We4u IAS

  Marshyangdi River Why In News? ●        Tragic Bus Accident: 14 Indian Tourists Perish as Bus Plunges into Nepal's Marshyangdi River. About     ●        The Marshyangdi (or Marsyangdi) is a mountain river in Nepal. Its length is about 150 kilometres. ●        The Marshyangdi begins at the confluence of two mountain rivers, the Khangsar Khola and the Jharsang Khola, northwest of the Annapurna massif at an altitude of 3,600 meters near Manang village. ●        The Marshyangdi joins the Trishuli river near Mugling as one of its tributaries.

  Windfall Tax Why In News: ●        Centre Slashes Windfall Tax on Domestically Produced Crude Oil: Relief for energy producers. What is windfall tax?   ●        A windfall tax is a tax levied on companies or individuals who experience unexpected and large profits, often due to external factors. Here's some information about windfall taxes that might be useful for UPSC exam preparation:   Purpose ●        Windfall taxes are a tool for governments to redistribute excess profits to society, especially during times of economic volatility.   How it works ●        Windfall taxes are levied on companies that have benefited the most from economic windfalls, such as commodity-based businesses.   Examples ●        In India, the government has imposed windfall taxes on domestically produced crude oil...

  MISSION POSHAN 2.0 Introduction : ●       Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) which includes key schemes such as the POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anganwadi Services and Scheme for Adolescent Girls as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. ●       The beneficiaries under the Anganwadi Services scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries in the form of Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres and Take Home Ration (not raw ration). Why this Mission? ●       Mission Poshan 2.0 seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a...

  Article 39(B) Of The Constitution and private Properties In Context: §   Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) of India has begun hearing on legal questions arising from various petitions about whether the government can acquire and redistribute privately owned properties. §   The question raised before the Court is whether private properties can be considered "material resources of the community" under Article 39 (b) of the Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). Legal View on Private Property and its Distribution: Constitutional View: Articles 19(1)(f) and Article 31: This article guaranteed the property as a fundamental right. However, the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 removed this right from the list of fundamental rights and placed it under Article 300A as a constitutional right. Article 300A: This article declares that no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law. 9th Schedule: It lists...

  BIOPHARMACEUTICAL ALLIANCE §   India, South Korea, the US, Japan, and European Union launched Biopharmaceutical Alliance in response to the drug supply shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. §   The announcement was made at the inaugural meeting of the Biopharmaceutical Alliance during the Bio International Convention 2024. Significance §   Build a reliable, sustainable, and resilient supply chain in pharmaceuticals as production of essential raw materials and ingredients is concentrated in a few countries. §   Coordinate bio policies, regulations, and R&D support measures with the member countries.  

  JUMPING GENES Why In News: §   New plant species (Stellaria mcclintockiae) from Kerala has been named after Barbara McClintock who won the Nobel Prize for her discovery of Jumping Genes. About Jumping genes §   Jumping genes, aka transposable elements, are DNA sequences that can move or “jump” from one location to another within the genome, causing nearby genes to become active or inactive. §   They can replicate themselves and insert copies at new locations. §   Their movement can cause genetic mutations and contribute to genome evolution.  

  IBERIAN LYNX (LYNX PARDINUS) Why In News: §   According to IUCN, conservation status of Iberian lynx has improved from Endangered to Vulnerable, reflecting significant increase in its population. About Iberian lynx §   Habitat: Medium-sized wild cat species native to Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, including Portugal and Spain. §   Appearance: Weighs about half as much as Eurasian species, with long legs, short tail with a black tip, tufted ears and relatively small head. §   Characteristics: Solitary hunter; nocturnal or crepuscular; may temporarily become diurnal during winter; live in small, isolated metapopulations; European Rabbit accounts for 80-99% of its diet. §   Threats: Decreasing food base, Poaching, habitat loss etc. §   Conservation status: Appendix I of CITES.  

  ANTARCTIC TREATY Why In News: §   46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and 26th Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP) concluded §   These were hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. About: §   The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries in Washington on 1st December 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only. §   The twelve original signatories are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the UK and the US. §   It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded by many other nations. §   Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. §   Recently, an enormous iceberg 'A-76' has calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, lying in the W...

  GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP (GSP) Why In News: §   GSP Assembly calls for urgent action to improve and maintain health of at least 50 percent of world’s soils by 2030 at Twelfth Plenary session (hosted by FAO). About Global Soil Partnership §   It was established in 2012 by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a mechanism to develop a strong interactive partnership and enhanced collaboration and synergy of efforts between all stakeholders. §   It aims to position soils on Global Agenda, promote inclusive policies and soil governance as well as sustainable soil management.  

  NEW RAMSAR SITES Why In News: §   Nagi and Nakti bird sanctuaries, both located in Bihar’s Jamui district, are now eecognized under the Ramsar Convention taking total Ramsar sites in India to 82. §   Both sanctuaries are man-made reservoirs (Nagi dam and Nakti dam) and feature dry deciduous forests surrounded by hills. §   Although Nagi lies in the Gangetic Plains of India, it has a landscape reminiscent of the Deccan Plateau. §   They are also recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by Bird Life International. Major birds’ habitat §   Migratory birds: Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Northern Pintail, Red-crested Pochard, Steppe Eagle, etc. §   Resident birds: Indian Robin, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Asian Koel, Asian Pied Starling, Bank Myna, etc. What is the Ramsar Convention? §   It is an intergovernmental treaty, adopted on 2nd February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the...

  UNDERGROUND COAL GASIFICATION (UCG) Why in the News? Ministry of Coal has launched a pioneering Underground Coal Gasification pilot project in Jharkhand’s Jamtara District. More about News §   In 2015, a dedicated policy framework for development of UCG in coal and lignite bearing areas in India was approved by Ministry of Coal. §   In alignment with this policy, Coal India selected the Kasta coal block of Jamtara District to implement UCG technology tailored to Indian geo-mining conditions. What is Coal Gasification? §   Coal gasification is a process that converts underground coal into valuable gases such as methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. This is achieved by partially oxidizing coal using air, oxygen, steam, or CO2 under controlled conditions to produce syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Syngas can be used for power generation and making methanol. Government Initiatives: §   India has initiated the...

  MICROWAVE OBSCURANT CHAFF ROCKET (MOCR) Why In News: §   DRDO handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy. MR-MOCR §   Developed by: DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur. §   Purpose: Obscure radar signals reduce detection. Specification: §   Chaff is a passive electronic countermeasure consisting of electrically conducting fine fiber of resonant length to act as a microwave dipole. §   Working mechanism: The rocket, when fired, forms a microwave obscurant cloud in space, thus creating an effective shield against hostile threats having Radio Frequency seekers.