic Implications: Disinflation is generally not concerning as it doesn't involve actual price decreases and doesn't necessarily indicate economic slowdown.
• Importance: A moderate level of disinflation is beneficial as it prevents economic overheating and maintains stability.
• Opposite of Reflation: Disinflation contrasts with reflation, where the government boosts the economy by increasing the money supply.
• Causes:
  • Tightened Monetary Policy: Implemented by the central bank, leading to limited money supply and reduced inflation.
  • Asset Sales: Government selling assets, reducing money supply and causing disinflation.
  • Business Cycle Contraction: Economic downturns, like recessions, can cause companies to refrain from raising prices to remain competitive, resulting in disinflation.

Source: Telegraph India