Daily Current Affairs : 13th January 2024

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. Thirty meter Telescope
2. Pulses and Global Pulses Convention
3. HPV Vaccine
4. Coastal Regulation Zone – 2019
5. Facts for Prelims  

1 . Thirty meter Telescope

Context: In a signal of renewed enthusiasm for a global scientific project, an official delegation from the Department of Science and Technology visited Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano on the island of Hawaii in the U.S., to discuss “challenges” to the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project.  

About Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

• The Thirty Meter Telescope is a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity. It has become controversial due to its location on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaiʻi. 
• With its 30 m prime mirror diameter, TMT will be three times as wide, with nine times more area, than the largest currently existing visible-light telescope in the world.
• The TMT is designed for near-ultraviolet to mid-infrared observations, featuring adaptive optics to assist in correcting image blur. The TMT will be at the highest altitude of all the proposed ELTs. 
• This will provide unparalleled resolution with TMT images more than 12 times sharper than those from the Hubble Space Telescope.
• When operational, TMT will provide new observational opportunities in essentially every field of astronomy and astrophysics.  Observing in wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared, this unique instrument will allow astronomers to address fundamental questions in astronomy ranging from understanding star and planet formation to unraveling the history of galaxies and the development of large-scale structure in the universe.
• TMT’s high resolution will extend scientists’  capability to detect and investigate black holes that reside in the center of many distant galaxies, as well as study in detail the black hole in the center of our own Milky Way.
• It is proposed as a joint collaboration involving institutions in the U.S., Japan, China, Canada, and India. Indian participation in the project was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2014. India expects to be a major contributor to the project and will provide hardware worth $200 million. 

Scientific Instruments

• Three instruments are planned to be available for scientific observations: 
• Wide Field Optical Spectrometer (WFOS) provides a seeing limit that goes down to the ultraviolet with optical (0.3–1.0 μm wavelength) imaging and spectroscopy capable of 40-square arc-minute field-of-view. The TMT will use precision cut focal plane masks and enable long-slit observations of individual objects as well as short-slit observations of hundreds of different objects at the same time. The spectrometer will use natural (uncorrected) seeing images.  
• Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS) mounted on the observatory MCAO system, capable of diffraction-limited imaging and integral-field spectroscopy at near-infrared wavelengths (0.8–2.5 μm).  
• Infrared Multi-object Spectrometer (IRMS) allowing close to diffraction-limited imaging and slit spectroscopy over a 2 arc-minute diameter field-of-view at near-infrared wavelengths (0.8–2.5 μm). 

Who is Building it

• The Thirty Meter Telescope is being designed and developed by the TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO).
• The TIO is a non-profit international partnership between the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, the National Institutes of Natural Sciences of Japan, the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Department of Science and Technology of India, and the National Research Council (Canada).
• The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a TIO Associate and major funding for TMT has been provided by the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation. The TIO will also run the TMT operations once the telescope is completed.

Challenges in implementation

• Mauna Kea hosts multiple telescopes. However, upcoming projects have invited local opposition on the grounds that building telescopes violates religious and cultural customs, with many of these projects having been imposed upon the region without addressing the concerns of inhabitants.
• Though permits for constructing the TMT were availed, the Supreme Court of Hawaii invalidated them in 2015. Permissions were restored in 2018, though construction is yet to begin because of continued local opposition. There are plans to construct the TMT at an alternate site, with the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) on La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands seen as the next best choice.
• Due to its light-gathering power and the optimal observing conditions which exist atop Mauna Kea, the TMT would enable astronomers to conduct research which is infeasible with current instruments. 

2 . Pulses and Global Pulses Convention

Context: Focus on best practices as global meet on pulses returns to India. 

About Pulses

• Pulses are a category of leguminous crops harvested for their dry seeds. 
• These edible seeds are rich in protein and fiber and are an essential part of many diets worldwide. 
• India is the biggest producer and consumer of pulses worldwide. 

Types 

• Lentils: Small, lens-shaped seeds available in various colors, such as green, brown, and red. They cook relatively quickly and are used in soups, stews, and salads. 
• Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): Round, beige legumes commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. They can be cooked and used in salads, curries, or ground into hummus. 
• Peas: Sweet peas are a common garden vegetable, but dried peas are also considered pulses. Split peas are often used in soups. 
• Kidney Beans: Large, kidney-shaped beans available in different colors, such as red and white. They are commonly used in chili, stews, and salads. 
• Black Beans: Small, black beans commonly used in Latin American and Caribbean cuisines. They are versatile and used in various dishes like soups, rice, and salads. 
• Mung Beans: Small, green beans used in Asian cuisines. They are often sprouted and used in salads, stir-fries, or cooked into soups. 
• Chickpea Flour (Besan): Ground chickpeas used as a gluten-free flour in various recipes, including flatbreads, pancakes, and as a thickening agent. 
• Black-eyed Peas: Small, cream-colored beans with a black spot resembling an “eye.” They are often used in Southern U.S. dishes and have cultural significance in various regions. 

Uses 

• Protein Source: Pulses are an excellent plant-based protein source, making them a crucial component in vegetarian and vegan diets. They contribute to protein intake for those who do not consume meat. 
• Staple Foods: Pulses, such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans, are staple foods in many cuisines worldwide. They form the basis of various traditional dishes, providing sustenance and flavour. 
• Forage: Forage legumes are of two broad types. Some, like alfalfa, clover, vetch (Vicia), stylo (Stylosanthes), or Arachis, are sown in pasture and grazed by livestock. Other forage legumes such as Leucaena or Albizia are woody shrub or tree species that are either broken down by livestock or regularly cut by humans to provide livestock feed. Legume-based feeds improve animal performance compared to a diet of perennial grasses.  
• Nitrogen Fixation: Many legumes contain symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within root nodules of their root systems (plants belonging to the genus Styphnolobium are one exception to this rule). These bacteria have the special ability of fixing nitrogen from atmospheric, molecular nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃).  

Global Pulses Convention

•  It is jointly organised by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC).  
• It will see experts in the field sharing their views and experiences with various stakeholders and policymakers. 
• It will be attended by about 800 representatives of governments, as well as commercial and non-profit organisations involved in the production and processing of pulses. 
• The last convention was held in Sydney. 

Global Pulse Confederation

• The Global Pulse Confederation (GPC, formerly known as CICILS IPTIC) represents all segments of the pulse industry value chain from growers, researchers, logistics suppliers, traders, exporters and importers to government bodies, multilateral organizations, processors, canners and consumers.
• Its membership includes 24 national associations and over 600 private sector members. GPC is based in Dubai and licensed by the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre (DMCC).

3 . HPV Vaccine

Context: In a bid to reduce cases of cervical cancer, the government is likely to roll out an immunisation campaign against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the second quarter of the year.  

How does the vaccine prevent cancers? 

• The quadrivalent vaccines, including the Serum Institute of India’s Cervavac, prevent the entry of four of the most commons types of HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11 thereby preventing infections, genital warts, and eventually cancer. The indigenously developed, cheaper Cervavac will be used in the government campaign. 
• At least 14 HPV types have been identified to have the potential to cause cancer. Among these, HPV types 16 and 18 are considered to be the most oncogenic, causing about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases globally. 
• Universal immunisation of girls also reduces the transmission of the infection to boys and protects them from other cancers. 

Who should get the HPV vaccine? 

• The vaccine has to be administered in adolescent girls before they are sexually active. This is because the vaccine can only prevent the entry of the virus. 
• HPV is a very common infection and 90% of sexually active women already have it. Other than that, the response to the vaccine is also better in the adolescence. This is the reason a booster is needed for girls over the age of 15 years who get the shot. 
• Although not covered by the planned government campaign, the vaccine can also be administered to adolescent boys and is recommended for men who have sex with men. 

Can one get the vaccine outside of the government campaign? 

• Yes. If one is not eligible to receive the vaccine under the government’s campaign or you would like to get it before the campaign is rolled out, SII’s Cervavac is commercially available for R2,000 per dose. 
• A primary physician can administer the shot. 

Can older women also get immunised? 

• Yes. While the vaccine is not as effective among older women, it can still be administered up to the age of 45 years. Even if a person has already been exposed to an HPV infection, they are likely to be protected against other HPV types that the vaccines have. 
• Experts, however, suggest regular screening to be a better tool for older women. Women who have not received the vaccine must undergo a pap smear test and an HPV DNA test every five years. If the HPV DNA test shows that they have not yet been exposed to HPV, then their chances of cervical cancer remains low. 
• HPV DNA test is expensive, costing around 3,500 to 4,000. In the absence of HPV DNA test, a pap smear should be done every three years. 

Why is a HPV vaccination campaign important? 

• More than 95% of all cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infection with certain high-risk strains of HPV. What this essentially means is vaccination can be effectively used to prevent the infection and thereby cervical cancer cases. This is especially necessary in a country like India that accounts for nearly a fifth of the cervical cancer cases globally. India reports around 1.25 lakh cases and about 75,000 deaths each year. 
• While the effect of a vaccination drive will be most pronounced for cervical cancer, with HPV infection linked to cancers of anus, vagina and oropharynx, there is likely to be a drop in the incidence of these as well. 

4 . Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019

Context: Prepare Coastal Zone Management Plans without delay, NGT tells coastal States and Union Territories.  

About CRZ Rules

• CRZ Rules govern human and industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the fragile ecosystems near the sea.
• The Rules, mandated under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, were first framed in 1991.
• They sought to restrict certain kinds of activities, like large constructions, setting up of new industries, storage or disposal of hazardous material, mining, or reclamation and bunding, within a certain distance from the coastline.
• The basic idea is: because areas immediately next to the sea are extremely delicate, home to many marine and aquatic life forms, both animals and plants, and are also threatened by climate change, they need to be protected against unregulated development.
• In all CRZ Rules, the regulation zone has been defined as the area up to 500 m from the high-tide line. Several kinds of restrictions apply, depending on criteria such as the population of the area, the ecological sensitivity, the distance from the shore, and whether the area had been designated as a natural park or wildlife zone.

CRZ Notification 2019

• Allowing FSI as per current norms in CRZ areas: As per CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) had been frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels. In the CRZ, 2018 Notification, it has been decided to de-freeze the same and permit FSI for construction projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification. This will enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the emerging needs.
• Densely populated rural areas to be afforded greater opportunity for development: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below:
  • CRZ-III A – These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011 since such areas have similar characteristics as urban areas.
  • CRZ-III B – Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL.
• Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities to be promoted: Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted in Beaches. Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible in the “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas as per the Notification. However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities.
• CRZ Clearances streamlined: The procedure for CRZ clearances has been streamlined. Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ-II and III have been delegated at the State level with necessary guidance.
• A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands: For islands close to the main land coast and for all Backwater Islands in the main land, in wake of space limitations and unique geography of such regions, bringing uniformity in treatment of such regions, NDZ of 20 m has been stipulated.
• All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance: Specific guidelines related to their conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification.
• Pollution abatement has been accorded special focus: In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B area subject to necessary safeguards.
• Defence and strategic projects have been accorded necessary dispensation. 

Special CRZ rules for specific coastal areas?

• Kerala because of its unique coastal systems of backwater and backwater islands, certain activities are regulated.
• Goa : owing to its past history and other developments, certain additional activities are also regulated.
• In addition to these two states, critical vulnerable coastal areas are also identified such as the Sunderbans and other ecologically sensitive areas which are to be managed with the involvement of the local coastal communities.

5 . Facts for Prelims  

Kaziranga

• The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, better known as the safest address of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, has recorded a 27% increase in the number of resident and winter migratory waterbirds. 
• Apart from being the home of the Big Five mammals including rhino, tiger, elephant, Asiatic water buffalo, and eastern swamp deer, the park is a popular destination for birders as it sustains more than 500 avian species. 
• It is listed as an important Bird area by the Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International. 
• More than 50% of its landmass under grasslands is dotted with waterbodies, locally known as bells. These, along with the Brahmaputra River bisecting the park and tributaries such as Dhansiri, Difloo, and Laokhowa Suti, provide an ideal habitat for resident and migratory birds.