29th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. The WHO defines elimination for Kala Azar as having fewer than one case per 10,000 people at the sub-district (block Primary Health Centres) level in India. Once achieved, the elimination is to be sustained for 3 years for KA elimination certification. In Oct 2023, Bangladesh became the first country, globally, to be officially validated by the WHO for eliminating Kala Azar as a public health problem.
2. Neural organoids, also known as cerebral organoids, are human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)-derived 3D in vitro culture systems that recapitulate the developmental processes and organisation of the developing human brain. These provide a physiologically relevant in vitro 3D brain model for the study of neurological development and disease processes that are unique to the human nervous system.
28th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. Shrinkflation is the practice of reducing the size of a product while maintaining its sticker price.
- It is a form of hidden inflation.
- Raising the price per given amount is a strategy employed by companies, mainly in the food and beverage industries, to stealthily boost profit margins or maintain them in the face of rising input costs.
- Shrinkflation is also referred to as package downsizing in business and academic research.
2. Households in India contribute 70% to the gross domestic savings, with financial assets at 56% and physical assets at 44%. Total household savings are expected to increase in FY23, driven by a rise in physical savings.
27th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. World NGO Day is an international day dedicated to recognize, celebrate and honour all non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, and the people behind them that contribute to the society all year around. Back in 2014, the 27th of February became a historic day for the NGO community worldwide. This international calendar day, now known as “World NGO day,” was inaugurated for the first time internationally.
2. Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) is a policy reform introduced by the Government of India (GoI) to provide relief to hydrocarbon companies. Under it the company can undertake prospecting for fuels in areas the GoI does not notify.
26th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. Hanooman : In collaboration with the BharatGPT ecosystem led by IIT Bombay, Seetha Mahalaxmi Healthcare (SML) has introduced ‘Hanooman,’ a suite of Indic large language models trained across 22 Indian languages.
2. As Per NCRB Report 2023 the crime against women in India increased by 4 % in 2023
23rd February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. Digital Public Infrastructures like Aadhar, UPI and FasTag generated a value of USD 31.8 billion in 2022 which is 0.9% of GDP. The contribution is projected to increase to 2.9% – 4.2% by 2022, according to industry body NASSCOM’s report.
2. Tribals constitute about 23% of the population of Odisha. Madhya Pradesh is the state with highest population of tribals in India.
22nd February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
**List Of Sectors in which FDI is prohibited :
List of prohibited sectors:
- *Lottery Business including Government/ Private lottery, online lotteries etc.
- Chit Funds
- Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDR)
- Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, and cigarettes (tobacco or tobacco substitutes)
- Gambling and betting including casinos*
- Nidhi Company
- **Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses
- Sectors not open to private sector investments – atomic energy, railway operations (other than permitted activities mentioned under the consolidated FDI Policy)
* Foreign technology collaboration in any form including licensing for franchise, trademark, brand name, management contract is also prohibited for Lottery Business and Gambling and Betting activities
** Real estate business shall not include the development of town shops, construction of residential/ commercial premises, roads or bridges and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) registered and regulated under the SEBI (REITs) Regulations, 2014
21st February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. Milan Exercise :
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- It is a biennial multinational naval exercise that was first conducted in 1995 and has grown to be the biggest exercise held in India.
- Milan Exercise 2024:
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- Location: Coast of Visakhapatnam, India.
- Participating Nations: US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
- It will feature large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface drills.
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2. Article 142 provides a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, where, at times, the law or statute may not provide a remedy. In those situations, the court can extend itself to put an end to a dispute in a manner that would fit the facts of the case.
20th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- A UN convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS) adopted India’s initiative for the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and agreed to list 14 additional migratory species from across the globe for conservation in the CMS appendices.
- OpenAI recently unveiled Sora, an AI model that can produce realistic videos based on text instructions, with a duration of up to one minute. It is a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model.
19th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- INTERPOL’s Red Corner Notice:
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- A Red Corner Notice, also called a Red Notice (RN), is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest such fugitives.
- It alerts the police forces across the world about these fugitives who are wanted internationally.
- A red notice contains information that helps identify the wanted person, including name, date of birth, nationality, and physical attributes like colour of hair, eyes, etc., along with pictures and biometric information.
- It also includes information about the crimes that they are wanted for.
- Interpol issues an RN at the request of a member country.
- India has initiated an anti-dumping probe into imports of certain solar glass from China and Vietnam, following a complaint by domestic players. Anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed on imports manufactured in foreign countries that are priced below the fair market value of similar goods in the domestic market.
16th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- Scientists made a surprising discovery in the foothills of the Western Ghats in India — a Bonnet mushroom growing out of the side of the Golden-backed Frog.
- Recently, the Assam government declared the GI-tagged ‘Kaji Nemu’ (Citrus Limon) as the State Fruit.
- Micellar water, a product found in supermarkets, chemists and bathroom cabinets around the world, is a very effective cleanser and many people swear by it as part of their skincare routine.
15th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has recently released the CRISIL study report named “Prabhaav”. It assesses the impact of the Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS).
- Significance Of NASA’s PACE satellite :
1) It will help scientists better understand about the impact of climate change on ocean phytoplankton.
2) It will help understand the influence of particles in the air, like dust and smoke, on cloud formation, warming and cooling of the planet.
3) It may make significant breakthroughs in aerosol-cloud-ocean research.
14th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- Cuscuta dodder is an invasive weed which is slowly choking the Chengalpet Forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, threatening the local Vegetation, ecology and habitat of migratory birds.
- Plague is an infectious disease caused by a specific type of bacterium called Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacterium usually found in small mammals and their fleas. Pestis can affect humans and animals and is spread mainly by fleas.
- ULPIN is the unique blockchain ID and the land parcel is uniquely identified using ULPIN from BhuNaksha. It is a 14-digit alphanumeric identification number for every land parcel that can be described as the AADHAR or fingerprint for land. The identification is based on the longitude and latitude of the land parcel and is dependent on geo-referenced cadastral maps.
13th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
- Middle Class Housing Scheme : Its announcement was made in the recent budget for FY 25.The government will start a program to assist middle-class individuals living in rented houses, slums, chawls, and unauthorized colonies to purchase or construct their own homes While it is part of the ‘housing for all’ policy, it’s not an extension of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Its a new scheme where the government will define income levels, location, and accommodation types to identify beneficiaries.
Note– There is no defined criteria for the identification of the middle class in India yet.
2. Open Radio access Network (O-RAN) :
- It is not a technology but rather a continuous evolution in mobile network architectures that enables service providers to integrate non-proprietary subcomponents sourced from diverse vendors.
- Features- ORAN features an open, multi-vendor architecture for deploying mobile networks, contrasting with the single-vendor proprietary architecture.
- Conventional RAN vendor limitation– Traditionally, RAN infrastructure has been provided by a few major vendors, which has led to vendor lock-in and limited flexibility for network operators.
- Software-Defined Collaboration– ORAN employs software to enable hardware from various manufacturers to collaborate effectively.
- Protocol and Interface Openness– The main idea behind Open RAN is to ‘open up‘ the protocols and interfaces among different parts (such as radios, hardware, and software) in the RAN.
- New solution for ORAN– Recently, the new ORAN base station solution is being designed and developed for commercialization by IIITB COMET Foundation (COMET), Bengaluru. Its aim is to create efficient wireless communication technology for 5G and 5G-Advanced radio networks.
Note– COMET is one of the 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH) established under the National Mission for Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- Dhokra Shilpkala Sculpture:
| Description | The word “Dhokra” is believed to be derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes, the traditional metal smiths of Central India. |
| Origin | The origins can be traced back to the tribal communities residing in the regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. |
| Technique | It uses the lost-wax technique, or cire perdue, for metal casting. |
| Artistry and design | 1) The beauty of Dhokra Shilpkala lies in its rustic charm and the organic nature of its designs. 2) Artisans draw inspiration from nature, mythology, and everyday life.They incorporate motifs such as animals, birds, deities, and tribal symbols into their creations. 3) Each piece display a sense of timeless elegance and cultural richness. |
| Challenges | 1) Rapid growth in urbanization 2) Rise of mechanized production techniques. |
12th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1. Learning poverty is a term that refers to the inability of individuals to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to participate fully in society. This can be due to a lack of access to quality education, limited resources, or other factors.
2. India’s renewable energy status:- India aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. So far, 72 GW of solar and 44 GW of wind energy have been installed.
Peak power demand is projected to grow from 240 GW in FY24 to 285 GW in FY28, with deficits of 10-15 GW, mainly in the evenings.
9th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) Micro-credentials are brief learning activities with validated specific learning outcomes, offered through online, physical, or hybrid modes at various levels: beginning, intermediate, or advanced. Various entities such as Atingi, Coursera, edX, and others offer micro-credentials.
2) According to NASSCOM, deep-tech start-ups in India raised USD 2.7 billion in venture funding in 2021, and now account for over 12% of the country’s overall startup ecosystem. Bengaluru accounts for 25-30% of India’s deep-tech start-ups, followed by Delhi-NCR (15-20%) and Mumbai (10-12%).
3) Bharat Biotech’s Typbar is the world’s first clinically proven conjugate Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi
8th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002
2) The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 focuses on including four ethnic groups in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu and Kashmir – Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group
3) Prunus Africana, a plant endemic to Cameroon, is used to make drugs for prostate cancer but foreign companies buy a kilogramme of it USD 2.11 and sell the drugs made from it for USD 405
7th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCF) aims to help in positively transforming the school education system of India as envisioned in NEP 2020, through corresponding positive changes in the curriculum including pedagogy
2) Ministry of Finance in its Interim Budget 2024-25 has decided to reduce India’s Fiscal Deficit to 5.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024-25
3) Shakti, a fusion music group comprising tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and singer Shankar Mahadevan, has won the 66th Grammy Award (2024) for Best Global Music Album for “This Moment”
6th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) In line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the largest share of the aid portfolio in the interim budget has been granted to Bhutan with an allocation of Rs 2,068 crore
2) Nano urea contains 40,000 mg/L of nitrogen in a 500 ml bottle which is equivalent to the impact of nitrogen nutrient provided by one bag of conventional urea
3) A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a technology that enables direct communication between the brain and external devices, such as computers or prosthetics, without using traditional neuromuscular pathways like nerves and muscles
5th February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) In the interim budget 2024-25 an 11.1% increase in the capital expenditure outlay for 2024-2025 was announced. The capital expenditure is set at Rs 11,11,111 crore, constituting 3.4% of the GDP
2) China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 5.2% growth in GDP, reaching 126 trillion yuan in 2023. Despite exceeding the target and outperforming the 3% recorded in 2022, this growth represents the slowest performance since 1990, excluding pandemic years
3) India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites to 80 from the existing 75 by designating five more wetlands as Ramsar sites
3rd February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) C4 plants are a type of plants that utilize a specific photosynthetic pathway known as the C4 carbon fixation pathway. This pathway is an adaptation to hot and arid environments, as well as conditions where there is a high likelihood of photorespiration. Example – millets
2) The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, but Argentina also claims sovereignty over the islands, leading to a historical conflict between the two countries.
3) Neuromorphic Computing is a type of artificial intelligence (AI). It uses specialized hardware and software algorithms to simulate neurons and synapses to process data more efficiently than traditional computers
2nd February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) LFPR for male in India increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.5% in 2022-23 and corresponding increase in LFPR for females was from 23.3% to 37.0%.
2) The share of various energy sources in the total Electricity Generation are: Fossil fuel (including Coal)- 56.8%, Renewable Energy (including Hydropower)- 41.4%, Nuclear fuel- 1.60%
1st February #Edufacts: Important Facts of the Day for UPSC IAS Current Affair
1) India is Myanmar’s 4th largest trading partner and a major source of investment.
2) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was approved by the Supreme Court in the case of M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India 2016 and notified in 2017
3) Recently, the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). India has a long-standing relationship with ECOWAS and was given the status of observer to the body in 2004
